U.S. patent application number 13/390163 was filed with the patent office on 2012-08-23 for packet of cigarettes, and method of producing a packet of cigarettes.
This patent application is currently assigned to G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI. Invention is credited to Andrea Biondi, Marco Ghini, Roberto Polloni.
Application Number | 20120211380 13/390163 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42079161 |
Filed Date | 2012-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120211380 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ghini; Marco ; et
al. |
August 23, 2012 |
PACKET OF CIGARETTES, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING A PACKET OF
CIGARETTES
Abstract
A packet (1) of cigarettes having: an inner package (2) defined
by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (29) of wrapping
material having at least one tear line (32) defining a tear-off top
portion (31); an inner container (4) housing the inner package (2)
and having an extraction opening (10) for access to the tear-off
top portion (31); an outer container (5) housing the inner
container (4) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container (4)
to slide, with respect to the out container (5), between a closed
position, in which the inner container (4) is inserted inside the
outer container (5), and an open position, in which the inner
container (4) is extracted partly from the outer container (5); and
a tear-off lid (45) connected to the inner container (4) by at
least one tear line (48), and covering at least part of the
extraction opening (10).
Inventors: |
Ghini; Marco; (Monte San
Pietro, IT) ; Polloni; Roberto; (Modigliana, IT)
; Biondi; Andrea; (Bologna, IT) |
Assignee: |
G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
Bologna
IT
|
Family ID: |
42079161 |
Appl. No.: |
13/390163 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
August 13, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2010/002023 |
371 Date: |
April 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/245 ;
206/264 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/1036 20130101;
B65B 19/226 20130101; B65D 5/728 20130101; A24F 15/12 20130101;
B65B 61/18 20130101; B65D 85/10 20130101; B65B 19/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/245 ;
206/264 |
International
Class: |
A24F 15/12 20060101
A24F015/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2009 |
IT |
BO2009A000546 |
Claims
1) A packet (1) of cigarettes comprising: an inner package (2)
defined by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (29) of
wrapping material having at least one tear line (32) defining a
tear-off top portion (31); an inner container (4) housing the inner
package (2) and having an extraction opening (10) for access to the
tear-off top portion (31); and an outer container (5) housing the
inner container (4) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container
(4) to slide, with respect to the outer container (5), between a
closed position, in which the inner container (4) is inserted
inside the outer container (5), and an open position, in which the
inner container (4) is extracted partly from the outer container
(5); the packet (1) of cigarettes being characterized by comprising
a tear-off lid (45) connected to the inner container (4) by at
least one tear line (48), and covering at least part of the
extraction opening (10).
2) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
inner container (4) has no top wall (7), so that, once the tear-off
lid (45) is removed, a top wall of the inner package (2) is
completely exposed.
3) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
the tear-off lid (45) is U-shaped, and comprises a top wall (46)
covering a top wall of the inner package (2); and two lateral walls
(47) covering part of two major lateral walls of the inner package
(2), and coplanar with two major lateral walls (8) of the inner
container (4).
4) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
top wall (46) of the tear-off lid (45) is in no way connected to
the inner container (4); and each lateral wall (47) of the tear-off
lid (45) is connected to a respective major lateral wall (8) of the
inner container (4) along at least one tear line (48).
5) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 4, wherein a
first lateral wall (47) of the tear-off lid (45) is connected to a
major lateral wall (8) of the inner container (4) along a single
U-shaped tear line (48); and a second lateral wall (47) of the
tear-off lid (45) is connected to a major lateral wall (8) of the
inner container (4) along two tear lines (48) on opposite sides of
the second lateral wall (47).
6) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein the tear-off lid (45) leaves at least part of the
extraction opening (10) uncovered, so as to form a grip by which to
grip and remove the tear-off lid (45) easily.
7) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
top wall (46) of the tear-off lid (45) is smaller than the top wall
of the inner package (2).
8) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein
at least one part of the extraction opening (10) left uncovered by
the tear-off lid (45) is located on a major lateral wall (8) of the
inner container (4).
9) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
tear-off lid (45) leaves uncovered two separate parts of the
extraction opening (10), located symmetrically on two major lateral
walls (8) of the inner container (4); or the tear-off lid (45) only
leaves uncovered one part of the extraction opening (10), located
asymmetrically on one major lateral wall (8) of the inner container
(4).
10) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9,
wherein the tear-off lid (45) is formed by superimposing and gluing
together two separate panels (45', 45'').
11) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10,
wherein the tear-off lid (45) is glued to the tear-off top portion
(31) of the inner package (2).
12) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11,
wherein the tear-off top portion (31) of the inner package (2) is
defined by two separate overlapping portions (31a, 31b) of the
sheet (29) of wrapping material.
13) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
two overlapping portions (31a, 31b) of the sheet (29) of wrapping
material are glued to each other.
14) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 13,
wherein: the group (30) of cigarettes is substantially
parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and has two
parallel, opposite major lateral walls (34) defined by cylindrical
lateral walls of the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor
lateral walls (35) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the
cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end walls (36) defined by
flat ends of the cigarettes; four longitudinal edges (37) are
defined between the two major lateral walls (34) and the two minor
lateral walls (35), four major transverse edges (38) are defined
between the two major lateral walls (34) and the two end walls
(36), and four minor transverse edges (39) are defined between the
two minor lateral walls (35) and the two end walls (36); the sheet
(29) of wrapping material is folded about the group (30) of
cigarettes by superimposing two opposite flaps (40, 41) of the
sheet (29) of wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping
enclosing the group (30) of cigarettes seamlessly on all four
sides, and having, at the minor lateral walls (35) of the group
(30) of cigarettes, two lateral ends which are folded to complete
the inner package (2); the tear-off top portion (31) extends
seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet (29) of wrapping
material; and the opposite flaps (40, 41) of the sheet (29) of
wrapping material are only superimposed on a first major lateral
wall (34a) of the group (30) of cigarettes.
15) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 14, wherein, at
a first minor transverse edge (39a) of the group (30) of cigarettes
involving the tear-off top portion (31), the sheet (29) of wrapping
material has a tab (33) formed from part of the tear-off top
portion (31) and astride the first minor transverse edge (39a).
16) A packet (1) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
tab (33) is folded onto a first end wall (36b) of the group (30) of
cigarettes.
17) A method of producing a packet of cigarettes comprising an
inner package (2) defined by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in
a sheet (29) of wrapping material, and a rigid outer package (3)
housing the inner package (2); the group (30) of cigarettes is
substantially parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross
section, and has two parallel, opposite major lateral walls (34)
defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two
parallel, opposite minor lateral walls (35) defined by cylindrical
lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end
walls (36) defined by flat ends of the cigarettes; four
longitudinal edges (37) are defined between the two major lateral
walls (34) and the two minor lateral walls (35), four major
transverse edges (38) are defined between the two major lateral
walls (34) and the two end walls (36), and four minor transverse
edges (39) are defined between the two minor lateral walls (35) and
the two end walls (36); the method comprising the steps of: forming
on the sheet (29) of wrapping material a tear line (32) defining a
tear-off top portion (31); folding the sheet (29) of wrapping
material about the group (30) of cigarettes by superimposing two
opposite flaps (40, 41) of the sheet (29) of wrapping material to
form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group (30) of cigarettes
seamlessly on all four sides and having two open lateral ends (42,
43) at the minor lateral walls (35) of the group (30) of
cigarettes; and folding the open lateral ends (42, 43) of the sheet
(29) of wrapping material to complete the inner package (2); the
method being characterized in that: the tear-off top portion (31)
extends seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet (29) of
wrapping material; and the opposite flaps (40, 41) of the sheet
(29) of wrapping material are only superimposed on a first major
lateral wall (34a) of the group (30) of cigarettes.
18) A method as claimed in claim 17, and comprising the further
step of folding the sheet (29) of wrapping material about a first
minor transverse edge (39a) of the group (30) of cigarettes
involving the tear-off top portion (31), to form, from part of the
tear-off top portion (31), a tab (33) astride the first minor
transverse edge (39a).
19) A method as claimed in claim 18, and comprising the further
step of folding the tab (33) onto a first end wall (36b) of the
group (30) of cigarettes.
20) A method as claimed in claim 19, and comprising the further
step of fixing the tab (33) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off
top portion (31) covering the first end wall (36b) of the group
(30) of cigarettes.
21) A method as claimed in claim 20, and comprising the further
step of applying weak-stick glue between the tab (33) and the rest
of the tear-off top portion (31), to fix the tab (33) temporarily
to the rest of the tear-off top portion (31).
22) A method as claimed in claim 20, and comprising the further
step of applying a tear-off sticker (44), coated with weak-stick
glue, over the tab (33) and the rest of the tear-off top portion
(31), to fix the tab (33) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off
top portion (31).
23) A method as claimed in claim 20, and comprising the further
step of gluing a tear-off sticker (44) over the tab (33) and the
rest of the tear-off top portion (31), to fix the tab (33)
permanently to the rest of the tear-off top portion (31).
24) A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23, wherein the sticker (44)
has a grip flap not glued to the tab (33) and/or to the rest of the
tear-off top portion (31).
25) A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the
step of folding the sheet (29) of wrapping material to form the tab
(33) comprises the further steps of: folding the sheet (29) of
wrapping material, at a first open lateral end (42) involving the
tear-off top portion (31), about a first longitudinal edge (37a)
and onto a first minor lateral wall (35a), without first folding
the sheet (29) of wrapping material (29) about the first minor
transverse edge (39a); and then folding the sheet (29) of wrapping
material, at the first open lateral end (42), about a second
longitudinal edge (37b) and onto the first minor lateral wall
(35a).
26) A method as claimed in claim 25, and comprising the further
step of first folding the sheet (29) of wrapping material about a
second minor transverse edge (39b) of the first minor lateral wall
(35a), before folding the sheet (29) of wrapping material about the
first longitudinal edge (37a).
27) A method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 26, and
comprising the further step of superimposing a tear-off lid (45) of
the outer package (3) or a tear-off sticker (44) on the tear-off
top portion (31) of the inner package (2).
28) A method as claimed in claim 27, and comprising the further
step of gluing the tear-off lid (45) of the outer package (3) or
the tear-off sticker (44) to the tear-off top portion (31) of the
inner package (2).
29) A packet of cigarettes comprising: an inner package (2) defined
by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (29) of wrapping
material having a tear line (32) defining a tear-off top portion
(31); and a rigid outer package (3) housing the inner package (2);
the group (30) of cigarettes is substantially parallelepiped-shaped
with a rectangular cross section, and has two parallel, opposite
major lateral walls (34) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of
the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls (35)
defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two
parallel, opposite end walls (36) defined by flat ends of the
cigarettes; four longitudinal edges (37) are defined between the
two major lateral walls (34) and the two minor lateral walls (35),
four major transverse edges (38) are defined between the two major
lateral walls (34) and the two end walls (36), and four minor
transverse edges (39) are defined between the two minor lateral
walls (35) and the two end walls (36); the sheet (29) of wrapping
material is folded about the group (30) of cigarettes by
superimposing two opposite flaps (40, 41) of the sheet (29) of
wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group
(30) of cigarettes seamlessly on all four sides, and having, at the
minor lateral walls (35) of the group (30) of cigarettes, two
lateral ends which are folded to complete the inner package (2);
the packet (1) of cigarettes being characterized in that: the
tear-off top portion (31) extends seamlessly over a single portion
of the sheet (29) of wrapping material; and the opposite flaps (40,
41) of the sheet (29) of wrapping material are only superimposed on
a first major lateral wall (34a) of the group (30) of
cigarettes.
30) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 29, wherein, at a
first minor transverse edge (39a) of the group (30) of cigarettes
involving the tear-off top portion (31), the sheet (29) of wrapping
material has a tab (33) formed from part of the tear-off top
portion (31) and astride the first minor transverse edge (39a).
31) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 30, wherein the tab
(33) is folded onto a first end wall (36b) of the group (30) of
cigarettes.
32) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 31, wherein the tab
(33) is fixed temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion
(31) covering the first end wall (36b) of the group (30) of
cigarettes.
33) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32, wherein
weak-stick glue is applied between the tab (33) and the rest of the
tear-off top portion (31), to fix the tab (33) temporarily to the
rest of the tear-off top portion (31).
34) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32, and comprising a
tear-off sticker (44) coated with weak-stick glue and applied over
the tab (33) and the rest of the tear-off top portion (31), to fix
the tab (33) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion
(31).
35) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32, and comprising a
tear-off sticker (44) glued over the tab (33) and the rest of the
tear-off top portion (31), to fix the tab (33) permanently to the
rest of the tear-off top portion (31).
36) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 34 or 35, wherein
the sticker (44) has a grip flap not glued to the tab (33) and/or
to the rest of the tear-off top portion (31).
37) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in any one of claims 29 to
34, wherein the outer package (3) comprises a tear-off lid (45)
superimposed on the tear-off top portion (31) of the inner package
(2), or a tear-off sticker (44) is superimposed on the tear-off top
portion (31) of the inner package (2).
38) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 37, wherein the
tear-off lid (45) of the outer package (3) or the tear-off sticker
(44) is glued to the tear-off top portion (31) of the inner package
(2).
39) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in any one of claims 29 to
38, wherein the outer package (3) comprises an inner container (4)
housing the inner package (2); and an outer container (5) housing
the inner container (4) in sliding manner, to allow the inner
container (4) to slide between a closed position, in which the
inner container (4) is inserted inside the outer container (5), and
an open position, in which the inner container (4) is extracted at
least partly from the outer container (5).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a packet of cigarettes, and
to a method of producing a packet of cigarettes.
[0002] The present invention is particularly advantageous for
producing a slide-open packet of cigarettes comprising two partly
separable containers inserted one inside the other, to which the
following description refers purely by way of example.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] A rigid, slide-open packet of cigarettes comprises a first
container, which houses an inner package (defined by a group of
cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil inner wrapping material) and
is housed inside a second container to slide, with respect to the
second container, between a closed position, in which the first
container is inserted inside the second container, and an open
position, in which the first container is extracted partly from the
second container. The first container may slide straight with
respect to the second container or swing about a hinge connecting
the two containers. Some embodiments of rigid, straight-slide-open
packets of cigarettes are described in FR2499947A1, U.S. Pat. No.
4,534,463A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,227A1 and IT1169163B, and one
embodiment of a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes is described
in WO2006021581.
[0004] The sheet of foil inner wrapping material has a tear-off top
portion bounded by a so-called pull-off line, and which is torn off
for access to the cigarettes when the packet is unsealed. In the
case of a rigid, slide-open packet of cigarettes, only part of the
top wall of the inner package is accessible to the user (unlike a
conventional rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes), so the
tear-off top portion also only involves a limited portion of the
top wall of the inner package.
[0005] The sheet of foil inner wrapping material is always in the
form of an elongated rectangle, and is first folded into a U about
the group of cigarettes. Depending on the design of the packing
machine on which the packet of cigarettes is produced, the sheet of
inner wrapping material may first be folded into a U crosswise or
longitudinally about the group of cigarettes. When the sheet of
inner wrapping material of a rigid, slide-open packet of cigarettes
is first folded into a U crosswise about the group of cigarettes,
the tear-off top portion is defined by one part of the sheet of
inner wrapping material bounded by one pull-off line.
[0006] Conversely, when the sheet of inner wrapping material of a
rigid, slide-open packet of cigarettes is first folded into a U
longitudinally about the group of cigarettes, the tear-off top
portion is defined by two separate parts of the sheet of inner
wrapping material, located at opposite ends of the sheet and
bounded by two corresponding pull-off lines, as described, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,227A1. A tear-off top portion
comprising two separate parts of the sheet of inner wrapping
material is unpractical, by forcing the user, when unsealing the
packet, to tear off the top portion in two consecutive operations
(one for each part of the tear-off top portion) as opposed to one
single operation.
[0007] Moreover, parts of the tear-off top portion of a rigid,
slide-open packet of cigarettes may lift off the rest of the inner
package and jam against the inner surface of the outer container,
thus making it difficult (if not impossible without tearing the
packing material) to unseal the packet. (This problem only applies
when unsealing the packet, in that, once the packet is unsealed,
the tear-off top portion is removed).
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a packet
of cigarettes, and a method of producing a packet of cigarettes,
which are designed to eliminate the above drawbacks and, at the
same time, are cheap and easy to implement.
[0009] According to the present invention, there are provided a
packet of cigarettes, and a method of producing a packet of
cigarettes, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.
