Container with wrapper with detachable tab

Abstract

A container of consumer goods comprises a housing ( 10 a ) and one or more consumer goods ( 18 ) wrapped in a wrapper ( 20 ) and contained within the housing ( 10 a ), the wrapper ( 20 ) comprising a plurality of intersecting lines of weakness ( 22 ) that together define a plurality of interconnected detachable portions ( 24 ) of the wrapper ( 20 ).

1 . A container of consumer goods comprising:
 a housing; and   
       one or more consumer goods wrapped in a wrapper and contained within the housing, the wrapper comprising a plurality of intersecting lines of weakness that together define a plurality of interconnected detachable portions of the wrapper. 
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of intersecting lines include a first line of weakness and a second line of weakness, and wherein the first line of weakness has a tear strength that is less than the tear strength of the second line of weakness. 
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interconnected detachable portions of the wrapper comprise a first detachable tab portion that is configured to expose no more than three consumer goods on a front wall of the housing when the first detachable tab portion is detached from the wrapper. 
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein the first detachable tab portion is configured to expose no more than one consumer good on the front wall of the housing when the first detachable tab portion is detached from the wrapper. 
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness comprises a first plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a first direction and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a second direction. 
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 5  wherein the smallest angle between the first direction and the second direction is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises:
 a housing top wall extending between the back wall and the lid front wall; and 
 a housing bottom wall opposite the top wall and extending between the back wall and the box front wall, wherein a longitudinal direction extends between the housing top wall and the housing bottom wall; 
 wherein the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness underlie the housing front wall and wherein at least one of the first and second directions extends at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the longitudinal direction. 
 
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7 , wherein the box portion comprises a box front wall having a top edge that defines an edge of an opening through which consumer goods can be removed from the container when the lid is in the open position, and wherein the distance between the top edge of the box front wall and a line of weakness defining a detachable tab portion of the wrapper is at least 10 millimetres. 
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein one or more of the detachable tab portions of the wrapper include one or more indicia on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 9 , wherein a first indicia is provided on a first detachable tab portion, and a second indicia is provided on a second detachable tab portion, the first indicia being different from the second indicia. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a box portion and a lid portion extending from the box portion along a hinge line across a back wall of the housing, wherein the lid portion is moveable between an open position and a closed position in which a front wall of the lid portion and a front wall of the box portion together define a front wall of the housing opposite the back wall of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein the one or more consumer goods is a plurality of smoking articles. 
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of interconnected detachable portions of the wrapper comprise a first detachable tab portion that is configured to expose no more than three consumer goods on a front wall of the housing when the first detachable tab portion is detached from the wrapper. 
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 13 , wherein the first detachable tab portion is configured to expose no more than one consumer good on the front wall of the housing when the first detachable tab portion is detached from the wrapper. 
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 14  wherein the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness comprises a first plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a first direction and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a second direction. 
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 3  wherein the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness comprises a first plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a first direction and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel lines of weakness each extending in a second direction. 
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein the housing further comprises:
 a housing top wall extending between the back wall and the lid front wall; and 
 a housing bottom wall opposite the top wall and extending between the back wall and the box front wall, wherein a longitudinal direction extends between the housing top wall and the housing bottom wall; 
 wherein the plurality of intersecting lines of weakness underlie the housing front wall and wherein at least one of the first and second directions extends at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the longitudinal direction. 
 
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein the box portion comprises a box front wall having a top edge that defines an edge of an opening through which consumer goods can be removed from the container when the lid is in the open position, and wherein the distance between the top edge of the box front wall and a line of weakness defining a detachable tab portion of the wrapper is at least 10 millimetres. 
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 2  wherein one or more of the detachable tab portions of the wrapper include one or more indicia on a surface thereof. 
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 19 , wherein a first indicia is provided on a first detachable tab portion, and a second indicia is provided on a second detachable tab portion, the first indicia being different from the second indicia.