Patent Publication Number: US-8973750-B2

Title: Cigarette pack comprising a cover that is guided about two pivot axes

Description:
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY 
     This application is a National Stage Entry entitled to and hereby claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§365 and 371 to corresponding PCT application No. PCT/EP2011/062943, filed Jul. 27, 2011, which in turn claims priority to DE Application No. 10 2010 035 939.4, filed Aug. 31, 2010. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are herein expressly incorporated by reference. 
     The invention relates to a cigarette packet comprising a packet body which accommodates the cigarettes, and a packet lid which seals a withdrawal opening on the packet body and is guided such that it can be pivoted about two pivoting axes with respect to the packet body, for opening and closing. 
     Cigarette packets typically exhibit the shape of a cuboid, wherein the withdrawal opening is usually formed on a short side area of the packet and can be sealed by means of a lid which is hinged on a main area of the packet, i.e. when the lid is opened and/or closed, it is pivoted about the joint axis. 
     The terms “main area” and “side area” of the packet, as used here, are to be understood as follows: if one imagines a typical cuboid-shaped cigarette packet, it comprises six side areas including three pairs of areas which in turn comprise two opposing areas of equal size. The areas which are largest in terms of their dimensions are referred to here as the main areas, while the side areas which adjoin the long edges of the main areas are to be referred to as the long side areas, and the side areas which adjoin the short edges of the main areas are to be referred to as the short side areas. 
     In the aforementioned cigarette packets of the prior art, the withdrawal opening thus lies on a short side area and is accordingly relatively small. If one wishes to enlarge the withdrawal opening in order to more conveniently withdraw the cigarettes, then the withdrawal opening necessarily has to extend over other areas of the cigarette packet, which in turn leads to a larger lid for sealing the withdrawal opening. If, as is typical, such a lid is pivoted about a joint for opening and closing, then the dimensions of the opened cigarette packet are substantially increased. This is often not desired, since the larger dimensions of the lid result in greater lever arms relative to the joint and therefore greater forces which act on the joint and can result in damage to the joint. 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a cigarette packet in which the withdrawal opening can be configured to be large without substantially increasing the dimensions of the opened packet and without risking damage to the joint. 
     This object is solved by the subject of patent claim  1 , wherein the sub-claims define preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
     Although the packet in accordance with the invention is described in the following in connection with cigarette packets, it is equally conceivable for it to be used as a packet for other smoking products, in addition to cigarettes. 
     The cigarette packet in accordance with the invention comprises a packet body which is configured to accommodate the smoking products and comprises a withdrawal opening, and a packet lid for sealing the withdrawal opening, wherein the packet lid is guided by means of guiding elements such that it can be pivoted about two pivoting axes with respect to the packet body, for opening and closing. 
     In other words, the packet lid is not pivoted about a single pivoting axis relative to the packet body, such that it thus performs a circular movement, as is typical in the prior art, but rather the packet lid is pivoted in accordance with the invention about two pivoting axes with respect to the packet body, such that it is moved along an elliptical trajectory during opening and/or closing. This movement is forced upon the lid by guiding elements, such that the lid performs a predefined movement relative to the packet body each time it is opened and closed. 
     In accordance with one preferred embodiment, said guiding elements are dimensionally stable and are hinged at one joint each on the packet lid and hinged at one joint each on the packet body. In other words, two joints—i.e. one on the packet lid and one on the packet body—are respectively connected by a dimensionally stable guiding element which can be pivoted with respect to the packet body and with respect to the packet lid via the respective joint. In particular when the joints arranged on the packet lid are configured as rotary joints, their joint axes coincide with the pivoting axes for the packet lid, such that the joints on the packet lid form the pivoting axes for the packet lid. Preferably, all the joints on the guiding elements are formed as rotary joints and/or hinges and accordingly have only one degree of freedom. 
     Although the joint axes of the different joints can be arranged in many different ways with respect to each other, it is particularly preferred if at least the joint axes of one guiding element run parallel to each other. A parallel arrangement of the pivoting axes with respect to each other is also particularly preferred, which in combination means that all the joint axes run parallel to each other. The respective joint axes are preferably also spatially fixed with respect to the packet lid and/or packet body. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the packet in accordance with the invention comprises a cuboid-shaped packet body and accordingly has a shape which is known from the prior art, wherein when it is closed, the packet lid can abut at least four exterior areas of the packet body, preferably one main area and three adjoining side areas, in particular two long side areas and one short side area or two short side areas and one long side area. Any other configurations are however equally conceivable, hence the packet lid could for example abut two main areas, a short side area and a long side area of the packet body. It is also conceivable for the packet lid to abut the entire extent or only a partial region of one or more areas of the packet body. However, it is particularly preferred if the areas of the packet lid abut the entire extent of the corresponding areas of the packet body. This also gives the closed packet an optically closed appearance, and no edges extend beyond the side areas of the packet. 
