EP1615830B2 - Folding box for cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

The hinge-lid pack comprising box part (11) and lid (12) features a polygon-like configuration in the region of its side walls (22, 23), namely having angular wall legs (28, 29) and a narrow, transverse side wall (22, 23). The cross-sectional shape of the hinge-lid pack thus conforms to the contour of a cigarette group as the pack's contents, with the cigarette group having at its edges adjacent to the side walls (22, 23) a marginal transverse row of 2 cigarettes and adjacent thereto a transverse row of 3 cigarettes.

Description

The invention relates to a folding box for cigarettes with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Standard folding boxes are formed with rectangular cross-section, upright packing edges. In a modified embodiment of this type of package according to US 2002/0179464 beveled edge edges are provided, wherein the bevel is adapted to the contour of the usual cigarette formation of the cigarette group within the pack, namely with (three) rows of cigarettes parallel to the large-area sides of the pack. The bevelled edges of the pack eliminate the voids at the corners or edges of conventional folding cartons.

In an octagonal formed in the partial area folding box ( WO 02/32786 ) is a bottom wall on the one hand and an end wall on the other hand rectangular. A middle octagonal packing part goes into a rectangular shape at the bottom and top. Within the package, a collar is spaced from the package walls to provide a reduced payload space for a cigarette group. The package is problematic in terms of industrial manufacturing. In addition, there is a lack of optimal use of the interior by the cigarette group.

Another folding box ( DE 101 35 409 ) is formed with roof-shaped side walls which therefore consist of two at an obtuse angle to each other arranged wall legs. The cross-sectional contour of the package is therefore hexagonal. This results in a formation of the cigarette group in three rows, the middle row having an additional, laterally projecting cigarette.

Furthermore, different, polygonal packaging forms are known in which the formation of the cigarette group is adapted to the package contour ( US 5,487,468 ). The packs have predominantly a non-uniform cross-sectional shape. Some embodiments with octagonal cross-section do not suggest an optimal fit to a particular cigarette formation.

The invention has for its object to propose a new form for a cigarette pack of the type folding box, which ensures optimum adaptation to a particular formation of the cigarette group and can nevertheless be manufactured on efficient packaging machines.

To solve this problem, the erfindungsmäße pack is characterized by the features of claim 1.

In the case of the present package, therefore, its cross-sectional shape is matched to the cigarette formation, such that a mutual support or positive fixing of the cigarettes takes place. The package thus obtains a stable shape and is material-friendly to manufacture.

Fig. 1

eine Klappschachtel in Schließstellung bei perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

die Packung gemäß Fig. 1 bei geöffnetem Deckel,

Fig. 3

eine Klappschachtel in einer gegenüber Fig. 1 modifizierte Ausführung in perspektivischer Darstellung.

Fig. 4

die Klappschachtel gemäß Fig. 3 bei geöffnetem Deckel,

Fig. 5

einen ausgebreitetem Zuschnitt für eine Klappschachtel gemäß Fig. 1, Fig. 2,

Fig. 6

einen Zuschnitt für einen Kragen,

Fig. 7

einen ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt für Packungen gemäß Fig. 3, Fig. 4,

Fig. 8

einen Zuschnitt für einen Kragen,

Fig. 9

eine mit Zigaretten gefüllte Klappschachtel im Horizontalschnitt in der Schnittebene IX-IX der Fig. 1 (linke Detaildarstellung) sowie eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels (rechte Detaildarstellung)

Fig. 10

eine Klappschachtel gemäß Fig. 3 mit Zigaretten im Horizontalschnitt in der Schnittebene X-X der Fig. 3.

Further features of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a folding box in the closed position in perspective view,

Fig. 2

the pack according to Fig. 1 with lid open,

Fig. 3

a folding box in one opposite Fig. 1 modified embodiment in perspective view.

Fig. 4

the folding box according to Fig. 3 with lid open,

Fig. 5

a spread blank for a folding box according to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 .

Fig. 6

a blank for a collar,

Fig. 7

a spread blank for packages according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 .

Fig. 8

a blank for a collar,

Fig. 9

a folding box filled with cigarettes in horizontal section in the sectional plane IX-IX of the Fig. 1 (left detail view) and another embodiment (right detail view)

Fig. 10

a folding box according to Fig. 3 with cigarettes in horizontal section in the plane XX of the Fig. 3 ,

The packs shown are A folding box consists in the Grundkonstruldion from a (lower) box part 11 and a lid 12. In the box part 11 front collar 13, here from a separate blank, attached, which protrudes with a portion of the box part 11 and in the closed position of the lid 12 is covered by this.

