U.S. patent application number 10/592328 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for rigid package of tobacco articles.
This patent application is currently assigned to G.D Societa'Per Azioni. Invention is credited to Marco Ghini, Stefano Negrini, Roberto Polloni.
Application Number | 20070278115 10/592328 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34961384 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070278115 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ghini; Marco ; et
al. |
December 6, 2007 |
Rigid Package Of Tobacco Articles
Abstract
A rigid package of tobacco articles, having two first
containers, each housing a group of tobacco articles and housed
inside a second container so as to slide with respect to the second
container between a closed position, in which the first container
is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open
position, in which part of the first container projects from the
second container.
Inventors: |
Ghini; Marco; (Monte San
Pietro, IT) ; Polloni; Roberto; (Modigliana, IT)
; Negrini; Stefano; (Calderara Di Reno, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
233 S. WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 6300
SEARS TOWER
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
G.D Societa'Per Azioni
Bologna
IT
|
Family ID: |
34961384 |
Appl. No.: |
10/592328 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 10, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP05/51080 |
371 Date: |
June 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/248 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/38 20130101; B65D
85/1036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/248 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 11, 2004 |
IT |
B02004A 000136 |
Claims
1. A rigid package of tobacco articles, the package (1) comprising:
a first container (2) housing a group (3) of tobacco articles; and
a second container (4) housing the first container (2), so that the
first container (2) slides with respect to the second container (4)
between a closed position, in which the first container (2) is
fully inserted inside the second container (4), and an open
position, in which part of the first container (2) projects from
the second container (4); the package (1) is characterized by
comprising at least two first containers (2), each of which houses
a respective group (3) of tobacco articles, and is housed slidably
inside the second container (4); each first container (2) is
substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises two,
respectively bottom and top, end walls (13, 14), and a lateral
surface (15) bounded by the end walls (13, 14) and defined by
lateral walls (16, 17) separated from one another by longitudinal
edges (18); the lateral surface (15) of each first container (2)
comprising two opposite, parallel major lateral walls (16), and two
opposite, parallel minor lateral walls (17) separated from the
major lateral walls (16) by four longitudinal edges (18); the top
end wall (14) of each first container (2) having an open portion
(20) permitting withdrawal of the tobacco articles from the first
container (2) when the first container (2) is in the open position;
stop means (22, 23) are provided to limit slide of the first
containers (2) with respect to the second container (4), and so
prevent detachment of the first containers (2) from the second
container (4); the stop means (22, 23) comprise at least one pair
of first tabs (22), each projecting from a major lateral wall (16)
of a respective first container (2) and outwards of the first
container (2); and at least one pair of second tabs (23), each
projecting from a major lateral wall (8) of the second container
(4) and inwards of the second container (4), and each located close
to the open end (11) of the second container (4); the first and
second tabs (22, 23) being so positioned that a first tab (22)
engages a corresponding second tab (23) as a first container (2)
slides out of the second container (4); each first container (2)
has a pair of first tabs (22) located symmetrically on the major
lateral walls (16) of the first container (2), so that the two
first containers (2) are identical.
2. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second container
(4) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises two,
respectively bottom and top, end walls (5, 6), and a lateral
surface (7) bounded by the end walls (5, 6) and defined by lateral
walls (8, 9) separated from one another by longitudinal edges (10);
the lateral surface (7) of the second container (4) comprising two
opposite, parallel major lateral walls (8), and a minor lateral
wall (9) separated from the major lateral walls (8) by two
longitudinal edges (10); an open end (11) being provided opposite
the minor lateral wall (9) of the second container (4) to permit
passage of the first containers (2).
3. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the minor lateral wall
(9) of the second container (4) has at least one through push hole
(21) sized to permit insertion of a user's finger.
4. A package as claimed in claim 3, wherein the minor lateral wall
(9) of the second container (4) has two through push holes
(21).
5. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein each push hole (21)
extends on both the minor lateral wall (9) of the second container
(4) and on a major lateral wall (8) of the second container
(4).
6. A package as claimed in claim 5, wherein the portion of each
push hole (21) on the minor lateral wall (9) of the second
container (4) is semicircular; the portion of each push hole (21)
on the major lateral wall (8) of the second container (4) being
rectangular and terminating with a semicircular portion.
7. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein each push hole (21)
extends over a limited portion of the minor lateral wall (9) of the
second container (4), so as to only expose a portion of a minor
lateral wall (17) of one respective first container (2).
