U.S. patent application number 12/811751 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for pack containing packets of cigarettes.
This patent application is currently assigned to G.D S.P.A.. Invention is credited to Ivanoe Bertuzzi, Andrea Biondi.
Application Number | 20100282626 12/811751 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40289948 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100282626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertuzzi; Ivanoe ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
PACK CONTAINING PACKETS OF CIGARETTES
Abstract
In a pack (1) known familiarly as a cigarette carton, the carton
(2) appears as a wrapper (3) containing multiple packets (13) of
cigarettes (21), each with its own individual wrapper (14). Both
the wrapper (3) of the carton (2) and the wrappers (14) of the
single cigarette packets (13) are provided with a window (23, 24)
in at least one of the main side faces; a window (23) in the
wrapper (3) of the carton (2) is placed to coincide with a window
(24) in the wrapper (14) of at least one packet (13), in such a way
as to create an opening (A) through which the name or brand emblem
(25) printed on single cigarettes (21) can be seen beneath the
transparent overwrappings of the unopened pack.
Inventors: |
Bertuzzi; Ivanoe;
(Casalecchio Di Reno (Bologna), IT) ; Biondi; Andrea;
(Bologna, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHUTTLEWORTH & INGERSOLL, P.L.C.
115 3RD STREET SE, SUITE 500, P.O. BOX 2107
CEDAR RAPIDS
IA
52406
US
|
Assignee: |
G.D S.P.A.
Bologna
IT
|
Family ID: |
40289948 |
Appl. No.: |
12/811751 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
January 28, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2009/050349 |
371 Date: |
July 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/242 ;
229/87.06; 229/87.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/4204 20130101;
B65D 85/1072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/242 ;
229/87.06; 229/87.13 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10; B65D 65/16 20060101 B65D065/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 30, 2008 |
IT |
BO2008A000062 |
Claims
1) A pack containing packets of cigarettes, comprising a wrapper
(3) presented by a carton (2) accommodating a plurality of packets
(13) of cigarettes (21), each furnished with a respective wrapper
(14), characterized in that both the wrapper (3) of the carton (2)
and the wrapper (14) of at least one packet (13) of cigarettes (21)
present at least one opening or window (23, 24), and in that at
least one window (23) presented by the wrapper (3) of the carton
(2) coincides at least in part with at least one window (24)
presented by the wrapper (14) of the at least one packet (13), in
such a way as to establish an opening (A) in the pack (1) through
which at least one portion of at least one cigarette (21) contained
in at least packet (13) can be seen from outside the pack.
2) A pack as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the windows (23,
24) is sealed by a film (26) of transparent material.
3) A pack as in claim 1, wherein the at least one cigarette (21)
presents a graphic element (25) positioned so as to coincide with
the opening (A).
4) A pack as in claim 3, wherein the shape of the opening (A) is
such that a plurality of cigarettes (21) in the packet (13) can be
exposed to view from outside the pack, and at least one of the
cigarettes (21) presents a graphic element (25) positioned to
coincide with the opening (A).
2) A pack as in claim 4, wherein the plurality of cigarettes (21)
constitutes one layer of a group of cigarettes contained in the
packet (13).
6) A pack as in claim 1, wherein the single packet (13) of
cigarettes comprises a second inner wrapper (22) fashioned from
transparent material, at least where visible through the opening
(A).
7) A pack as in claim 1, wherein the window (23) presented by the
wrapper (3) of the carton (2) is of length such as to coincide with
at least two windows (24) of two relative packets (13), in such a
way that the graphic elements (25) presented by two top layers of
cigarettes (21) in two different packets (13) are exposed to view.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a pack containing packets
of cigarettes, and more precisely to a carton for packets of
cigarettes.
[0002] The term `carton` is used herein to describe a pack
identifiable as a wrapper containing multiple packets of
cigarettes, each enveloped in a respective individual wrapper.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Conventionally, the wrapper of such a carton can be of rigid
type, that is to say, fashioned from a flat blank of stiff paper
material, or alternatively, the wrapper can be of a soft type
fashioned from a leaf of pliable paper material.
