U.S. patent application number 10/489722 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-10 for rigid container for tobacco articles with rounded or beveled transverse and longitudinal edges.
Invention is credited to Bertuzzi, Francesco, Draghetti, Fiorenzo.
Application Number | 20050029131 10/489722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11439599 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050029131 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Draghetti, Fiorenzo ; et
al. |
February 10, 2005 |
Rigid container for tobacco articles with rounded or beveled
transverse and longitudinal edges
Abstract
A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for
tobacco articles, having two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7, 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7, 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10, 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); four
longitudinal edges (13), each defined between a major lateral wall
(10; 11) and a minor lateral wall (9); and eight transverse edges
(14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and a lateral wall
(9; 10; 11); the two transverse edges (14) of the front wall (10)
and the two longitudinal edges (13) of the rear wall (11) are
nonsquare edges, while the other transverse and longitudinal edges
(14, 13) are sharp square edges.
Inventors: |
Draghetti, Fiorenzo;
(Medicina, IT) ; Bertuzzi, Francesco; (Budrio,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
6300 SEARS TOWER
233 S. WACKER DRIVE
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
11439599 |
Appl. No.: |
10/489722 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
September 12, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT02/00582 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/1056 20200501;
B65D 85/10484 20200501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/259 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 14, 2001 |
IT |
BO2001A000554 |
Claims
1. A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for
tobacco articles, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7, 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7, 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10, 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); four
longitudinal edges (13), each defined between a major lateral wall
(10; 11) and a minor lateral wall (9); and eight transverse edges
(14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and a lateral wall
(9; 10; 11); the container (1) being characterized in that at least
one longitudinal edge (13) and at least one transverse edge (14)
are nonsquare edges, while the other longitudinal and transverse
edges (13; 14) are sharp square edges.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of the other major lateral wall (11; 10) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of the rear major lateral wall (11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of the front major lateral wall (10) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one said nonsquare
longitudinal or transverse edge (13; 14) is a rounded edge.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one said nonsquare
longitudinal or transverse edge (13; 14) is a beveled edge.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is
connected to at least one adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11) along a
respective sharp longitudinal edge (13), and forms, with said
adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle, so that the respective longitudinal edge
(13) is non-square.
8. The container of claim 7 wherein said lateral wall (9; 10; 11)
having at least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a
respective flat central portion (24), and at least one lateral band
(25) precreased by longitudinal crease lines (26); which lateral
band (25) is curved with its concavity facing inwards to connect
the central portion (24) to the corresponding lateral wall (9; 10;
11) and to form, with the lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective
said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
9. The container of claim 8 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has an outwardly convex profile and comprises a respective
flat central portion (24), and two lateral bands (25) precreased by
longitudinal crease lines (26); each lateral band (25) being curved
with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion
(24) to the corresponding lateral wall (9; 10; 11) and to form,
with the lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective said substantially
obtuse dihedral angle.
10. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is
connected to at least one adjacent end wall (7; 8) along a
respective sharp transverse edge (14), and forms, with the adjacent
end wall (7; 8), a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle,
so that the respective transverse edge (14) is nonsquare.
11. The container of claim 10 wherein said lateral wall (9; 10; 11)
having at least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a
respective flat central portion, and at least one lateral band
precreased by transverse crease lines; which lateral band is curved
with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to
the corresponding end wall (7; 8) and to form, with the end wall
(7; 8), a respective said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
12. The container of claim 11 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has an outwardly convex profile and comprises a respective
flat central portion, and two lateral bands precreased by
transverse crease lines; each lateral band being curved with its
concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the
corresponding end wall (7; 8) and to form, with the end wall (7;
8), a respective said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein at least one end wall (7; 8)
has at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to at
least one adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11) along a respective
sharp transverse edge (14), and forms, with the adjacent lateral
wall (9; 10; 11), a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle,
so that the respective transverse edge (14) is nonsquare.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein said end wall (7; 8) having
at least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a respective
flat central portion, and at least one lateral band precreased by
transverse crease lines; which lateral band is curved with its
concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the
corresponding lateral wall (9; 10; 11) and to form, with the
lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective said substantially obtuse
dihedral angle.
