Hinged-lid box for cigarettes

A single-piece hinged-lid cigarette box which has a collar (12) connected to a main section (33), in the area of a front panel (13) of the box, by tabs (34, 35), the collar being part of the single-piece box. A front panel (30) of the collar is provided with recesses (41, 42) in order to avoid a multi-layer structure in the area of the tabs (34, 35) which are folded into a Z shape (34, 35). At least partial areas of the folded tabs (34, 35) fit into these recesses (41, 42).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The invention relates to a hinge-lid box (hinge-lid pack), in particular
 for cigarettes, comprising a single-piece blank made of (thin) cardboard
 for forming a box part with a box front wall, box rear wall, box side
 walls and base wall and for forming a lid with a lid front wall, lid rear
 wall, lid side walls and end wall, and also having a collar comprising a
 collar front wall and collar side tabs, the collar being connected, in the
 region of the collar front wall, to the box front wall via residual
 connections or webs which, when the blank is folded, can be folded in a
 Z-shaped manner such that the residual connections or webs butt against
 the inside of the box front wall.
 Various designs are known for hinge-lid boxes comprising blanks in which
 the collar is connected integrally to a main blank for the box part and
 lid. In the case of the hinge-lid box according to EP 6 872, webs are
 arranged, as means for connection to the collar, on the upright sides of
 the box front wall. By virtue of its position relative to the box front
 wall being changed, said collar is folded into the pack-specific position,
 in which case the webs are moved into a Z-shaped folded position.
 The hinge-lid box according to DE 27 59 178 is of similar configuration,
 the foldable connection between the box front wall and collar front wall
 extending over the entire width of the box front wall.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The object of the invention is to develop further, and improve, hinge-lid
 boxes of the above described design such that production is made easier
 and the outer appearance of the finished hinge-lid box is improved.
 In order to achieve this object, the hinge-lid box according to the
 invention is characterized in that the collar front wall, which butts
 against the (Z-shaped) folded webs on the inside, has a cutout or
 depression in the region of the webs, the relevant web passing at least
 partially into said cutout or depression.
 The hinge-lid box according to the invention is based on the finding that
 the residual connections or webs in the folded position, that is to say in
 the position between the collar front wall and box front wall, create an
 additional material layer and thus a thickened formation. This is wholly
 or partially eliminated according to the invention by virtue of the cutout
 or depression in the collar front wall, in the region of the folded web,
 with the result that the latter is at least predominantly located in the
 cutout and a local thickened formation in the material is thus avoided.
 According to the invention, the positioning and dimensions of the cutout
 are adapted to the dimensioning and positioning of the web when folded. By
 virtue of a specific configuration of the webs, namely by virtue of a
 transversely directed partial cut in the region of a folding articulation,
 the folded web can assume a clamping position in the cutout of the collar
 front wall and can thus fix the folded position of the collar or of the
 webs.
 A further special feature of the invention consists in proposing an
 advantageous design of the single-piece blank for a special type of
 hinge-lid box, namely those with rounded longitudinal edges or bevelled
 longitudinal edges (of octagonal cross-section).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 A typical hinge-lid box comprises a (relatively large) box part 10, a lid
 11 and a collar 12. The box part 10 forms a box front wall 13, a box rear
 wall 14 and narrow, elongate box side walls 15 and 16. The box part 10 is
 bounded at the bottom by a base 17. Analogously to this, the lid 11
 comprises lid front wall 18, lid rear wall 19, lid side walls 20, 21 and a
 top end wall 22. The lid 11 is connected pivotably to the box part 10, to
 be precise via an articulation line 23 between the box rear wall 14 and
 lid rear wall 19.
 It is also typical of a hinge-lid box that the box side walls 15, 16 and
 the lid side walls 20, 21 are of double-layered design, that is to say
 each comprise an inner box side tab 24 and outer box side tab 25.
 Analogously, the lid side walls 20 and 21 are of double-layered design,
 that is to say comprise an inner lid side tab 26 and an outer lid side tab
 27. The side tabs 24, 25 of the box part 10, on the one hand, and the side
 tabs 26, 27 of the lid 11, on the other hand, are separated off from one
 another by oblique closing edges 28, 29.
