EP0769457A1

EP0769457A1 - Rigid hinged-lid container for cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP0769457A1
Application number: EP96830530A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alberto Manservigi; Fiorenzo Draghetti
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1995-10-20
Filing date: 1996-10-15
Publication date: 1997-04-23
Also published as: IT1279667B1; ITBO950501A0; ITBO950501A1

Abstract

A rigid hinged-lid container (1, 56, 66) for cigarettes (2) defined by a lower cup-shaped body (3) and by a lid (5), which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to an open upper end (4) of the body (3) so that it can open and close on the body (3) itself; the container (1, 56, 66) has the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular front wall (18), a rectangular back wall (17) and two rectangular end walls (9, 14) and two rhomboid-shaped side walls (19).

Description

The present invention relates to a rigid hinged-lid container for cigarettes.
The present invention can be applied, in particular, to the production of cigarette packets and cartons.
In the tobacco sector, it is usual to produce rigid hinged-lid cigarette containers, which, as packets, are used for a set number of cigarettes arranged together in two or more rows or, if they are the right size, as cartons, that is, containers for a set number of cigarette packets arranged together in two or more rows. These well-known containers normally have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and have the disadvantage that, in them, the products, whether cigarettes or packets, making up each of the said rows, are arranged at the same level as the corresponding products in the adjacent rows and are therefore difficult to take out, especially when the container is completely full.
With regard to the cigarette packets, it is usual to avoid this problem, maintaining the shape of the packets themselves but increasing their length to allow the insertion, in the bottom of the body, of shaped elements which give the bottom itself a stepped shape. By arranging each row of cigarettes on one of the steps, it is possible to offset the free ends of the cigarettes with respect to the free ends of the cigarettes in the adjacent rows, making it easier to take the cigarettes out of the packet. This result, however, is achieved by increasing the length of the packet which makes handling of the packet more difficult and increases the amount of card used.
The object of the present invention is to produce a container which enables the lengthways off-setting of the rows of products contained within but is substantially free of the problems outlined above.
The present invention discloses a rigid hinged-lid container for cigarettes which has the form of a parallelepiped with a front wall, a back wall, two upper and lower end walls and two side walls at right angles to the front, back and end walls; and has a lower cup-shaped body and a lid which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to an open upper end of the body to open and close on the body itself; the container being characterised in that the said side walls are substantially rhomboid shaped.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some embodiments of the invention by way of example only and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention in a closed position;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container in Figure 1 in an open position;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank used to make the container in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention in a closed position;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container in Figure 4 in an open position;
Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank used to make the container in Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the container of the present invention in a closed position;
Figure 8 is a plan view of a blank used to make the container in Figure 7 .

