EP3209579B1

EP3209579B1 - Rigid hinged-lid packet

Info

Publication number: EP3209579B1
Application number: EP15804955.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Polloni; Giuseppe Marchitto; Marco Ghini; Luca Federici
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2014-10-22
Filing date: 2015-10-22
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 2035-10-22
Also published as: WO2016063247A1; EP3209579A1; PL3209579T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid, hinged-lid packet.
The present invention finds advantageous application to a packet of cigarettes, to which the following description will make explicit reference without this implying any loss of generality.

PRIOR ART

Rigid, hinged-lid packets are the most widespread packets of cigarettes on the market as they represent a good compromise between production costs (both in relation to the packing material, and in relation to the complexity of implementation) and the ergonomic ease of use. However the extraction of cigarettes from a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes can be relatively complex, especially when the group of cigarettes is relatively small in size; said situation can occur both when the group of cigarettes is composed of a limited number of cigarettes of standard sizes (for example, ten cigarettes instead of the traditional twenty cigarettes), and when the group of cigarettes is composed of small diameter cigarettes (the so-called "slim" cigarettes).
To solve said drawback, rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes were proposed, provided with lifting devices to automatically lift up (i.e. outwards) the group of cigarettes when the lid is opened. Normally, a lifting device of this type is integral on one side with the lid so as to be actuated by its own opening/closing movement of the lid and on the other side is connected to the group of cigarettes to vertically move the group of cigarette itself. Some examples of rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes provided with lifting devices are described in patent applications EP0928751-A1 , WO2006049665-A2 , WO2013076863-A1 and WO2013080372-A1 .
However, known rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes provided with lifting devices have some drawbacks, mainly arising from the fact that during the rotation of the lid (particularly during the lid closing movement but also during the lid opening movement) a portion of the lifting device must be deformed elastically to allow the rotation of the lid itself. The elastic deformation of a portion of the lifting device is negative as it requires the application of relatively high force on the lid to rotate the lid itself consequently making difficult the handling of the lid. In addition, the elastic deformation of a portion of the lifting device is negative as the portion of the lifting device, by deforming, pushes on cigarettes adjacent thereof causing a crushing of the cigarettes that can easily ruin the cigarettes themselves (especially when the packet of cigarette is still full). To reduce the above described drawbacks to use a flexible lifting device has been proposed (i.e. not rigid and therefore not having its own and very easily deformable shape); however, the use of a flexible lifting device does not allow a bi-directional movement of the group of cigarettes: in other words, by using a flexible lifting device the group of cigarettes is automatically lifted when the lid is opened, but is not automatically lowered when the lid is closed, and therefore is necessary for the user to push the group of cigarettes downwards while closing the lid (therefore performing quite complex and completely unnatural actions).
The patent application WO2011051076-A1 describes a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprising: a group of cigarettes; an inner container housing the group of cigarettes; an outer container, which houses the inner container in a sliding manner to allow the inner container itself to translate longitudinally with respect to the outer container; a cup-shaped lid, which has a rear wall hinged to a rear wall of the outer container to allow the lid to rotate with respect to the outer container; and a lifting mechanism which lifts the inner container with respect to the outer container by using the rotational movement of the lid towards an open position. The lifting mechanism comprises a connecting tab provided with a single rigid panel which is integral (glued) with the rear wall of the lid and is directly hinged to a rear wall of the inner container. However, the lifting of the inner container with respect to the outer container, by way of the opening of the lid, is rather insignificant (in the order of a few millimeters).
The utility model DE29713106-U1 describes a box for sweets comprising: a group of confectionery articles; an inner container housing the group of confectionery articles; an outer container, which houses the inner container in a rotatable manner to allow the inner container itself to rotate with respect to the outer container; a flat lid which is hinged to a top edge of a rear wall of the outer container so as to allow the lid to rotate with respect to the outer container; and a lifting mechanism that rotates the inner container with respect to the outer container by using the rotational movement of the lid into an open position. The lifting mechanism comprises a first connecting tab provided with a first rigid panel (indicated with the reference number 12) which is integral (glued) with the lid, a second rigid panel (indicated with the reference number 11) that from one side is directly hinged to the first panel, a third rigid panel (indicated with the reference number 10) which on one side is directly hinged to the second panel, and a fourth rigid panel (indicated with the reference number 14) which on one side is directly hinged to the third panel and on the opposite side is integral (glued) with a bottom wall of the inner container. In addition, the lifting mechanism comprises a second connecting tab comprising a fifth rigid panel (indicated with the reference number 8) which is L-folded, is integral (glued) with a bottom wall and the rear wall of the outer container, and a sixth rigid panel which one side is directly hinged to the fifth panel and on the opposite side is directly hinged to the fourth panel. However, said lifting mechanism is particularly complex and difficult to implement, as it requires the presence of two different connecting tabs which at one end are connected to the inner container and on the opposite end are connected to the lid and to the outer container, respectively, and provide the presence of six different separate rigid panels in total.
The utility model DE8801135-U1 discloses a cigarette pack of the "shoulder" type provided with a raising tab having an end glued to the inner surface of the lid and an opposite end glued to the bottom wall of the box; by opening the lid, the raising tab raises the group of cigarettes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid, hinged-lid packet, which rigid packet being free of the drawbacks described above and, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the present invention, a rigid, hinged-lid packet, as claimed in the attached claims is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some examples of non-limiting embodiments, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a rigid packet of cigarette in a closed configuration produced according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;
Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration;
Figures 4 and 5 are two different perspective views, front and lateral, respectively, of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration and with the group of cigarettes removed;
Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of an inner container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are three different lateral views of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 respectively in a closed configuration, in a partly opened configuration, and in a fully open configuration;
Figure 10 is a flat development of a blank used to produce an outer container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a flat development of a blank used to produce an inner container of the packet of cigarettes in Figure 1;
Figure 12 is a front perspective view of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes Figure 1 in an open configuration and with the group of cigarettes removed;
Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of an inner container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 12;
Figures 14, 15 and 16 are three different lateral views of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 12 in a closed configuration, in a partly open configuration, and in a fully open configuration, respectively; and
Figure 17 is a flat development of a blank used to produce an inner container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 12;
Figure 18 is a schematic lateral view of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 1 and 12 in a closed configuration;
Figure 19 is a schematic lateral view of an alternative not being part of the invention of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 1 and 12 in a closed configuration;
Figure 20 is a schematic lateral view of another alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 1 and 12 in a closed configuration;
Figure 21 is a front perspective view of a further rigid packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration produced according to the present invention;
Figure 22 is a front perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 21 in an open configuration;
Figure 23 is a schematic lateral view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 21 in a closed configuration;
Figure 24 is a schematic lateral view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 21 in an open configuration; and
Figure 25 is a schematic lateral view of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 21 in a closed configuration.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes.
The packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a wrapped group 2 of cigarettes (schematically visible in Figure 3), namely a group of cigarettes wrapped in a metallized sheet of packing paper. Also, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises an inner rigid type container 3 (visible in figures 3, 4 and 5), inside which the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes is directly placed, and an outer rigid type container 4, which houses in a sliding manner the inner container 3 to allow the inner container 3 itself to slide with respect to the outer container 4 and move with a linear translational movement between a lowered position, wherein the inner container 3 is fully inserted inside the outer container 4, and an extracted configuration (illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5), wherein the inner container 3 is partly extracted from the outer container 4 to facilitate the access to the wrapped group 2 of cigarettes.
The outer container 4 is parallelepiped-shaped with rectangular cross section, is cup-shaped and has an open top end, a bottom wall 5 opposite to the open top end, a front wall 6 and a rear wall 7 opposite and parallel to each other, and two lateral walls 8 parallel to each other. Between the walls 6 and 7 and the lateral walls 8 four longitudinal edges are defined while between the walls 6, 7 and 8 and the bottom wall 5 four transverse edges are defined.
The packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a lid 9, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container 4 along a hinge 10 to rotate, with respect to the outer container 4 itself, between a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and an open position (illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5) of the open top end of the outer container 4. The lid 9 has a top wall 11 (which, when the lid 9 is in the closed position, is parallel and opposite to the bottom wall 5 of the outer container 4), a front wall 12 (which, when the lid 9 is in the closed position, is coplanar with the front wall 6 of the outer container 4), a rear wall 13 (which is connected to the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 by means of the hinge 10 and, when the lid 9 is in the closed position, is coplanar with the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4), and two lateral walls 14 opposite and parallel one to the other (which, when the lid 9 is in the closed position, are coplanar to the corresponding lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4). Between the walls 12 and 13 and the lateral walls 14 four longitudinal edges are defined while between the walls 12, 13 and 14 and the top wall 11 four transverse edges are defined.
As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the inner container 3 is parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, is cup-shaped and has an open top end, a bottom wall 15 opposite to the open top end and parallel to the bottom wall 5 of the outer container 4, a front wall 16 parallel to the front wall 6 of the outer container 4, a rear wall 17 parallel to the rear wall 7 of outer container 4, and two lateral walls 18 parallel to the lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4. Between the walls 16 and 17 and the lateral walls 18 four longitudinal edges are defined while between the walls 16, 17 and 18 and the bottom wall 15 four transverse edges are defined. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the front wall 16 of the inner container 3 has at the top a U-shaped window having the function of facilitating the extraction of the cigarettes.
In the following description of the packet 1 terms as "bottom" and "top" and "front" and "rear" will be used to designate the positions of portions of the packet 1 of cigarettes, assuming that the packet 1 is located in an arrangement such that the direction of its prevailing development coincides with the vertical direction; therefore, the bottom and top walls are arranged "at the bottom" and "at the top", respectively, and the front and rear walls define the "the front" and "the rear", respectively. The major development direction also defines a longitudinal movement direction which is perpendicular to the transverse movement direction.
As previously mentioned, the inner container 3 slides with respect to the outer container 4 with a linear translational movement parallel to the longitudinal edges between a lowered position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2), wherein the inner container 3 is fully inserted inside the outer container 4 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner container 3 is resting (i.e. in contact) with the bottom wall 5 of the outer container 4, and an extracted position (illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5), wherein the inner container 3 is partly extracted from the outer container 4 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner container 3 is spaced apart by a certain distance different from zero from the bottom wall 5 of the outer container 4 (said distance corresponds to the lifting of the inner container 3 with respect to the outer container 4).