 A further important constituent part of the hinge-lid box is the collar 12,
 with a collar front wall 30 and transversely directed collar side tabs 31
 and 32. The collar 12 is seated, by way of a bottom region, in the box
 part 10 and is anchored in the latter. A collar top part, which projects
 out of the box part 10, is enclosed by the lid 11 when the hinge-lid box
 is in the closed position. The collar front wall 30 butts against the
 inside of the box front wall 13, while the collar side tabs 31, 32 butt
 against the box side walls 15, 16 on the inside.
 The hinge-lid box as a whole, that is to say including the collar 12,
 comprises a single-piece blank (made of thin cardboard). The box part 10
 and lid 11 form a main blank 33. The collar 12 is connected to said main
 blank 33 in the region of the box front wall 13, to be precise via
 residual connections, namely webs 34 and 35. The rectangular or strip-like
 webs 34 and 35 are positioned in the lateral region of the box front wall
 13, on the one hand, and of the collar front wall 30, on the other hand.
 Each web 34, 35 is bounded in the longitudinal direction by punch cuts 36,
 37. Folding lines 38, 39 extend transversely thereto. The folding line 39
 which is at the bottom, or faces the box front wall 13, is located in the
 top boundary of the box front wall 13, that is to say in extension of a
 free transverse edge 40 of the box front wall 13.
 When the hinge-lid box has been folded, or the collar 12 is in the
 pack-specific position, the latter, in relation to the spread-out position
 of FIG. 3, has been displaced relative to the main blank 33, to be precise
 in the direction of the base 17. In this process, the webs 34, 35 are
 folded into a Z-shaped position (FIG. 2). In this case, the webs 34, 35
 butt against the rearside of the box front wall 13. The ifolding line 39,
 which is at the top following the folding operation, is flush with the
 transverse edge 40. The folding line 38 is located at a distance
 therebeneath. The webs 34, 35 are dimensioned such that, in this folded
 position (FIG. 2), the entire collar 12 has been moved, relative to the
 main blank 33, into the position appropriate for the pack.
 In order at least partially to avoid a three-layered arrangement in the
 region of the folded webs 34, 35, the collar front wall 30 is provided, in
 the region of the webs 34, 35, with a cutout 41, 42 which is produced by
 punching. The cutouts 41, 42 are positioned, configured and dimensioned
 such that a (top) part of the folded webs 34, 35 passes into the
 associated cutout 41, 42 (FIG. 2). This gives in said top region of the
 webs 34, 35, a two-layered design, as is the case elsewhere where the
 collar front wall 30 butts against the box front wall 13.
 In the case of the present exemplary embodiments, the cutouts 41, 42 are of
 rectangular design, preferably of slightly greater width than that of the
 webs 34, 35.
 Further details of the configuration of the blank according to FIG. 3 are
 also designed in accordance with the special features of the present
 hinge-lid box. For example, the overall width 43 of the blank is greater
 (e.g. 98 mm) than the collar width 44 (95 mm). The wall width 45 is, for
 example, 55 mm. The width of the webs 34, 35 may be 6 mm and that of the
 associated cutouts 41, 42 6.5 mm. The web length 46 (from folding line 38
 to folding line 39) is 7.5 mm in FIGS. 1 to 3. A distance 47 between the
 folding line 38 (which was originally at the top) and a remote border of
 the cutout 41, 42 is provided as being 7 mm. The distance between the
 folding line 38 and the facing border of the cutout 41, 42 is
 approximately 3 mm here.
 A further special feature in terms of the configuration of the blank is
 that there is a clear distance of at least 2 mm between an oblique edge 48
 of the outer box side tab 25 and a corresponding oblique edge 49, as
 bottom boundary of the collar side tab 31, 32. This produces a free
 interspace 50, which extends as far as an outer border of the respectively
 associated web 34, 35. This renders more precise folding possible. In
 particular, the situation where the collar side tabs 31, 32 catch on the
 box side tabs 25 during folding of the webs 34, 35 and of the collar 12 is
 avoided.
 In the folded position (FIGS. 1, 2), the collar 12 is connected to the box
 part 10. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the region of
 the collar front wall 30 is provided with spots of glue, to be precise two
 spots of glue 51, 52, approximately level with the cutouts 41, 42. The
 collar front wall 30 is anchored on the inside of the box front wall 13
 with the aid of these spots of glue 51, 52. In the case of this exemplary
 embodiment, the webs 34, 35 are expediently also anchored in the folded
 position (in particular FIG. 2) by adhesive bonding. The webs 34, 35 may
 be fixed by adhesive bonding to the facing, inner side of the box front
 wall 13.
