Patent Application
20180009598
The present invention relates to dispenser boxes for fragile items, including, more specifically, dispenser boxes for cigarette tubes.
Cigarette tubes consisting of tubes made of cigarette paper and generally with a filter, resembling an empty cigarette, are well known. Consumers fill these tubes with tobacco selected according to their own taste.
To this end, cartons 10 which are known from the state of the art dispense tubes, as illustrated in
Dispenser cartons 10 consist of a bottom, four lateral panels 30, and a cover 40 that is folded onto one of the lateral panels 30.
Generally, cover 40 is equipped, on the edge opposite its fold, with a tab or closing flap 42 that fits into a cutout or slot 39 made in front panel 30. Since this type of closing flap 42 and complementary slot 39 may be the subject of numerous manners of construction, they have been only schematically illustrated in the figures.
To open cartons 10 of known type as illustrated in
However, the use of known cartons 10 is not free of problems. In particular, it is frequently observed that the pressure which must be exerted to open the box could cause damage to the tubes 100, which are very fragile in their empty tobacco-free state, making them unusable later when they are to be filled with tobacco. This pressure could also push some of the tubes 100 out of the box 10, making it difficult to replace them properly and re-close the box. This problem occurs most often the first time the box is opened, but may also occur during subsequent openings of the box.
The purpose of the present invention is to improve dispenser boxes used for fragile items, including particularly empty tubes for cigarettes.
Another purpose of embodiments of the invention is to allow the dispenser boxes to be easily opened as well as easily closed. Yet another purpose is to provide methods that limit the risk of damage to items stored in the dispenser boxes.
The aforementioned objectives are achieved within the scope of embodiments of the present invention by a dispenser box for fragile items, including particularly empty cigarette tubes, which features a cutout that is shaped to outline a flap that is folded on one panel of the carton, in an angle or corner of the carton, to make it possible, after the cutout has been broken out, to open the carton at the flap to access the items while enabling the carton to be re-closed by replacing the flap into its initial closed position.
Three of these panels are visible in the attached figures: a front panel 231 and two opposing lateral panels 232 and 233 and a rear panel opposite front panel 231 that is not visible in the figures.
The panels 230 are connected to each other by edges that are perpendicular to bottom 220, referenced as 234, 235, 236 and 237 in the figures.
The four body panels 230 extend perpendicularly to bottom 220. Bottom 220 is connected to the body panels 230 by respective edges that are parallel and orthogonal between each other, and whose front edge 222 and lateral edges 224 and 226, are illustrated in the attached figures and connect, respectively, bottom panel 220 to front panel 231 and lateral panels 232 and 233.
Cover 240 is folded onto the rear panel about an edge 241 that is parallel to the aforementioned edge 222. Cover 240 consists of a tab or a closing flap 242 that is shaped to fit into a cutout or slot 239 provided in front panel 231 to keep cover 240 in the closed position by fitting it between flap 242 and slot 239 as illustrated in
Here again, closing flap 242 and complementary slot or cutout 239 are illustrated schematically in the figures. Closing flap 242 and slot or cutout 239 may be subject to numerous variations.
The presence of a cover 240 that is shaped to be alternately opened and closed makes it possible to fill carton 200 with empty cigarette tubes 100 when the cover is open.
As can be seen in
As previously indicated, according to the invention, cutout 250 is placed at the level of one corner of carton 200, preferably on a corner opposite cover 240 and, still more specifically, preferably at front panel 231 and bottom 220.
According to the invention, cutout 250 is shaped to outline an L-shaped flap 270 consisting of two tab portions 272, 274 as best seen in
The fold edge 275 in flap 270 on bottom 220 is, preferably, formed from a crease or score in bottom 220, for example by localized creasing or scoring of the material constituting the bottom 220 at this fold line 275, in order to cause a reduction in thickness or stiffness of the panel comprising bottom 220 along this line 275.
