Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SEALED CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING CONSUMER GOODS
The present invention relates to a container for a plurality of consumer
goods, wherein the
container is configured to dispense one or more of the consumer goods while
keeping the
remaining consumer goods sealed within the container. Containers according to
the present
invention find particular application as containers for elongate consumer
goods, such as aerosol-
generating articles.
Consumer goods are typically supplied from a manufacturer to a consumer in a
package
or container to protect the consumer goods during transit. In some cases, the
package or
container is desirably sealed to substantially maintain the environment in
which the consumer
goods are packaged. For example, some consumer goods are moisture-sensitive
and in such
cases it may be desirable or necessary to either retain moisture within the
container or prevent
moisture entering the container from the ambient environment.
Aerosol-generating articles, such as cigarettes, are an example of consumer
goods for
which it may be desirable to seal them within a container at the point of
manufacture to prevent
excess ingress of moisture into the aerosol-generating articles from the
ambient environment.
For example, aerosol-generating articles, such as cigarettes, typically
comprise an aerosol-
forming substrate, such as tobacco. It is often desirable to prevent uptake of
moisture by the
aerosol-forming substrate from the ambient environment after manufacture and
before delivery to
a consumer.
Furthermore, a number of aerosol-generating articles in which tobacco is
heated rather
than combusted have been proposed in the art. For example, WO-A2-2009/022232
discloses an
aerosol-generating article comprising a combustible heat source, an aerosol-
forming substrate
downstream of the combustible heat source, and a heat-conducting element
around and in
contact with a rear portion of the combustible heat source and an adjacent
front portion of the
aerosol-forming substrate. In addition to preventing uptake of moisture by the
aerosol-forming
substrate, it may also be desirable to prevent the uptake of moisture by the
combustible heat
source in such aerosol-generating articles.
To protect aerosol-generating articles from the ambient environment, a bundle
of such
articles are typically sealed within a container, usually comprising an inner
liner housed within a
hinged lid box. However, such containers are often useful for providing an
effective barrier
between the aerosol-generating articles and the ambient environment only until
the box and the
inner liner are first opened. Typically, once a conventional container for
aerosol-generating
articles has been opened for the first time, the effectiveness of any seal may
be significantly
reduced.
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Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a sealed container for consumer
goods,
wherein one or more consumer goods can be removed from the container without
substantially
compromising the sealing of the remaining consumer goods within the container.
According to the present invention there is provided a container for consumer
goods, the
container comprising a housing for receiving a plurality of consumer goods,
the housing
comprising an aperture for dispensing consumer goods from the housing. The
container further
comprises a first sealing flap comprising a first edge secured to the housing
adjacent a first side
of the aperture and a second edge extending across a first part of the
aperture. The container
also comprises a second sealing flap comprising a first edge secured to the
housing adjacent a
second side of the aperture and a second edge extending across a second part
of the aperture,
wherein the second edges of the first and second flaps are biased towards each
other to form a
seal across the aperture for sealing the plurality of consumer goods within
the housing. The
container comprises a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the plurality of
consumer goods
through the aperture when activated by a consumer, the dispensing mechanism
configured so
that actuation of the dispensing mechanism advances one of the consumer goods
between the
second edges of the first and second sealing flaps and through the aperture.
The first and second
sealing flaps are configured so that the second edges of the first and second
sealing flaps are
biased towards each other after each of the consumer goods is dispensed so
that the consumer
goods remaining in the housing are re-sealed within the container.
By combining a pair of sealing flaps and a dispensing mechanism containers
according to
the present invention can advantageously dispense one or more consumer goods
from the
container without compromising the sealing of the remaining consumer goods
within the
container. In particular, a consumer can dispense consumer goods from the
container one at a
time only when they are needed, while keeping the rest of the consumer goods
sealed within the
container.
The aperture may be an elongate aperture having a ratio of length to width of
at least 2 to
1. An elongate aperture may be advantageous in embodiments in which the
container is used to
house and dispense a plurality of elongate consumer goods. For example, in
embodiments in
which the container houses a plurality of elongate aerosol-generating
articles, each article may
be dispensed through the aperture so that its first and second ends are
advanced through the
aperture substantially simultaneously. In such embodiments, a consumer can
grasp the
dispensed article at a central portion of the article, compared to aerosol-
generating articles
received within a conventional hinged lid box, which are typically removed
from the box by
grasping a mouth end of each article. Removing the articles by grasping a
central portion of each
article rather than a mouth end may be preferable to facilitate hygienic
removal of the articles from
the container.
