Improved container of consumer articles comprising an element of discernible thickness

Abstract

A container for consumer goods is formed from a laminar blank (100; 300) having a blank thickness (T1); and a three dimensional element (104; 304) having a thickness (T2) from about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres. An inner surface of a first wall of the container comprises an affixing area (108) for at least partly receiving the element (104), the affixing area (108) comprising a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness (T3) less than the blank thickness. The element (104) is affixed to N the container by means of adhesive provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area (108). A difference between the blank thickness (T1) and the residual thickness (T3) is less than the element thickness (T2), such that the element (104) projects beyond the inner surface of the container by an incremental thickness (T4) less than the element thickness (T2). Further, the container comprises a thickness compensating means (112; 312) on a region of the inner surface of the container.

1 . A container for consumer goods, the container being formed from a laminar blank having a blank thickness; and
 a three dimensional element having a thickness from about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres;   wherein an inner surface of a first wall of the container comprises an affixing area for at least partly receiving the element, the affixing area comprising a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness less than the blank thickness; and   wherein the element is affixed to the container by adhesive provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area,   wherein a difference between the blank thickness and the residual thickness is less than the element thickness, such that the element projects beyond the inner surface of the container by an incremental thickness less than the element thickness; and   wherein the container comprises a thickness compensating element on a region of the inner surface of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness compensating element comprises a coating layer applied at least on a region of the inner surface of the first wall of the container extending about the affixing area. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness compensating element comprises a three-dimensional patch member arranged on the inner surface of the container at a location other than the affixing region. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness compensating element has a thickness of at least about 70 percent of the incremental thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness compensating element has a thickness substantially equal to the incremental thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional patch member is arranged on the inner surface of a wall of the container opposite the first wall. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness compensating element is removable. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member comprising at least a front wall lying against an inner surface of the front wall of the container, wherein the element is arranged in the affixing area on the container at a distance from a bottom edge of the front wall of the reinforcing member. 
     
     
         9 . A blank for forming a container for consumer goods, the blank comprising a laminar substrate having a substrate thickness and a three dimensional element having a thickness thickness from about 50 micrometres to about 500 micrometres, the element being affixed to the laminar substrate;
 wherein a first surface of the laminar substrate comprises an affixing area for at least partly receiving the element, the affixing area comprising a debossed or ablated area having a residual thickness less than the substrate thickness; and   wherein the element is affixed to the laminar substrate by adhesive provided on the debossed or ablated zone of the affixing area,   wherein a difference between the substrate thickness and the residual thickness is less than the element thickness, such that the element projects beyond the inner surface of the laminar substrate by an incremental thickness less than the element thickness; and   wherein the blank comprises a thickness compensating element on a region of the first surface of the laminar substrate.   
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 9 , wherein the element is arranged at a location along a longitudinal axis of the blank in its flat state, and a distance between the element and a midpoint of the longitudinal axis of the blank is less than about 20 percent of a longitudinal dimension of the blank.