Rigid packaging for suction articles with tilt opening

Abstract

A hard package (1) for smoking articles, opened obliquely and comprising: a wrapper (4) wrapping a group (5) of smoking articles; a hard inner container (3) accommodating the wrapper (4); a hard outer container (2) accommodating the inner container (3); a hinge (6) connecting the inner container (3) to the outer container (2) so as to allow the inner container (3) itself to rotate between a closed position, in which the inner container (3) is inserted inside the outer container (2), and an open position, in which the inner container (3) is partially withdrawn from the outer container (2); and a stop member (33) that limits the degree to which the inner container (3) is extracted from the outer container (2) and thus determines the maximum open position of the inner container (3) with respect to the outer container (2).

Description

[0001] Citation of related applications

[0002] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102022000023592, filed on November 16, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a rigid package for smoking articles that opens in an inclined manner.

[0004] The present invention is advantageously applicable to packages for cigarettes, and the following discussion will explicitly refer to such packages without losing its general characteristics.

[0005] In fact, in this text, the specific example of "cigarette" will be vaguely mentioned instead of the more general expression "smoking article", but this does not lose its general characteristics with respect to other types of articles (such as cigars, cigarillos or little cigars, electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, accessory products such as filters, e-cigarette refills, and other products based on tobacco or tobacco substitutes or alternatives, or further packages containing smoking articles). Background art

[0006] Known rigid packages for cigarettes that open in an inclined manner include two containers that are inserted into each other in a partially separable manner. Specifically, an inner container is provided that houses a wrapped group of cigarettes and is received inside an outer container so as to be able to move relative to the outer container itself by a rotational movement about a main hinge between a closed position in which the inner container is inserted inside the outer container and an open position in which the inner container is partially withdrawn from the outer container.

[0007] The inner container can be provided with a hinged lid that is mechanically constrained to the outer container by means of appropriate hooking elements so as to "automatically" open and close the lid by the action of the movement of the inner container relative to the outer container (i.e., the user does not have to touch the lid).

[0008] The inner container houses an inner package consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a wrapping sheet. The wrapping sheet can be a foil sheet that is initially completely closed and has a cigarette extraction opening that can be closed by a disposable tear-off portion (referred to as a "pull tab") that is removed when the package for cigarettes is opened for the first time to allow extraction of the cigarettes. Alternatively, such a wrapping sheet can be of the plastic or paper type, for example, and is closed by a reusable closing tab (i.e., of the "open / close" type) that is adhesively connected to the package by a repositionable glue.

[0009] It is well known that a package for cigarettes that opens in an inclined manner is provided with a stop member that restricts the extraction of the inner container from the outer container and thus determines the maximum opening position of the inner container relative to the outer container.

[0010] Specifically, it is known to arrange the stop member between the rear wall of the inner container and the rear wall of the outer container. The stop member is obtained by folding a separate and different blank from the blanks used to obtain the outer container and the inner container.

[0011] However, since it is difficult to manage a large number of blanks to be folded and joined together, it is difficult to implement the production of such a package.

[0012] Documents WO2019110792 and WO2015107478 respectively describe a hard package of an inclined type. Document WO2017021811 describes a package for a group of liftable articles. Document US5174492A describes a multi-purpose package. Summary of the Invention

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a hard package for smoking articles that opens in an inclined manner, which does not have the disadvantages described above and is at the same time simple and economical to manufacture.

[0014] According to the present invention, there is provided a hard package for smoking articles that opens in an inclined manner as claimed in the appended claims.