8. A package as claimed in claims 4, wherein the two push holes
(21) are not aligned with each other.
9. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one push hole
(21) is at least partly covered by a tear-off tab.
10. A package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the push holes (21)
are at least partly covered by respective tear-off tabs.
11. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein each major lateral
wall (8) of the second container (4) has a recess close to the open
end (11).
12. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the four longitudinal
edges (18) of the first container (2) and the two longitudinal
edges (10) of the second container (4) are non-square, rounded or
bevelled edges.
13. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two longitudinal
edges (10) of the second container (4), and the two longitudinal
edges (18) of the first container (2) facing the two longitudinal
edges (10) of the second container (4), are non-square, rounded or
bevelled edges.
14. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the four transverse
edges (19) of the first container (2) defined between the end walls
(13, 14) and the major lateral walls (16), and the four transverse
edges (12) of the second container (4) defined between the end
walls (5, 6) and the major lateral walls (8), are non-square,
rounded or bevelled edges.
15. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein each major lateral
wall (16) of the first containers (2) has an outwardly convex
profile, is connected to each relative minor lateral wall (17)
along a respective sharp longitudinal edge (18), and subtends with
each relative minor lateral wall (17) a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle; each major lateral wall (8) of the second
container (4) has an outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to
the minor lateral wall (9) along a respective sharp longitudinal
edge (10), and subtends with the minor lateral wall (9) a
respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
16. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein each major lateral
wall (16) of the first containers (2) has an outwardly convex
profile, is connected to each end wall (13, 14) along a respective
sharp transverse edge (19), and subtends with each end wall (13,
14) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; each major
lateral wall (8) of the second container (4) has an outwardly
convex profile, is connected to each end wall (5, 6) along a
respective sharp transverse edge (12), and subtends with each end
wall (5, 6) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle.
17. A package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second container
(4) is formed from a second flat blank (27) having two transverse
fold lines (28), and a number of longitudinal fold lines (29)
defining, between the two transverse fold lines (28), a first panel
(8') defining one major lateral wall (8), a second panel (9')
defining the minor lateral wall (9), and a third panel (8'')
defining the other major lateral wall (8); the first panel (8')
having two first wings (5', 6'), which are located at opposite ends
of the first panel (8'), are separated from the first panel (8') by
the transverse fold lines (28), and define inner portions of the
ends walls (5, 6); the second panel (9') having two second wings
(5'', 6''), which are located at opposite ends of the second panel
(9'), are separated from the second panel (9') by the transverse
fold lines (28), and define inner portions of the end walls (5, 6);
and the third panel (8'') having two third wings (5''', 6'''),
which are located at opposite ends of the third panel (8''), are
separated from the third panel (8'') by the transverse fold lines
(28), and define outer portions of the end walls (5, 6).
18. A package as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second
wings (5', 6', 5'', 6'') are shaped so as not to be superimposed
when folded onto the third wings (5''', 6''') to define the end
walls (5, 6) of the second container (4).
19. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first container
(2) is formed from a first flat blank (24) having two longitudinal
fold lines (25), and a number of transverse fold lines (26)
defining, between the longitudinal fold lines (25), a first panel
(14') defining part of the top end wall (14), a second panel (16')
defining one major lateral wall (16), a third panel (13') defining
the bottom end wall (13), a fourth panel (16'') defining the other
major lateral wall (16), and a fifth panel (14'') defining part of
the top end wall (14); the second panel (16') having two first
wings (17'), which are located on opposite sides of the second
panel (16'), are separated from the second panel (16') by the
longitudinal fold lines (25), and define part of the minor lateral
walls (17); and the fourth panel (16'') having two second wings
(17''), which are located on opposite sides of the fourth panel
(16''), are separated from the fourth panel (16'') by the
longitudinal fold lines (25), and define part of the minor lateral
walls (17).
20. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two first
containers (2) contain identical respective groups (3) of
cigarettes.
21. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two first
containers (2) contain different respective groups (3) of
cigarettes.
