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.

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  7   a  and  8   a  adjoining the longer side  9  of the bottom face  10 , a shorter base  7   b  and  8   b  adjoining a longer side of the opening  13 , and two angled sides  7   c  and  8   c  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  11   a  adjoining a respective shorter side of the access opening  13 , a bottom edge  11   b  adjoining a shorter side  12  of the bottom face  10 , and two side edges  11   c  each adjoining one angled side  7   c  or  8   c  of a respective front or rear face  7  or  8 .  
         [0020]     In practice, each bottom edge  11   b  coincides with an acute corner edge, whilst each top edge  11   a  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  8   b  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  15   a  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  15   a  are placed side by side with respective corner edges directed toward the opening  13 .  
         [0027]     The group  15  further comprises a second row  15   b  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  15   b  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  15   b  is interposed between two corresponding packets  2  of the first row  15   a . Consequently, the number of packets  2  making up the second row  15   b  is less than the number of packets  2  making up the first row  15   a.    
         [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  15   a  and four the second row  15   b.    
         [0030]     The wrapper  1  might be proportioned to contain any given number of packets  2 , arranged with the packets of the second row  15   b  interposed between those of the first row  15   a.    
         [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  15   a  of the top group  15  presents the same number of packets  2  as the second row  15   b  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  14   a.    
         [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  18   a  and  19   a  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  18   a  and  19   a  of the transverse crease lines  18  and  19 , which coincide with the angled sides  7   c  and  8   c  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  14   a  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  14   a  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  14   a  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.