15. The container of claim 1 comprising a cup-shaped bottom
container (2) having an open top end (3); and a cup-shaped top lid
(4) hinged to the bottom container (2) along a hinge (5) to rotate,
with respect to the bottom container (2), between an open position
and a closed position respectively opening and closing the open top
end (3).
16. The container of claim 15 wherein said eight transverse edges
(14) are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four
minor transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along
said rear major lateral wall (11) and being parallel to the major
transverse edges (14a).
17. The container of claim 15 wherein said eight transverse edges
(14) are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four
minor transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along a
said minor lateral wall (9) and being parallel to the minor
transverse edges (14b).
18. The container of claim 15 wherein said eight transverse edges
(14) are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four
minor transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along
said top end wall (7) and being parallel to the minor transverse
edges (14b).
19. The container of claim 15 wherein said bottom container (2) and
said lid (4) have respective edges (22, 21) facing each other, and
which are spaced apart when said lid (4) is in said closed
position.
20. The container of claim 15 wherein said bottom container (2) and
said lid (4) have respective edges (22, 21) facing each other, and
which are curved.
21. A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for
tobacco articles, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7; 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7; 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10; 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); four
longitudinal edges (13), each defined between a major lateral wall
(10; 11) and a minor lateral wall (9); and eight transverse edges
(14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and a lateral wall
(9; 10; 11); the container (1) being characterized in that at least
one transverse edge (14) and at least one longitudinal edge (13)
are rounded or beveled edges, while the other transverse and
longitudinal edges (14; 13) are sharp square edges.
22. A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for
tobacco articles, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7; 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7; 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10; 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); four
longitudinal edges (13), each defined between a major lateral wall
(10; 11) and a minor lateral wall (9); and eight transverse edges
(14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and a lateral wall
(9; 10; 11); the container (1) being characterized in that the two
longitudinal edges (13) of the rear major lateral wall (11) and the
two transverse edges (14) of the front major lateral wall (10) are
rounded or beveled edges, while the other transverse and
longitudinal edges (14, 13) are sharp square edges.
23. A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for
tobacco articles, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7; 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7; 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10; 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); four
longitudinal edges (13), each defined between a major lateral wall
(10; 11) and a minor lateral wall (9); and eight transverse edges
(14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and a lateral wall
(9; 10; 11); at least one lateral wall (9; 10; 11) having an
outwardly convex profile, being connected to each of the two
adjacent lateral walls (9; 10; 11) along a respective sharp
longitudinal edge (13), and forming, with the two adjacent lateral
walls (9; 10; 11), respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles;
the container (1) being characterized in that at least one
transverse edge (14) is a rounded or beveled edge, while the other
transverse edges (14) are sharp square edges.
24. A rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped carton of packets
of cigarettes, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end
walls (7; 8); a lateral surface (6) bounded by the end walls (7; 8)
and defined by two, respectively front and rear, major lateral
walls (10; 11), and by two minor lateral walls (9); and eight
transverse edges (14), each defined between an end wall (7; 8) and
a lateral wall (9; 10; 11); the carton being characterized in that
at least one longitudinal edge (13) and at least one transverse
edge (14) are nonsquare edges, while the other longitudinal and
transverse edges (13; 14) are sharp square edges.
25. The carton of claim 24 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
26. The carton of claim 24 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of a same major lateral wall (10; 11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of the other major lateral wall (11; 10) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
27. The carton of claim 24 wherein the two longitudinal edges (13)
of the rear major lateral wall (11) and the two transverse edges
(14) of the front major lateral wall (10) are nonsquare edges,
while the other transverse and longitudinal edges (14; 13) are
sharp square edges.
28. The carton of claim 24 wherein at least one said nonsquare
longitudinal or transverse edge (13; 14) is a rounded edge.
29. The carbon of claim 24 wherein at least one said nonsquare
longitudinal or transverse edge (13; 14) is a beveled edge.
30. The carton of claim 24 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is
connected to at least one adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11) along a
respective sharp longitudinal edge (13), and forms, with said
adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle, so that the respective longitudinal edge
(13) is nonsquare.
