CN113544064A

CN113544064A - Rigid package of smoking articles and blank for producing the same

Info

Publication number: CN113544064A
Application number: CN202080019407.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卢卡·帕拉迪索; 卢卡·费代里奇
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2019-01-25
Filing date: 2020-01-24
Publication date: 2021-10-22
Also published as: IT201900001125A1; RS65509B1; WO2020152648A1; EP3914535A1; EP3914535B1; PL3914535T3

Abstract

A package (1) for smoking articles comprising: at least one group of smoking articles (2); a containing element (3), surrounding the group of smoking articles (2), having at least one extraction opening (12) to access the group of smoking articles (2) and comprising: a front wall (13), a rear wall (14), two side walls (15), a lower wall (16) and an upper wall (17); and a lid (4) hinged to the front wall (13) of the containing element (3), rotating between an open position and a closed position of the extraction opening (12), and comprising: a front wall (23) hinged to the front wall (13) of the containing element (3), two side walls (24) and an upper wall (25). The package (1) for smoking articles has a side wall (24) and an upper wall (25) of the lid (4) having a depth substantially equal to the depth of the side wall (15) and the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3), so that in the closed position of the lid (4) the side wall (24) of the lid (4) completely covers the depth of the side wall (15) of the containing element (3) and the upper wall (25) of the lid (3) completely covers the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3).

Description

Rigid package of smoking articles and blank for producing the same

Citations to related applications

This patent application claims priority to italian patent application No. 102019000001125 filed on 25.1.2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hardpack for smoking articles (smoking articles) and a blank for producing the hardpack for smoking articles.

The invention finds advantageous application in cigarette packages, to which the following description will explicitly refer without loss of generality. In fact, in this text, reference will be indiscriminately made to a specific example of "cigarette" rather than to the more general expression "smoking article", which, however, does not lose generality in relation to other types of articles, such as cigars (cigars), cigars (cigallaos), electronic cigarettes or cigarettes, auxiliary products, such as filters, refills for electronic cigarettes, and other tobacco articles or alternative ingredients or tobacco substitutes.

Background

Rigid packets of cigarettes with hinged lids are currently the most popular cigarette packets on the market, since they are easy to manufacture, easy to use and practical, and offer good protection of the cigarettes therein.

A hard pack cigarette with a hinged lid comprises an inner pack consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metal paper and a hard outer shell housing the inner pack. The inner package is initially completely closed and has an extraction opening for the cigarettes, which can be closed by a disposable tear-off portion (called "pull" portion) which is removed when the packet of cigarettes is first opened to allow the closed cigarettes to be extracted from the inner package. Otherwise, it can be closed by a reusable closure label (i.e. of the "open and close" type) which is attached to the inner package by a repositionable glue. In known hardpacks, the casing consists of a cup-shaped container with an open top end and a lid, also cup-shaped and hinged to one end edge of the container, to rotate with respect to the container itself between an open and a closed end position. In known backpack-type packages (bag-Box-type packs), the lid is hinged to the cup-shaped container at one edge of the front wall of the package. However, in order to ensure a good closure of the package, a stiffening element, usually called a frame, is provided in the cup, which is glued along the periphery of the open end of the cup. In this way, in the closed position of the lid, it bears against and contacts the reinforcing element, without contacting the cup.

In known types of packs, the stiffening element is indispensable because the cup and the lid are half as deep as the packet of cigarettes and prevent the cigarettes from falling out when the packet is opened. In other words, in the known cigarette package, the reinforcing element acts as a barrier, surrounding the outer shell of the cigarette.

However, this makes it difficult and complicated to remove the cigarettes from the pack, due to the excessively large reinforcing element projecting from the cup.

It is clear, however, that the production of this type of cigarette package is very complex and requires a large amount of material to produce.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hardpack for smoking articles and a blank for producing the same, which do not have the drawbacks of the prior art and which are easy and economical to produce.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hardpack for smoking articles and a blank for producing the hardpack for smoking articles, as claimed in the appended claims.

Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments of the invention, and in which:

figure 1 is a front perspective view of a package produced according to the invention in a closed configuration;

figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes in figure 1 in the closed configuration;

figure 3 is a front perspective view of the packet of cigarettes in figure 1 in an open configuration;

figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes in figure 1 in the open configuration;

figure 5 is a front perspective view of a packet of cigarettes according to another embodiment, in an open configuration;

figure 6 is a front perspective view of the group of cigarettes enclosed in the inner package;

figure 7 is a plan view of a blank for producing the packet of cigarettes in figure 1;

figure 8 is a plan view of a blank for producing packets of cigarettes according to a second embodiment;

figure 9 is a plan view of a blank for producing packets of cigarettes according to a third embodiment;

figure 10 is a plan view of a blank for producing packets of cigarettes according to a fourth embodiment;

figure 11 is a plan view of a blank for producing a packet of cigarettes according to a fifth embodiment;

figure 12 is a plan view of a blank for producing packets of cigarettes according to a sixth embodiment;

figure 13 is a plan view of a blank for producing packets of cigarettes according to a seventh embodiment; and

figure 14 is a plan view of a blank for producing the separating element of the packet of cigarettes shown in figure 6.

Detailed Description

In fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a cigarette package. Packet 1 of cigarettes has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape defined by two larger lateral walls, two smaller lateral walls and two end walls, and comprises at least one group 2 of cigarettes and a containing element 3 provided with a cover 4.

In the following description of packet 1 of cigarettes, the terms "low", "high", "front" and "rear" will be used to indicate the position of the portions of packet 1, provided that the packet is arranged so that the main direction of extension (or the axis of the cigarettes) is vertical. Thus, the lower wall and the upper wall are respectively set to "lower" and "upper high", and the front wall and the rear wall define "front" and "rear", respectively.

The term "section" refers to a section of packet 1 or group 2 of cigarettes perpendicular to its main direction of extension.

The term "width" refers to the dimension measured parallel to the front wall (largest side wall) and perpendicular to the smaller side walls and to the main direction of extension of the package 1.

The term "height" refers to a dimension measured parallel to the front wall and perpendicular to the lower and upper end walls (closed package).

The term "depth" refers to a dimension measured perpendicular to the front wall and parallel to the lower wall, upper wall and smaller side walls.

For example, group 2 of cigarettes shown in figure 6 is preferably wrapped in inner wrapper 5 and has a front wall 6, a rear wall 7, two side walls 8, a lower wall 9 and an upper wall 10. At least a portion of inner package 5 may be removed from front wall 6 and upper wall 10 of group 2 of cigarettes, so that an opening may be formed to remove the cigarettes. The inner package 5 may comprise, for example, a weakened line of material (not shown) along which it is torn to form an opening for the removal of the cigarettes. The line of material weakness may extend in a direction transverse (preferably perpendicular) to the longitudinal extension of the cigarette and/or parallel to the longitudinal extension of the cigarette. In other words, the line of material weakness may extend across the front wall 6, the side walls 8 and/or the upper wall 10.

The receiving element 3 shown in particular in fig. 1 to 4 surrounds the group 2 of cigarettes. The containing element 3 is made substantially rectangular and has at least one extraction opening 12 to access the group 2 of cigarettes. The containing member 3 includes: a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, two side walls 15, a lower wall 16 and an upper wall 17. When group 2 of cigarettes is housed inside containing element 3, an opening for removing the cigarettes from inner package 5 is provided at extraction opening 12 of containing element 3. The extraction opening 12 is formed at least on the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. The extraction opening 12 is advantageously formed on the front wall 13 and on the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 4, a single group 2 of cigarettes is arranged in a containing element 3. According to the embodiment shown in fig. 5, the containing element 3 contains two groups 2 of cigarettes arranged side by side. The term "side by side" means that two groups 2 of cigarettes are arranged one next to the other and adjacent to their respective side walls 8. Advantageously, between the two groups 2 of cigarettes, there may be a separating element 18 (the blank 45 of which is shown in figure 14). The separating element 18 is arranged in the containing element 3 between the two groups 2 of cigarettes. The separating element 18 comprises two folded and overlapping central walls 19 and two rear walls 20 arranged substantially perpendicular to the central walls 19. In particular, the central wall 19 is folded 180 ° over the other central wall 19. Two side walls 19 are interposed between the rear wall 20. The rear wall 20 is disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to the central wall 19.

Group 2 of cigarettes is arranged in a surrounding containing element 3. Preferably group 2 of cigarettes is sealed in order to preserve the flavour and freshness of the cigarettes.

Packet 1 of cigarettes also comprises a lid 4 hinged on front wall 13 of containing element 3. In particular, lid 4 is cup-shaped and is hinged to containing element 3 along a hinge 21 (shown in fig. 2) to rotate, with respect to containing element 3 itself, between an open position (shown in fig. 3 and 4) and a closed position (shown in fig. 1 and 2) of extraction opening 12.