22. A rigid package of tobacco articles, the package (1)
comprising: a first container (2) housing a group (3) of tobacco
articles; and a second container (4) housing the first container
(2), so that the first container (2) slides with respect to the
second container (4) between a closed position, in which the first
container (2) is fully inserted inside the second container (4),
and an open position, in which part of the first container (2)
projects from the second container (4); the package (1) is
characterized by comprising at least two first containers (2), each
of which houses a respective group (3) of tobacco articles, and is
housed slidably inside the second container (4); the second
container (4) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises
two, respectively bottom and top, end walls (5, 6), and a lateral
surface (7) bounded by the end walls (5, 6) and defined by lateral
walls (8, 9) separated from one another by longitudinal edges (10);
the lateral surface (7) of the second container (4) comprising two
opposite, parallel major lateral walls (8), and a minor lateral
wall (9) separated from the major lateral walls (8) by two
longitudinal edges (10); an open end (11) being provided opposite
the minor lateral wall (9) of the second container (4) to permit
passage of the first containers (2); the minor lateral wall (9) of
the second container (4) has two through push holes (21), each of
which is sized to permit insertion of a user's finger and extends
on both the minor lateral wall (9) of the second container (4) and
on a major lateral wall (8) of the second container (4).
23. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein the portion of each
push hole (21) on the minor lateral wall (9) of the second
container (4) is semicircular; the portion of each push hole (21)
on the major lateral wall (8) of the second container (4) being
rectangular and terminating with a semicircular portion.
24. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein the two push holes
(21) are not aligned with each other.
25. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one push
hole (21) is at least partly covered by a tear-off tab.
26. A package as claimed in claim 22, wherein the push holes (21)
are at least partly covered by respective tear-off tabs.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid package of tobacco
articles.
[0002] The present invention may be used to particular advantage in
a rigid packet of cigarettes, to which the following description
refers purely by way of example.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Rigid, slide-open packets of cigarettes are known of the
type described in Patent Application FR-2499947-A3, U.S. Pat. No.
4,534,463 A1, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,227 A1. A rigid, slide-open
packet of cigarettes comprises a first container, which contains a
group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil, and is housed
inside a second container so as to slide, with respect to the
second container, between a closed position, in which the first
container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an
open position, in which part of the first container projects from
the second container.
[0004] Rigid, slide-open packets of cigarettes of the type
described above are marketed, by being relatively easy to produce
and popular with smokers, but have been found to be mechanically
fragile when of larger than normal size to contain a large number
of (normally over 25) cigarettes. Moreover, when a slide-open
packet for a large number of cigarettes is almost empty, the last
cigarettes, given the amount of space inside the packet, tend to
topple over and are therefore difficult to extract.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid
package of tobacco articles, designed to eliminate the
aforementioned drawbacks, and which, in particular, is cheap and
easy to produce.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a
rigid package of tobacco articles, as claimed in claim 1 or in any
one of the following claims depending directly or indirectly on
claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] 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:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a front view in perspective of a preferred
embodiment of a rigid packet of cigarettes in accordance with the
present invention and in a closed configuration;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a front view in perspective of the FIG. 1 rigid
packet of cigarettes in a partly-open configuration;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view in perspective, with parts
removed for clarity, of the FIG. 1 rigid packet of cigarettes;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a blank by which to form an
inner container of the rigid packet of cigarettes in FIGS. 1-3;
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a blank by which to form an
outer container of the rigid packet of cigarettes in FIGS. 1-3;
[0013] FIGS. 6-10 show front views in perspective of further
embodiments of a rigid packet of cigarettes in accordance with the
present invention and in a partly-open configuration.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0014] Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates as a whole a
rigid packet of cigarettes comprising two containers 2, each
containing a group 3 of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil; and
a single container 4 housing containers 2, so that each container 2
slides with respect to container 4 between a closed position (FIG.
1) in which container 2 is fully inserted inside container 4, and
an open position (FIG. 2) in which part of container 2 projects
from container 4. It should be pointed out that the two containers
2 slide independently with respect to container 4, so that either
one or both of containers 2 may be in the open position (FIG.
2).
[0015] By way of example, each group 3 of cigarettes comprises 12
to 20 cigarettes normally arranged in two parallel rows, so that
packet 1 contains a total of 24 to 40 cigarettes.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, container 4 is parallelepiped-shaped,
and comprises a bottom end wall 5, a top end wall 6, and a lateral
surface 7 bounded by end walls 5 and 6. Lateral surface 7 is
defined by two opposite, parallel major lateral walls 8; by a minor
lateral wall 9 separated from major lateral walls 8 by two
longitudinal edges 10; and by an open end 11 opposite minor lateral
wall 9 and enabling passage of containers 2 between said closed
position (FIG. 1) and said open position (FIG. 2). Lateral walls 8
and 9 of container 4 are separated from end walls 5 and 6 by
transverse edges 12, which comprise major transverse edges 12
located between major lateral walls 8 and end walls 5 and 6, and
minor transverse edges 12.
