[0001] The present invention relates to a pack for smoking articles.
[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes are typically stored in packs and the overall
function of the packs is to store and protect the cigarettes from mechanical and environmental
damage. Various configurations of cigarette packs are known from the prior art including
hinged-lid and shell packs with slidable inserts. A hinged-lid pack comprises a body
and a lid so as to define a space for holding a bundle of smoking articles. The lid
is attached to a rear panel of the body along a hinge line so that it can rotate between
an open and closed position. In a closed position a lower edge of a front wall of
the lid abuts an upper edge of a front panel of the body so as to create a flush outer
finish. The front wall of the lid is typically formed with a flap folded about a fold-line
aligned with the lower edge of the front wall of the lid so as to form a double layer
to provide strength and prevent bowing of the lid as well as smiling or yawning of
the overall pack in which the lower edge of the lid front wall does not lie close
to the upper edge of the front panel of the body of the pack following repeated opening
and closing of the pack.
[0003] Generally, the line of closure between the front wall of the lid and the front panel
of the body is straight and extends parallel to the hinge line about which the lid
of the pack rotates. However, it is known from
US6457580 to provide a pack for smoking articles wherein the line of closure of the front wall
of the lid and the front panel of the body is curved.
[0004] A problem with the pack having a curved lower lid edge is that it is difficult to
provide a double layer of the front wall of the lid using a flap as described above
because in contrast to conventional hinged-lid pack where the flap easily folds about
the fold-line aligned with the straight lower edge of the front wall of the lid, it
is impossible to fold the flap about a curved edge.
[0005] US6457580 provides a pack with a curved lower lid edge and seeks to overcome the problem referred
to above by providing the lower lid edge with a straight or linear portion to which
the flap is attached along a straight fold-line and which extends between curved sections
of the lower edge of the lid. The closure line thereby comprises both straight and
curved sections. In the pack known from
US6457580 the fold-line is formed by providing a crease between the lower lid edge and the
flap. However, a crease does not always ensure that the flap folds exactly about the
fold-line and so may create a misalignment or a step relative to the adjacent curved
lower edges of the front wall of the lid to which the flap is not attached resulting
in a visually unacceptable appearance
[0006] The present invention seeks to provide a pack for holding smoking articles that overcomes
or substantially alleviates the problems mentioned above.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a pack for smoking articles
comprising a lid and a body formed from a material having a thickness, the lid having
a front wall with a lower front wall edge and a flap attached to a portion of said
lower front wall edge by a fold-line, wherein the fold line is linear, at least a
part of said fold-line being formed by partially cutting through the thickness of
the material so that, when the flap is folded about said fold-line so as to lie against
an inner surface of the lid front wall, said portion of the lower front wall edge
to which the flap is attached is aligned with the remainder of the lower front wall
edge, wherein the body comprises an upper edge having a similar profile to the lower
front wall edge of the lid so that when the pack is in a closed position the upper
edge of the body and the lower front wall edge abut across the width of the lid front
wall and said portion of the lower front wall edge to which the flap is attached is
located between lower front wall edge sections.
[0008] Preferably, the cut extends continuously along said portion of said lower front wall
edge.
[0009] In one embodiment, the cut partly extends along said portion of said lower front
wall edge.
[0010] Conveniently, the fold-line of said portion may be linear and the remainder of the
lower front wall edge may be curved.
[0011] Preferably, the upper edge of the body and the lower front wall edge form a closure
line having a curved and a linear section.
[0012] Conveniently, the cut is formed by scoring.
[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a pack for holding a bundle of smoking articles according to the present
invention;
Figure 2 shows a blank for forming the pack in Figure 1; and
Figure 3 shows a blank for forming an inner frame to be inserted into the pack of
Figures 1 and 2.
[0014] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a pack for holding a bundle
of smoking articles according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a blank for
forming the pack in Figure 1 where the solid lines denote cut lines or outer borders
of the blank 20 and the dashed lines denote lines which are formed by folding. The
pack 1 comprises a body 2 and a lid 9 having a closure line 8. The closure line 8
between a lower edge of the lid and an upper edge of the body of the pack has curved
regions spaced from each other by a central straight or linear portion.
[0015] The body 2 of the pack 1 is formed with opposing front and rear panels 3, 4 separated
by two opposing left and right side panels 21a, 21b. The corners 7 formed at the junctions
of the front panel 3 and the side panels 21a, 21b may be rounded. The front 3 and
side panels 21a, 21b are formed with upper edges 5 which abut corresponding lower
edges 15 of the lid 9 so as to form the closure line 8 as will become apparent from
the description below. It will also become apparent from Figure 2 that the body 2
is formed with a base panel 10.
