U.S. patent application number 11/797777 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for rigid wrapper containing packets of cigarettes.
Invention is credited to Ivanoe Bertuzzi, Andrea Biondi.
Application Number | 20080006543 11/797777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38325277 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080006543 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertuzzi; Ivanoe ; et
al. |
January 10, 2008 |
Rigid wrapper containing packets of cigarettes
Abstract
Packets of cigarettes appearing prismatic in shape with a
triangular cross section are ordered side by side and in direct
contact one with another to form a group alignable on a
predominating longitudinal axis, with the axes of the single
packets transverse to the direction of alignment. The assembled
group of packets is prismatic in shape, with a longitudinal section
of trapezoidal appearance, and wrapped in a rigid carton aligned
likewise on the predominating longitudinal axis, similarly
prismatic and presenting a longitudinal profile of isosceles
trapezoidal outline.
Inventors: |
Bertuzzi; Ivanoe;
(Casalecchio Di Reno, IT) ; Biondi; Andrea;
(Bologna, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Harbin King & Klima
500 Ninth Street SE
Washington
DC
20003
US
|
Family ID: |
38325277 |
Appl. No.: |
11/797777 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/268 ;
206/273; 229/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/2047 20130101;
B65D 85/1072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/268 ;
206/273; 229/112 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 25/36 20060101 B65D025/36; B65D 5/00 20060101
B65D005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 9, 2006 |
IT |
BO2006A000349 |
Claims
1. A rigid wrapper containing packets of cigarettes, referable to a
given predominating longitudinal axis, prismatic in appearance and
presenting a trapezoidal longitudinal section.
2. A wrapper as in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal section is of
isosceles trapezoidal outline.
3. A wrapper as in claim 1, comprising a bottom face of rectangular
outline; an access opening parallel to the bottom face and of
rectangular outline; two mutually opposed flank faces associated
with respective shorter sides of the bottom face; also a front face
and a rear face parallel one with another and associated with
respective longer sides of the bottom face.
4. A wrapper as in claim 3, wherein the front and rear faces occupy
planes perpendicular to the plane occupied by the bottom face and
present an isosceles trapezoidal outline composed of a longer base
adjoining the longer side of the bottom face, a shorter base
adjoining a longer side of the access opening, and two angled sides
each adjoining a respective flank face.
5. A wrapper as in claim 4, wherein each of the flank faces
occupies a plane inclined relative to the plane occupied by the
bottom face and presents a top edge adjoining a shorter side of the
access opening, a bottom edge adjoining a shorter side of the
bottom face, and two side edges each adjoining a respective angled
side of the front and rear face.
6. A wrapper as in claim 3, further comprising a top face of which
the outline matches the outline of the opening, joined to at least
the front face or the rear face along a hinge line and capable of
movement thus between a closed position in which it is disposed
parallel to the bottom face, occluding the opening, and an open
position in which it is distanced from the opening.
7. A wrapper as in claim 3, wherein the cigarette packets are of
prismatic geometry, presenting a substantially triangular
section.
8. A wrapper as in claim 7, wherein the packets are disposed inside
the wrapper with respective longitudinal axes extending
perpendicular to the predominating longitudinal axis of the
wrapper.
9. A wrapper as in claim 8, wherein the packets are arranged
mutually parallel and in contact one with another in such a way as
to form at least one group of packets appearing prismatic in shape
and presenting a trapezoidal longitudinal section.
10. A wrapper as in claim 9, wherein the at least one group of
packets comprises a first row of packets disposed with respective
side faces offered to and resting on the bottom face, and a second
row of packets disposed with respective side faces offered to and
facing the access opening, in such a way as to interpose each
packet of the second row between two corresponding packets of the
first row.
11. A wrapper as in claim 10, comprising at least two groups of
packets positioned one on top of another in such a way as to form a
single group appearing prismatic in shape and presenting a
longitudinal trapezoidal section.
12. A wrapper as in claim 1, further comprising a protective
overwrap fashioned from transparent and heat-shrinkable
material.
13. A wrapper as in claim 1, fashioned from a flat diecut blank of
wrapping material with an axis of symmetry disposed transversely to
the predominating longitudinal axis, presenting two transverse
crease lines, also a plurality of precreased areas extending
parallel to the longitudinal axis, delimiting a plurality of
longitudinal panels compassed between the transverse crease lines
and coinciding with the faces of the wrapper, and at least one
longitudinal connecting flap, wherein at least one of the
longitudinal panels presents two substantially rectangular opposite
end folds, and at least two of the longitudinal panels present
respective tongues at their two opposite ends, designed to unite
and combine with the respective end folds in forming the flank
faces of the wrapper.