[0015] The claims describe the preferred embodiments that form part of the present disclosure. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings showing some non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, in which:

[0017] - Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a hard package for cigarettes that opens in an inclined manner, the hard package being arranged in a closed configuration;

[0018] - Figure 2 is Figure 1 a rear perspective view of the package for cigarettes of

[0019] - Figure 3 is Figure 1 a front perspective view of the package for cigarettes of

[0020] - Figure 4 is Figure 1 a rear perspective view of the wrapper of the package of

[0021] - Figure 5is a perspective view of a possible cigarette pack within the inner wrapper enclosed by Figure 4 ;

[0022] - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcing element joined to the cigarette pack of Figure 5 and enclosed by the inner wrapper of Figure 4 ;

[0023] - Figure 7 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a blank for making the package of Figure 1 ;

[0024] - Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a blank for making the package of Figure 1 ;

[0025] - Figure 9 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a blank for making the package of Figure 1 ; and

[0026] - Figure 10 is a plan view of a possible blank for a retainer of a possible embodiment of the package of Figure 1 ; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In Figures 1 to 3 , reference numeral 1 denotes an entire tilt-open rigid package for cigarettes. The package 1 for cigarettes includes a rigid outer container 2 (i.e., made of cardboard or stiff cardstock), and a rigid inner container 3 that houses a sealed inner wrapper 4 (better shown in Figure 4 and hereinafter simply referred to as "wrapper").

[0028] The rigid inner container 3 is generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped and oriented according to a major vertically extending direction, and houses the wrapper 4 (i.e., a wrapped bundle of cigarettes 5). The parallelepiped-shaped rigid outer container 2 houses the inner container 3. The inner container 3 is hinged to the outer container 2 along a main hinge 6 to rotate relative to the outer container 2 between a closed position (as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) and an open position (as shown in Figure 3 ), in which closed position the inner container 3 is inserted inside the outer container 2, and in which open position the inner container 3 is partially withdrawn from the outer container 2 so that the cigarette pack contained in the wrapper 4 can be removed. The inner container 3 is parallelepiped-shaped, is cup-shaped and has an open upper end 7 (through which access to the wrapper 4 is obtained), a front wall 8, two mutually parallel and opposite side walls 9, and an open rear end 10. Thus, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 , the inner container 3 does not have a rear wall.

[0029] Two longitudinal corners are defined between the front wall 8 and the side wall 9 of the inner container 3.

[0030] The outer container 2 is also of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented according to a main vertically extending direction and has: an upper wall 11; a lower wall 12 which is parallel and opposite to the upper wall 11; an open front end 13 through which the inner container 3 can move; a rear wall 14 which is opposite to the open front end 13 and which, when the inner container 3 is in the closed position, is parallel to and faces the open end 10 of the inner container 3; and two side walls 15 which are parallel and opposite to each other and which, when the inner container 3 is in the closed position, are parallel to and face the corresponding side walls 9 of the inner container 3.

[0031] Two longitudinal corners are defined between the rear wall 14 and the side walls 15 of the outer container 2, while two transverse corners are defined between the side walls 15, the upper wall 11 and the lower wall 12 of the outer container 2.

[0032] When the inner container 3 is in the closed position, the longitudinal corners of the outer container 2 are parallel and aligned with the corresponding longitudinal corners of the inner container 3.

[0033] Preferably, the package 1 has a through-opening 16 in the region where the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 is located, and the through-opening has a shape and size such as to allow the fingers of a user to pass through. Specifically, in order to open the cigarette package 1, the user holds the outer container 2 with one hand and inserts a finger inside the through-opening 16 in order to exert a thrust on the package 4 so as to create a relative movement (specifically a tilt) between the inner container 3 and the outer container 2.

[0034] The package 4 (as Figure 4 shown) consists of a cigarette pack 5 of a substantially parallelepiped shape (as Figure 5 shown by way of example) and a wrapping sheet which wraps around the cigarette pack 5 to completely enclose it inside.

[0035] According to Figure 4 the embodiment shown, the package 4 is made by wrapping a cigarette pack 5 with a single heat-sealable wrapping material (i.e., the heat-sealable wrapping material is heat-sealed around the cigarette pack 5). The package 4 includes a closing tab 27 (described better below) and a reinforcing element 17 which is arranged inside the package 4 to at least partially wrap around the cigarette pack 5.

[0036] As an alternative shown, the package 4 can be made by wrapping a cigarette pack 5 with a single wrapping material made of cardboard or cardstock. In such a case, the package 4 can be without the reinforcing element 17. Furthermore, this embodiment of the package 4 can include or can not include the closing tab 27.

