JP2012517384A - Smoking package - Google Patents

Abstract

The package for smoking articles (1) includes an outer shell (3). The outer shell has a large front panel (2) and a large back panel (4) facing each other, two small side panels (6, 8) facing each other, and a first end and a second end facing each other. Including. The first end is open and the second end is closed. This package further includes an internal tray (5). The inner tray is disposed within the outer shell, and the inner tray slides along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the outer shell so as to exit from the first open end of the outer shell. Is possible. An opening (19) is formed inside the internal tray. The package further includes a tongue (24) that is disposed within the inner tray and at or near the head (24) wider than the opening and the second end of the outer shell. And a body part (23) having one end connected to the outer shell. The body portion extends through the opening and is joined to the head portion. The opening and tongue serve as a stop mechanism to prevent the inner tray from being pulled out from the first end of the outer shell beyond a predetermined limit.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to packages for smoking articles such as cigarettes. In particular, the present invention relates to a slide shell package for smoking articles.

  Packages for cigarettes having an outer shell and an inner slide are well known and are described, for example, in the following patent documents. These packages expose and remove the contents of the inner slide, usually a cigarette, by pulling the inner slide from the outer shell. Some of these conventional packages include some type of mechanism to keep the inner inner from leaving the outer shell completely.

German Patent No. 29916233 International Publication No. 00/45654 US Pat. No. 3,096,878 U.S. Pat. No. 3,107,008 U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,293 British Patent No. 335838 Swiss Patent No. 370699

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a shell and slide combination that is easier to use and / or more robust than the prior art.

  The package for smoking articles includes an outer shell. The outer shell includes a large front panel and a large back panel facing each other, two small side panels facing each other, and a first end and a second end facing each other. The first end is open and the second end is closed. The package further includes an internal tray provided with an opening. The inner tray is disposed within the outer shell, and the inner tray slides along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the outer shell so as to exit from the first open end of the outer shell. Is possible. The package further includes a tongue, the tongue being disposed within the inner tray and having a head wider than the opening and one end at or near the second end of the outer shell. And connected body parts. The body portion extends through the opening and is joined to the head portion. The opening and tongue serve as a stop mechanism to prevent the inner tray from being pulled out from the first end of the outer shell beyond a predetermined limit.

  Such a stop mechanism is robust, reliable and reliable and is convenient and effective to manufacture.

  In one embodiment, the tongue is substantially T-shaped (in other embodiments, it may include a mushroom shape, etc.). The shaft portion is folded parallel to the second end of the outer shell and includes an end region bonded to the second end. The opening is centrally located between the opposing smaller panels of the outer shell and extends from the bottom edge of the base of the inner tray and next to the second end of the outer shell when the package is closed. Located in.

  In one aspect, the outer shell includes a recess that extends from the open first end of the outer shell halfway through the large back panel. The concave portion of the outer shell extends beyond the width of the large back panel to the small side panels facing each other. Due to the structure of the outer panel, a part of the inner tray is exposed. This allows the consumer to grab and pull the inner tray from the outer shell and get the contents of the package (for example, a smoking article such as a cigarette).

  In one aspect, the package is relatively thin (measured depth from front to back) compared to a conventional hinged lid package. The combination of the outer shell and the inner tray is beneficial in such a thin package because the very thin conventional hinged lid package has a problem in opening the lid.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a set of blanks for forming such a package is provided.

  For purposes of illustration only, aspects of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings.

1 is a rear perspective view of a closed state of a slide shell package according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the outer shell of the package of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an outer shell of the package of FIG. 1. It is a front perspective view of the internal tray of the package of FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the inner tray of the package of FIG. 1. 2 is a rear perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 with the inner tray incompletely pulled out of the outer shell. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the package of FIG. 1 with the inner tray incompletely pulled out of the outer shell. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the outer shell shown in phantom with the package of FIG. 1 closed. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the outer shell shown in phantom with the package of FIG. 1 open. Figure 3 shows a blank suitable for making an internal tray of the package illustrated in Figures 1, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b. Fig. 6 shows a blank suitable for making the outer shell of the package illustrated in Figs. 1, 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b. 6 shows a blank suitable for making a tongue secured inside the outer shell illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding shell package or packet 1 according to one aspect of the present invention. Package 1 includes an outer shell 3 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, respectively, and an inner tray 5 shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, respectively. Smoking articles such as cigarettes are accommodated in the inner tray 5. FIG. 2 a is a rear perspective view of the outer shell 3 with the inner tray 5 removed. FIG. 2 b is a front perspective view of the outer shell 3 with the inner tray 5 removed. FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the inner tray 5 as seen from the front. FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the internal tray 5 as seen from the rear.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, the outer container 3 is generally rectangular and includes a large front panel 2, a large back panel 4, and two opposing small side panels 6,8. The outer shell 3 further includes a bottom end panel 10. The top end of the outer shell 3 (opposite the bottom end panel 10) is open, so that the inner tray 5 can be pulled out from the outer shell 3.