As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 is permanently connected to the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 by means of a connecting tab 19 that constitutes a mechanism for longitudinal movement of the inner container 3. It is important to note that the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 is connected to the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 only and solely by means of the connecting tab 19, i.e. outside of the connecting tab 19 the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 is completely separate and independent from the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3.
The connecting tab 19 constitutes the mechanism of longitudinal movement of the inner container 3 and "automatically" controls (that is, without the user having to touch the inner container 3) and by using the rotational movement of the lid 9 the axial translation (i.e. the sliding) of the inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4 between the lowered position and the extracted position and vice versa; in other words, the connecting tab 19 uses the rotational movement of the lid 9 to "automatically" operate/actuate (that is, without the user having to touch the inner container 3) the axial translation (i.e. the sliding) of the inner container 3 with respect to the outer container 4 between the lowered position and the extracted position and vice versa. Consequently, thanks to the connecting tab 19 binding the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 to the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, when the lid 9 is rotated with respect to outer container 4 from the closed position to the open position the inner container 3 is pushed by the lid 9 from the lowered position to the extracted position in an "automatic" manner (that is, without the user having to touch the inner container 3); similarly, thanks to the connecting tab 19 binding the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 to the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, when the lid 9 is rotated with respect to outer container 4 from the open position to the closed position the inner container 3 is pushed by the lid 9 from the extracted position to the lowered position in an "automatic" manner (that is, without the user having to touch the inner container 3). In this way, the user needs only to apply the necessary force to rotate the lid 9 with respect to the outer container 4 without having to touch the inner container 3 which translation is "automatically" controlled.
The connecting tab 19 (which constitutes the mechanism for longitudinal movement of the inner container 3) is composed of three rigid panels 20, 21 and 22 hinged to each other: the bottom panel 20 on one side is directly hinged to the rear wall 17 of the inner container and on the opposite side is directly hinged to the top panel 21, the top panel 21 on one side is directly hinged to the bottom panel 20 and on the opposite side is directly hinged to the reinforcing panel 22, and the reinforcing panel 22 on one side is directly hinged to the top panel 21. The top panel 21 is integral with the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 (typically the top panel 21 is superimposed on and glued to the rear wall 13 of the lid 9), while the reinforcing panel 22 is superimposed on and glued to the top panel 21 to reinforce (strengthen, stiffen) the top panel 21 itself. The reinforcing panel 22 is not strictly necessary, as it does not have any role in the functioning of the connecting tab 19 (that would work in the same way even without the reinforcing panel 22); the reinforcing panel 22 has the only function to reinforce (strengthen, stiffen) the top panel 21 to improve (but not change in substance) the operation of the connecting tab 19.
According to a preferred embodiment, the inner container 3 also performs the function of "collar", i.e. keeping the lid 9 in the closed position with a certain force to prevent unwanted openings of the lid 9 itself. Said "locking" function of the lid 9 in the closed position is performed thanks to the fact that when the lid 9 is in the closed position the inner container 3 partly protrudes from the open end of the outer container 4, and then engages a corresponding inner surface of the lid 9: in this way for opening the lid 9 it is required to elastically and slightly deform the lid 9 and/or the inner container 3 and therefore being necessary to apply a certain force to the lid 9 to open the lid 9 itself. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the front wall 16 of the inner container 3 has two extensions 23 which project laterally to interferentially engage the lateral walls 14 of the lid 9 when the lid 9 is in the closed position so as to maintain with greater force the lid 9 in the closed position. According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the front wall 16 of inner container 3 is devoid of extensions 23.
The inner container 3 has a cross section smaller than the cross section of the outer container 4; consequently, the inner volume of the outer container 4 is not completely occupied by the inner container 3 but a significant portion of the inner volume (in the order of 30-50% of the inner volume) is free (i.e. not occupied by the inner container 3). In other words, the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 is spaced apart from the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 (by at least 2.5-3 mm), so as to define, inside the outer container 4 a chamber 24 which is arranged beside the inner container 3, and houses the connecting tab 19. The chamber 24 is not occupied by the inner container 3 and is designed to accommodate only the connecting tab 19 which allows the lifting or the lowering of the group 2 of cigarettes when the lid 9 is opened or closed respectively. The chamber 24 has a significant size and occupies at least 30% of the inner volume of the outer container 4; in the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the chamber 24 occupies approximately 40% of the inner volume of the outer container 4, but in other embodiments not illustrated the chamber 24 could also come to occupy 50-55% of the inner volume of the outer container 4. According to a preferred embodiment, the chamber 24 occupies at least 15-20% of the inner volume of the outer container 4. From another point of view, the chamber 24 transversely has a width of at least 2.5-3 mm.
The walls 16 and 17 of the inner container 3 have the same transverse dimension of the walls 6 and 7 of the outer container 4; consequently, the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 are both substantially in contact with the lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4 and therefore the inner container 3 cannot perform any appreciable transverse movement in the direction perpendicular to the lateral walls 18 of inner container 3 (i.e. perpendicular to the lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4). The lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 have a transverse dimension (widely) smaller than the lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4; accordingly, the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 is located at a certain distance D1 (illustrated in Figures 7 and 18) from the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 and therefore the inner container 3 could theoretically perform transverse movements in a direction perpendicular to the walls 16 and 17 of the inner container 3 (i.e. perpendicular to the walls 6 and 7 of the outer container 4).