31. The carbon of claim 30 wherein said lateral wall (9; 10; 11)
having at least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a
respective flat central portion (24), and at least one lateral band
(25) precreased by longitudinal crease lines (26); which lateral
band (25) is curved with its concavity facing inwards to connect
the central portion (24) to the corresponding lateral wall (9; 10;
11) and to form, with the lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective
said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
32. The carton of claim 31 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has an outwardly convex profile and comprises a respective
flat central portion (24), and two lateral bands (25) precreased by
longitudinal crease lines (26); each lateral band (25) being curved
with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion
(24) to the corresponding lateral wall (9; 10; 11) and to form,
with the lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective said substantially
obtuse dihedral angle.
33. The carton of claim 24 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is
connected to at least one adjacent end wall (7; 8) along a
respective sharp transverse edge (14), and forms, with the adjacent
end wall (7; 8), a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle,
so that the respective transverse edge (14) is nonsquare.
34. The carton of claim 33 wherein said lateral wall (9; 10; 11)
having at least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a
respective flat central portion, and at least one lateral band
precreased by transverse crease lines; which lateral band is curved
with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to
the corresponding end wall (7; 8) and to form, with the end wall
(7; 8), a respective said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
35. The carton of claim 34 wherein at least one lateral wall (9;
10; 11) has an outwardly convex profile and comprises a respective
flat central portion, and two lateral bands precreased by
transverse crease lines; each lateral band being curved with its
concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the
corresponding end wall (7; 8) and to form, with the end wall (7;
8), a respective said substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
36. The carton of claim 24 wherein at least one end wall (7; 8) has
at least one outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to at
least one adjacent lateral wall (9; 10; 11) along a respective
sharp transverse edge (14), and forms, with the adjacent lateral
wall (9; 10; 11), a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle,
so that the respective transverse edge (14) is nonsquare.
37. The carton of claim 36 wherein said end wall (7; 8) having at
least one outwardly convex half-profile comprises a respective flat
central portion, and at least one lateral band precreased by
transverse crease lines; which lateral band is curved with its
concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the
corresponding lateral wall (9; 10; 11) and to form, with the
lateral wall (9; 10; 11), a respective said substantially obtuse
dihedral angle.
38. The carton of claim 24 comprising a cup-shaped bottom container
(2) having an open top end (3); and a cup-shaped top lid (4) hinged
to the bottom container (2) along a hinge (5) to rotate, with
respect to the bottom container (2), between an open position and a
closed position respectively opening and closing the open top end
(3).
39. The carton of claim 38 wherein said eight transverse edges (14)
are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four minor
transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along said
rear major lateral wall (11) and being parallel to the major
transverse edges (14a).
40. The carton of claim 38 wherein said eight transverse edges (14)
are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four minor
transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along a said
minor lateral wall (9) and being parallel to the minor transverse
edges (14b).
41. The carton of claim 38 wherein said eight transverse edges (14)
are divided into four major transverse edges (14a) and four minor
transverse edges (14b); said hinge (5) being located along said top
end wall (7) and being parallel to the minor transverse edges
(14b).
42. The carton of claim 38 wherein said bottom container (2) and
said lid (4) have respective edges (22, 21) facing each other, and
which are spaced apart when said lid (4) is in said closed
position.
43. The carton of claim 38 wherein said bottom container (2) and
said lid (4) have respective edges (22, 21) facing each other, and
which are curved.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid container
for tobacco articles.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the following description, reference is made, purely by
way of a non-limiting example and for the sake of brevity, to rigid
containers defined by packets of cigarettes.
[0003] Rigid hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are normally in the
form of a rectangular-section parallelepiped, and comprise two
major lateral walls defined by a front wall and a rear wall; and
two minor lateral walls, each connected to both the major lateral
walls at respective sharp square longitudinal edges.
[0004] Rigid packets of the above type, i.e. in the form of a
rectangular-section parallelepiped, have several drawbacks by being
unanatomical in shape, and by causing rapid wear of any clothing
fabrics with which they come into contact.
[0005] Rigid, rectangular-section parallelepiped packets also have
the drawback of being fairly rigid at the minor lateral walls and
in the square longitudinal edge regions, but less so at the major
lateral walls, which tend to deform inwards when a transparent
cellophane overwrapping is applied and shrunk (by the application
of heat) about the packet.
