Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~Pt7460-001
2099090
Title: CIGAR~TT~ PPCRP~,~
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to packaging, and more
particularly is concerned with a package for cigarettes.
p~rRG~OUND OF TH~ lNV~.llON
At the present time, there are a number of
different packages for cigarettes available. Beside from
the fact that these can be dimensioned to hold a different
number of cigarettes, e.g. 10, 20 and cigarettes of
different sizes, they all share some common constructional
characteristics.
In one known design, the cigarette package has
an external sleeve which is essentially a tube formed from
cardboard extending from end to end of the package, and
open at either end. Within this sleeve, there is a tray
structure, formed from cardboard, within which the
cigarettes are held. The cigarettes are usually protected
in some sort of foil or wrapping and parallel to the axis
of the sleeve. The tray formed has top and bottom flap
portions that are folded around the cigarettes, to protect
the ends of the cigarettes and complete the package. To
open the package, the tray is slid out through a top of
the sleeve, to enable one of the flap portions to be
opened, thereby revealing the ends of the cigarettes, to
enable a cigarette to be selected and withdrawn.
An alternative, common form of cigarette package
has a one piece of body formed from cardboard or the like.
This forms an external sleeve, entirely closed at one end.
At the other end, usually an upper end of the package, a
closure is formed, which can be opened by hinging about a
hinge in the cardboard formed along a rear panel of the
package.
Other designs of cigarette packages are known.
They all have in common the characteristic that external
surfaces and panels are essential for the basic structure
of the package. Generally, cigarette packages are
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designed, with the intention of providing the necessary
structural features, as simply and economically as
possible.
At the present time, in many jurisdictions,
there is increasing concern about the health effects of
smoking. As a consequence, there is much legislation
now in place, requiring a variety of health warnings to
be included on the outside of cigarette packets. The
general trend is for the nature of these warnings, i.e.
the actual wording required, as well as their size and
prominence to increase. Currently, there is a proposal,
in Canada, to require a warning, such as "Smoking is the
Major Cause of Lung Cancer" to be placed on the front of
a cigarette packet, and to occupy in excess of one-third
of the front surface of the packet.
Many smokers are uncomfortable purchasing and
using cigarette packages with such bold warnings on
them. Frequently, a smoker will find themselves in a
variety of social situations, e.g. in restaurants or the
like, where it is common for a smoker to simply place
their packet of cigarettes on a table, or otherwise have
it visible, for example, protruding out of a pocket. In
such situations, many smokers would prefer not to have
any label showing, indicating that they are indulging in
a practice or habit that is detrimental to their health.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT lNV~N ION
It is therefore desirable, at least from a
smoker's viewpoint, to provide a cigarette package,
which mitigates the effect of any legislative warnings
required on the outside of a cigarette package. This is
not possible with known cigarette packages.
The present invention provides a cigarette
package comprising:
a main body which comprises: a back panel; a
front panel; a first side panel on one side thereof, and
a second side panel on the other side thereof, the side
panels extending between the front and back panels; a
bottom panel closing the package between the front and
back panels; a closure, hingedly attached adjacent the
~,~ 40 top of the package, for closing the package;
,
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a removable exterior panel, for covering the
front panel, the exterior panel being hingedly attached
along one edge thereof to the main body, in the plane of
the front panel, for movement between a closed position
abutting and covering the front panel, and an open
position spaced from the front panel, the exterior panel
being attached to the main body along a line weaker than
adjacent parcels, to facilitate removal of the exterior
panel; and an attachment means provided between the
exterior and front panels, adjacent an edge of the
exterior panel remote from said one edge thereof, for
releasably holding the exterior panel in the closed
position.
The exterior panel can be hingedly mounted
along a side edge, with a side panel of the main
cigarette package; in this case, the body can be in one
piece, or the package can comprise a two piece slide and
shell construction. Alternatively, the exterior panel
can be an extension of a closure flap along the top of
the package.
