FR2730701A1 - CIGARETTE PACKAGING INCORPORATED INTEGRITY - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging according to the invention is made from a blank and comprises a body whose rear face (4) is connected to the rear face (3) of a cover (2) by means of a line folding (5) forming a hinge. It has, in the closed position of the cover (2), a parallelepipedal shape according to which the front (14 '), rear (4) and side faces (FL2, FL'2) of the body are located in the extension of the front faces , rear (3) and side (FL1, FL'1) of the cover (2). The side faces (FL2, FL'2) of the body are connected to the side faces (FL1, FL'1) of the cover (2) by two frangible zones serving as integrity witnesses. The invention makes it possible to avoid the use of an overwrap film.

Description

CIGARETTE PACKAGING WITH INCORPORATED INTEGRITY.

  The present invention relates to a cigarette package which can be produced from a single blank cut from a sheet of semi-rigid material and provided with controls to guarantee the integrity of the packaging.

  until opened by the user.

  Cigarettes are usually sold in packs of twenty cigarettes, either rigid or flexible, grouped under soft or rigid ten packs. These packages usually contain an interior lining that helps preserve the characteristics

  aromatics and moisture of cigarettes.

  Rigid packages are appreciated for their greater effectiveness in protecting the product from crushing during consumption. In this range of products, the "Hinged Lid" packages facilitate access to smoking products. They are usually wrapped in a transparent overwrap film, for example polypropylene which, in addition to a function of protection and sealing, acts as an integrity check. This film is also provided with a generally adhesive tircel applied before overwrapping and

allowing the opening of the package.

  - 2 - These customer-favored packages are relatively expensive in comparison to flexible packages and use more material than the latter. In addition, they constitute a major source of environmentally harmful waste. On the other hand, high speed packet overwrapping proves difficult to

  manufacturing rejects at a significant rate.

  The invention therefore more particularly aims to

remove these disadvantages.

  It proposes, for this purpose, a packaging of cigarettes with cover, simplified manufacture and reduced cost of material, whose behavior before use by the consumer is improved and which incorporates the function of witness of integrity, so as to be able to suppress the movie of

overwrapping and tircel.

  This packaging which is produced by cutting and assembling a blank, comprises, in a conventional manner, a body whose rear face is connected to the rear face of a lid by means of a fold line forming a hinge. It has, in the closed position of the lid, a parallelepipedal shape in which the front, rear and side faces of the body are in the extension of the front, rear and side faces of the lid, the front faces of the body and the lid being separated each other at the level of

  their respective upper and lower edges.

  According to the invention, this packaging is characterized in that the lateral faces of the body are connected to the lateral faces of the lid by two frangible zones serving as integrity indicators, intended to break during the first opening of the lid, to allow the

  tilting of the latter around the fold line.

  Of course, to achieve this result, the blank intended to produce the package must be designed so as to have a central strip comprising two tracks connected to one another by a fold line, intended

  to make the rear faces of the body and the lid.

  This central band is bordered by two lateral bands intended to produce the lateral faces of the body and the cover, these two bands being connected to one another at the level of the line of separation by two zones.

respective frangibles.

  Advantageously, the aforesaid frangible zones may be located in the vicinity of the ends of the aforesaid dividing line and be extended by cutouts opening respectively at the outer edges.

sidebands.

  An additional advantage of this solution is that it makes it possible to use the lever effect of the lid to cause tearing of the frangible zone when the package is opened. The effort required to produce this tear can be further adjusted by adjusting the length of the breakable area

or even weakening this area.

  Another important advantage of the previously described solution results from the fact that the lateral faces of the body of the packet are at least partially connected to the lateral faces of the lid, before opening of the latter. As a result, the rigidity of the pack and therefore its strength are considerably improved, so that it becomes possible to avoid the use of reinforcing collars for: - to ensure a function of "jamming" of the lid in the closed position, - 4 - - to ensure an aesthetic function of presentation of cigarettes in the window created by the presence of the

reinforcement collar.

  This is a significant advantage that avoids the use of very sophisticated and expensive machines because of the complexity of cutting operations, setting up and maintaining the reinforcement collar to

inside the package.

