Package for cigarettes

Abstract

The invention relates to a cigarette pack, comprising a box part (11) which is bounded by at least a front wall (15), a rear wall (12), side walls (16, 17) and a bottom wall (14), wherein the box part (11) serves to receive at least one preferably cuboid group of cigarettes (29) enclosed in an inner blank (30), and wherein the pack (10) has predetermined dimensions with respect to width, depth and height, and at least one dimension of the at least one group of cigarettes (29) is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part (11), such that the at least one group of cigarettes (29) does not fill the interior of the box part (11) with respect to at least one dimension, and wherein a collar (26) is arranged in the box part (11), comprising at least a collar front wall (27) which abuts the front wall (15) of the box part (11) and collar side walls (28).which are arranged adjacent to side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11). The invention is characterized in that the collar (26) serves to compensate for at least one different dimension.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a pack for cigarettes according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In practice, pack sizes or the dimensions of cigarette packs may be specified for various reasons, such as legal, tax, or technical reasons. To ensure cost-effective production of packs, however, it is desirable that the packs can be filled with different contents while maintaining constant (external) dimensions, in order to be able to respond flexibly to corresponding requirements in different markets without requiring costly retooling of the packaging machines. In particular, it is advantageous to accommodate a smaller number of cigarettes or groups of cigarettes with smaller dimensions in standard packs.

[0003] US Pat. No. 5,158,664 discloses the use of a special collar to reduce the width of the interior of the carton. The collar has inner and outer side walls. The inner side walls are spaced apart from the outer side walls, reducing the width of the interior accordingly. The cigarettes rest against the inner side walls on the inside. A disadvantage of this solution is that the special collar is made from a complicated blank with many walls, requiring complex handling and folding.

[0004] US Pat. No. 4,850,482 takes a different approach, using an insert with a filler piece on the back. Here, too, the cutting process is very complicated.

[0005] Against this background, the invention is based on the object of further developing packs for cigarettes, in particular with a view to the most advantageous possible accommodation of different pack contents in preferably standardized packs.

[0006] A package for solving this problem has the features of claim 1.

[0007] A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 a first example of a pack for cigarettes with the lid open in a three-dimensional representation, Fig. 2 the contents of the pack according to Fig. 1 in partial spatial representation, Fig. 3 a collar for the package according to Fig. 1 in partially folded position, Fig. 4 the collar according to Fig. 3 in plan view, Fig. 5 an embodiment of a pack for cigarettes according to the invention in a spatial representation, Fig. 6 the contents of the pack according to Fig. 5 in partial spatial representation, Fig. 7 a collar for the package according to Fig. 5 in partially folded position, Fig. 8the collar according to Fig. 7 in plan view, Fig. 9 an example not belonging to the invention of a pack for cigarettes with the lid open in a spatial representation, Fig. 10 the contents of the pack according to Fig. 9 in partial spatial representation, Fig. 11 a collar for the package according to Fig. 9 in partially folded position, Fig. 12 the collar according to Fig. 11 in plan view, Fig. 13 a cut for the package according to Fig. 9 in plan view Fig. 14 a cut for the package according to Fig. 9 in vertical section along section line XIV - XIV, Fig. 15 an example not belonging to the invention of a pack for cigarettes with the lid open in a spatial representation, Fig. 16 the contents of the pack according to Fig. 15 in partial spatial representation, Fig. 17 a collar for the package according to Fig. 15 in partially folded position, Fig. 18the collar according to Fig. 15 in plan view, Fig. 19 a schematic representation of a first folding step for the collar of the pack according to Fig. 15 , Fig. 20 a schematic representation of a second folding step for the collar of the package according to Fig. 15 , Fig. 21 an example of a pack for cigarettes with the lid open in a spatial representation, Fig. 22 the contents of the pack according to Fig. 21 in a partially spatial representation, Fig. 23 a collar for the package according to Fig. 21 in folded position, Fig. 24 the collar for the pack according to Fig. 21 in plan view, Fig. 25 an example not belonging to the invention of a pack for cigarettes with the lid open in a spatial representation, Fig. 26 a vertical section through the pack according to Fig. 25 along section line XXVI - XXVI in Fig. 25 , Fig. 27a collar for the package according to Fig. 25 in folded position, and Fig. 28the collar for the pack according to Fig. 25 in the floor plan.