14. A wrapper as in claim 13, wherein the panel presenting the end
folds provides the bottom face, and the two panels presenting the
respective tongues are positioned one on either side of the panel
providing the bottom face, in such a way as to provide the front
face and the rear face respectively.
15. A wrapper as in claim 13, wherein the two panels presenting the
respective tongues are of isosceles trapezoidal outline.
16. A wrapper as in claim 14, wherein the blank comprises at least
one longitudinal panel providing the top face, positioned adjoining
the panel that provides the rear face.
17. A wrapper as in claim 16, wherein the longitudinal connecting
flap is of isosceles trapezoidal outline, joined to the
longitudinal panel providing the top face on the side remote from
the panel providing the rear face, and matchable to the
longitudinal panel providing the front face.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid wrapper serving to
contain packets of cigarettes.
[0002] The term wrapper is employed generically herein to indicate
rigid containers, known as "cartons", designed to accommodate
packets of cigarettes which as a general rule are of substantially
rectangular parallelepiped geometry.
[0003] A first type of wrapper appears substantially as a flattened
parallelepiped with sharp corner edges, referable to a
predominating longitudinal axis, and contains a plurality of
packets disposed one beside the next, placed in contact one with
another in such a way as to form one or more rows extending along
the longitudinal axis.
[0004] A second type of wrapper presents a substantially
parallelepiped appearance with sharp corner edges, in this instance
referable to a vertical axis, and comprises a cupped container with
a lid likewise of cupped embodiment, connected to the container by
way of a hinge and capable thus of rotating between open and closed
positions respectively exposing and concealing an open top end of
the container, also a reinforcing frame projecting from the open
top end, by which the lid is retained when in the closed position.
With this type of wrapper, packets are placed in contact one with
another and ordered in two rows aligned along respective axes
disposed transversely to the vertical axis of the selfsame
wrapper.
[0005] The two types of rigid wrapper outlined above are not
suitable as cartons for packets of cigarettes exhibiting a shape
other than that of a rectangular parallelepiped.
[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid
wrapper obtainable starting from a flat diecut blank embodied as
simply and economically as possible, able to accommodate packets of
cigarettes presenting a shape notably different to that of a
rectangular parallelepiped, and moreover, requiring a relatively
modest quantity of wrapping material for its manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The stated object is realized according to the invention in
a rigid wrapper containing multiple packets of cigarettes,
referable to a given predominating longitudinal axis and comprising
a bottom face of rectangular outline, an access opening parallel to
the bottom face and of rectangular outline, two mutually convergent
flank faces associated with respective shorter sides of the bottom
face, also mutually parallel front and rear faces associated with
respective longer sides of the bottom face and presenting a
longitudinal profile of trapezoidal outline.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of
example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the rigid wrapper
according to the present invention, viewed in perspective;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a diecut blank from which to
fashion the wrapper of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the rigid wrapper
according to the present invention, viewed in perspective;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of the wrapper
of FIG. 1, viewed in perspective.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a rigid wrapper,
in its entirety, designed to hold multiple packets 2 of cigarettes
of the type, in particular, as disclosed in patent EP 1240088,
incorporated here by reference in the interests of providing a full
description; the single packet 2 comprises an outer wrapper 3
appearing as a prism of substantially triangular cross section,
hence with three adjoining side faces 4 of substantially
rectangular outline all disposed parallel with a predominating
longitudinal axis 5 of the prism, and two substantially triangular
end faces 6.
[0014] The wrapper 1 is referable to a predominating longitudinal
axis denoted "L" disposed transversely to the axes 5 of the packets
2 of cigarettes, and appears as a prism of substantially
trapezoidal longitudinal section.
[0015] In particular, it will be seen that the wrapper 1 presents a
longitudinal section identifiable as isosceles trapezoidal in
outline, and that the trapezoidal outline is displayed by a front
face 7 and a rear face 8.
[0016] More exactly, the aforementioned front and rear faces 7 and
8 of the wrapper 1 extend parallel to the predominating
longitudinal axis "L", adjoining two respective longer sides 9 of a
substantially rectangular bottom face 10 and two flank faces 11
disposed transversely to these same three faces 7, 8 and 10, the
two flank faces 11 in turn similarly adjoining relative shorter
sides 12 of the bottom face 10. Thus, the longer and shorter sides
9 and 12 of the bottom face coincide with bottom corner edges of
the wrapper 1.
