EP1960275B1 - Smoking-article pack with push-out aperture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a package for smoking articles, in particular for cigarettes. More specifically, it is a pack that falls into the familiar category of shell and slide packs.

Shell and slide packages, especially for cigarettes are already known from the prior art. Common to this pack category is that the packs are usually made from two blanks. The one blank encloses the cigarette block and constitutes the inner part of the pack. The second blank accommodates the inner pack part with the cigarette block and thus constitutes the outer pack part. In this case, the inner pack part is displaceable in the outer pack part, whereby the cigarettes for the consumer become accessible.

Shell and slide packages are known from the prior art, which can be opened by displacement in a direction perpendicular to the cigarette axis in the package (first category), or by displacement along the axis of the cigarette (second category).

Packs of the first category include those in the WO 2004 / 024595A and the GB 2115386A described embodiments. These are essentially cuboid packages whose inner packing part is on a narrow side, the top is open to allow access to the cigarettes. The other five sides of the inner pack part are closed. A closure or lid member over the open side is not provided. The outer package part is also closed on five sides, but the open side is a narrow side. On the opposite narrow side there is a recess through which the inner packing part of the outer Packing part can be ejected. Opening and closing of the pack is not possible in a pleasant, ergonomic way with one hand, but rather requires ambidextrous handling.

The second category includes more diverse embodiments. Again, these are essentially parallelepipedic packages. In the inner parts of the pack are the cigarettes. However, the packages are also closed on the top by a closure or a lid member. By pushing out the inner packing part from the outer packing part, the closure of the inner packing part is opened in different ways and often closed again during insertion.

The outer packing part may be smaller than the inner packing part. He then forms a kind of bandage around the inner packing part, which can be on the inner packing part and deported. Examples of such packages are in the US 3,773,247 , of the US 3,977,520 , of the GB 979302 and the US 4,049,117 to find. Again, opening and closing the package with one hand is almost impossible and can not be called ergonomic in any case.

However, most packages of the second category are characterized in that the outer package encloses the inner package over the entire package height but leaves the lower and upper surfaces free. From the lower side, the package is pushed upwards out of the outer packing part. This handling again requires the use of a second hand and is ergonomically not possible with one hand.

Packs as described above differ essentially only by the mechanism with which the closure or lid of the inner pack part is opened and possibly also closed again. Some embodiments will be discussed below.

In the DE 28 09 548 , of the US 3,311,283 and the US 4,646,960 hook-like folds are described on the two parts of the package, which engage each other when pushing out and open the lid of the inner pack part. The US 3,933,299 and the EP 1 105 313 also have a similar opening mechanism, but differ from the other packages by a partially closed bottom of the outer package part. A disadvantage of such embodiments of the opening mechanism is that these folds are complex and it is not ensured that after repeated use of the mechanism still works reliably.

In the US 4,240,548 and the DE 10 52 308 Packs are described which open a lid by means of a Z-shaped fold and release a part or the entire surface of the inner pack part. A disadvantage of such embodiments that the lids are not very stable and that an adhesion of the inner packing member with the outer packing part is necessary to realize the closing and opening mechanism.

In the US 3,048,320 and the US 4,267,926 Packages are described which connect the inner and outer packing parts by means of one or more flexible blank elements. When pushing out the inner package part, this flexible compound rolls off first and then opens the lid of the pack. Again, the additional bonds and the problematic mechanics of the connecting part are disadvantageous.

In the CH 370699 a package is described, the opening mechanism is realized in that moves a strip of material of the inner packing member when pushed out in a groove, reaches a stop and unfolds on further pushing the package lid. Similar to the US 3,933,299 In this pack, the underside of the outer pack part is partially closed and accessible only by a punched out. A disadvantage of this package, that the opening mechanism is designed very unstable and parts protrude beyond the remaining dimensions of the package.

A document with the characteristics of the upper term is WO-A-00 45654 whose opening mechanism is impractical.

In summary, all packages of both categories have disadvantages in the ergonomics of opening and closing the package and are very often impractical to manufacture and unreliable due to labile mechanical elements and elaborate folds.