 A further special feature is realized in the case of the hinge-lid box
 according to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. In this version, the webs 34, 35 are wider
 than in the case of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3.
 Correspondingly, the cutouts 41, 42 are also dimensioned to be of a
 greater width, that is to say they are slightly wider than the webs 34,
 35. In the longitudinal direction of the blank, the cutouts 41, 42 are of
 smaller dimensions, namely are considerably shorter than the webs 34, 35.
 The webs 34, 35 are separated off from the main blank 33 or from the box
 front wall 13 by folding lines 39, which are an extension of the
 transverse edge 40. The opposite folding line, which faces the cutout 41,
 42, is modified. A preferably centrally arranged severing cut 53, 54 in
 the region of the (imaginary) folding line bounds a top end edge 55 of the
 web 34, 35. The end edge 55 extends between narrow, lateral residual webs
 56, 57. A folding line which corresponds to the folding line 38 runs in
 the region of said residual webs 56, 57.
 When the collar 12 is in the folded position, at least a top region of the
 web 34, 35 passes through the associated cutout 41, 42. In the region of
 the severing cut 53, 54, the resulting end edge 55 or a facing region of
 the web 34, 35 butts against the rear side or inside of the collar front
 wall 30 (FIG. 5). This produces a clamping effect. The web 34, 35 is
 anchored on the collar by the clamping positioning of the top region.
 Additional adhesive bonding of the web 34, 35 in the folded position (to
 the box front wall 13) may be provided, but is dispensed with in the case
 of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6.
 In other respects, the hinge-lid box and blank of this exemplary embodiment
 correspond to that of FIGS. 1 to 3.
 FIGS. 7 and 8 show specially designed hinge-lid boxes, namely ones with
 rounded longitudinal edges, that is to say round edges 58, 59 (FIG. 7), or
 with bevelled edges, that is to say oblique edges 60, 61 (FIG. 8). These
 types of pack are known in principle. The special feature is in the use of
 single-piece blanks for these types of pack and in the further special
 features which result therefrom. FIGS. 7 and 8 each show a cigarette block
 62 (in chain-dotted lines) as an example of pack contents. Said cigarette
 block comprises a cigarette group which is enclosed by an inner wrapper,
 namely a tin-foil or paper blank.
 Both hinge-lid boxes (FIGS. 7, 8) comprise single-piece blanks. The collar
 12 is connected to the main blank 33 via webs 34, 35 in each case. In the
 case of the exemplary embodiments shown, the cutouts 41, 42 are also
 provided, although it is likewise possible for them to be dispensed with.
 Furthermore, the blanks may be designed in accordance with the details
 described in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6.
 An advantageous embodiment of a blank for a hinge-lid box according to FIG.
 7 is shown in FIG. 9. The round edges 58, 59 are defined by folding strips
 63, 64 which separate off a central region of the main blank 33 from
 lateral folding tabs, that is to say box front wall 13, box rear wall 14,
 base 17, lid front wall 18, lid rear wall 19 and end wall 22, on the one
 hand, from the box side tabs 24, 25 and lid side tabs 26, 27, on the other
 hand. In terms of width, the folding strip 63, 64 corresponds to the
 dimensioning of the round edges 58, 59. The folding strip 63, 64 comprises
 grooves 65 which run parallel, and at a small distance from one another,
 in the longitudinal direction of the blank. The grooves 65 are provided by
 appropriate stamping tools in the packaging machine or outside the latter.
 Since the collar 12 has round edges 58, 59 as well, folding strips 66, 67
 are also provided in the region of the collar 12, to be precise preferably
 simultaneously with the folding strips 63, 64 in the region of the main
 blank 33. The special feature is that the folding strips 63, 64, on the
 one hand, and 66, 67, on the other hand, run flush on the mutually facing
 sides. Towards the outside, that is to say towards the collar side tabs
 31, 32, the folding strips 66, 67 of the collar 12 are of a smaller width
 68 than the width 69 of the folding strips 63, 64. The dimensioning
 expediently differs by one groove 65.
 In the case of this type of hinge-lid box, the webs 34, 35 are positioned
 such that the outer punch cuts 37 are at a (small) distance from the
 facing grooves 65 or folding strips 63, 64 or 66, 67. This distance may be
 1.5 to 2 mm, and ensures that the grooves of the folding strips 63, etc.
 do not run in the region of the webs 34, 35.