[0008] The invention is described below using various examples, each of which relates to a pack 10 of the hinge-lid pack type for cigarettes. It is explicitly pointed out that the invention can also relate to other types of packs for cigarettes. Only the packs shown in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 5 bis 8 The package shown falls under the invention.

[0009] The packs 10 shown in the figures consist of a box part 11 and a lid 13 pivotally mounted in the region of a rear wall 12 of the box part 11. The box part 11 further consists of a (lower) bottom wall 14 and an (upright) front wall 15, which lies opposite the rear wall 12. Side walls 16, 17 connect the rear wall 12 and the front wall 15 and are formed from overlapping inner and outer side tabs 18, 19. The lid 13 also consists of a front wall 20, rear wall 21, end wall 54 and side walls 22, 23. The side walls 22, 23 of the lid 13 are also formed by overlapping inner and outer side tabs 24, 25.

[0010] Another component of each pack 10 is a collar 26 in a different configuration. The basic components of the collar 26, however, are always a collar front wall 27, which rests against the front wall 15 of the box part 11 and is optionally bonded to it by adhesive. Furthermore, the collar 26 includes collar side walls 28, which extend along side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11. An upper region of the collar 26 protruding from the box part 11 is enclosed by the lid 13 when the pack 10 is in the closed position.

[0011] The cuboid-shaped pack 10 made of thin cardboard, thus formed, is particularly suitable for holding cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects. The cigarettes are formed into a cigarette group 29 and are surrounded by an inner blank 30, for example, made of tin foil. This creates a cigarette block 31. In the illustrated embodiments, the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is essentially cuboid-shaped, with a square or rectangular cross-section. It is understood that the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 can also have other cross-sectional shapes, for example, with a trapezoidal or triangular cross-section.

[0012] A special feature exists with regard to the dimensions of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31. The dimensions (width, height, depth) do not correspond, at least in part, to the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10, so that without countermeasures, a cavity would arise, or the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 would not be held securely or properly in the box part 11. Accordingly, at least one dimension of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10.

[0013] If, within the scope of this application, it is referred to the fact that the dimensions (of the cigarette group 29 or cigarette block 31 on the one hand and of the interior of the box part 11 or the pack 10 on the other hand) are different, this does not refer to the usual deviations that are usually present as a result of dimensional and manufacturing tolerances or for the purpose of easy removal of the cigarettes, but to deviations that go beyond this dimension. The invention relates to deviations in the dimensions that arise because one or more cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 are accommodated within the pack 10, which, due to the number and / or dimensions of the cigarettes, have a smaller pack content than is usual for such packs 10, so that significant differences in the dimensions exist that have to be compensated for in a suitable manner in order toto safely accommodate the cigarette block 31 in the pack 10 despite the different dimensions.

[0014] In the first non-inventive example according to Fig. 1 bis 4 Two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 are provided, the combined width of which is less than the width of the interior of the box part 10. There are no special features or different dimensions regarding the depth and height.

[0015] The cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 are essentially square in cross-section, with four cigarettes arranged in four rows. Both cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 have identical dimensions. It is understood that the cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 may also have different dimensions in a variant.

[0016] To compensate for the smaller width of the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31, a specially designed collar 26 is used, which is formed from several sections or folding tabs. Each of the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 is enclosed by the collar 26 on three sides, namely in the area of ​​the front wall 15 by a collar front wall 27 and in the area of ​​the side walls 16, 17 by outer collar side walls 28. Furthermore, inner collar side walls 32 are provided, which extend along mutually facing side surfaces of the spaced-apart cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31. A support member 33, which is formed from a folding tab of the collar 26, is arranged between the two inner collar side walls 32. Furthermore, the two inner collar side walls 32 are connected by a connecting strap 34.

[0017] An outer collar side wall 28, a collar front wall 27, and an inner collar side wall 32 each form a section 35, 36 of the collar. The two sections are connected to each other by the connecting tab 34.

[0018] The width of the connecting tab 34 corresponds to the width of the support member 33, which is formed by punch cuts 37 from the material of the collar 26 and is pivotally connected to an upper end of the connecting tab 34 about a fold line 38.