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In any of the embodiments described above, the first and second sealing flaps
may be
formed from a resilient material. The term "resilient material" is used herein
to describe a material
that may be deformed or deflected from its original shape or position upon the
application of a
force to the resilient material, and wherein the resilient material returns
substantially to its original
shape or position upon removal of the force.
Forming the first and second sealing flaps from a resilient material may
advantageously
facilitate re-sealing of the aperture after each of the consumer goods is
dispensed. For example,
the first and second sealing flaps may be formed from a resilient material
configured to deform
and allow a consumer good to pass between the first and second sealing flaps
and through the
aperture when the consumer good is dispensed, and wherein the first and second
sealing flaps
return substantially to their original shapes and positions to re-seal the
aperture after the
dispensed consumer good has been removed.
Suitable resilient materials for forming the first and second sealing flaps
include graphene,
one or more rubbers, one or more silicones, and combinations thereof. Suitable
rubbers include
natural rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene propylene diene rubber,
acrylonitrile butadiene
rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene
rubber, and
combinations thereof. Suitable silicones include one or more
polydimethylsiloxanes. The resilient
material may comprise a low-friction additive, such as
polytetrafluoroethylene.
The resilient material forming each of the first and second sealing flaps may
be an elastic
material.
In embodiments in which the first and second sealing flaps are formed from a
resilient
material, preferably each of the first and second sealing flaps has a curved
shape so that the
second edges of the sealing flaps are biased together. Forming each of the
first and second
sealing flaps with a curved shape and biased towards each other may
advantageously facilitate
a reliable seal between the first and second sealing flaps.
In embodiments in which each of the first and second sealing flaps has a
curved shape,
preferably each of the first and second sealing flaps has a concave surface
facing towards an
exterior of the housing and a convex surface facing towards an interior of the
housing. Such an
arrangement of curved first and second sealing flaps can facilitate the
movement of consumer
goods between the first and sealing flaps as they are advanced through the
aperture. Such an
arrangement of curved first and second sealing flaps can minimise or prevent
the ingress of
foreign materials into the housing.
In any of the embodiments described above, the container may further comprise
an inner
liner for receiving the plurality of consumer goods, the inner liner contained
within the housing.
The inner liner comprises an opening adjacent the aperture, wherein the first
and second sealing
flaps cooperate with the inner liner to form a continuous seal between the
sealing flaps and the
edge of the inner liner opening. Providing an inner liner may advantageously
facilitate sealing of
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the consumer goods within the container. For example, the housing may be
constructed from a
rigid material to protect the consumer goods from mechanical damage and the
inner liner may be
formed from a more flexible material that may be less effective in providing
such mechanical
protection but more effective in providing a seal around the consumer goods.
The inner liner may formed integrally with the first and second sealing flaps.
That is, first
and second ends of the inner liner may be secured to the housing adjacent the
aperture so that
a first portion of the inner liner adjacent the first end forms the first
sealing flap and a second
portion of the inner liner adjacent the second end forms the second sealing
flap.
The inner liner may be formed separately from the first and second sealing
flaps, the inner
liner comprising a first portion connected to the second edge of the first
sealing flap and a second
portion connected to the second edge of the second sealing flap.
The inner liner may comprise first and second portions biased towards each
other, the
inner liner opening extending between the first and second portions.
Preferably, each of the first
and second portions comprises a protrusion spaced apart from the aperture so
that the
protrusions on the first and second end portions form a restriction that
facilitates step-wise
dispensing of the consumer goods through the aperture. In particular, as each
consumer good is
dispensed through the aperture, the restriction created by the protrusions in
the inner liner may
grasp the next consumer good to be dispensed and retain it adjacent the inner
liner opening ready
for dispensing. This arrangement may therefore provide a reliable and
consistent dispensing of
each successive consumer good.
Preferably, the protrusions in the first and second portions of the inner
liner are sufficiently
spaced apart from the aperture so that the first and second sealing flaps and
the first and second
portions of the inner liner can come together to seal the remaining consumer
goods within the
container, even when a consumer good is retained in the restriction created by
the protrusions in
the inner liner.