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 rigid,
straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes in a closed
configuration;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a front view in perspective of the FIG. 1
packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view in perspective of the FIG. 1
packet of cigarettes;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an
inner container of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an
outer container of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a top wall of an inner package
of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes;
[0017] FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a sheet of inner wrapping
material from which to form the FIG. 6 inner package;
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a view in perspective of a group of cigarettes
contained in the FIG. 6 inner package;
[0019] FIGS. 9-19 show views in perspective of a sequence of steps
by which to fold the FIG. 7 sheet of inner wrapping material about
the FIG. 8 group of cigarettes to form the FIG. 6 inner
package;
[0020] FIG. 20 shows a front view in perspective of a variation of
the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;
[0021] FIG. 21 shows a front view in perspective of a further
variation of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open
configuration;
[0022] FIG. 22 shows a plan view of a variation of the FIG. 4 blank
from which to form the inner container in FIG. 21;
[0023] FIGS. 23a and 23b show front views in perspective of a
further variation of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open
configuration, and respectively with and without a tear-off lid
covering a top wall of an inner package;
[0024] FIG. 24 shows a front view in perspective of an inner
package of the FIG. 23 packet of cigarettes;
[0025] FIG. 25 shows a plan view of a sheet of inner wrapping
material from which to form the FIG. 24 inner package;
[0026] FIG. 26 shows a front view in perspective of a further
variation of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open
configuration;
[0027] FIG. 27 shows a front view in perspective of an inner
package of the FIG. 26 packet of cigarettes;
[0028] FIG. 28 shows a plan view of a sheet of inner wrapping
material from which to form the FIG. 27 inner package;
[0029] FIG. 29 shows a front view in perspective of a further
variation of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open
configuration;
[0030] FIG. 30 shows a front view in perspective of a further
variation of the FIG. 1 packet of cigarettes in an open
configuration;
[0031] FIG. 31 shows a front view in perspective of a rigid,
swing-open packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration;
[0032] FIG. 32 shows a front view in perspective of the FIG. 31
packet of cigarettes in an open configuration;
[0033] FIG. 33 shows a front view in perspective of the FIG. 31
packet of cigarettes in an open configuration, and with a tear-off
lid, which covers a top wall of an inner package, removed;
[0034] FIG. 34 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an
inner container of the FIG. 31 packet of cigarettes;
[0035] FIG. 35 shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an
outer container of the FIG. 31 packet of cigarettes;
[0036] FIG. 36 shows a plan view of a variation of the FIG. 34
blank, from which to form an inner container of a rigid,
straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes;
[0037] FIG. 37 shows a plan view of a variation of the FIG. 35
blank, from which to form an outer container of a rigid,
straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a rigid,
straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes.
[0039] The packet 1 of cigarettes shown in FIG. 1 comprises an
inner package 2 defined by a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet
of foil inner wrapping material; and a rigid outer package 3 made
of cardboard or similar, and housing inner package 2. Outer package
3 in turn comprises a rigid inner container 4 actually housing
inner package 2; and a rigid outer container 5 housing inner
container 4 to allow inner container 4 to slide, with respect to
outer container 5 and in a straight (translatory) movement, between
a closed position (FIG. 1), in which inner container 4 is inserted
completely inside outer container 5, and an open position (FIG. 2),
in which inner container 4 is partly extracted from outer container
5 for direct user access to inner package 2.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, inner container 4 is
parallelepiped-shaped, and has a bottom wall 6, a top wall 7, two
opposite parallel major lateral walls 8, and two parallel minor
lateral walls 9a, 9b interposed between major lateral walls 8.
Close to minor lateral wall 9a, top wall 7 has an extraction
opening 10, which also extends over part of major lateral walls 8
and, when inner container 4 is in the open position, is located
outside outer container 5 to allow the user to open inner package 2
and withdraw the cigarettes from inner container 4. A retaining tab
11 is cut into each major lateral wall 8, close to minor lateral
wall 9b, and projects outwards of inner container 4 from the edge
between relative major lateral wall 8 and minor lateral wall 9b.
Four longitudinal edges are defined between major lateral walls 8
and minor lateral walls 9, and eight transverse edges are defined
between lateral walls 8, 9 and walls 6, 7.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, outer container 5 is also
parallelepiped-shaped, and has a bottom wall 12, a top wall 13, two
opposite parallel major lateral walls 14, a minor lateral wall 15,
and an opening 16 opposite minor lateral wall 15 and through which
inner container 4 slides. A retaining tab 17 is connected to the
edge of each major lateral wall 14 bounding opening 16, projects
inwards of outer container 5 from relative major lateral wall 14,
and, as inner container 4 is extracted, engages a corresponding
retaining tab 11 of inner container 4 to limit the outward travel
of inner container 4 and prevent it from detaching completely from
outer container 5. Two longitudinal edges are defined between major
lateral walls 14 and minor lateral wall 15; and six transverse
edges are defined between lateral walls 14, 15 and walls 12,
13.
[0042] Minor lateral wall 15 of outer container 5 has a central
hole shaped and sized to allow the user to exert pressure, through
minor lateral wall 15, on minor lateral wall 9b of inner container
4, to slide inner container 4 into the open position.
[0043] In one embodiment, weak-stick, non-dry glue (i.e.
non-permanent glue that allows parts to be pulled apart and reglued
repeatedly without losing its adhesive properties) is applied
between minor lateral wall 15 of outer container 5 and minor
lateral wall 9b of inner container 4 (i.e. the minor lateral wall
resting against minor lateral 15 of outer container 5 in the closed
position), so that, in the closed position, minor lateral wall 9b
is glued weakly to minor lateral wall 15 to hold inner container 4
firmly in the closed position.
[0044] In the FIG. 1-3 embodiment, the longitudinal and transverse
edges of containers 4 and 5 are all straight. In other embodiments,
not shown, at least one of the edges of containers 4 and 5 may be
other than straight, e.g. rounded or bevelled.
