Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Cigarette Packet
The present invention relates to a hinge-lid packet for smoking articles, for
example cigarettes. For convenience this specification refers to cigarettes
but the
invention is not limited to cigarettes.
Hinge-lid packaging for cigarettes is well known. An example of a hinge-lid -
packet, also known as a flip-top pack or flip-top box is disclosed in German
patent
application DE 19922602.
A hinge-lid packet comprises a rigid container, which is in the form of a
rectangular parallelepiped when closed. The following description assumes that
the
hinge-lid packet is in its normal configuration arranged with the lid at the
top. The
base of the container comprises a rectangular bottom panel from which front,
rear and
side panels stand upright. The rear panel carries the hinged lid as an
integral part. The
top of the lid forms the top panel of the container when the lid is closed.
A fold line on the rear panel of the container provides the hinge line. It is
about
that hinge line that the lid pivots to effect opening and closing of the
container.
The lid comprises a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels and a top
panel.
The front panel is longer than the rear panel. The lid side panels each have a
lower
edge, which slopes from the hinge-line to the lower edge of the lid front
panel; the
lower edge of the lid front panel provides the leading closure edge of the
front panel of
the lid. The angle at which the edge on the side panel of the lid inclines is
termed the
mitre angle. The mitre angle is the included angle between the rear upright
edge of the
container (the rear upright edge is the adjoining edge of the rear panel of
the container
and the side panel of the base portion of the container) and the inclined
closure edge
on the side panel of the lid.
The vertex of the mitre angle is closely adjacent to the hinge-line.
In known hinge-lid packets, the mitre angle is about 60 degrees because such
an angle allows, when closing the lid, the front panel of the lid to be long
enough such
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that the leading (bottom) edge clears the ends of the cigarettes contained in
the container
when the lid is pivoted about the hinge. This is especially the case when the
container is
full.
In the example described above it is assumed that the term mitre angle defines
the
angle of both the side edge closure on the side panel of the lid and the side
edge closure
on the side panel of the base portion of the container. It is possible that
the two edges do
not abut each other when the lid is in a closed position. Therefore, it is
possible that there
may be two mitre angles on each side panel of the container. The first mitre
angle will
hereinafter be referred to as the lid-mitre angle and the second mitre angle
will be
hereinafter referred to as the base-mitre angle. The lid-mitre angle is the
included angle
taken between the rear upright edge of the container and the inclined edge on
the side
panel on the lid and the base-mitre angle is the included angle between the
rear upright
edge of the container and the inclined edge on the side panel of the base
portion of the
container.
The present invention provides a hinge-lid packet for smoking articles
comprising
a lid portion connected to a base portion at a hinge-line on a rear panel of
the base
portion, the lid portion being capable of pivoting about the hinge-line to
open and close,
the packet, the lid portion comprising a lid front panel having a depth LH as
measured
from the top edge of the lid, the hinge-line being positioned at distance A'
from the top
edge of the lid, and the packet having a depth H2 taken from the top of the
lid to the
bottom of the base portion, wherein A' is greater than zero and the depth LH
of the lid
front panel is such that a ratio of LH:H2 is less than or equal to one-fifth,
wherein side
panels of the lid portion provide side closing edges, each side closing edge
extending
from a first point at a depth B taken from the top edge of the lid, the first
point being on
the edge defined by the rear panel and the side panel, to a second point at
depth LH, the
second point being on the edge defined by the lid front panel and the lid side
panel,
wherein A' is less than B and wherein B is less than LH, wherein the side
closing edges
on the lid side panels are inclined, thereby providing a lid-mitre angle (I)
which is greater
than 60 , wherein a first radius on a side face is defined by a planar
distance between the
hinge line and a closure edge of the lid front panel and a second radius on a
side face is
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defined by a planar distance between the hinge line and an inner surface edge
provided
by an edge defined by the lid front panel and the lid top panel, the lid-mitre
angle 4) being
sized such that the first radius is greater than the second radius.
