ITBO20010748A1 - RIGID CONTAINER FOR SMOKING ITEMS - Google Patents

Abstract

In a rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for tobacco articles, defined by two end walls, and by a lateral surface in turn defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral walls and two minor lateral walls, at least one lateral has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to the adjacent lateral walls along respective rounded longitudinal edges, and forms, with the lateral walls, respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles.

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Rigid container for smoking articles."

The present invention relates to a rigid container for smoking articles.

The present invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the production of packets of cigarettes, and more precisely of packets of the rigid type with hinged lid, to which the following discussion will specifically refer without, for this reason, losing generality.

The traditional rigid packages with hinged lid have the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular section and include two bottom walls, respectively upper and lower, and a side surface, which is bounded by the bottom walls and is defined by two major side walls, respectively anterior and posterior, and from two smaller lateral walls. Each minor side wall is connected to both the major side walls at two straight longitudinal sharp edges, while each bottom wall is connected to the side walls at four transverse straight sharp edges.

Rigid packages of the type described above have some drawbacks deriving from their poorly anatomical shape and from their propensity to cause rapid wear of the fabrics of the garments disposed, in use, in contact with them.

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid container for smoking articles, which is free from the drawbacks described above and is, at the same time, easy and economical to manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention, a rigid container for smoking articles is realized having a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprising two bottom walls and a side surface, which is delimited by the bottom walls and is defined by two major side walls, respectively front. and posterior, and from two smaller lateral walls; at least one side wall having a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the adjacent side walls along respective longitudinal edges; the container being characterized in that said longitudinal edges are rounded edges.

In accordance with the present invention, a rigid container for smoking articles is also provided which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprises two bottom walls and a side surface, which is delimited by the bottom walls and is defined by two larger side walls. , respectively anterior and posterior, and from two minor lateral walls; at least one side wall presenting a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the bottom walls along respective transverse edges; the container being characterized in that said transversal edges are rounded edges.

Finally, in accordance with the present invention, a rigid container for smoking articles is provided which has a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprises two bottom walls and a side surface, which is delimited by the bottom walls and is defined by two larger side walls. , respectively anterior and posterior, and from two minor lateral walls; at least one bottom wall presenting a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the corresponding side walls along respective transverse edges; the container being characterized in that said transversal edges are rounded edges.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of implementation, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates, in a front perspective view and in a closed configuration, a packet of cigarettes constituting a first embodiment of the container according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the package of Figure 1 in an open configuration;

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the package of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;

Figures 4 to 7 are respectively the front, side, rear and top views of the package of Figure 1 in the closed configuration;

figure 8 illustrates a plan development of a blank used to make the package of figure 1;

Figure 9 illustrates, in a front perspective view and in a closed configuration, a packet of cigarettes constituting a second embodiment of the container according to the present invention;

Figure 10 is a top view of the package of Figure 9 in the closed configuration;

Figure 11 illustrates, in a front perspective view and in a closed configuration, a packet of cigarettes constituting a third embodiment of the container according to the present invention;

Figure 12 illustrates, in a front perspective view and in a closed configuration, a packet of cigarettes constituting a fourth embodiment of the container according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is a top view of the package of Figure 12 in the closed configuration; And

Figure 14 illustrates, in a front perspective view and in a closed configuration, a packet of cigarettes constituting a fifth embodiment of the container according to the present invention.

In Figures 1 to 14, the reference number 1 indicates, as a whole, different packets of cigarettes defining respective embodiments of the rigid container for smoking articles according to the present invention.

Each packet 1 contains an ordered group of cigarettes wrapped in foil wrapping, not shown for clarity.

Each packet 1 comprises a lower container 2 shaped like a cup and having an open upper end 3, and an upper lid 4, which is also shaped like a cup and is hinged to the container 2 along a hinge 5 to rotate, with respect to the container 2 itself, between an open position and a closed position of the end 3.

The lid 4, when in its closed position, gives the package 1 a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape defined by a lateral surface 6 and by two bottom walls 7 and 8 respectively upper and lower, which are flat, delimit the lateral surface 6 and they are identical, facing and parallel to each other.

The lateral surface 6 comprises a pair of minor side walls 9 which are flat to each other parallel and facing each other, and a pair of major side walls 10 and 11 that are flat to each other and which are transversal to the minor side walls 9; in particular a major side wall 10 defines a front wall of the package 1, while the other major side wall 11 defines a rear wall of the package 1.