[0037] According to a further embodiment (not shown) of the package, the package 4 can be made by wrapping a cigarette group 5 with a single sheet of wrapping material made of foil. In this case, the package 4 does not have a reinforcing element 17 and a closing tab 27. This embodiment of the package 4 provides a tear-off portion (referred to as a "pulling portion") that is torn off by the user when the package 1 is opened for the first time.

[0038] According to Figure 4 an embodiment of, the package 4 has a reinforcing element 17 inside (for example as Figure 6 shown), which is made of cardboard or stiff paper (exactly similar to the cardboard or stiff paper constituting the outer container 2 and the inner container 3), folded into a "U" shape, and arranged inside the package 4 in contact with the cigarette group 5. The reinforcing element 17 includes: a rectangular front wall 18, which is arranged in contact with the front wall 22 of the package 4; and a pair of side walls 19, which are connected to opposite sides of the front wall 18 and are arranged in contact with the side walls 24 of the package 4. The front wall 18 has a window arranged at the top, which is bounded by an edge 20 and is "U" shaped, and helps to draw cigarettes from the cigarette group 5 in the package 4.

[0039] As mentioned above, according to a possible alternative embodiment, the package 4 does not have a reinforcing element 17.

[0040] For example Figure 4 the package 4 shown has a rear wall 21, a front wall 22, an upper wall 23, side walls 24 and a lower wall 25. The package 4 is formed by folding a single sheet of wrapping material around the cigarette group 5. In the case where the package 4 is made of a single heat-sealable material, it may have a fin weld. The package 4 has a cigarette extraction opening 26 at the top and preferably at the front (as Figure 3 shown), which is closed by a reusable closing tab 27 (as Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown). In other words, the package 4 has a cigarette extraction opening 26 in at least a part of the rear wall 21 and in the region where the upper wall 23 is located, which is closed by a reusable closing tab 27.

[0041] According to a possible embodiment, the closing tab 27 is made of a plastic material or a multi-layer material, which includes an inner layer of, for example, a paper material and an outer layer of a plastic material.

[0042] As shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, the closure tab 27 is fixed to the wrapper 4 by means of a repositionable glue which does not dry (not shown), which is arranged completely around the extraction opening 26 of the wrapper 4, to allow the closure tab 27 to be partially separated from the wrapper 4 several times (i.e., each time the package 1 for cigarettes is opened), and then fixed again to the wrapper 4 (each time the package 1 for cigarettes is closed).

[0043] Preferably, the closure tab 27 is fixed to the wrapper 4 by means of a permanent glue on some parts in the area where the front wall 22 is located and preferably also in the area where the extraction opening 26 is located.

[0044] According to an embodiment not shown, the closure tab 27 can be manually opened by the user.

[0045] Alternatively, the closure tab 27 can be connected (specifically glued) to the outer container 3 so as to be automatically peeled off from the inner container 3 when the inner container 3 is moved from the closed position to the open position, and similarly, so as to be repositioned when the inner container 3 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

[0046] The following describes Figure 4 A specific embodiment of the wrapper 4 shown. Specifically, the closure tab 27 is fixed to the wrapper 4, closes the cigarette extraction opening 26, and has a part connected (specifically glued) to the wall of the outer container 2 (specifically, the rear wall 14 or the upper wall 11). Preferably, the closure tab 27 is fixed to the wall of the outer container 2 by means of glue 31 (as Figure 4 schematically shown), which is specifically a permanent glue or a strong glue, which is applied to the surface of the closure tab 27 facing the outer container 2. In Figure 4 it, the glue 31 is applied so as to connect the closure tab 27 to the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2. According to a possible alternative embodiment (not shown), the glue 31 is applied on the closure tab 27 (in the area where the part facing the upper wall 11 is located when the inner container 3 is in the closed position) so as to connect the closure tab to the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2. In other words, the closure tab 27 can preferably be permanently connected to the rear wall 14 of the inner container 3 or the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 by means of glue 31 so as to peel off the closure tab 27 during the opening of the inner container 3, and similarly, reposition the closure tab 27 during the closing of the inner container 3.