  Thus, in a package of this type: the upper edge of the front face of the body may be extended by a range that may have the shape of the upper part of a reinforcement (the junction between this range and the front face of the package may to be materialized by creasing), this range can also be stamped to be set back from the front face and so that the cover and the body are in the same plane when the package is closed, - a precut line having an angle different from that of the lower edges of the lateral faces of the cover can then be made at the junction of the side strips which border the portion of the central strip of the blank forming the rear face of the body and the side strips that border the portion of the strip

  central blank forming the rear face of the lid.

  Advantageously, the side strips of the blank bordering the portion of the central strip of the blank which form the front face of the body may end, at the level of the aforesaid beach, by a bevel oriented parallel to the

  lower edges of the side faces of the lid.

  Embodiments of the invention will be described below.

  BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a blank of conventional shape for producing a pack of cigarettes; Figures 2 to 5 are perspective views showing the various defects that can present a package of the type of that obtained with the blank shown in Figure 1; Figures 6 and 7 show possible embodiments of frangible zones constituted by cuts provided with attachment points according to the invention; Figures 8 and 9 respectively show a blank to obtain a package with integrated reinforcement collar and a package obtained with said blank; Figures 10 and 11 show in a similar manner an alternative embodiment of the blank and the package obtained with this blank; Figures 12 and 13 show in perspective and in schematic partial section a detail of the package shown in Figure 11; Figures 14, 15 - 16, 17 - 18, 19 show three other variants of a blank and the package

that it helps to get.

  The blank F1 shown in FIG. 1 makes it possible to produce a pack of cigarettes such as those represented on the

Figures 2 to 5.

  This package, in the closed state, has a parallelepipedal shape and comprises two trapezoidal rectangle parts, namely: a body 1 and a lid 2, these 6 - two parts 1, 2 being open at their oblique face which constitutes the assembly face (plane P,

Figure 5).

  The rear face 3 of the cover 2 (small base) is an extension of the rear face 4 of the body 1 (large base). The connection between these two faces is provided by a fold line 5 which allows the lid to tip.

  between an open position and a closed position.

  The F1 blank is obtained by cutting and creasing a strip

of semi-rigid cardboard.

  The front end of the blank delimits a re-entrant trapezoidal shape 6. The rear end has, for its part, a trapezoidal convex shape 7 whose small base is extended by an appendage 8 of

  same width (called inner flap).

  Fl blank comprises two longitudinal fold lines L !, L2 whose spacing corresponds to the width of the pack of cigarettes that we want to obtain. These two fold lines L1, L2 delimit a central band BC bordered by two lateral bands BL1, BL2 of width

  substantially equal to the thickness of the package.

  It also comprises six transverse fold lines T1 to T6 which extend over the entire width of the central band of the blank and are associated, at the level of

  sidebands, with cutouts D1 to D5, D'i to D'5.

  The first line of folding T1 starting from the left, delimits with the front edge of the central band, the

  aforesaid appendix 8 (inner flap).

  The second fold line T2 delimits, at the level of the central strip, a rectangular area 9 corresponding to the front face 9 'of the cover 2 and, at the level of the lateral strips BL1-; BL2, two flaps R1, R'1, of trapezoidal shape, which constitute the lateral faces FL1, FL'1 of the cover 2. This fold line T2 is extended by two transverse cuts D1, D'1 and two longitudinal cuts D2 , Of 2. The third fold line T3 delimits with the second T'2 in the central band BC, a rectangular area 10 corresponding to the upper face 10 'of the cover 2 and, at the side strips BL1, BL2, two rectangular flaps R2, R 2 which, when folded around the fold line T3, can be laminated to the

  verso of the upper face 10 'of the lid 2.

  The fourth fold line T4 is extended by two oblique cuts D3, D'3 which extend parallel to the oblique edges BO1, B'o01 - B02, B'02 of the trapezoidal re-entrant shape 6 and trapezoidal flaps R'i, R'2. It delimits with the second line T3 a relatively narrow rectangular area 11 which constitutes the rear face 3 of the cover and, at the level of the side strips BL1, BL2, two trapezoidal areas R3, R'3 which

  constitute the lateral faces FL1, FL'I of the cover 2.

