Patent Grant
10131491
This application is the National Phase of International Application PCT/IB2013/055063 filed Jun. 20, 2013 which designated the U.S. and that International Application was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.
This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. BO2012A000341 filed Jun. 20, 2012, which application is incorporated by reference herein.
This invention relates to a packet for tobacco products.
More specifically, this invention is particularly advantageously in the production of cigarette packets of the rigid type obtained from respective flat blanks with lines of weakness made of cardboard, paperboard or plastic material or the like, to which this description will hereinafter refer but without thereby limiting the scope of the invention.
The traditional type of rigid packet, which is substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped with a rectangular cross section and sharp longitudinal corners, has some drawbacks deriving from its not very anatomic shape, which is not very pleasant to grip, and due to the fact that the above-mentioned longitudinal corners can cause wear to the pockets of the users clothing.
To overcome these types of drawbacks the prior art proposes numerous types of packets having rounded corners or even a substantially elliptical or oval cross section.
For example, the document WO-A-0144077 in the name of the same Applicant as this invention, shows a rigid packet for cigarettes, of the hinged-lid type, having all the longitudinal corners (that is, parallel to a main direction of the packet) rounded, with concavity facing the inside of the packet, in such a way as to eliminate the presence of sharp corners.
This solution, even though it allows the wear of the users clothing to be limited, does not significantly improve the grippability of the packet.
Moreover, it has been found that the absence of sharp longitudinal corners causes a poor structural rigidity resulting in an easy deformability of the packet, especially at the rounded corners.
A further drawback is that the rounded corners can only be achieved with major modifications to the traditional machines for packaging. More specifically, it was necessary to perform complex steps of pre-deforming areas of the blanks that will constitute the strips defining, upon completing the packet, the rounded corners.
Another prior art solution, free from most of the drawbacks mentioned above, is known from the patent publication ITBO98A000008, again in the name of the same Applicant as this invention, which illustrates a packet for cigarettes, of the hinged-lid type, wherein at the longitudinal corners there are connecting walls having a same variable dimension along the main direction of the packet.
In this way, the perimeter extension of the packet has a maximum value and a minimum value, at a gripping area.
In other words, the connecting walls with variable dimensions allow the cross section of the packet to be reduced in at least one predetermined area thereby facilitating the gripping.
Disadvantageously, this solution has been found to be problematic in the steps of wrapping the packet.
In effect, the traditional cellophaning machines, designed to wrap the packets with a transparent outer wrapping sheet, provided for parallelepiped packets with sharp longitudinal corners, have been found to be unsuitable for that operation on those types of packets.
More specifically, in the area with a minimum cross section it becomes difficult to perform a correct wrapping of the packet and spaces are created with consequent formation of unattractive creases and folds.
The basic technical purpose of this invention is to provide a packet for tobacco products which is free of the above mentioned drawbacks.
More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a rigid packet for tobacco products which can easily be held and at the same time is easy to pack.
The technical purpose indicated and the aim specified are achieved by a packet for tobacco products comprising the technical features set out herein.
Moreover, the technical purpose indicated and the aim specified are achieved by a flat blank for making the packet comprising the technical features set out herein.
The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of it, and in which:
With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a packet for tobacco products according to this invention.
Hereinafter in this description, reference is made to smokers' articles consisting of cigarettes, without thereby restricting the scope of the invention.
It should be noted that the packets described are of the hinged-lid type, however this invention refers to any type of packet for tobacco products, whether it is of the hinged-lid or another type.
The packet 1 is of the rigid type, extending substantially in the shape of a parallelepiped about a main direction “A” and has inside a compartment designed to accommodate a group “S” of cigarettes.
More specifically, the main direction “A” is the direction along which the packet 1 mainly extends.
More specifically, the packet 1 comprises a front wall 2, a rear wall 3 facing the front wall 2, a pair of side walls 4, 5, a bottom wall 7 and a top wall 6.
The front wall 2 is substantially flat and extends parallel to the rear wall 3, whilst the two side walls 4, 5 (which are parallel to each other) are transversal to them.
The bottom wall 7 and the top wall 6 are (at least in a closed configuration of the packet 1) at right angles to the main direction “A” and have a plurality of sides from which the front wall 2, rear wall 3 and side walls 4, 5 extend.
It should be noted that the bottom wall 6 and the top wall 6 have a same perimeter extension length “P” which, for the sake of simplification, has been shown only in
Consequently, the perimeter of the bottom wall 7 is equal (in value) to the top wall 6.
Moreover, the bottom wall 7 also has the same geometry as the top wall 6, but off-set relative to it.
According to this invention, the packet 1 comprises at least one first corner wall 8 and at least one second corner wall 9, each interposed between a side wall 4, 5 and the respective front wall 2 or rear wall 3.