The cover 4 comprises a front wall 23 hinged to the front wall 13 of the containing element 3, two side walls 24 and an upper wall 25. In particular, as shown in fig. 1 to 4, the side walls 24 and the upper wall 25 of the cover 4 are substantially as deep as the side walls 15 and the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. In other words, the side walls 24 of the cover 4 and the side walls 15 of the containing element 3 and the upper walls 25 of the cover 4 and the upper walls 17 of the containing element 3 are substantially of the same depth. The term "depth" refers to a dimension measured in the transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal extension of group 2 of cigarettes. Thus, in the closed position of lid 4, lateral walls 24 of lid 4 completely cover the depth of lateral walls 15 of containing element 3; and the upper wall 25 of the cover 4 completely covers the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. The

walls

22 and 23 of the cover 4 therefore wrap around and directly face the

walls

15 and 17 of the containing element 3. Obviously, the cover 4 has no rear wall.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, which show packet 1 of cigarettes with lid 4 open, packet 1 of cigarettes may comprise a locking system 26, which locking system 26 is designed to keep lid 4 in the closed position. In other words, the locking system 26 prevents the lid 4 from opening accidentally. The locking system 26 comprises at least one locking tab 27 projecting from the containment element 3 and a seat 28 obtained in the cover 4, the seat 28 being designed to house a portion of the locking tab 27. The locking tab 27 is provided (i.e. protrudes) from the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3, in particular adjacent to the extraction opening 12.

According to one possible embodiment, as shown in figures 3 and 4, the locking tab 27 is made as a continuation of the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3 and is folded back on the wall 17 itself. In this way, as the folded locking tab 27 springs back, it is made to stably engage a seat 28 formed in the lid 4 to prevent the lid 4 from opening accidentally.

According to this embodiment, in which packet 1 of cigarettes comprises two groups 2 of cigarettes and two extraction openings 12 (each close to a respective group 2 of cigarettes), locking tab 27 is preferably arranged between two extraction openings 12. In other words, the locking tab 27 is preferably centrally arranged between the two extraction openings 12.

Seat 28 may be formed on reinforcing flap 25 "of upper wall 25 of lid 4 by a recess 29 (for example, for making packet 1 of cigarettes from the blank shown in fig. 7 and 10 to 13). Reinforcing flaps 25 "of lid 4 are configured to overlap (i.e., fold 180 ° along respective fold lines) and are glued to upper wall 25 of lid 4. A recess 29 is obtained on the free edge of the reinforcement flap 25 ". The seat 28 is formed by overlapping the reinforcement flap 25 "on the upper wall 25.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 4, to produce a packet 1 of cigarettes with a blank 31, for example, as shown in fig. 8, 9 and 13, the seat 28 can be obtained by making the panel 25 "(shown in fig. 8 to 10 and 13) so as to obtain the seat 28 on the portion of the upper wall 25 where there is no overlap of the panel 25". In other words, because panel 25 "and reinforcing flap 25" have a smaller surface size than upper wall 25 of lid 4, they do not cover the entire surface of upper wall 25 of lid 4, thus leaving seat 28 in an uncovered portion. In this case, seats 28 are formed in particular on the corners of upper wall 25 adjacent to front wall 23 of lid 4.

According to one possible embodiment, as shown in fig. 1 to 4, the height of the front wall 13 of the containing element 3 (i.e. the dimension measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the cigarette) is equal to the height of the front wall 23 of the lid 4 (i.e. the dimension measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the cigarette). In other words, hinge 21 is arranged at about half of cigarette package 1 (i.e. the dimension measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cigarettes). Thus, the

front walls

13 and 23 have substantially the same dimensions.

Alternatively, the height of the front wall 13 of the containing element 3 (i.e. the dimension measured in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes) is lower than the height of the front wall 23 of the lid 4. In other words, the cover 4 has a front wall 23 that is larger than the front wall 13 of the inner containment element 3.

In order to make it easier for the user to open the lid 4, the upper wall 25 of the lid 4 may be provided with a recess 30 at one free end. A recess 30 is formed in the upper wall 25 and the reinforcement flap 25'. In this way, the user can insert at least a portion of his or her finger into recess 30 to act on upper wall 17 of containing element 3 and open lid 4.

The front wall 23 of the lid 4 may be provided with promotional text or pictures on the inner surface.

Fig. 7 to 13 show a blank 31 according to different embodiments of the packet 1 of cigarettes.