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a container consisting of a rigid packet 1 which can contain a group of cigarettes 2 and includes a lower cup-shaped body 3 and has an open upper end 4 and an upper lid 5 which is also cup-shaped and hinged to the body 3 to open and close on the open end 4.
The body 3 has a front wall 6 and a back wall 7 which are parallel to each other and are partially offset from each other lengthways, that is, in a direction parallel to a lengthways axis (not illustrated) of the packet 1. The body 3 also has two side walls 8 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the walls 6 and 7 and a bottom wall 9 perpendicular to the walls 8 and angled with respect to walls 6 and 7. In particular, the wall 9 is angled in such a way that it forms an angle of about 60° with wall 6. Finally, the body 3 has a wall 10, which forms a connecting bevel between the walls 6 and 9 and is perpendicular both to walls 8 and to the line bisecting the angle between the walls 6 and 9 themselves.
The lid 5 has a front wall 11 and a back wall 12 parallel to each other and partially offset from each other lengthways, that is, in a direction parallel to a lengthways axis (not illustrated) of the packet 1. The lid 5 also has two side walls 13, parallel to each other and perpendicular to walls 11 and 12 and a bottom wall 14 perpendicular to the walls 13 and angled with respect to walls 11 and 12. In particular, the wall 14 is angled in such a way that it forms an angle of about 60° with wall 12 and therefore is parallel to wall 9 when the packet 1 is closed. Finally, the lid 5 has a wall 15, which forms a connecting bevel between the walls 12 and 14 and is perpendicular both to walls 13 and to the line bisecting the angle between the walls 12 and 14 themselves.
The walls 7 and 12 are joined to each other along a hinge 16 of the lid 5 which together define a back wall 17 of the packet 1; in the same way, when the lid 5 is closed, the wall 11 is co-planar and adjacent to the wall 6 to make a front wall 18 of the packet 1 and each wall 13 is co-planar and adjacent to the relative wall 8 to make a relative side wall 19 of the packet 1. Because of the angled position of the walls 9 and 14, each wall 19 is substantially rhomboid shaped.
Finally, the packet 1 has a U-shaped inner frame 21 which partially protrudes from the end 4 and includes a central wall 22 which has a central hollow 23 open towards the lid 5 which forms on the wall 22 itself, a lowered central section 24 and two side wings 25 which extend to the lid 5. The wall 22 is connected to the internal surface of the wall 6 from which it protrudes with part of the section 24 and the wings 25 and connects two side walls 26 which are connected to the internal surface of the respective walls 8 from which the walls 26 themselves partially protrude towards the lid 5.
With reference to Figure 3, the packet 1 is obtained, by way of example, starting with a flat blank 27, whose parts will be labelled, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with a dash added, used to label the corresponding parts of the packet 1.
With reference to Figure 3, the blank 27 has a substantially elongated rectangular shape very similar to that of a blank commonly used for producing rigid hinged-lid packets and has a plurality of pre-weakened transversal folding lines labelled 28 to 35 and two pre-weakened lengthways folding lines 36 and 37.
The lines 28 to 35 make, between lines 36 and 37, a first end panel 11' which extends between lines 28 and 29; a strengthening tab 38 connected to the panel 11' along the line 28; a first intermediate panel 14' extending between lines 29 and 30; a second intermediate panel 12' extending between lines 31 and 32 and lower in height than panel 11'; a panel 15', lower in height, for connecting panels 12' and 14' to each other; a central panel 7' extending between lines 32 and 33; a third intermediate panel 9' extending between lines 33 and 34; a second end panel 6' extending from the line 35; and a panel 10', equal in height to panel 15', extending between lines 34 and 35 and connecting panels 6' and 9'. Both lines 36 and 37 form, outside the panels 11', 12', 7' and 6' respective wings labelled 39 to 42 in Figure 3. The wings 40 are outside the panel 12' and have respective lengthways extensions 43 which are joined to the wings themselves 40 along respective pre-weakened folding lines 44 which are arranged obliquely with respect to lines 36 and 37 and convergent between them and towards the tab 38. In particular, each line 44 forms, with the respective adjacent line 36 and 37, an angle equal to that between the body 3 walls 6 and 9. The wings 41 are outside the panel 7' and have respective lengthways extensions 46 which are joined to the wings 41 themselves along respective pre-weakened folding lines 47 parallel to the respective lines 44.
Each of the wings 39 is substantially rhomboid shaped and is externally delimited by a section of the relative line 36 and 37 by an external lengthways edge 50 parallel to lines 36 and 37 and by two edges 51a and 51b which are parallel to each other and to lines 44 and 47 and extend outwards from panel 11' starting from lines 28 and 29, respectively. In each wing 39, the edges 50 and 51b are connected by a flat bevel 49 perpendicular to the line bisecting the angle between the edges 50 and 51b themselves.
Each of the wings 40 is substantially rhomboid shaped similar to the wing 39 and is externally delimited by a lengthways edge which is parallel to lines 36 and 37, forming the extension of the edge 50 of the respective wing 39 and is also labelled 50. In each wing 40, the edge defined by the line 44 and the edge defined by the line 36 and 37 are connected by a flat bevel 52 perpendicular to the line bisecting the angle between the above two edges, parallel to the relative bevel 49 and extending outwards from a respective end of the line 31.
Each extension 43 has the shape of a rectangle trapezium. One upper base is represented by the line 44 and the oblique side coincides with an extension of the edge 50 of wings 39 and 40.
Each of the wings 41 is substantially rhomboid shaped and is externally delimited by a lengthways edge which is parallel to lines 36 and 37, forming the extension of the edge 50 of the respective wing 39 and is also labelled 50. In each wing 41, the relative edge 50 and the edge defined by the relative line 47 are connected by a flat bevel 54 perpendicular to the line bisecting the angle between the above two edges and parallel to the relative bevels 49 and 52.