[0017] The wrapper 1 also presents an access opening of rectangular
outline, denoted 13, occupying a plane parallel to the bottom face
10 and affording a passage through which the packets 2 contained in
the wrapper 1 can be removed.
[0018] As discernible in the drawings, the front and rear faces 7
and 8 of isosceles trapezoidal outline occupy planes perpendicular
to the plane occupied by the bottom face 10. Each of the two
trapezoidal faces 7 and 8 presents a longer base 7a and 8a
adjoining the longer side 9 of the bottom face 10, a shorter base
7b and 8b adjoining a longer side of the opening 13, and two angled
sides 7c and 8c each adjoining a relative flank face 11.
[0019] The two flank faces 11 are of rectangular outline and
inclined relative to the plane occupied by the bottom face 10.
Also, each flank face 11 presents a top edge 11a adjoining a
respective shorter side of the access opening 13, a bottom edge 11b
adjoining a shorter side 12 of the bottom face 10, and two side
edges 11c each adjoining one angled side 7c or 8c of a respective
front or rear face 7 or 8.
[0020] In practice, each bottom edge 11b coincides with an acute
corner edge, whilst each top edge 11a coincides with an obtuse
corner edge, given that the flank faces 11 converge upwardly toward
the opening 13.
[0021] In the example of FIG. 1, the rigid wrapper 1 presents a top
face 14 of which the outline matches the outline of the opening 13.
In short, the top face 14 presents a rectangular outline of the
same dimensions as the opening 13, which are smaller than the
dimensions of the bottom face 10.
[0022] The top face 14 of the wrapper 1 is joined to the rear face
8 along a hinge line "A" coinciding with the shorter base 8b
aforementioned, and capable of movement thus between a closed
position (not shown in the accompanying drawings), disposed
parallel to the bottom face 10 and occluding the opening 13, and an
open position (as in FIG. 1), distanced from the opening 13.
[0023] In the example of FIG. 3, the rigid wrapper 1 is not
furnished with a top face 14 as in FIG. 1. In this instance the
opening 13 remains uncovered and the packets 2 contained in the
wrapper 1 are exposed to view.
[0024] In both the examples mentioned (FIGS. 1 and 3), the rigid
wrapper 1 can also be furnished with an outer protective covering,
or overwrap, fashioned from a transparent and heat-shrinkable
material such as polypropylene. In the example of FIG. 3,
accordingly, where the wrapper 1 has an open top, the packets 1
contained in the selfsame wrapper are held in place by the
overwrap.
[0025] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the packets 2 of
cigarettes, illustrated in phantom lines, are arranged within the
respective wrapper 1 mutually parallel and in contact one with
another, so as to form at least one group denoted 15. The assembled
group 15 is of prismatic geometry, presenting a trapezoidal
longitudinal section matching that of the wrapper 1.
[0026] The group 15 of packets comprises a first row 15a of packets
2 disposed with respective side faces 4 offered to and resting on
the inside surface of the bottom face 10, and with respective
triangular end faces 6 offered to the inside surfaces of the front
face 7 and the rear face 8. In this situation, the packets 2 of the
first row 15a are placed side by side with respective corner edges
directed toward the opening 13.
[0027] The group 15 further comprises a second row 15b of packets 2
disposed with respective side faces 4 offered to and facing the
access opening 13, and with respective triangular end faces 6
offered to the inside surfaces of the front and rear faces 7 and 8.
The packets 2 of this second row 15b are placed with respective
corner edges directed toward the bottom face 10.
[0028] It will be seen that each packet 2 of the second row 15b is
interposed between two corresponding packets 2 of the first row
15a. Consequently, the number of packets 2 making up the second row
15b is less than the number of packets 2 making up the first row
15a.
[0029] For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the group 15
includes nine packets 2 of cigarettes, of which five make up the
first row 15a and four the second row 15b.
[0030] The wrapper 1 might be proportioned to contain any given
number of packets 2, arranged with the packets of the second row
15b interposed between those of the first row 15a.
[0031] In the example of FIG. 4, the packets 2 are arranged
internally of the wrapper 1 in such a way as to form two groups 15
positioned one on top of another and making up a single group of
prismatic geometry that presents a longitudinal section of
trapezoidal outline. In this particular instance, the first row 15a
of the top group 15 presents the same number of packets 2 as the
second row 15b of the bottom group 15.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, the wrapper 1 is fashioned from a flat
diecut blank 16 of wrapping material, of which the component parts
will be indicated where possible using the same numbers, primed, as
those used to indicate the corresponding parts of the wrapper
1.