The package 1 also comprises a collar 12, which is connected by gluing and in a U-shaped folded position inside the cup-shaped container 2 to partially protrude outside the end 3 and engage a corresponding internal surface of the lid 4 when the lid 4 itself is arranged in the aforementioned closed position.

Four longitudinal corners 13 are defined between the minor side walls 9 and the larger side walls 10 and 11, while between the bottom walls 7 and 8 and the side walls 9, 10 and 11 there are defined or transverse corners 14 perpendicular to the edges 13 longitudinal; in particular, the eight transversal edges 14 are divided into four minor transversal edges 14, ie concurrent on the minor lateral walls 9, and into four major transversal edges 14, ie concurrent on the major lateral walls 10 and 11.

In the package 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, each major lateral wall 10, 11 has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each minor lateral wall 9 along a respective longitudinal edge 13 and supports with each minor lateral wall 9 a respective substantially otuse dihedral angle; in particular, each longitudinal edge 13 is a rounded corner, which is designed to seamlessly connect the corresponding major side wall 10, 11 with the corresponding minor side wall 9, avoiding the formation of sharp edges.

Each major lateral wall 10, 11 comprises a respective flat central portion 15 and two pre-weakened lateral bands 16, each of which is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion 15 to the corresponding minor lateral wall 9 subtending with the wall 9 itself a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. Each lateral band 16 is pre-weakened by means of a series of longitudinal weakening lines 17, which give the lateral band 16 itself a relatively modest curvature, that is, a curvature having a radius R1 of curvature having relatively high values.

Each rounded longitudinal edge 13 is defined by a plurality of longitudinal weakening lines 18, which give the rounded longitudinal edge 13 a relatively high curvature, i.e. a curvature having a radius R2 of curvature having relatively small values. The ratio between the radius RI of curvature and the radius R2 of curvature is therefore greater than 1.

Generally, both the lateral bands 16 and the rounded longitudinal edges 13 can have variable curvatures, ie variable values of the respective radii R1 and R2 of curvature. According to a preferred embodiment, the radius R1 of curvature of the side bands is in any case greater than 4 mm. According to a particular embodiment, the radius R1 of curvature of the lateral bands 16 is variable and tends to decrease slightly towards the longitudinal edges 13, while the radius R2 is substantially constant. According to a further particular embodiment of a cigarette packet having a section between 50x20 mm and 60x25 mm, the radius RI is between 25 mm and 50 mm, and the radius R2 is between 1 mm and 3 mm, with a ratio between radius RI and radius R2 not less than 8.

The longitudinal weakening lines 17 present in the lateral bands 16 are relatively spaced apart to give the lateral bands 16 themselves the relatively high radius of curvature RI, while the longitudinal weakening lines 18 present in the rounded longitudinal edges 13 are relatively close together for giving the rounded longitudinal edges 13 themselves the relatively small radius of curvature R2. Each bottom wall 7, 8 has a substantially rectangular shape and has rounded vertices according to the radii of curvature R1 and R2 so as to adapt to the rounded profile towards the outside of the larger lateral walls 10, 11.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 2, the collar 12 is connected to an internal surface of the front wall 10 and to an internal surface of the minor side walls 9, of which it integrally resumes the shape, including the rounding of the longitudinal edges 13 adjacent to the wall 10 front.

According to what is illustrated in Figure 8, the package 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 is obtained starting from a corresponding flat blank 19, the shape of which is a substantially elongated rectangular shape, and the parts of which will be indicated, where possible, with numbers accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers that distinguish the corresponding parts of packet 1.

Each blank 19 (having a longitudinal centerline axis 20) has the longitudinal weakening lines 18 and a plurality of transversal weakening lines 21, which define, between the longitudinal weakening lines 18, a panel 10 'constituting an upper portion of the front wall 10 (and in particular the portion belonging to the lid 4), a panel 7 'constituting the upper bottom wall 7, a panel 11' constituting the rear wall 11, a panel 8 'constituting the lower bottom wall 8, and a panel 10 "constituting a lower portion of the front wall 10 (and in particular the portion belonging to the container 2).