A ratio of LH:H2 of less than or equal to one-fifth provides a more compact
and
robust lid than known hinge-lid packets.
It is known to place indicia and/or other markings and/or features on the
fronts of
cigarette packets. For example, Brand owners naturally wish to place their
brand and
other information on the packet front. Additionally, regulations in certain
jurisdictions
require health warnings to be prominently displayed on packet fronts. However,
in known
hinge-lid packets the health warnings, indicia and/or graphics
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and/or other markings and/or other features may overlap the front panels of
the base
portion of the container and the lid, which is aesthetically undesirable due
to the health
warnings, indicia and/or other markings and /or other features being broken
when the
lid is opened. What may also be aesthetically undesirable is misalignment of
health
warnings, indicia, and/or other graphics and/or other markings and/or other
features
that may overlap the front panels of the base portion and the lid when the lid
is closed.
Advantageously, the hinge-lid packet, as provided in accordance with the
present invention provides a shorter lid portion compared with known hinge-lid
packets. In addition to providing a more robust and compact lid portion, the
shorter lid
portion increases the available area on the packet front for applying health
warnings,
indicia and/or other markings and/or other features and reduces the occurrence
of such
health warnings, indicia and/or other markings and/or other features being
broken or
distorted when the lid is opened.
A ratio of LH:H2 of less than or equal to one-fifth is achieved by varying the
depth D of the lid front panel,. The change of depth LH may be as a
consequence of
adjusting the position of the hinge-line towards the top of the packet whilst
maintaining or altering the lid-mitre angle. The meaning of lid-mitre angle is
described above as being the angle of incline of a side closing edge provided
on the lid
side panel.
Examples of lid-mitre angles (I) useful in accordance with the present
invention
are angles greater than 600. More suitably the lid mitre angle may be in the
range of a
is less than or equal to (1), and (1) is less than or equal to (3, wherein a
may be 610 or
more and p. may be 900 or less. The lid-mitre angle cici may be any angle
between a and
13 taken in increments of 10. Preferably, the lid mitre angle is 750.
Preferably, the lid-mitre angle (1) is sized such that an imaginary first
radius on
the side panel of the lid is greater than an imaginary second radius on the
side panel of
the lid, wherein the first radius is defined by a planar distance between a
hinge line and
a leading closure edge of the lid front panel and the second radius is defined
by a
planar distance between the hinge line and an inner surface edge provided by
an edge
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that adjoins the lid front panel with the lid top panel. Such an arrangement
reduces the
occurrence of the leading closure edge on the front panel of the lid fouling
the end of
the smoking article, such as cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos that may be
contained in the
packet.
The hinge-line, about which the lid pivots to effect opening and closing of
the
hinge-lid packet, may be provided coincident with the vertex of the lid-mitre
angle.
The vertex of the lid mitre angle being coincident with a point at one end of
the side
closing edge, which point being on the edge of the packet defined by the rear
panel and
the side panel. Alternatively, the hinge-line may be offset from the vertex of
the lid-
mitre angle towards the top of the lid and a cut extends from the vertex of
the lid-mitre
angle to join the mitre angle to the hinge-line. The cut may extend from the
vertex of
the lid-mitre angle as an extension of the slope defined by the side closing
edge on the
lid side panel. Alternatively, the cut may extend from the vertex of the lid-
mitre angle
to the hinge-line along the edge defined by the rear panel and the side panel.
The cut
minimises the effect of tearing when opening/closing the lid having an offset
hinge-
line.
A lid having dimensions as described above, should allow the lid to close
without the leading closure edge of the lid front panel fouling the end of
smoking
articles, such as cigarettes contained in the packet. If the top of the lid,
in the closed
position, is closely proximate the ends of the cigarettes then the likelihood
of the
leading closure edge of the front panel of the lid fouling the end of the
cigarettes is
increased. Therefore, greater clearance between the top of the pack (in the
closed
position) may be considered. However, this requires a larger packet.