When using a restriction to facilitate a step-wise dispensing of consumer
goods through
the aperture, it may be advantageous to use the container for dispensing
consumer goods having
a substantially circular, oval or elliptical cross-sectional shape, such as
aerosol-generating articles
having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. In particular, the
curved surface of such
consumer goods may facilitate the movement of successive consumer goods
through the
restriction created by the protrusions.
The inner liner may be formed from a sheet material and each protrusion may be
formed
separately and secured to the sheet material. For example, each protrusion may
comprise a strip
of material secured to the sheet material.
The inner liner may be formed from a sheet material and each protrusion may be
formed
by depositing a second material onto discrete areas of the sheet material.
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The inner liner may be formed from a sheet material and each protrusion may be
formed
by a discrete portion of the sheet material having a greater thickness than
areas of the sheet
material adjacent to the protrusion.
In any of the embodiments in which the container comprises an inner liner,
suitable
5 materials for forming the inner liner include graphene, one or more
rubbers, one or more silicones,
and combinations thereof. Suitable rubbers include natural rubber, chloroprene
rubber, ethylene
propylene diene rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, hydrogenated nitrile
butadiene rubber,
chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, and combinations thereof. Suitable
silicones include one
or more polydimethylsiloxanes. The inner liner material may comprise a low-
friction additive, such
as polytetrafluoroethylene.
The material forming the inner liner may be an elastic material.
In any of the embodiments described above, the dispensing mechanism may
comprise a
piston arranged to slide within the housing and towards the aperture, wherein
the container is
configured to receive a plurality of consumer goods between the aperture and
the piston. To
dispense the consumer goods, a consumer may apply a force to the piston to
advance the
consumer goods towards the aperture. Using a piston to advance the plurality
of consumer goods
towards the aperture can advantageously facilitate even distribution of the
force applied by a
consumer across the consumer goods or parts of consumer goods in contact with
the piston.
In those embodiments in which the container comprises an inner liner, and open
end of
the inner liner may be secured to the piston to form a seal between the inner
liner and the piston.
The inner liner is preferably formed from a flexible material to accommodate
the movement of the
piston within the housing.
The aperture may be provided at a first end of the housing and the housing may
further
comprise a housing opening at a second end of the housing, opposite the first
end. To advance
the piston and the consumer goods towards the aperture, a consumer may apply a
force to the
piston through the housing opening.
The housing may comprise an elongate slot extending along a first wall of the
housing,
wherein the dispensing mechanism further comprises a button positioned outside
of the housing
and a shaft extending through the elongate slot, and wherein the shaft
comprises a first end
connected to the button and a second end connected to the piston. To advance
the piston and
the consumer goods towards the aperture, a consumer can slide the button and
the shaft along
the elongate slot and towards the aperture.
The button may be connected directly to the shaft, or the button may be
connected to the
shaft via one or more intervening components.
The shaft may be connected directly to the piston, or the shaft may be
connected to the
piston via one or more intervening components.
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Preferably, the elongate slot has a first end spaced apart from a first end of
the first wall
and a second end spaced apart from a second end of the first wall so that the
shaft is captive
within the elongate slot.
The dispensing mechanism may further comprise a plurality of ratchet teeth
provided on
an inner surface of the first wall of the housing and extending parallel to
the elongate slot, and a
pawl extending between the shaft and the piston to connect the second end of
the shaft to the
piston. The pawl is biased towards the plurality of ratchet teeth, and the
pawl engages successive
ratchet teeth as the piston is advanced towards the aperture. Configuring the
pawl to engage
successive ratchet teeth as the piston advances towards the aperture may
advantageously
prevent sliding movement of the piston away from the aperture. Therefore, the
ratchet
mechanism may retain the piston in the correct position ready to dispense the
next consumer
good.
Preferably, the pawl is a flexible pawl and the dispensing mechanism is
configured so that
pushing the button towards the first wall disengages the flexible pawl from
the ratchet teeth to
permit sliding movement of the piston away from the aperture. Such an
arrangement is
advantageous in embodiments in which the container may be refilled with
additional consumer
goods as it allows the piston to be reset to its maximum distance from the
aperture. Preferably,
the flexible pawl is substantially perpendicular to the shaft and comprises a
first end connected
to the shaft and a second end connected to the piston. In such embodiments,
the flexible pawl
may deflect about its connection to the piston at its second end when the
button is pushed towards
the first wall of the housing.