[0006] Inward deformation of the major lateral walls, caused by the
inward pressure exerted by the transparent overwrapping on the
packet, compresses and maintains a compressed configuration of the
cigarettes inside the packet, so that the first cigarette is
particularly difficult to extract. Moreover, deformation of the
major lateral walls, and particularly the rear lateral wall,
deforms the hinge joining the lid to the bottom shell, so that the
lid is hard to open unless the whole transparent overwrapping is
removed (normally torn off) from the packet.
[0007] The above drawbacks are at least partly eliminated by
packets of the type described in patents EP-B1-0204933 and
EP-B1-0205766, in which the packets have four beveled or rounded
longitudinal edges, and eight sharp square transverse edges.
Packets with beveled or rounded edges of the above type, however,
have the further drawback of the lid failing to close the
cup-shaped bottom container properly, on account of the difficulty
in forming two coincident rounded or beveled edges, and, not being
particularly anatomical in shape, are relatively awkward to
handle.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid
hinged-lid packet of cigarettes, designed to eliminate the
aforementioned drawbacks.
[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a
rigid, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container for tobacco
articles, comprising two, respectively top and bottom, end walls; a
lateral surface bounded by the end walls and defined by two,
respectively front and rear, major lateral walls, and by two minor
lateral walls; four longitudinal edges, each defined between a
major lateral wall and a minor lateral wall; and eight transverse
edges, each defined between an end wall and a lateral wall; the
container being characterized in that at least one longitudinal
edge and at least one transverse edge are nonsquare edges, while
the other longitudinal and transverse edges are sharp square
edges.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present
invention will be described by way of example with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of
cigarettes in accordance with the present invention and in the
closed configuration;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a front view in perspective of the FIG. 1
packet in the open configuration;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a rear view in perspective of the FIG. 1 packet
in the closed configuration;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a right-side view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a left-side view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0019] FIG. 9 shows a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 packet;
[0020] FIG. 10 shows a plan view of a blank used to produce the
FIG. 1 packet;
[0021] FIG. 11 shows a front view in perspective of a further
embodiment of a packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 12 shows a front view in perspective of a further
embodiment of a packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 13 shows a rear view in perspective of an alternative
embodiment of a packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present
invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0024] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a container for
tobacco articles, defined by a rigid packet of cigarettes normally
containing an orderly parallelepiped-shaped group of cigarettes
(not shown for the sake of simplicity) wrapped in a sheet of foil
wrapping material.
[0025] Packet 1 comprises a cup-shaped bottom container 2 having an
open top end 3; and a cup-shaped top lid 4 hinged to container 2
along a hinge 5 to rotate, with respect to container 2, between an
open position (FIG. 2) and a closed position (FIGS. 1 and 3)
respectively opening and closing end 3.
[0026] In the closed position, lid 4 imparts to packet 1 a
substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape defined by a lateral
surface 6, and by two facing, respectively top and bottom, end
walls 7 and 8, which are flat, identical and parallel and define
lateral surface 6.
[0027] Lateral surface 6 comprises two parallel, facing, flat minor
lateral walls 9; and two flat, facing major lateral walls 10 and 11
crosswise to minor lateral walls 9. More specifically, one major
lateral wall 10 defines a front wall of packet 1, and the other
major lateral wall 11 defines a rear wall of packet 1.
[0028] Packet 1 also comprises a collar 12, which is folded into a
U and fitted (glued) inside cup-shaped container 2 so as to project
partly outwards of end 3 and engage a corresponding inner surface
of lid 4 when lid 4 is closed (as shown in FIG. 1).
[0029] Four longitudinal edges 13 are defined between minor lateral
walls 9 and major lateral walls 10, 11; and eight transverse edges
14 are defined between end walls 7, 8 and lateral walls 9, 10, 11,
are divided into major transverse edges 14a and minor transverse
edges 14b, and are crosswise to longitudinal edges 13. The two
major transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 and the two
longitudinal edges 13 of rear wall 11 are rounded edges, i.e. each
defined by a quarter cylindrical surface, to connect respective
walls 7-11 with a constant radius of curvature, while the other
edges 13 and 14 are square sharp edges.