[0017] Each container 2 is parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a
bottom end wall 13, a top end wall 14, and a lateral surface 15
bounded by end walls 13 and 14. Lateral surface 15 is defined by
two opposite, parallel major lateral walls 16, and by two opposite,
parallel minor lateral walls 17 separated from major lateral walls
16 by four longitudinal edges 18. Lateral walls 16 and 17 of
container 2 are separated from end walls 13 and 14 by eight
transverse edges 19, which comprise four major transverse edges 19
located between major lateral walls 16 and end walls 13 and 14, and
four minor transverse edges 19 located between minor lateral walls
17 and end walls 13 and 14.
[0018] Top end wall 14 of container 2 has an open portion 20, which
also extends over part of major lateral walls 16 to permit
withdrawal of the cigarettes from container 2 when container 2 is
in said open position (FIG. 2).
[0019] Obviously, when a container 2 is in said closed position
(FIG. 1), a major lateral wall 8 of container 4 faces and is
aligned with a corresponding major lateral wall 16 of container 2,
and minor lateral wall 9 of container 4 faces and is aligned with a
corresponding minor lateral wall 17 of container 2.
[0020] Each container 2 and container 4 are sized to house group 3
of cigarettes and containers 2 respectively, with a minimum amount
of clearance, thus minimizing the packing material required to make
containers 2 and 4, and also movement of group 3 of cigarettes
inside each container 2, and movement of containers 2 inside
container 4. Obviously, for the cigarettes to be extracted easily
from each container 2, and for containers 2 to be expelled easily
from container 4, the clearance between group 3 of cigarettes and
container 2, and between containers 2 and container 4, cannot be
eliminated entirely.
[0021] Minor lateral wall 9 of container 4 has two push holes 21,
each shaped and sized to permit insertion of at least a finger of
the user. The purpose of push holes 21 is to assist expulsion of
containers 2 from container 4 by enabling the user to push the
portion of minor lateral wall 17 of each container 2 facing
respective push hole 21 when container 2 is in the closed position
(FIG. 1). In a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying
drawings, each push hole 21 extends on both minor lateral wall 9
and a major lateral wall 8 of container 4; the portion of each push
hole 21 on minor lateral wall 9 of container 4 is semicircular; and
the portion of each push hole 21 on major lateral wall 8 of
container 4 is rectangular and terminates with a semicircular
portion.
[0022] Each push hole 21 preferably extends over a limited portion
of minor lateral wall 9 of container 4, so as to only expose a
portion of minor lateral wall 17 of one respective container 2, and
so that each push hole 21 can only be used to push out one
respective container 2. Finally, the two push holes 21 are offset
vertically to increase the size, and therefore the mechanical
strength, of the strip of minor lateral wall 9 of container 4
separating the two push holes 21.
[0023] In a different embodiment not shown, push holes 21 (or at
least one of push holes 21) are initially covered (or at least
partly covered) by respective tear-off tabs, each of which is
attached to container 4 along a tear line, and must be torn off
when first expelling respective container 2.
[0024] A further embodiment, not shown, comprises one push hole 21
involving only minor lateral wall 9 of container 4, or involving
both minor lateral wall 9 and major lateral walls 8 of container
4.
[0025] In a further embodiment not shown, each major lateral wall 8
of container 4 has a recess close to open end 11 to assist
extraction of each container 2 from container 4, as of the closed
position, by enabling the user to grip and exert pull on the
corresponding major lateral wall 16 of container 2.