[0016] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the body 2 is connected to a rear wall 14 of the
lid 9 along a fold-line 11. The lid 9 is further provided with a top wall 12, extending
between the rear wall 14, a front wall 13 and left and right side walls 16 of the
lid 9. The front 13 and side walls 16 of the lid 9 are formed with lower edges 15
which mate with the upper edges 5 of the body 2 when the pack 1 is closed. As can
be appreciated from Figure 1 the lower and upper edges 15, 5 of respective front wall
13 of the lid 9 and front panel 3 of the body 2, form said closure line 8.
[0017] In Figure 2, it can be appreciated that the blank 20 is elongate in shape and comprises
the body 2 and the lid 9 of the pack 1 described above. The body 2 of the blank 20
is formed with the front panel 3, the base panel 10 and the rear panel 4. The front
panel 3 comprises the left and right side wall 21a, 21b which overlap side flaps 22a,
22b extending from the rear panel 4 when the blank 20 is in a folded position. The
dashed lines of the blank located between the front wall 3 and its side walls 21a,
21b as shown in Figure 2 indicate that the corners formed when the blank is folded
are rounded.
[0018] The lid 9 of the blank 20 further comprises the rear wall 14, top wall 12 and the
front wall 13 as previously described. The top and rear walls 12, 14 of the lid 9
are formed with side flaps 18 which are overlapped by the side walls 16 of the front
wall 13 of the lid 9 when the blank 20 is in a folded position. The front wall 13
of the lid 9 is further formed with a flap 17 which is attached to a straight portion
of the lid edge by a fold-line 17a. The flap 17 folds inwardly so that it lies against
the inner surface of the front wall 13 of the lid 9. The flap 17 provides stability
and strength to the lid 9 as it together with the front wall 13 of the lid 9 form
a double layer. In order to achieve an aesthetic appearance of the pack 1 and to avoid
a step or roughness along the lower lid edge 15 where the flap 17 extends, the fold-line
17a is continuously partially cut or scored through its thickness and along its length
from a left adjacent lower edge section 15a to a right adjacent lower edge section
15b on the side of the blank facing outwards so that the straight portion of the lid
edge aligns with said left and right adjacent lower edge sections 15a, 15b as the
flap 17 is folded inwardly. Subsequently, as the pack 1 is closed the upper edge 5
of the body 2 abuts the left and right adjacent lower edge sections 15a, 15b and the
straight lower edge portion. It should be appreciated that the cutting or scoring
along the fold-line does not only reduce the thickness of the material but also assists
the flap to fold about said fold-line.
[0019] Further to the above described embodiment, the fold-line may alternatively be partially
cut or scored through its thickness but not across its whole length. For example,
a small portion of the fold-line may be left uncut or unscored in order to stabilise
the flap during manufacturing. The small portion may include approximately 1mm long
uncut sections at either end of the fold line, or alternatively, a single uncut section
may be located at the centre of the fold line. It should be understood that as the
sections are minimal compared to the length of the fold-lines described in the prior
art, the level of potential misalignment and creation of a step relative to adjacent
lower lid edges as described in the introduction is reduced.
[0020] It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention is not limited to
the shape of the closure line 8 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. On the contrary, a
pack formed with any irregular closure line having a straight portion from which a
flap extends can benefit from the present invention and so falls within the scope
of the present application.
[0021] It is envisaged that the pack according to the present invention may receive an inner
frame 30 as illustrated in Figure 3. The inner frame 30 shown in Figure 3 is to be
folded along the dashed fold-lines so as to create rounded corners. The inner frame
30 is formed with a cut out 31 so as to enable a user to easily retrieve a smoking
article. It is also illustrated in Figure 3 that the inner frame 30 is provided with
tabs 32 which engage with an inner surface of the side walls of the lid so as to prevent
accidental opening or yawning of the pack.
[0022] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated
by those persons skilled in the art that the foregoing description should be regarded
as a description of preferred embodiments only and that other embodiments that fall
within the scope of the appended claims are considered to form part of this disclosure.