Each panel 10 ', 10 "and 11 has two corresponding lateral wings 9' and 9" respectively, which are arranged on opposite sides of the relative panel 10 ', 10 "and 11 and are divided by the respective panel 10', 10 ”And 11 itself from the longitudinal weakening lines 18. The panel 10 'is provided with a reinforcing flap 22 and each wing 9' and 9 "of the panel 11 'is provided with respective longitudinal appendages 23, which are substantially rectangular in shape, are arranged on opposite bands of the wing 9' or 9 "itself and are longitudinally aligned with each other. During the formation of each package 1, each lateral wing 9 'and the corresponding lateral wing 9 "are superimposed and connected by gluing to define a respective minor lateral wall 9 of the package 1 itself. Furthermore, each longitudinal appendage 23 is folded squarely with respect to the respective lateral wing 9 'and is superimposed and connected by gluing to an internal surface of a respective panel 7' or 8 'to define an internal portion of a relative wall 7 or, respectively , 8 bottom of the package 1.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transverse weakening lines 21 (also called main weakening lines) have a higher degree of weakening than the longitudinal weakening lines 17 and 18 (also called secondary weakening lines), since they are along lines 21 the transversal sharp edges 14 are defined for transversal weakening, while the longitudinal weakening lines 17 and 18 have the purpose of conferring a curvature respectively of the lateral bands 16 and of the longitudinal rounded edges 13 without the formation of any sharp edge.

Various experimental tests have shown that the packet 1 of cigarettes described above causes a reduced wear of the fabrics of the garments disposed, in use, in contact with the packet 1 and at the same time has a particularly anatomical shape which facilitates its handling from part of a user. The optimization of the anatomical shape, not found in any of the known packages, is made possible by the presence of the aforementioned two radii of curvature RI and R2, and precisely by the fact that the two radii of curvature RI and R2 are, respectively, high and low. relative to each other.

According to a variant not shown of the package 1, a major lateral wall 10, 11 is a flat wall, while only the other major lateral wall 11, 10 has a profile convex towards the outside, it is connected to each minor lateral wall 9 along a respective rounded longitudinal edge 13 and subtends with each minor lateral wall 9 a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; according to this variant only two longitudinal edges 13 are rounded, while the two remaining longitudinal edges 13 are sharp.

In the package 1 illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the major side walls 10, 11 are flat walls, while each minor side wall 9 has a convex profile towards the outside, it is connected to each major lateral wall 10, 11 along a respective edge 13 is rounded longitudinally and subtends with each major lateral wall 10, 11 a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. Each minor lateral wall 9 comprises a respective flat central portion 15 and two pre-weakened lateral bands 16 (by means of a series of longitudinal weakening lines 17), each of which is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion 15 to the corresponding major lateral wall 10, 11 subtending with the major lateral wall 10, 11 itself a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. In the package 1 illustrated in Figure 11, each major lateral wall 10, 11 has a convex profile towards the outside, is connected to each minor lateral wall 9 along a respective rounded longitudinal edge 13 and subtends a respective angle with each minor lateral wall 9 substantially obtuse dihedral; unlike the pack 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, each wall 10, 11 does not have a flat central portion and two curved side bands, but is entirely curved with a concavity facing inwards.

In the package 1 illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, the major side walls 10, 11 are flat walls, while each minor side wall 9 has an outwardly rounded profile, it is connected to each major lateral wall 10, 11 along a respective edge 13 rounded longitudinal and subtends with each major lateral wall 10, 11 a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; Unlike the pack 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, each wall 10,11 does not have a flat central portion and two curved side bands, but is entirely curved with concavity facing inwards.

In the package 1 illustrated in Figure 14, each major lateral wall 10, 11 has an outward convex profile, is connected to each bottom wall 7, 8 along a respective rounded major transverse corner 14 and subtends with each wall 7, 8 has a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle at the bottom. In particular, each major lateral wall 10, 11 of the packet 1 illustrated in Figure 14 comprises a respective central flat portion 15 and two lateral bands 16 pre-weakened by means of transverse weakening lines 17; each lateral band 16 is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the corresponding bottom wall 7, 8 subtending a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle with the bottom wall 7, 8 itself. Each minor lateral wall 9 has a substantially rectangular shape and has rounded corners so as to adapt to the rounded profile towards the outside of the major lateral walls 10, 11. According to this embodiment, the four longitudinal edges 13 and the four minor transverse edges 14 are sharp, while the four major transverse edges 14 are rounded by respective transverse weakening lines 18.

According to a variant, not shown, of the package 1 of figure 14, each minor lateral wall 9 has an outwardly rounded profile, is connected to each bottom wall 7, 8 along a respective rounded minor transverse corner 14 and subtends with each wall 7 , 8 at the bottom a respective dihedral angle substantially obtuse. In particular, each minor lateral wall 9 comprises a respective flat central portion and two lateral bands pre-weakened by means of transverse weakening lines; each side band is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the corresponding bottom wall 7, 8 subtending a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle with the bottom wall 7, 8 itself. Each major side wall 10, 11 has a substantially rectangular shape and has rounded vertices so as to adapt to the outwardly rounded profile of the minor side walls 9. According to this embodiment, the four longitudinal edges 13 and the four major transverse edges 14 are sharp, while the four minor transverse edges 14 are rounded by respective transverse weakening lines.

