EP3914535B1

EP3914535B1 - A rigid pack for smoking articles and a blank for producing said rigid pack for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: EP3914535B1
Application number: EP20706062.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca PARADISO; Luca Federici
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2019-01-25
Filing date: 2020-01-24
Publication date: 2024-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 2040-01-24
Also published as: WO2020152648A1; EP3914535A1; PL3914535T3; IT201900001125A1; RS65509B1; CN113544064A

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid pack for smoking articles and a blank to produce said rigid pack for smoking articles.
The present invention finds advantageous application in a pack of cigarettes, which the description below will make explicit reference to without any loss of generality thereby. In the present text, in fact, reference will be made indiscriminately to the specific example of "cigarettes", rather than to the more generic expression "smoking articles", without however any loss of generality in relation to other types of articles (such as cigars, cigarillos, electronic cigarettes or ecigs, auxiliary products such as filters, refills for ecigs, and other tobacco products or alternative components or tobacco substitutes).

PRIOR ART

Rigid cigarette packs with a hinged lid are the most popular cigarette packs currently on the market because they are easy to make, easy and practical to use, and offer good protection to the cigarettes inside them.
A rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid, as disclosed for example in documents WO2017098351 and WO2016151522 , comprises an inner wrapping consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metallic paper and a rigid outer casing housing the inner wrapping. The inner wrapping is initially completely closed and has an extraction opening for the cigarettes that can be closed by a disposable, tear-away portion (called a "pull") that is removed when the cigarette pack is opened for the first time to allow the enclosed cigarettes to be extracted from the inner wrapping. Otherwise, it can be closed by a reusable closure label (i.e. "open & close" type) that is connected to the inner wrapping by means of a repositionable glue.
In known rigid packs, the outer casing consists of a cup-shaped container with an open top end and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and hinged to one end edge of the container to rotate between an open and a closed end position in relation to the container itself.
Cigarette packs as disclosed in WO2013054177 , instead, comprise an internal body, a containing element into which the internal body is inserted and which has an extraction opening closable by a lid. The lid is connected through two tabs to the front wall of the internal body. In particular, the two tabs are both hinged at one end to the front wall of the internal body, while at the opposite end each tab is attached by glue to the internal wall of the mobile lid. Therefore, for opening the pack the lid rotates about both hinges arranged at each end of the tabs.
However, the cigarette packs as disclosed in documents WO2017098351 , WO2016151522 and WO2013054177 have the disadvantage that the lid is not maintained in a closed position and, therefore, they can be open involuntarily with a consequent outfall of the cigarettes.
In known Shoulder-Box-type packs, the lid is hinged to the cup-shaped container at one edge of the front wall of the pack. However, in order to ensure that the pack is closed well, a reinforcement element, often called a frame, is arranged in the cup body, which is glued along the perimeter of the open end of the cup body. In this way, in the lid's closed position, it hugs and is in contact with the reinforcement element and not with the cup body.
The reinforcement element is indispensable in packs of a known type, because the cup body and lid are half as deep as the cigarette pack and the reinforcement element prevents cigarettes from coming out when the packet is opened. In other words, in these known cigarette packs, the reinforcement element acts as a barrier, circumscribing the housing of the cigarettes.
Nevertheless, in Shoulder-Box-type pack, for example as disclosed in document WO2016181366 , which has a cup body and the lid having substantially the same deep as the cigarette pack the reinforcement element is not necessary. In other words, Shoulder-Box-type packs having the cup body and the lid with substantially the same deep as the cigarette pack, does not have a reinforcement body. Typically, for preventing undesirable opening of the lid, the shoulder-Box-type pack has often a blocking system, which keeps the lid in a closed position.
However, this makes extracting the cigarettes from the pack difficult and complex due to the bulky reinforcement element projecting from the cup body.
It is clear, however, that the production of a cigarette pack of this type is highly complex and requires a large number of materials to produce it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a rigid pack for smoking articles and a blank for producing said rigid pack for smoking articles that are free of the drawbacks of the prior art, and that are easy and economical to produce.
According to the present invention, a rigid pack for smoking articles according to claim 1 is provided and a blank for producing said rigid pack for smoking articles according to claim 12 is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating some non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a pack in the closed configuration and produced in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the cigarette pack in Figure 1 in the closed configuration;
Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the cigarette pack in Figure 1 in the open configuration;
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the cigarette pack in Figure 1 in the open configuration;