  The fifth fold line T5 delimits, with the fourth line, a rectangular area 12 constituting the rear face 4 of the body 1, this area 12 being bordered by two lateral surfaces R4, R '4 of trapezoidal shape which partially constitute the interior walls.

  (linings) side faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 1.

  The sixth fold line T6 delimits with the fifth T5 a rectangular range 13 constituting the bottom FC of the body 1, this range 13 being bordered by two rectangular flaps R5, R'5 intended to be applied against the inner face of said FC bottom . This folding is made possible thanks to the presence of the longitudinal cutouts D4, D'4 and transverse cuts D5, -8- D'5 which extend the two ends of the line of

folding T6.

  This sixth fold line T6 also delimits, with the re-entrant form 6 of the blank, a rectangular area 14 constituting the front face 14 'of the body 1 of the package. This beach 14 is bordered by two lateral beaches R6, R'6 which

  constitute the lateral faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 1.

  The folding mode of the blank to obtain a package such as those shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, is

  conventional type and will not be indicated in detail.

  The collage of the blank is obtained thanks to zones of

  collage whose locations have been hatched.

  The bonding areas that cover most of the flaps R2, R'2 can be glued to the back of the

  upper face 10 'of the lid 2.

  The bonding areas that cover the flaps R3, R'3 are intended to stick on the back of the faces

  lateral FL1, FL'I of the cover 2.

  The bonding areas that cover the trapezoidal areas R4, R'4 are intended to come stick to the

  side faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 1.

  As previously mentioned, a pack of cigarettes made using the previously described blank can have many defects due in large part to the difficulty of obtaining sufficient precision in the production of the lid 2, and correct positioning.

  of the latter vis-à-vis the body 1.

  Thus, it will frequently be possible to observe the following defects: - 9 - bad connection between the reasons of the lid and those of the body of the package such as the lack of connection of the decor strip indicated in FIG. 2, - poor closing of the lid on the package (Figure 3), lack of parallelism of the faces of the body and the cover (Figure 4), non-bonded projecting elements S which result from a

  poor folding accuracy (Figure 5).

  The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these defects, without having to increase the complexity of the blank and this, avoiding the use of any added element such as for example a reinforcement collar. It achieves this result in a surprising way by producing, instead of cutouts D3, D'3, lines of frangible cutout primers which, before the first opening of the lid, provide a connection between the side faces FL2, FL 2 of the body 1 and those FL1, FL'1 of the cover 2. As previously indicated, after bonding, these lines of cut primers are integrity witnesses that prevent the use of a

overwrapping movie of the package.

  With this arrangement, maintaining the correct position of the side faces FL2, FL'2 - FL1, FL '1 of the body 1 and the lid 2 of the package is guaranteed during the various operations of sizing and folding the package, which ensures: - better quality of package formation, - better machine operation,

- reduced discharges.

- 10 -

  Because of the better accuracy thus obtained, the packs produced according to the invention are better closed, and thus more watertight, and thus ensure a better seal.

  protection of cigarettes against the outside environment.

  Furthermore, the implementation of the invention does not require any significant modification of packaging machines currently existing on the market. On the contrary, these machines can be simplified due to the fact that it is no longer necessary to provide parts and devices ensuring the maintenance of the blank during the various shaping operations of the package, especially after sizing, during folding phases. In the examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lines of frangible cutters DF1, DF2 consist of a cut partially interrupted by a point of attachment A1, A2 with easy breaking and frangible at

the opening of the package.

  This attachment point can be placed at A2 in the center of the cut as shown in FIG. 7 or in A1 at the outer edge of the band BL 1, BL 2, as indicated in FIG.

Figure 6.

  Of course, the effort required to open the lid and thus to tear the attachment points can be adjusted by adjusting the size Z and / or the

  position and shape of attachment points A1, A2.

  A peculiarity of this solution consists in that the breaking of the attachment points A1, A2 at the moment of opening of the cover 2 produces a characteristic noise which serves as a sound indicator of the integrity of the packet.