Cutout 250 is outlined, preferably, by aligned discontinuous cutout lines. One part of cutout 250 coincides, as can be seen upon examination of the figures, with the edges of carton 200, preferably edge 224 connecting bottom 220 to lateral panel 234 and edge 222 connecting bottom 220 to front panel 231.
More particularly, cutout 250 is, in this way, outlined by two straight lines 252, 254 that are generally parallel to each other. One of these lines 252 consists of two segments that extend generally in parallel to edges 224 and 234, which connect, respectively, bottom 220 to lateral panel 232 and front panel 231 to lateral panel 232, away from these edges 224 and 234. The other line 254 consists of two segments that coincide with a part of the aforementioned edges 224, 234 which connect, respectively, bottom 220 to front panel 231 and lateral panel 232 to front panel 231.
Cutout 250 includes a curved segment 256, preferably in the form of a semi-circle connecting the ends of lines 252, 254 opposite fold 275. Segment 256 extends like the ends of lines 252, 254 opposite the fold line 275 in the front panel 231. This segment 256 outlines a convex flap 270 and, consequently, an additional concave opening made in the carton.
The width L1 of flap 270 separating the two straight segments 252, 254 of cutout 250, which are generally parallel to each other, is greater than the cross-section or diameter of tubes 100, and preferably greater than twice this cross-section. Typically, the width L1 of flap 270 is on the order of 2.5 times the diameter of cigarette tubes 100. For example, according to the invention, the width L1 of flap 270 is preferably between 10 and 30 mm inclusive, preferably between 15 and 25 mm inclusive, and very advantageously on the order of 20 mm.
Likewise, the length L2 of the end tab 274 of flap 270 formed in the front panel 231 is greater than the diameter or cross-section of items 100, preferably greater than twice this cross-section and, very advantageously, on the order of 2.5 times this cross-section. In other terms, length L2 is preferably on the order of 2.5 times the diameter of the cigarette tubes.
Within the scope of the embodiments of the invention, length L2 is thus preferably between 10 and 30 mm inclusive, advantageously 15 and 25 mm and very preferentially on the order of 20 mm. Length L2 is considered to be the distance between the top of the curved segment 256 and the fold line 273 that coincides with edge 222.
The distance L3 between the fold line 275 of flap 270 and the carton front edge 222 corresponds to the length of tab 272 of the flap adjacent to fold line 275, and is preferably equal to about half of the length of the filter ends 110 of the cigarette tubes, for example, between 5 and 20 mm inclusive, and very advantageously on the order of 10 mm. The curve radius of the curved segment 256 is preferably equal to half of width L1.
Within the scope of the invention, it is moreover preferable to provide a means for re-closing flap 270 by replacing this latter in the closed position on carton 200. The aforementioned means are, preferably, formed at cutout edge 250, which is not strictly straight, after flap 270 is opened. This type of not-strictly-straight edge may be obtained by a discontinuous or perforated cutout 250. The areas of the cutout line that do not correspond in thickness, to a complete cutout of the material comprising the carton 100 in its thickness, thus constitutes a material that is torn away when flap 270 is opened and creates slight localized projections that constitute a means of attaching flap 270 onto the body of carton 100 when flap 270 is put back into position.
As can be seen in the attached figures, in particular
Carton 200 may be constructed of any appropriate material that is amenable to making a cutout 250 in it as well as to the formation of a flap 270. According to the invention, carton 200 is preferably made of cardboard. Carton 200 may, as a variation, be made of composite material.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the manner of embodiment that was just described, but can be extended to all variations within the present teaching.
As can be seen in
The system in compliance with an embodiment of the present invention, which consists of a pre-cutout opening in one angle of the front side of the carton, makes it possible to open the carton without exerting pressure on tubes 100. The positioning of cutout 250 on the filter end 110 of the cigarette tubes makes it possible to avoid damaging the tubes 100 while they are being dispensed. The use of a re-closeable flap 270 makes it possible to prevent the remaining tubes 100 from coming out by themselves after the flap is formed.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1656436 | Jul 2016 | FR | national |