  The recess 12 of the outer shell 3 extends from the open end of the outer shell 3 to the middle of the large back panel 4. The recess 12 extends from around the side edge of the large back panel 4 to the two small side panels 6, 8. The recess 12 exposes a portion of the inner tray 5 (as shown in FIG. 1) so that the consumer can grab the inner tray from the open end of the outer shell 3 and pull it out.

  In the embodiment described above, the recess 12 occupies one third (vertical) of the large back panel 4 downward from the top (at the opening end) of the large back panel 4 to the bottom end panel 10. Further, the recesses further extend to about two-thirds (width) of each of the small side panels 6 and 8, for example, from the large back panel 4 to the large front panel 2. Of course, in other embodiments, the recess 12 of the outer shell 3 may have other shapes and / or dimensions.

  As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the inner tray 5 is substantially rectangular and has a base panel 7, two opposing side panels 9, 11 and two opposing end panels, the so-called top panel 13 and bottom edge. Panel 15. An extension panel 17 extends from the bottom end of each side panel 9, 11 and is folded to join each side panel to the bottom end panel 15.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the inner tray 5 is inside the outer shell 3 and when the package 1 is closed, the base 7 of the slide 5 is parallel to the large back panel 4 of the outer shell 3. The side walls 9 and 11 of the slide are adjacent to and parallel to the side panels 8 and 6 of the outer shell 3, respectively, and the bottom end panel 15 of the slide is the bottom end of the outer shell. Adjacent to the panel 10 in parallel. Furthermore, in the position shown in FIG. 1, the top end panel 13 of the inner slide serves to close the package 1 so that the contents do not fall out.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, an opening 19 is provided in the base panel 7 of the inner slide 3. The opening 19 extends from the edge formed by the bottom end panel 15 and the base panel 7 to the base panel 7. The opening 19 extends upward toward the top end panel 13 to the middle of the base panel 7 (about one third of the length). The opening 19 is located substantially at the center of the width of the base panel 7 and occupies approximately two thirds of the width of the base panel 7 (between the opposing side walls 9 and 11). The opening 19 serves as a stop mechanism together with a tongue (described later), and prevents the inner tray 5 from being completely pulled out from the outer shell 3 when the package 1 is opened.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 13 includes a notch 20. When the inner tray 5 is completely housed inside the outer shell 3 (as shown in FIG. 1), the notch 20 provides a more convenient function for consumers (especially with the end panel 13 of the inner slide 5). A gap between the large front panels 2 of the outer shell 3), whereby the inner tray 5 can be grasped and pulled out from the open end of the outer shell 3.

  Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the consumer can open the package 1 by pulling the inner tray 5 out of the outer shell 3. It can be pulled out by pulling the top panel 13 through the recess 20 and / or grasping the exposed area of the base panel 7 and the side panels 9, 11 of the inner tray 5. When closing the package 1, the consumer applies pressure to the outer surface of the top panel 13 of the inner tray 5 to push the inner tray 5 back into the outer shell 3. The closed position is when the bottom wall 15 of the inner tray 5 contacts the bottom end panel 10 of the outer shell 3 (this prevents further movement in this direction).

  FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are a front view and a rear view, respectively, of the package 1 in which the inner tray 5 is pulled out incompletely from the outer shell 3. In order to limit the withdrawal of the internal tray 5 from the outer shell 3 to the extent shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the package 1 includes a stop mechanism. In the illustrated position, the inner tray is pulled out by about 40%. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the inner tray 5 is moved from a closed state to a distance corresponding to about 40% of the length of the inner tray.