     In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two guiding elements exhibit different lengths, such that the joints on the first guiding element exhibit a greater distance from each other than the joints on the second guiding element. Such a configuration above all affects the movement performed relative to the packet body by the packet lid during opening and closing and is in particular necessary when the areas of the packet lid extend over broad regions of the areas on the packet body, as is also to be shown below. 
     Arranging the joints of a first guiding element on the edge of the main area of the packet lid and/or on a main area of the packet body and/or arranging the joints of the second guiding element on an edge of the main area of the packet lid and/or on an edge of a main area of the packet body is particularly preferred. The joint of the second guiding element which is arranged on an edge of a main area of the packet body can in particular be arranged on the main area of the packet body which lies opposite the main area on which the joint of the first guiding element is arranged on the packet body. When the packet lid is then opened, it is pivoted about pivoting axes which lie on opposing main areas of the packet body and is moved tightly around the packet body, so to speak. In this way, the dimensions of the opened packet as compared to the closed packet change to a substantially lesser extent than would be the case when opening a lid which can only be pivoted about one joint axis. 
     Providing the packet lid abuts at least one main area of the packet body, the withdrawal opening on this main area which is to be sealed by the lid can be configured to be substantially larger than would be possible in the prior art. Although it is conceivable for the withdrawal opening to extend over an entire area, for example a main area of the packet body, the withdrawal opening can also extend over only a partial region of an area of the packet body. In the latter case in particular, it would be conceivable for the withdrawal opening to additionally extend over other areas of the packet body. A withdrawal opening which is configured on a main area of the packet body can for example extend over one or two side areas which adjoin the main area, which makes it substantially easier to withdraw the cigarettes accommodated by the packet body. 
     The pivoting axis of the first guiding element is particularly preferably arranged on a main area of the packet body, specifically on the main area on which the withdrawal opening is also substantially configured, wherein “substantially” is intended to mean here that the “cut-out” for the withdrawal opening is larger on the main area than the “cut-out(s)” on the other area(s) of the packet body. 
     One major advantage of the present invention is that despite the more complex opening movement of the packet lid, the blank of the cigarette packet in accordance with the invention can be configured in one piece, such that other additional parts do not have to be added to the blank of the packet. As with conventional cigarette packets, the cigarette packet in accordance with the invention can also be manufactured from a planar material, preferably card, wherein the first guiding element can substantially consist of the material region of the blank which is cut out of the blank in order to form the withdrawal opening. It is also conceivable for the second guiding element to form a side area, i.e. a short side area or long side area, of the packet and to thus connect the short or long edges of the main areas of the packet lid and/or packet body which lie opposite each other when the packet is closed, and to accordingly be hinged at these edges. 
     In order to make it easier to withdraw cigarettes from the packet, pivoting the packet lid by 90° relative to the packet body is preferred, although smaller or larger opening angles are equally conceivable. 
    
    
     
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail on the basis of the enclosed figures. The present invention can comprise any of the features shown here, individually and in any expedient combination. 
       There is shown: 
         FIG. 1  a blank of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2   a  to  2   c ,  3   a  and  3   b  an isometric representation of the packet in accordance with a first embodiment, at different opening angles of the lid; 
         FIG. 3   c  a representation of the consecutive opening angles of the lid in the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  a blank of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c ,  6   a  and  6   b  an isometric representation of the packet in accordance with a second embodiment, at different opening angles of the lid; 
         FIG. 6   c  a representation of the consecutive opening angles of the lid in the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     A blank of a first embodiment of the cigarette packet in accordance with the invention is shown on the left in  FIG. 1 . The upper part in the drawing subsequently forms the packet lid  3 , while the lower part of the blank  10  in the drawing forms the packet body  2 . What is initially noticeable is the near-trapeziform flap  11  in the region of the packet body  2 , which will subsequently form the first guiding element  4 . This region additionally marks the subsequent withdrawal opening  1  in the packet body  2 . It can be seen that the trapeziform region extends on the main area  9   a  which subsequently faces the packet lid  3 . In addition, a smaller region which is connected to the trapeziform region of the flap via a folding edge  6   a  is cut out on the (not otherwise indicated) short side area of the packet body  2 , i.e. the withdrawal opening  1  will subsequently extend over both the main area  9   a  and the adjoining short side area. Said folding edge will subsequently form the pivoting axis  6   a  of the first guiding element  4  which is subsequently arranged on the packet lid  3 , since the region which is cut out on the short side area is glued to a short side area of the packet lid  3  which lies on top of it when the packet is closed. 
     The first guiding element  4  is also connected to the packet body  2  in a joint via the pivoting axis  6   b  which is arranged on the main area  9   a.    
