EP3010835B1

EP3010835B1 - Hinged-lid packet with a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position, and relative packing method

Info

Publication number: EP3010835B1
Application number: EP14744167.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Ghini; Stefano Negrini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2013-06-18
Filing date: 2014-06-18
Publication date: 2017-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-18
Also published as: EP3010835A1; ITBO20130306A1; WO2014203184A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hinged-lid packet and relative packing method.
The present invention is particularly advantageous for use in a hinged-lid packet of cigarettes, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.

BACKGROUND ART

Hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce, easy and practical to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside.
A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package enclosing a group of cigarettes; and a rigid outer package housing the inner package. The outer package in turn comprises a cup-shaped container with an open top end; and a lid hinged to the container to rotate between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end respectively. A U-folded collar is normally connected to the inside of the container, and projects partly outwards from the open end to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid when the lid is in the closed position.
To keep the lid in the closed position, and so prevent it from opening spontaneously, a retaining device is provided, which produces additional mechanical interaction between the collar and the lid (or between the container and the lid, in the absence of a collar) so that a certain amount of force, resulting in localized elastic deformation, is required to open the lid.
The most common type of retaining device comprises a pair of projections (or so-called 'lugs' or 'spurs') which project laterally from the collar to engage the lid with a certain amount of interference when the lid is in the closed position. Projections of this sort are functional and easy to produce, but have the drawback of locally deforming the lateral walls of the lid in the closed position. This deformation has a negative effect on the look of the packet as a whole, by ruining the flatness of, and often forming decidedly unsightly creases on, the lateral walls of the lid. It is important to note that, the more pronounced the projections are, i.e. the stronger the closing force produced by the projections, the more obvious deformation of the lateral walls of the lid becomes.
To eliminate the above drawbacks, numerous alternatives to the above projections have been proposed, as described, for example, in Patent US4294399-A1 and Patent Application WO2004028926-A1 .
Patent Applications EP0884247-A1 , EP0894737-A1 , EP2474480-A1 , US5896984-A1 , US2008230410-A1 and WO2012120273-A1 describe a hinged-lid packet of cigarettes with a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position; and in which the retaining device comprises a tab projecting from the front wall of a collar, and which, when the lid is in the closed position, engages a retaining seat formed on the inner surface of the front wall of the lid.
The retaining device described in the above documents, however, has the drawback of failing to ensure the lid is actually held firmly in the perfectly closed position, i.e. that the bottom edge of the lid is actually adjacent to (substantially contacting) the top edge of the outer container.
Patent Application WO2012049701-A2 describes a hinged-lid packet of cigarettes with a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position. The retaining device comprises a retaining seat formed in a first wall of the lid or in a second wall of the collar; and a retaining member projecting from the second wall of the collar or from the first wall of the lid, and which fits inside the retaining seat when the lid is in the closed position. In alternative embodiments, the retaining member is defined by a portion of the first wall of the lid, glued to the second wall of the collar and separate from the rest of the first wall of the lid, or is defined by a portion of the second wall of the collar, glued to the first wall of the lid and separate from the rest of the second wall of the collar.
The retaining device described in Patent Application WO2012049701-A2 , however, has a noticeable effect on the look of the packet of cigarettes, which some users may find unsightly.
Patent Application US2009001145-A1 describes a packet comprising: a container; a lid hinged to the container; a collar connected to the inside of the container to project partly outwards; and a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position, and which comprises a retaining seat formed on the inner surface of the front wall of the lid, and a retaining member that projects from the front wall of the collar to fit inside the retaining seat. The retaining seat is bounded at one end by a mating member, which is glued to and projects from the inner surface of the front wall of lid and is initially connected to the retaining member along a tear line that is torn the first time the lid is opened.
The retaining device described in Patent Application US2009001145-A1 , however, has an effect on
the look of the packet of cigarettes, which some users may find unsightly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinged-lid packet with a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position, and a relative packing method, which packet and packing method are designed to eliminate the above drawbacks and, at the same time, are cheap and easy to implement.
According to the present invention, there are provided a hinged-lid packet with a retaining device for keeping the lid in the closed position, and a relative packing method, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of cigarettes which is not part of the present invention in a closed configuration;
Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;
Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration;