Figure 5 is a front perspective view of the cigarette pack according to an alternative embodiment in the open configuration;
Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the group of cigarettes enclosed in an inner wrapping;
Figure 7 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack in Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a second embodiment;
Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a third embodiment;
Figure 10 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a fourth embodiment;
Figure 11 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a fifth embodiment;
Figure 12 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a sixth embodiment;
Figure 13 is a plan view of the blank for producing the cigarette pack according to a seventh embodiment; and
Figure 14 is a plan view of the blank for producing a separating element of the cigarette pack shown in Figure 6.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 globally denotes a cigarette pack. The cigarette pack 1 has a substantially rectangular, parallelepiped shape defined by two larger side walls, two smaller side walls, and two end walls, and comprises at least one group 2 of cigarettes and a containing element 3 provided with a lid 4.
In the following description of the cigarette pack 1, terms such as "low", "high", "front", and "rear" will be used to designate the positions of portions of the pack 1, assuming that the pack is arranged so that the prevailing direction of extension (or axis of the cigarettes) is vertical. Therefore, the lower and upper walls are arranged "low down" and "high up" respectively, and the front and rear walls define "front" and "rear" respectively.
The term "cross-section" means a section of the pack 1 or group 2 of cigarettes set perpendicularly to its prevailing direction of extension.
The term "width" means a dimension measured parallel to the front wall (largest side wall) and perpendicularly to the smaller side walls and to the prevailing direction of extension of the pack 1.
The term "height" means a dimension measured parallel to the front wall and perpendicularly to the lower and upper end walls (closed pack).
The term "depth" means a dimension measured perpendicularly to the front wall and parallel to the lower, upper, and smaller side walls.
The group 2 of cigarettes, shown for example in Figure 6, is preferably wrapped in an inner wrapping 5 and has a front wall 6, a rear wall 7, two side walls 8, a lower wall 9, and an upper wall 10. At least a portion of the inner wrapping 5 may be removed on the front wall 6 and the upper wall 10 of the group 2 cigarettes, so that an opening can be made to remove the cigarettes. The inner wrapping 5 may comprise, for example, weakening lines of the material (not shown) along which it tears to make the opening for removing cigarettes. The material weakening lines may extend in a transverse direction (preferably perpendicular) to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes and/or in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes. In other words, the material weakening lines can be extended on the front wall 6, side walls 8, and/or upper wall 10.
The containing element 3, shown, in particular, in Figures 1-4, surrounds the group 2 of cigarettes. The containing element 3 is substantially made as a rectangular parallelepiped and has at least one extraction opening 12 to access the group 2 of cigarettes. The containing element 3 comprises: one front wall 13, one rear wall 14, two side walls 15, one lower wall 16, and one upper wall 17. When the group 2 of cigarettes is housed inside the containing element 3, the opening for removing the cigarettes from the inner wrapping 5 is arranged at the extraction opening 12 of the containing element 3. The extraction opening 12 is made on at least the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. The extraction opening 12 is, advantageously, made on both the front wall 13 and the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4, a single group 2 of cigarettes is arranged in the containing element 3. According to the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the containing element 3 houses two groups 2 of cigarettes that are arranged beside one another. The term "beside one another" means that the two groups 2 of cigarettes are arranged one beside the other and are adjacent to their respective side walls 8. Advantageously, between the two groups 2 of cigarettes, there may be a separation element 18 (the blank 45 of which is shown in Figure 14). The separation element 18 is arranged inside the containing element 3 between the two groups 2 of cigarettes. The separation element 18 comprises two folded and overlapping central walls 19 and two rear walls 20 arranged substantially perpendicular to the central walls 19. In particular, the central wall 19 is folded 180° over the other, central wall 19. The two side walls 19 are interposed between the rear walls 20. The rear walls 20 are arranged substantially perpendicular in relation to the central walls 19.
The group 2 of cigarettes is arranged in the surrounding containing element 3. The group 2 of cigarettes is preferably sealed so as to preserve the aroma and freshness of the cigarettes.
The cigarette pack 1 also comprises a lid 4 that is hinged to the front wall 13 of the containing element 3. In particular, the lid 4 is cup-shaped and hinged to the containing element 3 along a hinge 21 (shown in Figure 2) to rotate, in relation to the containing element 3 itself, between an open position (shown in Figures 3 and 4) and a closed position (shown in Figures 1 and 2) of extraction opening 12.