The exterior panel can be connected along a
dotted and/or perforated line, with instructions
indicating that it is detachable. On the inner surface
of the exterior panel, it can provided with a
photograph, e.g. of a sport player or of a scenic view,
reproduction of a drawing or other artwork etc. As a
promotional item, manufacturers could provide a series
of different photographs etc., numbered, for collection
by smokers.
Smokers can then remove these photographs
etc., to form a collection of them, and simultaneously
remove the health warnings. Further, the package is
specifically designed that this exterior panel can be
removed, without affecting the basic function of the
cigarette package body, that is to hold and protect the
cigarettes.
It is also possible that descriptive or
informational material can be provided for the artwork in
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a form of a short text, either within the interior of the
body, or on the front of the front panel, facing the inner
surface of the exterior panel. Alternatively, or as all,
the text could include instructions about the product or
its use. Further the text and the artwork could be
switched between the positions described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
For a better understanding of the present
invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried
into effect, reference will now be made, by way of
example, to the accompanying drawings, which show further
embodiments of the present invention, and in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for making a
cigarette package in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette
package of Figure 1, in an open configuration;
Figure 3 is a perspective view, similar to
Figure 2, of a variant of the first embodiment;
Figures 4 and 5 are top views of the cigarette
packages of Figures 2 and 3 respectively;
Figure 6 is a front, perspective view of the
first embodiment of the cigarette package in a closed
configuration;
Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank for making a
second embodiment of a cigarette package according to the
present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cigarette
package according to the second embodiment in an open
configuration;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second
embodiment is a closed configuration;
Figures 10 and 11 are part perspective views
showing variants of the second embodiment of the cigarette
package; and
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a third
embodiment of the cigarette package.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to Figure 1, there is a
cigarette package blank indicated generally by numeral
reference 20. In known manner, the blank 20 would be cut,
using conventional manufacturing techniques from sheet
cardboard.
The blank 20 has a rear or back panel 22, a
front panel 24, and a bottom panel 26 interconnecting the
front and rear panels 22, 24. Various crease or fold
lines are provided between the different panels, and these
are indicated at 28 for the fold lines between the bottom
panel 26 and the front and rear panels 22, 24.
On one side, the front panel 22 continues into
a first side panel portion 30, while on the other side it
continues into a second side panel portion 32.
The upper edge of the front panel 22 continues
into a top panel 34, which in turn continues into a
closure flap 36 with rounded corners.
The bottom panel 24 continues into another first
side panel portion 38, which in turn continues into a side
attachment flap 40. Along its opposite edge, the back
panel portion 24 continues into another second side panel
portion 42.
The one first side panel portion 30 continues
into an exterior panel 44, with a perforated line 46
defining an attachment edge to the panel 44. This
attachment edge, along the perforated line 46, as detailed
below, enables the exterior panel 44 to be hinged.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 4, the blank 20
is assembled, in known manner, along its various fold
lines, to give the shape shown at Figure 2. As indicated
at 48 in Figure 1, adhesive patches would be provided.
These bond the side attachment flap 40 to the interior of
the back panel 22, and also the two second side panel
portions 32, 42 together. This leaves the closure flap 36
projecting freely as shown in Figure 2.
The depth of the closure flap 36 can be varied.
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As shown, it can have a depth corresponding approximately
to the difference in height between the back and front
panels 22, 24. Alternatively, it can have an increased
depth, for tucking within the front panel 24.
As shown, the one first side panel portion 30 is
free to hinge, where it joins the back panel 22, as in the
exterior panel 44. As shown at 52, the interior surface
of the panel 44 can be provided with a picture,
reproduction of an artistic work etc. This could be one
of a series intended for collection by smokers.
Additionally, either on the front of the front panel 24,
or the inner surface of the back panel 22, i.e. those
surfaces visible in Figure 2, there can be provided
descriptive information, text matter, etc., relating to
the artistic work on the inside of the panel 44.
It is to be appreciated that the front, back and
bottom panels 22, 24 and 26, together with side panels
formed from the side panel portions 30, 32, 38, 42 and the
closure comprising the top panel 34 and closure flap 36,
together, define an integral main package body. This
package body does not rely upon the side panel portion 30
or the exterior panel 44 for its integrity. As such, the
side panel portion 44, and optionally the first panel
portion 30 can be removed. To facilitate removal of the
portion 30 as well, a perforated line can be provided
between it and the back panel 22.