Figure 4 shows a topside view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;
Figure 5 shows a schematic section, with parts removed for clarity, of the lid area of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration;
Figure 6 shows a plan view of a blank, which is folded to form a collar of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;
Figure 7 shows a plan view of a further blank, which is folded to form the collar of a variation of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes which is not part of the present invention. Packet 1 comprises a cup-shaped cardboard container 2; and an inner package 3 (Figure 2) housed inside container 2 and enclosing a group of articles (not shown). More specifically, inner package 3 comprises a sheet of foil packing material enclosing a parallelepiped-shaped group of cigarettes (not shown) that extends predominantly longitudinally.
Container 2 has an open top end 4 (Figure 2) from which to withdraw the cigarettes; and a cup-shaped lid 5 hinged to container 2 along a hinge 6 to rotate, with respect to container 2, between an open position (Figure 2) and a closed position (Figures 1 and 3) opening and closing open top end 4 respectively. One end 29 of inner package 3 projects from open top end 4 of container 2.
Container 2 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, and has a bottom wall 7 opposite open top end 4; a front wall 8; a rear wall 9 parallel to and opposite front wall 8; and two parallel, opposite lateral walls 10. Four longitudinal edges are defined between lateral walls 10 and front and rear walls 8 and 9; and four transverse edges are defined between bottom wall 7 and front and rear walls 8 and 9, and lateral walls 10.
Lid 5 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, and comprises a top wall 11 parallel to and opposite bottom wall 7 of container 2 when lid 5 is in the closed position; a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13, which are opposite and parallel to each other and coplanar with walls 8 and 9 of container 2 when lid 5 is in the closed position; and two parallel lateral walls 14 interposed between walls 12 and 13 and coplanar with lateral walls 10 of container 2. Four longitudinal edges are defined between lateral walls 14 and walls 12 and 13; and four transverse edges are defined between top wall 11 and walls 12, 13 and 14.
In the embodiment shown in the attached drawings, the edges are all square. In alternative embodiments not shown, some edges may be bevelled or rounded.
As shown in Figure 3, packet 1 also comprises a rigid (i.e. cardboard) collar 15, which is folded into a 'U' and connected (glued) to the inside of container 2, so as to project partly outwards of open top end 4 and engage a corresponding inner surface of lid 5 in the closed position. Collar 15 comprises a front wall 16 which is connected to front wall 8 of container 2 and is positioned contacting front wall 12 of lid 5 in the closed position; and two lateral walls 17 which are connected to lateral walls 10 of container 2 and are positioned contacting lateral walls 14 of lid 5 in the closed position.
In the embodiment shown in the attached drawings, front wall 16 of collar 15 has two projections 18 (Figure 6) which project laterally to interferentially engage lateral walls 14 of lid 5 in the closed position and so keep lid 5 in the closed position. In a different embodiment not shown, front wall 16 of collar 15 has no projections 18.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a retaining device 19 different from and completely independent of projections 18, and which keeps lid 5 in the closed position with a given retaining force that must be overcome to open lid 5.
Retaining device 19 comprises a retaining seat 20 formed on the inner surface of front wall 12 of lid 5; and a retaining member 21 which projects from front wall 16 of collar 15 and fits inside retaining seat 20 when lid 5 is in the closed position. Figure 5 shows lid 5 in the closed position: retaining member 21 is inserted inside retaining seat 20 and must be deformed elastically to withdraw from retaining seat 20. To elastically deform retaining member 21 to withdraw it from retaining seat 20, a relatively strong opening force, which defines the retaining force produced by retaining device 19, must be applied to lid 5.
On entering or withdrawing from retaining seat 20, retaining member 21 is subjected to elastic deformation, which causes retaining member 21 to bend gradually and then spring back to its original position with a 'clicking' sound. Whenever lid 5 is opened/closed, this is therefore accompanied by a 'clicking' sound that is clearly audible by the user, and which is highly popular with consumers by 'confirming' proper closing of lid 5.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, retaining seat 20 is bounded at one end by a mating member 22, which projects from, and is glued by permanent glue 23 to, the inner surface of front wall 12 of lid 5. In other words, retaining seat 20 is bounded at one end by top wall 11 of lid 5, and at the opposite end by mating member 22.
As shown in Figure 6, mating member 22 is initially connected to retaining member 21 along a tear line 24, which is torn the first time lid 5 is opened. In other words, when packet 1 of cigarettes is formed, mating member 22 and retaining member 21 are connected mechanically along tear line 24, and are only separated mechanically (as shown in Figure 4) by tearing tear line 24 the first time lid 5 is opened. More specifically, the first time lid 5 is opened, glue 23 keeps mating member 22 connected integrally to the inner surface of front wall 12 of lid 5, while retaining member 21 remains integral with front wall 16 of collar 15, thus tearing tear line 24. Opening lid 5 for the first time therefore calls for applying (slightly) more force, which is an indication to the user that lid 5 has never before been opened (and so acts as a further guarantee of the integrity of packet 1 of cigarettes).