[0026] Packet 1 comprises stop means for limiting slide of
containers 2 with respect to container 4, and so preventing
detachment of containers 2 from container 4. The stop means are
defined by two tabs 22 projecting from major lateral walls 16 of
each container 2, and by two tabs 23 projecting from major lateral
walls 8 of container 4. Of each container 2, tab 22 facing a major
lateral wall 8 of container 4 projects outwards of container 2 from
respective major lateral wall 16 of container 2, while each tab 23
projects inwards of container 4 from a respective major lateral
wall 8 of container 4, and is located close to open end 11 of
container 4. Moreover, each tab 22 facing a major lateral wall 8 of
container 4 is so located as to engage the corresponding tab 23 as
container 2 slides out of container 4, thus preventing detachment
of container 2 from container 4. It should be pointed out that each
container 2 is arrested by a single tab 22 (i.e. the tab 22 facing
a major lateral wall 8 of container 4), while the other tab 22
(i.e. the tab 22 facing the other container 2) is ineffective. The
presence of the ineffective tab 22 is justified in that, if each
container 2 comprises both tabs 22, then both containers 2 are
identical and can be formed from identical blanks 24; whereas, if
each container 2 comprises only the effective tab 22, the two
containers 2 differ (in particulars one has tab 22 on the right,
and the other has tab 22 on the left) and must therefore be formed
from different blanks 24.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, each container 2 is formed from a flat
blank 24 substantially in the form of an elongated rectangle, and
the component parts of which are indicated, where possible, using
the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the
corresponding parts of container 2.
[0028] Blank 24 comprises two longitudinal fold lines 25; and a
number of transverse fold lines 26 defining, between longitudinal
fold lines 25, a panel 14' defining an outer portion of top end
wall 14, a panel 16' defining one major lateral wall 16, a panel
13' defining bottom end wall 13, a panel 16'' defining the other
major lateral wall 16, and a panel 14'' defining an inner portion
of top end wall 14. Panel 16' has two wings 17' located on opposite
sides of panel 16', separated from panel 16' by longitudinal fold
lines 25, and defining outer portions of minor lateral walls 17;
panel 16'' has two wings 17'' located on opposite sides of panel
16'', separated from panel 16'' by longitudinal fold lines 25, and
defining inner portions of minor lateral walls 17; and to wings
17'' are connected two tabs 13'' defining inner portions of bottom
end wall 13.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, container 4 is formed from a flat,
substantially rectangular blank 27, the component parts of which
are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers,
with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of container
4.
[0030] Blank 27 comprises two transverse fold lines 28; and a
number of longitudinal fold lines 29 defining, between transverse
fold lines 28, a panel 8' defining one major lateral wall 8, a
panel 9' defining minor lateral wall 9, and a panel 8'' defining
the other major lateral wall 8. Panel 8' comprises two wings 5' and
6' located at opposite ends of panel 8', separated from panel 8' by
transverse fold lines 28, and defining inner portions of end walls
5 and 6; panel 9' comprises two wings 5'' and 6'' located at
opposite ends of panel 9', separated from panel 9' by transverse
fold lines 28, and defining inner portions of end walls 5 and 6;
and panel 8'' comprises two wings 5''' and 6''' located at opposite
ends of panel 8'', separated from panel 8'' by transverse fold
lines 28, and defining outer portions of end walls 5 and 6. As
shown in FIG. 5, wings 5' and 6' and wings 5'' and 6'' are so
shaped as not to be superimposed when folded onto wings 5''' and
6''' to define end walls 5 and 6 of container 4.
[0031] Container 4 preferably houses two containers 2, each
containing a group 3 of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil. In
an alternative embodiment not shown, container 4 houses three or
four containers 2, each containing a group 3 of cigarettes wrapped
in a sheet of foil.
[0032] The cigarettes in both containers 2 are normally the same,
i.e. the same type, but may differ in the sense that one container
2 contains one type of cigarette, and the other container 2
contains a different type of cigarette. When containing different
types of cigarettes, the two containers 2 may also differ, i.e. one
container 2 may be larger than the other.
[0033] In the FIG. 1-5 embodiment, longitudinal edges 18 of
containers 2, transverse edges 19 of containers 2, longitudinal
edges 10 of container 4, and transverse edges 12 of container 4 are
all square edges.
[0034] In the FIG. 6 embodiment, the four longitudinal edges 18 of
each container 2, and the two longitudinal edges 10 of container 4
are non-square, rounded edges, and transverse edges 12 and 19 of
containers 4 and 2 are square. In an alternative embodiment not
shown, one of or both longitudinal edges 10 of container 4 and/or
one or more longitudinal edges 18 of containers 2 may be square, so
as to have both non-square, rounded longitudinal edges 10 and 18,
and square longitudinal edges 10 and 18. In a further embodiment
not shown, some transverse edges 12 of container 4 and/or some
transverse edges 19 of containers 2 may be non-square, rounded
edges, so as to have both non-square, rounded transverse edges 12
and/or 19, and non-square, rounded longitudinal edges 10 and/or
18.