Each of the extensions 46 has a substantially triangular shape. One side is defined by a section of the respective line 36 and 37 and one vertex is beveled on line 34 with a respective bevel 53 parallel to and arranged on the extension of the line 34 itself.
Finally, the wings 42 are also substantially rhomboid shaped equal in width to wings 39, 40 and 41, and have oblique end edges parallel to the corresponding edges 51. Near to the lines 35, the wings 42 have bevels 55 parallel to the corresponding bevels 49, 52 and 54.
The line 32 forms the hinge 16 and the wings 41 and 42, after being folded by 90° with respect to panels 7' and 6', are overlapped when the panels 6' and 7' are rotated by 90° towards each other with respect to panels 9' and 10', the wings forming the side walls 8 of the body 3; the extensions 46 are folded by 90° with respect to the wings 41 and are turned with the same wings 41 to bring them into contact with the internal surface of the panel 9' and form, together with the same panel 9', the wall 9. In the same way, the wings 39 and 40 of the panels 11' and 12' are folded by 90° with respect to panels 11' and 12' and are overlapped when the panels 11', 12' and 15' are rotated towards each other with respect to panel 14' to form the side walls 13 of the lid 5; and the extensions 43 are folded by 90° with respect to the wings 40 and are turned with the same wings 40 to bring them into contact with the internal surface of the panel 14' and form, together with the same panel 14', the wall 14.
Notice that at the end of the folding operations described above, the bevels 49 and 52 overlap each other and coincide with, but are not connected to, the side edges of the panel 15'; similarly, the bevels 54 and 55 overlap each other and coincide with, but are not connected to, the side edges of the panel 10'. Therefore, the connecting walls 10 and 15 are not connected to the walls 19 with the consequence that both the body 3 and the lid 5 have straight-lined bevels at the opposite side ends of the walls 10 and 15, respectively.
The folding of the blank 27 only produces the body 3 and the lid 5 and so the inner frame 21 must be produced separately with separate folding and must be then connected to the body 3. The inner frame 21 is of the type commonly used to produce rectangular cigarette packets.
From the above description and the drawings in Figures 2 and 3, it is clear that the open end 4 of the body 3 develops on an angled plane substantially parallel to the wall 9 whose angled position with respect to the front 6 and back 7 walls of the body 3 itself allows the cigarettes 2 to be arranged in three rows of different heights which thereby facilitates the removal of the cigarettes 2 themselves from the body 3 when the packet 1 is full.
According to an embodiment not illustrated, the walls 10' and 15' and the bevels 49, 52, 54 and 55 are not present and are each replaced by a respective pre-weakened line (not illustrated).
The embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 relates to a packet 56 which is very similar to the packet 1 and whose parts are distinguished, where possible, by the same reference numbers used for the corresponding parts of the packet 1.
With respect to the packet 1, in the packet 56, the connecting walls 10 and 15 are curved, cylindrical walls; and the packet 56 itself is produced starting with a blank 59 which differs from the blank 27 because of the presence, on panels 10' and 15', respectively, of a plurality of transversal weakened lines 60 and 61. Moreover, in the blank 59, the flat bevels 49, 52, 54 and 55 of the blank 26 are replaced by corresponding curved, circular bevels 62, 63, 64 and 65 all with the same radius.
Like packet 1, the packet 56 also, after the folding has been completed, is open at the opposite ends of the walls 10 and 15.
Finally, with reference to Figure 7, the numeral 66 indicates a rigid container for a plurality of packets 1 which has a similar shape to that of the single packets 1 inside it. Given the similarity between the container 66 and the packet 1, the parts of the container 66 will be labelled, where possible, with the same reference numbers used to label the corresponding parts of the packet 1.
In the same way as the packet 1, the container 66 includes a cup-shaped lower body 3 which has an open upper end 4 and an upper lid 5, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the body 3 to open and close on the end 4.
In the same way as the packet 1, the container 66 is also delimited by a back wall 17 divided in two parts by the hinge 16, a front wall 18 parallel to wall 17, but with a different height with respect to the wall 17, two side walls 19 perpendicular to the walls 17 and 18, an upper wall 14 connected to wall 17 using a connecting wall 15 and positioned, along with the same connecting wall 15, perpendicular to the walls 19 and a bottom wall 9 connected to the front wall 18 using a connecting wall 10 and positioned, along with the same connecting wall 10, perpendicular to walls 19. In particular, the walls 9 and 14 are parallel to each other and are angled with respect to walls 17 and 18 in such a way that they give walls 19 a rhomboid shape.
With reference to Figure 8, the container 66 is obtained, by way of example, starting with a flat blank 68 similar to the blank 27 and for whose description the description relating to the blank 27 itself holds. With regard to the blank 68 itself, it is only necessary to state that, in it, the panels 6', 7', 10', 12', 15' and 11' have heights which approximate, in excess, the heights of the corresponding panels of the blank 27 and widths which are a multiple (in this particular case, 5) of the width of the corresponding panels of the blank 27. Moreover, in the blank 68, the panels 9' and 14' have a height which approximate, in excess, a multiple (in this particular case, 2) of the height of the corresponding panels of the blank 27.
In the same way as the packet 1, the container 66 is also open at the bevels 49, 52, 54 and 55, after the folding has been completed.
As with the packet 1, the bevels 49, 52, 54 and 55 may not be present or may be replaced with rounded bevels similar to those of the packet 56 when the container 66 must contain packets 56.

