WO2013054276A1

WO2013054276A1 - Rigid packet of cigarettes with transversal section of trapezoidal shape and variable longitudinally

Info

Publication number: WO2013054276A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/055497
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alver Tacchi; Andrea Biondi
Original assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
Priority date: 2011-10-11
Filing date: 2012-10-11
Publication date: 2013-04-18
Also published as: DE112012004234T5; JP2014532016A; CN103857604B; JP5973581B2; CN103857604A; ITBO20110581A1

Abstract

A rigid packet (1) of cigarettes, having a group of cigarettes; and an outer container (2) housing the group of cigarettes and in the form of a polyhedron with six faces: a top wall (7) and a bottom wall (8) opposite and parallel to each other, and four lateral walls (9, 10, 11) perpendicular to the top and bottom wall (7, 8), and which extend longitudinally to connect the edges of the top wall (7) to corresponding edges of the bottom wall (8); wherein the top wall (7) has a first trapezium shape, and the bottom wall (8) has a second trapezium shape differing from the first trapezium shape of the top wall (7); and wherein the cross section of the outer container (2), parallel to the top and bottom wall (7, 8), varies continuously in a longitudinal direction to connect the first trapezium shape of the top wall (7) to the second trapezium shape of the bottom wall (8).

Description

RIGID PACKET OF CIGARETTES WITH TRANSVERSAL SECTION OF TRAPEZOIDAL SHAPE ANI VARIABLE LONGITUDINALLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

5 The present invention relates to a rigid packet of cigarettes .

In the following description, reference is made to a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes for the sake of simplicity and purely by way of a non- limiting example.

10 BACKGROUND ART

A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes (or cigars, cigarillos, or similar) comprises a cup-shaped outer container, and a lid hinged to the outer container to move between an open position and a closed position.

15 The outer container defines a compartment housing an inner package comprising a foil -wrapped group of cigarettes, and is sized on the basis of. the size of the inner package (i.e. the group of cigarettes) so as to grip the group of cigarettes firmly between the walls of

20 the outer container, and prevent movement of the group of cigarettes with respect to the outer container, or even relative movement between adjacent cigarettes in the group, during transport and handling of the packets of cigarettes between the production plant and consumer.

25 This is necessary to prevent the cigarettes from moving even only slightly inside the outer container, and so resulting in tobacco spill from the tips (opposite the filters) , or bending or even splitting of the cigarettes .

On the other hand, packets of cigarettes of this type must also permit easy withdrawal of the cigarettes, particularly from the full packet (i.e. when the packet is unsealed) . This means the cigarettes must be housed fairly loosely inside the outer container, which is obviously in direct contrast to the need to keep the group of cigarettes firmly in a given position as described above .

In fact, the design of known rigid, hinged- lid packets of cigarettes represents a trade-off between these two requirements: gripping the cigarettes firmly inside the outer container to prevent movement during transport and handling; and allowing a certain amount of clearance between the cigarettes to permit easy withdrawal from the full packet.

To solve this problem, Patent EP0930245B1 proposes a rigid, hinged- lid packet of cigarettes, in which the outer container has three perpendicular main axes, and is bounded by a number of main walls, each parallel to two of the three main axes, and by at least one connecting wall, which is located between at least two main walls and forms given angles of other than zero with each of the three main axes, so the cross section of the outer container varies along each of the main axes. The packet of cigarettes in Patent EP0930245B1, however, is fairly complicated to produce on a standard (commercial) packing machine, and so calls for a specially designed machine, which is much more expensive than an equivalent standard packing machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid packet of cigarettes designed to eliminate the above drawbacks, and which is also cheap and easy to produce .