[0035] In the FIG. 7 embodiment, longitudinal edges 10 of container
4 and longitudinal edges 18 of containers 2 are non-square,
bevelled edges, and transverse edges 12 and 19 of containers 4 and
2 are square edges.
[0036] In the FIG. 8 embodiment, each major lateral wall 16 of
containers 2 has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each
minor lateral wall 17 along a respective sharp longitudinal edge
18, and subtends with each minor lateral wall 17 a respective
substantially obtuse dihedral angle. Each major lateral wall 16 of
containers 2 in FIG. 8 comprises a flat central portion, and two
lateral strips with preformed longitudinal fold lines; each lateral
strip is curved with its concavity facing inwards to connect the
central portion to the corresponding minor lateral wall 17, and to
subtend with the minor lateral wall 17 a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle; and each end wall 13, 14 is substantially
rectangular, and has bevelled corners to adapt to the outwardly
convex profile of major lateral walls 16.
[0037] Each major lateral wall 8 of container 4 in FIG. 8 has an
outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to minor lateral wall 9
along a respective sharp longitudinal edge 10, and subtends with
minor lateral wall 9 a respective substantially obtuse dihedral
angle. More specifically, each major lateral wall 8 of container 4
in FIG. 8 comprises a flat central portion, and a lateral strip
with preformed longitudinal fold lines; the lateral strip is curved
with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to
minor lateral wall 9, and to subtend with minor lateral wall 9 a
respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; and each end wall
5, 6 is substantially rectangular, and has two bevelled corners to
adapt to the outwardly convex half-profile of major lateral walls
8.
[0038] Basically, the FIG. 8 embodiment resembles the packet of
cigarettes described in Patent Application EP-A1-1066205.
[0039] In the FIG. 9 embodiment, each major lateral wall 16 of
containers 2 has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each
end wall 13, 14 along a respective sharp transverse edge 19, and
subtends with each end wall 13, 14 a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle. More specifically, each major lateral wall
16 of containers 2 in FIG. 9 comprises a flat central portion, and
two lateral strips with preformed longitudinal fold lines; each
lateral strip is curved with its concavity facing inwards to
connect the central portion to the corresponding end wall 13, 14,
and to subtend with end wall 13, 14 a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle; and each minor lateral wall 17 is
substantially rectangular, and has bevelled corners to adapt to the
outwardly convex profile of major lateral walls 16.
[0040] Each major lateral wall 8 of container 4 in FIG. 9 has an
outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to end wall 5, 6 along
a respective sharp transverse edge 12, and subtends with end wall
5, 6 a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle. More
specifically, each major lateral wall 8 of container 4 comprises a
flat central portion, and two lateral strips with preformed
longitudinal fold lines; each lateral strip is curved with its
concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to end wall
5, 6, and to subtend with end wall 5, 6 a respective substantially
obtuse dihedral angle; and minor lateral wall 9 is substantially
rectangular, and has bevelled corners to adapt to the outwardly
convex half-profile of major lateral walls 8.
[0041] Basically, the FIG. 9 embodiment resembles the packet of
cigarettes described in Patent Application IT-BO01A000584.
[0042] Clearly, changes may be made to packets 1 in FIGS. 8 and 9,
such as forming partly convex walls, or only one convex wall, as
opposed to two opposite facing convex walls.
[0043] In the FIG. 10 embodiment, longitudinal edges 10 of
container 4 and longitudinal edges 18 of containers 2 are square
edges, and major transverse edges 12 of container 4 and major
transverse edges 19 of containers 2 are non-square, rounded edges.
Obviously, major transverse edges 12 of container 4 and major
transverse edges 19 of containers 2 may be non-square, bevelled
edges. Basically, the FIG. 10 embodiment resembles the packet of
cigarettes described in Patent Application EP-A1-0764595.
[0044] Packet 1 as described above is particularly strong, by
comprising two independent containers 2, which impart to packet 1 a
high degree of rigidity. Moreover, each container 2 houses a group
3 containing a limited number of cigarettes, and therefore poses no
difficulty in extracting the last cigarettes.
[0045] Given the numerous advantages of packets 1 of cigarettes as
described above, the form of packets 1 may also be applied
integrally to the manufacture of other types of rigid containers
for tobacco articles, such as cartons of packets of cigarettes, or
cigar packets.
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