     The main area of the packet body which lies opposite the main area  9   a  in the finished packet is formed by the area  9   b , wherein the joint  7   b  of the second guiding element  5  which is subsequently arranged on the packet body  2  is formed on one of the short edges. In the finished packet, the area  5  lies opposite the short side area of the packet body  2  on which a part of the withdrawal opening  1  is formed. 
     The main area  8  of the lid  3  which subsequently comes to rest on the main area  9   a  is connected to the second guiding element  5  via the joint  7   a.    
     A schematic lateral representation of the first embodiment of the cigarette packet in accordance with the invention is shown on the right next to the blank and includes the joints  6   a ,  6   b ,  7   a  and  7   b , wherein the former are assigned to the first guiding element  4  and the latter are assigned to the second guiding element  5 . The radii on which the joints  6   a  and  7   a  arranged on the lid  3  are moved when the lid  3  is opened and/or closed are also clearly shown. The joint  6   a  is accordingly moved on a larger radius than the joint  7   a , which results from the fact that the first guiding element  4  is longer than the second guiding element  5 . This results in an elliptical opening and/or closing movement of the lid  3  relative to the packet body  2 . 
     It can also be seen that the joint  6   b  is situated on the main area  9   a  of the packet body  2  which points towards the lid  3 , while the joint  7   b  is situated on the area  9   b  which lies opposite the area  9   a , specifically at the edge to the short side area formed by the second guiding element  5 . 
       FIGS. 2   a  to  2   c ,  3   a  and  3   b  show an opening process of the cigarette packet in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The areas of the lid  3  abut the main area  9   a  and three of the adjoining side areas of the packet body  2 , wherein the main area  8  of the lid  3  abuts on the main area  9   a  of the packet body  2 . The second guiding element  5  abuts the top of the fourth, short side area of the packet body and extends over the entire fourth, short side area of the packet body. Equally, all the areas of the lid  3  also extend over the entire extent of the corresponding areas of the packet body  2 . In order to make it easier to open the packet, a recess is provided on the front short side area of the lid, into which the user can grip and hold the packet body  2 . 
     When the lid  3  is opened, the withdrawal opening—which extends over partial regions of the main area  9   a  and the adjoining short side area of the packet body  2 —is revealed. 
     The second guiding element is hinged on the “rear side” of the packet at the short edges of the opposing main areas  8  and  9   b  of the lid  3  and packet body  2 , respectively, which accordingly form the joints  7   a  and  7   b  for the second guiding element  5 . The same applies to the first guiding element  4 , which is connected to the packet body  2  via the joint  6   b . The joint  6   a  lies on the short edge of the main area  8  of the lid  3 , i.e. on the edge at which the main area  8  adjoins the short side area of the lid  3  comprising the recessed grip. 
     It is easily conceivable that when the packet is closed, the trapeziform and elliptical partial regions of the first guiding element  4  are inserted precisely into the recesses for the withdrawal opening  1  on said areas of the packet body  2 , such that it is possible to completely close the packet body  2 . 
     In  FIG. 3   b , a 90° maximum opening angle of the lid  3  has been reached. It is not possible to open the packet further, since the main area  8  of the lid  3  abuts the short side area on which the second guiding element previously lay. 
       FIG. 3   c  shows different degrees of opening for the packet, wherein it can in particular be seen that the long side areas of the packet lid  3  are guided in every position by the long side areas of the packet body  2  on which they abut when the packet is closed. This enables the lid  3  to be further stabilised during opening, in addition to being guided by the first guiding element  4  and second guiding element  5 . It can also be seen that the front short side area of the lid  3  rises up from the packet body  2  during opening due to the configuration of the guiding elements  4  and  5  and the pivoting axes  6   a ,  6   b ,  7   a  and  7   b , while the rear short side area of the lid  3  and/or the second guiding element  5  descend. This enables the lid  3  to be pivoted, even though all its side areas extend beyond the entire side areas of the packet body  2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a blank in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein the elements which are functionally identical to the first embodiment from  FIG. 1  shall not be described further. 
     It can be seen that the withdrawal opening extends over a number of areas of the packet body  2 , i.e. a long side area and a short side area of the packet body, in order to make it easier to withdraw the cigarettes accommodated in the packet body  2 . The essential difference with respect to the first embodiment is that the packet in accordance with the second embodiment is opened “transversely”, i.e. the pivoting axes run parallel to the long edges of the main areas, for in the first embodiment, the pivoting axes run parallel to the short edges of the main areas. 
       FIGS. 5   a  to  6   c  do not show any particular differences with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2   a  to  3   c . It can however be seen that the joint  6   b  extends as far as the short edge of the main area  9   a  of the packet body  2 , resulting in a substantially larger withdrawal opening  1 . In order to be able to withdraw the cigarettes via the short side area of the packet body, an additional recess which further enlarges the withdrawal opening  1  is formed on the short side area of the packet body.