According to the present invention, there is provided a rigid packet of cigarettes as claimed in the accompanying Claims .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non- limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention in a closed configuration;

Figure 2 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration;

Figure 3 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;

Figures 4 and 5 show a topside and underside view respectively of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figures 6-8 show three cross sections of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 9 shows a spread-out view of a blank, which is folded about an inner package to form the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 10 shows a spread-out view of a collar of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 11 shows a front view in perspective of a further rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention in a closed configuration;

Figure 12 shows a spread-out view of a blank, which is folded about an inner package to form the Figure 11 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 13 shows a front view in perspective of a further rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention in a closed configuration;

Figure 14 shows a spread-out view of a blank, which is folded about an inner package to form the Figure 13 packet of cigarettes;

Figure 15 shows a spread-out view of a variation of the Figure 9 blank;

Figures 16 and 17 show respective views in perspective of groups of Figure .1 rigid packets of cigarettes from which to form cartons.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes comprising a rigid- cardboard outer container 2; and an inner package 3, which is housed inside outer container 2, encloses a group of cigarettes (shown in cross section in Figure 7), and has a cigarette extraction opening at the top and front. The cigarettes in the group may be arranged in the conventional three-row configuration of 7-6-7 cigarettes (making a total of 20 cigarettes) , or in other configurations (e.g. a two-row configuration of 10-10 cigarettes, or a four-row configuration of 5-5-5-5 cigarettes) .

Outer container 2 has an open top end 4, and a cup- shaped lid 5 hinged to outer container 2 along a hinge 6 to rotate, with respect to outer container 2, between an open position (Figure 3) and a closed position (Figures 1 and 2) opening and closing open top end 4 respectively .

When lid 5 is closed, outer container 2 is in the form of a polyhedron with six faces arranged in three opposite pairs. More specifically, outer container 2 comprises a top wall 7 and bottom wall 8 opposite and parallel to each other; and four lateral walls 9, 10, 11 perpendicular to top and bottom walls 7, 8 and extending longitudinally to connect the edges of top wall 7 to the corresponding edges of bottom wall 8. The four lateral walls 9, 10, 11 comprise two opposite, parallel major (i.e. large) lateral walls 9 and 10; and two opposite, parallel minor (i.e. small) laterals 11. More specifically, one major lateral wall 9 defines a front wall 9 of outer container 2, and the other major lateral wall 10 defines a rear wall 10 of outer container 2 ; four longitudinal edges 12 are defined between the two minor lateral walls 11 and front and rear walls 9, 10; and eight transverse edges 13 are defined between top and bottom walls 7, 8 and front, rear and minor lateral laterals 9, 10, 11.

Packet 1 comprises a U-shaped, rigid (i.e. rigid cardboard) collar 14, which is glued to the inside of outer container 2, and projects partly outwards of open top end 4 to engage a corresponding inner surface of the closed lid 5. Collar 14 comprises a front wall 15 positioned contacting front wall 9 of outer container 2 ; and two lateral walls 16 located on opposite sides of front wall 15 and positioned contacting minor lateral walls 11 of outer container 2. In a preferred embodiment, collar 14 has two projections 17 projecting laterally from front wall 15 to interferentially engage the lateral walls of lid 5 to hold lid 5 in the closed position. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, top wall 7 and bottom wall 8 are trapezoidal, i.e. trapezium-shaped (in geometry, a trapezium is defined as a quadrilateral with two parallel sides known as 'major' and 'minor' bases of the trapezium, ands two sides known as the oblique sides of the trapezium) . More specifically, top wall 7 has a first trapezium shape, and bottom wall 8 a second trapezium shape different from the first trapezium shape of top wall 7. More specifically, the major base of top wall 7 is located at rear wall 10 (and therefore the minor base at front wall 9) as shown in Figure 4, while the major base of bottom wall 8 is located at front wall 9 (and therefore the minor base at rear wall 10) as shown in Figure 5. And the cross section of outer container 2, parallel to top and bottom walls 7, 8, varies continuously in the longitudinal direction to connect the first trapezium shape of top wall 7 to the second trapezium shape of bottom wall 8 (as shown in Figures 6-8) .

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, each longitudinal edge 12 is of constant shape and size along its whole length. Major lateral wall 9 (front wall 9) connects the minor base of top wall 7 to the major base of bottom wall 8; major lateral wall 10 (rear wall 10) connects the major base of top wall 7 to the minor base of bottom wall 8; and each minor lateral wall 11 connects an oblique side of top wall 7 to an oblique side of bottom wall 8. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the bases of top wall 7 are parallel to the bases of bottom wall 8, and the oblique sides of top and bottom walls 7, 8 connected to the same minor lateral wall 11 are oppositely inclined with respect to the corresponding bases .