[0047] The package 1 is provided with a stop member 33. The stop member 33 limits the extraction of the inner container 3 from the outer container 2, and thus determines the maximum open position of the inner container 3 relative to the outer container 2 (i.e., defines the so-called end of travel). The stop member 33 is between the outer container 2 and the wrapper 4, specifically, between the outer container 2 and the wrapper 4 accommodated in the inner container 3.

[0048] Specifically, the stop member 33 is arranged (i.e., between) the two side walls 9 of the inner container 3, and is folded 90° relative to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 along at least one longitudinal fold line 34 (as Figures 7 to 9 shown), and is connected to at least one of the side walls 9 through the longitudinal fold line 34. Specifically, as Figures 7 to 9 shown, the inner container 3, the outer container 2, and the stop member 33 are made by folding the same blank 35.

[0049] The stop member 33 has: a front panel 36 that is connected (specifically, glued) to the front wall 22 of the wrapper 4; a connecting panel 37 that is connected (specifically, glued) to the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2; and an intermediate panel 38 that is arranged between the front panel 36 and the connecting panel 37 to connect them (i.e., the front panel 36 and the connecting panel 37) to each other. The front panel 36, the connecting panel 37, and the intermediate panel 38 are separated from each other by corresponding transverse fold lines 39. Therefore, there are two transverse fold lines 39. The panels 36, 37, and 38 are folded 90° relative to the side wall 9 of the container 4.

[0050] Advantageously, the front panel 36 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal fold line 34, and the connecting panel 37 and the intermediate panel 38 are separated from the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a separation line (specifically, a longitudinal separation line 40).

[0051] When the inner container 3 is in the closed position, the front panel 36, the connecting panel 37, and the intermediate panel 38 are all parallel to each other and also coplanar (i.e., arranged in the same plane). When the inner container 3 is in the open position, the front panel 36, the connecting panel 38, and the intermediate panel 37 are inclined relative to each other.

[0052] Figures 7 to 9 Different embodiments of the blank 35 for making the outer container 2, the inner container 3, and the stop member 33 are shown. In all three shown embodiments, the stop member 33 has a front panel 36, a connecting panel 37, and an intermediate panel 38 that are continuously arranged along the longitudinal extension of the blank 35 of the package 1. Specifically, the front panel 36 is arranged flush with the lower edge 41 of the side wall 9 of the inner container 3.

[0053] In Figure 7 the shown embodiment, there are two stop members 33 that are different from and separated from each other. Each stop member 33 is connected to the corresponding side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through a corresponding longitudinal fold line 34. Specifically, each front panel 36 of the stop member 33 is connected to the corresponding side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through a corresponding longitudinal fold line 34; while each connecting panel 37 and intermediate panel 38 are separated from the corresponding side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a longitudinal separation line 40.

[0054] According toFigure 7 In an embodiment, each stop member 33 has a lateral dimension (i.e., width L) measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3, and this lateral dimension is less than or equal to 50% of the total lateral dimension of the package 4 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3. Thus, the two stop members 33 can be spaced apart from each other or can be adjacent (i.e., the sides 42 are side by side and in contact with each other).

[0055] Alternatively, according to an embodiment not shown, the two stop members 33 at least partially cross - overlap each other along a direction parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3.

[0056] Advantageously, the stop member 33 has a longitudinal dimension (i.e., height H1), and this longitudinal dimension is less than the longitudinal dimension (i.e., height H2) of the front wall 8 of the inner container 3.