As illustrated in Figures 6-9, to prevent these transverse movements of the inner container 3 inside the outer container 4 the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 have respective projections 25, which are coplanar with the lateral walls 18 and extend outside the inner container 3 to such an extent as to touch the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4; overall, considering the extension of the lateral walls 18 and of the corresponding projections 25, the inner container 3 has the same transverse dimension of the lateral walls 8 of outer container 4 so that the inner container 3 cannot perform transverse movements inside the outer container 4. Therefore, the inner container 3 is free to longitudinally slide with respect to the outer container 4, but cannot perform any transverse movement with respect (inside) to the outer container 4. In other words, the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 have a guide function as preventing transverse movements of the inner container 3 with respect (inside) to the outer container 4.
According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 (having the function of guiding the longitudinal sliding of the inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4) are replaced by a guide shell which rises vertically projecting cantilevered from the bottom wall 6 of the outer container 4 and accommodates in its inside the inner container 3.
As previously mentioned, the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 is spaced apart (i.e. arranged at a certain distance D1 different from zero) from the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 leaving free (i.e. not occupied by the inner container 3) part of the inner volume of the outer container 4; the free inner volume (i.e. not occupied by the inner container 3) of the outer container 4 is comprised (bounded) between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4. The connecting tab 19 mutually connects the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 13 of the lid 9, and then extends between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 13 of the lid 9; consequently, the connecting tab 19 is entirely arranged at the free inner volume (i.e. not occupied by the inner container 3) of the outer container 4 between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 (i.e. the connecting tab 19 is entirely arranged in the chamber 24). Said characteristic is particularly important, as the distance D1 between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 allows the connecting tab 19 to freely fold during the rotation of the lid 9 without any constraint, without any elastic deformation, and without pressing on the inner container 3 and/or on the outer container 4.
As more clearly illustrated in Figure 18, the connecting tab 19 (that constitutes the mechanism for the longitudinal movement of the inner container 3) operates by means of a rod- and-crank mechanism (i.e. by means of a crankshaft) for transforming the rotary motion (the rotation of the lid 9 about the hinge 10) into a rectilinear movement (the lifting and lowering of the inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4). In the connecting tab 19 the top panel 21 (reinforced or not by the possible presence of the reinforcing panel 22) constitutes a crank while the bottom panel 20 constitutes a connecting rod.
The connection point of the connecting rod (bottom panel 20) to the crank (top panel 21) is constituted by a hinge 30 and is fundamental to define the actuation sequence. In particular, in the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, when the lid 9 is closed the connection point of the connecting rod (bottom panel 20) to the crank (top panel 21), i.e. the hinge 30 between the bottom panel 20 and the top panel 21, is arranged lower than the hinge 10 of lid 9; furthermore, the connection point of the connecting rod (bottom panel 20) to the crank (top panel 21), i.e. the hinge 30 between the bottom panel 20 and the top panel 21, is arranged with respect to the hinge 10 of the lid 9 at a distance D2 that is shorter than the distance D1 between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4. In other words, when the lid 9 is closed the hinge 30 between the bottom panel 20 and the top panel 21 is located lower than the distance D2 from the hinge 10 of the lid 9 and the distance D2 is shorter than the distance D1 between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4.
According to a preferred embodiment, the distance D2 is comprises between 75% and 90% of the distance D1; the distance D2 must be as long as possible to increase the lifting stroke of the inner container 3 (in fact the lifting stroke of the inner container 3 is little less than twice the distance D2), but at the same time the distance D2 must be adequately shorter than the distance D1 to avoid interference between the top panel 21 (constituting the crank) and the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 which would impede the correct operation of the lifting mechanism.
As illustrated in Figure 7, when the lid 9 is closed the bottom panel 20 (constituting the connecting rod) is inclined while the top panel 21 (constituting the crank) is perfectly vertical and resting onto the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4. When the lid 9 starts to open (i.e. begins to rotate about the hinge 10 towards the open position) the top panel 21 (constituting the crank) rotates with respect to the bottom panel 20 (constituting the connecting rod) up to arrive in a horizontal position (illustrated in Figure 8) wherein the top panel 21 (constituting the crank) is perpendicular to the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4; continuing the rotation of the lid 9 about the hinge 10 towards a fully open position of the lid 9 (illustrated in Figure 9), the top panel 21 (constituting the crank) rotates with respect to the bottom panel 20 (constituting the connecting rod) up to be arranged almost parallel to the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4. When closing the lid 9 the movements described above are performed in the opposite way.
It is important to note that during the initial part of the rotation of the lid 9 towards the open position the lifting of the inner container 3 is moderate (i.e. initially the rotation of the lid 9 towards the open position determines a small lifting of the inner container 3); said characteristic allows the lid 9 to free the space over the inner container 3 before the inner container 3 itself begins to move upwards considerably.
According to a possible embodiment, it is possible to exploit the elasticity of the bottom panel 20 (constituting the connecting rod) of the connecting tab 19 and/or of the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 so to generate a slight elastic preloading at the closed position that helps to keep the lid 9 in the closed position; in this way a sort of snap at the closure and a kind of initial release at the opening is obtained. In other words, the panels 20 and 21 of connecting tab 19 can be dimensioned so that in the closed position the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 presses against the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 determining an elastic deformation (mainly) of the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and (to a lesser extent) of the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19; said elastic deformation generates a slight elastic preloading at the closed position which helps to keep the lid 9 in the closed position.
