Rigid hinged-lid packet for the stable packing of groups of long elements of variable size

Abstract: The rigid packet (1) with hinged lid (3) includes a container (2) for a group of long elements (4) and a lid (3) hinged at a top, open end of the container (2), each having a front (2a, 3a), a back (2b, 3b) and two sides (2c, 3c); inside the container (2), fixed to and partly protruding from the latter, there is a collar (6) with three consecutive flaps (7, 8) which have one or more notches (10) defining respective tabs (11), hinged with their hinged side (lla) to the collar (6), folded inwards in the container (2) and in contact with the group of long elements (4) so as to form flexible compensation elements which recover the play present between the container (2) and the group of long elements (4) due to the reduction of the size of the latter compared to the fixed internal dimensions of the container (2).

Description: The present invention relates to a rigid hinged-lid packet for the stable packing of groups of long elements of variable size. The present invention is particularly useful in the packing of cigarettes, to which the following description refers, although without limiting the general possibilities for application of the present invention. Rigid hinged-lid cigarette packets usually have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and are divided into a container for the group of cigarettes covered by an internal wrapper, and a lid, hinged to a top open end of the container. Both the container and the lid have a front, a back and two sides. A collar is envisaged inside the container, said collar having two fold lines which define a central front section and two side wings designed to make contact with the internal faces of the container's front and sides, as well as those of the lid when it is closed. The collar, usually fixed to the container, protrudes from the top of the latter and acts as a support and holding element for the lid. The holding function is improved by a pair of tabs defined by a pair of notches. The said tabs are coplanar with the front section and protrude from it in such a way that they interact with the internal surface of the sides of the lid when it is closed. The internal dimensions of the packet are defined according to the size of the group of cigarettes, so that they are substantially the same, thus avoiding possible movement of the group of cigarettes inside the container, which leads to deterioration of the cigarettes due to the loss of tobacco. In most cases, the cigarettes in each group, especially for groups of twenty cigarettes, are arranged in three rows or layers. Although this layer arrangement remains the same, the transversal dimensions of the group are modified with variations in the number of cigarettes which form the group and/or variations in the diameter of the cigarettes. In particular, if a wrapping or packing machine, set up to create packets of given dimensions, is required to package groups of cigarettes whose transversal dimensions are less than those envisaged, a series of operations are necessary to put right the consequences of packet over-sizing. First, smaller blanks must be used. This entails changes both to the blank making machines and the printing machines, as well as necessitating adjustments to the wrapping machines, modifying or substituting all of their "size" parts, with the obvious practical and economic disadvantages. For this reason, to overcome the afore-mentioned disadvantages, in patents US 5,158,664 and US 5,439,105 the conventional collar is substituted with a different collar which, at its sides, has relatively complex box structures, obtained by giving the collar fold lines about which the wings are folded, so as to obtain respective thickness designed to occupy the space left inside the packet by missing cigarettes, or by cigarettes with a smaller diameter. Obviously, the use of the said type of collars has its disadvantages, since the collars are relatively complicated to make, involving a series of complex folding movements which may slow down operation of the packing machines. It is also known from document GB-A-522-469, on which the preamble of claim 1 is based, a container for cigarettes or other rod shaped articles comprising an inner member which includes a main panel lying adjacent to the broad wall of the container and one or more side panels arranged to extend lengthwise of an adjacent narrow side wall of the container. The inner member is provided with a blocking element to reduce the nominal capacity of the container. The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages by creating a rigid hinged-lid packet suitable for the stable packing of groups of cigarettes of different dimensions, maintaining the dimensions of the packet itself constant. The present invention relates to a rigid hinged-lid packet for the stable packing of groups of long elements of variable size, having the features set out in one or more of the appended claims. The present invention is described in the detailed description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments by way of example only, and in which: figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the packet disclosed, shown in its open configuration and with the relative group of long elements; figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a plan view, in different scales, of three alternative embodiments of a detail of the packet disclosed, and in particular of the collar; figure 5 is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of the packet disclosed, shown in its open configuration; figure 6 is a plan view from above, scaled-up and with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of the packet shown in figure 5; and figure 7 is a plan view from above, scaled-up and with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of the packet disclosed, using the detail shown in