WO2017134565A1

WO2017134565A1 - Package for smoking articles

Info

Publication number: WO2017134565A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/050526
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonella Giannini; Alberto Monzoni
Original assignee: Montrade S.P.A.
Priority date: 2016-02-01
Filing date: 2017-02-01
Publication date: 2017-08-10
Also published as: EP3411313A1; ITUB20160472A1

Abstract

A package for smoking articles, for example for cigarettes, comprising a container (2) and an inner wrapping (5). The container (2) has a container body (3) open on one end face, and an end lid (4) articulated to the container body (3). The inner wrapping (5) is configured to define an opening (7) for extracting the smoking articles (6), and comprises a layer of wrapping sheet material defining a closing flap (8) operatively connected to said lid (4), so as to separate it from the rest of the wrapping (5), along a separation line (70) when the lid is opened and to reposition itself in an essentially complementary manner within the opening (7) for extracting the smoking articles (6), when the lid (4) is closed, to restore a substantial continuity of the wrapping (5). The closing flap (8) is directly connected to the lid, without the interposition of additional flaps that adhere to the outer surface of the inner wrapping in the closed condition of the package. In a variant, the wall of the inner wrapping has two superimposed layers. When the lid is opened, an outer flap portion (80) formed in the outer layer and adhering to the lid (4) leaves free access to one or more openings for extracting the smoking articles, formed in the inner layer and corresponding, for example, to different compartments of the inner wrapping of the package.

Description

"Package for smoking articles"

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to packages for smoking articles, for example cigarettes, of the type comprising:

- a container, with two opposite main faces, two end faces and two longitudinal faces, and

- at least one inner wrapping, arranged within said container, to enclose the smoking articles.

- wherein said container has a container body open on one end face, and an end lid articulated to the container body and movable between an open position, for access to said open side of the container body, and a closed position of said container body,

- wherein said inner wrapping is configured to define an opening for extracting the smoking articles, and is formed by a wrapping sheet material defining a closing flap operatively connected to said lid to move between a closed condition, in which it closes said opening, and an open condition, in which it leaves said opening accessible, due to the movement of the lid between its closed position and its open position,

- wherein said closing flap is defined by a portion of said inner wrapping delimited by a separation line formed in the inner wrapping itself, and is operatively connected to said lid, so as to separate it from the rest of the wrapping, along said separation line when the lid is opened, to define said opening for extracting the smoking articles, and so as to reposition itself in an essentially complementary manner, within said opening for extracting the tobacco articles, when the lid is closed, to restore a substantial continuity of the wrapping, Prior art

A package for smoking articles of the type indicated above is known by WO 2013/120913 A1 . A similar package is known by WO 2013/098109 A1 and EP 2 471 725 A1 .

In these known packages, the wall portion of the inner wrapping forming said closing flap is connected to the lid with the aid of an additional flap superimposed on it, which constitutes an adhesive label configured to adhere to the outer surface of the inner wrapping in the closed condition of the lid. The aforesaid adhesive label is, however, a source of problems, particularly in that fragments of tobacco possibly left by the cigarettes can stay attached to the outer surface of the wrapping, made sticky by contact with the adhesive label.

The same drawback is also found in other known solutions of the same type, described in EP 2 155 568 B1 and EP 2 701 994 B1 .

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to produce a package for smoking articles that retains the advantages of the known solutions mentioned above, while eliminating the drawback discussed above.

An additional object of the invention is that of producing a package for smoking articles that achieves the aforesaid objectives with a simple and inexpensive structure.

Summary of the invention

In view of achieving the above objects, the invention relates to a package for smoking articles having the characteristics that have been indicated at the beginning of the present description and further characterized in that said closing flap is directly connected to said lid.

The expression "directly connected" indicates that said closing flap defined by the said separation line formed in the inner wrapping is directly connected to the lid, for example by adhesive gluing or interlocking engagement, and without the interposition of additional flaps, superimposed on said closing flap and configured to act as an adhesive label that overlaps and adheres to the outer surface of the inner wrapping in the closed condition of the package.

Thanks to the aforesaid characteristics, the package according to the invention retains the advantage of an automatic opening and closing of the wrapping of the smoking articles due to the movement of the lid between its closed condition and its open condition. At the same time, the re-closure of the opening for extracting the smoking articles is achieved without resorting to an adhesive label, which avoids the above mentioned drawbacks due to adhesive residues on the outer surface of the wrapping.