[0004] The soft type of carton wrapper will in general present a
substantially plain parallelepiped appearance, whereas the rigid
type of wrapper can present a notable variety of shapes including,
for example, parallelepiped with sharp, bevelled or rounded corner
edges, also prismatic, presenting a triangular or hexagonal cross
section, as well as other familiar shapes and styles.
[0005] As regards the packets of cigarettes, these are provided
with a double wrapping, or more exactly, an inner wrapper in direct
contact with the cigarettes, and an outer wrapper of paper material
that can be of either rigid or soft type, in like manner to the
carton wrapper described previously.
[0006] In the case of a rigid cigarette packet, the outer wrapper
is obtained from a flat diecut blank presenting crease lines and
processable in such a way as to create a rigid hinge-lid type of
packet, by way of example.
[0007] In the case of a soft cigarette packet, the outer wrapper is
fashioned from a leaf of pliable wrapping material.
[0008] In addition, both the carton and the single packets
contained in the carton are enveloped routinely in a further outer
wrapping, or overwrap, of transparent thermoplastic material. The
carton wrapper, and similarly the wrappers of the single cigarette
packets, are printed typically with an abundance of lettering and
graphic information serving both to identify the brand and to
indicate the essential characteristics of the cigarettes contained
in the pack.
[0009] Moreover, and particularly in the case of rigid packs, it is
usual to mark the wrappers of the carton and of the single packets
with graphic elements reproduced in relief, by means of embossing
and knurling procedures.
[0010] This further processing step performed on carton and packet
wrapper blanks of the type in question involves the use not only of
standard printing systems but also of dedicated equipment, such as
rollers, which obviously must be replaced when switching production
from one brand to another.
[0011] It will be evident from the foregoing that there are
extremely high costs attached to the production of these packs,
which involves the use of systems including not only improved
printing devices, but also embossing and knurling devices.
[0012] With frequent demands from the market for additional
markings and/or distinctive lettering to customize the product
further, manufacturing costs are driven higher and the extra
features in question are not easily provided, due to the lack of
available space on the surface of the pack.
[0013] Indeed it will be appreciated that in relatively recent
times, with the introduction of anti-smoking laws, various health
warnings have been added to the aforementioned lettering and relief
graphics, since many countries now require such warnings to be
displayed both on the wrappers of cartons and on the wrappers of
single packets.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The object of the present invention is to provide a pack,
containing packets of cigarettes, such as will meet the
aforementioned demands of the market without any further increase
in the cost of producing wrappers, whether for cartons or for the
single packets contained in a carton.
[0015] The stated object is realized in a pack according to the
present invention, of which the essential features are as recited
in any one or more of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention will now be described in detail, by way of
example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of a pack
containing packets of cigarettes, viewed schematically in
perspective, and shown in a closed configuration and an open
configuration, respectively;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a packet of cigarettes forming part of the pack
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed in perspective and with
certain parts cut away for clarity;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows the pack of FIGS. 1 and 2, with one detail
illustrated in an alternative embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two further embodiments of a pack
according to the invention, viewed schematically and in
perspective.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes a pack
containing packets of cigarettes and comprising a rigid carton 2,
substantially parallelepiped in appearance, of which the
longitudinal axis is denoted L.
[0022] The carton 2 is furnished with a wrapper 3 presenting two
larger side walls 4 and 5, top and bottom respectively, two smaller
side walls 6 and 7, front and rear respectively, and two end walls
or end faces 8 and 9 positioned left and right as viewed in the
drawings.
[0023] Referring also to FIG. 2, the top side wall 4 functions as a
lid 10, connected to the rear side wall 7 along a hinge line 11
coinciding with the corner edge along which the two walls 4 and 7
are joined.
[0024] The wrapper also presents a flap 12, joined to the edge of
the top side wall 4 farthest from the hinge line 11 and bent to a
right angle, which connects with the front side wall 6 when the lid
is in the closed position.
