MXPA99002344A - Pack for smoking articles and associated blank - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a non-hinge lid smoking article pack, blank and print layout therefor which blank and print layout utilise a reduced amount of cartonboard and have reduced cartonboard waste from the print layout arrangement. A saving of about 10%or more of cartonboard usage over a conventional hinge-lid pack can be achieved.

Description

PACKAGE FOR ARTICLES FOR SMOKERS AND ASSOCIATED PATTERN This invention relates to the package for smoking article, and in particular cigarette or cigar packets or packages.

An effect of our environment that is more ecologically compatible is the attention that has been given to packaging waste associated with the items to be packed. A recent EC directive goes even further to impose a financial penalty on the amount of material discarded in a package printing diagram. A printing diagram is the way in which each pattern for an article package is located over a predetermined width of the packaging sheet material. Therefore, not only do manufacturers wish to be able to provide packages that use the minimum amount of packaging material at a minimum weight for the adequate protection of the product and the strength of the packaging, but also wish to provide a package that in a diagram of Printing discards the minimum amount of material. In the tobacco industry cigars are commonly provided in soft or hard packaging. Hard gaskets offer maximum protection since they are made of cardboard, which is available in various weights, as specified. The most common hard pack is an articulated lid package, which usually has an internal structure located inside the top of the package. The internal structure can be produced as an integral part of the articulated lid package pattern, although it is more commonly produced as a separate pattern from an additional cardboard reel. Relatively simple cigarette packages are known, for example, the packages described in GB 1 036 825, GB 880 956, GB 1 330 270 and DE 17 61 738. However, the patterns for those packages are not designed to provide maximum use of the cardboard and a minimum of coal waste in a printing diagram. All the side walls are double thickness in GB 1 036 825, GB 1 330 270 and DE 17 61 738, and in GB 880 956, the upper and lower walls are double thick. The patterns can not be interdigitated with each other in a printing diagram, thereby increasing the waste and maximizing the use of the cardboard. Similarly, GB 1 475 684 illustrates in Figures 5 to 7 an integral paperboard pattern with a top wall opening arrangement. Again, this arrangement has a high carton and double-thick walls. It is an object of the invention to provide an alternative to the articulated lid smoking article package, whose packaging alternative saves cardboard for a pattern and on a printing diagram. It is a further object of the invention to provide a hard article package for a smoker which in the printing diagram has a reduced amount of cardboard waste, and therefore a lower financial penalty for the manufacturer. The present invention provides an article pack pattern for smoker comprising a front wall, an upper wall, a rear wall and a lower wall, the front wall and the rear wall which are interconnected by the bottom wall, characterized in that each of the front wall and the rear wall have a single side wall hanging from a side margin thereof, each of the two side walls which is located hanging from an opposite lateral margin of each of the front wall and the rear wall , each of the two side walls extending along the entire length of said lateral margin of said front wall and the rear wall, an optional adjacent side flap that hangs from the opposite side of each other of the wall front and rear wall, the side flap that is of a width that is less than the width of said two side walls, one of the two side walls or the upper wall having aperture fin retention means, and one or more of the other side walls or the upper wall having one or more portions defining an aperture flap and an aperture fold fold margin. The present invention also provides a smoker article package produced from the article pack pattern for a smoker.