The present invention improves on the prior art in that the above-mentioned disadvantages are overcome. In particular, it is an object of the package according to the invention to offer a very ergonomically operable opening mechanism.

The solution of these objects of the invention is described by the claim 1 and preferred embodiments by the associated subclaims.

The invention therefore relates to a smoking article pack having an inner packing part for holding the smoking articles and having an outer packing part for receiving the inner packing part, wherein the outer packing part comprises a substantially open surface through which the inner packing part can be pushed out of the outer packing part, and with a discharge passage in the outer packing part. The Ausschiebedurchgang lies substantially on a surface of the outer pack part, which does not face the open surface. In other words, the push-out passage is applied to a surface on which a thrust force, the effective portion of which acts substantially along the surface, in contrast to the prior art, where a compressive force is applied regularly, their effective proportion when opening substantially perpendicular acts on the surface. These surfaces according to the invention with the Ausschiebedurchgang have the advantage that they are ergonomically accessible with the same hand, which also holds the package, so that the opening can be done easily with one hand. Furthermore, the package can be produced in a simple manner and, in particular, can be integrated into the production process without major changes to the existing packaging machine technology.

In one embodiment, the surface or portion of the surface with the push-out passage is substantially non-parallel to the open surface, in particular at an angle greater than 30 °, especially at an angle of 90 ° to the open surface. The Ausschiebedurchgang may lie on a surface which is substantially immediately adjacent and in particular perpendicular to the open surface.

It is possible according to the invention that the inner packing part can be pushed out perpendicular to the smoking article longitudinal axis from the outer packing part. On the other hand, it is also possible that the inner packing part can be pushed out of the outer packing part parallel to the smoking article longitudinal axis.

A push-out passage may be arranged on different surfaces, namely on at least one of two opposing major major surfaces of the package, or substantially on at least one of two opposing smaller side surfaces of the package. Also, more than one push-out passage may be disposed on one or more surfaces of the outer package member that are not opposed to the open surface.

• die offene Fläche eine der kürzeren schmalen Kantenflächen ist und der Ausschiebedurchgang an mindestens einer der längeren schmalen Kantenflächen und/oder mindestens einer der Hauptflächen angeordnet ist; oder
• die offene Fläche eine der längeren schmalen Kantenflächen ist und der Ausschiebedurchgang an mindestens einer der kürzeren schmalen Kantenflächen und/oder mindestens einer der Hauptflächen angeordnet ist; oder
• die offene Fläche eine der Hauptflächen ist und der Ausschiebedurchgang an mindestens einer der längeren schmalen Kantenflächen und/oder mindestens einer der kürzeren schmalen Kantenflächen angeordnet ist.

In various embodiments, the pack is a hexahedral, cuboidal pack, wherein

• the open area is one of the shorter narrow edge surfaces and the push-out passage is located on at least one of the longer narrow edge surfaces and / or at least one of the major surfaces; or
• the open area is one of the longer narrow edge surfaces and the push-out passage is disposed on at least one of the shorter narrow edge surfaces and / or at least one of the major surfaces; or
• the open surface is one of the major surfaces and the push-out passage is disposed on at least one of the longer narrow edge surfaces and / or at least one of the shorter narrow edge surfaces.

The push-out passage is particularly a face punching in the outer packing part, and more particularly, the push-out passage has a round, in particular circular or oval shape, and / or a slot-like shape, and / or an angular, in particular rectangular, square or triangular or polygonal shape.

The Ausschiebedurchgang may have in the Ausschichtungichtung a length which corresponds to at least one fifth of the surface length in this direction and can occupy up to 90% of the surface length. Perpendicular to Ausschieberichtung the Ausschiebedurchgang have a width of at least 2 mm, in particular at least 5 mm and especially at least 10 mm.

In one embodiment, the inner packing part in the region of the Ausschiebedurchgangs on a friction or attack-enhancing surface or a Ausschiebehilfe on, in particular it comprises a folding Ausschiebehilfe.

