Patent Publication Number: US-2007108074-A1

Title: Flip-top packet for cigarettes

Description:
The invention relates to a hinge-lid box for a cigarette group wrapped in an inner blank—cigarette block—or other (block-form) articles, comprising a box part and lid which are connected to one another by a transversely directed linear articulation in the region of a box rear wall, on the one hand, and of a lid rear wall, on the other hand, the box part comprising a box front wall, box rear wall, box side walls and base wall, and the lid comprising a lid front wall, lid rear wall, lid side walls and end wall.  
      Hinge-lid boxes are the main type of packaging used for cigarettes, but also for other articles. The standard hinge-lid box is of cuboidal design with cross-sectionally right-angled, upright and transversely directed pack edges. The dimensions of the pack are coordinated with the dimensions of the pack contents, in particular of the cigarette block.  
      The object of the invention is for the configuration of such hinge-lid boxes to be developed further and improved such that, while maintaining the basic structure of a hinge-lid box, a pleasing appearance is provided, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, it is made possible for inserts to be accommodated expediently in the pack.  
      In order to achieve this object, the hinge-lid box according to the invention is characterized in that formed above and/or beneath the pack contents, in particular the cigarette block, is a cavity or a chamber which is bounded at least by the end wall and lid front wall and lid rear wall and/or at least by the base wall and box front wall and box rear wall.  
      Accordingly, in order to form the chamber or the free space in the case of the hinge-lid box according to the invention, the box front wall and box rear wall are extended beyond the pack contents, that is to say beyond the cigarette block, in the base region and/or the lid front wall and the lid rear wall are extended beyond the same in the end region.  
      One special feature is that the end wall and/or base wall are formed wholly or partially from folding tabs of side walls, namely end tabs which, in particular as a continuation of inner side tabs, form sub-regions of the end wall or base wall and/or a boundary of the chamber.  
      One particular configuration of the hinge-lid box consists in the base wall and/or end wall being designed with an essentially arcuate or polygonal contour, the arcuate or polygonal configuration extending from one side wall or collar side wall to the other, in particular symmetrically in relation to an imaginary central vertical plane of the pack. A particularly advantageous configuration is one in which the end wall and/or base wall comprises three wall regions, namely two lateral, arcuate or oblique wall regions and a central, planar or transversely directed wall region. Arcuate wall regions are preferably of elliptical design, that is to say with relatively pronounced rounding in a region which is directed toward the side walls and a flatter transition into the central wall regions.  
      The cuboidal pack contents are, in particular the cigarette block is, located outside the region of the shape base wall and/or end wall, with the result that the cavity or the free chamber is formed within the pack in the region of the base wall and/or end wall. Said chamber serves for accommodating pack inserts, e.g. printing carriers or coupons, but also useful articles. 
    
    
      Further special features of the invention are explained in more detail hereinbelow, with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of a hinge-lid box for cigarettes with the lid open,  
       FIG. 2  shows the pack according to  FIG. 1  in the closed position,  
       FIG. 3  shows the hinge-lid box according to  FIG. 2  in a vertical section along section plane  
       FIG. 4  shows a front view of the hinge-lid box according to  FIG. 2 ,  
       FIG. 5  shows a spread-out blank for producing a hinge-lid box according to FIGS.  1  to  4 ,  
       FIG. 6  shows a diagram for illustrating the geometrical shape of an end wall of the pack,  
       FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of a hinge-lid box, in a vertical section corresponding to  FIG. 3 ,  
       FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment of the pack, in a vertical section analogous to  FIG. 7 ,  
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective front view of the hinge-lid box according to  FIG. 8 ,  
       FIG. 10  shows a spread-out blank for a hinge-lid box according to  FIGS. 8 and 9 ,  
       FIG. 11  shows a further embodiment of the hinge-lid box, in the vertical section analogous to  FIG. 8 ,  
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective front view of the hinge-lid box according to  FIG. 11 ,  
       FIG. 13  shows a spread-out blank for a hinge-lid box according to  FIGS. 11 and 12 ,  
       FIG. 14  shows a further embodiment of the hinge-lid box in the vertical section analogous to  FIG. 11 ,  
       FIG. 15  shows a perspective front view of the hinge-lid box according to  FIG. 14 , and  
       FIG. 16  shows a spread out-blank for a hinge-lid box according to  FIGS. 14 and 15 . 
    