figure 3. With reference to figures 1 and 5, the number 1 denotes a rigid packet with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, designed to house a group of cigarettes 4 which is ready covered by an internal wrapper 5. The packet 1 includes a container 2, inside which the group of cigarettes 4 is positioned, and a lid 3 hinged at a top end 13 of the container 2 so that it turns between a position in which the end 13 is open and a position in which it is closed. Both the container 2 and the lid 3 have a set of walls which respectively constitute a front 2a, 3a and a back 2b, 3b, which are opposite to and parallel with one another, and two sides 2c, 3c which are parallel with one another and perpendicular to the front 2a and the back 2b. Inside the container 2, there is a collar 6 which, in the embodiments illustrated in figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, has three consecutive flaps, joined to one another by fold lines, forming a central front section 7 and two first side wings 8. The collar 6 is designed to be fixed inside the container 2, e.g.: by gluing, so that when the lid 3 is in the position which closes the end 13 of the container 2, its front section 7 makes contact internally with the fronts 2a and 3a of the container 2 and lid 3, and its first wings 8 make contact internally with the sides 2c and 3c of the container 2 and lid 3. Once fixed to the container 2, the collar 6 forms a U-shape and partially protrudes from the end 13 of the container 2, acting as a support and holding element for the lid 3. At least one of the flaps on the collar 6 has at least one notch 10, made along an open line 10a and defining a tab 11 on the flap. The said tab 11 is attached to the collar 6, but can rotate about its hinged side 11a which connects the two ends of the notch 10; it can, therefore, turn about its hinged side towards the inside of the container 2, and form a flexible compensation element whose free side 11b makes contact with the group of cigarettes 4. In this way, the tab 11 recovers the play between the container 2 and the group of cigarettes 4, if the dimensions of the latter are reduced compared with the internal dimensions of the container 2. With reference to the above, it must be emphasised that any number of notches 10 may be envisaged on each flap of the collar 6, depending on the number of tabs 11 required for the correct stabilisation of the group of cigarettes 4 inside the container 2. As shown in figure 1, the notches 10 are made in one of the two side wings 8 of the collar 6, there being three notches. This type of solution is envisaged when the transversal dimension T1 of the group of cigarettes, parallel with the front 2a of the container 2, is reduced, e.g.: when the number of cigarettes 4 is reduced, although the number of rows of cigarettes 4 remains the same. Again in such a case, the collar 6 may have notches 10 on both of its flaps which form the first side wings 8, as shown in figure 2. If the group of cigarettes 4 has a reduced transversal dimension T1 and transversal dimension T2 parallel with the sides 2c of the container 2, i.e.: if there are less cigarettes 4 than the conventional group of twenty cigarettes and/or their diameter is smaller, the collar 6 may have notches 10 and the corresponding tabs 11 both on the flap which forms the front section 7, and on the two side wings 8, as shown in figures 5 and 6. In particular, as illustrated in figure 5, the packet 1 has a collar 6 with a height h such that the first side wings 8 extend along almost the entire length of the sides 2c of the container 2; in this way, it is envisaged that the tabs 11 also act upon the bottom part of the group of cigarettes 4, and it is possible to guarantee greater flexible stability of the group of cigarettes 4 inside the container 2. As shown in figures 3 and 7, the collar 6 may have another two flaps, in addition to the three normally envisaged, which constitute two second rear wings 9. In cases such as that illustrated in figure 7, where there is a significant reduction in transversal dimensions T1 and T2 of the group of cigarettes 4, the tabs 11 are made in the front section 7 and all of the wings 8 and 9. In particular, as shown in figure 4, instead of the rear wings 9, the collar 6 has a single wing 12 as well as the side wings 8, whose transversal dimensions are substantially equal to twice the size of a rear wing 9. Finally, it should be emphasised that, with reference to the accompanying drawings and the vertical dimension of the packet 1, the so-called hinged side 11a, about which the tabs 11 turn when folded inwards into the container 2 until they make contact with the group of cigarettes 4, may be envisaged, for each tab 11, above or below the notch 10. Moreover, the notches 10 can be made in various ways and directions, so that the hinged side 11a of the tab 11 is substantially parallel with or transversal to the axial dimension of the cigarettes 4. As described above, the tabs 11 fulfil the object of the present invention, since it is not necessary to change the size of any parts of the packing machine, constituting an efficient, simple flexible compensation element which recovers the play that may develop between the group of cigarettes 4 with reduced dimensions and the container 2 in the rigid packet 1. It should be noticed that the tabs 11 could be shaped in a different way to that considered until now. For example, figure 1 shows a tab 11c which is folded into a square so that one of its faces adheres to the internal wrapper 5 of the group of cigarettes 4, or tab 11d which is parallel with a surface of the internal wrapper 5, rather than just a free end 11b. Finally, it should be noticed that the tabs 11 may be shaped in any way, as well as that described, since, for example, they may be formed on the collar 6 by a respective notch 10 and a formed portion of the collar 6 adjacent to the said notch 10.