Particularly advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectioned perspective view of the package of Figure

1 ,

- Figures 3 and 4 are a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of a second embodiment,

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment,

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment,

- Figure 7 is a variant of a detail of Figure 2,

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment, and

- Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus used in producing the inner wrapping of the package of Figure 8.

With reference to Figures 1 , 2, numeral 1 generally indicates a package for cigarettes. The package 1 comprises a relatively rigid container 2 made, for example, of cardboard, or plastic material, or of any other material suitable for the purpose. In accordance with the conventional art, the container 2 comprises a container body 3, and a lid 4 articulated to the container body 3. When the lid 4 is in its closed position, the container body 3 and the lid 4 define a three- dimensional volume, with two main faces, two lateral faces and two upper and lower end faces (with reference to the drawings). The container body 3 is open at the upper end face, where the lid 4 is connected in an articulated manner.

Still according to the conventional art, within the container 2, at least one wrapping 5 is arranged that encloses the cigarettes 6. The inner wrapping 5 is made of sheet material, for example, of one or more sheets of aluminum, or a plastic film or any other suitable material to preserve the smoking articles.

The wrapping 5 is also arranged with two main faces, two end faces and two side faces. Naturally, the sheet material constituting the wrapping 5 is flexible, so that this material does not define rigid walls, but flexible walls that are in a relatively extended condition only when the package is full of cigarettes.

According to the present invention, at the upper end face of the wrapping 5, an opening 7 for extracting the smoking articles is automatically created with the first opening of the lid 4, because the movement of the lid 4 from its closed position to its open position causes separation of a portion 8 of the wall of the wrapping 5 from the remaining portion of the wall of the wrapping. The wall 8 forms a closing flap of the opening 7. The separation of the flap 8 is made along a separation line 70 formed in the wrapping 5. In the embodiment described here, the separation line 70 is defined by a cut formed in the wall of the wrapping 5 and preferably interrupted at intervals by portions of wall constituting frangible bridges, in such a way that the portion 8 of the wall of the wrapping is separated by tearing from the remaining portion of the wall of the wrapping 5 at the first opening of the lid. Alternatively, the separation line can be defined by an incision line, which partially penetrates into the wall thickness, also in this case to allow tearing at the first opening of the lid.

As will become more apparent hereinafter, the flap 8 of the wrapping is directly connected, for example, by gluing or by interlocking engagement, to the lid 4 so that when the lid 4 is opened, it causes the separation of the flap 8 and the creation of the opening 7, while when the lid 4 is closed, it causes the flap 8 to be automatically repositioned in a complementary manner within said opening

7 for extracting the smoking articles 6, so as to restore the continuity of the wrapping 5. In the illustrated example, the flap 8 is connected to the lid 4 in that the end of the flap 8 is glued to the inner surface of the lid.

Still with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the package can comprise a reinforcing collar 9, for example, consisting of a sheet of folded cardboard, which at least partially encloses the upper end of the inner wrapping 5, adjacent to the opening 7. The collar 9 can be within the wrapping 5, as illustrated in the example of Figures 1 and 2, or can be arranged outside the wrapping 5.

In use, the opening and closing movements of the lid 4 automatically cause the opening and closing of the inner wrapping 5, as the wall portion 8 of the wrapping is connected directly to the lid 4, and serves as a closing flap, configured to reposition exactly within the opening 7 each time that the lid 4 is closed again. The continuity of the inner wrapping 5 is thus ensured, due to the simple effect of reclosing the lid 4, without requiring the use of an adhesive label. Therefore, an important characteristic of the invention is the fact that the closing flap 8 is configured to restore the continuity of the inner wrapping 5, being part of the inner wrapping, and is directly connected to the lid, without the aid of an additional flap, superimposed on the flap 8, and configured to act as an adhesive label, adhering to the outer surface of the wrapping 5.