  5a and 5b are schematic front views of the assembled package 1. FIG. The outer shell 3 is shown in broken lines (and made transparent), and a stop mechanism used to control the movement of the inner tray 5 from the outer shell 3 is shown. FIG. 5a shows the package 1 closed (similar to FIG. 1), while FIG. 5b shows the package incompletely with the inner tray 5 pulled out of the outer shell 3 (FIG. 4a). And as in FIG. 4b).

  A stop mechanism that restricts movement of the inner tray 5 from the outer shell utilizes the interaction between the tongue 21 and the opening 19. For the sake of clarity, these parts of the tongue 21 hidden behind the side wall 9 or behind the bottom end panel 15 are shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b (to represent all the shapes of the tongue 21). ) Indicated by dotted lines.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, the tongue 21 is substantially T-shaped and includes a head 24 and a torso 23. The body portion 23 is attached to the outer shell 3 at one end (bottom end portion) thereof. In particular, the bottom end portion of the body portion is attached to an edge portion formed by joining the large back panel 4 of the outer shell 3 and the bottom end panel 10 together. In one particular embodiment, the torso portion 23 includes an end region 25 as shown in FIG. 6 c (opposite to the head 24), which end region 25 is parallel to the bottom end panel 10 of the outer shell 3. Folded (and glued).

  The opposite (top) end of the body 23 is connected to a head 24 (extending laterally). The body part 23 is narrower than the head part 24 (the width is formed along the direction between the side panels 6 and 8 facing each other). The body portion 23 of the tongue portion 21 passes through the opening portion 19, and the head portion 24 is disposed in the tray of the inner shell, that is, between the base portion 7 of the inner slide shell and the large front panel 2 of the outer shell 3. On the other hand, the bottom end region of the body portion is disposed outside the tray of the inner shell, that is, between the bottom wall 15 of the inner shell and the bottom end panel 10 of the outer shell 3. (As described above, the body portion 23 is attached to the bottom end panel 10 of the outer shell 3.)

  The opening 19 is formed to have a dimension that is slightly (slightly) wider than the body 23 and narrower than the head 24. Thereby, when opening a package, the inner tray 5 can move smoothly from the closed end 10 of the outer shell 3 toward the open end. When opening the package, the opening 19 moves along the body 23 (that is, the body 23 moves through the opening 19). However, when the position shown in FIG. 5 b is reached, the inner tray 5 is not pulled out further from the outer shell 3. Particularly at this position, the bottom edge of the opening 19 (ie, the edge formed by the bottom end panel 15) reaches the bottom edge of the head 24 and abuts it. Since the head portion 24 is wider than the body portion 23 and wider than the opening portion 19, the inner slide 5 does not move further away from the outer shell 3.

  Of course, the bottom edge of the opening 19 serves as a stop mechanism, while the top edge of the opening (ie, the edge closest to the top panel 13) does not form part of the stop mechanism. Therefore, the shape and position of the upper edge are relatively easy to change. For example, the top edge may move closer to the bottom edge (so that the opening 19 becomes a relatively narrow strip or slit). Those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of various other possible shapes and sizes of the tongue 21 and opening 19 that form the stop mechanism. These variations can be used, among other things, to control the pulling of the inner tray from the outer shell to the maximum allowed. Other shapes of tongue and opening can also be used. For example, the tongue may be L-shaped with the head extending laterally only on one side of the body. Alternatively, the tongue may have a head in the shape of an arrowhead, a semicircle or an ellipse. Alternatively, the tongue may include two generally parallel and spaced apart body parts, each opening of the inner tray having a head part of the tongue that bridges the two body parts. Receive with.

  FIG. 6a shows a blank 50 suitable for making the inner tray 5 shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 5a and FIG. 5b, according to one aspect of the present invention. The blank 50 includes a first panel 51, and the first panel is joined to the second panel 52 through a perforation fold line F <b> 10 at the bottom edge thereof. The first panel 51 is bent with respect to the second panel 52 to form the end face panel 13. A hole 502 is provided across both the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 across the fold line of the perforation. In the assembled inner frame 5, the first panel 51 is bent with respect to the second panel 52 along the fold line F 10, whereby the holes 502 are formed with the notches 20 of the top end panel 13 of the inner frame 5. Become. The folded first and second panels make the edge of the top panel 13 rounded and more robust.

