DE20304928U1 - Cigarette packet has cardboard packet case with integral insert to retain cap closed - Google Patents

Abstract

The cigarette packet is made of flat cardboard folded to form a packet casing (4-4b) with cap section (6) hinged to its rear face to open and close an opening (8). The edge of the opening has a limiting insert (7-7b) also made of cardboard and received in the cap when the latter is closed, to retain it. The insert can be formed integrally with the packet case.

Description

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,:.. Patent Attorneys·* *·

Dipl.-Ing. A. Wasmeier

Dipl.-lng. H. Graf

Authorized before the European Patent Office + Trade Mark Office · Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office + Trade Mark Office

Patent Attorneys PO Box 10 08 26 93008 Regensburg

German Patent
and Trademark Office
Zweibrückenstr. 12

80297 Munich

D-93008 REGENSBURG P.O. BOX 10 08

D-93055 REGENSBURG GREFLINGERSTRASSE

phone

(0941)79 20 (0941)79 20 (0941)79 5106

Fax E-mail: wasmeier-graf@t-ontine.de

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Your Ref.

Your Message Your Letter

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Sch/g 21.161

date

25 March 2003 gr-ra

Applicant:

Alice Schlattl Osserstrasse 1 94161 Ruderting

Ralph Schlattl Osserstrasse 1 94161 Ruderting

Title:

Cigarette pack

Accounts: HypoVereinsbank (bank code 750 200 73) 5 839 300

Postgiro office N/6irT(ih5ri*(BLZ i00.1Q0*!äOf 89S 69-*ot>1

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Place of jurisdiction Regensburg

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Cigarette pack

The invention relates to a cigarette box according to the preamble of claim 1 or 17 and in particular to a cigarette box which has a hood-like lid on the top of a box body made of flat material, for example cardboard, which is pivotably connected to the rest of the box body via a material section on the back of the cigarette box for pivoting.

The latter consists of a box element which forms the cigarette box base and extends over the greater part of the height of the box body and on which the lid is also provided, as well as an insert which is also made of the flat material, for example cardboard, and which delimits the box or removal opening on at least three sides, namely on the two narrow sides and on the front of the cigarette box, and which is accommodated in the closed lid with an area protruding from the box element. Such cigarette boxes are also referred to as hard boxes.

A fundamental problem is that after the first opening of such a cigarette packet, there is no guarantee that the lid will actually remain in the closed position when it is closed again. In particular, if the cigarette packet has lost some of its original stability after prolonged use or repeated opening and closing, the lid often opens in an undesirable manner, especially if the cigarette packet is kept in a jacket or trouser pocket. Tobacco aroma can then escape through the open lid, or tobacco components etc. can get from the opened packet into the jacket or trouser pocket or onto another object in which the cigarette packet is kept.

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Another disadvantage of known cigarette packets designed as hard boxes is that after the lid has been opened very wide, when it is closed again the edge of the lid comes into contact with an edge of the insert or the box body and this insert or box body is then deformed or the lid is only partially closed.

The aim of the innovation is to avoid these disadvantages and to guarantee a secure closure. To solve this problem, a cigarette packet is designed in accordance with protection claim 1 or 17.

In the cigarette packet according to the innovation, the lid locks into place when it is closed, i.e. the lid is held in its closed position by a positive locking function and can only be opened again by overcoming a certain amount of force. The means required for this locking function are produced, for example, from the flat material from which the box is made, preferably in one piece with the box and/or elements (e.g. insert and/or lid) of the box by means of a corresponding layout of the cut for the box or element of the box.

The basic advantage of the cigarette packet according to the innovation is that even when the packet is used for a long time, it is ensured that the lid remains securely closed, thanks to the locking system with the interacting catches or locking elements on the lid and the box body. The locking elements of the box body are preferably provided on the insert, i.e. where the closed lid and the box body overlap.