[0057] According to a possible alternative embodiment, for example as Figure 9 shown, the stop member 33 can also have a rear panel 43, which is hinged to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a longitudinal folding line 34. The rear panel 43 is separated from the connecting panel 37 by a transverse separation line 44. Thus, in such a case, the longitudinal separation line 40 is between two parts of the longitudinal folding line 34. The rear panel 43 (if any) of the stop member 33 is connected (specifically, glued) to the package 4. The panels 36, 37, 38 and 43 are folded 90° relative to the side wall 9 of the container 4, and the panels 36 and 43 are specifically parallel to each other. From Figure 9 it can be seen that the rear panel 43 has a longitudinal dimension (i.e., height) complementary to the overall dimension given by the front panel 36, the connecting panel 37 and the intermediate panel 38. Thus, the stop member 33 (i.e., the group of the front panel 36, the connecting panel 37, the intermediate panel 38 and the rear panel 43) has a longitudinal dimension H1 equal to (i.e., approximately equal to) the longitudinal dimension H2 of the front wall 8 of the inner container 3.

[0058] According to a possible further alternative embodiment, for example as Figure 8 shown, the stop member 33 is single. The stop member 33 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a longitudinal folding line 34. Specifically, the front panel 36 of the stop member 33 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a longitudinal folding line 34; while the connecting panel 37 and the intermediate panel 38 are separated from the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 by a longitudinal separation line 40.

[0059] Advantageously, in this embodiment, the stop member 33 has a lateral dimension (i.e., width L) measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3, and this lateral dimension is greater than 30%, specifically 50%, of the total lateral dimension of the package 4 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3.

[0060] Advantageously, the stop member 33 can include at least one claw portion 45.Figure 9 The claw part 45 is shown by way of example in Figure 7 and Figure 8 the embodiment shown. The claw part 45 is arranged in the region where the longitudinal folding line 34 is located. Specifically, the claw part 45 can be formed to straddle the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the front panel 36. Alternatively or additionally, the claw part 45 can be formed to straddle the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43.

[0061] Therefore, the blank 35 can be without the claw part 45, or it can only provide a pair of claw parts 45 formed to straddle the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the front panel 36 of the stop member 33, or it can only provide a pair of claw parts 45 formed to straddle the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43, or it can provide two pairs of claw parts 45 (as Figure 9 shown). Advantageously, due to its arrangement, a pair of claw parts 45 formed to straddle the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43 particularly effectively holds the inner container 3 in the closed position.

[0062] According to Figure 9 the embodiment shown, the claw part 45 projects laterally so as to engage with the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 by interference when the inner container 3 is in the closed position, so as to hold the inner container in the closed position. Alternatively, a groove can be provided in the region where the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 is located, and the claw part 45 is inserted into the groove when the inner container 3 is in the closed position.

[0063] In the case where the package 1 is not provided with the strengthening element 17, in order to ensure the hardness of the package 4 when the user has to open the package 1, a rigid guard 46 can be arranged on the package 4 in the region where the open rear end 10 is located (as Figure 10 shown). The guard 46 is connected (by means of glue) inside the inner container 3 in the region where the open rear end 10 is located and is folded into a "U" shape. When the inner container 3 is arranged in the closed position, the guard 46 engages the corresponding inner surface of the outer container 2. The guard 46 includes: a main wall 47, which is connected to the rear wall 21 of the package and is arranged to contact the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position; and two side walls 48, which are connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and / or the side wall 24 of the package 4. The front wall 47 of the guard 46 is provided with a extraction opening 49, through which it is helpful to take out the contents in the package 1 for cigarettes.

[0064] Advantageously, the guard 46 has a pair of claw parts 50 provided between the main wall 47 and the corresponding side wall 48.

[0065] Advantageously, if there is a surrounding member 46 and it has claws 50, the stop element 33 does not have at least one pair of the multiple pairs of claws 45.

[0066] Advantageously, the folding lines 34 and / or 39 of the stop member 33 include creases or perforations.

[0067] Advantageously, the separating line 40 of the stop member 33 includes a cutting line and at least two bonding points that break when the inner container 3 is opened for the first time. Thus, the separating line 40 also serves as a first-opening test for the package 1.

[0068] The separating line 43 can include a continuous cutting line, or it can also include a cutting line and at least two bonding points that break when the inner container 3 is opened for the first time.