  The second panel 52 is joined to the third panel 53 that forms the base panel 7 of the internal tray 5 via the perforation fold line F11. The third panel 53 is joined to the fourth panel 54 that forms the bottom end panel 15 of the internal tray 5 via the perforation fold line F12. As described above, the hole or opening 19 is formed by cutting out the third panel 53. The fold lines F10, F11 and F12 are parallel to each other.

  The third panel 53 is joined to the fifth panel 55 via the perforation fold line F13 and to the sixth panel 56 via the perforation fold line F14. The fold line F14 is parallel to the fold line F13. The fifth panel 55 and the sixth panel 56 form side panels 9 and 11 of the inner tray 5 facing each other.

  The seventh panel 57 is joined to the fifth panel 55 via a perforation fold line F15, and the eighth panel 58 is joined to the sixth panel 56 via a perforation fold line F16. The seventh panel 57 and the eighth panel 58 are each overlapped with the inside of the second panel 54 (the bottom end panel 15 of the inner tray 5), whereby the side panels 9 and 11 of the inner tray 5 are overlapped with the bottom of the inner tray 5. Mounted on the end panel 15.

  The ninth panel 59 is joined to the fifth panel 55 via a perforation fold line F17, and the tenth panel 60 is joined to the sixth panel 56 via a perforation fold line F18. The ninth panel 59 and the tenth panel 60 are sandwiched between the first panel 51 and the second panel 52 (when they are folded together), and the side panels 9 and 11 are connected to the top end panel 13 of the internal tray 5. To do.

  FIG. 6b shows a blank 30 suitable for making the outer shell 3 shown in FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 5a and FIG. 5b according to one aspect of the present invention. The blank 30 includes a first panel 31 that forms a large back panel 4 of the outer shell 3. The first panel 31 is joined at its bottom edge to a second panel 32 that forms the closed end 10 of the outer shell 3 via a perforation fold line F1. The second panel 32 is joined to the third panel 33 that forms the front panel 2 having a large outer shell 3 through a perforation fold line F2. The third panel 33 is joined at its bottom edge to the fourth panel 34 via a perforation fold line F3, and this fourth panel forms a reinforced panel at the open end of the outer shell 3 (assembly process). The fourth panel is folded over the third panel to provide a rounded and reinforced edge). The fold lines F1, F2 and F3 are parallel to each other.

  The first panel 31 is joined to the fifth panel 35 via the perforation fold line F4, and is joined to the sixth panel 36 via the perforation fold line F5. The fold line F4 is parallel to the fold line F5, and the fifth panel 35 and the sixth panel 36 form opposite side panels 8 and 6 of the outer shell 3, respectively.

  The seventh panel 37 is joined to the fifth panel 35 via a perforation fold line F6, and the eighth panel 38 is joined to the sixth panel 36 via a perforation fold line F7. In the assembled package, the seventh panel 37 and the eighth panel 38 each overlap the inside of the second panel 32 (the bottom panel 10 of the outer shell 3), whereby the side panels 6 and 8 of the outer shell 3 are Attached to the bottom panel 10 (closed end) of the outer shell 3.

  The ninth panel 39 is joined to the third panel 33 via a region S1 formed by perforations, and the tenth panel 40 is joined to the third panel 33 via a region S2 formed by perforations. In the assembled outer shell 3, the perforated regions S1 and S2 each form a rounded edge at the front end of the outer shell 3. In the assembled outer shell 3, the ninth panel 39 overlaps with the fifth panel 35 and the tenth panel 40 overlaps with the sixth panel 36 to form the side panels 8 and 6 of the outer shell 3 facing each other.

  FIG. 6c shows a blank for the tongue 21 according to one aspect of the present invention. The tongue portion 21 includes a body portion 23 and a head portion 24. The body portion 23 includes a perforation fold line F20 and forms a bottom panel or end region 25. In the assembled package, the end region 25 is parallel to (and fixed to) the inside of the closed end panel 10 of the outer shell 3.

In one embodiment, the package described herein is relatively thin compared to a conventional hinged lid package. For example, the dimensions of the outer shell are approximately as follows:
Length (from top to bottom): 86mm
Width (from one side panel to another): 59mm
Depth (from front to back): 12mm

  It is relatively difficult to make such a thin package, that is, a narrow depth according to the pattern of the conventional hinged lid package, since it may make it difficult to open the lid. Thus, these dimensions are well suited for slide shell packages.