In any of the embodiments described above, the container may further comprise
a
moveable panel moveable between a closed position for sealing a plurality of
consumer goods
within the container and an open position in which one or more consumer goods
can be inserted
into the container.
The moveable panel may be retained in the closed position by an interference
fit.
The moveable panel may be retained in the closed position by a locking
mechanism.
The moveable panel may be connected to the housing. The container may be
configured
so that one or more consumer goods can be inserted into the container through
an opening in the
housing when the moveable panel is in the open position, and wherein the
moveable panel covers
the opening when the moveable panel is in the closed position. A seal may be
provided on at
least one of the housing and the moveable panel so that the seal is received
between the housing
and the moveable panel when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The
moveable panel
may be connected to the housing along a hinge, wherein the moveable panel is
moveable about
the hinge between the open and closed positions.
In those embodiments in which the dispensing mechanism comprises a piston, the
moveable panel may be connected to the piston. The container may be configured
so that one
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or more consumer goods can be inserted into the container through an opening
in the piston when
the moveable panel is in the open position, and wherein the moveable panel
covers the opening
when the moveable panel is in the closed position. A seal may be provided on
at least one of the
piston and the moveable panel so that the seal is received between the piston
and the moveable
panel when the moveable panel is in the closed position. The moveable panel
may be connected
to the piston along a hinge, wherein the moveable panel is moveable about the
hinge between
the open and closed positions.
In any of the embodiments described above, the housing may be formed from a
substantially rigid material. Suitable materials for forming the housing
include one or more
plastics, one or more metals, and combinations thereof. The housing material
may comprise
stainless steel. The housing material may comprise 304 stainless steel. The
housing material
may comprise 316 stainless steel.
One or more coating materials may be provided on the housing material.
Suitable coating
materials include inks, lacquers, one or more rubbers, one or more silicones,
and combinations
thereof.
In any of the embodiments described above, the container may further comprise
a cover
moveable between an open position in which a consumer can access the aperture
of the housing
and a closed position in which the cover substantially covers the aperture of
the housing.
The cover may be retained in the closed position by an interference fit.
The cover may be retained in the closed position by a locking mechanism.
Preferably, the cover is connected to the housing when the cover is in the
closed position.
The cover may remain attached to the housing when the cover is in the open
position.
The cover may be pivotably connected to the housing so that the cover may be
pivoted
between the open and closed positions.
The cover may be slidably connected to the housing so that the cover may slide
between
the open and closed positions.
The cover may be removably connected to the housing when the cover is in the
closed
position, wherein the cover is detachable from the housing so that the cover
is in the open position
when the cover is detached from the housing.
The cover may be formed from a substantially rigid material. Suitable
materials for forming
the cover include one or more plastics, one or more metals, and combinations
thereof. The cover
material may comprise stainless steel. The cover material may comprise 304
stainless steel. The
cover material may comprise 316 stainless steel.
One or more coating materials may be provided on the cover material. Suitable
coating
materials include inks, lacquers, one or more rubbers, one or more silicones,
and combinations
thereof.
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In any of the embodiments described above, the container may further comprise
a plurality
of consumer goods received within the container. The plurality of consumer
goods is received
within the housing and, where present, inside the inner liner.
The plurality of consumer goods may be a plurality of elongate consumer goods
each
having a ratio of length to width of at least 2 to 1, particularly in those
embodiments in which the
aperture in the housing is an elongate aperture having a ratio of length to
width of at least 2 to 1.
Each of the consumer goods may comprise a first end and a second end, wherein
the
plurality of elongate consumer goods is arranged within the container so that
the length of each
of the consumer goods is substantially parallel to the aperture, and wherein
the first and second
ends of each of the consumer goods are advanced through the aperture
substantially
simultaneously each time one of the consumer goods is dispensed from the
container.