    
      The packs shown are hinge-lid boxes for cigarettes. This type of pack comprises a (bottom) box part  10 , a (top) lid  11  and a collar  12  formed from a separate blank. The pack contents are formed by a cuboidal article, namely a cigarette block  13 , that is to say a formed group of cigarettes with a wrapper made of paper or tin foil.  
      The box part  10  is formed by a box front wall  14 , a box rear wall  15  located opposite, narrow, upright box side walls  16  and a base wall  17 . Correspondingly, the lid  11  comprises a lid front wall  18 , lid rear wall  19 , lid side walls  20  and an end wall  21 . The box part  10  and lid  11  are connected to one another in a pivotable manner in the rear region of the hinge-lid box by a transversely directed linear articulation  22 .  
      The collar  12  comprises a collar front wall  23  and collar side walls  24 . The collar  12  is fixed in the box part  10 , that is to say it is adhesively bonded to the box front wall  14  and/or box side walls  16 . A top sub-region of the collar  12  projects out of the box part  10 , to be precise (approximately) corresponding to the height of the cigarette block  13 .  
      The base wall  17  and/or end wall  21  are designed in a particular manner. In the case of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  5 , the base wall  17  and end wall  21  are of identical configuration, with the result that the hinge-lid box—in relation to an imaginary transversely directed centre plane—has a symmetrical contour.  
      The base wall  17  and, correspondingly, the end wall  21  are of essentially arcuate configuration in the case of this exemplary embodiment. The special feature consists in lateral regions of the base wall  17  and/or end wall  21 , that is to say those regions which are directed towards the side walls  16 ,  20  of the hinge-lid box, being of arcuate configuration, that is to say forming an arcuate wall region, namely side section  25 . These regions merge laterally into the upright side walls of the pack. In the central region of the base wall  17  and/or end wall  21 , the side sections  25  merge into a planar, transversely or horizontally directed central region  26 .  
      The base wall  17  and end wall  21  predominantly comprise correspondingly shaped folding tabs which are connected to the side walls, namely to the box side walls  16  and to the lid side walls  20 , respectively. This involves end tabs  27 ,  28  which are designed as a continuation of inner box side tabs  29  and lid side tabs  30 . The side tabs  29 ,  30  are part of the double-layered box side walls  16  and lid side walls  20 . Outer box side tabs  31  and lid side tabs  32  extend merely in the region of the box side walls  16  and lid side walls  20 , respectively, with the result that the relevant side walls  16 ,  20  have an outer transverse edge  33 ,  34  as top and bottom termination.  
      The end tabs  27 ,  28  extend into the planar central section  26  of the end wall  21  and base wall  17 . One special feature is formed by the configuration shown, in which the two side sections  25  belonging to the end wall  21  and base wall  17  butt against one another by way of transversely directed peripheral edges, in particular in the vertical, central pack plane. Accordingly, one end region of the side sections  25  is oriented in a horizontal and planar manner.  
      Furthermore, a covering is provided on the outside in the region of the central section  26 , preferably over the entire width of this planar region, the covering connecting the mutually facing (end) regions of the side sections  25  to one another. This involves a cross piece  35  which extends transversely over the end wall  21  and base wall  17 . The crosspiece  35  is designed as a connection between the lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  19  (end wall  21 ) and as a connection between the box front wall  14  and box rear wall  15  (base wall ( 17 ) ( FIG. 5 ). The abutting side sections  25  are connected, in particular adhesively bonded, to the inside of the crosspiece  35 .  
      The blank ( FIG. 5 ) is designed in a particular manner. A centrepiece  36  comprises the box rear wall  15 , lid rear wall  19  and the inner side tabs  29 ,  30  connected thereto. The end tabs  27 ,  28  run in extension of the side tabs. The centrepiece  36  is adjoined, via the crosspiece  35 , by end pieces  37 ,  38  in each case with a box front wall  14  and box side tabs  31 , on the one hand, and lid front wall  18  with lid side tabs  32 , on the other hand. Also arranged on the end piece  38  is a lid inner tab  39  which can be folded over against the inside of lid front wall  18 .  
      The shaping of the end tabs  27 ,  28  in order to form the arcuate side sections  25  can be done without any special tools, by virtue of the end tabs  27 ,  28  being prepared correspondingly. These end tabs are provided with transversely directed scores  40 , which are made on the spread-out blank by stamping. The scores  40  are at different spacings from one another corresponding to the course taken by the arcuate contour, that is to say the spacings are smaller in the region of a relatively pronounced curvature. The crosspieces  35  are also provided with scores  41  in order to provide an end wall  21  and base wall  17  which have a uniformly structured appearance on the outside.  
      In order to provide a dimensionally stable hinge-lid box, the end tabs  27 ,  28  are supported, at least in the region of the arcuate side sections  25 , on free edges of the box front wall  14  and box rear wall  15 , designed with a corresponding arcuate contour  41 , on the one hand and on the lid front wall ensures flush rest and support on the arcuate contours  41 . The dimensions are selected such that the box side tabs  29  and lid side tabs  30  are of a width which is (slightly) smaller than the width of the side walls of the pack, while the transverse dimension of the broadenings  42  corresponds (approximately) to the width of the pack and/or of the pack side walls.  
      One special feature is formed by the shape of the contours  41 . This involves elliptical sections  43  ( FIG. 6 ) and a rectilinear intermediate section  44  in each case. The top boundary (peripheral edge) of the end wall  21  (or base wall  17 ) thus comprises two elliptical sections  43  with the horizontal intermediate section  44  in between corresponding to the central section  26 .  
      The dimensions of the sections  43 ,  44  are coordinated with one another, to be precise in accordance with axes of the elliptical sections  43 , namely a major axis a and a minor axis b, on the one hand, and the overall width B of the hinge-lid box, where: 
 
b  0 . 2   B≦a≦ 0.4 ×B  
 
 It is also the case that: 
 