[0033] The blank 16 is substantially rectangular, with an axis of
symmetry 17 disposed transversely to the predominating longitudinal
axis "L", and presents two transverse crease lines 18 and 19, also
a plurality of longitudinal precreased areas 20, 21, 22 and 23
extending parallel to the aforementioned longitudinal axis "L". The
areas 20, 21, 22 and 23 in question delimit a plurality of
longitudinal panels 7', 8', 10' and 14' extending between the
transverse crease lines 18 and 19 and coinciding respectively with
corresponding faces 7, 8, 10 and 14 of the finished wrapper 1, as
well as at least one longitudinal connecting flap 14a.
[0034] At least one of the aforementioned longitudinal panels is
associated at the opposite ends with two end folds 11' of
substantially rectangular outline. In effect, the two end folds 11'
are joined along the aforementioned transverse crease lines 18 and
19 to the central panel 10' of the flat blank, as seen in FIG. 2,
which corresponds to the bottom face 10 of the wrapper.
[0035] To advantage, at least two further panels 7' and 8' located
on either side of the central panel 10' are furnished at the
opposite ends with respective tongues 24 that will be connected
ultimately to the respective end folds 11', with which they combine
to establish the flank faces 11 of the wrapper 1.
[0036] The panels 7' and 8' presenting the tongues 24, which
coincide respectively with the front and rear faces 7 and 8 of the
wrapper 1, are associated with the central panel 10' along
respective longitudinal precreased areas 20 and 21 coinciding each
with a longer side 9 of the bottom face 10.
[0037] Accordingly, once the blank is bent along the areas 20 and
21 delimiting the panels denoted 7' and 8', and the end folds 11'
are bent along the transverse crease lines 18 and 19, the tongues
24 can be offered to the inside surfaces of the end folds 11'. The
tongues 24 are bent advantageously along respective end portions
18a and 19a of the transverse crease lines 18 and 19, by way of
which the selfsame tongues 24 are joined to the relative panels 7'
and 8'.
[0038] As discernible in FIGS. 1 and 4, the tongues 24 are united
with the inside surfaces of the relative end folds 11' to form the
two flank faces 11.
[0039] The step of bending the end folds 11' involves rotating each
of the folds into alignment with the end portions 18a and 19a of
the transverse crease lines 18 and 19, which coincide with the
angled sides 7c and 8c of the front and rear faces 7 and 8. Thus,
the end folds 11' will be inclined in the manner already described,
and the assembly of the flank faces 11 can be completed.
[0040] Also forming part of the blank 16 illustrated in FIG. 2,
which produces the wrapper shown by way of example in FIG. 1, is a
panel 14' extending from the panel 8' that provides the rear face 8
of the wrapper 1.
[0041] The panel 14' in question coincides with the top face 14 of
the wrapper (FIG. 1), and is joined to the adjacent panel 8' via a
longitudinal precreased area 22 providing the hinge line "A" about
which the selfsame top face 14 rotates between the open and closed
positions aforementioned.
[0042] The connecting flap 14a is associated with the panel 14'
defining the top face 14, on the side opposite from the side
associated with the panel 8' defining the rear face 8.
[0043] The connecting flap 14a presents an isosceles trapezoidal
outline and is joined to the panel 14' along a precreased
longitudinal area 23 coinciding with one longer side of the top
face 14.
[0044] As illustrated to better advantage in FIG. 1, the flap 14a
can be offered to the inside surface of the front face 7 when the
top face 14 is in the closed position.
[0045] The wrapper 1 presents longitudinal corner edges, afforded
by the precreased longitudinal areas 20, 21, 22 and 23, which might
be rounded or beveled. Similarly (as in the case of the cigarette
packet disclosed in European Patent Application EP 764595,
incorporated here by reference in the interests of providing a full
description), the wider transverse corner edges generated by the
transverse crease lines 18 and 19 could be non-rectilinear edges,
again rounded or beveled; alternatively, certain of the
longitudinal corner edges and certain of the transverse corner
edges could be non-rectilinear, thereby combining both longitudinal
and transverse non-rectilinear rounded or beveled corner edges in
the same pack.
[0046] The wrapper 1 described above offers important
advantages.
[0047] Firstly, the wrapper 1 is able to accommodate cigarette
packets 2 of shape appreciably different to the familiar
rectangular parallelepiped format. In effect, the cigarette packets
2 described and illustrated in this instance present a triangular
cross-sectional profile.
[0048] In addition, the wrapper 1 is fashioned from a flat blank 16
that can be produced in one piece and therefore, to advantage,
using a relatively limited amount of material. Accordingly, the
wrapper 1 is structurally simple, and economical to
manufacture.
* * * * *