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first trapezium shape of top wall 7 and the second trapezium shape of bottom wall 8 are isosceles trapeziums and specular.

In this embodiment, the cross section (Figure 7) of outer container 2 parallel to and centred longitudinally between top and bottom walls 7 and 8 is rectangular. This is an important technical feature, which provides for increasing grip of the cigarettes in the group, i.e. holding them in the correct position. In a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the undeformed group of cigarettes (i.e. subjected to no deformation) is the same shape and size as the longitudinally centred cross section of outer container 2. Which means the group of cigarettes undergoes no deformation at all in the longitudinally centred position, and, in all the other positions, undergoes only minor deformation (slight shifting of the cigarettes from the undeformed initial condition, and slight compression of the cigarettes) which, however, has no negative effect on the cigarettes. In other words, the outer container of an equivalent standard rigid packet of cigarettes (i.e. in the form of a rectangular ^'parallelepiped) would have a cross section identical to the longitudinally centred cross section of outer container 2.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, each minor lateral wall 11 is helical, i.e. curved spirally.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cross section of outer container 2 parallel to top and bottom walls 7 and 8 has the same perimeter in any position (i.e. outer container 2 has a constant-perimeter cross section) . This is an important characteristic, in that it allows outer container 2 to be wrapped easily in a rectangular transparent plastic overwrap, with excellent results in terms of appearance (i.e. with no unsightly 'wrinkling' of the overwrap) .

As shown in Figure 9, outer container 2 is formed from a flat, substantially elongated rectangular blank 18 having two longitudinal fold lines 19, and a number of transverse fold lines 20, which define, between longitudinal fold lines 19, a panel 9' forming part of front wall 9 of outer container 2 (more specifically, the part of front wall 9 forming part of lid 5) ; a panel 7' forming top wall 7 of outer container 2; a panel 10' forming rear wall 10 of outer container 2; a panel 8' forming bottom wall 8 of outer container 2; and a panel

9" forming the rest of front wall 9 of outer container 2.

Panel 9' is connected along a transverse fold line 20 to a flap 21, which is folded 180° and glued to the inner surface of panel 9' to locally reinforce lid 5.

Panel 10' has two wings 11', which are located on opposite sides of panel 10', are separated from panel 10' by longitudinal fold lines 19, and form the inner portions of the two minor lateral walls 11 of outer container 2. Panel 9" has two wings 11", which are located on opposite sides of panel 9", are separated from panel 9" by longitudinal fold lines 19, and form the outer portions of the two minor lateral walls 11 of outer container 2. And panel 9' has two wings 11"', which are located on opposite sides of panel 9' , are separated from panel 9' by longitudinal fold lines 19, and form further outer portions of the two minor lateral walls 11 of outer container 2.

Each wing 11' has two tabs 22, which are located at opposite ends of wing 11', are separated from wing 11' by two transverse fold lines 20, and are folded 90° so as to be positioned contacting respective inner surfaces of panel s 7 ' and 8 ' .

In the Figure 1-8 embodiment, edges 12 and 13 are all square. In alternative embodiments, some of edges 12 and 13 may be bevelled or rounded. More specifically, in the Figure 11 and 12 embodiment, longitudinal edges 12 are bevelled; and, in the Figure 13 and 14 embodiment, longitudinal edges 12 are rounded.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, packet 1 of cigarettes is a slide-open type, and comprises a rigid inner container inserted inside and partly separable from outer container 2. That is, packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a rigid inner container containing the group of cigarettes and housed inside outer container 2 to slide, with respect to outer container 2, between a closed position, in which the inner container is inserted inside outer container 2, and an open position, in which the inner container is extracted partly from outer container 2. In this embodiment, outer container 2 has no lid 5, and one minor lateral wall 11 is replaced with an opening through which the inner container slides with respect to outer container 2 either in a translatory movement, or by rotating about a hinge connecting the two containers. The inner container is normally, but not necessarily, the same shape as outer container 2 (though, obviously, slightly smaller to fit inside outer container 2) .