Disadvantages
associated with a larger packet are that the cigarettes may not be as tightly
packed and,
at least may move length wise in the packet, a larger/longer packet may also
weaken
the packet construction and as a result of the clearance between the end of
the
cigarettes and the top panel the manufacturing processes may also be affected.
In the
manufacture of a larger packet more material is also used.
Offsetting the hinge line from the vertex of the lid-mitre angle towards the
top
of the lid effectively increases the size of the arc traced by the closing
leading edge at
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the front panel of the lid, thereby increasing the clearance between the
cigarettes and
the closing leading edge at the front panel of the lid, on opening and closing
the
packet. Therefore, an offset hinge-line may overcome the problem of the
closing
leading edge of the front panel of the lid fouling the ends of the cigarettes
without
needing to change the external dimensions of the packet.
The ratio of LH:H2 may approach zero by an alteration of the denominator
increasing incrementally by one.
The side closing edges on the lid side panels extend from a point proximate
the
end of the hinge-line to one end of a leading closing edge on the lid front
panel. The
side closing edges may extend from a point at depth B from the top edge of the
lid to a
point at depth LH coincident with the ends of a leading closing edge on the
lid front
panel such that A' is greater than or equal to zero and A' is less than or
equal to B.
The side closing edge may be straight or curved. The leading closing edge on
the lid front panel may also be straight or curved. The side closing edge on
the side
panel of the lid and the leading closing edge on the front panel of the lid
may be
formed of piecewise linear sections or piecewise curved sections or a
combination of
piecewise linear sections and piecewise curved sections. It will be
appreciated that the
corresponding closing edges on the base portion of the hinge-lid packet may be
similarly formed such as to provide a functional closure of the packet.
The hinge-lid packet according to the present invention may further comprise a
window on any one of the panels forming the packet. The hinge-lid packet may
further comprise one or more windows on one or more of the panels forming the
packet. The window(s) may extend onto two or more adjoining panels. Therefore,
a
window may extend around the body of the packet; it may extend across the
front
panel, side panels and rear panel. Alternatively, or in addition it may extend
along the
front panels of the lid and the base portion of the container, the bottom
panel, the rear
panel and the top panel of the lid.
Preferably, a covering is provided over the window. The covering may be
sized substantially the same as the window, whilst providing a minimal overlap
such
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that the window may be adhered to the panel carrying the window.
Alternatively, the
covering may be sized substantially the same as the panel(s) carrying the
window and
adheres to the panel carrying the window. It will be appreciated that the
covering may
extend over the whole of the packet, covering the panel(s) that can-y windows
and the
panel(s) that do not. The covering may adhere to the interior or exterior
surface(s) of
the packet.
The covering may be a transparent or opaque material, for example film or
plastic. The covering may be decorated and/or coloured. Alternatively, the
covering
may be a reflective material. Preferably, the covering is a lamination applied
to the
packet.
The hinge-lid packet in accordance with the present invention may further
comprise an inner frame having at least a front panel and two side panels,
which front
and side panels are arranged to coincide with corresponding panels of the base
portion,
wherein a top edge of the inner frame projects from a top edge of the base
portion and
wherein at least the front panel of the projecting part of the inner frame has
a
concavely curved cut out portion.
When closing a hinge-lid packet, users may grasp the sides of the packet
causing the front panel to bow outwards. On closing the hinge-lid packet, the
closing
leading edge on the lid front panel may collide with the edge of the cut-out
portion on
the inner frame; usually, the top edge of the inner frame projects from the
top edge of
the front panel of the outer container. Shaping the top edge of the cut-out
portion on
the inner frame's front panel as a concaved curve may reduce the effects of
collision
between the closing leading edge on the front panel of the lid and the top
edge of inner
frame by providing a substantially point-to-point contact rather than the
conventional
edge-to-edge contact. If the front panel of the packet is bowed by an amount
typical of
use of a hinge-lid packet and the edge of the cut-out portion of the inner
frame is
concavely curved the leading edge of the lid front panel is more likely to
clear the edge
of the inner frame and thereby close the packet.