In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, as already indicated, the flap

8 is connected to the lid 4 in that its end is glued to the inner surface of the lid 4. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flap 8 has its ends glued to the lid 4 with the face- in the closed condition of the flap 8 - directed outwards. Due to this arrangement, and due to the position of gluing to the inner surface of the lid 4, the flap 8 is induced to assume a folded S-configuration in the open condition of the lid 4. In order to further induce the flap 8 to assume the aforesaid folded S- configuration, it is possible to provide a further element 800, made of cardboard or the like, above the end surface of the wrapping 5 (see Figure 7), which is curved so as to protrude upwards (with reference to the drawing) and thus create an abutment for the flap 8 when it is lifted, forcing it to assume the folded S- configuration.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second embodiment. In these figures, the parts common to Figures 1 , 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers. In this embodiment as well, the aforesaid portion 8 of the wall of the wrapping is directly connected to the lid 4 so that when the lid 4 is opened, it causes the separation of the wall 8 and the creation of the opening 7, while when the lid 4 is closed, it causes the separate wall portion 8 to be automatically repositioned in a complementary manner within said opening 7 for extracting said smoking articles 6, so as to restore the continuity of the wrapping 5. In this case as well, according to an important characteristic of the invention, no additional flap acting as an adhesive label, adherent to the outer surface of the wrapping 5, is superimposed onto the wall portion 8, which acts as a closing flap, and which is configured to reposition itself in a complementary manner within the opening 7.

Still with reference to Figure 4, in this embodiment, the container body 3 comprises a lower end wall 301 , two side walls 302, a main front wall 303 and a rear main wall 304. In the illustrated example, the main rear wall 304 extends higher in relation to the main front wall 303 and has its upper edge 40 defining the articulation axis of the lid 4. The lid 4 has an upper wall 401 , a front wall 403, a rear wall 404 and two side walls 402. In the closed condition of the lid 4, the walls 303, 403 define the main front face of the package; the walls 302, 402 define the side faces of the package; the walls 304, 404 define the main rear face of the package; finally, the walls 301 and 401 define the end faces of the package.

The wrapping 5 is arranged with two main faces 503, 504, two end faces 501 and two side faces 502.

In the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the separating line 70 includes two straight and spaced apart portions 701 , parallel to the side walls 502 of the wrapping 5, and a central straight portion 702 formed on the main front face of the wrapping, which joins the front ends of the side portions 701 . On the main rear face of the wrapping 5, the two side portions 701 of the separation line extend up to two points 703, spaced apart from each other. In the illustrated example, each of the three sides 701 , 702 of the separation line 70 is interrupted by wall portions forming frangible bridges 704.

Again with reference to Figures 3, and 4, the wrapping 5 is arranged within the container 3 and has the outer surface of the flap 8, which covers the opening 7 that is connected, for example by gluing or by interlocking engagement, to the lid 4, and in particular (in the case of the specific example shown) to the inner surface of the front wall 403 and the upper wall 401 of the lid 4.

As already stated above, the two end points 703 of the separation line 70 are spaced apart from each other, so that they define a wall between them that connects the closing flap 8 defined by the separation line 70 to the remaining part of the wall of the wrapping. The closing flap 8, being connected to the lid 4, follows the movement, moving between the closed condition illustrated in Figure 2 and the open condition illustrated in Figure 1 , when the lid is moved between its closed condition and its open condition.

At the first opening of the lid 4, the closing flap 8 is separated by tearing from the remaining part of the wall of the wrapping 5, by breaking the frangible bridges 704.

In order to define a relatively rigid support surface, which retains the front portion of the wall of the wrapping 5 adjacent to the closing flap 8 when the flap is opened, a reinforcing wall 9 can be provided, formed of cardboard or paper, which is, for example, glued to the front wall 503 and to the side walls 502 of the wrapping 5. The reinforcing element 9 includes a front wall 90 and two side walls 91 , which only occupy an upper portion of the front face and side faces of the wrapping 5. The front wall 90 has an upper edge with a groove 92 that runs around the part of the separation line 70 that extends on the front face of the wrapping 5, adjacent to it. As indicated, the element 9 is completely optional and can be omitted.