Figures 2 and 4 show the open configuration of
the panel 44, where it is hinged away from the front panel
24. To close the package, with the panel 44, this is
hinged to a position indicated at 44a in Figure 4, in
which the exterior panel 44 completely covers the front
panel 24 and also the closure flap 36, as shown in Figure
6.
To retain the exterior panel 44 in a closed
position, an adhesive patch 50, is provided as a
rectangular patch adjacent that edge of the front panel
24, remote from the hinge connection between the panel 44
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and the side panel portion 30. This adhesive patch 50 is a pressure
sensitive adhesive, which permits repeated attachment and detachment
of the exterior panel 44. As such, it only provides sufficient adhesive
strength to retain the panel 44 abutting the front panel 24. Thus, for a
package holding 20 cigarettes, it should typically be capable of in the order
of 20 openings and closings, i.e. attachments and detachments of the
panel 44 from the adhesive patch 50. In contrast, the adhesive patches 48
are conventional adhesive intended to form a permanent bond between
the relevant components, and which can only be detached by
mechanically rupturing the adhesive or the adjacent layers of cardboard.
As shown in Figure 6, in the closed configuration, the
exterior panel is in the position 44a, with the top panel 34 flush with the
top of the package. The flap 36 can be dimensioned to just fit within the
exterior panel 44, or it can be longer, to extend within the front panel 24.
Figures 3 and 5 show a variant of the first embodiment.
Here, the side attachment flap 40 is omitted, and an adhesive patch 48 is
provided between the two first side panel portions 30, 38, to form a first
side panel, as shown in Figures 3, 5. The exterior panel 44 is then
hingedly attached at its edge, along the perforated line 46, so that it can
hinge in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 5.
Again, the panel 44 can hinged between an open position
shown in Figures 3 and 5, and a closed position indicated schematically at
44b in Figure 5.
This variant of Figures 3 and 5 has the advantage that the
first side panel is more rugged and is a double wall construction.
Further, if the exterior panel 44 is removed along the perforated line 46,
this does not require separate detachment of a side portion. For this
reason, this variant is preferred.
It will be appreciated that the panel 44 could
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be attached along either side edge of the main body.
Reference will now be made to Figures 7-9, which show a
second embodiment of the present invention. The basic principles of the
second embodiment are the same as for the first embodiment, but here
5an exterior panel is hingedly attached along a top edge, to enable it to be
lifted upwardly, as shown in Figure 8.
Referring to Figure 7, a blank for the package is shown at 60.
This blank 60 includes a back panel 62 attached by a bottom panel 66 to a
front panel 64. Again, score lines are indicated between the various
10panels, with the score lines between the panels 62, 64 and 66 indicated at
68.
Along either edge of the front panel, one first side panel
portion 70, and one second side panel portion 72 are provided. Similarly,
continuous with the back panel portion 62 there are other first and
15second side panel portions 78, 82.
In this embodiment, bottom attachment flaps 76 are
provided extending from the first and second side panel portions 70, 72.
As indicated by the solid lines, these are separated, in the blank, from the
bottom panel 66 and the other first and second side panel portions 78, 82.
20An exterior panel 84 is connected by a top panel 74 to the
back panel 62.
Adhesive patches 88, 89 are indicated, for an adhesive for
permanent attachment of the different elements. Additionally, as in the
first embodiment, an adhesive patch 92 is provided of a pressure
25sensitive adhesive, for attaching the free edge of the exterior panel 84,
while permitting its removal and reattachment.
As shown in Figure 8, the blank is folded, so that the
adhesive patches 88, attach the first side panel portion 70, 78 together and
the second side panel portions 72, 82 together. Simultaneously, the
30adhesive patches 89 secure the bottom attachment flaps 76 to the bottom
panel
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66.