In one embodiment variant, the inner packing part has a lid which is arranged on it, in particular a hinged lid, which lies against the open surface of the outer packing part when the inner packing part is inserted. In this case, the lid can be hinged folded away at a joint line of the inner package part, wherein in particular in the region of the hinge line a Deckelöffnungslasche between the lid and the adjoining the joint line surface of the inner packing part is arranged, which pushes the lid when pushing out the inner packing part of the outer Packing part opens. Specifically, the lid opening tab has an engagement, in particular a punched, into which a counterpart can engage the outer package member to cause the opening of the lid upon expulsion of the inner package member from the outer package member.

An opening mechanism according to the invention is overall reliable and simple and the inner packing part is sufficiently secured against slipping out of the outer packing part.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a smoking article pack, in particular as described above, having an inner packing part for receiving the smoking articles and having an outer packing part for receiving the inner packing part, wherein the outer packing part comprises a substantially open area through which the inner packing part can be pushed out of the outer packing part, wherein the inner packing part has arranged on him, in particular articulated lid, and wherein in the region of the hinge line a lid opening tab between the lid and the subsequent to the hinge line surface of the inner packing part is arranged. The Lid opening tab has a punched hole into which a mating piece on the outer packing member can engage to effect opening of the lid upon pushing out of the inner packing member from the outer packing member.

In one embodiment, the counterpart on the outer packing part comprises a lug arranged on its edge, in particular an embossed lug, which can be folded inwardly by 180 ° and has engagement lugs. Also conceivable is arranged in several segments tab which is foldable by a groove along the edge by 180 ° inwards and thus assumes the function of "engagement nose (s)" It is also specifically possible to choose an embodiment in which the Punching the lid opening tab closer to the hinge line is at least one more punched out, which serves to limit the Ausschiebebewegung. The tabs 21, 23, 24 but can also lie in a different design of the tab 33 on a line.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of examples and drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that these are examples and obvious packaging variants, e.g. are summarized with rounded or single or multiple bevelled edges in the basic idea of the invention of the pack.

Figur 1

den Öffnungsmechanismus einer erfindungsgemäßen Packung in dreidimensionaler Darstellung;

Figur 2

den Öffnungsmechanismus einer erfindungsgemäßen Packung in seitlicher Ansicht;

Figur 3

einen Zuschnitt für einen inneren Packungsteil in einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 4

einen Zuschnitt für einen äußeren Packungsteil in einer ersten Ausführungsform;

Figur 5

einen Zuschnitt für einen äußeren Packungsteil in einer zweiten Ausführungsform;

Figur 6

einen Zuschnitt für einen inneren Packungsteil in einer dritten Ausführungsform; und

Figur 7

einen Zuschnitt für einen äußeren Packungsteil für die dritte Ausführungsform.

In the drawings, solid lines represent edges of the blank and dashed lines represent fold lines. In the drawings, parts with the same reference number represent parts having identical functions. Show it:

FIG. 1

the opening mechanism of a package according to the invention in three-dimensional representation;

FIG. 2

the opening mechanism of a package according to the invention in a lateral view;

FIG. 3

a blank for an inner packing part in a first embodiment;

FIG. 4

a blank for an outer packing part in a first embodiment;

FIG. 5

a blank for an outer packing part in a second embodiment;

FIG. 6

a blank for an inner packing part in a third embodiment; and

FIG. 7

a blank for an outer packing part for the third embodiment.

The closed package 1 according to the invention is in FIG. 1a shown. For pushing out the inner packing part 3 from the outer packing part 2, a punch-out 5 is provided in the outer packing part 2, FIG. 1b , For this purpose, the consumer can hold the pack in one hand and, for example, act with his thumb through the punch-out 5 on the inner pack part 3 and push the pack upwards. The pack is held in one hand, as well as a cell phone is held when a number is typed with the thumb of the same hand.

By pushing out the inner packing part 3, the wrapped cigarette block 4 becomes visible. If the inner packing part 3 is further pushed out of the outer packing part 2, the lid 6 of the packing attached to the inner packing part 3 begins to open. The inner packing part 3 can be pushed up to a stop which prevents the inner packing part 3 from unintentionally sliding out of the outer packing part completely. When the stop of this movement has been reached, the cover 6 has opened completely, in particular folded back more than 90 °, and released the wrapped cigarette block 4 (FIG. Fig. 1 c) ,

In the FIG. 1 the punch 5 is shown in a circle. But it can also be, for example, slot-shaped, oval, rectangular, square or triangular. It makes sense, however, that the punch-out 5 should be so large that the package can be completely opened and closed by a movement, in particular without having to follow up.