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The edge of the cut out portion may be an arc, which extends across the front
panel from edge-to-edge. Typically, the side panels of the inner frame also
project
from the top edge of the container to the top of the cigarettes. Portions of
the front
panel of the inner frame proximate the side panels may also project to the top
of the
cigarettes. To reduce the effects of the closing leading edge on the front
panel of the
lid colliding with the inner frame the side panels of the inner frame may be
shaped to
merge into the concavely curved edge of the cut-out portion. Preferably, the
nadir of
the concavely curved edge of the cut-out portion is offset from the top edge
of the front
panel of the base portion. The nadir of the concavely curved cut-out portion
may be
formed by a radius in the range of 30mm to 250mm. Preferably, the radius is
200mm.
In the embodiments of the present invention providing a hinge lid packet,
comprising at least one window on at least one panel forming the base portion,
one or
more windows may also be provided on corresponding panel(s) of the inner
frame.
The one or more windows may extend onto two or more adjoining panels.
Where a window is provided only on the base portion the corresponding panel
of the inner frame may be decorated or marked such that the decoration and/or
markings are viewed through the window. Alternatively if corresponding windows
are
provided on the base portion and the inner frame the contents of the packet
may be
viewed.
Preferably, a covering covers the window(s). The covering may be sized such
as to cover the window(s) with an overlap, which overlap adheres to the
panel(s)
carrying the window. Alternatively, the covering may be sized substantially
the same
as the panel(s) carrying the window, such that the whole of the panel(s) is
covered.
Preferably, the covering covers the whole of the packet, which includes
panel(s) that
may be carrying window(s) and panel(s) that may not. The covering may be
applied to
the interior or exterior surfaces of the container and/or the inner frame.
The covering may be a transparent or opaque material and may be decorated
and/or coloured. Alternatively, the covering may be reflective material.
Preferably, the
covering is lamination applied to the packet.
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The hinge-lid packet may be made from laminated cardboard.
These and further aspects of the present invention are defined in claims to
which attention is invited.
A further aspect of the present invention provides a hinge-lid packet
containing
smoking articles, for example cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos.
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Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example
only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates front and side views of a hinge-lid packet according to
one
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the hinge-lid pack of figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates front and side views of a hinge-lid packet comprising a
modified hinge-line;
Figure 4 illustrates in greater detail than Figure 3, the modified hinge-line
of
figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates two examples of the modified hinge-line of figures 3 and
4;
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge-lid packet containing the
inner frame of figure 8 and a window in the front panel;
Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a hinge-lid packet being hinged at
the
top edge of the hinge-lid packet;
Figure 8 illustrates the web for an inner frame for use with the hinge-lid
packet
of figures 1 to 7;
Figures 9a and 9b illustrate an alternative hinge-lid packet to that
illustrated in
figures 1 to 7;
Figure 10 illustrates part of a blank for forming a hinge-lid packet; and
Figure 1.1 illustrates in more detail than Figure 10 the form of the hinge-
line
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to Figure 1, a hinge-lid packet, flip-top pack or flip-top box 1
comprises a rigid container, which is in the form of a rectangular
parallelepiped when
closed (figure 2). When the hinge-lid packet 1 is arranged in its normal
configuration,
as illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, the hinged lid 3 is at the top.
The base or
container section of the hinge-lid packet 1 comprises a rectangular bottom
panel 5
from which a front panel 7, a rear panel 9 and two side panels 11 stand
upright. The
rear panel 9 carries the hinged lid 3 as an integral part. The top of the lid
3 forms the
top panel of the hinge-lid packet 1 when the lid 3 is closed.
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A fold line on the rear panel 9 of the hinge-lid packet 1 provides a hinge-
line
15. It is about that hinge line 15 that the lid 3 pivots to effect opening and
closing of
the hinge-lid packet 1.