In other words, the packet 1 comprises at least two corner walls inclined relative to both the front wall 2 or rear wall 3 and the respective side wall 4, 5.
The first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 have a transversal dimension variable along the main direction “A” of the packet 1.
More specifically, the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 have a transversal dimension variable linearly along the main direction “A” of the packet 1.
The term “transversal” is used to mean a dimension measured transversely (more specifically, on a plane at a right angle) to the main direction “A” of the packet 1.
More in detail, each corner wall 8, 9 extends between two edges 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, each connected respectively to the front wall 2 or rear wall 3 and to the side wall 4, 5.
Consequently, the measurement of the distance between two edges 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of a single corner wall 8, 9 is variable along the main direction “A”.
Thus, for different transversal cross sections (that is, at right angles to the main direction “A”) of the packet 1 there is a different transversal dimension of each corner wall 8, 9.
So as to keep the perimeter constant (that is, the perimeter extension length “P”) of each transversal cross section (indicated as “E” in
The term “complementary” in this text is used to specify that a variation of the transversal dimension of the first corner wall 8 corresponds to an equal and opposite variation of the transversal dimension of the second corner wall 9.
In other words, an increase in the transversal dimension of the first corner wall 8 corresponds with a decrease in the transversal dimension of the second corner wall 9 (and vice versa), such that the sum of the two transversal dimensions is kept constant.
Advantageously, in this way the sum of the transversal dimensions is kept constant along the entire extension of the packet along the main direction “A”.
Moreover, in this way a greater grippability is obtained without adversely affecting its packing, since although there is a variation in the shape of the packet along the main direction “A” its perimeter extensions remains constant.
This prevents the formation of spaces or folds in the cellophaning of the packet 1.
Preferably, the first corner wall 8 has an increasing transversal dimension towards the top wall 6 and the second corner wall 9 has a decreasing transversal dimension complementing the first corner wall 8.
Thus, the two edges 8a, 8b of the first corner wall 8 have an extension diverging away from each other along the main direction “A” towards the top wall 6.
On the contrary, the two edges 9a, 9b of the second corner wall 9 have an extension diverging away from each other along the main direction “A” towards the bottom wall 7.
Still more preferably, according to the embodiments illustrated, the edges 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of the corner walls 8, 9 have a single curvature, that is, they do not have changes in curvature.
In some embodiments (
Alternatively, as illustrated in
In the embodiment shown in
On the other hand, the second corner wall 9 extends between a first end located at the bottom wall 7 and a second end which defines a joining point between the front wall 2 or rear wall 3 and the respective side wall 4, 5, then continuing as an edge.
Alternatively (
Preferably, the corner walls 8, 9 have a substantially planar shape. More specifically, they lie on respective planes inclined with an angle of between 20 and 80 degrees, preferably between 30 and 60 degrees, more preferably equal to 45 degrees, relative to the adjacent side wall 4, 5.
It should be noted that, alternatively, the corner walls 8, 9 can have a curved surface (
In this embodiment, each corner wall 8, 9 has a cone or truncated cone shaped geometry.
Advantageously, in this latter embodiment (curved shape) the corner walls 8, 9 define, in at least one of their portions with a larger transversal dimension, joints between the front wall 2 or rear wall 3 and the respective side wall 4, 5, making the gripping more pleasant for the user.
It should be noted that the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 can be arranged at any angle between the front wall 2 or rear wall 3 and the respective side wall 4, 5.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
It should be noted that in the above-mentioned embodiments the side wall 4, 5 or the front wall 2 or the rear wall 3 interposed between the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 have a direction of extension “B” inclined by a predetermined angle α relative to the main direction “A” (
Preferably, the side wall 4, 5 or the front wall 2 or the rear wall 3 interposed between the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 has the geometry of a parallelogram the inclined sides of which are defined by respective edges 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9.
In the embodiment shown in
Thus, in this embodiment, both the front faces 2 and the rear faces 3 and the side faces 4, 5 have a trapezoidal geometry.
Advantageously, in this way the packet is particularly easy to grip as the bevelled corner walls 9, 8 are made at the areas gripped by the user.
Preferably, the packet 1 (
Thus, in these embodiments, the packet has four corner walls 8, 9, which replace completely the sharp corners at right angles of normal packets.
In a similar fashion to the above-mentioned embodiments (as well as in the spirit of this invention), each first corner wall 8 has a geometry complementing that of a respective second corner wall 9 in such a way as to keep substantially constant the perimeter extension of each section transversal to the main direction “A”.