As illustrated in Figure 10, the outer container 4 and the lid 9 are obtained starting from a flat blank 26 having a substantially elongated rectangular shape and of known type (i.e. of the type commonly used to provide a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes). In Figure 10, the various parts of the blank 26 have been marked, where possible, with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers distinguishing the corresponding walls of the outer container 4.
As illustrated in Figure 11, the inner container 3 is obtained starting from a flat blank 27 having a substantially elongated rectangular shape. In Figure 11, the various parts of the blank 27 have been marked, where possible, with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers distinguishing the corresponding walls of the inner container 3.
The blank 27 has two longitudinal fold lines 28 (which define the longitudinal edges of the inner container 3) and a plurality of transverse fold lines 29 (which define the transverse edges of the inner container 3) defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines 28, a panel 16' which constitutes the front wall 16 of the inner container 3, a panel 15' which constitutes the bottom wall 15 of the inner container 3 and is directly connected to the panel 16' along a transverse fold line 29, and a panel 17' which constitutes the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, is directly connected to panel 15' along a transverse fold line 29, and is connected to the connecting tab 19.
The blank 27 comprises two wings 18', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 16', are connected to panel 16' along the two longitudinal fold lines 28, and form part of the lateral walls 18 of inner container 3. The blank 27 comprises two wings 18", which are arranged on opposite sides of panel 17', are connected to panel 17' along the two longitudinal fold lines 28, constitute part of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3, and are superimposed on and glued to the corresponding wings 18'. Each wing 18" comprises a tab 15" which rests on and is glued to the panel 15'.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-11, the projections 25 constitute a localized extensions of the wings 18" and are formed by making corresponding U-shaped cuts in the panel 17' (which constitutes the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3); in other words, the projections 25 have a longitudinal dimension limited with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the wings 18" and affect a limited part of the wings 18" (therefore of the lateral walls 18 of inner container 3), i.e. the projections are shaped as "teeth", relatively small, that project from the wings 18" at a certain distance one from the other (therefore from the lateral walls 18 of inner container 3). In this embodiment, the extension of the wings 18" to form the projections 25 takes place towards the inside (that is, towards the panel 17'), and therefore the projections 25 use part of the material of the panel 17' (accordingly, the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 has "holes" at the projections 25).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-11, the connecting tab 19 transversely has a smaller extension with respect to the extension of the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and therefore does not completely close the chamber 24; therefore the inside of the chamber 24 is partly visible both from above (through the spaces left free by the connecting tab 19), and laterally (through the spaces left free by the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3.
In Figures 12-17 an alternative of the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 1-11 is illustrated which differs only for the size of the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 and for the transverse dimensions of the connecting tab 19. The outer container 4 and the lid 9 (thus the corresponding blank 26) of the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 12-17 are fully identical to the outer container 4 and to the lid 9 (therefore to the corresponding blank 26) of the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 1-11.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 12-17, and in particular in the blank 27 of Figure 17, the projections 25 define a continuous transverse extension of the wings 18' and extend without interruption along the entire longitudinal extent of the wings 18'; in other words, the projections 25 have a longitudinal dimension identical to the wings 18' (therefore to the lateral walls 18 of inner container 3), i.e. the projections 25 are like a continuous lateral extension of the wings 18' (therefore of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3), from the opposite side of the panel 16'. In this embodiment, the extension of the wing 18' for forming the projections 25 takes place towards the outside (that is, from the opposite side of the panel 17'), and therefore the projections 25 do not use the material of the panel 17' (accordingly, the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 is completely intact, that is, without "holes"). In this embodiment, the sides of the inner container 3 are completely covered and closed and the connecting tab 19 is visible only from above (that is, is not laterally visible).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 12-17, the connecting tab 19 transversely has the same size of the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and therefore completely closes the chamber 24 (that is, the inside of the chamber 24 is not visible, as it is completely laterally closed by the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 of the inner container 3 and at the top by the connecting tab 19).
The arrangement of the connecting tab 19 of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-17 is schematically illustrated in Figure 18: it should be noted how the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 is arranged from the bottom towards the top and originates from the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, while the top panel 21 of the connecting tab 19 is glued to the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 by means of glue 31; it is evident the distance D2 between the hinge 30 that connects the bottom panel 20 to the top panel 21 and the hinge 10 of the lid 9. When the lid 9 is in the closed position (illustrated in Figure 18), the two panels 20 and 21 of the connecting tab 19 form one with the other an obtuse angle. The panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 (i.e. the connecting rod) pulls upwards the inner container 3 during the opening of the lid 9 (then acts as a tie rod) and pushes downwards the inner container 3 during the closing of the lid 9 (therefore acts as a strut). The reinforcing panel 22 of the connecting tab 19 (not illustrated in Figure 18 for simplicity), if present, is superimposed on and glued to the top panel 21 to reinforce and stiffen the top panel 21 itself. Alternatively, the reinforcing panel 22 of the connecting tab 19 could be glued to the top wall 11 of the lid 9.