[0025] The wrapper 3 accommodates a plurality of rigid hinge-lid
cigarette packets 13, substantially parallelepiped in appearance
and arranged with longitudinal axes L' disposed transversely to the
axis L of the carton.
[0026] The packets 13 are ordered in two rows, laid flat one on top
of another, and furnished with individual wrappers 14 each
presenting two larger side walls 15 and 16, front and rear
respectively, two smaller side or flank walls 17 and 18, and two
end walls constituting a top end face 19 and a bottom end face
20.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the space enclosed by the
wrapper 14 is occupied by cigarettes, denoted 21, enveloped in a
second or inner wrapper 22 and lying parallel to the axis L' of the
packet, arranged in three layers respectively of seven, six and
seven cigarettes, by way of example.
[0028] The lid 10 of the carton wrapper 3 presents an opening, or
window 23, extending parallel to the axis L and presenting a
substantially rectangular outline, with rounded ends.
[0029] The front wall 15 of each packet 13 likewise presents an
opening or window 24, similar to that of the carton, and at least a
portion of the inner wrapper 22 located beneath the window will be
of transparent material.
[0030] As discernible from FIG. 1, when the lid 10 of the carton is
closed, the window 23 presented by the top wall 4 of the wrapper 3
coincides with the window 24 presented by the front wall 15 of the
packet 13 at the leftwardmost end of the top row, so as to create
an opening A by which graphic elements 25 printed on the cigarettes
21 of the top layer can be exposed to view.
[0031] Each window 23 and 24 is preferably sealed by a film 26 of
transparent thermoplastic material applied to the wall 4 of the
carton wrapper 3 and to the wall 15 of the packet wrapper 14, on
the respective inside faces.
[0032] The pack 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 differs from that of FIGS.
1 and 2 in that the lid 10 presents a window 23 of length such as
to coincide with two windows 24 of two adjacent packets 13 making
up the top row, so that the graphic elements 25 presented by two
top layers of cigarettes 21 belonging to two different packets 13
are exposed to view.
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a pack 1 comprising a carton 2 of which
the wrapper again appears parallelepiped but in this instance is of
hinge-lid design, that is to say presenting the same structure as
that of the single packets 13 illustrated in the drawings.
[0034] In the pack 1 of FIG. 5, the packets 13 are ordered in two
rows placed one on top of the other, with respective axes L'
parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the carton 2. In this
instance the windows 23 of the carton 2 are positioned on the
smaller side or flank walls, denoted 27.
[0035] Finally, the pack shown in FIG. 6 is of prismatic geometry,
appearing hexagonal in section and designed to contain a plurality
of packets 13 (six) having a triangular cross section. A window 23
might be located on one or on all the side walls 28 of the carton
2, positioned to coincide with a window 24 located on one wall of a
corresponding packet 13.
[0036] In practice, the windows 23 and 24 could present any given
outline and coincide one with another only in part.
[0037] Self-evidently, a pack embodied in accordance with the
present invention is able to meet the demands of the market for a
high level of customization in the packaging of tobacco products,
and without any appreciable increase in production costs,
particularly printing costs, related to wrapping materials.
[0038] In addition, the production of wrapper blanks or sheets can
be standardized, within certain limits, given that the
customization of the packaging relies exclusively on revealing the
graphic elements, of whatever nature, printed on the actual
cigarettes 21.
[0039] Lastly, and importantly, packs 1 embodied in accordance with
the present invention can present any given geometry or styling
other than those described and illustrated, while providing the
advantage, in addition to those inherent in the adoption of one or
more windows 23, that savings on material can be made in the event
of packets 13 or cartons 2, or both, being fashioned with at least
one bevelled or rounded longitudinal corner edge.
[0040] As regards the arrangement and the number of sharp, bevelled
or rounded corner edges, numerous options are available (not
illustrated). By way of example, the pack 1 of FIG. 1 could present
at least one longitudinal or transverse corner edge with a sharp
profile, and at least one with a bevelled or rounded profile.
* * * * *