In particular, blank 31 of containing element 3 has panel 17 'constituting upper wall 17 of containing element 3, panel 14' constituting rear wall 14 of containing element, panel 16 'constituting lower wall 16 of containing element, panel 13' constituting front wall 13, panel 23 'constituting front wall 23 of lid 4, panel 25' constituting upper wall 25 of lid 4 and reinforcing flap 25 "of lid 4. Panels 13 ', 14', 16 'and 17' are each separated by fold line 32, and blank 31 is folded along fold line 32 to dispose the respective walls orthogonal to one another. As shown in fig. 7 to 13, at least one panel 27 'is connected to the free end of the panel 17', which constitutes the locking tab 27 of the locking system 26. The panel 13 'is separated from the panel 23' by a fold line 33 constituting the hinge 21. Along the fold line 33 there are also cut lines 34 spaced from each other. Panels 23 ', 25', and 25 "are each separated by fold line 35. Fold

lines

32 and 35 are substantially parallel to each other.

As shown in fig. 7 to 13, panel 17 "extends at the two edges of panel 17', the former constituting a flap that maintains the relative position between upper wall 17 and side wall 15. At both edges of the panel 14', the panel 15 "extends, forming part of the side wall 15. And at both edges of panel 13 ', panel 15' extends to form a portion of side wall 15. Panel 15' overlaps panel 15 ", forming side wall 15 of packet 1 of cigarettes. Panels 15 ' and 15 "are connected to panels 14 ' and 13 ', respectively, by fold lines 36. At both edges of the panel 16 ', the panel 16 "extends, constituting a tab that maintains the relative position between the panels 15" and 16' (i.e. between the lower wall 16 and the side wall 15).

Panels 16 "and 17" are connected to respective panel 15 "by fold line 37, fold line 37 being substantially parallel to fold line 32 (and in particular aligned with fold line 32). The panels 16 "are separated from the respective panels 15 'and 16' by cut lines 38. The cut lines 38 include portions aligned with the respective fold lines 36 and portions aligned with the respective fold lines 32 (i.e., the cut lines 38 extend substantially in an L-shape). The panels 17 "are separated by respective panels 17' by cut lines 44. The cut lines 44 are substantially aligned with the respective fold lines 36.

At both edges of panel 23 ', panel 24' extends, constituting side walls 24 of lid 4. The panels 15 'are separated by adjacent panels 24' by lines of material weakness 39 (in particular cut lines alternating with portions of uncut material).

According to what is shown in fig. 7, 11 and 12, at the two edges of the panel 25 ', a panel 24 "extends, which is configured to be arranged below the panel 24'. I.e. the panels 24' are arranged on the respective panels 24 ". The panels 24' and 24 "are separated from each other by a cut line 40. The cut lines 40 are substantially aligned with the respective fold lines 35 disposed between the panels 23 'and 25'. Panel 24 "is connected to panel 25" by fold line 36. The panel 24 "preferably has a rectangular shape.

As shown in fig. 8-10 and 13, the panel 25 "extends at the edge 24'. Panel 25 "is connected to panel 24' by fold line 41. Cut line 41 extends along fold line 35 disposed between panels 23 'and 25' (i.e., aligned with fold line 35). Panel 25 "is attached to panel 24 'and is separated, preferably by cut line 42, from panel 25'. The cut line 42 is preferably spaced from the fold line 36. The panel 25 "connected to the panel 24 ' preferably has a triangular shape and is spaced from the panel 25 ' so that a seat 28 is formed when the panel 25" is folded over the panel 25 '.

Thus, the blank 31 shown in fig. 7, 11 and 12 differs from the blank 31 shown in fig. 8-10 and 13 by including panel 24 "(instead of panel 25") and panel 24 "being connected to panel 25". On the other hand, the blank 31 shown in fig. 8-10 and 13 has panel 25 "connected to panel 24'.

As shown in fig. 7-13, at fold line 35 (between panel 25 'and reinforcement flap 25 "), punch out 43 creating recess 30 is formed by folding panel 25" over panel 25'.

According to fig. 7 and 10 to 13, the reinforcement flap 25 "has a recess 29 (or a plurality of recesses 29) forming the seat 28. In other words, in this embodiment, the free edges of the reinforcement flap 25 "are not straight, but rather are contoured.

As shown in fig. 7 to 13, the panel 25 "of the reinforcing flap has a substantially trapezoidal shape, i.e. is inclined on the sides.

Fig. 14 shows a blank 45 for manufacturing the separating element 18. The blank 45 comprises two panels 19 ' constituting the central wall 19 of the separating element 18 and two panels 20 ' constituting the rear wall 20 of the separating element 18, arranged at opposite edges of the panels 19 '.

The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has a number of advantages.