The lid 4 comprises a front wall 23 hinged to the front wall 13 of the containing element 3, two side walls 24, and an upper wall 25. In particular, as shown in Figures 1-4, the side walls 24 and the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 are substantially as deep as the side walls 15 and the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. In other words, the side walls 24 of the lid 4 and the side walls 15 of the containing element 3, as well as the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 and the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3, are substantially the same depth. The term "depth" means the dimension measured along the transverse direction in relation to the longitudinal extension of the group 2 of cigarettes. Therefore, in the closed position of the lid 4, the side walls 24 of the lid 4 fully cover the depth of the side walls 15 of the containing element 3; and the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 fully covers the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. Therefore, the walls 22 and 23 of the lid 4 wrap and directly face the walls 15 and 17 of the containing element 3. Clearly, the lid 4 does not have a rear wall.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, which show the cigarette pack 1 with the lid 4 open, the cigarette pack 1 comprise a locking system 26 that is designed to keep the lid 4 in the closed position. In other words, the locking system 26 prevents accidental opening of the lid 4. The locking system 26 comprises at least one locking tab 27 that projects from the containing element 3 and a seat 28 obtained in the lid 4 and designed to contain part of the locking tab 27. The locking tab 27 is arranged (i.e. it projects) from the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3, in particular beside the extraction opening 12.
According to a possible embodiment, shown in Figures 3 and 4, the locking tab 27 is made as a continuation of the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3 and is folded back onto the wall 17 itself. In this way, due to the spring back of the folded locking tab 27, it is brought to stably engage the seat 28 made in the lid 4 in order to prevent the lid 4 being accidentally opened.
According to the embodiment, wherein the cigarette pack 1 comprises two groups 2 of cigarettes and two extraction openings 12 (each near the corresponding group 2 of cigarettes), the locking tab 27 is preferably arranged between the two extraction openings 12. In other words, the locking tab 27 is arranged, preferably centrally, between the two extraction openings 12.
The seat 28 can be made on a reinforcement flap 25" of the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 by means of a groove 29 (making the cigarette pack 1, for example, with the blanks shown in Figures 7 and 10-13). The reinforcement flap 25" of the lid 4 is configured to be overlapped (i.e. folded 180° along the respective fold line) and glued to the upper wall 25 of the lid 4. The groove 29 is obtained on the free edge of the reinforcement flap 25". By overlapping the reinforcement flap 25‴ on the upper wall 25, the seat 28 is created.
Alternatively, as shown in Figures 4, and producing the cigarette pack 1 with a blank 31, for example as shown in Figures 8, 9, and 13, the seat 28 can be obtained by making the panels 25" (shown in Figures 8-10 and 13) so as to obtain the seats 28 on the portion of the upper wall 25 where no panel 25" is overlapped. In other words, because the panel 25" and the reinforcement flap 25" have a smaller surface dimension than the upper wall 25 of the lid 4, they do not cover the entire surface of the upper wall 25 of the lid 4, thus making the seat 28 in the uncovered portions. In this case, the seats 28 are made, in particular, on the corners of the upper wall 25 adjacent to the front wall 23 of the lid 4.
According to a possible embodiment, shown in Figures 1-4, the front wall 13 of the containing element 3 has a height (i.e. dimension measured along a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cigarettes) equal to the height (i.e. dimension measured along the direction parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cigarettes) of the front wall 23 of the lid 4. In other words, the hinge 21 is arranged about halfway up (i.e. the dimension measured along the direction parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cigarettes) of the cigarette pack 1. Therefore, the front walls 13 and 23 have substantially the same dimensions.
Alternatively, the front wall 13 of the containing element 3 has the height (i.e. dimension measured along the direction parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cigarettes) lower than the height of the front wall 23 of the lid 4. In other words, the lid 4 has a front wall 23 that is larger than the front wall 13 of the inner containing element 3. To make it easier for the user to open the lid 4, the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 can be provided with a recess 30 at one free end. The recess 30 is made on the upper wall 25 and on the reinforcement flap 25'. In this way, the user can insert at least part of his or her finger into the recess 30 to act on the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3 and open the lid 4.
The front wall 23 of the lid 4 can be provided with promotional writings or drawings on the inner surface.
Figures 7-13 show the blank 31 according to different embodiments of the cigarette pack 1.
In particular, the blanks 31 of the containing element 3 have a panel 17' that constitutes the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3, a panel 14' constituting the rear wall 14 of the containing element, a panel 16' constituting the lower wall 16 of the containing element, a panel 13' constituting the front wall 13, a panel 23' constituting the front wall 23 of the lid 4, a panel 25' constituting the upper wall 25 of the lid 4, and a reinforcement flap 25" of the lid 4. The panels 13', 14', 16', and 17' are respectively separated by fold lines 32 along which the blank 31 is folded in such a way as to arrange the individual walls orthogonal to each other. As shown in Figures 7-13, at least one panel 27' is connected to the free end of the panel 17', which constitutes the locking tab 27 of the locking system 26. The panel 13' is separated from the panel 23' by a fold line 33 that constitutes the hinge 21. Along the fold line 33, there are also cutting lines 34 spaced apart from one another. The panels 23', 25' and 25" are respectively separated by the fold lines 35. The fold lines 32 and 35 are substantially parallel to each other.