0.2×( B /2 −a )&lt; b &lt;3×( B/ 2 −a ) 
 
 The width of the intermediate section  44 , corresponding to central section  26 , can be taken from the relationships B-2a. 
 
      A further special feature of the pack is that a (top) lid closure edge  45  is spaced apart from a bottom box closure edge  46 . This produces a transversely directed, strip-like opening  47 , in the region of which the A further special feature of the pack is that a (top) lid closure edge  45  is spaced apart from a bottom box closure edge  46 . This produces a transversely directed, strip-like opening  47 , in the region of which the collar front wall  23  is visible. The closure edges  45 ,  46  run parallel to one another and are directed transversely to the longitudinal extent of the hinge-lid box.  
      One particular hinge-lid box is shown in  FIG. 7 . This is designed in the above described manner in the top region, namely in respect of the lid  11 , that is to say with an end wall  21  of arcuate configuration. In the bottom region, the hinge-lid box is of conventional design, that is to say with a horizontally or transversely directed, planar base wall  48 . Likewise conventional base corner tabs  49  butt against the inside of the same. These are connected to the inner box side tabs  29 .  
      The box contents are, namely the cigarette block  13  is, arranged within the above described hinge-lid box such that, with a base wall  17  and/or end wall  21  of arcuate configuration, the cigarette block  13  remains outside this shaped region. A cavity or a chamber  50 ,  51  is thus produced above and beneath the cigarette block. This chamber is bounded in the upward and downward directions, on the one hand, by the end wall  21 , which is configured in a particular manner, and base wall  17  and, on the other hand, by the cigarette block  13  and is bounded laterally by the correspondingly extended and shaped box front wall  14  and box rear wall  15  and lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  19 . This cavity or the chamber  50 ,  51  is suitable for accommodating inserts for the hinge-lid box, e.g. advertising, descriptive printing carriers or coupons. It is also possible, however, to accommodate useful articles in one chamber  50 ,  51  and/or the other. In the case of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the cigarette block  13  rests directly on the base wall  48  or the base corner tabs  49 .  
      One particular configuration of the hinge-lid box is shown in FIGS.  8  to  10 . The end wall  21  comprises exclusively planar wall regions adjoining one another in a polygonal manner. The two side sections  25  are directed obliquely in the manner of a roof. These side sections  25 , which are designed as legs, enclose an obtuse angle in each case in relation to the upright side walls  16 ,  20  on the one hand, and in relation to the horizontal central section  26 , on the other hand. As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , the side section  25  is delimited by transversely directed folding lines  53  from the side walls and/or the inner side tab  30 , on the one hand, and from a horizontally directed end leg  52 . It is also the case with this pack that the side sections  25  and the end legs  52  are designed as a continuation of the lid side tab  30 . Furthermore, a crosspiece  35  is provided as an outer covering in the region of the central section  26 . This crosspiece is designed to have a greater width in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS.  8  to  10  than in the preceding exemplary embodiments.  
      The lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  19 , which are extended beyond the pack contents (cigarette block  13 ), are designed with a trapezoidal or polygonal contour  41  in the projecting region. The end tabs  27 ,  28  or the side section  25  thereof, are supported by way of the broadening  42  on the free edges formed by the contour  41 . This produces a chamber  50  which is of roof-like or trapezoidal configuration, to be precise symmetrically in relation to a central vertical plane of the hinge-lid box. It is also possible for this exemplary embodiment to be designed in the same way on the base side as on the end side (in a manner analogous to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Furthermore, the blank according to  FIG. 10  is designed, in the region of the base wall  48 , in a manner corresponding to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 7 .  
      In the case of the hinge-lid box according to FIGS.  11  to  13 , a chamber  50  which is produced from extension of the side walls in the (upright) plane of the same, namely of the box side wall  16  and of the lid side walls  20 , beyond the pack contents, is provided (above) the cigarette block  13 . The projecting portions of the side walls  16 ,  20  are of different lengths, with the result that the chamber  50  is trapezoidal or triangular (in vertical section). In the case of the examples shown, both layers of the side walls  16 ,  20  are extended into the region of the chamber  50 , that is to say the outer (lid) side tab  30  as well as the outer (lid) side tab  32 . The side walls  16 ,  20  extend up to top peripheral edges  54 ,  55 . End tabs  27 ,  28  connected to the inner side tabs  30  are deflected into the plane of the end wall  21  at an acute angle and at an obtuse angle, respectively. This end wall is formed by a folding tab running over the entire extent of the hinge-lid box ( FIG. 13 ). The end tabs  27 ,  28  are of different designs, that is to say the end tab  27  is rectangular and the end tab  28  is trapezoidal, on account of the oblique positioning of part of the lid  11  and/or of the folding tabs of the same.  