Mainly, it is possible to produce cigarette packet 1 with a single blank 31, which produces containing element 3 and lid 4. Thus, packet 1 of cigarettes makes it possible to reduce the quantity of material used to make packet 1 itself. In fact, packet 1 of cigarettes, object of the present invention, does not require any collar, frame or other element, since extraction opening 12 is formed directly on containing element 3. The presence of front wall 13 of containing element 3 makes it easier to grasp packet 1 of cigarettes and better protect group 2 of cigarettes contained therein. Furthermore, the front wall 13 prevents the cigarettes contained in the containing element 3 from accidentally falling out or falling off.

Packet 1 of cigarettes can also be easily adapted to the type of cigarettes to be housed inside; in fact, by moving hinge 21 towards lower wall 16, extraction opening 12 can be enlarged to make it easier to grasp and extract the cigarettes.

It is also possible to extract the cigarettes through the portion of the extraction opening 12 formed in the upper wall 17 of the containing element 3. This enables the extraction of cigarettes without moving (i.e. shifting) adjacent cigarettes.

Cigarette package 1 can accommodate both standard length cigarettes and shorter length cigarettes (i.e. shorter than standard length).

Finally, packet 1 of cigarettes is simple and economical to manufacture.

Claims

1. A package (1) for smoking articles comprising:

at least one group of smoking articles (2);

a containment element (3) which surrounds the group of smoking articles (2), has at least one extraction opening (12) to access the group of smoking articles (2) and comprises: a front wall (13), a rear wall (14), two side walls (15), a lower wall (16) and an upper wall (17); and

a lid (4) hinged to a front wall (13) of the containing element (3), rotating between an open position and a closed position of the extraction opening (12), and comprising: a front wall (23) hinged to the front wall (13) of the containing element (3); two side walls (24); and an upper wall (25);

the packet (1) for smoking articles is characterized in that the lateral walls (24) and the upper wall (25) of the lid (4) have a depth substantially equal to the depth of the lateral walls (15) and the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3), so that in the closed position of the lid (4) the lateral walls (24) of the lid (4) completely cover the depth of the lateral walls (15) of the containing element (3) and the upper wall (25) of the lid (3) completely covers the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3).

2. A package (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the extraction opening (12) is provided at least in the region of an upper wall (17) of the containing element (3).

3. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a locking system (26) designed to keep the lid (4) in the closed position and comprising a locking tab (27) projecting from the containing element (3) and a seat (28) designed to contain a portion of the locking tab (27) and obtained in the lid (4).

4. A package (1) for smoking articles according to claim 3, wherein the locking tab (27) is provided in the region of the upper wall (17) of the containing element (3), in particular adjacent to the extraction opening (12).

5. A package (1) for smoking articles according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the front wall (13) of the containing element (3) has a height substantially equal to the height of the front wall (23) of the lid (4).

6. A package (1) for smoking articles according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the front wall (13) of the containing element (3) has a height smaller than the height of the front wall (23) of the lid (4).

7. A package (1) for smoking articles according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein:

two different groups (2) of smoking articles are adjacent to each other; and is

The containing element (3) comprises two adjacent extraction openings (12), each of which is arranged in the region of a respective group (2) of smoking articles.

8. A package (1) for smoking articles according to claim 7, comprising a separating element (18) arranged between two of said groups (2) of smoking articles in said containing element (3).

9. A package (1) for smoking articles according to claim 8, wherein the separating element (18) comprises two central walls (19) folded and overlapping each other and two rear walls (20) arranged substantially perpendicular to the central walls (19).

10. A package (1) for smoking articles according to any of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the upper wall (25) of the lid (4) has a recess (30) in the area of the free edge.

11. A package (1) for smoking articles according to claim 10, wherein the recess (30) is formed in the area of the upper wall (25) and reinforcing flaps (25 ").

12. A package (1) for smoking articles according to any of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the inner surface of the front wall (23) of the lid (4) is provided with text or drawings.

13. A blank (31) for a package (1) of smoking articles according to any one of claims 1 to 12; the blank (31) comprises:

a first panel (17') constituting an upper wall (17) of the containing element (3);

a second panel (14') constituting a rear wall (14) of the containing element (3);

a third panel (16') constituting a lower wall (16) of the containing element (3);

a fourth panel (13') constituting a front wall (13) of the containing element (3);

a fifth panel (23') constituting a front wall (23) of the lid (4);

a sixth panel (25') constituting an upper wall (25) of the lid (4); and

a seventh panel (25') constituting a reinforcing flap (25 ") of the lid (4).

14. A blank (31) according to claim 13, wherein in the region of the free end of the first panel (17 ') there is attached at least one eighth panel (27') constituting a locking tab (27) of a locking system (26).