[0045] Containers 4 and 5 of the FIG. 1-3 packet 1 of cigarettes
are formed by folding respective known blanks 19 and 20 shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively. Blanks 19 and 20 each comprise, among
other things, a number of panels, which are indicated, where
possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as
for the corresponding walls of respective container 4, 5.
[0046] With reference to FIG. 4, blank 19 has two longitudinal fold
lines 21, and a number of transverse fold lines 22 defining,
between longitudinal fold lines 21, a panel 7' forming part of top
wall 7; a panel 8' forming one major lateral wall 8; a panel 6'
forming bottom wall 6; a panel 8'' forming the other major lateral
wall 8; and a panel 7'' forming the rest of top wall 7.
[0047] Panel 8' has two lateral wings 9', which form respective
inner portions of minor lateral walls 9, are located on opposite
sides of panel 8', and are separated from panel 8' by longitudinal
fold lines 21. Panel 8'' has two lateral wings 9'', which form
respective outer portions of minor lateral walls 9, are located on
opposite sides of panel 8'', and are separated from panel 8'' by
longitudinal fold lines 21. Each lateral wing 9' of panel 8' has a
tab 23 separated from lateral wing 9' by a transverse fold line 22.
And a window, defining a respective retaining tab 11, is formed in
each panel 8', 8''.
[0048] With reference to FIG. 5, blank 20 has two transverse fold
lines 24, and a number of longitudinal fold lines 25 defining,
between transverse fold lines 24, a panel 14' forming one major
lateral wall 14; a panel 15' forming minor lateral wall 15; and a
panel 14'' forming the other major lateral wall 14. And each panel
14', 14'' has a retaining tab 17 located on the opposite side to
panel 15' and separated from respective panel 14', 14'' by a
longitudinal fold line 25.
[0049] Panel 14' has two rectangular end wings 12' and 13', which
are located at opposite ends of panel 14', are separated from panel
14' by transverse fold lines 24, and form respective outer portions
of walls 12 and 13. Panel 15' has two end wings 12'' and 13'',
which are located at opposite ends of panel 15', are separated from
panel 15' by transverse fold lines 24, are triangular in shape with
a rounded outer vertex, and form respective inner portions of walls
12 and 13. Panel 14'' has two trapezoidal end wings 12''' and
13''', which are located at opposite ends of panel 14'', are
separated from panel 14'' by transverse fold lines 24, and form
respective inner portions of walls 12 and 13. And end wings 12'',
12''' and 13'', 13''' are shaped so as not to overlap when folded
onto end wings 12' and 13' to form walls 12 and 13 of outer
container 5.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, inner package 2 is
parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and is
defined by a rectangular sheet 29 of foil inner wrapping material
(shown spread out in FIG. 7) folded about an orderly, substantially
parallelepiped-shaped group 30 of cigarettes (FIG. 8) with a
rectangular cross section. Inner package 2 has a single tear-off
top portion 31, which is bounded by a tear line 32, extends
seamlessly over a single portion of sheet 29 of wrapping material
(as shown in FIG. 7), and, when unsealing packet 1 of cigarettes,
is torn off for easy access to group 30 of cigarettes. Tear-off top
portion 31 preferably comprises a tab 33, which is pressed down
onto a top wall of inner package 2, and can be lifted up and
gripped by the user to tear tear-off top portion 31 off inner
package 2. In other words, tab 33 is formed from and forms an
integral part of tear-off top portion 31, and can be lifted up and
gripped by the user to pull tear-off top portion 31 off inner
package 2.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, sheet 29 of wrapping material is in the
form of an elongated rectangle with two parallel, opposite long
sides, and two parallel, opposite short sides.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, group 30 of cigarettes is substantially
parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and
comprises two parallel, opposite, rectangular major lateral walls
34 (only one shown in FIG. 8) defined by cylindrical lateral walls
of the cigarettes; two parallel, opposite, rectangular minor
lateral walls 35 (only one shown in FIG. 8) defined by cylindrical
lateral walls of the cigarettes and smaller than major lateral
walls 34; and two parallel, opposite, rectangular end walls 36
(only one shown in FIG. 8) defined by the flat ends of the
cigarettes (more specifically, one end wall 36a is defined by the
plain ends of the cigarettes, and the other end wall 36b is defined
by the filter-tipped ends).
[0053] Four longitudinal edges 37 are defined between the two major
lateral walls 34 and the two minor lateral walls 35; four major
transverse edges 38 are defined between the two major lateral walls
34 and the two end walls 36; and four minor transverse edges 39 are
defined between the two minor lateral walls 35 and the two end
walls 36.
[0054] The way in which sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded
about group 30 of cigarettes to form inner package 2 will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 9-19.
[0055] Firstly, as shown in FIG. 9, one major lateral wall 34b of
group 30 of cigarettes is brought into contact with the spread-out
sheet 29 of wrapping material, so that longitudinal edges 37 of
group 30 of cigarettes are parallel to the long sides of sheet 29
of wrapping material, and major transverse edges 38 of group 30 of
cigarettes are parallel to the short sides of sheet 29 of wrapping
material. Major lateral wall 34b of group 30 of cigarettes is
positioned symmetrically at the centre with respect to the long
sides of sheet 29 of wrapping material, but asymmetrically with
respect to the short sides of sheet 29 of wrapping material (more
specifically, is positioned over the centreline, closer to tear-off
top portion 31). Sheet 29 of wrapping material is then folded about
group 30 of cigarettes, and two opposite flaps 40 and 41 of sheet
29 of wrapping material are overlapped to form a tubular wrapping
(FIG. 13) enclosing group 30 of cigarettes and having two open
lateral ends 42, 43 at the minor lateral walls 35 of group 30 of
cigarettes. Opposite flaps 40 and 41 of sheet 29 of wrapping
material overlap on the other major lateral wall 34a of group 30 of
cigarettes, so that tear-off top portion 31 is located at a top
quarter of inner package 2, as shown for example in FIG. 2.
