Hinged-lid cigarette packet

Abstract

A rigid hinged-lid cigarette packet has a longitudinal axis (Z), a cup-shaped container ( 3 ), a cup-shaped lid ( 5 ), main walls ( 7, 8, 9, 10, 27, 28, 29, 30 ), and at least one connecting wall ( 11 a , 11 p , 31 a , 31 p ) having a first panel ( 22 a , 22 p , 42 a , 42 p ) sloping with respect to the longitudinal axis (Z) to define differently shaped sections at least along a portion of the longitudinal axis (Z); and at least one of the main walls ( 7, 8, 9, 10 27, 28, 29, 30 ) has a second panel ( 13 a , 13 p , 33 a , 33 p ) sloping in the opposite direction to the first panel ( 22 a, 22 p , 42 a , 42 p ), so that each section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has the same perimeter as any other section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

1 ) a rigid hinged-lid cigarette packet; the packet ( 1 ) having a longitudinal axis (z), and comprising a cup-shaped container ( 3 ), a cup-shaped lid ( 5 ), main walls ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ), and at least one connecting wall ( 11   a , llp,  31   a ,  31   p ) having a first panel ( 22   a ,  22   p ,  42   a ,  42   p ) sloping with respect to said longitudinal axis (z) to define differently shaped sections at least along a portion of the longitudinal axis (z); and the packet being characterized in that at least one of the main walls ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ) comprises a second panel ( 13   a ,  13   p ,  33   a ,  33   p ) sloping in the opposite direction to said first panel ( 22   a ,  22   p ,  42   a ,  42   p ), so that each section has a perimeter equal to the perimeter of the other sections perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (z):  
     
     
         2 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said main walls ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ) comprise two end walls ( 10 ,  30 ) crosswise to said longitudinal axis (z); at least one of the two said end walls ( 10 ,  30 ) being rectangular; and each section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Z) and between the two end walls being octagonal.  
     
     
         3 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein both said end walls ( 10 ,  30 ) are rectangular.  
     
     
         4 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a central portion (K 1 ) having a constant octagonal section along said longitudinal axis (Z); and two end portions (K 2 ) located at opposite ends of the central portion, and each having a variable octagonal section.  
     
     
         5 ) A packet as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , and comprising two transverse axes (X, Y) perpendicular to each other and to said longitudinal axis (Z); said connecting wall ( 11   a , lip,  31   a ,  31   p ) sloping with respect to said transverse axes (X, Y).  
     
     
         6 ) A packet as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein said main walls ( 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29 ,  30 ) comprise front walls ( 7 ,  27 ), rear walls ( 8 ,  28 ) and lateral walls ( 9 ,  29 ).  
     
     
         7 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 6 , and comprising a number of connecting walls (Ila, lip,  31   a ,  31   p ); each front wall ( 7 ,  27 ) being connected by a connecting wall ( 11   a ,  31   a ) to a lateral wall ( 9 ,  29 ); and each rear wall ( 8 ,  28 ) being connected by a connecting wall ( 11   p ,  31   p ) to a lateral wall ( 9 ,  29 ).  
     
     
         8 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said container ( 3 ) comprises four connecting walls (Ila, lip), each comprising a said first panel ( 22   a ,  22   p ); a front wall ( 7 ) comprising a said second panel ( 13   a ); a rear wall ( 8 ) comprising a respective second panel ( 13   p ); and two lateral walls ( 9 ), each comprising a respective second panel ( 17 ).  
     
     
         9 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said lid ( 5 ) comprises four connecting walls ( 31   a ,  31   p ), each comprising a said first panel ( 42   a ,  42   p ); a front wall ( 27 ) comprising a said second panel ( 33   a ); a rear wall ( 28 ) comprising a respective second panel ( 33   p ); and two lateral walls ( 29 ), each comprising a respective second panel ( 37 ).  
     
     
         10 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , wherein said first panels ( 22   a ,  22   p ,  42   a ,  42   p ) are in the form of an isosceles triangle; and said second panels ( 13   a ,  13   p ,  33   a ,  33   p ) are in the form of an isosceles trapezium.  
     
     
         11 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , and comprising a hinge line (C) crosswise to said longitudinal axis (Z) and located between the rear wall ( 8 ) of said container ( 3 ) and the rear wall ( 28 ) of said lid ( 5 ); said hinge extending along an edge ( 34 ) of the second panel ( 33   p ) of the lid ( 5 ).  
     
     
         12 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the intersections between planes parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z) and the front walls ( 7 ,  27 ) and rear walls ( 8 ,  28 ) define respective longitudinal edges (B) of constant length.  
     
     
         13 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said hinge (C) is of a length shorter than said edge ( 34 ) of said second panel ( 33   p ) of the lid.  
     
     
         14 ) A packet as claimed in any one of the forgoing claims, made from a flat blank ( 51 ), the flat blank ( 51 ) being elongated in shape along an axis (A) of extension, and comprising a preformed crease line ( 59 ) perpendicular to said axis (A) of extension, and two slits ( 80 ) separating panels ( 12   p ′,  21   p ′,  16   i ′) of the container ( 3 ) from panels ( 33   p ′,  41   p ′,  36   i ′) of the lid ( 5 ): said preformed crease line ( 59 ) forming a hinge (C) of the packet ( 1 ) between the container ( 3 ) and the lid ( 5 ), and being located astride said axis (A) of extension and defined laterally by said slits ( 80 ), each of which comprises a slit portion ( 82 ) aligned axially with said hinge (C).  
     
     
         15 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said preformed crease line ( 59 ) is a fold line by which to form said packet ( 1 ).  
     
     
         16 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said preformed fold line ( 59 ) is a fold line by which to form a second panel ( 33   p ) of said packet ( 1 ).  
     
     
         17 ) A packet as claimed in any one of  claims 14  to  16 , wherein the flat blank ( 51 ) comprises bridges ( 83 ) located along said slit ( 80 ) to connect the panels ( 12   p ′,  21   p ′,  16   i ′) of the container ( 3 ) to the panels ( 33   p ′,  41   p ′,  36   i ′) of the lid ( 5 ).  
     
     
         18 ) A packet as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said bridges ( 83 ) are torn, in use, when the packet ( 1 ) is unsealed.