It can be noted that in the first embodiment, no
counterpart to the attachment flaps 76 is provided. It is
possible in the second embodiment, as a variant, to omit
these flaps 76, so that the bottom panel 66 is only
attached to the front and back panels 62, 64.
This then forms the basic body of the package,
which is opened at the top. The top panel 74 is hingedly
attached along one edge to the rear panel 62, while the
exterior panel 84 in turn is hingedly attached along the
line 86 to the top panel 74. As in the first embodiment,
this line 86 can be a perforated line, to facilitate
removal of the exterior panel 84. Again, the inner face
of the panel 84 can be provided with a picture, or
reproduction of an artistic work etc. as indicated
schematically at 90. The outer surface of the front panel
64, and/or the inner surface of the top panel 74 could be
provided with text corresponding to the artistic work 90.
Figure 8 shows the open configuration. As shown
in Figure 9, the exterior panel 84 can be hinged down to
a closed position 84a, in which its lower or free end is
secured by the adhesive patch 92. As before, this patch
92 should be an adhesive that will permit repeated opening
and reclosing, i.e. reattachment of the panel 84, for the
life of the pack or package.
Figures 10 and 11 show possible variant side
profiles, indicated as 72a, 72b. Thus, the side panel
portions 70, 72, 78, 82 would be cut, in the blank, to a
corresponding profile.
In Figure 10, the sides have an inclined top
straight edge 94, giving a reduced height to the front
panel, indicated at 64a.
In Figure 11, a curved edge 96 is provided,
again requiring a front panel 64 of reduced height.
The configurations of Figures 10 and 11 have the
advantages that the front panel 64 is reduced in height,
to provide improved access to cigarettes within the
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package, but the reduction in the side panels does expose
the upper ends of the cigarettes at the sides. As an
alternative, the front panel 64 could be reduced in
height, while maint~ining full height, rectangular side
panel portions.
Reference will now be made to Figure 12 which
shows a third embodiment of the invention indicated by the
reference 100. This embodiment has an external sleeve 102
and an internal, slidable tray 104; this configuration is
sometimes known as a "slide and shell" package.
The tray 104, in a known manner, is stamped from
a single sheet of cardboard, and does not require any
adhesive. It has a base panel 106, lateral panels 108
extending from the base panel 106, and at either end a
closure 110 (only one visible in Figure 12). The top
closure 110 comprises a top panel 112 and a tab 114; the
top panel 112 is hingedly connected to the tab 114 and the
base panel 106.
The external sleeve or shell has front and back
panels 116, 118, and the side panels 120, 121. These
various panels are continuous to one another and would be
cut from a single sheet of cardboard. A side panel 120 is
continuous with the back panel 118. The front panel 116
has, on its left hand edge, an attachment flap 124, with
the attachment flap 124 and side panel 120 secured
together by adhesive patch, in known manner. These
elements 116-124 form a basic structure of a conventional
sleeve or shell. The flap 124 could be connected to the
front panel 116 by a side extension panel, and then glued
to the back panel 118, comparable to the arrangement of
Figures 2 and 4.
In accordance with the present invention, an
exterior panel 126 is hingedly attached to the side panel
120. The panels 120, 126 are continuous with one another,
and are attached along a perforated line 128. An adhesive
patch 130, permitting repeated attachment and detachment
is provided on the front panel 116.
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As before, the facing surfaces of the exterior
panel 126 and the front panel 116 can be provided with a
suitable artwork, descriptive matter etc. The outer
surface of the exterior panel 126 is intended to carry any
health warning. The exterior panel 126 can, as in the
other embodiments, be detached along the perforated line
128, rendering the package similar to a conventional slide
and shell package.
It will be appreciated that numerous variations
are possible within the scope of the present invention.
In particular, the packages can be configured to hold any
number and size of cigarettes, as desired.
It is to be appreciated that the adhesive
patches 50, 92, 130 may alternatively be provided on the
respective exterior panel. Also, instead of adhesive
patches, a tab and slot arrangement could be provided,
e.g. a tab on the free end of the exterior panel for
engagement in a slot in the main body.