[0056] Finally (FIGS. 14-17), the open lateral ends 42, of sheet 29
of wrapping material are folded to complete inner package 2. More
specifically, sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded about a minor
transverse edge 39a of group 30 of cigarettes at tear-off top
portion 31, to form, with part of tear-off top portion 31, tab 33
astride minor transverse edge 39a (as shown in FIG. 17).
[0057] To form tab 33, sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded, at
open lateral end 42 involving tear-off top portion 31, about a
longitudinal edge 37a onto a minor lateral wall 35a, without first
being folded about minor transverse edge 39a (FIG. 16); and is then
folded, at open lateral end 42, about a second longitudinal edge
37b onto minor lateral wall 35a. In a preferred embodiment, before
being folded about longitudinal edge 37a onto minor lateral wall
35a, sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded about a minor
transverse edge 39b of minor lateral wall 35a.
[0058] Open lateral end 43 is preferably folded by first folding
sheet 29 of wrapping material about the two minor transverse edges
39, and then about the two longitudinal edges 37.
[0059] As stated, tab 33 is folded about minor transverse edge 39a
onto end wall 36b of group 30 of cigarettes (as shown in FIG. 18).
In a preferred embodiment, tab 33 is fixed temporarily to the rest
of tear-off top portion 31 covering end wall 36b of group 30 of
cigarettes. This can be done by applying weak-stick glue (i.e.
non-permanent glue that allows parts to be pulled apart easily)
between tab 33 and the rest of tear-off top portion 31, to fix tab
33 temporarily to the rest of tear-off top portion 31; or by
applying a tear-off sticker 44 (FIG. 20), coated with weak-stick
glue (i.e. non-permanent glue that allows parts to be pulled apart
easily), over tab 33 and the rest of tear-off top portion 31, to
fix tab 33 temporarily to the rest of tear-off top portion 31. In
one variation, tear-off sticker 44 is applied to tab 33 and the
rest of tear-off top portion 31 using strong-stick glue (i.e.
permanent glue that only allows parts to be ripped apart). In which
case, both tear-off top portion 31 and tear-off sticker 44 can be
removed simultaneously by the user. For easy removal, sticker 44
may be provided with a non-glued grip tab (not shown). Tear-off
sticker 44 may also be glued over tab 33 and the rest of tear-off
top portion 31 using strong-stick glue, to fix tab 33 permanently
to the rest of tear-off top portion 31.
[0060] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 21, outer
package 3, in particular inner container 4 of outer package 3,
comprises a tear-off lid 45, which is torn off when unsealing
packet 1 of cigarettes, and at least partly covers extraction
opening 10 of inner container 4 (and therefore almost the whole of
tear-off top portion 31).
[0061] Tear-off lid 45 is U-shaped, and comprises a top wall 46
forming a natural extension of top wall 7 of inner container 4; and
two lateral walls 47 coplanar with major lateral walls 8 of inner
container 4. Tear-off lid 45 (i.e. top wall 46 and lateral walls 47
of tear-off lid 45) is connected to the rest of inner container 4
along tear lines 48. More specifically, top wall 46 of tear-off lid
45 is connected to top wall 7 of inner container 4 along a tear
line 48; and each lateral wall 47 of tear-off lid 45 is connected
to a respective major lateral wall 8 of inner container 4 along two
tear lines 48 on opposite sides of lateral wall 47.
[0062] In a preferred embodiment, as opposed to covering the whole
of extraction opening 10, tear-off lid 45 leaves at least part of
extraction opening 10 uncovered, to form a grip by which to grip
and remove tear-off lid easily. Each part of extraction opening 10
left uncovered by tear-off lid 45 is preferably located on a
respective major lateral wall 8 of inner container 4. Which means
tear-off lid 45 may leave uncovered two separate parts of
extraction opening 10, located symmetrically on the two major
lateral walls 8 of inner container 4, or only one part of
extraction opening 10, located asymmetrically on one major lateral
wall 8 of inner container 4. Alternatively or in addition, top wall
46 of tear-off lid 45 is smaller than the top wall of inner package
2 (as shown in FIG. 32), so as to provide a further grip by which
to grip and remove tear-off lid 45 easily.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 22, tear-off lid 45 is formed by
superimposing and gluing together two separate panels 45' and 45''.
Panel 45' comprises two portions 46', 47' separated by a transverse
fold line 22; panel 45'' comprises two portions 46'', 47''
separated by a transverse fold line 22; and portion 46' of panel
45' is superimposed on and glued to portion 46'' of panel 45'' to
form top wall 46 of lid 45.
[0064] Tear-off lid 45 also serves to keep tab 33 pressed down onto
the rest of tear-off top portion 31 covering end wall 36b of group
30 of cigarettes. In one embodiment, tear-off lid 45 is glued to
tear-off top portion 31 of inner package 2 (i.e. a bottom surface
of tear-off lid 45 is glued to tear-off top portion 31) using
strong-stick glue (i.e. permanent glue that only allows parts to be
ripped apart), so that both tear-off top portion 31 and tear-off
lid 45 can be removed simultaneously by the user.
[0065] The FIG. 23 embodiment differs from the FIG. 1-22
embodiments (particularly the FIG. 21 embodiment) as regards the
form of tear-off top portion 31 and the way in which sheet 29 of
inner wrapping material is folded about group 30 of cigarettes. In
the FIG. 23 embodiment, tear-off top portion 31 involves an inner
portion of sheet 29 of wrapping material; and sheet 29 of wrapping
material is folded without forming tab 33. Comparison of sheets 29
of wrapping material in FIGS. 6 and 25, and of inner packages 2 in
FIGS. 18 and 24 clearly shows the differences between the FIG. 23
and FIG. 1-22 embodiments.