As described above, configuring the container so that the first and second
ends of each
of the elongate consumer goods is advanced through the aperture substantially
simultaneously
may be advantageous. In particular, dispensing the consumer goods in this
manner may enable
a consumer to grasp the dispensed article at a central portion of the article,
which may be
advantageous in embodiments in which it is desirable for a consumer to avoid
touching the ends
of the article. For example, each of the consumer goods may be an aerosol-
generating article
comprising a mouth end, wherein it is desirable for a consumer to avoid
touching the mouth end
to achieve hygienic removal of the article from the container. Each of the
consumer goods may
be an aerosol-generating article comprising a combustible heat source at an
upstream end of the
article, wherein it is desirable for a consumer to avoid touching the upstream
end to minimise the
risk of damaging the combustible heat source.
In any of the embodiments described above in which the container comprises a
plurality
of consumer goods received within the container, the plurality of consumer
goods may be a
plurality of aerosol-generating articles.
The aerosol-generating articles may comprise conventional filter cigarettes.
Each aerosol-generating article may comprise a combustible heat source
positioned at an
upstream end of the article, an aerosol-forming substrate positioned
downstream of the
combustible heat source, and a mouthpiece downstream of the aerosol-forming
substrate and
positioned at a mouth end of the aerosol-generating article.
The terms "upstream" and "downstream" as used herein refer to relative
positions along
the aerosol-generating article defined with reference to the direction in
which air is drawn through
the article by a user. Thus, the mouth end is downstream from the upstream
end.
The combustible heat source is preferably a solid heat source, and may
comprise any
suitable combustible fuel including, but not limited to, carbon and carbon-
based materials
containing aluminium, magnesium, one or more carbides, one or more nitrides
and combinations
thereof. Solid combustible heat sources for heated aerosol-generating articles
and methods for
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producing such heat sources are known in the art and described in, for
example, US-A-5,040,552
and US-A-5,595,577. Typically, known solid combustible heat sources for heated
aerosol-
generating articles are carbon-based, that is they comprise carbon as a
primary combustible
material.
The combustible heat source is preferably a blind combustible heat source. As
used
herein, the term 'blind' describes a heat source that does not comprise any
air flow channels.
The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate.
Alternatively,
the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components.
The aerosol-
forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing
volatile tobacco flavour
compounds, which are released from the substrate upon heating. Alternatively,
the aerosol-
forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming
substrate may
further comprise one or more aerosol formers. Examples of suitable aerosol
formers include, but
are not limited to, glycerine and propylene glycol.
In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate is a rod comprising a
tobacco-
containing material.
The mouthpiece may comprise a filter. For example, the mouthpiece may comprise
a filter
plug having one or more segments. Where the mouthpiece comprises a filter
plug, preferably the
filter plug is a single segment filter plug. The filter plug may comprise one
or more segments
comprising cellulose acetate, paper or other suitable known filtration
materials, or combinations
thereof. Preferably, the filter plug comprises filtration material of low
filtration efficiency.
Each aerosol-generating article may be substantially cylindrical in shape.
Each aerosol-
generating article may be substantially elongate. Each aerosol-generating
article has a length
and a circumference substantially perpendicular to the length.
Each aerosol-generating article may be circumscribed by an outer wrapper of,
for
example, cigarette paper, which has low air permeability.
The mouthpiece may be circumscribed by tipping paper.
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with
reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a container in accordance
with the
present invention;
Figure 2 shows a top view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a front view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a side view of the container of Figure 1;
Figure 6 and 7 are detailed cross-sectional views of the dispensing mechanism
of the
container of Figure 1; and
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Figures 8 and 9 show partial cross-sectional views of the container of Figure
1 and
illustrating the dispensing of a consumer good from the container.
Figures 1 to 5 show a container 10 of consumer goods according to the present
invention.
The container 10 comprises a housing 12 and an inner liner 14 received within
the housing 12.
5 A plurality of consumer goods 16 comprising a plurality of aerosol-
generating articles is received
within the inner liner 12. An aperture 18 is provided at the top of the
housing 12, the container 10
configured to dispense the consumer goods 16 through the aperture 18.
Optionally, a removable
cover 19 can be attached to the top of the housing 12 to protect the aperture
18.
A first sealing flap 20 and a second sealing flap 22 are connected to the
housing 12
10 adjacent the aperture 18, each sealing flap 20, 22 connected along a
first edge to the housing 12.