Box part 11 and cover 12 consist of a one-piece blank. This is constructed so that in the longitudinal direction successive areas for a box front wall 14, a bottom wall 15, a box rear wall 16, a lid rear wall 17, an end wall 18 and a lid front wall 19 are formed. Box part 11 and lid 12 are connected to each other in the region of the box rear wall 16 and lid rear wall 17 by a transverse hinge line 20 which extends only in the region of the rear walls 16, 17. To a free side of the lid front wall 19 includes a lid inner tab 21, which is folded in the finished folding box against the inside of the lid front wall 19 and connected thereto.

Folding tabs connect to the box front wall 14, box rear wall 16, lid rear wall 17, and lid front wall 19 to form box side walls 22 and lid side walls 23. These side walls 22, 23 are formed by overlapping and interconnected folding flaps formed, namely box side tabs 24, 25 on the one hand and lid side tabs 26, 27 on the other. The side tabs 24, 26 each form the outside of the double-layered side walls 22, 23. The side tabs 25, 27 are inside.

A peculiarity of the folding box lies in the design or construction of the same in an area adjacent to the box-Seüenwänden 22 and cover side walls 23. The formed with a comparatively smaller width box front wall 14, box rear wall 16, lid rear wall 17 and cover Front wall 19 are connected via an intermediate piece respectively with the side walls 22, 23 and with the corresponding side tabs 24..27. These are a box-leg 28, 29 and each cover-legs 30, 31. These wall legs 28..31 are by strips of material of the blank between the side tabs 24..27 and the associated walls, namely box front wall 14th , Box rear wall 16, lid rear wall 17 and lid front wall 19 on the other hand formed. All wall portions of the blank are delimited from one another by longitudinal fold lines 32 and transverse fold lines 33.

The described areas of the blank are - viewed in cross-section of the package - arranged at an angle to each other. The strips of material, namely box legs 28, 29 and lid legs 30, 31 are at an acute angle 39 of in particular about 30 ° to the adjacent box front wall 14 or box rear wall 16 or lid rear wall 17 or lid front wall 19th aligned. The side walls, namely box side walls 22 and lid side walls 23 are preferably directed at an angle 40 of about 60 ° to the strips of material or legs 28..31. This results in a cross-sectionally approximately trapezoidal packing in the lateral area ( Fig. 9, Fig. 10 ).

The dimensions of the folding boxes and in particular of the approximately trapezoidal side area result from the dimensions of the cigarettes 10, but in particular from the selected formation of a cigarette group 34 as the contents of the folding box. In a preferred content of twenty cigarettes 10, a formation of transverse rows 35, 36 of cigarettes 10 is provided, wherein each edge-side transverse row 35 consists of two adjacent cigarettes 10 and an adjacent transverse row 36 of three cigarettes 10. The cigarettes 10 of the adjacent transverse rows 35, 36 are positioned in "sattettage", that is offset from one another. The content of the folding box thereby has an edge-converging cross-sectional profile. This is fittingly taken almost formally liquid from the profile of the folding box.

A special feature are the dimensions of the material strips or legs 28..31. These have the same width, namely much larger than the diameter of a single cigarette 10, but smaller than the added diameter of two adjacent cigarettes 10. The dimension is chosen so that cigarettes 10 of the transverse rows 35, 36 each in the area of a fold lines formed bend 38, 38 are arranged. This results in a dimensionally stable folding box, since the directed at an angle to each other wall areas, namely legs 28..31 and side walls 22, 23 each receive a support on two adjacent cigarettes 10. Alternatively, the cigarette group 34 can also be designed such that only one transverse row 35 of two cigarettes 10 in the other but exclusively transverse row 36 of three cigarettes 10 are formed at the edge.

The design of the folding box in the lateral area results in a material saving. It is provided that only the side walls 22, 23 are formed in two layers, so the side tabs 24..27 have a width which corresponds approximately to the width of the side walls 22, 23.

Another special feature is that individual or all upright packaging edges, so the kinks 37, 38 are rounded. In the embodiment according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 . Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 a particularly advantageous embodiment is shown, in which only the kinks 37 are formed as round edges with a preferably circular rounding with adaptation to the dimension or the radius of the adjacent cigarettes. In the best case, the edge or corner cigarettes 10 are positively wrapped by the walls of the folding box. The side tabs 24..27 are in this case formed with a very small width, so that an overlap is given only outside the curves of the bend 37. In the area of the bend 38, sharp but obtuse-angled edges remain.