 Furthermore, the blank according to FIG. 9 is designed such that rounded
 corners allow the base 17 and end wall 22 to match with the shape of the
 round edges 58, 59. It is only in the region outside the round edges 58,
 59 that the box side tabs 24 and 25 and the lid side tabs 26 and 27 butt
 against one another or overlap one another. Said side tabs are connected
 to one another by adhesive bonding in said region.
 Analogously, the blank according to FIG. 10 is designed for a hinge-lid box
 with oblique edges 60, 61. In order to produce these oblique edges 60, 61,
 two parallel folding lines 70, 71 are formed in the region of the blank.
 Said folding lines extend over the entire region of the main blank 33,
 including the lid. The collar 12 is likewise coordinated with the
 (octagonal) cross-sectional configuration of the pack. Two parallel
 folding lines are provided for the purpose of separating off the collar
 front wall 30 from the collar side tabs 31, 32. These folding lines,
 however, are parallel perforation lines 72, 73. The respectively outer
 perforation lines 72 are interrupted in a top or outer region by a
 C-shaped punching 74. The latter forms in each case a protrusion or
 overhang of the collar on the front side of the pack so that the lid 11
 can be fixed in the closed position. The perforation lines 72, 73, as
 predefined folding lines in the region of the collar 12, are arranged such
 that the inner perforation lines 73 are spaced apart from one another by a
 smaller distance than the inner, mutually facing folding lines 70. For
 example, the distance between the folding lines 70 may be 51.3 mm and the
 distance between the perforation lines 73 may be 50.3 mm. This then gives
 the position for the outer perforation lines 72. The distance between the
 latter and the respectively adjacent inner perforation line 73 may be 7.9
 mm and the distance between the two mutually associated folding lines 70,
 71 8.9 mm. Consequently, the outer folding lines 71 are offset outwards
 with respect to the outer perforation lines 72.
 These geometrical interrelationships mean that adjacent walls run as shown
 in FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 shows a detail of the pack according to FIG. 7
 in the region where the collar 12 and box front wall 13 overlap. The
 quarter-circle regions of the box front wall 13 and collar 12 are located
 concentrically with respect to one another, that is to say with the same
 (imaginary) centre point. This effect is ensured by the above described
 dimensions. Accordingly, in the region of the collar 12, the round edge
 58, 59 is of a smaller diameter than that of the box front wall 13.
 The hinge-lid box according to FIG. 8 is of analogous design in this
 region. (Upright) edges of the box front wall 13 formed by the folding
 lines 70, 71 are on a line with the edges formed by the perforation lines
 72 and 73.
 In other respects, the hinge-lid boxes according to FIGS. 7 to 12 may be
 designed in a known manner and/or with all the details of the hinge-lid
 boxes according to FIGS. 1 to 6, namely in terms of the connection of the
 collar 12 to the main blank 33.

List of Designation
 10 Box part
 11 Lid
 12 Collar
 13 Box front wall
 14 Box tear wall
 15 Box side wall
 16 Box side wall
 17 Base
 18 Lid front wall
 19 Lid rear wall
 20 Lid side wall
 21 Lid side wall
 22 End wall
 23 Articulation line
 24 Inner box side tab
 25 Outer box side tab
 26 Inner lid side tab
 27 Outer lid side tab
 28 Closing edge
 29 Closing edge
 30 Collar front wall
 31 Collar side tab
 32 Collar side tab
 33 Main blank
 34 Web
 35 Web
 36 Punch cut
 37 Punch cut
 38 Folding line
 39 Folding line
 40 Transverse edge
 4i Cutout
 42 Cutout
 43 Overall width
 44 Collar width
 45 Wall width
 46 Web length
 47 Distance
 48 Oblique edge
 49 Oblique edge
 50 Interspace
 5i Spot of glue
 52 Spot of glue
 53 Severing cut
 54 Severing cut
 55 End edge
 56 Residual web
 57 Residual web
 58 Round edge
 59 Round edge
 60 Oblique edge
 6i Oblique edge
 62 Cigarette block
 63 Folding strip
 64 Folding strip
 65 Groove
 66 Folding strip
 67 Folding strip
 68 Width
 69 Width
 70 Folding line
 71 Folding line
 72 Perforation line
 73 Perforation line
 74 Punching