Sealed packaging for consumer products and its manufacturing method

Abstract

Sealed package (1) for consumer products comprising a box (3), which contains a group (2) of consumer products and comprises a front wall (5), a rear wall (4), two lateral walls (6) and two end walls (7). The box (3) has a weakening line (8), which delimits a closing flap (9) and along which the box (3) is tearable upon first opening of the package (1), so as to separate the closing flap (9) from the remaining portion of the box (3) and define an extraction opening (10) for the consumer products. The package (1) comprises: a closing label (11), which is fixed to the box (3) and is applied on the closing flap (9) to move the closing flap (9) with respect to the box (3) between an open position, in which access to the products is allowed through the extraction opening (10), and a closed position; at least one sealing means (14), which is applied to the box (3) and is arranged between the rear wall (4) and at least one other wall (6, 7) of the box (3) adjacent to it, so as to prevent air leakage.

Description

[0001] “Sealed packaging for consumer products and its manufacturing method”

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102023000023991 filed on November 13, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The invention relates to a sealed package for consumer products, in particular of the tobacco industry, and to a relative manufacturing method.

[0006] The invention advantageously, but not exclusively applies to consumer products, such as for example snus, loose tobacco, e-cigarette cartridges or cigarettes.

[0007] The invention advantageously, but not exclusively also applies to other industries, such as for example the food or confectionery industry for consumer products such as Jordan almonds, candies, tea bags, capsules or pods of coffee or other beverages.

[0008] In particular, the solution suggested herein advantageously applies to consumer products that must preserve a certain degree of humidity until the moment of consumption.

[0009] PRIOR ART

[0010] At present, consumer products, such as snus, are stored and sold in typically cylindrical plastic packages that have a cup-shaped body and a lid that can be coupled to it, which allows the package to be repeatedly opened and closed.

[0011] These known plastic packages are capable of adequately preserving the humidity of consumer products. However, they require a large amount of plastic material and are therefore scarcely sustainable from an environmental point of view.

[0012] US4225040 relates to a cigarette package and to a relative manufacturing method.

[0013] US2009321437 discloses to a package for cigarettes.

[0014] DE3811542 relates to a foldable box, in particular made of cardboard.

[0015] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The object of the invention is to provide a sealed package for consumer products and a relative method for manufacturing said package, which do not suffer from the drawbacks described above. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a sealed package and a relative manufacturing method that allow the maintenance of the organoleptic characteristics (in particular, the degree of humidity) of the consumer products to be guaranteed in the face of a reduction in the amount of plastic used to manufacture the package.

[0017] According to the invention, there is provided a sealed package for consumer products as claimed in the appended claims.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the invention, there is also provided a method for manufacturing the aforesaid package as claimed in the appended claims.

[0019] The appended claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention and form an integral part of the description.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a non-limiting embodiment thereof, wherein:

[0022] - figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a possible embodiment of a package in the open configuration;

[0023] - figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the package of figure 1 in the closed configuration;

[0024] - figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a first side of a possible blank for manufacturing the package of figures 1 and 2;

[0025] - figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a second side, which is opposite the first side, of a possible blank for manufacturing the package of figures 1 and 2;

[0026] - figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a detail of figure 3; and

[0027] - figures 6-10 are schematic views showing different steps of the method for manufacturing the package (with some parts removed for greater clarity) of figures 1 and 2 by folding the blank of figure 3.

[0028] PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In figures 1 and 2, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a sealed package for consumer products, in particular of the tobacco industry.

[0030] The term “sealed” means that the package 1 is closed in a sealed manner, so as as to avoid a possible air leakage, namely so as to prevent air from flowing into the package 1 and out of the package 1.

[0031] In the following disclosure, explicit reference will be made, without because of this losing generality, to consumer products of the tobacco industry, such as for example snus, loose tobacco, e-cigarette cartridges or cigarettes. Alternatively, the consumer products contained in the package 1 can also be from other industries, other than the tobacco industry, such as for example the food or confectionery industry (for example Jordan almonds, candies, tea bags, capsules or pods of coffee or other beverages).

[0032] The package 1 is configured to house a group 2 of consumer products (schematically shown in figure 1). The group 2 can comprise the products neatly arranged inside the package 1 (as schematically shown in figure 1) or, according to a possible alternative, it can comprise products that are arranged in bulk (namely, without an orderly arrangement of one product with respect to the other) in the package 1.

[0033] The package 1 comprises a box 3. The box 3 has the shape of a parallelepiped that surrounds (in particular, completely) the group 2 of consumer products and comprises a rear wall 4, a front wall 5, two lateral walls 6 and two end walls 7.