In figure 19 an alternative of the arrangement of the connecting tab 19 (which does not change the movement of the inner container 3) is illustrated; in this embodiment not being part of the invention, the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 is arranged from the bottom towards the top and originates from the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, while the top panel 21 of the connecting tab 19 is glued to the top wall 11 the lid 9 by means of glue 31. When the lid 9 is in the closed position (illustrated in Figure 19), the two panels 20 and 21 of the connecting tab 19 form between each other an acute angle. The panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 (i.e. the connecting rod) pulls upwards the inner container 3 during the opening of the lid 9 (therefore acts as a tie rod) and pushes downwards the inner container 3 during the closing of the lid 9 (therefore acts as a strut). Also in this embodiment, the inner container 3 slides longitudinally with respect to the outer container 4 to lift with respect to the outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened. Notice how in this embodiment the distance D2 (which, as previously mentioned, must be smaller than the distance D1 and determines the maximum lifting of the inner container 3) is the distance between the projection on the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 of the fixing point of the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 to the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the hinge 10 of the lid 9.
In Figure 20 a further alternative of the arrangement of the connecting tab 19 (which does not change the movement of the inner container 3) is illustrated; in this embodiment the bottom panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 is arranged from the bottom towards the top and originates from the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3, while the top panel 21 of the connecting tab 19 is glued to the rear wall 13 of the lid 9 by means of glue 31. When the lid 9 is in the closed position (illustrated in Figure 20), the two panels 20 and 21 of the connecting tab 19 form between each other an acute angle. The panel 20 of the connecting tab 19 (i.e. the connecting rod) pushes upwards the inner container 3 during the opening of the lid 9 (therefore acts as a strut) and pulls downwards the inner container 3 during the closing of the lid 9 (therefore acts as a tie rod). Also in this embodiment, the inner container 3 slides longitudinally with respect to outer container 4 to lift with respect to the outer container 4 itself when the lid 9 is opened. Notice how in this embodiment the distance D2 (which, as previously mentioned, must be smaller than the distance D1 and determines the maximum lifting of the inner container 3) is still the distance between the hinge 30 that connects the bottom panel 20 to the top panel 21 and the hinge 10 of the lid 9.
According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the outer container 4 may be provided with a collar which is glued inside the outer container 4, protrude from the open top end of the outer container 4, and embraces (i.e. contains) the inner container 3 to guide the sliding of the inner container 3 itself; in this embodiment, the inner container 3 is devoid of the projections 25 of the lateral walls 18 as the function of the projections 25 themselves is performed by the collar.
According to a further embodiment, not illustrated, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a stop device, which constitutes an end-of-stroke for the upward movement of the inner container 3 and therefore locks the upward movement of the inner container 3 (consequently also locking the rotational movement of the lid 9). For example, the stop device comprises a first tab integral with the inner container 3 and projecting upwards and a second tab which is integral with the outer container 4, is projecting downwards and is coupled with the first tab during the rising movement of the inner container 3 until stopping the upward movement itself.
In Figures 21-25 a different embodiment of the packet 1 of cigarettes is illustrated wherein the inner container 3 moves with a rotational movement with respect to outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened/closed. In other words, in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-20, the inner container 3 moves with pure translational movement with respect to the outer container 4 while according to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 21-25, the inner container 3 moves with a rotational movement (Figures 21-24) or with a roto-translation movement (Figure 25) with respect to the outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened/closed. As illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, it is evident that the opening of the lid 9 determines a forward rotation of the inner container 3.
As illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, the connecting tab 19 is totally similar to the connecting tab 19 illustrated in Figure 20 (obviously with different dimensional ratios); also in this embodiment the distance D2 between the hinge 30 connecting the bottom panel 20 to the top panel 21 and the hinge 10 of the lid 9 must be smaller than the distance D1 between the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3 and the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4. Furthermore, a collar 32 is provided, which is glued to the inside of the outer container 4, protrude from the open top end of the outer container 4, and has only a front wall (i.e. is devoid of the lateral walls). As illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, the collar 32 has a bottom panel 33 that is glued to the inside of the front wall 6 of the outer container 4 by means of glue 34, and a top panel 35 which is glued to the inside of the front wall 16 of the inner container 3 by means of glue 36. The two panels 33 and 35 of the collar 32 are hinged to each other by means of a hinge 37 which is arranged at the top edge of the front wall 6 of the outer container 4. In this embodiment, the function of the collar 32 is solely to guide the rotation of the inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened/closed.
In Figure 25 an alternative of the packet 1 of cigarettes is illustrated showing the rotation of the inner container 3 with respect to the outer container 4: in this embodiment, the inner container 3 performs a roto-translation movement with respect to outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened/closed, i.e. when the lid 9 is opened the inner container 3 rotates forwards and lifts with respect to the outer container 4 (the movement is reversed when the lid 9 is closed). The connecting tab 19 is totally similar to the connecting tab 19 illustrated in Figure 18 (obviously with different dimensional ratios), while the panel 35 of the collar 32 is not glued to the front wall 16 of inner container 3. In this embodiment, the function of the collar 32 is both to guide the rotation of the inner container 3 with respect to outer container 4 when the lid 9 is opened/closed, and to keep the lid 9 in the closed position.