The hinged lid 3 comprises a front panel 17, a rear panel 19, two side panels
21
and a top panel 23. In the embodiments illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and
6 the front
panel 17 is longer than the rear panel 19. The side panels 21 of the lid each
provide an
inclined closing edge 25 at their lower edge. The inclined closing edge 25 on
each of
the side panels 21 of the lid slopes from the hinge-line 15 to the end of the
lower edge
27 of the front panel 17; the lower edge of the front panel 27 is the leading
closing
edge 27 on the front panel of the hinged lid 3. The angle at which the
inclined closure
edge 25 on the side panel of the lid slopes is termed the lid-mitre angle (I).
The lid-
mitre angle is the included angle between the rear upright edge of the
container
section of the packet (the rear upright edge is the adjoining edge 9a of the
rear panel 9
and the side panel 11 of the container section of the packet) and the inclined
closure
edge 25 on the side panel 21 of the hinged lid 3.
In the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 to 6 the lid closing edges on the
front and side panels abut with corresponding edges on the side and front
panels of the
container section. In these examples the lid-mitre angle 4i, which is the
angle of
inclination of the side edge closure on the side panel of the lid is the same
as the base-
mitre angle 412, which is the angle of inclination of side edge closure on the
side panel
of the base portion of the container. The lid-mitre angle (I) is the included
angle taken
between the rear upright edge of the container and the inclined edge on the
side panel
on the lid and the base-mitre angle (1)2 is the included angle between the
rear upright
edge of the container and the inclined edge on the side of the base portion of
the
container.
Referring to figure 9a, the lid section and the container section may not abut
each other when the lid is in a closed position. Therefore, the lid-mitre
angle j on the
side panel of the lid may vary from the base-mitre angle (1)2 on the side
panel of the
container section. Referring to figure 9b, the lid-mitre angle 4, and the base-
mitre
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angle (1)2 may be same but the closing edges on the side panel of the lid and
container
may not abut or the angles (1), 4)2 may vary with the vertices of the mitre
angles being
displaced from each other.
In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the vertex of the lid-mitre angle
(1)
is closely adjacent to the hinge-line.
As described above, in known hinge-lid packets, the lid-mitre angle (I) is
about
60 degrees. When opening and closing the lid, such an angle provides a front
panel 17
of the lid, which is long enough to ensure that the closing leading edge 27 on
the front
panel of the lid 3 clears the ends of the cigarettes contained in the packet.
The outline
of the hinged-lid on a known hinge-lid packet and the lid-mitre angle (1)1 of
the known
hinge-lid packet is shown as a dashed line in figures 1 and 2.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the present invention
utilises a lid-mitre angle 4) of greater than 60 degrees, whilst substantially
maintaining
the position of the hinge-line of the conventional pack, i.e. it is closely
adjacent the
vertex of the mitre angle. In the example illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the
lid ¨mitre
angle is about 75 degrees. Compared with a known hinge-lid packet, a lid-mitre
angle
(I) of greater than 60 degrees provides a shortened front panel 17 on the lid
3, whilst
increasing the size of the front panel 7 of the container section of the hinge-
lid packet
1. When the hinge-line 15 is coincident with the vertex of the lid-mitre angle
(I), too
much of an increase in the size of the lid-mitre angle (1) can result in the
leading closing
edge 27 on the front panel of the lid 3 fouling with the cigarettes contained
in the
packet when opening and closing the packet 1. On opening and closing the
packet,
fouling of the cigarettes by the leading closing edge 27 of the front panel of
the lid 3 is
more likely, as the dimension of the radius R1 of the arc, which is defined by
the
leading closing edge 27 of the front panel of the lid 3, tends towards the
dimension of
the radius R2 of the arc, which is defined by the front-top edge of the lid.