As apparent from the above description, the package according to the invention preserves the advantages of the known solutions in which after each opening and subsequent closing of the package 7, the continuity of the inner wrapping is restored by means of a flap that covers the opening for extracting the cigarettes, so as to favor a better preservation of the cigarettes within the package. The movement of the closing flap 8 between its closed position and its open position is automatically obtained by the movement of the lid, without any negative influence from the point of view of convenience of use for the user. At the same time, the flap 8 that closes the opening 7 for extracting the cigarettes is defined by a portion of the same wall of the wrapping 5 that is repositioned in a complementary manner within the opening for extracting the smoking articles, without the use, therefore, of an adhesive label superimposed on the flap 8 that engages the outer surface of the wrapping and, therefore, without the need to use adhesive material in the area of the package where this can give rise to the drawbacks discussed above.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment, which provides additional advantages. In this Figure, the parts common to Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers. In the case of the solution illustrated in Figure 5, the wall of the wrapping 5 is a double-layer wall, including an outer layer 50 and an inner layer 51 in contact with each other. The two layers 50, 51 are each formed of any of the materials normally used for the inner wrapping of the package, for example aluminum foil or paper. The two layers 50, 51 are preferably kept coupled together in selected areas, by means of any know means, for example by means of adhesive points or by welding.

In the example of Figure 5, the separation line is formed in said outer layer 50 and in said inner layer 51 so as to define an opening 7 and a corresponding closing flap 8 as large as the opening, formed by superimposed portions of the two layers.

Figure 6 shows a variant of Figure 5, in which the separation line formed in the inner layer 51 defines an opening 7B for extracting articles from the smoking articles smaller than the opening 7 A defined by the separation line in the outer layer 50. Correspondingly, the closing flap comprises an outer flap portion 80 and an inner flap portion 81 coupled together.

Figure 7 has already being described above.

Figure 8 shows a second embodiment, which provides additional advantages. In this figure as well, the parts common to Figures 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numbers. In the case of the solution illustrated in Figure 8, the wall of the wrapping 5 is a double-layer wall, including an outer layer 50 and an inner layer 51 in contact with each other. The outer layer 50 is configured in the manner that has already been described above with reference to the solution of Figures 1 and 2, or in an equivalent manner, so that, when the lid 4 is opened, a portion 80 of the outer layer 50 that is connected to the lid 4 defines an opening 7A. The opening 7A, in this case, leaves free access to the inner layer 51 of the inner wrapping 5, configured to define two smaller openings 7B for extracting the smoking articles. The smaller openings 7B are arranged, for example, to allow access, in turn, to two compartments of the inner wrapping of the package. The different compartments can be separated from each other by an inner dividing wall S, although this is not essential. Still purely by way of example, these different compartments may be designed to contain different smoking articles from each other. The dividing wall can be part of a collar element associated with the wrapping, or it can be defined by the same inner layer of the wrapping.

In order to define the smaller openings 7B, in said embodiment, the inner layer 51 of the wrapping sheet material is also arranged with separation lines that define two portions 81 of the inner layer 51 of the inner wrapping 5. The removal of the portions 81 defines the corresponding openings 7B.

Each of the portions 81 of the inner layer 51 , can be joined by glue to the portion 80 of the outer layer 50 that is connected to the lid 4. In this case (see the left part of Figure 8), the opening of the lid simultaneously causes the removal of the superimposed portions 80, 81 of the two layers 50, 51 of the wall of the wrapping 5, so as to free not only the opening 7A, but also the opening 7B. Alternatively, the portion 81 can be free with respect to the portion 80, so that when the lid is opened, the opening 7A is automatically defined, while the opening 7B can only be opened by the user's direct intervention (right part of Figure 8). Naturally, it is possible to envisage that both the smaller openings 7B are automatically openable, or that both are only opened by direct manual intervention, or that one is automatically openable and the other is not. It is also evident that the number and configuration of the smaller openings can be any.

Figure 9 schematically shows an apparatus for forming a double-layer tape 5' to be used for manufacturing the wrapping 5 and arranged with its two layers having a constant pitch distribution of cutting lines 7A', 7B' configured to define the openings 7A, 7B described above. Two tapes, 5A', 5B' are unwound from respective reels 500A, 500B and fed through pairs of cutting rollers C1 , C2, which provide the formation of the cutting lines 7A', 7B'. In the case of the embodiment that has been described above, for each cutting line 7A', a pair of cutting lines 7B' is formed. The two tapes are then coupled together by making them advance between two welding rollers W, which provide the gluing or soldering of the two strips at selected areas, so as to form the double-layer tape 5'. It is thus possible to arrange a tape in a simple and economical manner, which is then subjected to the usual packaging operations to define the wrapping 5 according to the solution of Figure 5 or according to any other similar configuration.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of example.