In the embodiment of
In other words, each first corner wall 8 and/or second corner wall 9 is symmetrical to the other first corner wall 8 and/or second corner wall 9 with respect to a midplane transversal to the front wall 2 and parallel to the main direction “A”.
Alternatively, for example in the embodiment of
Similarly, the second corner walls 9 are symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane.
Basically, each first corner wall 8 and/or second corner wall 9 is symmetrical to the other first corner wall 8 and/or second corner wall 9 with respect to a plane parallel to main direction “A” and joining two opposite vertices of the bottom wall 7 or the top wall 6.
As already mentioned, but without limiting the scope of the invention, the embodiments illustrated are all relative to a rigid packet for tobacco products of the hinged-lid type.
Consequently, the packet comprises a box body 10 provided with an upper edge 10a forming an opening 10b for access to the compartment “V” for containing the tobacco products “S” and a lid 11 hinged to the box body 10 at the upper edge 10a. More specifically, with reference for example to
In light of this, the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 (or the first corner walls 8 and the second corner walls 9 in the case of pairs) extend partly on the box body 10 and partly on the lid 11.
Alternatively, each first corner wall 8 and second corner wall 9 can be made only on the box body 10 (
More specifically, the box body 10 extends along the main direction “A” and comprises a front face defining part of the front wall 2, a rear face defining part of the rear wall 3, a pair of side faces defining part of the side walls 4, 5 and a lower face defining the bottom wall 7 of the packet 1.
Similarly, the lid 11 comprises a front face defining part of the front wall 2, a rear face defining part of the rear wall 3, a pair of side faces defining part of the side walls 4, 5 and an upper face defining the top wall 6 of the packet 1.
When it is in the closed position, the faces of the lid 11 are complementary to those of the box body 10 for defining the walls of the packet 1.
The packet 1 also comprises a collar 12 connected to the upper edge 10a of the box body 10 in such a way that it rises up from the access opening 10b.
The collar 12 is substantially U-shaped in such a way as to define a central notch for taking out the tobacco products (cigarettes).
Thus, the collar 12 has two side walls 12a, 12b and a front wall 12c having an upper edge notched such as to define the “U” shape.
In light of this, the collar 12 comprises at least one corner wall 13, 14 shaped to match a corresponding part 8c, 9c of the corner wall 8, 9 made in lid 11 and superposed on it when the lid 11 is in the closed position.
Not having a side wall, the collar 12 has a number of corner walls 13, 14 equal to the number of corner walls 8, 9 of the packet 1 associated with the front wall 2.
Consequently, in the embodiments illustrated in
In the embodiments illustrated in
The packet 1 described above is preferably made from a flat blank 100, made of paperboard or the like, which also forms an object of this invention. The blank 100 has an axis “C” of longest extension corresponding to the main direction “A” of the packet 1 and is substantially rectangular in shape.
More specifically, the blank 100 comprises a plurality of panels 101 positioned in succession along a direction of longest extension “C” of the blank each connected to the next by a crease line 102 transversal to the direction of longest extension “C”.
The panels 101 define the front wall 2, the rear wall 3, the top wall 6 and the bottom wall 7 of the packet 1.
Moreover, the blank 100 comprises a pair of tongues 103a, 103b positioned on opposite sides of one or more panels 101 wherein each tongue 103a, 103b defines an inner or outer face of a side wall 4, 5 of the packet 1.
According to the invention, the blank 100 also comprises at least one first tab 104 and second tab 105 each interposed between a tongue 103a, 103b and the respective panel 101.
Each of the tabs 104, 105 has a transversal dimension variable along the direction of longest extension of the blank 100.
Similarly to what was mentioned above, the term “transversal” is used to mean a dimension transversal (more specifically, at right angles) to the direction of longest extension “C” of the blank 100.
More in detail, each tab 104, 105 extends between a first crease line 104a, 105a and a second crease line 104b.
More specifically, each tab 104, 105 is connected to the respective panel 101 by the first crease line 104a, 105a and to the respective tongue 103a, 103b by the second crease line 104b. 105b.
Consequently, the measurement of the distance between the two crease lines 104a, 105a, 104b, 105b of a single tab 104, 105 is variable along the direction of longest extension “C”.
It should be noted that the crease lines 104a, 105a, 104b, 105b define the edges 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b of the corner walls 8, 9 of the packet 1.
Thus, so as to at least partly define the first corner wall 8 and the second corner wall 9 of the packet 1, the first tab 104 has a geometry complementing that of the second tab 105.
Thus, the second crease line 104b of the first tab 104 defines a profile complementing the second crease line 105b of the second tab 105.
In the embodiments wherein the corner walls 8, 9 extend longitudinally substantially along the entire packet 1, the blank 100 comprises a pair of first tabs 104 and a pair of second tabs 105, each associated with a panel 101.