According to a further, not illustrated variant of the package of Figure 14, each bottom wall 7, 8 of the package 1 has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each minor lateral wall 9 along a respective rounded minor transverse corner 14 and subtends with each side wall 9 is smaller than a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. In particular, each bottom wall 7, 8 comprises a respective central flat portion and two lateral bands pre-weakened by transverse weakening lines; each side band is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the corresponding minor lateral wall 9 subtending a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle with the minor lateral wall 9 itself. Each major lateral wall 10, 11 has a substantially rectangular shape and has rounded vertices so as to adapt to the rounded profile towards the outside of the bottom walls 7, 8. According to this variant, the four longitudinal edges 13 and the four major transverse edges 14 are sharp, while the four minor transverse edges 14 are rounded by respective transverse weakening lines.

According to a further, not illustrated variant of the package of Figure 14, each bottom wall 7, 8 of the package 1 has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each major lateral wall 10, 11 along a respective rounded major transverse edge 14 and with each major lateral wall 10, 11 subtends a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. In particular, each bottom wall 7, 8 comprises a respective central flat portion and two lateral bands pre-weakened by means of transverse weakening lines; each lateral band is curved with concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the corresponding major lateral wall 10.1 1, subtending a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle with the major lateral wall 10, 11 itself. Each minor side wall 9 has a substantially rectangular shape and has rounded corners so as to adapt to the rounded profile towards the outside of the bottom walls 7, 8. According to this embodiment, the four longitudinal edges 13 and the four minor transverse edges 14 are sharp, while the four major transverse edges 14 are rounded by respective transverse weakening lines.

It is obvious that some variations can be made to the packages 1 described above, such as, for example, making a partial camber of the convex walls, or cambering a single wall instead of a pair of facing and opposite walls.

It should be noted that the shape of the packets 1 can also be fully taken up for the construction of other types of rigid containers for smoking items, such as, for example, the cartons of cigarette packets. In particular, a carton of cigarette packets falls within the scope of the present invention which is substantially identical to one of the packets 1 described above, with the sole exception of containing instead of the group of cigarettes a group of packets of cigarettes, normally having the same shape as the stick itself.

Claims (24)