[0030] In a further embodiment not shown, as opposed to being
rounded, the major transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 and the
longitudinal edges 13 of rear wall 11 are beveled edges, i.e.
defined by respective flat surfaces forming respective 45.degree.
angles with and connecting respective walls 7-11.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 10, packet 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed
from a corresponding flat, substantially elongated rectangular
blank 15, the parts of which are indicated, where possible, using
the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the
corresponding parts of packet 1.
[0032] Blank 15 (which has a central longitudinal axis 16)
comprises two longitudinal crease lines 17; and a number of
transverse crease lines 18 defining, between the two longitudinal
crease lines 17, a panel 10' forming a top portion of front wall 10
(and in particular the portion forming part of lid 4), a panel 7'
forming top end wall 7, a panel 11' forming rear wall 11, a panel
8' forming bottom end wall 8, and a panel 10", forming a bottom
portion of front wall 10 (and in particular the portion forming
part of container 2).
[0033] Each panel 10', 10", 11' has two lateral wings 9' and 9"
located on opposite sides of relative panel 10', 10", 11' and
separated from relative panel 10', 10", 11' by longitudinal crease
lines 17. Panel 10' has a reinforcing flap 19; and each wing 9', 9"
of panel 11' has rectangular longitudinal appendixes 20 located at
opposite ends of wing 9', 9" and aligned longitudinally with each
other.
[0034] Between panels 10' and 7' and between panels 8' and 10", a
number of transverse crease lines 18 are provided to round the two
respective major transverse edges 14a of front wall 10; and,
between panel 11' and respective wings 9' and 9", a number of
longitudinal crease lines 17 are provided to round the two
respective longitudinal edges 13 of rear wall 11.
[0035] When forming each packet 1, the lateral wings 9' and the
lateral wings 9" are superimposed and glued together to define the
minor lateral walls 9 of packet 1; and each longitudinal appendix
20 is folded squarely with respect to relative lateral wing 9' or
9", and is superimposed on and glued to an inner surface of a
relative panel 7' or 8' to define an inner portion of a relative
end wall 7 or 8 of packet 1 respectively.
[0036] Various tests have shown that packet 1 of cigarettes as
described above produces relatively little wear of clothing fabrics
coming into contact with packet 1, and at the same time is
anatomically shaped for easy handling.
[0037] Moreover, packet 1 is relatively less rigid at minor lateral
walls 9 and at rounded or beveled longitudinal edges 13, thus
avoiding excessive compression of the cigarettes in packet 1, so
that the first cigarette is easy to extract from packet 1, and lid
4 opens easily.
[0038] Finally, the longitudinal edges 13 of front wall 10 being
square sharp edges, and since it is relatively easy to form two
coincident square edges, lid 4 provides for accurately closing
cup-shaped bottom container 2.
[0039] In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 11, as opposed to
contacting each other when lid 4 is closed, the bottom edge 21 of
lid 4 and the top edge 22 of container 2 are sized to remain a
given distance apart and expose a band 23 of the underlying collar
12. More specifically, the exposed band 23 of collar 12 may extend
along front wall 10 only, or also along part of minor lateral walls
9.
[0040] In a further embodiment shown in FIG. 12, as opposed to
being straight and parallel to transverse edges 14, the bottom edge
21 of lid 4 and the top edge 22 of container 2, particularly at
front wall 10, are more or less curved.
[0041] In the packet 1 shown in the accompanying drawings, the two
major transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 and the two
longitudinal edges 13 of rear wall 11 are rounded or beveled.
Alternatively, however, the two major transverse edges 14a of rear
wall 11 and the two longitudinal edges 13 of front wall 10 of
packet 1 may be rounded or beveled; or the two major transverse
edges 14a of rear wall 11 and the two longitudinal edges 13 of rear
wall 11 of packet 1 may be rounded or beveled; or the two major
transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 and the two longitudinal
edges 13 of front wall 10 of packet 1 may be rounded or beveled.