As shown in Figures 4-6, retaining member 21 projects from a top edge 25 of front wall 16 of collar 15, and is connected to top edge 25 of front wall 16 of collar 15 along a fold line 26. As shown in Figure 5, when lid 5 is in the closed position, retaining member 21 is folded 180° about fold line 26 onto front wall 16 of collar 15; whereas, when lid 5 is in the open position as shown in Figure 4, the residual resilience of the packing material causes retaining member 21 to lift slightly off front wall 16 of collar 15.
In the preferred embodiment shown in the attached drawings, front wall 16 of collar 15 has a U-shaped recess 27 located alongside retaining member 21 to facilitate withdrawal of the cigarettes by exposing part of the front wall of inner package 3.
To form packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the group of cigarettes is first formed, and the sheet of foil packing material is then wrapped about the group of cigarettes to form inner package 3. Once inner package 3 is formed, collar 15 is folded into a 'U' about inner package 3, and a known blank (not shown) is gummed and folded about inner package 3 and collar 15 to form container 2 and lid 5. Retaining member 21 is folded 180° about fold line 26 onto front wall 16 of collar 15 before the blank is superimposed on collar 15; and mating member 22 is gummed (i.e. glue 23 is applied) before the blank is superimposed on collar 15.
Figure 7 shows, in accordance with the present invention, a collar 15, in this case indicated 15', in which, for the sake of clarity and where possible, the same reference numbers are used as for the parts of collar 15 in Figure 6.
Collar 15' comprises further (or rear) walls 28, which are connected to lateral walls 17 of collar 15', along the free edges opposite the edges connecting lateral walls 17 to front wall 16 of collar 15', and are positioned, in use, contacting rear wall 9 of container 2. A collar 15' of this sort is known as a 'wrap-round' collar, by enclosing all four walls of inner package 3, i.e. the walls of package 3 respectively facing front wall 8, rear wall 9, and lateral walls 10 of container 2. Collar 15' may have either one rear wall 28 positioned contacting substantially the whole of rear wall 9 of container 2, or two rear walls 28, each positioned contacting a respective half of rear wall 9 of container 2.
In the embodiment of packet 1 comprising the Figure 7 collar 15', at least one retaining member 21 is connected to the top edge 25 of rear wall 28 of collar 15'; and mating member 22, connected to retaining member 21 along tear line 24, is therefore glued by permanent glue 23 to the inner surface of top wall 11 of lid 5. Retaining device 19 for keeping lid 5 in the closed position has a retaining seat 20 formed on the inner surface of top wall 11 of lid 5, and retaining member 21 projects from rear wall 28 of collar 15' to fit inside retaining seat 20 when lid 5 is in the closed position.
Retaining member 21 projects from top edge 25 of rear wall 28 of collar 15', and is connected to top edge 25 along a fold line 26. When lid 5 is in the closed position, retaining member 21 is folded 90° about fold line 26 onto the end 29 of inner package 3 and therefore onto top wall 11 of lid 5. Retaining seat 20 is bounded at one end by rear wall 13 of lid 5, and at the opposite end by mating member 22.
Packet 1 of cigarettes described has numerous advantages.
Firstly, lid 5 of packet 1 of cigarettes described is always kept properly closed by the retaining force produced by retaining device 19. That is, retaining device ensures lid 5 is always kept properly closed and prevented from partly opening spontaneously. This is known in slang as an 'anti-yawning' function, by preventing lid 5 from opening (i.e. 'yawning'). It is important to note that retaining device 19 ensures lid 5 is always properly closed, i.e. that the bottom edge of lid 5 is actually adjacent to (substantially contacts) the top edge of outer container 2, by virtue of the highly precise connection between retaining member 21 and mating member 22. Precise connection (i.e. the precise relative position) between retaining member 21 and mating member 22 is achieved by retaining member 21 and mating member 22 initially being joined along tear line 24: when mating member 22 is glued to the inner surface of front wall 12, it is joined to retaining member 21 and therefore in a position corresponding perfectly to retaining member 21, regardless of any tolerances (which are compensated automatically) in the mutual positioning of the walls of container 2, lid 5 and collar 15.
Opening/closing of lid 5 of packet 1 of cigarettes described is accompanied by a 'clicking' sound that is clearly audible by the user and, as stated, is highly popular with consumers by 'confirming' proper closing of lid 5.
When lid 5 is in the closed position, retaining device 19 is concealed from view and so has no effect on the look of packet 1 of cigarettes.
Using retaining device 19, projections 18 may be eliminated or at any rate made smaller, by only having to generate a small part of the force required to keep lid 5 in the closed position.
Finally, packet 1 of cigarettes described is cheap and easy to produce, by only differing from similar known packets of cigarettes by comprising retaining member 21, which can be formed easily in front wall 16 of collar 15 or rear wall 28 of collar 15' by straightforward machining operations (i.e. cutting to form retaining member 21 and mating member 22, and weakening to form tear line 24 and fold line 26) identical to those to which collar 15, 15' is already subjected.
In this connection, and as shown in Figures 6 and 7, collar 15, 15' of packet 1 of cigarettes described can be blanked with no waste from a continuous strip of packing material, by the contour of top edge 25 exactly matching the contour of the bottom edge. Moreover, folding retaining member 21 and gumming mating member 22 when forming packet 1 of cigarettes involve only a few minor operations that can be performed with only minor alterations to a known packing machine.
Given its numerous advantages, the design of hinged-lid packet 1 of cigarettes described may also be applied to the manufacture of other types of packages, such as cartons of cigarettes, boxes of cigars, and packets of sweets or other foodstuffs.