The design of the folding box with only rounded edges or kinks 37, 38 is in cross section in Fig. 9 , right detail, shown. Both kinks 37, 38 are rounded, preferably circular to accommodate the dimension of a cigarette 10th

The contents of the folding box, namely the group of cigarettes 34, are surrounded by an inner wrapping 41 consisting of tinfoil, paper or foil.

The blanks for the production of the folding box in the different embodiments are formed in a special way. According to Fig. 5 is defined by box front wall 14, box rear wall 16, etc. defined middle region with a smaller width than in conventional folding boxes. Also, the total width of the blank is less than the width of a blank for a standard folding box.

Bottom wall 15 and end wall 18 are adapted to the contour of the folding box, by trapezoidal shaped edge regions with beveled edges 42 and a transverse edge 43. The bevelled edges 42 abut in the finished package butt against the box legs 28, 29 and against the lid Legs 30, 31. The transverse edge 43 is in each case on the inner box side flap 25 (bottom wall 15) and on the inner lid side tabs 27 (end wall 18). In the embodiment according to Fig. 7 is between the beveled edges 42 on the one hand and the transverse edges 43 on the other hand in each case a rounding 44 is formed, which corresponds to the curves of the kinks 37.

The curves or rounded kinks 37, 38 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 . Fig. 10 or in the embodiment according to Fig. 9 , right, are defined by a rounding strip 45 of the blank. This rounding strip 45 usually consists of a number of parallel grooves, which are introduced by embossing in the packaging material (thin cardboard). In the embodiment according to Fig. 9 , right, the inner longitudinal fold line 32 is formed as a rounding strip 45.

Bottom wall 15 on the one hand and end wall 18 on the other hand are respectively connected to the box side wall 22 and the lid side wall 23, by bottom corner tabs 46 and by cover corner tabs 47. The corner tabs 46, 47 extending in extension of the inside Box side tabs 25 and the lid side tabs 27. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 such as Fig. 5 the corner tabs 46, 47 are formed so that an appropriate, form-fitting support of outer flap edges in the region of the bottom wall 15 at the box front wall 14 and box legs 28 is given. Accordingly, free flap edges of the end-face corner tabs 47 abut the cover front wall 19 and the adjacent cover leg 30 (FIG. Fig. 2 ). The dimensional stability of the package is thereby increased.

In the embodiment with round edges ( Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Figure 7 ) corresponds to the width of the corner tabs 46, 47 of the width of these associated folding tabs 25, 27. The total width of the blank is not exceeded in this embodiment in the region of the corner tabs 46, 47. In the finished folding box, the corner tabs 46, 47 are connected to bottom wall 15 and end wall 18 by gluing.

The existing here from a separate blank collar 13 is adapted to the shape of the folding box. A collar front wall 48 is in the embodiment according to Fig. 5 - fitting Fig. 1, Fig. 2 - Limited by collar fold lines 49. This is followed laterally against each other delimited strips of material 50, 51, which are delimited from each other by a more pronounced collar fold line 52. This consists in this embodiment of a perforation line, which ensures a reliable folding of the material strips 50, 51 in the angular position to each other. A special feature is a collar leg 53 which adjoins the outer material strip 51 and is bounded by a collar fold line 49 and which rests against the rear box leg 29 or cover leg 31 in the finished folding box ( Fig. 4 ). By this collar-leg 53 a higher stability is ensured. In addition, it is facilitated by this in the contour inwardly folded collar leg 53 of the closing operation of the lid 12 after opening.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 8 - fitting Fig. 3, Fig. 4 - is the middle collar fold line 52 of Fig. 6 replaced by a rounding strip 54, the adjustment of the collar to the package shape according to Fig. 3, Fig. 4 in the area of the rounded bend 37 (FIG. Fig. 10 ) guaranteed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Cigarette