  In the embodiment shown so far, the leading edge of the outer shell 3 is curved, while the trailing edge of the outer shell 3 (and the corresponding edge of the inner tray 5) is at an acute angle. is there. Of course, in other embodiments, the edges of the outer container 3 and the inner tray 5 may be of any suitable shape, eg, rounded, straight, or edged. .

  Those skilled in the art will be able to conceive of various modifications to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention has been described in the context of a thin cigarette package, for example, 20 mm, 10 mm with standard square corners. Alternatively, it can be applied as a configuration of all normal packages and cartons for cigarettes and similar smoking articles, such as other size packages. The package used in this specification includes the meaning of carton.

  A stop mechanism can also be provided on another side of the package. For example, two openings can be formed in the inner tray at the base where the side surfaces 9 and 11 facing each other are arranged, and these openings are respectively connected to the head and the opening connecting the two side walls. Each can have a tongue that extends and is attached to the outer shell at this lower end position.

  In order to easily open the package, an opening may be provided in the bottom end panel 10 of the outer shell 3 and / or the large back panel 4 so that it can be used until it stops at a predetermined limit by a stop mechanism. One can manually slide the inner tray upward.

  Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

The package for smoking articles includes an outer shell. The outer shell includes a large front panel and a large back panel facing each other, two small side panels facing each other, and a first end and a second end facing each other. The first end is open and the second end is closed. The package further includes an internal tray provided with an opening. The inner tray is disposed within the outer shell, and the inner tray slides along a longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the outer shell so as to exit from the first open end of the outer shell. Is possible. The package further includes a tongue, the tongue being disposed within the inner tray and having a head wider than the opening and a second end of the outer shell at or near the second end of the outer shell. And a body part bonded to the end part . The body portion extends through the opening and is joined to the head portion. The opening and tongue serve as a stop mechanism to prevent the inner tray from being pulled out from the first end of the outer shell beyond a predetermined limit.

Claims (15)

A large front panel and a large back panel facing each other,
Two small side panels facing each other,
An outer shell that includes an opposing open first end and a closed second end;
Disposed within the outer shell and slidable along a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end of the outer shell so as to exit from the first open end of the outer shell; An internal tray having an opening therein;
Including a head having a width wider than the opening, and a tongue having a trunk portion having one end attached to an outer shell through the opening,
A package for smoking articles, wherein the opening and tongue provide a stop mechanism that prevents the inner tray from being pulled out of the first end of the outer shell beyond a predetermined limit.   The package according to claim 1, wherein the inner tray includes a base portion adjacent to and parallel to a back panel having a large outer shell, and the opening portion is formed in the base portion.   The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tongue is substantially T-shaped.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body portion is bonded to the second end portion of the outer shell.   5. The package according to claim 4, wherein the body portion includes an end region which is bent in parallel to the second end portion of the outer shell and bonded to the second end portion.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the opening is arranged in the center between small side panels facing each other of the outer shell.   7. The package of claim 1, wherein the opening extends from a bottom edge of the base of the inner tray adjacent to the second end of the outer shell when the package is closed. The package according to any one of the above.   The package according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outer shell includes a recess extending downward from a first end portion of the outer shell to the middle of the large back panel (4).   9. The package of claim 8, wherein the recesses in the outer shell extend beyond the width of the large back panel to the small side panels facing each other.   The package of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 9 which accommodates a smoking article.   One or more blank sets for forming a package according to any one of the preceding claims.   A package for a smoking article as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.   The blank set described herein with reference to FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c. A panel portion that can be folded along a fold line to provide a large front panel and a large back panel facing each other, two small side panels facing each other, a first open end facing each other, and a second closed end A foldable first flat blank forming an outer shell, including a panel portion foldable at a fold line to provide a portion;
Foldable along a fold line to provide an internal tray slidable along the longitudinal axis of the outer shell between the first end and the second end of the outer shell, and an opening in the interior A second flat blank having
A head having a width wider than the opening, and a third blank that forms a tongue having a body portion that is joined to the outer shell and has a width that can slide within the opening of the second blank, A blank for forming a package, wherein the tongue provides a stop mechanism that prevents the inner tray from being pulled beyond a predetermined limit from the first end of the outer shell.   15. A method of manufacturing a package by folding the blank of claim 14 to form the package of claim 1.

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