Cigarette packet

Abstract: A rigid cigarette packet (10) with a hinged lid (4) presents four side faces (6, 7) of which at least one is convexly profiled and associated with the two adjoining side faces (7, 6) along dihedral angles (A) that are effectively obtuse, softening the contours of the packet.

Description: The present invention relates to a cigarette packet. In particular, the present invention relates to a cigarette packet of the type with a hinged lid, comprising a cupped container having one open end, also a lid hingedly associated with the container and capable thus of movement in relation to the container away from and toward a position in which the open end is enclosed. Explicit reference is made throughout the following specification to a packet of this type, albeit with no limitation in general scope implied. Conventional rigid packets of the type in question are generally parallelepiped in appearance, having a predominating longitudinal axis and presenting four side faces arranged in two mutually opposed pairs, all four disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis. There are certain drawbacks associated with such packets, especially for the consumer, since each two adjoining side faces meet along a sharp right angle corner edge subtending a right dihedral angle. Not only are the sharp comer edges relatively unergonomic, they also occasion wear on the pockets of garments in which the packet normally will be carried. It is known, from document EP 0 764 594 A1, a rigid cigarette packet with a hinged lid. The packet is defined by a cup shaped bottom container and a cup shaped lid, hinged to the open top end of the container, so as to rotate between an open and a closed position and presents a front wall and two lateral walls connected to the front wall by two connecting walls with a curved cross section. It is also known, from document EP 0 545 723 A1, a rounded end cigarettes box having a hinged top box. The box has a inner sleeve member and an outer sleeve member. The outer sleeve member has a cover formed therein and inner and outer top and bottom end flaps connected thereto. The inner and outer end flaps are used to close the top and bottom portion of the rounded end cigarettes box. The cover opens and closes by the use of a flexural hinge. The object of the present invention is to set forth a cigarette packet free of the drawbacks mentioned above and, more especially, a packet characterized by ease of use. The stated object is realized according to the present invention in a cigarette packet having a predominating longitudinal axis and presenting four side faces arranged in two mutually opposed pairs, all four disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one side face of the four exhibits a convex profile characterized in that said face is associated with two adjoining side faces at obtuse dihedral angles, along single corner edges. Other embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: fig 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of the cigarette packet according to the invention, viewed in perspective; fig 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the cigarette packet according to the invention, viewed in perspective; fig 3 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the cigarette packet according to the invention, viewed in perspective; fig 4 illustrates a fourth preferred embodiment of the cigarette packet according to the invention, viewed in perspective. With reference to fig 1 of the drawings, 10 denotes a rigid cigarette packet of the type with a hinged lid, appearing substantially parallelepiped in shape with a predominating longitudinal axis 10a, which comprises a container 2 of cupped embodiment presenting an open top end 3, and surmounting the container, a lid 4 likewise of cupped appearance attached to the container 2 along a hinge crease 5 and rotatable thus away from and toward a position in which the top end 3 is enclosed. The packet 10 exhibits two mutually opposed larger side faces 6, two flank faces 7, likewise mutually opposed, and two end faces 8 disposed transversely to the side faces 6 and 7 and to the longitudinal axis 10a. The two larger side faces 6 of the packet 10 consist in a front face 6a and a rear face 6b combining respectively with the flank faces 7 to form two front corner edges 9a compassing the front face 6a laterally, and two rear corner edges 9b compassing the rear face 6b laterally; all four corner edges 9a and 9b are disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis 10a. The hinge crease 5 extends across the rear face 6b transversely to the longitudinal axis 10a, whilst the rear face 6b and the flank faces 7 are flat and the rear corner edges 9b present a sharply defined right angle profile. By contrast, the front face 6a exhibits a convex profile, appearing substantially as a cylindrical sector of which a given straight line generator extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 10a, with the result that the front face 6a and the flank faces 7 are joined at substantially obtuse angles along well defined corner edges 9a, and the two respective dihedral angles A subtended by the selfsame edges 9a are likewise substantially obtuse. It will be seen in particular that the packet 10 is compassed, in any given plane K transverse to the longitudinal axis 10a and in the neighbourhood of the corner edges 9a, by two straight lines R1 lying tangential to the convexly profiled front face 6a, and two respective straight lines R2 tangential to the flank faces 7, which combine to form respective substantially obtuse plane angles A. The packet 20 illustrated in fig 2 is similar to the packet 10 of fig 1 though with the difference, firstly, that the larger side faces 6a and 6b are flat, disposed parallel both with one another and with a predominating longitudinal axis 20a of the packet 20, and secondly, that each of the two flank faces 7 exhibits a convex profile: thus, both the front corner edges 9a and the rear corner edges 9b subtend respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles A. In this embodiment, the hinge crease 5 extends between the two convexly profiled flank faces 7, the straight lines denoted R1 lie tangential to the selfsame flank faces 7 in the neighbourhood both of the front corner edges 9a and of the rear corner edges 9b, whilst the straight lines denoted R2 lie tangential to the front and rear faces 6a and 6b likewise in the neighbourhood of the four corner edges 9a and 9b, and are also mutually parallel. The packet 30 illustrated in fig 3 is similar to the packet 10 of fig 1 though with the difference, firstly, that the two larger side faces 6a and 6b are both convexly profiled, with the front corner edges 9a and the rear corner edges 9b subtending respective substantially obtuse dihedral angles A, and secondly that the hinge crease 5 extends across the convexly profiled rear face 6b. The packet 40 illustrated in fig 4 is similar to the packet 30 of fig 3, though with the difference that the rear face 6b exhibits a central portion 41 disposed parallel to a predominating longitudinal axis 40a of the packet 40 and two convexly profiled lateral portions 42 flanking the central portion 41 on either side. In this embodiment, the hinge crease 5 extends at least across the central portion 41, and might also extend across the lateral portions 42.