The closure system according to the innovation can be implemented practically without additional effort. Further developments of the innovation are the subject of the subclaims. The innovation is explained in more detail below using the figures and exemplary embodiments. They show:

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Fig. 1 in simplified representation and in side view a cigarette packet

according to the innovation with the lid partially opened; Fig. 2 a front view of the cigarette box of Figure 1; Fig. 3 a top view of the cigarette box of Figure 1; Fig. 4 the cut of the box body of the cigarette box of Figures 1 - 3; Fig. 5 the cut of the upper insert of the cigarette box of Figures 1 - 3; Fig. 6-10 representation as Figures 1 - 5 with another possible

Embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 11-15 Representation like figures 1 - 5 in another possible embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1 - 5, 1 is a cigarette box which is designed as a hard box made from two cardboard blanks 2 and 3 by folding and gluing, with a box body 4 which is formed by appropriate folding and gluing of the blank 2, namely with the box element 4.1 and with the lid 6 which is hinged to the back of the cigarette box 1 via a material section 5 which acts as a hinge. The cigarette box 1 also has an insert 7 formed by the blank 3, which delimits the interior of the cigarette box 1 in the area of the upper opening 8, namely on the two narrow sides and on the front of the cigarette box, and which is received by the box element 4.1 in its area which projects beyond the upper edge of the box element 4.1 when the lid 6 is closed.

The sections of the blank 2 designated 2.1 - 2.3 in Figure 4 form the lid 6, the remaining sections designated 2.4 - 2.6 form the box element with the base 9 facing away from the lid 6. Furthermore, a tab-like section 2.7 is provided, which adjoins the section 2.1 at the free end of the blank 2, which is the upper end in Figure 4, and which, when the box body 4 is finished, forms a tab 10 which is folded inwards and attached flat to the inner surface of the lid 6, in such a way that the 180°

folded over tab 10 of the lid 6 forms a reinforced edge 11 on the side remote from the material section 5.

In the embodiment shown, the section 2.7 or the tab 10 formed by this section are angled again at their free edge, so that in the interior of the lid 6, at a distance from the edge 11, a strip-like projection 12 is formed which projects away from the inner surface of the lid 6 and extends over the entire width of the cigarette pack 1 or the lid 6, parallel to the material section 5.

The blank 3 forming the insert 7 essentially comprises three sections, namely the middle section 3.1 and the two outer sections 3.2 and 3.4 which protrude from it like wings and which are connected to the middle section 3.1 via fold lines 3.5 and 3.6, respectively, so that by bending the two outer sections 3.2 and 3.3 at right angles around the fold lines 3.4 and 3.5, the U-shaped insert 7 is formed in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the cigarette pack in the longitudinal direction L. The section 3.1 is provided on one side with a recess 13 which extends almost over the entire width of the section 3.1. On the side opposite the recess 13, the blank 3 is shaped in such a way that the section 3.1 forms a corresponding projection there, so that the blanks 3 can be produced without loss. The edge of the recess 13 runs in a partial area 13.1 perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the fold lines 3.4 and 3.5, respectively, and in the respective outer areas 13.2 and 13.3 parallel or approximately parallel to these fold lines.

On each edge section 13.2 and 13.3, which ends at the open side of the recess 13, a nose-like projection 14 is formed by a small incision and by bending or folding the flat material (cardboard), which protrudes above the plane of the outer surface of the cut 3.1, i.e. above the plane of the front of the insert 7, in such a way that each projection 14 extends in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the cigarette pack 1 and thus parallel

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to the edges between the long or narrow sides and the front of the packaging. The edge of each projection 14 forms an edge section 14.1, which has a distance from the plane of the front of the insert 7 that increases with increasing distance from the opening 8. In the side view chosen for Figure 1, each projection 14 is thus wedge-shaped, with a wedge or run-on surface formed by the edge section 14.1, which is then followed by a locking surface at the end of the projection 14 remote from the opening 8, which is formed by an edge section 14.2 that runs perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the plane of the front of the insert 7. The arrangement is also such that when the lid 6 is closed, the projection 12 first slides onto the edge section 14.1 of the projections 14 and finally locks behind the edge section 14.2 that acts as a locking mechanism. As a result, the cover 6 is locked in place and can only be opened again by applying a certain force.

