Pack for smoking articles

• US 6,216,861 B1
• Filed: 02/07/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Tobacco Limited (Imperial Tobacco Group PLC)
• Inventors: James, Anthony George, Luton, Colin Dennis, Taylor, Rodney George
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, LUAN KIM
• Application Number:
  US09/423,082
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 206/242, 206/265, 206/268, 206/271, 206/273, 229/160.1, 229/123.2, 229/123.3
• US Class Current: 206/271
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/1036 Containers formed by erecting a rigid or semi-rigid blank

Abstract

A pack (13) for elongate smoking articles encased in an inner wrapping includes a paperboard outer container having a generally rectangular base (14), four hingedly connected side walls (15-20) which upstand from the base, and a top panel member (22) which at least partially closes off the top of the pack. The side walls (15-20) are substantially the same height as the smoking articles and are secured with respect to the base. Access to the smoking articles is made beside the top panel member (22).

Claims

1. A pack which contains elongate smoking articles encased in an inner wrapping, said pack comprising:

a paperboard outer container having

a generally rectangular base,

four hingedly connected side walls upstanding from said base and extending uninterruptedly to a top of the pack, and

a top panel member which, when the pack is formed, only partially closes off the top of the pack, said top panel member comprising a single top panel hingedly connected to one of said side walls and one or more securing panels hingedly connected to said top panel an adhesively secured to an inside of one or more of said side walls; and

wherein said side walls are a predetermined height which is selected to be substantially a same predetermined height as the smoking articles and are secured with respect to the base;

wherein access to the smoking articles is made beside the top panel member; and

wherein a junction between adjoining pairs of side walls is contoured.

2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top panel comprises a single thickness of paperboard.

3. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a single securing panel is provided which is adhesively secured to a said side wall opposite to said one side wall to which the top panel is connected.

4. A pack as claimed in claim 3, wherein said one side wall and said opposite side wall are wider than the other two said side walls.

5. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is hingedly connected at opposite edges to said one side wall and to said opposite side wall, both of which said side walls are each hingedly connected to oppositely disposed side wall portions, the side wall portions of said one side wall being adhesively secured to respective side wall portions of said opposite side wall to produce the other two said side walls.

6. A pack as claimed in claim 1, further including a band which extends over the top panel member and which is secured thereto and to opposite said side walls, said opposite side walls being wider than the other two said side walls.

7. A pack which contains elongate smoking articles encased in an inner wrapping, said pack comprising:

a paperboard outer container having

a generally rectangular base,

four hingedly connected side walls upstanding from said base and extending uninterruptedly to a top of the pack,

a top panel member which, when the pack is formed, only partially closes off the top of the pack;

a band which extends over the top panel member and which is secured thereto and to opposite said side walls, said opposite side walls being wider than the other two said side walls; and

wherein said side walls are a predetermined height which is selected to be substantially a same predetermined height as the smoking articles and are secured with respect to the base;

wherein access to the smoking articles is made beside the top panel member; and

wherein a junction between adjoining pairs of side walls is contoured.