AU755373B2

AU755373B2 - Model of a cigarette packet adapted for opening with one hand

Info

Publication number: AU755373B2
Application number: AU43814/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Luis Alberto Perez Garza; Mario Samuel Reyes Ortega
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-15
Filing date: 2001-05-10
Publication date: 2002-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-10
Also published as: FR2808659B3; HU0100118V0; HU2317U; PT9717U; ES1049125U; BR0102631A; PT9717T; ES1049125Y; CZ12133U1; FR2808659A3; AT5760U1; BR0102631B1; AR029086A4; CN2521167Y; AU4381401A; PL211098B1; NL1018082C1; MY122987A; BE1014023A6; PL347538A1

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Actual Inventors: Luis Alberto Perez Garza and Mario Samuel Reyes Ortega Address for Service: Baldwin Shelston Waters MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: 'MODEL OF A CIGARETTE PACKET ADAPTED FOR OPENING WITH ONE HAND' The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 31549AUP00 g ooooo, 5846/3 la MODEL OF A CIGARETTE PACKET ADAPTED FOR OPENING WITH ONE HAND TECHNICAL FIELD ASSOCIATED WITH THE INVENTION The invention is associated with the cigarette industry and more specifically with packets and packs for cigarettes

BACKGROUND

Cigarette packets that open with one hand are known and various embodiments are currently in existence. However, all of these have considerable disadvantages. For example, the model of the International Design No. DM/020084, in the name of Didier Georges Jost, where the appearance of the packet is illustrated, but not how it functions. The patent GB 1 394 740 shows a model with two compartments, an outer compartment and an inner compartment, having a window in one of the narrower panels, the packet being opened by pressing the inner compartment through the °opening. This has the disadvantage that not all of the cigarettes are visible, regardless of whether the packet is new or one with the last few cigarettes, which is not entirely convenient for the user. Patent GB 2 254 314 A provides a packet with two compartments, an inner compartment and an outer compartment. The inner compartment contains the cigarettes and is moved so that the user has access to the cigarettes. It does not have a window and both hands are needed to open it. Mexican patent MX 175 719 protects a'flip-top' type cigarette packet, which is not designed to be opened with one hand unless the user presses the body of the packet and lifts the lid with one finger, which entails a risk of deforming the packet and of breaking the contents.

Of the state of the art models mentioned, the majority provide means to ensure that when closed, they will not open accidentally and once the user opens the packet, it remains open, which makes it difficult or requires greater effort from the user, to close it. These models are not the most convenient for the user to use and gain access to the cigarettes.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand, said packet comprising an inner and an outer compartment or box, said inner compartment accommodating the cigarettes and the outer compartment covering the inner compartment almost completely, said packet allowing the packet to be opened by pressing the inner compartment with one finger through an opening located in the outer compartment, said compartments being joined at the top and at the bottom and having fixing and folding means which pivotally interattach the inner and outer compartments in an independent manner so as to allow the inner compartment to move by a larger angle than other models so that the entire contents are displayed.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of"including, but not limited to".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: :i Fig. 1 is a view of the inside face of the blank with which the inner compartment of the model concerned is formed.

Fig. 2 shows a view of the inside face of the blank with which the outer 25 compartment of the model concerned is formed.

Fig. 3 shows a side face of the inner compartment.

Fig. 4 shows the outer compartment almost all of which is formed.

Fig. 5 shows a view of the pack referred to in its open position.

*e Fig. 6 is a view showing the bottom part of the pack.

AIMS

The aims of the present invention, at least in a preferred embodiment, are: 1) To provide a cigarette packet that opens with one hand.

Y 2) To provide a cigarette packet that is convenient for the user.

3) To provide a cigarette packet that keeps the contents intact.

4) To provide a cigarette packet that opens wider for the user.

To provide a cigarette packet that does not open accidentally.

6) To provide a cigarette packet that the user can open easily.

7) To provide a cigarette packet that, once opened and the contents removed, returns to its original closed position to avoid damage to the contents and to the packet.

8) To provide a cigarette packet that can be safely carried in handbags, pockets and other small compartments and which does not open accidentally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements to a cigarette packet that can be opened with one hand.

DEFINITIONS:

The present application describes the packet and its parts in the position in which the user would hold it to open it, unless another position is indicated.