[0034] According to the accompanying figures (which are not limiting), the rear wall 4 and the front wall 5 are parallel to and opposite one another. The two lateral walls 6 are parallel to and opposite one another and orthogonal to the walls 4 and 5. The two end walls 7 are parallel to and opposite one another and orthogonal to the walls 4, 5 and 6. Between the rear wall 4, the front wall 5 and the lateral walls 6 of the box 3 there are defined four longitudinal edges, whereas between the rear wall 4, the front wall 5 and the end walls 7 of the box 3 there are defined four transverse edges. Therefore, according to the embodiment shown herein, the box 3 is an exact parallelepiped and the two lateral walls 6 are opposite and parallel to one another and the two end walls 7 are opposite and parallel to one another.

[0035] Alternatively, the box 3 could not be an exact parallelepiped. In particular, the two end walls 7 could not be parallel to one another and / or the two lateral walls 6 could not be parallel to one another.

[0036] The box 3 has, in the area at least of the front wall 5, a weakening line 8, which delimits a closing flap 9 and along which the box 3 is tearable upon first opening of the package 1, so as to separate (at least partially) the closing flap 9 from the remaining portion of the box 3 (in particular, in order to separate it from the front wall 5) and define an extraction opening 10 for the consumer products, which can be closed again by means of the closing flap 9.

[0037] Prior to the first opening of the package 1, the closing flap 9 is not separate from the remaining front wall 5. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the weakening line 8 is not a through line (figure 5), namely it does not affect the entire thickness S (dimension measured orthogonally to the front wall 5) of the front wall 5. In other words, the package 1 is sealed until its first opening, during which the box 3 is torn along the weakening line 8 to separate the closing flap 9 and obtain the extraction opening 10.

[0038] According to the embodiment shown herein, the closing flap 9 is hinged to the box 3 so as to rotate, relative to the box 3, between an open position (shown, for example, in figure 1) and a closed position (shown, for example, in figure 2) to close the extraction opening 10.

[0039] According to a possible embodiment which is not shown herein, the closing flap 9 can be hinged in the area of a transverse edge. In this case, the closing flap 9 has one single panel and the extraction opening 10 is exclusively obtained in the area of the front wall 5 of the box 3.

[0040] According to a further variant which is not shown herein, the closing flap 9 can be completely separated from the rest of the box 3 upon first opening of the package 1.

[0041] As shown, in particular, in figure 1, the closing flap 9 is hinged in the area of one of the end walls 7 (spaced apart from the transverse edge). In this case, the closing flap 9 is “L”- shaped and has two panels that are transverse to one another (preferably arranged orthogonally to one another when the flap 9 is in the closed position) and the extraction opening 10 is obtained in the area of the front wall 5 and at least partially of one of the end walls 7 of the box 3.

[0042] The box 3 comprises a closing label 11 (only shown in figures 1, 2, 3, 5), which is applied on the closing flap 9 to move the closing flap 9 relative to the box 3 between an open position (figure 1), in which access to the products is allowed through the extraction opening 10, and a closed position (figure 2). In particular, the closing label 11 is a re-stick label, namely it can be attached to and separated from the box 3 several times.

[0043] In other words, the extraction opening 10 (figure 1) is closed by the reusable closing label 11 (shown in figures 1-3), which is configured to close the extraction opening 10 in a releasable manner. In particular, the closing label 11 is connected (fixed) to the box 3 by means of a non-dry, re-stick glue 12 (shown in figure 3), which is applied to the closing label 11 and is arranged around the extraction opening 10 so as to allow the closing label 11 to be partially separated from the box 3 several times (i.e. every time the package 1 is opened) and then fixed again to the box 3 (every time the package 1 is closed). Preferably, according to the embodiment shown in figure 3, the closing label 11 is fixed to the box 3 by means of a permanent glue 13 in the area of the closing flap 9.

[0044] According to the embodiment shown herein, the closing label 11 is connected, by means of the re-stick glue 12 and of the permanent glue 13, in the area of the front wall 5 and of one of the end walls 7. Furthermore, preferably, but not in a limiting manner, the label 11 also has, at its free end, a grasping portion without glue (in particular, any type of glue), which is configured to facilitate the grasping thereof.

[0045] In the embodiment in which the closing flap 9 is completely separable from the rest of the box 3 upon first opening of the package 1, the closing label 11 is fixed with permanent glue to both the closing flap 9 and the box 3 in the portion opposite to the grasping portion without glue (said permanent glue ensures that the closing label 11 is not completely detached from the box 3 upon opening of the package 1).