Each first tab 104 is complementary both to the other first tab 104, aligned with it to define a single first corner wall 8 of the packet 1, and to the second tab 105 to which it is associated to keep constant the transversal dimension of the blank.
Similarly, each second tab 105 is complementary both to the other second tab 105, aligned with it to define a single second corner wall 9 of the packet 1, and to the first tab 104 to which it is associated to keep constant the transversal dimension of the blank.
In the embodiments wherein the packet 1 has four corner walls 8, 9 extending longitudinally substantially along the entire extension of the packet 1, the blank 100 comprises eight tabs 104, 105.
More specifically, the blank 100 comprises four first tabs 104 in associated and complementary pairs and four second tabs 105 in associated and complementary pairs.
Each pair of first tabs 104 is also associated and complementary with a corresponding pair of second tabs 105.
Preferably, each first tab 104 and/or second tab 105 has a triangular or trapezoidal geometry.
In some embodiments, each first tab 104 and/or second tab 105 has a curved surface.
The invention achieves the set aims and brings important advantages.
In effect, due to the presence of the corner walls with the complementary extension, the packet can be easily gripped and at the same time is simple to pack.
In effect, due to the equal and opposite extension of the pairs of corner walls (first with second), the perimeter extension of the packet keeps constant for the entire longitudinal extension of the packet.
Moreover, the use of corner walls inclined in this way eliminates at least partly the presence of sharp corners which make the traditional packets wear the clothes of the user.
Lastly, it should be noted that the particular shape of the packet makes it particularly pleasant and innovative from the point of view of appearance.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| BO2012A0341 | Jun 2012 | IT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2013/055063 | 6/20/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013/190494 | 12/27/2013 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2114052 | Kincade, Jr. | Apr 1938 | A |
| 3369727 | Wright | Feb 1968 | A |
| 4063679 | Henry | Dec 1977 | A |
| 5277304 | Brizzi et al. | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5277315 | Plein | Jan 1994 | A |
| D392802 | Malmborg | Mar 1998 | S |
| 5901904 | Avot | May 1999 | A |
| 6079556 | Draghetti et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
| 6079616 | Chinks | Jun 2000 | A |
| D503616 | Ghini et al. | Apr 2005 | S |
| 7017797 | Goglio | Mar 2006 | B2 |
| D531498 | Fluegel et al. | Nov 2006 | S |
| D538156 | Ayats et al. | Mar 2007 | S |
| D545188 | Billig et al. | Jun 2007 | S |
| D549096 | Ayats et al. | Aug 2007 | S |
| 7467711 | Tambo | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| D700994 | Alarcon et al. | Mar 2014 | S |
| D718493 | Stern | Nov 2014 | S |
| D723736 | Liu | Mar 2015 | S |
| D732952 | Ghini et al. | Jun 2015 | S |
| D737135 | Mizutani et al. | Aug 2015 | S |
| D748466 | Martin et al. | Feb 2016 | S |
| D751756 | Hearn | Mar 2016 | S |
| D751757 | Stern | Mar 2016 | S |
| D752282 | Doster | Mar 2016 | S |
| D752283 | Doster | Mar 2016 | S |
| D752286 | Hearn | Mar 2016 | S |
| D752808 | Hearn | Mar 2016 | S |
| D753960 | Hart | Apr 2016 | S |
| D764904 | Moseri | Aug 2016 | S |
| D775944 | Marchitto | Jan 2017 | S |
| 20040050725 | Colo et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20050263573 | Goglio | Dec 2005 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1822995 | Aug 2006 | CN |
| 201002747 | Jan 2008 | CN |
| 201002738 | Sep 2008 | CN |
| 3924165 | Jan 1991 | DE |
| 10125682 | Nov 2001 | DE |
| 102008061661 | Jun 2010 | DE |
| 102008061661 | Jun 2010 | DE |
| DM070763 | Sep 2008 | EM |
| 2363355 | Sep 2011 | EP |
| 162948 | May 1921 | GB |
| BO98A000008 | Jan 1998 | IT |
| 2004511243 | Apr 2004 | JP |
| 2012511475 | May 2012 | JP |
| 0144077 | Jun 2001 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report dated Jan. 31, 2014 from counterpart application No. PCT/IB2013/055063. |
| Notice of Opposition filed by Focke & Co dated Jan. 23, 2017 in counterpart European Patent App No. 13759575.7. |
| Chinese Office Action dated Sep. 1, 2015 for counterpart Chinese Patent Application No. 201380032729.0. |
| Japanese Office Action dated Feb. 3, 2017 for counterpart Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-517909. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150090618 A1 | Apr 2015 | US |