- 11 -

  Figures 8 and 9- relate to an embodiment of the invention involving a blank of the type shown in Figure 1 but in which the appendix 8 (flap) is removed, while the small base of the form trapezoidal 6 (located at the other end of the blank), is extended by an appendage 16 having a shape similar to that of the upper part of a conventional type of reinforcement collar: the upper edge of the appendix 16 comprises a trapezoidal shaped re-entrant cut to preserve vision and facilitate access to products contained in

  the package when the lid is partially open.

  The connection between the front face of the package body and the appendix 16 may be materialized by a creasing 17 or an embossing which allows the lid to be in the same

plan as the body of the package.

  In this case, the frangible cutout primers DF3, DF'3 are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal fold lines of the blank (89 to 90). In fact, the angle is adapted to the height of the appendix 16. With these provisions, the upper edge of the inner wall of the side faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 2 is at the same level as the side portions 18 , 19 of the upper border 16 of the appendix (which extends the anterior surface of the body) and overflows slightly towards

the outside of the package.

  An important advantage of the solution described above is that in the closed position of the cover 2, the upper part of the inner wall of the lateral faces FL2, FL'2 abuts on the appendix 16 and provides a wedging function of the cover 2 in

closed position.

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 13, appendix 16 'which extends the small base of the form

- 12 -

  trapezoidal reentrant 6 has a rectangular shape. In this case, the lines DF4, DF'4 frangible cutouts are slightly oblique with respect to the longitudinal fold lines L1, L2 of the blank, and form with them, an angle of the order of 74.5 . This angle is different from the angle of oblique edges Bol, BO'il - B02,

  Bo'2 ranges R1, R'i and R6, R'6 which is here 600.

  With this arrangement, above the front face 14 'of the body 1, a rectangular strip' covered by the cover 2 is obtained in the closed position and

  which is only visible in the open position.

  This strip 20, 20 'which can be printed at the same time as the other parts of the blank can receive an advertising message. Here also, the ZD (triangular shape) exposed zones of the inner wall of the lateral faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 1 have an upper edge which extends at the same level as the upper edge of the strip 20 '. These open zones ZD bear on the strip 20 ', as indicated in FIGS.

  and 13 to provide the aforementioned jamming function.

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, which implements a blank similar to that of FIG. 10, the frangible cutout leader lines DF5, DF'5 are extended by two cutting portions 22, 22 'made along the fold lines L1, the 1 connecting the rear face of the body 1 to the two inner walls of the faces

lateral FL2, FL'2 of said body.

  In this case, the fold line T'4 constituting the hinge between the body 1 and the cover 2 connects the ends

  lower cut portions 22, 22 '.

- 13 -

  This fold line T'4 is therefore found in the same place as the usual folding line but offset by a height h relative to the inner side faces of the body so as to guide the closure of the lid. In addition, the cutting primers DF5, DF'5 extend obliquely with respect to the fold lines L1, L'1 for example at an angle equal to that of the oblique sides Bol, BO'i and B02, Bo'2 . This angle is a function of the height of Appendix 23 and the length of

cutouts 22 and 22 '.

  As in the previous example, appendix 23 has a rectangular shape whose width is equal to the aforesaid height h. Thanks to these provisions, the reinforcing strip 23 'is extended at the side faces FL2, FL'2 of the body 1 by two portions of the inner wall uncovered

ZD 'of rectangular shape.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes

  previously described.

  Thus, the rectangular area 9 which constitutes the front face 9 'of the cover 2 could be extended in its central part by a circular tongue 25 intended to engage in a slot 26 made at the crease 17 separating the front face 14' of Body 1, Appendix 27 constituting the reinforcement

(Figures 16 and 17).

  Similarly, the free edge of the rectangular beach 9 and the free border of the appendix 28 and the creasing 29 could have a curved shape having the same radius of curvature, as shown in Figures 18 and 19. In this example , the primers of

- 14 -

  DF6, DF'6 also have a curved shape and are extended by longitudinal cuts similar to the cutouts 22, 22 'of the

figure 14.