      On account of the configuration of the chamber  50 , the lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  19  are of trapezoidal design ( FIG. 13 ). The lid rear wall  19  is delimited from the (rectangular) end wall  21  by an obliquely directed folding line  56 . The adjoining wall regions and folding tabs of the blank are thus directed obliquely in relation to the longitudinal extent of the same ( FIG. 13 ). By virtue of the lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  19  being dimensioned correspondingly, the hinge-lid box may be designed such that—in the case of a triangular configuration of the chamber  50 —the end wall  21  ends directly at the top boundary of the cigarette block  13 , that is to say the peripheral edge  55  is located approximately flush with the cigarette block  13 . Furthermore, it is also possible for this configuration of the hinge-lid box to have a chamber in the base region.  
      The obliquely directed position of the folding line  56 , on the one hand, and of the folding line for the lid closure edge  45  within the spread-out blank ensure that, when the hinge-lid box is in the finished state, the lid closure edge  45  is directed precisely transversely to the upright pack edges and thus parallel to the box closure edge  46 .  
      In the case of the hinge-lid box according to  FIGS. 14, 15  and  16 , the region of the end side of the lid  11  (or of the base) is designed in a particular manner. The end tabs  27 ,  28  of the inner lid side tabs  30 , these end tabs being extended beyond the pack contents, are folded to form an acute angle, this resulting in the formation of downwardly directed side sections  25  as part of the end wall  21 . End legs  52  of the end tabs  27 ,  28  are folded into a position transverse to the longitudinal extent of the pack and/or transverse to the cigarette block  13  and are connected on the inside to a crosspiece  35 . The latter forms the central section  26 . The end legs  52  are connected to facing peripheral regions of the crosspiece  35  on the inside by adhesive bonding or the like. The resulting central section  26  may butt against the cigarette block  13  at the top or be spaced apart therefrom. This provides the particular configuration of the chamber  50 , which is formed above the cigarette block  13  and comprises, if appropriate, two cross-sectionally triangular sub-chambers.  
      In the case of this exemplary embodiment, the crosspiece  35  is designed to have a greater width, and extends more or less over the entire width of the end wall  21  ( FIG. 16 ). The end tabs  27 ,  28 , following the inner lid side tabs  30 , butt against the outer lid side tabs  31  and are separated merely by a punch cut  57 . It is also the case with this exemplary embodiment that the contours  41  of the lid front wall  18  and lid rear wall  18  are adapted to the respective shape of the end wall  21 .  
      The end region and the base region may be of identical design in all the configurations of the hinge-lid box. Advantageous configurations, however, are ones in which a chamber is provided merely in the region of the lid. Furthermore, the hinge-lid boxes may be designed, as shown, with the front opening  47  or, as an alternative, such that the lid closure edge  45  and box closure edge  46  lie against one another when the lid is closed.  
     LIST OF DESIGNATIONS  
     
         
           10  Box part  
           11  Lid  
           12  Collar  
           13  Cigarette block  
           14  Box front wall  
           15  Box rear wall  
           16  Box side wall  
           17  Base wall  
           18  Lid front wall  
           19  Lid rear wall  
           20  Lid side wall  
           21  End wall  
           22  Linear articulation  
           23  Collar front wall  
           24  Collar side wall  
           25  Side section  
           26  Central section  
           27  End tab  
           28  End tab  
           29  Box side tab  
           30  Lid side tab  
           31  Box side tab  
           32  Lid side tab  
           33  Transverse edge  
           34  Transverse edge  
           35  Crosspiece  
           36  Centrepiece  
           37  End piece  
           38  End piece  
           39  Lid inner tab  
           40  Score  
           41  Contour  
           42  Broadening  
           43  Elliptical section  
           44  Intermediate section  
           45  Lid closure edge  
           46  Box closure edge  
           47  Opening  
           48  Base wall  
           49  Base corner tab  
           50  Chamber  
           51  Chamber  
           52  End leg  
           53  Folding line  
           54  Peripheral edge  
           55  Peripheral edge  
           56  Folding line  
           57  Punch cup  
          a Major axis  
          b Minor axis  
          B Overall width