Referring to figures 3, 4 and 5, with the exception of the hinge-lid 12, the
container section of the hinge-lid packet 10 is similar in construction to
that illustrated
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in figures 1 and 2. Therefore, like reference numerals will be used to refer
to those
features of the hinge-lid packet 10 that correspond with the hinge-lid packet
1.
The hinged lid 12 comprises a lid-mitre angle 4), which is the included angle
between the rear upright edge 9a (provided by the adjoining edge of the rear
panel 9
and the side panel 11) and the inclined closure edge 25 on the side panel of
the hinged
lid 12. A fold line on the rear panel 9 of the hinge-lid packet 10 provides
the hinge
line 15'. In this embodiment, the fold line 15' is offset by a distance A'
from the top
edge of the hinge-lid packet 10 and is offset by a distance B from the vertex
of the lid-
mitre angle 4). It is about the offset hinge line 15' that the lid 12 pivots
to effect
opening and closing of the hinge-lid packet 10. The hinge-line 15' may be
coincident
with the top-rearmost edge of the packet. Therefore the dimension A' is zero
as
illustrated in figure 3b.
The hinge-line 15' provides the end of the radius R1 of the arc defined by
rotation of the leading closing edge on the front panel of the lid 12 and the
end of the
radius R2 of the arc defined by rotation of the front-top edge of the lid 12
when
opening and closing the hinge-lid packet 10.
By offsetting the hinge-line 15' the radius R1 of the arc, which is traced by
rotation of the front-top edge of the lid when opening and closing the hinge-
lid packet
10, is reduced relative to the known hinge-lid packet arrangement. The
dimension of
the radius R2 of the arc that is traced by rotation of the leading closing
edge 27 of the
front panel of the lid 12 increases at the lower range of mitre angles
described above.
The dimension of the radius R1 of the arc, which is traced by rotation of the
leading
closing edge of the front panel of the lid 12, reduces as the lid-mitre angle
0) increases.
In this embodiment having an offset hinge-line 15', the upper limit of the
range of lid-
mitre angles 0) increases relative to the first embodiment whilst still
ensuring that the
leading closing edge 27 of the front panel of the lid 12 does not foul the
contents of the
hinge-lid packet 10. In addition, an offset hinge-line 15' maximises the
surface area
available for gluing the panels during construction of the hinge-lid packet
10.
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So that the whole of the lid 12 moves freely, a cut extends from the end of
the
hinge-line 15' to the vertex of the lid-mitre angle d). Referring to figure 5,
two
variations of connecting the vertex of the lid-mitre angle 4) to the hinge-
line 15' are
illustrated. In one example a cut across the rear panel of the packet has a
curved
profile 16 that smoothly joins the vertex of the lid-mitre angle to a point on
the hinge-
line 15'. An alternative example is illustrated, wherein the cut 16' is a
continuation of
the sloping line that defines the side closing edge of the side panel of the
lid which line
intersects with the hinge-line 15'. A further alternative (not illustrated) is
where the
cut extends along the rear upright edge from the vertex of the lid-mitre angle
to the end
of the hinge-line.
Figure 5, shows only part of the hinge-lid packet, it will be appreciated that
the hinge-lid packet is substantially symmetric about a longitudinal axis.
Referring to figure 7, the hinge-line 15" may be coincident with the adjoining
edge of the rear panel 9 of the container section and the top panel 23 of the
lid 30. In
this case, the hinge-line 15" is coincident with the top-rear edge of the
hinge-lid
packet 10' and with the vertex of the mitre angle ep. The hinge-lid packet as
illustrated
in figure 7, having a lid-mitre angle 4), which is less than or equal to 90
degrees
provides a shorter front panel on the lid 30 than on the known hinge-lid
packets 10. As
a result of shortening the front panel of the lid a larger front panel on the
container
section of the packet 10' is also provided. An alternative arrangement, having
larger
side panels, wherein the hinge-line 15' is not coincident with the vertex of
the lid-mitre
angle 4) is illustrated in figure 3b.