[0019] During the production of the pack 10, the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 are each wrapped in a section 35, 36 of the collar 26 and the support member 33 is pivoted transversely to the plane of the connecting tab 34 ( Fig. 3 ). In this position, the inner collar side walls 28 rest against the free longitudinal edges of the support member 33 and bridge the distance between the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31, so that the smaller common width of the cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 is compensated by the support member 33 of the collar 26.

[0020] A further special feature is that the support member 33 is arranged in such a way that the consumer cannot see the distance or space between the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 when the pack is opened.

[0021] In the present case, the support member 33 is arranged approximately at the level of a closing edge 39 of the box part 11 and runs essentially horizontally or parallel to the bottom wall 14. The length of the support member 33 corresponds to the corresponding dimension of the collar side walls or the corresponding depth of the interior of the box part 11, so that the hollow space extending in the box part 11 between the two cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 is covered on the top.

[0022] Another special feature concerns the arrangement of otherwise conventional recesses 40 in the area of ​​an upper side of the collar 26 for removing cigarettes. These recesses 40 each extend across the corners in the area of ​​the collar front walls 27 and the adjacent inner collar side walls 32.

[0023] The embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 5 bis 8 differs from the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 bis 4 on the one hand by the number and size of the cigarette groups 29 and on the other hand by the construction of the collar 26. Accordingly, only the aspects which have been changed so far are described below, whereby the same reference numerals are used for corresponding parts.

[0024] In the second embodiment, the pack contents are a single cigarette group 29 or a single cigarette block 31. The cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is arranged centrally or centrally in the box part 11, wherein the width of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is (significantly) smaller than the corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part 11.

[0025] The cigarette group 29 or cigarette block 31 has a rectangular cross-section, with five cigarettes each arranged in four rows. It is understood that other cross-sections or a different number of cigarettes are also conceivable.

[0026] As in the first embodiment, the collar 26 is designed as a single piece, comprising a collar front wall 27 having a central recess 40, and two collar side walls 28 arranged adjacent to the side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11. There are no special features regarding the depth and height of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31.

[0027] Due to the smaller width of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31, its side surfaces do not rest against the collar side walls 28, but only against the collar front wall 27. Accordingly, measures must be taken to hold the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 laterally. For this purpose, special support tabs 41 are provided, which are folded from corresponding folding tabs of the collar 26.

[0028] The support tabs 41 run parallel to the collar side walls 28 and rest against the corresponding side surfaces of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 to hold them laterally. Another support tab 42 runs transversely to the support tab 41 and extends along the rear wall 12 of the box part 11.

[0029] The two support tabs 41, 42 are formed from the material of the collar by a horizontal punch cut 37 and are connected via fold lines 38 to the collar front wall and via a residual connection 43 to a corner area of ​​the collar side walls 28.

[0030] In the third non-inventive example according to Fig. 9 bis 14 A cigarette group 29 or a cigarette block 31 is provided, which does not extend over the full depth of the interior of the box part 11. There are no special features regarding the width and height dimensions.

[0031] The cigarette group 29 or cigarette block 31 has a rectangular cross-section, with ten cigarettes arranged in two rows. It is understood that other cross-sections or a different number of cigarettes are also conceivable.

[0032] The width of the collar side walls 28 is adapted to the depth of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31. The cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 rests against the collar 26 on three sides, namely in the area of ​​the collar front wall 27 and the two collar side walls 28.

[0033] The cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is positioned so that it rests against the rear wall 12 of the box part 11. Accordingly, the collar front wall 27 is positioned at a distance from the front wall 15 of the box part.

[0034] To bridge this gap, two support tabs 44 are provided, which are formed by punching from the material of the collar 26. After folding the collar side walls 28, the support tabs 44 each extend in the plane of the collar side walls 28 and protrude beyond the collar front wall 27 to the front wall 15 of the box part 11, thus ensuring stabilization of the collar 26 or the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31.

[0035] Another special feature is that the width of the inner lid side flaps 24, 25 is adapted to the position of the lid brakes 45. The lid brakes 45 are formed, as usual, in the plane of the collar front wall 27, which, however, is located in a different plane than usual due to the distance from the front wall 15 of the box part 11. Accordingly, the lid side flaps 24, 25 are formed with a smaller width transverse to the longitudinal extent of the blank 46 for the pack 10.