The closure system formed by the projections 12 and 14 can be implemented with practically no additional material or cost expenditure by merely making a minor change to the punching and bending tools that have been used up to now, and still ensures that the cigarette pack is securely and in particular can be resealed. The snap closure prevents, among other things, the cigarettes still in the cigarette pack 1 from drying out and ensures reliable aroma protection through the lid 6 that is always tightly closed.

The advantage of the cigarette box 1 or the locking system used in this cigarette box is, among other things, that the projection 12 is provided on the edge of the lid 6 which is reinforced by the folded-over section 2.7 or by the tab 10, so that the locking system is extremely robust and reliable, even in the case of a cigarette box 1 which has been in use for a long time and is already damaged or battered. When the lid 6 is opened, a clearly audible clicking sound is produced by the projections 12 and 14 or the locking elements formed by these projections disengaging. The same applies when

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Re-closing the lid 6. This also makes the function of the closure system acoustically clear to the user, i.e. the user receives a trustworthy and multi-part impression of the packaging.

The closure system described is further designed in such a way that it enables the cigarette pack 1 to be opened and reclosed without any problems at least until all cigarettes have been removed from the pack.

Figures 6-10 show, in a representation similar to Figures 1-5, a cigarette pack 1a as a further embodiment, which differs from cigarette pack 1 only in a different design of the locking or closure system. In pack 1a, the blank 3a corresponding to blank 3 is provided with a cut 15 in the area of the fold lines 3.4 and 3.5 in such a way that after the outer sections 3.2 and 3.3 are bent, projections 16 are formed on the side of the insert 7a corresponding to the insert 7, which protrude beyond the narrow sides of the insert 7a formed by sections 3.2 and 3.3.

The blank 2a corresponding to the blank 2 for the box body 4a and the lid 6a has a rectangular recess 17 on the outside of the section 2.3, which, after folding the box body 4a with the lid 6a from the blank 2a, forms a depression 18 in the interior of the lid 6a, namely near the front of the lid 6a facing away from the material section 5 and having the edge 11 on the inner surface of a narrow side of this lid. When the lid 6a is closed, a projection 16 engages in a depression 18, the depth of which is equal to the material thickness of the cardboard used for the blank 2a.

Figures 11-15 show, in representations similar to Figures 1-5, as a further possible embodiment, a cigarette pack 1b, which differs from the cigarette pack 1 only in that the blank 3b corresponding to the insert or blank 3 is provided on the outer edges of the section

3.2 and 3.3 is provided with a short incision 19 running parallel to the edge section 13.1 at approximately the height of the edge section 13.1, so that in the representation chosen for Figure 15 a tab is formed above the incision 19. When the cigarette box 1b is finished, the blank 3a in turn forms an insert 7b corresponding to the insert 7. The incisions 19 are then located in the area of the rear of the packaging, i.e. near the material section 5 which acts as a hinge, in such a way that the incisions are approximately at the level of this hinge 5 and the tabs 20 are located above the hinge 5 in the representation chosen for Figures 11 and 12, i.e. on the side of the hinge 5 facing away from the box base 9. The tabs are rounded or angled in such a way that their free end extends slightly into the space formed by the insert 7b and thus forms a slanted or rounded edge for the insert 7b on the back, as shown in Figure 13 on the left for an angled tab 20 or on the right for a slightly rounded tab. These tabs 20 ensure that the box lid 6b closes even if this lid has been opened beyond the position shown in Figure 11 in the direction of arrow A there.

Without the slanted or rounded tabs 20, the problem often arises that the extremely wide opened lid 6a, when closed again, comes to rest with its edge against the edge of one or both side walls of the insert 7b formed by sections 3.1 or 3.3 and then when the box lid 6b is closed further, this insert 7b is deformed, with the result that the positive locking of the closed lid to the box or to the box body can no longer take place.