As shown in Figures 7-13, a panel 17" extends at both edges of the panel 17', the former constituting a flap to keep the relative position between the upper wall 17 and the side walls 15. At both edges of the panel 14', a panel 15" extends that constitutes a portion of the side wall 15. While, at both edges of the panel 13', a panel 15' extends that constitutes a portion of the side wall 15. The panels 15' are made to overlap the panels 15" so as to make the side wall 15 of the cigarette pack 1. The panels 15' and 15" are, respectively, connected to the panels 14' and 13' by the fold lines 36. At both edges of the panel 16', a panel 16" extends that constitutes a tab to keep the relative position between the panels 15" and 16' (i.e. between the lower wall 16 and the side wall 15).
The panels 16" and 17" are connected to the respective panel 15" by a fold line 37 that is substantially parallel to (in particular, aligned with) the fold line 32. The panel 16" is separated from the respective panel 15' and 16' by a cutting line 38. The cutting line 38 comprises a portion aligned with the respective fold line 36 and a portion aligned with the respective fold line 32 (i.e. the cutting line 38 extends, substantially, in an L-shape). The panels 17" are separated by the respective panel 17' by the cutting lines 44. The cutting lines 44 are, substantially, aligned with the respective fold line 36.
At both edges of the panel 23', a panel 24' extends that constitutes the side wall 24 of the lid 4. The panels 15' are separated by the adjacent panels 24' by a material weakening line 39 (in particular, cutting lines alternating with portions of uncut material).
According to what is shown in Figures 7, 11, and 12, at both edges of the panel 25', a panel 24" extends that is configured to be arranged below the panel 24'. That is, the panels 24' are arranged on the respective panel 24". The panels 24' and 24" are separated from one another by a cutting line 40. The cutting lines 40 are substantially aligned with the respective fold line 35 arranged between the panels 23' and 25'. The panel 24" is connected to the panel 25" by the fold line 36. The panel 24" preferably has a rectangular shape.
As shown in Figures 8-10 and 13, a panel 25" extends at the edge 24'. The panel 25" is connected to the panel 24' by a fold line 41. The cutting line 41 extends along (i.e. is aligned with) the fold line 35 arranged between the panels 23' and 25'. The panels 25" are connected to the panel 24' are separated and, preferably, spaced apart by the panel 25' by a cutting line 42. The cutting line 42 is preferably spaced from the fold line 36. The panel 25" that is connected to the panel 24' preferably has a triangular shape and is spaced from the panel 25' so that the seat 28 is made when the panel 25" is folded over the panel 25'.
Therefore, the blank 31 shown in Figures 7, 11, and 12, differs from the blank 31 shown in Figures 8-10 and 13 in that it comprises panels 24" (and not the panels 25") and that the panels 24" are connected to the panel 25". The blank 31 shown in Figures 8-10 and 13, on the other hand, has panels 25" that are connected to the panels 24'.
As shown in Figures 7-13, at the fold line 35 (interposed between the panel 25' and the reinforcement flap 25"), a punching 43 is made that creates the recess 30, by folding the panel 25" onto the panel 25'.
According to what is shown in Figures 7 and 10- 13, the reinforcement flap 25" has a groove 29 (or grooves 29) that makes the seat 28. In other words, in this embodiment, the free edge of the reinforcement flap 25" is not straight, but contoured.
As shown in Figures 7-13, the panel 25" of the reinforcement flap has a substantially trapezoidal shape, i.e. it is bevelled on the side.
Figure 14 shows the blank 45 for making the separation element 18. The blank 45 comprises two panels 19' that constitute the central walls 19 of the separation element 18 and two panels 20' that constitute the rear walls 20 of the separation element 18 arranged at opposite edges of the panels 19'.
The cigarette pack 1 described above has a plurality of advantages.
Mainly, it is possible to make the cigarette pack 1 with a single blank 31, which makes the containing element 3 and the lid 4. Therefore, the cigarette pack 1 makes it possible to reduce the amount of material used to make the pack 1 itself. In fact, the cigarette pack 1, the object of the present invention, does not require any collar, frame, or other element because the extraction openings 12 are made directly on the containing element 3. The presence of the front wall 13 of the containing element 3 makes it easy to grasp the cigarette pack 1 and to better protect the group 2 of cigarettes housed inside it. In addition, the front wall 13 prevents the cigarettes housed in the containing element 3 from accidentally coming out or falling.
The cigarette pack 1 can also be easily adapted to the type of cigarette to be housed inside; in fact, by moving the hinge 21 towards the lower wall 16, it is possible to enlarge the extraction opening 12 in order to make it easier to grasp and extract the cigarette.
It is also possible to extract the cigarettes through the portion of the extraction opening 12 made on the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. This makes it possible to extract the cigarette without moving (i.e. shifting) the adjacent cigarettes.
The cigarette pack 1 can accommodate both standard-length cigarettes and shorter-length cigarettes (i.e. shorter than the standard length).
Finally, the cigarette pack 1 is easy and economical to make.