[0069] According to Figures 7 to 9 As shown, the outer container 2, the inner container 3, and the stop member 33 are made by folding a blank 35 made of cardboard or stiff paperboard and having a substantially rectangular and elongated shape. The blank 35 includes two longitudinal folding lines 51 (pre-weakened) and multiple transverse folding lines 52 (pre-weakened). The multiple transverse folding lines define the following panels between the two longitudinal folding lines 51: Panel 11', which forms the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2, and the panel 11" that defines the reinforcing strip of the upper wall 11 is folded 180° on the upper wall and glued; Panel 14', which forms the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 and is provided with a through-opening 16; Panel 12', which forms the lower wall 12 of the outer container 2; Panel 8', which forms the front wall 8 of the inner container 3; Panel 8", which is folded against the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 and defines the reinforcing strip of the front wall 8. The reinforcing strip 8" is connected to the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 along the transverse folding line 52, is folded 180° relative to the front wall 8 (i.e., relative to Panel 8") (in the package 1 for cigarettes), and is abutted and glued to the inner surface of the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 (i.e., on Panel 8'). Similarly, the reinforcing strip 11" is connected to the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 along the transverse folding line 52, is folded 180° relative to the upper wall 11 (i.e., relative to Panel 11') (in the package 1 for cigarettes), and is abutted and glued to the inner surface of the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 (i.e., on Panel 11').

[0070] The blank 35 includes a pair of wings 11''', which are arranged on opposite sides of Panel 11', are connected to Panel 11' along the two longitudinal folding lines 51, and form part of the side wall 15 of the outer container 2.

[0071] The blank panel 35 includes a pair of wings 15', which are arranged on opposite sides of the face panel 14', connected to the face panel 14' along two longitudinal folding lines 51, form part of the side wall 15 of the outer container 2, and overlap and are glued to the corresponding wings 11''' to form the side wall 15 of the outer container 2. Each side face panel 15' also has a reinforcing tab 15''. The reinforcing strip 15'' is connected to the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 along a transverse folding line 52, folded 180° with respect to the side wall 15 (i.e., with respect to the face panel 15') (in the package 1 for cigarettes), and the reinforcing strip abuts against the inner surface of the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 (i.e., on the face panel 15').

[0072] The blank panel 35 includes a pair of wings 9', which are arranged on opposite sides of the face panel 8', connected to the face panel 8' along two longitudinal folding lines 51, and form the side wall 9 of the inner container 3.

[0073] The blank panel 35 includes two tabs 53, which are connected to the face panel 12' along a transverse folding line 51, folded 90° and face the inner surface of the face panel 15'. Such an arrangement of the face panels / wings of the parts inherent to the outer container 2 and the inner container 3 of the package 1 also adds face panels to obtain the stop member 33 from the same blank panel 35.

[0074] Figure 7 The blank panel 35 (except for the face panels / wings related to the parts inherent to the outer container 2 and the inner container 3 of the package 1) has a pair of face panels 36, 37 and 38, which form the stop member 33 and are arranged on one side of each face panel 9' that forms the side wall of the inner container 3. The face panel 36 is connected to the face panel 9' along two longitudinal folding lines 34; while the connecting face panel 37 and the intermediate face panel 38 are separated from the corresponding face panel 9' by two separating lines 40. The face panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged continuously and are connected to each other by two transverse folding lines 39.

[0075] Advantageously, Figure 7 the blank panel allows the package 1 to be made by machine in a particularly simple manner.

[0076] Figure 8 The blank panel 35 (except for the face panels / wings related to the parts inherent to the outer container 2 and the inner container 3 of the package 1) has a face panel 36, a face panel 37 and a face panel 38, which form the stop member 33 and are arranged in the area where only one face panel 9' of one of the side walls 9 of the inner container 3 is located. The face panel 36 is connected to the face panel 9' along a longitudinal folding line 34; while the connecting face panel 37 and the intermediate face panel 38 are separated from the face panel 9' by a separating line 40. The face panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged continuously and are connected to each other by two transverse folding lines 39.