Even more generally, packet 1 may comprise one or more beveled or
rounded longitudinal edges 13, and one or more beveled or rounded
transverse edges 14.
[0042] In an alternative embodiment of packet 1 not shown, all the
longitudinal edges 13 are sharp edges, while the two major
transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 are rounded (or beveled).
[0043] As shown in FIG. 13, front wall 10, minor lateral walls 9,
and end walls 7 and 8 are flat walls, while rear wall 11 is
outwardly convex, is connected to the two minor lateral walls 9
along respective sharp longitudinal edges 13, and forms, with the
two minor lateral walls 9, respective substantially obtuse dihedral
angles.
[0044] Rear wall 11 comprises a flat, substantially rectangular
central portion 24; and two lateral bands 25 located on opposite
sides of central portion 24 and between portion 24 and
corresponding longitudinal edges 13. Each lateral band 25 is
precreased internally by longitudinal crease lines 26, so as to
curve with its concavity facing inwards to connect central portion
24 to the corresponding minor lateral wall 9, and to form
respective sharp longitudinal edge 13 and the respective obtuse
dihedral angle with minor lateral wall 9.
[0045] Alternatively, rear wall 11 may be flat, and front wall 10
may be outwardly convex, may be connected to the two minor lateral
walls 9 along respective sharp longitudinal edges 13, and may form
respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles with the two minor
lateral walls 9.
[0046] In a further embodiment not shown, front wall 10, rear wall
11, and end walls 7 and 8 are flat, and at least one minor lateral
wall 9 is partly outwardly convex, forms a substantially obtuse
dihedral angle with rear wall 11, and forms a right-angle with
front wall 10.
[0047] In a preferred embodiment, longitudinal crease lines 17
(also referred to as main longitudinal crease lines) are weaker
than longitudinal crease lines 26 (also referred to as secondary
longitudinal crease lines) on account of longitudinal crease lines
17 defining sharp longitudinal edges 13, whereas longitudinal
crease lines 26 serve to slightly curve lateral bands 25 with no
sharp edges. To achieve different degrees of weakness, longitudinal
crease lines 17 and 26 are defined by respective incisions of
different shapes and/or sizes.
[0048] In packet 1, therefore, at least one longitudinal edge 13
and at least one transverse edge 14 are nonsquare edges, while the
other longitudinal and transverse edges 13, 14 are sharp square
edges. Preferably, the two longitudinal edges 13 of rear wall 11
and the two major transverse edges 14a of front wall 10 are
nonsquare edges, while the other transverse and longitudinal edges
14, 13 are sharp square edges.
[0049] A nonsquare longitudinal edge 13 can be formed in three
ways: a rounded longitudinal edge 13 may be formed; a beveled
longitudinal edge 13 may be formed; or a respective lateral wall 9,
10 or 11 bounded by longitudinal edge 13 comprises at least one
outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to the other adjacent
lateral wall 9, 10 or 11 bounded by longitudinal edge 13, and
forms, with the adjacent lateral wall 9, 10 or 11, a respective
substantially obtuse dihedral angle (in this case, longitudinal
edge 13 is a sharp edge).
[0050] A nonsquare transverse edge 14 can be formed in four ways: a
rounded transverse edge 14 may be formed; a beveled transverse edge
14 may be formed; a respective lateral wall 9, 10 or 11 bounded by
transverse edge 14 comprises at least one outwardly convex
half-profile, is connected to the adjacent end wall 7 or 8 bounded
by transverse edge 14, and forms, with the adjacent end wall 7 or
8, a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle (in this case,
transverse edge 14 is a sharp edge); or a respective end wall 7 or
8 bounded by transverse edge 14 comprises at least one outwardly
convex half-profile, is connected to the adjacent lateral wall 9,
10 or 11 bounded by transverse edge 14, and forms, with the
adjacent lateral wall 9, 10 or 11, a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle (in this case, transverse edge 14 is a sharp
edge).
[0051] Given the numerous advantages of packet 1 of cigarettes
described above, the form of packet 1 may also be applied
integrally to the manufacture of a carton of cigarettes, which is
substantially identical to packet 1 described above, except that it
contains a group of packets of cigarettes as opposed to a group of
cigarettes (not shown).
* * * * *