The compartments or boxes are structures formed from their corresponding blanks to accommodate or contain the cigarettes in the inner or internal compartment, where the outer or external compartment envelopes the inner compartment.

Each compartment has sides or side parts made by folding the same blank which forms the inner and outer boxes. The sides and faces joined together form the sides and ends of the inner and outer compartments.

The front face or front of the packet is considered to be the larger external face of the outer compartment which faces away from the user when he holds it in his hand to open it.

:1 The back of the packet is the side which faces the user when he uses the packet.

l The bottom of the packet in the present application, is the bottom side of the packet when the latter is in a vertical position and may include the inner and outer compartments, jointly or separately.

The top of the packet is the side opposite to the bottom of the packet as a whole or of each individual compartment.

Fixing means are parts of the inner compartment and join it to the outer compartment.

The parts, which in a preferred embodiment, require gluing or other joining mechanism, are indicated by the area designated by the letter If the area is delineated by continuous lines, it means that the glue is applied to the same side as shown in the diagram; if the is in an area delineated by dotted lines, it means that the gluing areas shown according to the preferred embodiment of this invention are on the opposite side to that shown by the diagram. However, it must be understood that other points for the glue or other adhesives are also included.

The packet may be provided with one blank for the two compartments or one blank for each compartment. According to the preferred embodiment, the packet is provided with a blank for each compartment, inner and outer Fig. 1 shows the extended blank 1 of the inner compartment seen from its internal face. To form the said inner compartment, the panels 3, 5, 8, 13 and 14 are bent upwards and inwards along the lines 17, 19, 21 and 23 so that the panels 5 and 13 are perpendicular to panel 8, and panels 3 and 14 are parallel to panel 8. The panels 3 and 14 are joined in a preferred embodiment using glue applied to the back of panel 14, since in Fig. 1 an area delineated by a dotted line and identified with the letter is indicated.

In this application, gluing must be understood as a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, a change of position of the glue or the use of any other fixing means between the panels must be considered as forming part of the invention.

The bottom of the inner compartment is formed by bending the tabs 6 and 12 along the lines 18 and 22 towards the cavity of the inner compartment The said tabs rest on the panel 4, which is bent along line 16. Panel 4 duly rests on the panel 7. The .i said panel 7 is folded along the line 20 towards the cavity of the compartment so that the base is formed by the panels 4, 6, 7 and 12.

The cigarettes are accommodated in the said inner compartment surrounded by an envelope off rice paper 56 (Fig. 5) or similar material known in the art, which o serves to maintain the quality of the tobacco and which, at the bottom of the compartment, inserts a tab between the panels 7 and 4. The paper is intended to protect the cigarettes so that they retain their freshness and aroma for longer and is glued to the 25 aforementioned panels 7 and 4 to secure it and to prevent the movement of the said ***envelope.

The tab 2 covers the cigarettes on the paper enveloping them. The said tab 2 is S. folded along the dotted line 15 to reach the content of the packet.

Fig. 2 shows the blank 30 of the outer compartment extended and seen from within. To form this compartment, the panels 33 and 38 are folded along the lines 47 and 54 so that these panels 33 and 38 are perpendicular to the panel 42. They are folded towards the interior of the compartment, i.e. upwards from the position shown in Fig. 2.

SThe panels 32 and 39 are then bent along the lines 45 and 51 so that the panels 33 and 32 are joined by gluing, and the same for panels 38 and 39, and are perpendicular to panel 42. The tabs 31 and 40 are bent towards the interior along lines 44 and 52. The panel 41 is placed on said tabs by folding it along line 53. The panel 41 is glued to fix it to the upper part of the tabs 31 and 40 so that a rigid unit is formed from the parts 31, 40 and 41. In addition, the tabs 34 and 37 at the bottom of the outer compartment 30 are folded along the lines 46 and 50. The panel 35 is folded along the line 48, the panel 36 is joined to tabs 34 and 37 with glue. The window 43 is limited by line 55, which is the physical edge of the window 43.