[0036] A further special feature is that the cavity in the box part 11 between the collar front wall 27 and the front wall 15 of the box part 11 is covered on the top. For this purpose, approximately at the level of the closing edge 39 of the box part 11 or slightly below ( Fig. 14 ) a cover flap 47 is formed in extension of the front wall 15 of the box part 11, which is folded into the package 10 in order to cover the space between the front wall 15 of the box part 11 and the collar front wall 27.

[0037] To keep the cover flap 47 in the folded position according to Fig. 14 In order to secure the collar, a recess 48 is also formed in the collar front wall 27, in which the cover flap engages with a retaining lug 49.

[0038] In the fourth non-inventive example according to Fig. 15 bis 20 A cigarette group 29 or a cigarette block 31 is provided, which has a smaller width than the interior of the box part 11. The depth and height of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 have no special features.

[0039] The cigarette group 29 or cigarette block 31 has a rectangular cross-section, with five cigarettes arranged in four rows. It is understood that other cross-sections or a different number of cigarettes are also conceivable.

[0040] As in the two previous embodiments, the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is arranged centrally in the box part 12. The cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 rests against the collar front wall 27. Laterally, the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is supported by a filler body 50, which is formed by walls of the collar 26 and compensates for the different dimensions.

[0041] The collar 26 has a collar front wall that extends across the entire front of the pack 10. Adjoining these are respective collar side walls 28, which extend adjacent to the side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11. Adjoining these are respective folding tabs 51, which extend along the rear wall 12 of the box part 11. These are then followed by folding tabs 52, which extend parallel to the collar side walls 28, namely starting from the folding tabs 51 in the direction of the collar front wall 27. Finally, the folding tabs 52 are connected to the collar front wall 27 via connecting straps 53, so that cuboid-shaped, hollow filler bodies 50 are formed by the walls of the collar 26.

[0042] The filling bodies 50 support the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 laterally by means of corresponding dimensions by resting on the side walls 16, 17 of the box part 11 on the one hand and the side surfaces of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 on the other hand.

[0043] When producing pack 10, the procedure is as follows: first, Fig. 19 the folding tabs 51, 52 are folded over with the connecting tab 53, wherein the connecting tabs 53 can be connected to the collar front wall 27, for example, by activating hot-melt glue. The collar 26 is then laid flat on a cigarette block 31, and by pivoting the collar side walls 28 around the collar front walls 27, the two filler bodies 50 on either side of the cigarette block 31 are erected.

[0044] A fifth example not belonging to the invention is in Fig. 21 bis 24 Similar to the third embodiment according to Fig. 9 bis 12 the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 has a width that approximately corresponds to the width of the box part 11, whereas the depth of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is less than the corresponding dimension of the box part 11.

[0045] A special feature is that the collar 26 is designed in the manner of a sleeve in which the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 is received.

[0046] The sleeve is essentially formed by parts of the collar front wall 27. For this purpose, the collar front wall 27 has an incision 55 which extends over the entire width of the collar front wall 27, as well as on both sides into the adjacent collar side walls 28. From the two lateral ends of the incision 55 in the direction of the underside of the collar 26, fold lines 56 extend. In conjunction with the fold lines 57 between the collar front wall 27 and the two adjacent collar side walls 28, a lower section 58 of the collar front wall 27 below the incision 55 can be folded into a position according to Fig. 23 bring.

[0047] After folding a material leg 60 located between the two fold lines 56, 57 around the two fold lines 56, 57, the leg 60 rests on the inside of the collar side walls 28, and the lower section 58 is parallel to, but spaced from, the upper section 59 of the collar front wall 27. The distance between the two planes in which the two sections 58, 59 of the collar front wall 27 are arranged essentially corresponds to the depth of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31. In this way, the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 rests on the one hand on the front side against the upper section 59 of the collar front wall 27 and on the other hand on the back side against the lower section 58 of the collar front wall 27.

[0048] How Fig. 21 As shown, the upper section 59 of the collar front wall 27 rests on the inside against the front wall 15 of the box part 11. The lower section 58 of the collar front wall 27 is spaced from the front wall 15 by the width of the legs 60. In the present case, the legs 60 are dimensioned such that the lower section 58 is also spaced from the rear wall 12. The width of the legs 60 can be dimensioned such that the lower section 58 is spaced from the upper section 59 by the size of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31.