Referring to figure 6, a further embodiment of the invention is illustrated,
wherein the front panel 56 of the hinge-lid packet 100 carries a window 58. In
the
example illustrated, the window 58 is round and located on the front panel 56.
It will
be appreciated that the window 58 may be placed on any panel and may even
extend
from one panel to another such as from the front panel 56 to the side panel
60. The
window 58 may be any shape. One or more windows may be placed on one or more
panels (not illustrated).
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A covering covers the window. That covering may be a transparent or opaque
material, which may be patterned or coloured. Alternatively, the covering may
be a
reflective material. Preferably, the hinge-lid packet is produced from a
laminated
cardboard blank. Therefore, the lamination applied to the blank covers the
window(s).
Referring to figure 8, a blank of an inner frame 50 is illustrated. The blank
is
folded and inserted into the hinge-lid packet 1, 10, 10', 100 to provide
reinforcement
in the upper section of the hinge-lid packet 1, 10, 10', 100, which upper
section is in
contact with the hinge-lid 3, 12, 30. The inner frame also facilitates keeping
the lid 3,
12, 30 closed, by providing an interference fit with the inside of the lid 3,
12, 30.The
inner frame 50 comprises two side panels 52 and a front panel 54. The front
panel
comprises a cut-out 62 at its upper edge. At the bottom edge there is a
correspondingly shaped projection, which is formed as a result of a plurality
of inner
frames 50 being cut from the same sheet.
The cut-out 62 has a concavely curved edge. The curved edge smoothly blends
from the side panels 52 to the front panel 54, thereby removing a flat edge
(known in
the prior art) against which the leading closing edge 27 of the front panel of
the hinge-
lid packet 1, 10, 10', 100 may collide during closure. The concavely curved
edge 62'
facilitates guiding the leading closing edge of the front panel of the lid
towards a
closed position. The edge 62' is for example an arc of radius R about a centre
in the
plane of the front panel 54, although it may have another shape. The radius R
may be
in the range of 30mm to 250mm. Preferably, the radius R is 200mm.
The inner frame is folded about fold lines Fl and F2 and inserted in the hinge-
lid packet 1, 10, 10', 100. The front panel 54 and side panels 52, of the
inner frame 50
coincide with the corresponding panels of the hinge-lid packet (see figure 6
and figure
7).
The inner frame of Figure 8 has at each side of the cut out projections P1 and
P2 of the front panel, the edges of which are curved and merge smoothly with
the edge
62'. When closing a hinge-lid packet, users may grasp the sides of the
container
causing the front panel to bow outwards. The hinge-lid packet 1, 10, 10', 100
has a
14
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shorter lid front panel than conventional hinge-lid packets. Accordingly, the
arcuate
path followed by the leading edge of the lid having the shorter lid front
panel is greatly
reduced compared with the leading edge of a lid in a conventional packet. On
closing
the hinge-lid packet, the closing leading edge of a lid having a short front
panel is
more likely to collide with the edge of the cut-out portion on the inner
frame; usually,
the top edge of the inner frame projects from the top edge of the front panel
of the
outer container. Shaping the top edge of the cut-out on the inner frame's
front panel as
a concaved curve may reduce the effects of collision between the closing
leading edge
on the front panel of the lid and the top edge of inner frame by providing
substantially
point-to-point contact rather than edge-to-edge contact as provided on the
inner frame
of a conventional packet. If the front panel of the packet is bowed by an
amount
typical of use of a hinge-lid packet and the edge of the cut-out portion of
the inner
frame is concavely curved the leading edge of the front panel of the lid is
more likely
to clear the edge of the inner frame. Indeed the form of the concavely curved
inner
frame may act as a guide to bring the lid into the closed position. The
concavely
curved cut out portion may be provided by an arc, which extends across the
front panel
from edge-to-edge. Typically, the side panels of the inner frame also project
from the
top edge of the container to the top of the cigarettes. Portions of the front
panel of the
inner frame proximate the side panels may also project (P1, P2) to the top of
the
cigarettes. To reduce the effects of the closing leading edge colliding with
the inner
frame the side panels of the inner frame may be shaped to merge into the
concavely
curved cut-out portion. Preferably, the nadir of the concavely curved cut-out
portion is
offset from the top edge of the front panel of the outer container.