The linking of both compartments, inner 1 and outer 30, is effected byjoining the base of the inner compartment (formed by panels 4, 6, 7 and 12), particularly the panel 7 of the inner compartment. It is joined by glue or adhesive to the inner surface of the outer compartment 30, particularly with the tabs 34 and 37 and to the panel 36, but not on the panel 35 so that when the inner compartment is pressed, it is pushed forward without ceasing to be supported on the assembly 34, 36 and 37 of the outer compartment 30. At the top, the link between the inner compartment 1 and outer compartment 30 is achieved by attaching, by means of glue or any other suitable means, the tabs 31 and to the panel 11 of the inner compartment When the packet is opened, the panel 11 of the inner compartment serves as a connection to the outer compartment. This connection allows the inner compartment 1 to try to return to its original position when the packet is o 20 closed.

For the packet to function, the user presses the inner compartment 1 with one finger through the window 43 in the outer compartment 30 and moves it forward, away from the outer compartment 30. Once cigarettes have been removed, the pressure being applied to the sides of the packet relaxes slightly and the inner compartment 1 tries to 25 return to the original position of the closed packet as a result of the combined flexing of the folded line 26 of the panel 11 of the inner compartment 1 and the folded line 49 of the lower panel 35 of the outer compartment Fig. 3 is a side view of the inner compartment It shows the fixing means and the panel 11 which allows the connection with the outer compartment 30. This diagram also illustrates the fold 26 which, when it tries to return to its original state, helps to close the packet by inserting the inner compartment 1 into the outer compartment This diagram also shows panel 8 of the inner compartment 1, which the user can reach through the window 43 of the outer compartment Fig. 4 shows the outer compartment 30, almost completely formed, in which the arrangement of the elements of the base can be seen in detail. Panel 36, which will serve as a connection between the outer compartment 30 and the inner compartment 1 is particularly relevant. The fold line 49 will serve in turn to assist with the opening of the packet and with its subsequent return to the closed position when the inner compartment is inside the outer compartment Figures 5 and 6 relate to a perspective view which shows the packet, formed by the two compartments, inner 1 and outer 30, in its open position, seen from the front and seen from below.

The panels 9, 10 and 11 together form the fixing element and, as explained above, are folded along the lines 24, 25 and 26. Panel 11 is glued to the inside of panel 41, where it does not occupy more than the half nearest to the edge of this panel 41.

When the packet is in its closed position, the panel 10 occupies the other half of the bottom surface of the panel 41, but is not glued to it. When the packet is opened (as in Fig. the panel 10 is suspended from the line 26 and ends up parallel to the panel 42.

When this section or panel 9 moves forward, away from the user, the panel 9 is at an angle and taut. The perforations 28 and 29, located on line 24, are to reduce the tension which is generated at the time when the packet is opened and while it remains open, which means greater durability for line 24.

S• 20 At the bottom of the packet, and in the outer compartment 30, a dotted line 49 S* can be seen on the outside, which divides the bottom of the said outer compartment into two sections 35 and 36 (see also Fig. When the packet is closed, the bottom of the inner compartment 1 rests on both sections 35 and 36. The panel 7 of the inner compartment 1 and panel 36 of the outer compartment 30 are glued together. When the 25 packet is opened, the panel 36 is folded along line 49 so that the inner compartment 1 is inclined, while the panel 35 remains fixed. As a consequence, the inner compartment 1 inclines forward, away from the outer compartment 30 and the user, to reveal its entire contents and make it easier for the user to remove the cigarettes from the inner compartment 1, which is held by the glue between its base and the outer compartment and also by the fixing element formed by the panels 9, 10 and 11. The packet opens at a larger angle than previous models, which open only to a maximum of about 200. The angle of opening is usually in the range of about 230 to 400, and is preferably at least pA bout 240. If pushed with the finger through the opening the maximum angle is 400.

Once the packet has been opened, the fixing elements 9, 10 and 11, together with the panel 36 of the outer compartment, attempt, as a result of the tension generated, to push the inner compartment towards the outer compartment so that it is easy to close the packet once the user has ceased applying pressure to the inner structure through the opening, without the necessity to employ a finger to push the inner compartment. These features, both at the top (fixing elements) and at the bottom (fold and base divided into two sections) endow the packet with the following advantages: a) Ease of operation by the user to open the packet; b) Safe and/or greater exposure of the content of the inner compartment; c) Fast exposure of the content of the inner compartment; d) The tension generated when holding the packet open facilitates its closure so that it is less effort for the user to close the packet; and e) It is more convenient for the user to open and close the packet and to access the cigarettes.