The terms "front wall", "upper wall", "back wall" and "lower wall" do not imply any particular orientation of the package and can be replaced in the same way by the terms "first wall", "second wall", "third wall" and "fourth wall" respectively, where each one is present. Preferably the side walls have an adjacent side flap attached thereto. In the alternative, a side wall hangs from an opposite side margin of each of the front wall and rear walls, and a side flap hangs from each of the other opposite side margins of the front wall and the rear wall. Preferably the margins of the opening flap are part of the fold margins of the adjacent walls and those portions of the margins are perforated to allow the opening flap to be retracted towards the fold margin of the opening flap. Advantageously, the opening flap comprises a tapering end portion, the taper which helps the opening flap to be located within the retention means of the opening flap. The opening flap may comprise two portions, one portion in two adjacent walls. Preferably the wall having the aperture flap retaining means is also provided with aperture flap removal means. Advantageously, the opening fin removal means comprises a slot. Advantageously, one of the side walls or the top wall having the opening flap retaining means is a side wall, and one or more of the side walls or the top wall having a portion defining an opening flap and the opening tab fold margin therein is an upper wall and side wall or lower wall and the side wall. Advantageously, either the front wall or the rear wall has a margin from which a lower inner flap wall hangs. Preferably the inner fin bottom wall has a side flap that hangs from each of the side margins of the bottom wall of the inner fin. Preferably the upper wall has an internal side flap in the lateral margin opposite the opening flap. Advantageously, the inner lateral flap, in that margin opposite the lateral margin of the upper wall, is formed so that the opening flap of an adjacent package pattern fits within the internal lateral flap shape. The present invention further provides a printing diagram for a non-articulated lid smoker article package, the printing diagram which produces less than 22% waste material from a diagram of approximately 478 mm by approximately 577 mm, the diagram of printing comprising a plurality of article package patterns for smokers according to the invention. The present invention further provides a printing diagram for a non-articulated lid smoker article package, the printing diagram having at least a 10% saving in the use of the cardboard over the printing diagram of a lid package articulated from conventional smoking article, the printing diagram comprising a plurality of article package patterns for smokers according to the invention. Advantageously the savings in use of the carton can be about 15% or more over a conventional hinged lid package, and there may also be similar savings for the non-articulated packages. The printing diagram for the pattern of the present invention provides the same number of patterns from a cardboard diagram of approximately 478 mm (B in Figure 3) by approximately 577 mm (A in Figure 3) for an area of conventional cardboard of approximately 480 mm by approximately 600 mm. Advantageously, the preferred pattern provides a pattern diagram having all the cut and fold lines in a parallel arrangement. The fold lines in particular are all along three main horizontal lines and four major vertical lines (the longest length of the printing diagram being vertical). The printing diagram is also more suitable for fast moving carton packing machines for cigarettes. In order that the invention can be easily understood and carried out in a simple manner, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the diagrammatic drawings appended hereto, in which: Figure 1 shows a pattern for a package according to the invention, Figure 2 shows an alternative pattern for an agreement package. with the invention, and Figure 3 shows the printing diagram for packages according to Figure 1 of the invention. In Figure 1 a pattern 1 for a hard article package for smokers is illustrated. The pattern 1 comprises a front wall 2, an upper wall 3 and the rear wall 4. The front wall 2 has lateral margins 5 and 6, the upper margin 7 and the lower margin 8. The rear wall 4 has lateral margins 9 and 10 , upper margin 11 and lower margin 12. A side wall 13 and a side flap 14 hang from the side margin 5 of the front wall 2. An opposite side margin 10 of the rear wall 4 has a side wall 15 and a side flap 16. that hangs from it. The lower wall 17 hangs from the lower margin 12. A lower inner fin wall 18 hangs from the lower margin 8 of the front walls 2. Each side margin of the inner fin bottom wall 18 has a side flap 19, 20 that hangs from it. The side flaps 14 and 16 are optional, since the side margins 6 and 9 could have side flaps located along them. This arrangement may not have such cardboard savings in a printing diagram. The top wall 3 has the portion 3a and the side wall 13 has a portion 3b defining an opening fin 21. The top wall 3 has an aperture flap fold margin 22. The edges 23, 24 of the opening flap 21 which are part of the fold margins of the adjacent front and rear walls 2 and 4 are perforated to allow the opening fin 21 to be pulled toward the aperture flap fold margin 22 to expose part of the contained smoking articles. inside the package. The portion 3b of the opening flap 21 tapers to an end portion, which allows the flap to be picked up within the opening flap retaining means in the side wall 13, which means in this case is a slot 25. When the package is upright the opening flap 21 is folded into the side wall 13. Thus, in order to provide easy access to the portion 3b of the opening flap 21 a thumb cut 26 is provided. fin 21 is advantageously held in slot 25 or can be pushed into side wall 13 when the package is upright. The top wall 3 has an inner side flap 27. The end of the inner side flap 27 remote from the upper fold margin 28 is formed to provide two small points with a recessed inner part 29. The inner side flap 27 is formed so that the tapered end of a portion 3b of an adjacent pattern may fit within the recessed inner part 29. When a package is upright, the internal side flap 27 is located within the side wall 15. The side flap 16 is located within the front wall 2 and side flap 14 is located inside rear wall 4. Lower inner flap wall 18 and side flaps 19, 20 are located within lower wall 17. Figure 2 shows a similar though alternating diagram of a pattern according to the invention. Similar numbers have been assigned to similar parts of Figure 1. The main difference is that the side walls 15 and 13 do not have dangling side wings 14 and 16 attached thereto. Instead, the side flaps 30 and 31 are hanging from opposite lateral margins 9 and 6 respectively. This arrangement also allows the inter-nesting of patterns in a printing diagram (not shown). Figure 3 shows the printing diagram for package patterns according to the invention. The dimensions are A: approximately 577 mm and B: approximately 477 mm. As can be seen from them, only the shaded areas were found between each pattern, thereby substantially decreasing the waste cardboard separated from the printing diagram. In a comparison against a printing diagram on the same area of a conventional hinged lid package, there is a cardboard saving per pack of approximately 4.5% for flat bed printing (Litho) or 6% for rotary printing (Engraving). When taking into account the lack of an internal structure there is a further reduction of approximately 13% in the use of the cardboard on an articulated lid package, giving a total reduction in the use of the cardboard of approximately 17.5% or approximately 19% respectively . This is a considerable saving of the cardboard area. This saving in combination with the reduction in waste and therefore a lower penalty of the potential financial waste offers considerable savings for a manufacturer of article for smokers, while the protection of comparable or acceptable product is still maintained. The packages according to the invention require a relatively simple folding and gluing operation for packaging by machine. In addition, the significant saving of cardboard is presented for the contemplated diagrams, even on simpler packages than the conventional hinged lid package of today. Savings of about 5% or more, and even about 10% or more, can be achieved.