1. A pack for smoking articles comprising a lid (9) and a body (2) formed from a material
having a thickness, the lid (9) having a front wall (3) with a lower front wall edge
(15) and a flap (17) attached to a portion of said lower front wall edge (15) by a
fold-line (17a), wherein the fold-line (17a) is linear, and said portion of the lower
front wall edge (15) to which the flap is attached is located between curved lower
front wall edge sections, characterised in that at least a part of said fold-line (17a) being formed by partially cutting through
the thickness of the material so that, when the flap (17) is folded about said fold-line
(17a) so as to lie against an inner surface of the lid front wall (3), said portion
of the lower front wall edge (15) to which the flap (17) is attached is aligned with
the remainder of the lower front wall edge (15), wherein the body (2) comprises an
upper edge (5) having a similar profile to the lower front wall edge (15) of the lid
(9) so that when the pack is in a closed position the upper edge (5) of the body (2)
and the lower front wall edge (15) abut across the width of the lid front wall (3).
2. A pack for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the cut extends continuously
along said portion of said lower front wall edge (15).
3. A pack for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein the cut partly extends along
said portion of said lower front wall edge (15).
4. A pack for smoking articles according to any preceding claim, wherein the cut is formed
by scoring.
1. Verpackung für Rauchartikel, die einen Deckel (9) und einen Körper (2) umfasst, die
aus einem Material gebildet sind, das eine Dicke aufweist, wobei der Deckel (9) eine
Vorderwand (3) mit einer unteren Vorderwandkante (15) und einer Klappe (17), die mit
einem Teil der unteren Vorderwandkante (15) durch eine Falzlinie (17a) verbunden ist,
aufweist, wobei die Falzlinie (17a) linear ist, und wobei sich der Teil der unteren
Vorderwandkante (15), mit dem die Klappe verbunden ist, zwischen kurvenförmigen unteren
Vorderwandkantenabschnitten befindet,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zumindest ein Teil der Falzlinie (17a) durch teilweises Schneiden durch die Dicke
des Materials derart ausgebildet ist, dass, wenn die Klappe (17) an der Falzlinie
(17a) gefaltet wird, um gegen eine innere Oberfläche der Deckelvorderwand (3) zu liegen,
der Teil der unteren Vorderwandkante (15), mit dem die Klappe (17) verbunden ist,
mit dem Rest der unteren Vorderwandkante (15) ausgerichtet wird, wobei der Körper
(2) eine obere Kante (5) umfasst, die ein ähnliches Profil wie die untere Vorderwandkante
(15) des Deckels (9) aufweist, sodass, wenn die Verpackung in einer geschlossenen
Position vorliegt, die obere Kante (5) des Körpers (2) und die untere Vorderwandkante
(15) über die Breite der Deckelvorderwand (3) aneinanderstoßen.
2. Verpackung für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich der Schnitt kontinuierlich
entlang des Teils der unteren Vorderwandkante (15) erstreckt.
3. Verpackung für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich der Schnitt teilweise entlang
des Teils der unteren Vorderwandkante (15) erstreckt.
4. Verpackung für Rauchartikel nach einem vorstehenden Anspruch, wobei der Schnitt durch
Ritzen ausgebildet wird.
1. Paquet pour articles à fumer comprenant un couvercle (9) et un corps (2) formé dans
un matériau ayant une épaisseur, le couvercle (9) comportant une paroi frontale (3)
présentant un bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15) et un rabat (17) attaché à une
partie dudit bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15) par une ligne de pliage (17a),
dans lequel la ligne de pliage (17a) est linéaire, et ladite partie du bord de paroi
frontale inférieur (15) à laquelle le rabat est attaché est située entre des sections
de bord de paroi frontale inférieur incurvées,
caractérisé en ce que au moins une partie de ladite ligne de pliage (17a) est formée par découpe partielle
à travers l'épaisseur du matériau de telle sorte que, quand le rabat (17) est plié
autour de ladite ligne de pliage (17a) de manière à reposer contre une surface interne
de la paroi frontale (3) du couvercle, ladite partie du bord de paroi frontale inférieur
(15) à laquelle le rabat (17) est attaché soit alignée avec le reste du bord de paroi
frontale inférieur (15), dans lequel le corps (2) comprend un bord supérieur (5) présentant
un profil similaire à celui du bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15) du couvercle
(9) de telle sorte que lorsque le paquet est dans une position fermée le bord supérieur
(5) du corps (2) et le bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15) buttent en travers de
la largeur de la paroi frontale de couvercle (3).
2. Paquet pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la découpe s'étend
continûment le long de ladite partie dudit bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15).
3. Paquet pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la découpe s'étend
partiellement le long de ladite partie dudit bord de paroi frontale inférieur (15).
4. Paquet pour articles à fumer selon n'importe quelle revendication précédente, dans
lequel la découpe est formée par striage.