[0066] It is important to note that, in the FIG. 23 embodiment too,
sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded about group 30 of
cigarettes by superimposing flaps 40 and 41 on major lateral wall
34a of group 30 of cigarettes, so that tear-off top portion 31 is
located at a top quarter of inner package 2, as shown in FIG.
24.
[0067] In the FIG. 23 embodiment (as in the FIG. 21 embodiment),
tear-off lid 45 is glued using strong-stick glue (or heat sealed)
to tear-off top portion 31 of inner package 2, so that tear-off top
portion 31 and tear-off lid 45 can be removed simultaneously by the
user. (FIG. 23b shows packet 1 of cigarettes, from which tear-off
lid 45 has been removed together with tear-off top portion 31, to
expose the cigarettes in group 30 inside inner package 2). In one
variation, tear-off lid 45 in the FIG. 23 embodiment is replaced
with a tear-off sticker 44 (as in the FIG. 20 embodiment) glued
with strong-stick glue (or heat sealed) to tear-off top portion 31
of inner package 2.
[0068] It is important to note that, in packet 1 of cigarettes (and
its variations) described above, tear-off top portion 31 can be
removed quickly and easily in one go, and no glue is present inside
inner package 2. The latter is a potentially important feature, in
that some types of glue are thought to negatively affect the
organoleptic characteristics of the cigarettes if placed too close
to them.
[0069] In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 26-28, sheet 29
of wrapping material (FIG. 28) has two tear lines 32a, 32b defining
respective tear-off top portions 31a, 31b located at opposite edges
of sheet 29 of wrapping material, and which overlap (as shown in
FIG. 27) when sheet 29 of wrapping material is folded in known
manner about group 30 of cigarettes to form inner package 2.
Tear-off top portions 31a, 31b are glued integrally to one another
using strong-stick glue, so that removal of either one also removes
the other, thus enabling both tear-off top portions 31a, 31b to be
removed in one go.
[0070] In the FIG. 26 embodiment, outer package 3 has no tear-off
lid 45. In the FIG. 29 variation, outer package 3 has a tear-off
lid 45 partly covering tear-off top portions 31a, 31b, and which
may be separate from (i.e. not glued to) tear-off top portions 31a,
31b, may be glued with strong-stick glue to only one of tear-off
top portions 31a, 31b (in which case, tear-off top portions 31a,
31b must be glued to each other with strong-stick glue), or may be
glued with strong-stick glue to both tear-off top portions 31a, 31b
(in which case, tear-off top portions 31a, 31b may either be glued
to each other with strong-stick glue, or not glued at all). When
tear-off lid 45 is glued with strong-stick glue to at least one of
tear-off top portions 31a, 31b, both tear-off lid 45 and tear-off
top portions 31a, 31b can be removed simultaneously by the
user.
[0071] In the FIG. 29 embodiment, outer package 3 has a tear-off
lid 45 partly covering tear-off top portions 31a, 31b. In the FIG.
30 variation, tear-off lid 45 is replaced with a tear-off sticker
44 glued using strong-stick glue (i.e. permanent glue that only
allows parts to be ripped apart) to at least one tear-off top
portion 31a, 31b. More specifically, tear-off sticker 44 may be
glued with strong-stick glue to only one of tear-off top portions
31a, 31b (in which case, tear-off top portions 31a, 31b must be
glued to each other with strong-stick glue), or may be glued with
strong-stick glue to both tear-off top portions 31a, 31b (in which
case, tear-off top portions 31a, 31b may either be glued to each
other with strong-stick glue, or not glued at all). In this
embodiment, both tear-off sticker 44 and tear-off top portions 31a,
31b can be removed simultaneously by the user.
[0072] The packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 31 and 32 differs from
the one in FIGS. 1 and 2 substantially as regards the way in which
inner container 4 moves with respect to outer container 5: in
packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 1 and 2, inner container 4
translates with respect to outer container 5, whereas, in the
packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 31 and 32, inner container 4
rotates with respect to outer container 5.
[0073] Given the close resemblance between packet 1 of cigarettes
in FIGS. 31 and 32, and the one in FIGS. 1 and 2, for a detailed
description of the FIGS. 31 and 32 packet 1 of cigarettes, the
reader is referred to the above description of packet 1 of
cigarettes in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0074] In the packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 31 and 32, outer
package 3, and more specifically inner container 4 of outer package
3, comprises a tear-off lid 45 (FIG. 32), which must be removed
when unsealing packet 1 of cigarettes, and covers at least part of
extraction opening 10 of inner container 4 (and therefore a top
wall of inner package 2). Preferably, tear-off lid 45 covers the
tear-off top portion 31 of inner package 2 forming a portion of the
top wall of inner package 2. It is important to note that tear-off
top portion 31 of inner package 2 may be formed as described above
(i.e. by a seamless single portion of sheet 29 of wrapping
material, as shown clearly in FIG. 7, with or without tab 33), or
may be a conventional type, i.e. defined by two separate
overlapping portions 31a, 31b of sheet 29 of wrapping material (as
shown in FIGS. 27 and 28). In which case, the two separate portions
31a, 31b forming tear-off top portion 31 of inner package 2 may or
may not be glued to each other.
[0075] FIG. 33 shows packet 1 of cigarettes with tear-off lid 45
removed from inner container 4, and clearly showing the whole top
wall of inner package 2 in which tear-off top portion 31 is
formed.
[0076] In the FIG. 31-33 embodiment, inner container 4 has no top
wall 7 at all, so that, once tear-off lid 45 is removed from inner
container 4, the top wall of inner package 2 is completely exposed
(as shown in FIG. 33).