Claims

A packet (1) comprising:
a container (2), which is cup-shaped to house an inner package (3) enclosing a group of articles, and has an open end (4);

a cup-shaped lid (5) hinged to the container (2) along a hinge (6) to rotate, with respect to the container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open end (4) respectively;

a collar (15') connected to the inside of the container (2), and which projects partly outwards of the open end (4) to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid (5) when the lid (5) is in the closed position; and

a retaining device (19) for keeping the lid (5) in the closed position, and which comprises a retaining seat (20) formed on an inner surface of a wall (11) of the lid (5); and a retaining member (21), which projects from a wall (28) of the collar (15') to fit inside the retaining seat (20) when the lid (5) is in the closed position;

wherein the retaining seat (20) is bounded at one end by a mating member (22), which is glued to and projects from the inner surface of said wall (11) of the lid (5), and is initially connected to the retaining member (21) along a tear line (24) that is torn the first time the lid (5) of the packet (1) is opened;

the packet (1) being characterized in that:
the collar (15') has a rear wall (28); and

the retaining member (21) projects from the rear wall (28) of the collar (15'), projects from a top edge (25) of the rear wall (28), and is connected to the top edge (25) along a fold line (26).
A packet (1) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mating member (22) is glued to the inner surface of a top wall (11) of the lid (5).
A packet (1) as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, when the lid (5) is in the closed position, the retaining member (21) is folded 90° about the fold line (26) onto the top wall (11) of the lid (5).
A packet (1) as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the retaining seat (20) is formed on an inner surface of a top wall (11) of the lid (5), and is bounded at one end by a rear wall (13) of the lid (5), and at the opposite end by the mating member (22).
A packing method for producing a packet (1); the packing method comprising the steps of:
forming an inner package (3) enclosing a group of articles;

folding a blank about the inner package (3) to form a cup-shaped container (2) for housing the inner package (3) and having an open end (4), and to form a cup-shaped lid (5) hinged to the container (2) along a hinge (6) to rotate, with respect to the container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open end (4) respectively;

interposing, between the inner package (3) and the blank, a collar (15') which is connected to the inside of the container (2) and projects partly outwards of the open end (4) to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid (5) when the lid (5) is in the closed position;

forming a retaining device (19) for keeping the lid (5) in the closed position, and which comprises a retaining seat (20) formed on an inner surface of a top wall (11) of the lid (5); and a retaining member (21), which projects from a rear wall (28) of the collar (15') to fit inside the retaining seat (20) when the lid (5) is in the closed position;

bounding the retaining seat (20) at one end by a mating member (22), which is glued to and projects from the inner surface of the top wall (11) of the lid (5), and is initially connected to the retaining member (21) along a tear line (24) that is torn the first time the lid (5) is opened;

connecting the retaining member (21) to a top edge (25) of the rear wall (28) of the collar (15'), along a fold line (26); and

folding the retaining member (21) 90° about the fold line (26) onto one end (29) of the inner package (3) before superimposing the blank on the collar (15').