In particular, the configuration and the structure of the outer container and the wrapping may be of any type. The manner in which the wall portion of the wrapping is defined, which is separable from the remaining portion of this wall, to create the opening for extracting the cigarettes, can be quite different compared to that illustrated here purely by way of example. In particular, it would be also possible to provide a separation line closed on itself, which defines a wall portion operatively connected to the lid so as to be separated completely from the remaining portion of the wall of the wrapping. The manner in which the closing flap 8 is operatively connected to the lid can also be different from that illustrated here.

Claims

1. Package for smoking articles, for example cigarettes, comprising:

- a container (2), with two opposite main faces, two end faces (202) and two longitudinal faces, and

- at least one inner wrapping (5) arranged within said container (2), to enclose the smoking articles (6),

- wherein said container (2) has a container body (3) open on one end face, and an end lid (4) articulated to the container body (3) and movable between an open position, for access to said open side of the container body (3), and a closed position of said container body (3),

- wherein said inner wrapping (5) is configured to define an opening (7; 7A, 7B) for extracting the smoking articles (6), and is formed by a wrapping sheet material defining a closing flap (8; 80, 81 ) operatively connected to said lid (4) to move between a closed condition, in which it closes said opening (7; 7A, 7B), and an open condition, in which it leaves said opening (7; 7A, 7B) accessible, due to the movement of the lid (4) between its closed position and its open position,

- wherein said closing flap (8) is defined by a portion of said inner wrapping (5) which is delimited by a separation line (70) formed in the inner wrapping (5), and which is operatively connected to said lid (4), so as to separate from the rest of the wrapping (5), along said separation line (70) when the lid (4) is opened, to define said opening (7) for extracting the smoking articles (6), and so as to reposition itself in an essentially complementary manner within said opening (7) for extracting the smoking articles (6) when the lid (4) is closed, to restore a substantial continuity of the wrapping (5),

said package being characterized in that said closing flap (8) is directly connected to said lid.

2. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that said closing flap (8) is connected to the lid (4) by gluing or by means of an interlocking engagement.

3. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that said separation line

(70) is defined by a continuous cut formed in the wall of the wrapping,

or by a cut interrupted by wall portions constituting frangible bridges (704), so that the closing flap (8) is separated by tearing from the remaining portion of the said wall of the wrapping (5) at the first opening of the lid (4),

or by an incision line formed in the wall of the wrapping and penetrating for a part of the wall thickness, in such a way that the closing flap (8) is separated by tearing from the remaining portion of the said wall of the wrapping (5) at the first opening of the lid (4).

4. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that said inner wrapping (5) is formed of a double-layer wrapping sheet material and comprises an outer layer (50) and an inner layer (51 ), said separation line (70) is formed in said outer (50) and inner (51 ) layers in such a way that the opening (7) is as large as the closing flap (8).

5. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that said inner wrapping (5) is formed of a double-layer wrapping sheet material and comprises an outer layer (50) and an inner layer (51 ),

said separation line (70) is formed partly in said outer layer (50) to delimit an outer flap portion (80) larger than said opening (7B), and partly in said inner layer (51 ) to delimit at least one inner flap portion (81 ) smaller than said outer flap portion (80)

said inner flap portion (81 ) being integral with said outer flap portion (80).

6. Package according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a number of inner flap portions (81 ) corresponding to different compartments of the inner wrapping of the package, at least one of said inner flap portions (81 ) being connected to the outer flap portion (80).

7. Package according to claim 6, characterized in that said different compartments are separated by one or more inner dividing walls (S).

8. Package according to claim 7, characterized in that said inner dividing walls (S) are constituted by additional elements glued within the wrapping, or are constituted by portions of said inner layer of the wrapping.

9. Package according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of said inner flap portions (81 ) is not connected to the said outer flap portion (80) so that it remains closed when the lid (4) is opened.

10. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that said closing flap (8) has an end portion glued to the inner surface of the lid (4), in such a way that in the open condition of the lid (4), said flap assumes a folded S-configuration.

11. Package according to claim 1 , characterized in that above the end surface of the inner wrapping (5), an additional element (800) is applied, acting as an abutment for the closing flap (8) during opening the lid (4), in order to force the flap to assume the said folded S-configuration.