1. Technical Field.
The invention relates to a multipack for cigarettes—generally termed a cigarette multipack herein—for a group of cigarette packs arranged in rows, said group being enclosed by a multipack blank made of thin cardboard.
2. Prior Art.
Multipacks for cigarettes, that is to say so-called cigarette multipacks, constitute packaging units that are commonly provided throughout the world for both consumers and retailers. A multipack usually comprises ten cigarette packs, which are mostly formed in two rows of five packs each. The two rows of packs have their large surfaces (front side and rear side) butting against one another.
The object of the invention is to propose a multipack for cigarettes which ensures easier handling—for the removal of the cigarette packs—has a relatively small material consumption and, furthermore, ensures that the pack contents are presented to better effect.
In order to achieve this object, the multipack according to the invention is characterized by the following features:
Accordingly, in the case of the multipack according to the invention, the multipack blank is designed such that a preferably large-surface-area front wall is completely, or more or less completely, absent, with the result that the cigarette packs are exposed in this region. These packs are positioned such that, in the region of the open pack side, the front surfaces of the cigarette packs, that is to say the specifically configured visible surfaces, are exposed and are thus directly visible. The consumer can thus see the contents of the multipack directly. Nevertheless, the outer film wrapper ensures that the multipack remains a closed unit.
For production reasons, but also for presentation reasons, the multipack blank, according to a further feature of the invention, may be configured such that a border strip is provided preferably on one side in the region of the open front side of the multipack. The configuration of this border strip may correspond to the shape and/or the configuration of the front side of the cigarette packs.
Further details and features of the cigarette multipack according to the invention are explained more specifically hereinbelow with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.
The drawings relate to multipacks for cigarettes, that is to say to so-called cigarette multipacks. A group of cigarette packs 10 is enclosed by a multipack blank 11. The multipack blank consists of a strong but foldable material, in particular of thin cardboard.
For the exemplary embodiment of
The cigarette packs 10 are positioned within the multipack, or the multipack blank 11, in a formed group, to be precise in two rows, of which the top row in
In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, the front side 18 of the cigarette packs 10 is configured specifically, namely with curved closing edges 19 and 20 belonging to a lid and a box part. The closing edges 19, 20 are spaced apart and run parallel to one another. A subregion of a collar arranged within the cigarette pack 10 is visible between the closing edges 19, 20. Furthermore, the cigarette packs are designed with rounded, lateral pack edges, that is to say with round edges 21. On account of the design of the multipack or of the multipack blank 11, this configuration of the cigarette packs 10 can be seen freely from the outside.
The unit comprising the cigarette packs 10 and the multipack blank 11 is enclosed by an outer wrapper 22. The latter consists of a transparent or see-through film, such as cellophane or plastic. The outer wrapper 22 preferably fully encloses the multipack, that is to say it encloses it in the region of all sides. Overlapping folding tabs of the outer wrapper 22 are connected to one another in a known manner by adhesive bonding or by heat sealing.
For the purpose of opening the multipack, the outer wrapper 22 is provided with an opening aid, to be precise with a tear-open strip 23 running all the way around. In the present case, this is arranged in the longitudinal center of the elongate, cuboidal multipack, with the result that opening the tear-open strip 23 running all the way around—with the aid of an exposed grip end 31—produces two approximately equally sized subregions of the outer wrapper 22, which can easily be removed from the pack. The tear-open strip 23 may also be positioned eccentrically, for example such that a “cap” of the outer wrapper 22 can be removed once the tear-open strip 23 has been removed.
For the purpose of forming the end walls 16, 17, the multipack blank 11 is provided with inner tabs 24, 25, which are provided in extension of the side walls 14, 15. A rectangular cover tab 26 is located in the region of the base wall 13. This cover tab forms the outside of the end wall 16, 17 and extends approximately over the entire surface area of the same.
Folding lines 27 for separating off the base wall 13 from the side walls 14, 15 are provided with punched cuts 28, which facilitate the folding operation when the group of cigarette packs 10 are wrapped.
The exemplary embodiment according to
In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to
By virtue of the multipack blank 11 interacting with the outer wrapper 22, the multipack described ensures a large stable and closed pack for cigarette packs. The folding tabs of the end walls 16, 17 are connected to one another, in particular by adhesive bonding, with the result that the dimensional stability of the multipack, which is open on one side, is ensured.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP01/04910 | 5/2/2001 | WO | 00 | 5/16/2002 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO01/89961 | 11/29/2001 | WO | A |
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4784261 | Kutchin | Nov 1988 | A |
5207326 | Benach | May 1993 | A |
6234943 | Copin | May 2001 | B1 |
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2253134 | Dec 1999 | CA |
2804370 | Aug 1979 | DE |
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0835748 | Apr 1998 | EP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20030019768 A1 | Jan 2003 | US |