11

box part

12

cover

13

collar

14

Box front wall

15

bottom wall

16

Box rear wall

17

Lid rear wall

18

bulkhead

19

Lid front wall

20

joint line

21

Lid inner tab

22

Box side wall

23

Lid sidewall

24

Box side tabs

25

Box side tabs

26

Lid side tabs

27

Lid side tabs

28

Box-leg

29

Box-leg

30

Lid leg

31

Lid leg

32

longitudinal fold

33

transverse fold

34

cigarette group

35

transverse row

36

transverse row

37

kinking

38

kinking

39

angle

40

angle

41

inner wrapping

42

bevel

43

transverse edge

44

curve

45

rounding strips

46

Base corner tabs

47

Lid corner tabs

48

Collar front wall

49

Collar fold line

50

strips of material

51

strips of material

52

Collar fold line

53

Collar leg

54

rounding strips

Claims (7)

1. Hinge-lid pack for a cigarette group (34) formed from cigarettes (10) comprising a box part (11) with box front wall (14), box rear wall (16), box side walls (22) and base wall (15), and a lid (12) which is pivotably attached to the box part (11) and which comprises lid front wall (19), lid rear wall (17), lid side walls (23) and end wall (18), wherein box part (11) and lid (12) are configured as having a matching octagonal cross-section and a lateral region facing the box side walls (22) and lid side walls (23) is configured as having a cross-section that is trapezoid in shape, with converging material strips, namely legs (28, 29; 30, 31), connected respectively to the box front wall (14) and box rear wall (16) and to the lid front wall (19) and lid rear wall (17), characterized by the following features:

   a) the width of the legs (28, 29; 30, 31) is greater than the diameter of one cigarette (10) but less than the aggregate diameter of two adjacent cigarettes (10),

   b the legs (28, 29; 30, 31) are directed at an angle (39) of (approximately) 30° to the box front wall (14) and box rear wall (16), and to the lid front wall (19) and lid rear wall (17), respectively, and are directed at an angle (40) of (approximately) 60° to the transverse box side wall (22) and lid side wall (23),

   c) the cigarette group (34) comprises in its marginal region - in the region of the trapezoid-shaped cross section - a marginal transverse row (35) with two adjacent cigarettes (10) and a transverse row (36) arranged adjacent thereto with three adjacent cigarettes (10),

   d) the cigarettes (10) of the transverse row (35) assume a saddle position with respect to the cigarettes (10) of the transverse row (36),

   e) the cigarettes (10) of a marginal transverse row (35) of two adjacent cigarettes (10) are arranged in the region of angulations (37) between a box side wall (22) and lid side wall (23), on one hand, and box legs (28) and lid legs (30), on the other hand,

   f) marginal cigarettes of an adjacent transverse row (36) with three cigarettes (10) are arranged in the region of an angulation (38) between the box legs (28) and lid legs (30), on one hand, and box front wall (14), box rear wall (16), lid front wall (19) and lid rear wall (17), on the other hand.

   g) a collar (13) made from a separate blank conforms to the contour or cross-sectional profile in the region of the legs (28, 29; 30, 31),

   h) the collar (13) has marginal extensions, in particular a collar leg (53), which abuts the inner side of the rear box legs (29) and lid legs (31)
2. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the width of the side walls (22, 23) comprised of two overlapping side tabs (24, 25; 26, 27) is somewhat less than the dimensions of two adjacent cigarettes (10), in particular of the marginal transverse row (35).
3. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the angulations (37) and/or the angulations (38) are each formed as rounded corners, namely with a preferably circular-shaped rounding formed by curvature strips (45), specifically by conforming to the contour and dimension of the cigarettes (10) lying opposite the angulations (37, 38).
4. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 3 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the angulations (37) bordering the side walls (22, 23) are rounded or configured as rounded corners and that the angulations (38) between the legs (28, 29; 30, 31), on one hand, and the front side and rear side, on the other hand, have an angular configuration.
5. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 3 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that, in the case of rounded angulations (38), the side tabs (24, 25; 26, 27) extend exclusively in the region between the adjacent, rounded angulations (38) and overlap one another.
6. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that base corner tabs (46) and lid corner tabs (47) are arranged as the continuation of interior box side tabs (25) and lid side tabs (27), respectively, with the corner tabs (46, 47) being adapted to the contour of the base wall (15) and end wall (18) by means of corresponding exposed tab edges, or corresponding in their transverse dimensions to the width of their assigned side tabs (25, 27).
7. Hinge-lid pack according to Claim 1 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that the collar (13) has material strips (50) assigned to the front legs (28, 30) at either side of a collar front wall (48) and material strips (51) connected thereto in the region of side walls (22, 23), with the exposed edges of the material strips (51) being joined to collar legs (53), which abut the rear legs (29, 31).

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