[0077] Figure 9The blank 35 (except for the panels / webs related to the parts inherent to the outer container 2 and the inner container 3 of the package 1) has a pair of panels 36, 37, 38 and 39, which form the stop member 33 and are arranged on one side of each panel 9' forming the side wall of the inner container 3. The panel 36 and the panel 43 are connected to the panel 9' along two longitudinal folding lines 34; while the connecting panel 37 and the intermediate panel 38 are separated from the corresponding panel 9' by two separating lines 40. The panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged continuously and are connected to each other by two transverse folding lines 39. The panel 43 is separated from the connecting panel 37 by a transverse separating line 44.

[0078] Advantageously, even if the package 4 does not have the reinforcing element 17, this embodiment allows the use of the enclosure 46 to be dispensed with.

[0079] According to an embodiment not shown, Figure 8 the blank 35 may also be provided with a rear panel 43 similar to the rear panel of the blank of Figure 9 the blank.

[0080] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the longitudinal corners and the transverse corners are right angles; in an alternative, the longitudinal corners and / or the transverse corners may be rounded or beveled.

[0081] Without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, the embodiments described herein may be combined with each other.

[0082] The package 1 for cigarettes described above has several advantages.

[0083] Primarily, the package 1 for cigarettes described above allows for easier and more convenient management of the stop member 33 throughout the process of manufacturing the package 1. In fact, the package 1 described above allows a single blank 35 to be folded and moved. Therefore, it is only necessary to coordinate a single element (i.e., the blank 35).

[0084] The presence of the separating line 40 having a number of (i.e., at least two) joining points allows the integrity of the separating line 40 to be maintained throughout the manufacturing process, thus allowing the package 1 to be easily achieved. Then, the user allows the inner container 3 to tilt relative to the outer container 2 subsequently by opening the package 1 for the first time. Additionally, the unbroken joining points assure the user that the package has never been opened.

[0085] The stop member 33 allows the package 4 to be stably held in place in the inner container 3.

