Patent Publication Number: US-2011062037-A1

Title: Slide-Open Package of Tobacco Articles, and Relative Production Method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a slide-open package of tobacco articles and relative production method. 
     In the following description, reference is made, for the sake of simplicity, to a slide-open packet of cigarettes, though purely by way of example. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most marketed, by being easy to produce and easy and practical to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside. 
     In addition to rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes, rigid, slide-open packets of cigarettes have been proposed comprising two partly separable containers inserted one inside the other. That is, a rigid, slide-open packet of cigarettes comprises an inner container, which houses a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil wrapping material, and is housed inside an outer container to slide, with respect to the outer container, between a closed position, in which the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open position, in which the inner container is withdrawn from the outer container. The inner container may slide in and out of the outer container in either a straight translatory movement, or by swinging about a hinge connecting the two containers. 
     Embodiments of rigid, straight slide-open packets of cigarettes are described in Patents FR2499947A1, U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,463A1, U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,227A1 and IT1169163B; one embodiment of a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes is described in Patent Application WO2006021581; and some packets of cigarettes contain a coupon in the form of a single or fan-folded sheet printed with advertising or pictures. 
     In rigid, slide-open packets, the coupon is normally inserted between the outer container and a sheet of transparent plastic overwrapping material. This has the advantage of the coupon being removable immediately when the packet is unsealed, but also has the drawback of the coupon concealing large part of the printed surface of the outer container, which should preferably be left visible to the user. 
     To solve the problem, it has been proposed to insert the coupon inside the inner container, directly contacting the group of cigarettes. This solution, however, has the drawback of making the coupon difficult to remove from the inner container without first removing at least some of the cigarettes from the packet. Moreover, the size of the coupon is seriously limited, on account of the normally small size of the cigarette extraction opening of the inner container, which makes it impossible to extract a coupon wider than roughly half the width of the inner container; and the fact that the coupon is positioned directly contacting the group of cigarettes poses the problem of colourants in the printing on the coupon releasing odours which may alter the aroma of the tobacco. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a slide-open package of tobacco articles and relative production method, which are designed to eliminate the above drawbacks and, at the same time, are cheap and easy to implement. 
     According to the present invention, there are provided a slide-open package of tobacco articles and relative production method, as claimed in the attached Claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view in perspective of a rigid, straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view in perspective of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view in perspective of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view in perspective of a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 5  shows a front view in perspective of the  FIG. 4  packet of cigarettes in an open configuration; 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show front views of the  FIG. 4  packet of cigarettes in a closed and open configuration respectively, and highlighting some of the internal component parts of the packet; 
         FIG. 8  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an inner container of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 9  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIGS. 10-15  show schematics illustrating attachment of a coupon to the  FIG. 8  blank when forming the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIGS. 16-21  show schematics illustrating attachment of a coupon to an inner container when forming the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Number  1  in  FIG. 1  indicates as a whole a rigid, straight-slide-open packet of cigarettes. 
     The packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIG. 1  comprises a wrapped group  2  of cigarettes (not shown), i.e. a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil wrapping material; and a rigid outer package  3  made of cardboard or similar, housing wrapped group  2 , and in turn comprising a rigid inner container  4  actually housing wrapped group  2 , and a rigid outer container  5  housing inner container  4  to allow inner container  4  to slide, in a straight movement with respect to outer container  5 , between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ), in which inner container  4  is inserted completely inside outer container  5 , and an open position ( FIG. 2 ), in which inner container  4  is withdrawn partly from outer container  5  for direct user access to wrapped group  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , inner container  4  is parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a bottom wall  6 , atop wall  7 , two opposite parallel major lateral walls  8 , and two parallel minor lateral walls  9   a,    9   b  interposed between major lateral walls  8 . Close to minor lateral wall  9   a,  top wall  7  has an extraction opening  10  also extending over part of major lateral walls  8 , and which, when inner container  4  is in the open position, is located outside outer container  5  to allow the user to extract the cigarettes (not shown) from inner container  4 , after first tearing open the wrapping of group  2 . A retaining tab  11  is cut from each major lateral wall  8 , close to minor lateral wall  9   b,  and projects outwards of inner container  4  from the edge between respective major lateral wall  8  and minor lateral wall  9   b.  Four longitudinal edges are defined between major lateral walls  8  and minor lateral walls  9 , and eight transverse edges are defined between lateral walls  8 ,  9  and walls  6 ,  7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , outer container  5  is also parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a bottom wall  12 , atop wall  13 , two opposite parallel major lateral walls  14 , a minor lateral wall  15 , and an opening  16  opposite minor lateral wall  15  and through which inner container  4  slides. A retaining tab  17  is connected to the edge of each major lateral wall  14  bounding opening  16 , projects inwards of outer container  5  from respective major lateral wall  14 , and, as inner container  4  slides out, engages a corresponding retaining tab  11  of inner container  4  to limit the outward travel of inner container  4  and prevent inner container  4  from detaching completely from outer container  5 . Two longitudinal edges are defined between major lateral walls  14  and minor lateral wall  15 , and six transverse edges are defined between lateral walls  14 ,  15  and walls  12 ,  13 . 