[0046] According to an embodiment of the package 1 which is not shown herein, the weakening line 8 could be a through cut with some joining points connecting the closing flap 9 to the rest of the box 3. In other words, in this embodiment, the weakening line 8 affects the entire thickness S of the box (in particular, of the front wall 5). In this case, in order to ensure the sealing of the box 3 until its first opening, the closing label 11 is fixed to the box 3 with an adhesive (glue) having a pattern such as to surround the entire weakening line 8; in this way, the closing label 11 guarantees the sealing of the package 1 until the first opening.

[0047] The package 1 comprises at least one sealing means 14, which is applied to the box 3 and is arranged between the rear wall 4 and at least one other wall (in particular, the walls 6 and 7) of the box 3 adjacent to it, so as to prevent air leakage.

[0048] In particular, in the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the sealing means 14 is applied to the box 3 and is arranged between the rear wall 4, the respective lateral walls 6 and the respective end walls 7.

[0049] Advantageously, the package 1 disclosed herein is sealed until its first opening. In other words, the package 1 preserves the integrity of the consumer products inside it, guaranteeing the maintenance of ideal consumption characteristics. In particular, the package 1 disclosed herein ensures the maintenance of the degree of humidity of the consumer products it contains. Advantageously, said at least one sealing means 14 is arranged (in particular, completely) within the box 3 and at least partially faces the group 2 of consumer products. In other words, the sealing means 14 does not protrude towards the outside of the package 1.

[0050] In particular, each sealing means 14 is a heat-sealable element applied (in particular glued) to the box 3. Preferably, at least a portion of the surface of the means 14 is connected (in particular glued) to the box 3. According to figures 3-10, at least a portion of the means 14 is not connected to the box 3.

[0051] Preferably, each sealing means 14 is made of a paper material (preferably, heat-sealable paper).

[0052] Each sealing means 14 is applied in the area of at least one vertex (in particular, of all the vertexes, as clearly shown in figures 3-10) defined between the rear wall 4, the respective lateral walls 6 and the respective end walls 7. The term vertex refers to the area around the point where walls 4, 6 and 7 converge. The term vertex therefore means the area in the point formed by the intersection of the three edges.

[0053] As shown in figures 6-10, which show various folding steps for folding a blank 15 used to manufacture the package 1 (described in detail below), each sealing means 14 is a discshaped element (i.e. a disc with a circular shape), folded (in particular, by 90°) with respect to two of its radial folding lines 16 and 17 (namely, extending in a radial direction of the means 14), which substantially correspond to a transverse folding line 18 connecting the rear wall 4 to the respective end wall 7 and to a longitudinal folding line 19 connecting the rear wall 4 to the respective lateral wall 6.

[0054] According to a possible embodiment which is not shown herein, the means 14 has a different shape from the one shown in figures 3-10.

[0055] Preferably, as shown herein, the means 14 is centred with respect to the vertex of the box 3 where it is applied. According to a possible embodiment, the means 14 is arranged eccentrically (namely, off-centre) with respect to the vertex of the box 3 where it is applied. Furthermore, according to an embodiment which is not shown herein, two or more means 14 could be connected to one another (or manufactured as one single body) and extend so as to at least partially cover at least one of the lateral walls 6 and / or of the end walls 7.

[0056] In other words, in order to have a package 1 that is sealed until the first opening, the means 14 must be applied to the box 3 where it is necessary to ensure that there is no air leakage.

[0057] According to figures 3-10, in particular, between each lateral wall 6 and each end wall 7 there is a respective corner flap 20. The comer flap 20 seamlessly connects the front wall 5, the two lateral walls 6 and the two end walls 7 to one another. The corner flap 20 is folded in a bellows shape, so that the two lateral walls 6 and the two end walls 7 are respectively arranged transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the front wall 5.

[0058] Each comer flap 20 comprises two comer portions 21 and a third folding line 22 located between the two corner portions 21 to allow the two corner portions 21 to be folded so as to place each lateral wall 6 transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the respective end wall 7 and to the front wall 5.

[0059] Preferably, the two corner portions 21 of a same flap 20 are made integral (through gluing and / or heat sealing) to one another. Advantageously, the flap 20 ensures that no air flows through the relative edge of the package 1.

[0060] Advantageously, though not in a limiting manner, said at least one weakening line 8 comprises incisions and / or cuts and / or partial perforations on the thickness of the material (S). Alternatively, said at least one weakening line 8 comprises incisions and / or cuts and / or perforations going through the thickness of the material (S).