Claims: A rigid packet (1) with hinged lid (3) for the stable packing of groups of long elements (4) of variable size, said packet (1) having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and including a container (2) for the group of long elements (4) already covered by a wrapper (5), and a lid (3) which is hinged at a top open end of the container (2), each having a front (2a, 3a), a back (2b, 3b) and two sides (2c, 3c); there being a collar (6) inside the container (2), said collar having at least three consecutive flaps (7,8) constituting a central front section (7) designed to make contact with the internal faces of the fronts (2a, 3a) and the first two side wings (8) designed to make contact with the internal faces of the sides (2c 3c); ...at least one of the flaps (7, 8) of the collar (6) presenting at least one notch (10), the latter defining a tab (11) which is hinged to the collar (6) by a hinged side (11a), the tab being folded inwards towards the inside of the container (2) ; characterized in that the tab (11) is hinged to the collar (6) to rotate about its hinged side (11a) when pushed from the group of long elements (4) in contact along its free side (11b), thus creating a flexible compensation element which recovers the play between the container (2) and the group of long elements (4) caused by a reduction in the dimensions of the play compared with the fixed internal dimensions of the container (2). The packet as described in claim 1, characterised in that the flap with the notch (10) is one of those which constitute one of the two first side wings (8) of the collar (6). The packet as described in claim 1, characterised in that both of the flaps which constitute the first side wings (8) of the collar (6) have at least one notch (10) defining a corresponding tab (11). The packet as described in claim 1, characterised in that all of the flaps (7,8) of the collar (6) defining the front section (7) and the two first side wings (8) have at least one notch (10) defining a corresponding tab (11). The packet as described in one of the previous claims, characterised in that the height (h) of the collar (6) is such that the first side wings (8) extend for almost the entire length of the sides (2c) of the container (2), so that there is also a notch (10) and relative tab (11) close to the lower zone of the group of long elements (4). The packet as described in claim 1, characterised in that the collar (6) has at least one extra flap, in addition to the three envisaged, constituting a second rear wing (12), said rear wing being positioned so that it is contiguous with the first side wings (8) and designed to clasp the group of long elements (4) at the back (2b) of the container (2), the second rear wing (12) having notches (10) which define corresponding tabs (11). The packet as described in claim 6, characterised in that the collar (6) has two extra flaps, in addition to the three envisaged, consisting of two second rear wings (9), being positioned so that they are contiguous with the first side wings (8) and being designed to clasp the group of long elements (4) at the back (2b) of the container (2), the second wings (9) having notches (10) which define corresponding tabs (11). The packet as described in any of the previous claims, characterised in that any number of notches (10) and corresponding tabs (11) may be envisaged for each flap (7, 8, 9, 12), the number depending on the stability requirements to be imposed on the group of long elements (4) inside the container (2) and depending on the height (h) of the collar (6). The packet as described in any of the previous claims, characterised in that the notches (10) are made in such a way that the hinged side (11a) of the tab (11) is substantially perpendicular to the vertical dimension of the packet (1). The packet as described in claim 9, characterised in that the hinged side (11a) of the tab (11) is positioned, with reference to the vertical dimension of the packet (1), above the notch (10). The packet as described in claim 9, characterised in that the hinged side (11a) of the tab (11) is positioned, with reference to the vertical dimension of the packet (1), below the notch (10). The packet as described in any of the previous claims, characterised in that the notches (10) are made in such a way that the hinged side (11a) of the tab (11) is substantially parallel to the vertical dimension of the packet (1).

Inventors: BRIZZI MARCO, FOLLI UMBERTO, BRIZZI, MARCO, FOLLI, UMBERTO
Applicants: GD SPA, G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D85