[0086] List of Reference Signs

[0087] 1 Package

[0088] 2 Outer container

[0089] 3 Inner container

[0090] 4 Packages

[0091] 5 Cigarette packs

[0092] 6 Hinge

[0093] 7 Upper end

[0094] 8 Front wall

[0095] 9 Side wall

[0096] 10 Rear end

[0097] 11 Upper wall

[0098] 12 Lower wall

[0099] 13 Front end

[0100] 14 Rear wall

[0101] 15 Side wall

[0102] 16 Through-opening

[0103] 17 Reinforcement element

[0104] 18 Front wall

[0105] 19 Side wall

[0106] 20 Reinforcement edge

[0107] 21 Rear wall

[0108] 22 Front wall

[0109] 23 Upper wall

[0110] 24 Side wall

[0111] 25 Lower wall

[0112] 26 Extraction opening

[0113] 27 Closing tab

[0114] 31 Adhesive

[0115] 33 Stop member

[0116] 34 Fold line

[0117] 35 Blank

[0118] 36 Front panel

[0119] 37 Connecting panel

[0120] 38 Intermediate panel

[0121] 39 Folding line

[0122] 40 Separation line

[0123] 41 Edge

[0124] 42 Edge

[0125] 43 Rear panel

[0126] 44 Separation line

[0127] 45 Claw

[0128] 46 Collar

[0129] 47 Main wall

[0130] 48 Side wall

[0131] 49 Extraction opening

[0132] 50 Claw

[0133] 51 Longitudinal folding line

[0134] 52 Transverse folding line

[0135] 53 Tab

Claims

1. A rigid package (1) for a smoking article, the rigid package being opened in an inclined manner and comprising: A group of smoking articles (5); A wrapper (4) that wraps the group of smoking articles (5) and has: a front wall (22), an upper wall (23), and a rear wall (21); A rigid inner container (3) that houses the wrapper (4) and has an open upper end (7), a front wall (8), and a pair of side walls (9); A rigid outer container (2) that houses the inner container (3) and has an upper wall (11), a lower wall (12) opposite to the upper wall (11), a rear wall (14), a pair of side walls (15), and an open front end (13), the open front end being arranged between the upper wall (11) and the lower wall (12), and the inner container (3) moving through the open front end; A hinge portion (6) that connects the inner container (3) to the outer container (2) to allow the inner container (3) to rotate between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the inner container (3) is inserted inside the outer container (2), and in the open position, the inner container (3) is partially withdrawn from the outer container (2) through the open front end (13); And A stop member (33) that restricts the degree to which the inner container (3) is withdrawn from the outer container (2) and thus determines the maximum open position of the inner container (3) relative to the outer container (2); Characterized in that the stop member (33) of the package (1): Is arranged between two side walls (9) of the container (3); Is folded 90° relative to the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) along at least one first longitudinal fold line (34); and Is connected to at least one of the plurality of side walls (9) of the inner container (3) by means of the first longitudinal fold line (34).

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein The inner container (3), the outer container (2), and the stop member (33) are obtained by folding the same blank (35).

3. The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The stop member (33) has: A front panel (36) that is connected to, specifically glued to, the rear wall (21) of the wrapper (4); A connecting panel (37) that is connected to, specifically glued to, the rear wall (14) of the outer container (2); An intermediate panel (38) that is arranged between the front panel (36) and the connecting panel (37) to connect the front panel and the connecting panel to each other; and The front panel (36), the connecting panel (37), and the intermediate panel (38) are separated from each other by corresponding second fold lines (39), specifically by transverse fold lines (39).

4. The package according to claim 3, wherein The front panel (36) is connected to the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by the first longitudinal fold line (34); and The connecting panel (38) and the intermediate panel (37) are separated from the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by a first separation line (40), specifically by a longitudinal separation line (40).

5. The package according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: when the inner container (3) is in the closed position, the front panel (36), the connecting panel (37) and the intermediate panel (38) are all parallel to each other and coplanar; and when the inner container (3) is in the open position, the front panel (36), the connecting panel (37) and the intermediate panel (38) are inclined relative to each other.

6. The package according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein The stop member (33) includes a rear panel (43), which is hinged to the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) through a corresponding first longitudinal folding line (34); and the rear panel (43) is separated from the connecting panel (37) through a second separation line (44), specifically through a transverse separation line (44).

7. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The stop member (33) has a longitudinal dimension (H1), which is smaller than the height (H2) of the front wall (8) of the inner container (3).

8. The package according to claim 6, wherein The stop member (33) has a longitudinal dimension (H1), which is the same as the height (H2) of the front wall (8) of the inner container (3).

9. The package (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, There is only one stop member (33), which has a transverse dimension (L) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3), and the transverse dimension is greater than 30%, specifically 50%, of the total transverse dimension of the package (4) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

10. The package (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: there are two stop members (33), which are different from and separated from each other; and each stop member (33) is connected to the corresponding side wall (9) of the inner container (3) through a corresponding first longitudinal folding line (34).

11. The package (1) according to claim 10, wherein, Each stop member (33) has a transverse dimension (L) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3), and the transverse dimension is less than or equal to 50% of the total transverse dimension of the package (4) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

12. The package (1) according to claim 10, wherein, The two stop members (33) at least partially cross and overlap each other along a direction parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

13. The package (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The stop member (33) is provided with at least one first claw portion (45) in the region where the first longitudinal folding line (34) is located.

14. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, The package has a "U"-shaped reinforcing element (17) inside, and the reinforcing element is arranged to contact the cigarette group (5).

15. The package according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: a guard member (46) is provided, which is folded into a "U" shape and arranged in the region where the open rear end (10) of the inner container (3) is located, and has: a main wall (47) and two side walls (48) opposite to each other; and the side walls (48) of the guard member (46) are connected to, specifically glued to, the side walls (9) of the package (4) and / or the inner container (3).

16. The package (1) according to claim 15, wherein, The guard member (46) has a pair of claw portions (50) provided between the main wall (47) and the corresponding side wall (48).

17. The package (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 16, wherein, The first separation line (40) of the stop member (33) includes a cutting line and at least two bonding points, and the bonding points break when the inner container (3) is opened for the first time.

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