     Minor lateral wall  15  of outer container  5  has a central hole shaped and sized to allow the user to exert pressure, through minor lateral wall  15 , on minor lateral wall  9   b  of inner container  4 , to slide inner container  4  into the open position. 
     Packet  1  of cigarettes in the  FIG. 1-3  embodiment slides straight open, i.e. inner container  4  moves between the open and closed positions with respect to outer container  5  in a translatory movement (i.e. a straight movement in a direction parallel to the major transverse edges); whereas packet  1  of cigarettes in the  FIG. 4-7  embodiment swings open, i.e. inner container  4  moves between the open and closed positions with respect to outer container  5  in a rotary movement about a hinge  18  connecting bottom wall  6  of inner container  4  to bottom wall  12  of outer container  5 . In other words, packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 4-7  differs from packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 1-3  by inner container  4  being hinged (i.e. connected) to outer container  5  at hinge  18 , whereas inner container  4  of packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 1-3  is simply inserted inside outer container  5 , with no connection between containers  4  and  5 . Accordingly, container  4  of packet  1  in  FIGS. 4-7  swings in and out of container  5  about hinge  18 , whereas container  4  of packet  1  in  FIG. 1-3  slides in and out of container  5  a straight movement. 
     Packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 1-7  comprises a rectangular coupon  19  in the form of a single or fan-folded sheet printed with advertising or pictures. Coupon  19  is located between inner container  4  and outer container  5 , or rather, between a major lateral wall  8  of inner container  4  and a major lateral wall  14  of outer container  5 , and is held on (i.e. made integral with) inner container  4  by a retaining tab  11   a  integral with inner container  4 . More specifically, coupon  19  is inserted under retaining tab  11   a,  which holds it pressed against corresponding major lateral wall  8  of inner container  4  by elastic deformation. 
     When inner container  4  is in the closed position ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  6 ), coupon  19  rests on major lateral wall  8  of inner container  4  and, together with inner container  4 , is inserted completely, and so concealed, inside outer container  5  (provided, of course, coupon  19  is at least slightly narrower than inner container  4 , as shown in the drawings). When inner container  4  slides (translates or rotates) with respect to outer container  5  from the closed position ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  6 ) to the open position ( FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  7 ), coupon  19  is held integral with inner container  4  by retaining tab  11   a,  and so slides out of outer container  5  together with inner container  4 . When inner container  4  is in the open position, coupon  19  is therefore also partly expelled from outer container  5 , and may be withdrawn easily by the user from retaining tab  11   a.  The user, however, need not necessarily remove coupon  19  when inner container  4  is in the open position, in that, if inner container  4  is pushed back into the closed position, coupon  19  remains integral with inner container  4 , and is inserted completely inside outer container  5  together with inner container  4 . 
     It is important to note that coupon  19  in no way impairs performance of retaining tab  11   a  as a limit stop to prevent detachment of inner container  4  from outer container  5  by engaging corresponding retaining tab  17 . On the contrary, by pushing retaining tab  11   a  outwards, coupon  19  actually promotes engagement of retaining tab  17  by retaining tab  11   a.    