Other models of packets which open with one hand refer to the fact that the packet remains open if the user has not made the necessary movements to close it, which go 0 .g 9 requires greater effort on the part of the user, as an advantage. In the case of the present model, maintaining the packet in the open state only requires the user to apply light pressure to the sides of the outer compartment, which is not an additional effort, because the user holds the packet by the sides before opening it and the pressure required to keep it open is no more than the pressure necessary to hold it. Therefore, the present model is more convenient for the user, being a true model that opens with one hand.

o *.i

Claims

1. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand, said packet comprising an inner and an outer compartment or box, said inner compartment accommodating the cigarettes and the outer compartment covering the inner compartment almost completely, said packet allowing the packet to be opened by pressing the inner compartment with one finger through an opening located in the outer compartment, said compartments being joined at the top and at the bottom and having fixing and folding means which pivotally interattach the inner and outer compartments in at least a partially independent manner so as to allow the inner compartment to move by a larger angle than other models so that the entire contents are displayed.

2. A packet for cigarettes according to Claim 1, wherein the angle between the inner and outer compartment is less than 200 when in an open position.

3. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein the inner compartment comprises a front panel, two side panels, one panel at the base, one panel at the top and a panel at the back, which compartment is joined to the outer compartment by means of some folded sections, which folded sections allow the inner box to incline forward so that the user can remove one or more cigarettes in a convenient way. S4. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand, in accordance 20 with Claim 3, wherein the outer compartment includes a base panel and the base panel of S"the inner compartment is at least partially independent of the base panel of the outer compartment, which allows the inner compartment to incline more so that the user has ample and convenient access to the cigarettes. A packet for cigarettes in accordance with Claim 4, wherein the back panel of the 25 inner compartment is divided into four sections which sections decrease in size from the ooe• base to the top, the largest of which, remains in potential contact with the cigarettes when the packet is in its open position, is followed by three sections above it, the first of which constitutes the inclined plane which is formed between the two compartments when they are in the open position, a narrower succeeding section which has a less pronounced angle than the former so that the inner compartment inclines at a larger angle than that of the wider inclined plane and a final section which joins the inner compartment to the outer 47 compartment. -11-

6. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the inner compartment is joined to the inside surface of the upper panel of the outer compartment by one of the sections of its rear panel.

7. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the fixing assembly consists of three transverse panels arranged one after the other, the outermost being joined by glue to the lower part of the set of panels of the upper part of the outer compartment, and the other two panels which are not joined with glue allowing the movement of the inner compartment, which inclines forwards when the packet is opened.

8. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand, in accordance with any one of the foregoing claims wherein both compartments are joined at the top and at the bottom with glue or other suitable adhesive means.

9. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the set of panels at the bottom of the outer compartment is a line of dots physically marked (dotted line) to facilitate the folding of the panels at the bottom of the outer compartment when the packet is opened. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with Claims 8 or 9, wherein only that half of the bottom panel, the half of the inner 0*. compartment which faces the front of the packet is joined with glue to the half of the base 20 of the outer compartment which faces the front of the packet, which permits greater S"inclination of the inner compartment.

11. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with Claim 7, wherein the elements of the fixing assembly, principally the two that are not glued, facilitate the closing of the packet when the user reduces the pressure applied to the S25 sides of the outer compartment. •ooo

12. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with any one of Claims 8, 9 and 10, wherein the combination resulting from the gluing of the halves that face the front of the packet, both of the inner compartment and of the outer "compartment, and the dotted lines at the bottom of the outer compartment help with the closing of the packet.

13. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein when it is open, all the cigarettes in the Linner compartment are displayed, regardless of whether the packet is full or almost empty. 12-

14. A packet for cigarettes capable of being opened with only one hand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle between the inner and outer compartments is in the range of about 23° to about A packet for cigarettes according to Claim 14, wherein the angle is about 24°.

16. A packet for cigarettes substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. DATED this 22nd day of August 2002 BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO (INVESTMENTS) LIMITED Attorney: CAROLINE M. BOMMER Fellow Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS *oo