In the FIG. 2 the opening mechanism is once again shown from the side, from the completely closed pack 1 in FIG. 2a over the intermediate stages of FIGS. 2b and 2c until completely opened 1 in Figure 2d , In this case, the tongue 7 is visible, which opens the lid 6 when pushing out the inner packing part 3. This mechanism engages in a position of the inner packing part 3, which between the FIGS. 2b and 2c lies.

Consider now the blanks of the inner packing part 3 and the outer packing part 2 in the Figures 3 and 4 , the functional elements of the opening mechanism become clearer.

In FIG. 3 the inner packing part 3 is shown. In detail, 10 designates the front surface, 11 the bottom surface, 12 the rear surface, 13 the back of the lid, 14 the top, 15 a lid stiffener, 16a and b side flaps of the front surface, 17a and b side flaps of the bottom surface, 18a and b side flaps of the back surface, 19a and b and 20a and b side tabs of the lid. The inner package member 3 is folded and adhered in a conventional manner to provide a substantially cuboidal receiving space for the wrapped cigarette block.

In the area of the back 12 and the back of the lid 13 is the tongue 7 of the opening mechanism. Below the tongue is a punch-out 22 in which the tongue can move during movement when opening the lid 6. Within the tongue is also a punched-21, in which a nose engages the outer packing part to open the lid 6. The two punches 23 and 24 serve as stops to prevent the inner packing part 3 can be unintentionally ejected from the outer packing part.

In FIG. 4 the outer part of the package is shown. In detail, 30 designates the front surface, 31 the bottom surface, 32 the back surface, 33 the tab, 34 the opening tab, 35a and b stop tabs, 36a and b side flaps of the front surface, 37a and b side flaps of the bottom surface, and 38a side flaps of the rear surface. The punch 5 is shown in this case as a slot. The outer packing part 2 is folded in a conventional manner and glued to a substantially cuboid receiving space for the inner Packing part 3 to create. The tab 33 is folded inwards by 180 ° and, by virtue of the restoring forces present in the material, tends to engage in the corresponding punches in the inner packing part when it is pushed out of the outer packing part. Serve this purpose, the nose 34, which can engage in the punched-21, the lugs 35a and b in the punch-outs 23 and 24, when the inner packing part 3 is pushed out of the outer packing part 2.

In order to facilitate the meshing of the noses and punch-outs, it is possible and advantageous to give the corresponding areas of the pack blanks during stamping and creasing by a corresponding embossing tool in the region 21, 22 of the tab a corresponding three-dimensional shape.

In FIG. 5 is an alternative version 2 'of the outer package part FIG. 4 shown. It differs only in the position of the punching 5. This is now on a side surface. Since two side flaps overlap in the folded package, it is also mandatory to perform the punching on both side flaps. Preferably, in the folded state, the punched out on both sides of the front, but also punched on only one side are conceivable. Punches on the left side of the package and the back are also possible alternatives.

Another alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS FIGS. 6 and 7 shown. Unlike the packs of FIGS. 1 to 5 Here, it is only necessary to vary the dimensions of the package and insert the wrapped cigarette block parallel to the lid individual elements of the inner packing part 3 "in FIG. 6 and the outer packing part 2 "in FIG. 7 are with those in the Figures 3 and 4 identical.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Pack / sliding box

2, 2 ', 2 "

outer packing part / slider

3, 3 ', 3 "

inner packing part / slider

4

wrapped cigarette block

5

Punching / slide aperture

6

cover

7

Tongue / lid flap

10

front surface

11

floor area

12

rear surface

13

Back of the lid

14

top

15

cover stiffening

16 a and b

Side flaps of the front surface

17 a and b

Side flaps of the bottom surface / dust flaps

18 a and b

Side flaps of the back surface

19 a and b

Side flaps of the lid

20 a and b

Side flaps of the lid

21

punching

22

punching

23

punching

24

punching

30

front surface

31

floor area

32

rear surface

33

flap

34

opening nose

35 a and b

stop dogs

36 a and b

Side flaps of the front surface

37 a and b

Side flaps of the bottom surface / dust pockets

38 a and b

Side flaps of the back surface

Claims (17)