- 15 -

Claims (14)

claims   1. Cigarette packaging obtainable from a single blank cut from a sheet of semi-rigid material and comprising, in a conventional manner, a body (1) whose rear face (4) is connected to the rear face (3) a cover (2) via a folding line (5) forming a hinge, this package having, in the closed position of the cover (2), a parallelepipedal shape according to which the front faces (14, 14 ') , rear (4) and the lateral faces (FL2, FL'2) of the body (1) are in the extension of the front (9 '), rear (3) and lateral (FL1, FL'1) of the cover ( 2), the front faces (14 ', 9') of the body (1) and the cover (2) being separated from one another at their respective upper and lower edges, characterized in that the lateral faces (FL2, FL'2) of the body (1) are connected to the lateral faces (FL1, FL'1) of the cover (2) by two frangible zones (A1, A2) serving as integrity indicators, intended to break at the first opening of the lid (2), to allow tilting of the latter about the fold line (5). 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank intended to produce the package must be designed so as to have a central strip (6) comprising two plates (11, 12) connected to one another by a folding line (T4), intended to provide the rear faces (4, 3) of the body (1) and the cover (2), this central strip (6) being bordered by two lateral strips (BL1, BL2) intended to produce the lateral faces (FL2, FL'2 - FL1, FL'i) of the body (1) and the cover (2), these two lateral bands (BL1, BL2) being connected to each other at the level of the folding line (T4) by two respective frangible zones (A1, A2). - 16 - 2730701   -16 - 3. Package according to claim 2, characterized in that the said frangible zones are located near the ends of the aforesaid fold line (T4) and are extended by cutouts opening respectively at the outer edges. sidebands (BL1, BL2).   4. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid frangible zones are in the form of lines of cutting primers (DF1 to DF6) interrupted by at least one point of attachment (A1, A2) easy break.   5. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the aforesaid attachment point (A2) is   located in the center of the precut (DF2).   6. Packaging according to claim 4, characterized in that the aforesaid attachment point (A1) is located at the outer edge of the sideband (BL1, BL2) corresponding.   Pack according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the size and / or location of the attachment points (A1, A2) are set according to the desired effort required to open the lid (2).   8. Package according to one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the upper edge of the anterior face (14 ') of the body (1) is extended by a range (16, 20, 23, 27, 28) which can have the shape of the upper part of a reinforcement. - 17 - 2730701   -17 - 9. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the junction between said range (16, 23, 27, 28) and said anterior face is   materialized by creasing (17, 29) and / or embossing.   10. Package according to claim 4, characterized in that the said lines of cutting primers (DF1 to DF6) form with fold lines connecting the central strip (6) to the two side strips of the blank (BL1, BL2), angle and shape different from those formed by the lower edges (Bol, BO'1) of   side faces (FL1, FL'1) of the lid (2).   11. Package according to one of claims 8 at 10,   characterized in that the aforesaid angle or shape is provided in such a way that the upper edge of said area (16, 20, 23, 27, 28) is at the same level as the upper edge of the inner walls of the side faces ( FL2, FL'2) of the body (1) materialized by the lines frangible cutting primers.   12. Package according to one of claims 1   at 9, characterized in that the frangible cutter primer lines (DF5, DF'5) are extended by two cutting line portions (22, 22 ') formed along the fold lines (L1, L' ) connecting the rear face of the body (1) to the two inner walls of the lateral faces (FL2, FL'2) of said body (1), and in that the folding line (T'4) constituting a hinge between the body (1) ) and the cover (2) connects the lower ends of the cutting portions, the length of said cutting line portions (22, 22 ') being equal to the   height of the aforesaid beach (16, 20, 23, 27, 28). - 18 - 2730701 - 18-   13. Packaging according to one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the front face (9 ') of the lid (2) is extended by a tongue (25) intended to engage in a slot (26) made at the crease (17) separating the anterior face   (14) of the body (1) of the aforesaid beach.   14. Package according to one of the claims   preceding, characterized in that the free edge of the front face (9 ') of the cover (2), as well as the free edge of the aforesaid range (16, 20, 23, 27, 28) and that the aforesaid creasing ( 17, 29) have a curved shape   having the same radius of curvature.