PACK FOR SMOKING ARTICLES

Abstract: There is provided a pack 10 for cigarettes comprising a lid 14 higedly connected to a main body 13. Adjacent the upper edge 28 of the front panel 22 of the main body 13 is an area 29 which is debossed in that it is depressed compared to the surrounding portions of the front panel 22 of the main body 13.

Description: PACK FOR SMOKING ARTICLES The present invention relates to packs for smoking articles. According to the present invention there is provided a pack for elongate smoking articles comprising a lid hingedly connected to a body, both the lid and the body each having front, rear and a pair of side panels, the lid having a top panel remote from the body which has a base panel remote from the lid, said hinge connection being defined by a fold between the rear panel of the lid panel and the rear panel of the body and the front of the body having a portion adjacent its top edge that is recessed relative to the lowermost edge of the front panel of the lid. In some arrangements said portion of the front panel of the body is debossed. In other arrangements a portion of the front panel of the lid adjacent its lowermost edge is embossed. It is also possible for the lid to be embossed as well as the body to be debossed. Conveniently, the portion of the front panel of the lid and/or body is rectangular with one long side incorporating the lowermost or top edge respectively. Normally the hinge connection fold is substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the pack and also the top edge of the front of the body is parallel to the hinge connection fold. In some packs, adjacent side, front and rear panels meet each other at right angles. In others, adjacent side, front and rear panels are interconnected by means of sub-panels such as lengthwise bevel panels or lengthwise contoured panels which may incorporate a number of parallel, lengthwise extending score lines. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a blank for producing a pack according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the pack formed from the figure 1 blank in a closed position, and Figure 3 is an enlarged schematic sectional view on line 111-111 of figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pack shown in figure 1 being opened, and Figures 5 to 8 are views corresponding to figure 1 to 4 of an alternative embodiment. Figures 1 to 4 show a paperboard blank 50 for making a generally rectangular pack 10 for a number of elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes 12. The pack 10 shown is for twenty cigarettes in standard 7-6-7 array. The pack 10 has a main body 13 and a lid 14 which is hingedly connected to the main body 13 by means of a fold line 15. The lid 14 has a front panel 16, side panels 17, 18, a rear panel 19 and a top panel 20. In the blank 50 for producing the pack 10 there are a number of other panels 21 which form part of the lid 14 but which are located internally of the lid 14. These other panels 21 are known from conventional pack technology. In addition, the lid 14 has inner panel 30 which is folded and glued behind the front panel 16 to give a folded lowermost edge 31 to the lid 14. The main body 13 has a front panel 22, main side panels 23, 24, a rear panel 25 and a base panel 26. In the assembled pack 10 the panels 22 to 25 are substantially in alignment with the associated panels 16 to 19 of the lid 14 when the pack is in a closed position. Opening of the pack 10 is by relative rotation of the lid 14 and the main body 13 about the fold line 15 linking the two rear panels 19, 25. An inner frame 27 is also provided in the main body 13. The front panel 22 of the main body 13 has a top edge 28 which is generally parallel to the fold line 15. A portion 29 of the front panel 22 incorporating a part of the top edge 28 is debossed in that it is depressed compared to the surrounding portions of the front panel 22. The effect of the portion 29 is that it is slightly recessed relative to the lowermost edge of the front panel of the lid. This facilitates opening of the lid by enabling the consumer to exert some upward force on the slightly exposed lowermost edge 31 of the lid. The pack panels can be folded and glued using one of a number of conventional methods around the bundle of the cigarettes 12. Figures 5 to 8 show an alternative blank 60/pack 61 arrangement to that shown in figures 1 to 4 and general features have, therefore, been given similar reference numerals. However, in figures 5 to 8 the portion 29 of the front panel has not been debossed. Instead the front panel 16 of the lid 14 is provided with a portion 62, incorporating part of the lowermost edge 31, which portion 62 is embossed in that it stands slightly proud of the surrounding portions of the front panel 16. As with the figure 1 to 4 arrangement there is a portion of the front panel 22 of the main body 13 which is slightly recessed relative to the lowermost edge 31 of the embossed portion 62 of the lid. This again facilitates opening of the lid because some upward force can be applied to the lowermost edge 31 ofthe lid l4. The size and shape of the debossed portion 29/embossed portion 62 can be varied of course by making appropriate changes during manufacture of the blank 50/60. Also, more than one debossed portion 29/embossed portion 62 could be provided if desired, even in combination such that both embossed and debossed portions are provided on the same pack. Other blank configurations are also possible. Furthermore the junctions between the main panels have been shown as right angles but other constructions such as rounded junctions or bevelled junctions are possible. Other cigarette pack configurations could also incorporate the present invention such as 2-row 20 pack, 10 packs, 3-row 25 packs.

Claims: Claims 1. A pack for elongate smoking articles comprising a lid hingedly connected to a body, both the lid and the body each having front, rear and a pair of side panels, the lid having a top panel remote from the body which has a base panel remote from the lid, said hinge connection being defined by a fold between the rear panel of the lid panel and the rear panel of the body and the front of the body having a portion adjacent its top edge that is recessed relative to the lowermost edge of the front panel of the lid. 2. A pack as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portion of the front panel of the body is debossed. 3. A pack as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a portion of the front panel of the lid adjacent its lowermost edge is embossed. 4. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the portion of the front panel of the lid and/or body is rectangular with one long side incorporating the lowermost or top edge respectively. 5. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the hinge connection fold is substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges of the pack and also the top edge of the front of the body is parallel to the hinge connection fold. 6. A paperboard blank for producing a pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6.

Inventors: LUTON COLIN DENNIS, TAYLOR RODNEY GEORGE, LUTON, COLIN, DENNIS, TAYLOR, RODNEY, GEORGE
Applicants: IMP TOBACCO LTD, LUTON COLIN DENNIS, TAYLOR RODNEY GEORGE, IMPERIAL TOBACCO LIMITED, LUTON, COLIN, DENNIS, TAYLOR, RODNEY, GEORGE
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D85