Claims

A rigid hinged-lid (5) container for cigarettes, the container (1, 56, 66) having the shape of a parallelepiped which has a front wall (17), a back wall (18) and two upper and lower end walls (14 and 9) and two side walls (19) at right angles to the front (17), back (18) and end (14 and 9) walls; and having a lower cup-shaped body (3) and a lid (5) which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to an open upper end of the body (3) to open and close on the body (3) itself; the container (1, 56, 66) being characterised in that the said side walls (19) are substantially rhomboid shaped.
The container, according to claim 1, characterised in that the end walls (14 and 9) are parallel to each other and are angled at a set angle with respect to the said front (17) and back (18) walls.
The container, according to claim 2, characterised in that the upper end wall (14) form with the said back wall (18) an angle of about 60°.
The container, according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the said open upper end (4) is positioned on a plane parallel to the end walls (14 and 9).
The container, according to any of the claims from 2 to 4, characterised in that it has the shape of a parallelepiped with at least one transversal beveled edge (10 and 15).
The container, according to claim 5, characterised in that the said transversal beveled edge (10 and 15) is a flat transversal beveled edge (10 and 15) formed by a flat oblique connecting wall (10 and 15) between one lengthways end of one of the front (17) and back (18) walls and the adjacent end wall (9 and 14).
The container, according to claim 6, characterised in that the said connecting wall (10 and 15) is positioned substantially perpendicular to a line bisecting the said angle.
The container, according to claim 5, characterised in that the said transversal beveled edge (10 and 15) is a curved transversal beveled edge (10 and 15) formed by a curved connecting wall (10 and 15) between one lengthways end of one of the front (17) and back (18) walls and the adjacent end wall (9 and 14).
The container, according to any of the claims from 6 to 8, characterised in that the said connecting wall (10 and 15) has side end edges which extend along, but are not connected to, corresponding peripheral sections of the respective side walls (19).
The container, according to claim 9, characterised in that it is produced starting from a flat blank (27, 59 and 68) substantially rectangular in shape which has two lengthways pre-weakened lines (36 and 37) and a plurality of transversal pre-weakened lines(28-35) which form, with the said two lengthways lines (36 and 37) and for both the body (3) and the lid (5), a front panel (6' and 11'), an end panel (9' and 14') and a back panel (7' and 12'); each front panel (6' and 11') having two opposite lengthways front side wings (42 and 39); each back panel (7' and 12') has two opposite lengthways back side wings (41 and 40); each lengthways front side wing (42 and 39) being aligned to a corresponding lengthways back side wing (41 and 40) and being designed to overlap the corresponding lengthways back side wing (41 and 40) itself to form a section of a respective side wall (19) of the container itself (1, 56 and 66); each side wing (39, 40, 41 and 42) being angled at the same angle with respect to the relative panel (11', 12', 7' and 6').
The container, according to claim 10, characterised in that in each pair (39, 40, 41 and 42) of corresponding side wings (39, 40, 41 and 42), each side wing (39, 40, 41 and 42) has, at its own lengthways end, a bevel (49, 52, 54 and 55) forming, with the corresponding bevel (52, 49, 54 and 55) of the corresponding side wing (40, 39, 42 and 41) a peripheral section of the respective side wall (19).
The container, according to claim 11, characterised in that in each said pair (39, 40, 41 and 42) of corresponding side wings (39, 40, 41 and 42), a first said bevel (52 and 55) is formed on a first (40 and 42) of the said side wings (39, 40, 41 and 42) adjacent to the relative said lengthways line (36 and 37), and a second said bevel (49 and 54) is formed on a second (39 and 42) of the said side wings (39, 40, 41 and 42) adjacent to a lengthways edge of the second side wing (39 and 42) itself opposite the said lengthways line (36 and 37).
The container, according to claim 12, characterised in that the side wings of each pair (39, 40, 41 and 42) of corresponding side wings have transversal end edges (51b and 44) facing each other; one (40) of the two side wings (39 and 40) corresponding to a said pair having a lengthways extension (43) extending from the relative said end edge (44) towards the other corresponding side wing (39); the said bevel (52) forming an end section of the said end edge (44); and the said extension (43) extending from the remaining part of the said end edge (44) and which tapers starting from the said end edge (44) itself.
The container, according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it is a packet (1, 56) of cigarettes.
The container, according to any of the claims from 1 to 13, characterised in that it is a container (66) for packets (1, 56) of cigarettes.