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-24, the chamber 24 houses the connecting tab 19 and is arranged at the rear, i.e. is arranged behind the inner container 3 and is bounded by two lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4, by the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 and by the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3; instead, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 25, the chamber 24 does not house the connecting tab 19 and is arranged at the front, i.e. is arranged in front of the inner container 3 and is bounded by the two lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4, by the front wall 6 of the outer container 4 and by the front wall 16 of inner container 3. In other words, in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-20 the chamber 24 has solely the function of housing the connecting tab 19 allowing the connecting tab 19 to have the necessary space to change its configuration during the movement of the lid 9; in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 21-24, the chamber 24 has both the function of housing the connecting tab 19 allowing the connecting tab 19 to have the necessary space to change its configuration during the movement of the lid 9 and the function of allowing the inner container 3 to tilt (rotate) with respect to the outer container 4 and inside the outer container 4 itself; and finally in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 25, the chamber 24 has only the function of allowing the inner container 3 to tilt (rotate) with respect to the outer container 4 and inside the outer container 4 itself. I.e. in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 21-25, the chamber 24 has the function of allowing the inner container 3 to rotate (and thus to tilt) with respect to the outer container 4 (function that is instead entirely absent in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-20).
According to a further embodiment not illustrated and not part of the present invention, the connecting tab 19 instead of being rigid (that is, instead of being composed of rigid panels 20, 21 and 22 hinged to each other) is flexible and therefore completely free to deform without constraints; for example, the connecting tab 19 could have a certain (high) number of transverse weakening lines close to each other giving a high flexibility to the connecting tab 19 itself. This embodiment has the advantage of requiring a smaller chamber 24 due to the (large) deformation capacity of the connecting tab 19, but on the contrary has the drawback of controlling in an automatic way only the lifting of the inner container 3 (i.e. by opening the lid 9 the inner container 3 is lifted automatically by using the movement of the lid 9, while by closing the lid 9 the inner container 3 is not lowered automatically by using the movement of the lid 9 but must be pushed down manually independently of the movement of the lid 9). Said limit is due to the fact that a flexible connecting tab 19 is able to pull (i.e. to act as tie rod), but it is not able to push (i.e. to act as a strut).
According to a possible embodiment not illustrated, a locking device is provided, which has the double function of helping to keep the lid 9 in the closed position and to generate a sound when the lid 9 comes to the closed position (and possibly also when the lid 9 leaves the closed position to move towards the open position). Said sound is presented as a "click" and is generally appreciated by the users since it is perceived as reaching a particularly effective and stable closed position. By way of example, said locking device may comprise a locking tab that projects outwardly from the front wall 16 of inner container 3 (and folded of about 180° on the front wall 16 itself) and a locking pocket that is formed on the inside of the front wall 12 of the lid 9 and is suited to receive the locking tab inside thereof: the locking tab when entering and exiting from the locking pocket must be elastically deformed with elastic return snapping movements which determine the generation of a sound.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-24, the chamber 24 houses the connecting tab 19 and is arranged at the rear, i.e. is arranged behind the inner container 3 and is bounded by two lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4, by the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4 and by the rear wall 17 of the inner container 3; in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 25, the chamber 24 does not house the connecting tab 19 and is arranged at the front, i.e. is arranged in front of the inner container 3 and is bounded by two lateral walls 8 of the outer container 4, by the front wall 6 of the outer container 4 and by the front wall 16 of the inner container 3. According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the chamber 24 houses the connecting tab 19 and is laterally arranged, i.e. is arranged next to the inner container 3 and is bounded by a lateral wall 8 of the outer container 4, by a lateral wall 18 of the inner container 3, by the front wall 6 of the outer container 4 and by the rear wall 7 of the outer container 4.
In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, all the edges (longitudinal and transverse) are right angles; according to alternative and completely equivalent embodiments not illustrated part of the edges may be beveled or rounded (for example the front longitudinal edges of the two containers 3 and 4 may be beveled or rounded).
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.
In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above allows to lift (and/or tilt) the group 2 of cigarettes when the lid 9 is opened (facilitating the ease of extracting the cigarettes) with an extremely simple, effective and efficient mechanism (constituted by the connecting tab 19); in particular, during the rotation of the lid 9 the connecting tab 19 is not subjected to any elastic deformation, and therefore there is no negative interference with the actual rotation of the lid 9. I.e. in the packet 1 of cigarettes described above the force that must be applied to achieve the rotation of the lid 9 is uniform and constant without the "peaks" of force than in other known packets of cigarettes are required to obtain an elastic deformation of a portion of the lifting mechanism of the group of cigarettes; therefore, in the packet 1 of cigarettes described above the handling of the lid 9 is extremely easy. Furthermore, in the packet 1 of cigarettes described above the handling of the lid 9 (i.e. the lifting of the group 2 of cigarettes) does not generate any type of mechanical stress on the group 2 of cigarettes and thus does not cause any type of pressing or deformation of the cigarettes.
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above is simple to produce even in an existing packing machine (that must be subjected to few, not too invasive, modifications). In fact, the outer container 4 and the lid 9 (therefore the corresponding blank 26) are completely identical to the outer container and to the lid (therefore to the corresponding blank) of a standard type, rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes and the inner container 3 can be obtained by folding the blank 27 about the group 2 of cigarettes in the packing unit normally used for producing the collar with simple changes to the packing unit itself.
Finally, in the packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the increase of packing material for producing the inner package 3 is lesser (when compared to the packing material required to produce the collar) resulting in a low impact on the expenses and environmental costs of production and waste (after the use) of the packet 1 of cigarettes.
As a result of the many advantages presented by the packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the shape of that packet 1 of cigarettes may be integrally used also for producing a packet of other types of smoking articles (such as, for example, cigars, electronic cigarettes, charging cartridges for electronic cigarettes, pieces of tobacco for electronic cigarettes).