[0049] In principle, it is of course conceivable that the upper section 59 could alternatively be arranged at a corresponding distance from the front wall 15 of the box part 11. A combination of the two measures is also conceivable.

[0050] A sixth non-inventive example according to Fig. 25 bis 28 differs from the fifth embodiment described above only in details in the area of ​​section 58 of the collar 26. Therefore, only the resulting special features will be discussed below. Otherwise, reference is made to the description of the fifth embodiment according to Fig. 21 bis 24 referred to.

[0051] As can be seen from the Fig. 26 bis 28 As can be seen, the section 58 of the collar 26 has two additional folding lines 61, 62 around which the section 58 can be folded so that the cavity between the back of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 and the inside of the rear wall 12 is partially closed.

[0052] Preferably, the section 58 is folded around the two fold lines 61, 62 into a Z-shaped configuration such that a material strip 63 between the two fold lines 61, 62 corresponds to the width of the cavity and runs parallel to the bottom wall 14, thus concealing a lower part of the cavity. A lower material section 64 below the fold line 62 rests against the rear wall 12 and can be connected thereto by adhesive. An upper material section 65 of the section 58 rests against the rear side of the cigarette block 31, as in the previous embodiment.

[0053] In the present case, the fold lines 61, 62 run parallel to each other and to the incision 55. The lower fold line 62 continues to run at the level of the underside of the collar side walls 28, so that the material section 64 is formed by a projection which corresponds in size and shape to an opposite recess 65 in the region of an upper side of the collar 26, which serves to facilitate the removal of cigarettes from the pack 10.

[0054] What all the examples shown have in common is that the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 deviates from the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11 in only one dimension, namely either the width or the depth. Regarding the height of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31, there are no special features in any of the cases.

[0055] However, it is of course possible that the dimensions of the cigarette group 29 or the cigarette block 31 differ in more than one dimension or direction from the corresponding dimensions of the interior of the box part 11. If necessary, several of the individual measures can be combined to compensate for the different dimensions.

[0056] Furthermore, it should be ensured that the cigarette groups 29 or cigarette blocks 31 should, if possible, have a greater width than depth in order to be able to properly fold the inner blank in the area of ​​the top side.

[0057] The contents of the pack can generally be cigarettes of normal dimensions, or cigarettes with a smaller diameter than normal cigarettes, namely so-called slim or super-slim cigarettes.

Claims

1. Pack for cigarettes, having a box part (11), which is delimited at least by a front wall (15), a rear wall (12), side walls (16, 17) and a base wall (14), wherein the box part (11) serves for accommodating at least one preferably cuboidal cigarette group (29) wrapped in an inner blank (30), and wherein the pack (10) has predetermined width, depth and height dimensions and at least one dimension of the at least one cigarette group (29) is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the interior of the box part (11), and therefore the at least one cigarette group (29) does not fill the interior of the box part (11) in respect of the at least one dimension, and wherein the box part (11) has arranged in it a collar (26), at least comprising a collar front wall (27), which butts against the front wall (15) of the box part (11), and collar side walls (28), which are arranged adjacent to side walls (16, 17) of the box part (11), and wherein the collar (26) serves for compensating for at least one differing dimension, and wherein the cigarette group (29), rather than butting laterally against the collar side walls (28), is retained on either side merely by supporting flaps (41), which are formed by virtue of folding flaps of the collar (26) being folded and which run parallel to, and at a distance from, the plane of the collar side walls (28), in order to compensate for at least one differing dimension, and in that further supporting flaps (42) run transversely to the supporting flaps (41) and extend along the rear wall (12) of the box part (11), and wherein the supporting flaps (41, 42) are delimited on one side by a severing cut (37) in the material of the collar (26) and also are connected to the collar front wall (27) by folding lines (38), characterized in that the supporting flaps (42) are connected to an adjacent collar side wall (28) by a residual connection (43).

2. Pack according to Claim 1, characterized in that the supporting flaps (42) are connected to a corner region of the collar side wall (28) via the residual connection (43).

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