A first portion 24 of the inner liner 14 is connected to a second edge of the
first sealing flap 20
and a second portion 26 of the inner liner 14 is connected to a second edge of
the second sealing
flap 22. The first and second sealing flaps 20, 22 are curved and formed from
a resilient material
so that they are biased towards each other. Similarly, the first and second
portions 24, 26 of the
inner liner 14 are curved and formed from a resilient material so that they
are biased towards
each other. Therefore, when none of the consumer goods 16 are being dispensed
through the
aperture 18, the first sealing flap 20 and the first portion 24 of the inner
liner 14 are biased towards
the second sealing flap 22 and the second portion 26 of the inner liner 14 so
that the first and
second sealing flaps 20, 22 and the first and second portions 24, 26 of the
inner liner 14 cover
the aperture 18 and seal the consumer goods 16 within the container, as shown
in Figure 2.
To facilitate dispensing of the consumer goods 16 through the aperture 18, the
container
10 comprises a dispensing mechanism 28 for advancing the consumer goods 16
towards the
aperture 18. As shown most clearly in Figures 3, 6 and 7, the dispensing
mechanism 28
comprises a piston 30 slidably received within the housing 12 and a button 32
positioned outside
the housing 12. The button 32 is connected to a shaft 34 that extends through
an elongate slot
36 in a wall of the housing 12. The shaft 34 is connected to the piston 30 by
a flexible pawl 38,
the flexible pawl 38 engaging a series of ratchet teeth 40 provided on an
inner surface of the
housing 12 and extending parallel to the elongate slot 36. A low friction
material 42, such as
polytetrafluoroethylene, may be provided between the piston 30 and the inner
surface of the
housing 12.
To dispense a consumer good 16 from the container 10, a consumer can push the
button
32 along the elongate slot 36 to advance the piston 30 and the consumer goods
16 towards the
aperture 18. As the dispensing mechanism 28 advances towards the aperture 18
and each
consumer good 16 is dispensed, the flexible pawl 38 engages successive ratchet
teeth 40 so that
the dispensing mechanism 28 remains in position and ready to dispense the next
consumer good
16.
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During dispensing of each consumer good 16, the piston 30 pushes the plurality
of
consumer goods 16 towards the aperture 18 so that the consumer good 16
positioned closest to
the aperture 18 is advanced between the first and second sealing flaps 20, 22
and the first and
second portions 24,26 of the inner liner 14, as shown in Figures 8 and 9 (for
illustrative purposes,
only the top and bottom portions of the container 10 are shown in Figures 8
and 9).
The first and second portions 24, 26 of the inner liner 14 may each be
provided with a
protrusion 44, the protrusions 44 on the first and second portions 24, 26
forming a restriction in
the opening at the top of the inner liner 14. During dispensing of a consumer
good 16, the next
consumer good 16 in the container 10 is received in the restriction and
grasped between the
protrusions 44 so that the consumer good 16 remains adjacent the aperture 18
for dispensing
during a subsequent actuation of the dispensing mechanism 28.
Once all of the consumer goods 16 have been dispensed from the container 10,
the
dispensing mechanism 28 can be reset and the container 10 refilled with a
further plurality of
consumer goods 16. To reset the dispensing mechanism 28, a consumer can push
the button
32 towards the housing 12 to deflect the flexible pawl 38 and disengage the
flexible pawl 38 from
the ratchet teeth 40. With the flexible pawl 38 disengaged from the ratchet
teeth 40, the piston
30 can be returned to the bottom of the housing 12 by sliding the button 32
along the elongate
slot 36 away from the aperture 18.
After resetting the dispensing mechanism 28, the container can be refilled by
opening a
moveable panel 46 connected to the piston 30 by a hinge. Specifically, the
moveable panel 46 is
pivotable about the hinge between a closed position in which the moveable
panel 46 covers an
opening extending through the piston 30 and an open position in which consumer
goods 16 can
be inserted into the housing 12 through the opening extending through the
piston 30. To retain
the moveable panel 46 in the closed position a locking mechanism 48 is
provided on the moveable
panel 46. The locking mechanism 48, the moveable panel 46 and the opening
extending through
the piston 30 are accessible via an opening 50 in the bottom of the housing
12.