Claims

A rigid, hinged-lid packet (1) of smoking articles comprising:
a group (2) of articles;

an inner container (3) housing the group (2) of articles;

an outer container (4), which comprises an open top end, a bottom wall (5), a front wall (6), a rear wall (7), and two lateral walls (8), and houses the inner container (3) in such a manner as to allow the inner container (3) to move with respect to the outer container (4);

a lid (9), which has a top wall (11), a front wall (12), a rear wall (13) which is hinged to the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4) to allow the lid (9) to rotate with respect to the outer container (4), and two lateral walls (14); and

an actuating mechanism which moves the inner container (3) with respect to the outer container (4) using the rotational movement of the lid (9) and comprises a connecting tab (19) which connects a wall (17) of the inner container (3) to a wall (11; 13) of the lid (9);

wherein the connecting tab (19) comprises a rigid top panel (21) which is integral with a wall (11; 13) of the lid (9); and a rigid bottom panel (20) that on one side is directly hinged to a wall (17) of the inner container (3) and the other side is directly hinged to the top panel (21);

the packet (1) of cigarettes being characterized in that:
the inner container (3) is smaller than the outer container (4), so as to define, inside the outer container (4), a chamber (24) adjoining the inner container (3);

the top panel (21) of the connecting tab (19) is integral with the rear wall (13) of the lid (9);

the bottom panel (20) of the connecting tab (19) is directly hinged to the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3); and

the bottom and top panels (20, 21) of the connecting tab (19) are designed so that, in the closed position the bottom panel (20) presses against the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3) to elastically deform at least the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rigid connecting tab (19) connects a rear wall (17) of the inner container (3) to the rear wall (13) of the lid (9).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting tab (19) comprises a reinforcing panel (22) which is superimposed on and glued to the top panel (21) .
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein:
the outer container (4) houses the inner container (3) in such a manner as to allow the inner container (3) to slide longitudinally with respect to the outer container (4);

the actuating mechanism lifts the inner container (3) with respect to the outer container (4) using the rotational movement of the lid (9) into an open position; and

the actuating mechanism is housed at least partly in the chamber (24).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the chamber (24) is located behind the inner container (3) and is bounded by the two lateral walls (8) of the outer container (4), by the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4) and by a rear wall (17) of the inner container (3) which is spaced apart from the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4) .
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 5, wherein:
the hinge (10) of the lid (9) is spaced apart from a hinge (30) between the bottom panel (20) and the top panel (21); and a first distance (D1) between the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3) and the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4) is greater than a second distance (D2) between the hinge (10) of the lid (9) and the hinge (30) between the bottom panel (20) and the top panel (21).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in one of Claims from 4 to 6, wherein the inner container (3) comprises lateral walls (18) with respective projections (25), which are coplanar with the lateral walls (18) and project from the inner container (3) to such an extent as to touch the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 7, wherein:
each lateral wall (18) of the inner container (3) is formed by superimposing a first wing (18') and a second wing (18"); and

the projections (25) on each lateral wall (18) of the inner container (3) define a respective localized extensions of the second wing (18") projecting towards a panel (17') forming the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3), and are formed by making corresponding U-shaped cuts in said panel (17').
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 7, wherein:
each lateral wall (18) of the inner container (3) is formed by superimposing a first wing (18') and a second wing (18"); and

the projections (25) on each lateral wall (18) of the inner container (3) define a continuous extension of the first wing (18'), from the opposite side of a panel (17') which forms the rear wall (17) of the inner container (3).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in one of Claims from 4 to 9, wherein:
a front wall (16) of the inner container (3) has two extensions (23) which project laterally to interferentially engage corresponding lateral walls (14) of the lid (9) when the lid (9) is in the closed position; and

the front wall (16) of the container (3) has a U-shaped top window.
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein:
the outer container (4) houses the inner container (3) in such a manner as to allow the inner container (3) to rotate with respect to the outer container (4); and

the actuating mechanism rotates the inner container (3) forwards with respect to the outer container (4) using the rotational movement of the lid (9) into an open position.
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 11 and comprising a collar (32) in turn comprising:
a bottom panel (33) glued to the inside of a front wall (6) of the outer container (4); and

a top panel (35) which projects from the front wall (6) of the outer container (4) and is hinged to the bottom panel (33) by means of a hinge (37) along a top edge of the front wall (6) of the outer container (4).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 12, wherein:
the chamber (24) is located behind the inner container (3) and is bounded by two lateral walls (8) of the outer container (4), and by a rear wall (7) of the outer container (4), and by a rear wall (17) of the inner container (3) which is spaced apart from the rear wall (7) of the outer container (4);

a front wall (16) of the inner container (3) is glued to the top panel (35) of the collar (32).
The packet (1) of smoking articles as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the chamber (24) is located in front of the inner container (3), and is bounded by two lateral walls (8) of the outer container (4), by the front wall (6) of the outer container (4), and by a front wall (16) of the inner container (3), which is spaced apart from the front wall (6) of the outer container (4).