1. A smoking article packet (1), comprising:

   a) an inner packet part (3) for accommodating the smoking articles and an outer packet part (2) for accommodating the inner packet part (3), wherein the outer packet part (2) has one essentially open face through which the inner packet part (3) can be pushed out of the outer packet part (2); and comprising

   b) at least one slide aperture (5) in the outer packet part (3), wherein

   c) the slide aperture (5) lies essentially on a face of the outer packet part which does not lie opposite the open face, wherein

   d) the inner packet part (3) has a lid (6) disposed on and in particular articulated on it, which lies on the open face of the outer packet part (2) when the inner packet part (3) is pushed in,
   characterised in that

   e) the lid (6) is disposed on an articulation line of the inner packet part (3) in a hinge-type arrangement and such that it can be folded out, wherein a lid opening tab (7) is disposed in particular in the region of the articulation line between the lid (6) and the face of the inner packet part (3) adjoining the articulation line, which opens the lid (6) as the inner packet part (3) is being pushed out of the outer packet part (2).
2. The smoking article packet according to claim 1, characterised in that the face or a portion of the face with the slide aperture (5) lies essentially non-parallel to the open face and in particular lies at an angle of more than 30°, specifically at an angle of 90°, to the open face.
3. The smoking article packet according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the slide aperture (5) lies on a face which essentially directly adjoins and is in particular perpendicular to the open face.
4. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the inner packet part (3) can be slid out of the outer packet part (2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles.
5. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the inner packet part (3) can be slid out of the outer packet part (2) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking articles.
6. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a slide aperture (5) is disposed on at least one of two mutually opposing larger main faces of the packet (1).
7. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a slide aperture (5) is essentially disposed on at least one of two mutually opposing smaller side faces of the packet (1).
8. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that more than one slide aperture (5) is disposed on one or more faces of the outer packet part which do not lie opposite the open face.
9. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the packet is a hexahedral cuboid-shaped packet (1), wherein:

   - the open face is one of the shorter narrow edge faces, and the slide aperture (5) is disposed on at least one of the longer narrow edge faces and/or at least one of the main faces; or

   - the open face is one of the longer narrow edge faces, and the slide aperture (5) is disposed on at least one of the shorter narrow edge faces and/or at least one of the main faces; or

   - the open face is one of the main faces, and the slide aperture (5) is disposed on at least one of the longer narrow edge faces and/or at least one of the shorter narrow edge faces.
10. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the slide aperture (5) is a cut-out in the face of the outer packet part.
11. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the slide aperture (5) has a round, in particular circular or oval shape and/or is shaped like an elongated slot and/or has a cornered, in particular rectangular, square or triangular and/or polygonal shape.
12. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the slide aperture (5) has a length in the pushing-out direction which corresponds to at least one fifth of the length of the face in this direction and can occupy up to 90% of the length of the face.
13. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the slide aperture (5) has a width perpendicular to the pushing-out direction of at least 2 mm, in particular at least 5 mm and specifically at least 10 mm.
14. The smoking article packet according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the inner packet part has a friction-enhancing or purchase-enhancing surface in the region of the slide aperture or has a slide aid, in particular a fold-out slide aid.
15. The smoking article packet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lid opening tab (7) has an engagement or contact system, in particular a cut-out (21), with which a co-operating piece on the outer packet part (2) can engage in order to cause the lid (6) to open as the inner packet part (3) is being pushed out of the outer packet part (2).
16. The smoking article packet according to claim 15, characterised in that the co-operating piece on the outer packet part has a tab (33) disposed at its edge, in particular a punched tab, which can be folded inwards by 180° and has engaging lugs (34; 35a, 35b).
17. The smoking article packet according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the cut-out (21) of the lid opening tab lies closer to the articulation line than at least one other cut-out (23, 24) which serves to restrict the pushing-out movement.

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