The lid section B1 of a blank from which the hinge-lid packet is made is
illustrated in figure 10. The remainder of the blank is not illustrated
because it is
substantially the same as the blank for a known hinge-lid packet.
Referring to figure 10, the lid section B1 comprises a top panel B2, a front
panel B3 and an extension panel B4, which extends from the front panel B3. On
each
side of the front panel B3 extension panels B8 and B8' extend outwards from
fold
lines F10 and F10' respectively. The extension panels B8 and B8' are shaped to
form
the side closure of the hinge-lid packet. The side closure comprises a sloped
edge,
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which is provided by external edges El and El'. The sloped edge is at an angle
termed the mitre angle (I), as described above.
The lid section Bl also comprises a rear panel B5 that is bound by the hinge-
line HL and the top rear edge of the lid, that is provided by fold line F3.
Reinforcement panels are provided on each side of the rear panel B5 in the
form of
extension panels B6 and B6', which extend outwards from fold lines F8 and F8'
respectively. The extension panels B6 and B6' are shaped to correspond with
the form
of the side closure B8 and B8' of the hinge-lid packet. The extension panels
B6 and
B6' each comprise a sloped edge, which is provided by cut line Cl and Cl'. The
sloped edges are at the mitre angle 4) to the fold lines P11 and F 1 1 '
provided between
the rear panel 9 and the side panels II and 11' of the container portion of
the blank.
Further reinforcing panels B7, B7' adjoin the side of extension panels B6 and
B6'
about fold lines F9 and F9' respectively. A through-cut C4 joins the end of
the sloped
edge of B6 and B6' to the hinge-line HL (see figure 11).
For ease of understanding the form of the blank Bl, the fold lines, Fl etc.
are
illustrated by broken lines and cut edges are defined by solid lines as are
the external
edges; the cut edges facilitate detaching parts of the blank from other parts.
An example of a folded hinge-lid is illustrated in figure 1. The reference
numerals applied in referring to parts of the formed hinge-lid hereafter will
relate to
figure 1.
To form the hinge-lid 3, the blank is folded about the fold lines Fl etc. as
follows. Referring to figure 10 and figure 1, folding the top panel B2 through
90
degrees about fold line F3 forms the top panel 23. The front panel 17 is
formed by
folding the panel B3 about fold line F5 through 90 degrees relative to panel
B2.
Reinforcement panels B7, B7' are folded through 90 degrees about fold lines F9
and
F9' respectively and by folding, through 90 degrees, the sloped reinforcement
panel
B6 and B6' about lines F8 and F8', panels B7 and B7' are rotated to come into
contact
with and adhere to the inner surface of the top panel 23. To complete the form
of the
lid, the sloping closure edge on the side panel of the lid is formed by
folding panels B8
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and B8' through 90 degrees about fold lines F10 and F10' such that they come
into
contact and are glued to panels B6 and B6' respectively. To reinforce the lid
further,
panel B4 is folded through 180 degrees about fold line F7 to bring it into
contact with
and is glued to the inner surface of front panel 17.
Example
Referring to Figures 3, 6 and 8, illustrative dimensions of a packet according
to
the invention are about:
14) 75
Width W 56mm
Height H2 86mm
Depth D 24mm
Window Diameter WD 28mm
Offset Y of window from top edge of front panel 6mm
Height of front panel lid LH 14mm
Offset B of hinge from vertex of clo 2mm
Height A' 6mm
Radius R 200mm
Offset X 4mm
The ratio of lid front panel L to packet height H2 is 14:86 which means the
lid front
panel is approximately one-sixth of the height of the packet.
17