Claims: A cigarette packet (10; 20; 30; 40) exhibiting a predominating longitudinal axis (10a; 20a; 30a; 40a) and presenting four side faces (6, 7) arranged in two mutually opposed pairs, all four disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis (10a; 20a; 30a; 40a), wherein at least one side face (6; 7) of the four exhibits a convex profile; characterized in that said side face (6; 7) is associated with two adjoining side faces (7; 6) at obtuse dihedral angles (A) along single corner edges (9). A packet as in claim 1, wherein the convexly profiled side face (6) is a larger side face (6) of the packet (10; 30; 40). A packet as in claim 2 wherein the convexly profiled larger side face (6) is a front face (6a) of the packet (10; 30; 40). A packet as in claim 1, comprising two convexly profiled side faces (6; 7) associated with the remaining two side faces (7; 6) along respective pairs of substantially obtuse dihedral angles (A). A packet as in claim 4, wherein the two convexly profiled side faces (6) are two larger side faces (6) of the packet (30; 40). A packet as in claim 4, wherein the two convexly profiled side faces (7) are two smaller side faces (7) of the packet (20). A packet as in claim 4, wherein at least one of the two convexly profiled side faces (6) exhibits a flat central portion (41) and two convexly profiled lateral portions (42) on either side of the central portion (41). A packet as in claim 7, comprising a container (2) of cupped embodiment, and a lid (4) hinged to the container along a crease (5) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (40a), wherein the hinge crease (5) extends at least across the flat central portion (41). A packet as in claim 1, comprising a container (2) of cupped embodiment with one open end (3), and a lid (4) hinged to the container (2) along a crease (5), wherein the hinge crease (5) extends across a side face (6) of the packet disposed opposite to the convexly profiled side face (6). A packet as in claim 9, comprising two convexly profiled side faces (6; 7). A packet as in claim 6, wherein a hinge crease (5) extends across one of the two convexly profiled side faces (6). A packet as in claim 6, wherein a hinge crease (5) extends between two convexly profiled side faces (7).

Inventors: DRAGHETTI FIORENZO, MANSERVIGI ALBERTO, DRAGHETTI, FIORENZO, MANSERVIGI, ALBERTO
Applicants: GD SPA, G.D. S.P.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D85, A24F15, B65D5