[0077] Tear-off lid 45 is U-shaped, and comprises a top wall 46
covering the top wall of inner package 2 (and which would form a
natural extension of top wall 7 of inner container 4 if it had
one); and two lateral walls 47 covering part of the major lateral
walls of inner package 2, and coplanar with major lateral walls 8
of inner container 4. Tear-off lid 45 (i.e. top wall 46 and lateral
walls 47 of tear-off lid 45) is connected to the rest of inner
container 4 along tear lines 48. More specifically, top wall 46 of
tear-off lid 45 is not connected to inner container 4; and each
lateral wall 47 of tear-off lid 45 is connected to a respective
major lateral wall 8 of inner container 4 along a single U-shaped
tear line 48 (as shown in blank 19 in FIG. 34), or along two tear
lines 48 on opposite sides of lateral wall 47.
[0078] In a preferred embodiment, as opposed to covering the whole
of extraction opening 10, tear-off lid 45 leaves at least part of
extraction opening 10 uncovered, to form a grip by which to grip
and remove tear-off lid easily. Each part of extraction opening 10
left uncovered by tear-off lid 45 is preferably located on a
respective major lateral wall 8 of inner container 4. Which means
tear-off lid 45 may leave uncovered two separate parts of
extraction opening 10, located symmetrically on the two major
lateral walls 8 of inner container 4, or only one part of
extraction opening 10, located asymmetrically on one major lateral
wall 8 of inner container 4 (as in blank 19 in FIG. 34).
[0079] As shown in blank 19 in FIG. 34, tear-off lid 45 is formed
by superimposing and gluing together two separate panels 45' and
45''. Panel 45' comprises two portions 46', 47' separated by a
transverse fold line 22; panel 45'' comprises two portions 46'',
47'' separated by a transverse fold line 22; and portion 46' of
panel 45' is superimposed on and glued to portion 46'' of panel
45'' to form top wall 46 of lid 45.
[0080] In a preferred embodiment, tear-off lid 45 is in no way
fixed (glued) to tear-off top portion 31 of inner package 2, which
means, once tear-off lid 45 is removed, the underlying tear-off top
portion 31 of inner package remains whole (as shown in FIG. 33). In
an alternative embodiment, tear-off lid 45 is glued to tear-off top
portion 31 of inner package 2 (i.e. a bottom surface of tear-off
lid 45 is glued to tear-off top portion 31) using strong-stick glue
(i.e. permanent glue that only allows parts to be ripped apart), so
that both tear-off top portion 31 and tear-off lid 45 can be
removed simultaneously by the user.
[0081] Tear-off lid 45 keeps tear-off top portion 31 of inner
package 2 pressed down onto the top wall of inner package 2, thus
preventing parts of tear-off top portion 31 from lifting off the
rest of inner package 2 and jamming against the inner surface of
outer container 5, thus making it difficult (if not impossible,
without tearing the wrapping material) to unseal packet 1 of
cigarettes. (This problem only applies when unsealing packet 1 of
cigarettes, in that, once unsealed, tear-off top portion 31 has
been removed).
[0082] FIG. 34 shows the blank 19 from which to form the inner
container 4 of packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 31-33. Blank 19 in
FIG. 34 is identical to blank 19 in FIG. 4--to the description of
which the reader is therefore referred for a detailed description
of blank in FIG. 34--except, obviously, for comprising panels 45'
and 45'' from which to form tear-off lid 45.
[0083] FIG. 35 shows the blank 20 from which to form the outer
container 5 of packet 1 of cigarettes in FIGS. 31-33. Blank 20 in
FIG. 35 is identical to blank 20 in FIG. 5--to the description of
which the reader is therefore referred for a detailed description
of blank 20 in FIG. 35--except for wings 12' and 12''' comprising
the fold lines defining hinge 49 about which inner container 4
rotates with respect to outer container 5.
[0084] FIGS. 36 and 37 show respective blanks 19 and 20 from which
to form a packet 1 of cigarettes similar to the one in FIGS. 31-33
(i.e. with the same design of tear-off lid 45), but in which
container 4 translates with respect to container 5.
[0085] In one embodiment, sheet 29 of inner wrapping material is
made of foil; inner package 2 is not stabilized at all, either by
gluing or heat sealing; and the (each) tear line 32 is defined by a
succession of spaced (typically, mechanically punched) through
holes. In an alternative embodiment, sheet 29 of inner wrapping
material is made of heat-seal multilayer material; and inner
package 2 is stabilized by heat sealing (i.e. the superimposed
portions of sheet 29 of inner wrapping material are heat sealed
after they are folded). Stabilizing inner package 2 by heat sealing
enables it to be sealed. In which case, the (each) tear line is
defined by a partial incision (made, for example, by a laser beam)
perpendicular to and through only part of the thickness of sheet 29
of inner wrapping material (more specifically, the partial incision
does not cut through a plastic barrier layer designed to seal inner
package 2 from the outside atmosphere.
[0086] In all the embodiments described, inner package 2 can be
sealed by heat sealing, and the (each) tear line 32 can be defined
by a partial incision that does not cut through a plastic barrier
layer designed to seal inner package 2 from the outside atmosphere.
This is especially true of the FIG. 23-25 embodiment, which is
particularly suitable for employing an inner package 2 sealed by
heat sealing, and in which the tear line 32 is defined by a partial
incision that does not cut through a plastic barrier layer.
[0087] The embodiments described above refer to a rigid, slide-open
packet 1 of cigarettes with a straight slide-open movement, but
other types of rigid packets of cigarettes may also be employed,
such as the rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes described in
WO2006021581A1, or the rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes
described in WO2008053320A2 or DE3627440A1.
* * * * *