RIGID HINGED-LID PACKAGE FOR TOBACCO ARTICLES

• US 20090045084A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Original Assignee: Atipackaging SRL, G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Inventors: Roila, Patrizio, Polloni, Roberto
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/268
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/1036 Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank

Abstract

A rigid package for tobacco articles has a parallelepiped-shaped container housing a group of tobacco articles and having a withdrawal opening; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the withdrawal opening; the container and the lid are formed by folding two independent separate blanks.

Claims

1. ) A rigid package for tobacco articles, comprising:

a parallelepiped-shaped container (2) housing a group of tobacco articles and comprising a withdrawal opening (3), two major lateral walls (6), at least one minor lateral wall (7), a top wall (8) having the withdrawal opening (3), and a bottom wall (9); and

a cup-shaped lid (4) comprising two major lateral walls (12), one minor lateral wall (13), a top wall (14), a bottom wall (15), and a hinge (5) to rotate, with respect to the container (2), between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the withdrawal opening (3);

the hinge (5) is parallel to the minor transverse edges (11) of the container (2) defined between the minor lateral wall (7) and the top and bottom walls (8, 9) and to the minor transverse edges (17) of the lid (4) defined between the minor lateral wall (13) and the top and bottom walls (14, 14);

the package (1) is characterized in that the major lateral walls (12) of the lid (4) are smaller than the major lateral walls (6) of the container (2); and

the package (1) comprises stop means to limit rotation of the lid (4) with respect to the container (2) and so define a maximum open position of the lid (4).

2. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop means comprise at least one first stop tab (21) projecting outwards of the container (2) from a major lateral wall (6) of the container (2);

and a second stop tab (22) projecting inwards of the lid (4) from a major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) and positioned to engage the first stop tab (21) as the lid (4) is opened.

3. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stop means comprise two first stop tabs (21), each located on a respective major lateral wall (6) of the container (2);

and two second stop tabs (22), each located on a respective major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4).

4. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each first stop tab (21) is formed by making an incision in a respective major lateral wall (6) of the container (2).

5. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein each first stop tab (21) is formed by removing a strip of material from a respective major lateral wall (6) of the container (2).

6. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stop means comprise a stop tab (41) located between the lid (4) and the container (2) and having one end hinged to the container (2) and an opposite end hinged to the lid (4).

7. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stop means comprise a first supporting tab (42) connected longitudinally and seamlessly to a major lateral wall (6) of the container (2) and hinged transversely to the stop tab (41);

and a second supporting tab (43) glued to an inner surface of the minor lateral wall (13) of the lid (4) and hinged transversely to the stop tab (41).

8. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) is bounded by two minor transverse edges (11) defined between the bottom wall (9) and two minor lateral walls (7);

the hinge (5) being located on the bottom wall (9) of the container (2), in an intermediate position between the two minor transverse edges (11) bounding the bottom wall (9).

9. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the withdrawal opening (3) extends over part of the top wall (8) of the container (2) and over part of the major lateral walls (6) of the container (2).

10. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the withdrawal opening (3) is at least partly closed by a tear-off portion (23) of the container (2).

11. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tear-off portion (23) closes the withdrawal opening (3) completely.

12. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tear-off portion (23) only closes part of the withdrawal opening (3).

13. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4) comprises a top wall (14) covering the withdrawal opening (3) when the lid (4) is in the closed position;

a bottom wall (15) opposite and parallel to the top wall (14);

two major lateral walls (12); and

a minor lateral wall (13) having at least one through hole large enough to permit insertion of a user'"'"'s finger.

14. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top wall (14) of the lid (4) is larger than the bottom wall (15) of the lid (4).

15. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 14, wherein each major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) has a bevelled bottom portion.

16. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4) is glued to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) and comprises a connecting tab (20) separated from the lid (4) by a fold line defining the hinge (5), and which is glued entirely to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2).

17. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lid (4) comprises a top wall (14) covering the withdrawal opening (3) when the lid (4) is in said closed position;

and a bottom wall (15) opposite and parallel to the top wall (14) and contacting the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) when the lid (4) is in the closed position;

the connecting tab (20) being glued to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) so as to be interposed between the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) and the bottom wall (15) of the lid (4) when the lid (4) is in the closed position.

18. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (2) is formed by folding a first flat blank (18) having two longitudinal fold lines (24), and a number of transverse fold lines (25) defining, between the longitudinal fold lines (24):

a first panel (8′

) defining part of the top wall (8);

a second panel (6′

) defining one major lateral wall (6);

a third panel (9′

) defining the bottom wall (9);

a fourth panel (6′

) defining the other major lateral wall (6); and

a fifth panel (8″

) defining the rest of the top wall (8);

the second panel (6′

) and the fourth panel (6′

) each having two wings (7′

), which define respective parts of two minor lateral walls (7), are located on opposite sides of the respective second or fourth panel (6′

, 6′

), and are separated from the respective second or fourth panel (6′

, 6′

) by the longitudinal fold lines (24).

19. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein a first wing (7′

) of the fourth panel (6′

) has two tabs (26) separated from the fourth panel (6′

) by the transverse fold lines (25); and

a second wing (7′

) of the fourth panel (6′

) has one tab (26) separated from the fourth panel (6′

) by a transverse fold line (25) and substantially aligned with the third panel (9′

).

20. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4) is formed by folding a second flat blank (19) having two transverse fold lines (27), and a number of longitudinal fold lines (28) defining, between the transverse fold lines (27):

a first panel (12′

) defining one major lateral wall (12);

a second panel (13′

) defining the minor lateral wall (13); and

a third panel (12′

) defining the other major lateral wall (12).

21. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first panel (12′

) has two first wings (14′

, 15′

) located at opposite ends of the first panel (12′

), separated from the first panel (12′

) by the transverse fold lines (27), and defining respective inner portions of the top and bottom walls (14, 15);

the second panel (13′

) has two second wings (14″

, 15″

) located at opposite ends of the second panel (13′

), separated from the second panel (13′

) by the transverse fold lines (27), and defining respective inner portions of the top and bottom walls (14, 15); and

the third panel (12′

) has two third wings (14′

″

, 15′

″

) located at opposite ends of the third panel (12′

), separated from the third panel (12′

) by the transverse fold lines (27), and defining respective outer portions of the top and bottom walls (14, 15).

22. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first and second wings (14′

, 15′

, 14″

, 15″

) are shaped so as not to overlap when folded onto the third wings (14′

″

, 15′

″

) to define the top and bottom walls (14, 15) of the lid (4).

23. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lid (4) is glued to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) and comprises a connecting tab (20), which is separated from the lid (4) by a fold line defining the hinge (5), is glued entirely to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2), and is connected to a first wing (15′

) of the first panel (12′

).

24. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (2) and the lid (4) are formed by folding two respective independent separate blanks (18, 19;

29, 30).

25. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 24, wherein a separating line (39) extends partly along a first blank (29) and separates the component parts of the container (2) from the component parts of the lid (4).

26. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 25, wherein most of the separating line (39) defines an actual separation, while parts of the separating line (39) define a preformed tear line.

27. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4) is glued to the bottom wall (9) of the container (2).

28. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, and comprising a retaining device (32) for retaining the lid (4) in the closed position with a given force, so as to require greater force to open the lid (4).

29. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 28, wherein the retaining device (32) comprises a deformable tab (33) at one edge of the top wall (14) of the lid (4), and a seat (34) formed on the top wall (8) of the container (2);

in actual use, the tab (33) is inserted inside the seat (34) and, to be extracted from the seat (34), must be deformed by applying a given force.

30. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (4) is connected seamlessly to the container (2).

31. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (2) has no minor lateral wall (7) at the lid (4), and so only comprises the minor lateral wall (7) on the opposite side to the lid (4).

32. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the major lateral walls (6) and the top wall (8) of the container (2) are formed by superimposing two panels of two different separate independent blanks (29, 30).

33. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 31, wherein the major lateral walls (6) and the top wall (8) of the container (2) comprise recesses (31) formed using only one panel in those areas, and which make the lid (4) easier to open by enabling a user to push the edges of the lid (4).

34. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (2) and the lid (4) are formed by folding a first flat blank (29) and a second flat blank (30);

the first blank (29) comprises two longitudinal fold lines (35), and a number of transverse fold lines (36) defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines (35);

a first panel (8′

, 14′

) defining part of the top wall (8) of the container (2) and part of the top wall (14) of the lid (4);

a second panel (6′

, 12′

) defining one major lateral wall (6) of the container (2) and one major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4);

a third panel (9′

, 15′

) defining the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) and the bottom wall (15) of the lid (4);

a fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) defining the other major lateral wall (6) of the container (2) and the other major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4); and

a fifth panel (8″

, 14″

) defining the rest of the top wall (8) of the container (2) and the rest of the top wall (14) of the lid (4).

35. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 34, wherein each second and fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) has two wings (7′

, 13′

), which define respective parts of the minor lateral wall (7) of the container (2) and of the minor lateral wall (13) of the lid (4), are located on opposite sides of the second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

), and are separated from the second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) by longitudinal fold lines (35).

36. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 35, wherein a wing (7′

) of one second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) has two tabs (37) separated from the wing (7′

) by transverse fold lines (36); and

the other wing (13′

) of the same second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) has two tabs (38) separated from the wing (13′

) by transverse fold lines (36).

37. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 34, wherein the hinge (5) extends along the third panel (9′

, 15′

) and separates the component parts of the container (2) from the component parts of the lid (4).

38. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 34, wherein a separating line (39) extends along the first (8′

, 14′

) second (6′

, 12′

), fourth (6′

, 12′

), and fifth panel (8″

, 14″

) and separates the component parts of the container (2) from the component parts of the lid (4).

39. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 38, wherein most of the separating line (39) defines an actual separation, while parts of the separating line (39) define a preformed tear line.

40. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 39, wherein a stop tab (22) of the stop means is formed in each second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

), and is bounded on one side by the separating line (39) and on the other side by a longitudinal fold line (35).

41. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second blank (30) comprises:

a central panel (8′

″

), which defines an inner part of the top wall (8) of the container (2); and

two end panels (6″

), which define respective inner parts of the major lateral walls (6) of the container (2), are located at opposite ends of the central panel (8′

″

), and are separated from the central panel (8′

″

) by two transverse fold lines (36).

42. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 41, wherein each end panel (6″

) has a stop tab (21), which is separated from the end panel (6″

) by a longitudinal fold line (35).

43. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (2) and the lid (4) are formed by folding a first flat blank (29) and a second flat blank (30);

the first blank (29) comprises two transverse fold lines (36), and a number of longitudinal fold lines (35) defining, between the two transverse fold lines (36);

a first panel (13′

) defining part of the lateral wall (13) of the lid (4);

a second panel (6′

, 12′

) defining one major lateral wall (6) of the container (2) and one major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4);

a third panel (7′

) defining a minor lateral wall (7) of the container (2);

a fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) defining the other major lateral wall (6) of the container (2) and the other major lateral wall (12) of the lid (4); and

a fifth panel (13′

) defining the rest of the lateral wall (13) of the lid (4).

44. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 43, wherein each second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) has two wings (8′

, 14′

), which define respective parts of the top wall (8) of the container (2) and part of the top wall (14) of the lid (4), are located at opposite ends of the second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

), and are separated from the second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) by transverse fold lines (36).

45. ) The package (1) as claimed in claim 44, wherein each wing (8′

, 14′

) of one second or fourth panel (6′

, 12′

) has two tabs (40) located on opposite sides of the wing (8′

, 14′

) and separated from the wing (8′

, 14′

) by longitudinal fold lines (35).