R I V E N D I C A Z I O N I 1) Rigid container for smoking articles having a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprising two bottom walls (7, 8) and a side surface (6), which is delimited by the bottom walls (7, 8) and is defined by two major lateral walls (10, 11), respectively anterior and posterior, and two minor lateral walls (9); at least one side wall (10, 11; 9) presenting a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the adjacent lateral walls (9; 10, 11) along respective longitudinal edges (13); the container (1) being characterized in that said longitudinal edges (13) are rounded edges. 2) Container according to claim 1, characterized in that each longitudinal rounded corner (13) is defined by a plurality of first longitudinal weakening lines (18). 3) Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each major lateral wall (10, 11) has an outwardly rounded profile, is connected to the minor lateral walls (9) along respective rounded longitudinal corners (13) and it subtends with the minor lateral walls (9) respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles; the minor lateral walls (9) being flat. 4) Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each minor lateral wall (9) has an outwardly rounded profile, is connected to the major lateral walls (10, 11) along respective rounded longitudinal corners (13) and it subtends with the major lateral walls (10, 11) respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles; the larger lateral walls (10, 11) being flat. 5) Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that each said lateral wall (9; 10; 11) having an outwardly convex profile comprises a respective central portion (15) and a pair of bands (16) lateral pre-weakened by second longitudinal weakening lines (17); each lateral band (16) being curved with concavity facing towards the inside of the container (1) to connect, along the respective said rounded corner (13), the central portion (15) to the corresponding lateral wall (9; 10, 11) adjacent. 6) Container according to claim 5, characterized in that each longitudinal rounded edge (13) is defined by a plurality of first longitudinal weakening lines (18), which give the rounded longitudinal edge (13) a curvature having a first radius (R2) of curvature; each lateral band (16) being pre-weakened by means of said second longitudinal weakening lines (17), which give the lateral band (16) itself a curvature having a second radius (RI) of curvature; the ratio between the second radius (RI) of curvature and the first radius (R2) of curvature being greater than 1. 7) Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the second radius (RI) of curvature is greater than 4 mm. 8) Container according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each said central portion (15) is flat. 9) Container according to one of the claims from 5 to 7, characterized by the fact that each said central portion (15) is curved with concavity facing towards the inside of the container (1) to give the entire respective wall (10, 11; 9) ) side a seamless camber. 10) Rigid container for smoking articles having a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprising two bottom walls (7, 8) and a side surface (6), which is delimited by the bottom walls (7, 8) and is defined by two major lateral walls (10, 11), respectively anterior and posterior, and two minor lateral walls (9); at least one side wall (10, 11; 9) presenting a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the bottom walls (7, 8) along respective transversal edges (14); the container (1) being characterized in that said transversal edges (14) are rounded edges. 11) Container according to claim 10, characterized in that each rounded transversal corner (14) is defined by a plurality of first transversal weakening lines (18). 12) Container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact that each major lateral wall (10, 11) has a convex profile towards the outside, is connected to the bottom walls (7, 8) along respective transversal edges (14) rounded and subtends with the bottom walls (7, 8) respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles. 13) Container according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact that each minor lateral wall (9) has a convex profile towards the outside, is connected to the bottom walls (7, 8) along respective rounded transversal corners (14) and it subtends substantially obtuse dihedral angles with the bottom walls (7, 8). 14) Container according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized by the fact that each said lateral wall (9; 10; 11) having a convex profile towards the outside comprises a respective central flat portion (15) and a pair of bands ( 16) lateral pre-weakened by second transverse weakening lines (17); each lateral band (16) being curved with concavity facing towards the inside of the container (1) to connect, along the respective said rounded edge (14), the central portion (15) to the corresponding bottom wall (7, 8). 15) Container according to claim 14, characterized in that each rounded transverse corner (14) is defined by a plurality of first transverse weakening lines (18), which give the rounded transverse corner (14) a curvature having a first radius (R2) of curvature; each lateral band (16) being pre-weakened by means of said second transverse weakening lines (17), which give the lateral band (16) itself a curvature having a second radius (RI) of curvature; the ratio between the second radius (RI) of curvature and the first radius (R2) of curvature being greater than 1. 16) Container according to claim 15, characterized in that the second radius (RI) of curvature is greater than 4 mm. 17) Rigid container for smoking articles having a substantially parallelepiped shape and comprising two bottom walls (7, 8) and a side surface (6), which is delimited by the bottom walls (7, 8) and is defined by two major lateral walls (10, 11), respectively anterior and posterior, and two minor lateral walls (9); at least one bottom wall (7; 8) presenting a convex profile towards the outside and being connected to the corresponding side walls (10, 11; 9) along their respective transverse corners (14); the container (1) being characterized by the fact that the said transversal edges (14) are rounded edges. 18) Container according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that each rounded transversal corner (14) is defined by a plurality of first transversal weakening lines (18). 19) Container according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by the fact that each bottom wall (7, 8) has a convex profile towards the outside, is connected to the larger lateral walls (10, 11) along respective transversal edges (14) rounded and sotende with the major lateral walls (10, 11) respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles. 20) Container according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by the fact that each bottom wall (7, 8) has a convex profile towards the outside, is connected to the minor lateral walls (9) along respective rounded transversal corners (14) and sotende with the minor lateral walls (9) respective substantially otuse dihedral angles. 21) Container according to one of claims 17 to 20, characterized by the fact that each bottom wall (7, 8) having an outwardly convex profile comprises a respective central flat portion (15) and a pair of bands (16 ) lateral pre-weakened by second transverse weakening lines (17); each lateral band (16) being curved with concavity facing towards the inside of the container (1) to connect, along the respective said rounded edge (14), the central portion (15) to the corresponding lateral wall (10, 11; 9). 22) Container according to claim 21, characterized by the fact that each first rounded transverse corner (14) is defined by a plurality of first transverse weakening lines (18), which give the rounded transverse corner (14) a curvature having a first radius (R2) of curvature; each lateral band (16) being pre-weakened by means of said second transverse weakening lines (17), which give the lateral band (16) itself a curvature having a second radius (RI) of curvature; the ratio between the second radius (RI) of curvature and the first radius (R2) of curvature being greater than 1. 23) Container according to claim 24, characterized by the fact that the second radius (R1) of curvature is greater than 4 mm. 24) Rigid container for smoking articles, substantially as described with reference to any one of the figures of the annexed drawings.