The positive locking of the closed box lid 6b to the box body 4b is again carried out in the same way as was described for the cigarette box 1.

The advantages mentioned above for cigarette packaging 1 also apply in principle to packaging 1a and 1b.

The innovation has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concept underlying the innovation.

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·■·· « ··■'-'·· ·· ·· List of reference symbols 1, ll Cigarette box (hard box) 2, 2a, 3, 3a Cutting 2.1 -2.7 Section of cut 2 3.1 -3.3 Section of the cut 3 3.4, 3.5 Bending lines 4.4a Box body 4.1 Box element 5 Hinge or material section 6.6a Box lid 7.7a Mission 8th open side of the cigarette packet 9 Box bottom 10 Reinforcement tab 11 edge 12 ledge-like projection 13 Recess 13.1 - 13.3 Edge section of recess 13 14 head Start 14.1, 14.2 Edge or edge section of the projection 14 15 incision 16 head Start 17 Recess 18 deepening L Longitudinal axis of the cigarette pack

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Claims (17)

1. Cigarette box with a box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ) made of a flat material, for example cardboard, with a lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) provided on a rear side of the shaft ( 1 , 1a , 1b ) so as to be pivotable via a material section ( 5 ) acting as a joint for opening and reclosing a box opening ( 8 ), and with an insert ( 7 , 7a , 7b ) delimiting the edge of the box opening ( 8 ), which insert is also made of cardboard and is received in an area of the closed lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) protruding from the box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ), characterized by means for positively locking the lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) and the box when the lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) is closed. 2. Cigarette box according to claim 1, characterized by means for positively locking the lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) to the box or to the box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ). 3. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for locking are manufactured in one piece with the box or the box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ) and/or with an element of the box or the box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ). 4. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by locking means ( 12 , 14 ; 15, 18; ) made of the flat material, provided in the region of the lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) and/or the box body ( 4 , 4a , 4b ), which form a closure system locking the closed lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) by locking onto the box body . 5. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element ( 12 , 15 ) of the lid ( 6 , 6a , 6b ) is provided on the inner surface of the hood-like lid. 6. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element of the box body is provided on an insert ( 3 ). 7. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element ( 14 , 15 ) of the box body is provided on the outside of the insert ( 3 ). 8. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element of the lid ( 6 ) is formed by an angled portion ( 12 ) running parallel to a front edge of the lid. 9. Cigarette box according to claim 8, characterized in that the bend ( 12 ) is formed on a tab ( 10 ) bent over on the inside of the lid. 10. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element of the lid is formed by a recess ( 18 ) on the inside of the lid. 11. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking element on the box body is a projection ( 14 ) formed by bending the flat material. 12. Cigarette box according to claim 11, characterized in that the projection is provided at the transition between two sides of the box body or the insert ( 7 ) which adjoin one another at right angles. 13. Cigarette pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection ( 14 ) projects beyond the plane of a front side of the insert ( 7 ). 14. Cigarette pack according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one projection ( 15 ) projects beyond the plane of a narrow side of the insert ( 7a ). 15. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking elements are formed on the material blank ( 2 , 3 ) of the box. 16. Cigarette box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert ( 7b ) has, on its region projecting beyond the box body ( 4b ), a bevelled and/or rounded edge region on the rear side by sections or tabs ( 20 ) extending into the interior of the insert. 17. Cigarette pack with a pack body ( 4b ) made from a flat material, for example cardboard, with a lid ( 6b ) provided on a rear side of the pack ( 1b ) so as to be pivotable via a material section ( 5 ) acting as a hinge for opening and closing a pack opening, and with an insert ( 7b ) which delimits the edge of the pack opening ( 8 ), which is also made from cardboard and is received by the closed lid ( 6b ) in an area protruding from the pack body, characterized in that the insert ( 7b ) has a bevelled and/or rounded edge area on the rear side of its area protruding beyond the pack body ( 4b ) by sections or tabs ( 20 ) extending into the interior of the insert.