     In a different embodiment not shown, packet  1  of cigarettes comprises two coupons  19  located between inner container  4  and outer container  5 , on opposite sides of inner container  4 , and held contacting inner container  4  by retaining tabs  11   a  and  11   b.  This provides for a perfectly symmetrical packet  1  of cigarettes, which may contain two similar or different coupons  19 . 
     Containers  4  and  5  of packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 1-3  are formed from respective known blanks  20  and  21  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  respectively. Each of blanks  20 ,  21  comprises, among other things, a number of panels, which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding walls of respective container  4 ,  5 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , blank  20  has two longitudinal fold lines  22 , and a number of transverse fold lines  23  defining, between longitudinal fold lines  22 , a panel  7 ′ forming part of top wall  7 ; a panel  8 ′ forming one major lateral wall  8 ; a panel  6 ′ forming bottom wall  6 ; a panel  8 ″ forming the other major lateral wall  8 ; and a panel  7 ″ forming the rest of top wall  7 . 
     Panel  8 ′ has two lateral wings  9 ′, which form respective inner portions of minor lateral walls  9 , are located on opposite sides of panel  8 ′, and are separated from panel  8 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  22 . Panel  8 ″ has two lateral wings  9 ″, which form respective outer portions of minor lateral walls  9 , are located on opposite sides of panel  8 ″, and are separated from panel  8 ″ by longitudinal fold lines  22 . Lateral wings  9 ″ of panel  8 ″ each have a tab  24  separated from lateral wing  9 ″ by a transverse fold line  23 ; and an opening defining a respective retaining tab  11  is formed in each panel  8 ′,  8 ″. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , blank  21  has two transverse fold lines  25 , and a number of longitudinal fold lines  26  defining, between transverse fold lines  25 , a panel  14 ′ forming a major lateral wall  14 ; a panel  15 ′ forming minor lateral wall  15 ; and a panel  14 ″ forming the other major lateral wall  14 . Each panel  14 ′,  14 ″ has a retaining tab  17  located on the opposite side to panel  15 ′ and separated from respective panel  14 ′,  14 ″ by a longitudinal fold line  26 . 
     Panel  14 ′ has two rectangular end wings  12 ′,  13 ′, which are located at opposite ends of panel  14 ′, are separated from panel  14 ′ by transverse fold line  25 , and form respective outer portions of walls  12  and  13 . Panel  15 ′ has two end wings  12 ″,  13 ″, which are located at opposite ends of panel  15 ′, are separated from panel  15 ′ by transverse fold line  25 , are triangular in shape with a rounded outer apex, and form respective inner portions of walls  12  and  13 . Panel  14 ″ has two trapezoidal end wings  12 ′″,  13 ′″, which are located at opposite ends of panel  14 ″, are separated from panel  14 ″ by transverse fold line  25 , and form respective inner portions of walls  12  and  13 . End wings  12 ″ and  12 ′″, and end wings  13 ″ and  13 ′″ are shaped so as not to overlap when folded onto end wings  12 ′ and  13 ′ to form walls  12  and  13  of outer container  5 . 
     Containers  4  and  5  of packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 4-7  are formed from respective known blanks almost identical to blanks  20  and  21  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  and used to form containers  4  and  5  of packet  1  of cigarettes in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Attachment of coupon  19  to packet  1  of cigarettes is extremely straightforward and inexpensive. 