Figure 15 shows a variation of the Figure 9 blank 18, and which differs from the Figure 9 blank 18 as regards the shape of the top tabs 22 (i.e. the tabs 22 on opposite sides of panel 7' forming top wall 7 of outer container 2) . In the Figure 15 blank 18, each top tab 22 is isosceles - trapezium- shaped with an obtuse inside angle β identical to a corresponding obtuse inside angle β of panel 7' . And, in both the Figure 15 and Figure 9 blanks 18, each bottom tab (i.e. next to panel 8' forming bottom wall 8 of outer container 2) is isosceles-trapezium-shaped with an acute inside angle a identical to a corresponding acute inside angle a of panel 8' . The inside angles a of bottom tabs 22 and panel 8' being equal, the folded bottom tabs 22 rest completely on panel 9" to produce a more precise, stronger packet 1 of cigarettes. And, similarly, inside angles β of top tabs 22 and panel 7' being equal, the folded top tabs 22 rest completely on panel 9', thus also producing a more precise, stronger packet 1 of cigarettes .

Figures 16 and 17 show two groups of packets 1 of cigarettes from which to form, i.e. which are inserted inside respective packages to form, cartons of packets 1 of cigarettes.

Packet 1 of cigarettes described has numerous advantages .

Firstly, the cigarettes in the group are gripped firmly enough inside outer container 2 of packet 1 of cigarettes to prevent any appreciable movement (and therefore damage) of the cigarettes when transporting and handling packet 1, but are still withdrawable easily from outer container 2 of packet 1, particularly when the packet is full. (i.e. when unsealing the packet). This effective compromise between the two conflicting requirements (gripping the group of cigarettes firmly inside outer container 2 to prevent movement of the cigarettes during transport and handling, and allowing easy withdrawal of the first cigarettes from the group) is achieved by virtue of the innovative design of outer container 2, in which the cross section of outer container 2, parallel to top and bottom walls 7 and 8, varies continuously in the longitudinal direction.

Secondly, packet 1 of cigarettes described is cheap and easy to produce, by being producible easily even on a standard (commercial) packing machine, which is made possible using an outer container 2 blank differing only slightly from a conventional blank.

Claims

1) A rigid packet (1) of cigarettes or similar, comprising :

a group of cigarettes; and

an outer container (2) housing the group of cigarettes and in the form of a polyhedron with six faces: a top wall (7) and a bottom wall (8) opposite and parallel to each other; and four lateral walls (9, 10, 11) perpendicular to the top and bottom wall (7, 8), and which extend longitudinally to connect the edges of the top wall (7) to corresponding edges of the bottom wall (8) ;

the top and bottom wall (7, 8) being trapezoidal; and the packet (1) of cigarettes being characterized in that:

the top wall (7) and the bottom wall (8) are oriented 180° with respect to each other; and

a cross section of the outer container (2) , parallel to the top and bottom wall (7, 8) , varies continuously in a longitudinal direction to connect the trapezium of the top wall (7) to the trapezium of the bottom wall (8) .

2) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the cross section of the outer container (2) , parallel to the top and bottom wall (7, 8) , has the same perimeter in any position.

3) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 2, wherein four longitudinal edges (12), each of constant shape and size along its whole length, are defined between the four lateral walls (9, 10, 11).

4) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer container (2) has two major lateral walls (9, 10), of which one connects a major base of the top wall (7) to a minor base of the bottom wall (8) , and the other connects a minor base of the top wall (7) to a major base of the bottom wall (8) .

5) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the outer container (2) has two minor lateral walls (11), each of which connects an oblique side of the top wall (7) to an oblique side of the bottom wall ( 8 ) .

6) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the oblique side of the top wall (7) and the oblique side of the bottom wall (8) connected to the same minor lateral wall (11) are oppositely inclined with respect to the corresponding bases (7, 8); each minor lateral wall (11) being helical in shape.

7) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 6 , wherein the bases of the trapezium of the top wall (7) are parallel to the bases of the trapezium of the bottom wall (8) .

8) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the trapezium of the top wall (7) and the trapezium of the bottom wall (8) are isosceles trapeziums. 9) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein a cross section of the outer container (2) , parallel to and centred longitudinally between the top and bottom wall (7, 8), is rectangular.

10) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in Claim

9, wherein the cross section of the group of cigarettes is the same rectangular shape and size as the longitudinally centred cross section of the outer container (2) .