Claims

A pack (1) for smoking articles comprising:
at least one group (2) of smoking articles;

a containing element (3), which surrounds the group (2) of smoking articles, has at least one extraction opening (12) to access the group (2) of smoking articles, and comprises: a front wall (13), a rear wall (14), two side walls (15), a lower wall (16) and an upper wall (17); and

a lid (4), which is hinged to the front wall (13) of the containing element (3), rotates between an open position and a closed position of the extraction opening (12), and comprises: a front wall (23), which is hinged to the front wall (13) of the containing element (3), two side walls (24) and an upper wall (25); wherein the side walls (24) and the upper wall (25) of the lid (4) have a depth, which is substantially equal to a depth of the side walls (15) and of the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3), so that, in the closed position of the lid (4), the side walls (24) of the lid (4) entirely cover the depth of the side walls (15) of the containing element (3) and the upper wall (25) of the lid (3) entirely covers the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3);

the pack (1) for smoking articles is characterized by comprising a locking system (26), which is designed to hold the lid (4) in the closed position and comprises: a locking tab (27), which projects from the containing element (3), and a seat (28), which is designed to contain part of the locking tab (27) and is obtained in the lid (4); the locking tab (27) is arranged in the area of the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the extraction opening (12) is arranged at least in the area of the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the locking tab (27) is arranged beside the extraction opening (12).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the front wall (13) of the containing element (3) has a height, which is substantially equal to a height of the front wall (23) of the lid (4).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the front wall (13) of the containing element (3) has a height, which is smaller than a height of the front wall (23) of the lid (4).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein:
there are two distinct groups (2) of smoking articles beside one another; and

the containing element (3) comprises two extraction openings (12) beside one another, each arranged in the area of a respective group (2) of smoking articles.
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to claim 6 and comprising a separation element (18), which is arranged inside the containing element (3) between the two groups (2) of smoking articles.
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to claim 7, wherein the separation element (18) comprises two central walls (19), which are folded and overlap one another, and two rear walls (20), which are arranged substantially perpendicularly to the central walls (19).
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein the upper wall (25) of the lid (4) has a recess (30) in the area of a free edge.
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to claim 9, wherein the recess (30) is made in the area of the upper wall (25) and of a reinforcement flap (25").
The pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, wherein an inner surface of the front wall (23) of the lid (4) is provided with writing or drawings.
A blank (31) for the pack (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 11; the blank (31) comprises:
a first panel (17'), which constitutes the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3);

a second panel (14'), which constitutes the rear wall (14) of the containing element (3);

a third panel (16'), which constitutes the lower wall (16) of the containing element (3);

a fourth panel (13'), which constitutes the front wall (13) of the containing element (3);

a fifth panel (23'), which constitutes the front wall (23) of the lid (4);

a sixth panel (25'), which constitutes the upper wall (25) of the lid (4); and

a seventh panel (25'), which constitutes the reinforcement flap (25") of the lid (4), characterised in that in the area of a free end of the first panel (17') there is connected at least one eighth panel (27'), which constitutes the locking tab (27) of the locking system (26).