     One way of attaching coupon  19  to packet  1  of cigarettes is shown in  FIGS. 10-15 , and comprises attaching coupon  19  to blank  20  of inner container  4  before folding blank  20 . More specifically, starting with blank  20  spread out flat ( FIG. 10 ), a folding device  27  folds retaining tab  11   a  about the corresponding longitudinal fold line  22  to lift retaining tab  11   a  ( FIG. 11 ) off blank  20 , or rather off panel  8 ′ of blank  20  forming a major lateral wall  8 , so that retaining tab  11   a  is tilted at a given angle (e.g. at least 30°)to blank  20 . Folding device  27  may, for example, comprise a blower, which directs a compressed-air jet onto retaining tab  11   a  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ), or a finger which moves perpendicularly to blank  20  to push up retaining tab  11   a.  Once retaining tab  11   a  is lifted off blank  20 , coupon  19  is inserted beneath retaining tab  11   a  and on top of panel  8 ′ forming a major lateral wall  8  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ). To hold retaining tab  11   a  up off panel  8 ′ of blank  20 , i.e. to prevent retaining tab  11   a  from springing back into a position coplanar with panel  8 ′ of blank  20  when inserting coupon  19 , a preferred embodiment comprises a support  28 , which holds retaining tab  11   a  up and is located a given distance from blank  20  to permit insertion of coupon  19 . Finally, a further folding device  29  folds retaining tab  11   a  down (i.e. towards blank  20  and about corresponding longitudinal fold line  22 ) back into a position substantially coplanar with panel  8 ′ ( FIGS. 14 and 15 ). Due to coupon  19  inserted underneath it, retaining tab  11   a  obviously remains slightly raised with respect to panel  8 ′. 
     Another way of attaching coupon  19  to packet  1  of cigarettes is shown in  FIGS. 16-21 , and comprises attaching coupon  19  to inner container  4  (i.e. after blank  20  is at least partly folded about wrapped group  2 ) as opposed to the flat blank  20  before it is folded about wrapped group  2 . In other words, as shown in  FIGS. 16-21 , coupon  19  is inserted beneath retaining tab  11   a  after blank  20  is either partly folded to form inner container  4 , or is completely folded and inner container  4  is completed. The only difference between the  FIG. 10-15  and the  FIG. 16-21  procedures is in the design of folding device  27  for lifting retaining tab  11   a  off panel  8 ′ of blank  20  (i.e. off major lateral wall  8  of inner container  4 ). As shown in  FIG. 17 , because inner container  4  prevents retaining tab  11   a  from being raised from underneath, folding device  27  must comprise a wedge which eases beneath retaining tab  11   a  (the wedge is typically fixed and defines a folding screw, and inner container  4  is moved gradually with respect to the wedge). 
     It is important to note that, in the example shown in the drawings, support  28  is separate from and independent of folding device  27 . In an alternative embodiment, support  28  may form part of folding device  27 . Moreover, once coupon  19  is inserted beneath retaining tab  11   a,  retaining tab  11   a  may spring back on its own into a position substantially coplanar with panel  8 ′, so that folding device  29  may not be needed. 
     It is important to note that, once coupon  19  is inserted beneath retaining tab  11   a,  the elastic pressure exerted by retaining tab  11   a  on coupon  19  keeps coupon  19  in the correct position for follow-up processing (folding blank  20  about wrapped group  2  to form inner container  4  and/or folding blank  20  about inner container  4  to form outer container  5 ) with no need for any other external stabilizing means. 
     Packet  1  of cigarettes described has numerous advantages. 
     Firstly, in packet  1  of cigarettes described, coupon  19  is concealed when the packet is closed; is easy to remove when the packet is unsealed; need not necessarily be removed when the packet is unsealed, and may be left in its original position until the user decides to look at it; and, if removed, may be replaced in its original position, thus providing the user with a convenient, safe place in which to keep it. 
     Secondly, attachment of coupon  19  to packet  1  of cigarettes described is extremely straightforward, and the elastic pressure exerted on coupon  19  by retaining tab  11   a  keeps coupon  19  in the correct position, with no need for any other external stabilizing means. 
     Thirdly, in packet  1  of cigarettes described, coupon  19  may be almost the same size as major lateral walls  8  of inner container  4 . 
     Finally, in packet  1  of cigarettes described, coupon  19  is strictly separate from wrapped group  2 , thus preventing any alteration in the aroma of the tobacco by the colouring agents in the printing on coupon  19 . 
     Given its numerous advantages, the design of packet  1  of cigarettes as described above also applies to the manufacture of a carton of cigarettes, which is substantially the same as packet  1 , the only difference being that it contains a group of packets of cigarettes, as opposed to a group of cigarettes.