The filter savings can also be accumulated consistent with the smallest package size, ie a decrease in the amount of the overwrap film, a smaller 200 unit of cardboard and a consequently smaller case for the cartons. As mentioned before the cardboard weight can be reduced for an acceptable package strength. This would give an increased savings in the weight of the hinged lid package carton and other simpler packages.

Claims (12)

1. A packet pattern for smokers comprising a front wall, a front wall, a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, the front wall and the rear wall which are interconnected by said bottom wall, characterized in that each of the front wall (2) and the rear wall (4) have an individual side wall (13, 15) hanging from a side margin thereof, each of the two side walls (13, 15) which are located hanging from an opposite lateral margin (5, 10) of each of the front wall (2) and the rear wall (3), each of the two side walls (13, 15) extending along the entire length of said lateral margin (5, 10) of the front wall (2) and the rear wall (4), and the optional adjacent side flap (14. 16) that hangs from the opposite side margin (6, 9) of each one of the front wall (2) and the rear wall (4), the side flap (14, 16; 30, 31) which is of a wide qu e is smaller than the width of said two side walls (13), one of the side walls (13) or the top wall (3) having aperture flap retaining means (25), and one or more of the other side walls (15) or the top wall (3) having one or more portions defining an opening flap (21) and the opening flap margin therein (22).

2. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 1, wherein the side walls (13, 15) have an adjacent side flap attached thereto (14, 16).

3. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 1, wherein a side flap (30, 31 hangs from each of the other opposite lateral margins (6, 9) of the front and rear walls (2,4).

4. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the margins (23, 24) of the opening flap (21) are part of the fold margins of the adjacent walls. (2. 3. 4).

5. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 4, wherein the portions of said margins (23, 24) are perforated to allow the opening flap (21) to be pulled toward the fin crease margin. of opening (22).

6. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening flap (21) comprises a tapering end portion.

7. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening flap (21) comprises two portions (3a, 3b), a portion in each of the two adjacent walls.

8. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (13) having the opening fin retention means (25) is also provided with opening fin removal means ( 26).

9. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 8, wherein the opening fin removal means (26) comprises a thumb cut.

10. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the opening flap retaining means (25) comprises a slot.

11. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the side walls or the top wall having the opening flap retaining means is a side wall (13).

12. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the side walls or the top wall having a portion defining an opening flap and the fin crease margin. opening therein is an upper wall (3) and the side wall (13) or the lower wall and the side wall. 13 An article package pattern for smokers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein either the front wall 82) or the rear wall (4) has a margin (8) from which a lower inner flap wall (18) hangs. 14. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 13, wherein the lower inner fin wall (18) has a side flap (19, 20) that hangs from each of the lateral margins of the lower wall. of internal fin (18). 15. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper wall (3) has an internal lateral flap (27) in the lateral margin (28) opposite said opening flap ( twenty-one). 16. A smoking article package pattern according to claim 15, wherein the inner lateral flap (27), in that margin opposite the lateral margin of the upper wall, is formed so that an opening flap of a Adjacent pack pattern fits within the shape of the inner side flap. 17. A smoking article package produced from a smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims. 18. A printing diagram of article pack for smokers with non-articulated lid, the printing diagram that produce less than 22% waste material from a diagram of approximately 478 mm to approximately 577 mm, the printing diagram that comprising a plurality of article package patterns for smokers according to one of claims 1 to 16. 19. A printing diagram of article pack for smokers with non-articulated lid, the printing diagram having at least 10% of savings in the use of the cardboard of the printing diagram of a package with hinged lid of conventional smoking article, the printing diagram comprising a plurality of smoking article package patterns according to one of claims 1 to 16. 20. A smoking article package pattern according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fin later al is of a width that is approximately half, or less, of a side wall. 21. A pattern of article pack for smokers substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 or 2 of the drawings herein. 22. A non-articulated lid smoker article package printing diagram, substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 3 of the drawings herein.