[0061] Advantageously, according to the accompanying figures, the weakening line 8 has a substantially U-shaped development (in particular, it comprises two longitudinal segments, which are parallel to the lateral walls 6 and are spaced apart from and parallel to one another, as well as two segments that are inclined relative to one another and transverse to the two longitudinal segments).

[0062] According to further embodiments which are not shown herein, the weakening line 8 may have a different development and can comprise at least one straight segment and / or at least one curved segment.

[0063] Advantageously, but not in a limiting manner, the box 3 is made of a paper material, in particular a material chosen from: paper or cardboard.

[0064] Preferably, the box 3 is made of a heat-sealable paper material.

[0065] Preferably, the box 3 is made of a material having barrier properties, i.e. a material that preferably is paper-based and has a coating on at least one of the two surfaces that ensures the sealing of the package 1. In other words, the box 3 is obtained with a material such as to ensure the sealing of the package 1, i.e. such as to ensure that no air flows through the package 1 before its first opening.

[0066] Preferably, the box 3 is made of a paper material (not laminated) that can be recycled without requiring material separation.

[0067] Advantageously, but not in a limiting manner, the closing label 11 is made of a material chosen from: a plastic material, a paper material (such as, for example, paper or cardboard), a multilayer material or a combination thereof. In particular, the multilayer material can comprise, for example, an inner layer made of a paper material and an outer layer made of a plastic material or vice versa (in particular, the plastic material layer could be made of a compostable plastic material). Preferably, the closing label 11 is also made of a paper material.

[0068] According to figures 3-10, which are mere examples and are not limiting, the package 1 is manufactured by folding the flat blank 15 (figure 3 and 4). The flat blank 15 is made of cardboard or rigid card stock and has a substantially oblong rectangular shape. The blank 15 comprises two (pre- weakened) longitudinal folding lines 19 and a plurality of (pre- weakened) transverse folding lines 18. The transverse folding lines 18 define, between the two longitudinal folding lines 19, a front panel 5’, which makes up the front wall 5 of the box 3; two end panels 7’, which each make up an end wall 7 and are each connected on opposite sides of the front panel 5’ along one of the transverse folding lines 18; two lateral panels 6’, which each make up part of the lateral walls 6 of the box 3 and are each connected on opposite sides of the front panel 5’ along one of the longitudinal folding lines 19; four panels 20’ (respectively consisting of two corner portions), which each make up a corner flap 20 and are each connected to the respective lateral panel 7’ along one of the transverse folding lines 18 and to the respective lateral panel 6’ along one of the longitudinal folding lines 19; a rear panel 4’, which makes up the rear wall 4 of the box 3 and is connected to one of the two end panels 7’ (in particular, the one interposed between the panels 4’ and 5’) by one of the transverse folding lines 18; two lateral panels 6”(in particular, lateral wings), which make up part of the lateral walls 6, are each connected on opposite sides of the rear panel 4’ along one of the longitudinal folding lines 19 and are intended to overlap and be coupled (i.e. made integral through gluing and / or heat-sealing) to the corresponding panel 6’ so as to build the lateral walls 6 of the box 3; and an end panel 7” (in particular end wing), which makes up part of one of the two end walls 7, is connected on one side of the rear panel 4’ (in particular, on the side opposite the panel 7’, which is also connected to the panel 4’) along one of the transverse folding lines 18 and is intended to overlap and be coupled (i.e. made integral through gluing and / or heat-sealing) to the corresponding panel 7’ so as to build the end wall 7 of the box 3.

[0069] According to an additional aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing the box 3. The following disclosure includes a detailed description of said method, which entails folding the panels 4’, 5’ 6’, 6”, 7’, 7” and 20’ of the blank 15 (the sequence of execution thereof not being defined by the order described below).

[0070] In detail, the method mainly (but not exclusively) comprises the steps of:

[0071] - providing the flat blank 15 of the package 1 comprising the plurality of panels 4’, 5’ 6’, 6”, 7’, 7” and 20’ (previously described in detail) and provided with said at least one sealing means 14 applied on it;

[0072] - providing the group 2 of consumer products (in particular by placing it on the blank 15);

[0073] - folding the plurality of panels 4’, 5’ 6’, 6”, 7’, 7” and 20’ of the blank 15 to obtain the box 3 (in particular, as shown in figures 6-10);

[0074] - placing the group 2 of consumer products inside the box 3;

[0075] - applying the closing label 11 to the box 3 or to the blank 15 on the closing flap 9 of the package 1.

[0076] Preferably, the step of folding the plurality of panels 4’, 5’ 6’, 6”, 7’, 7” and 20’ of the blank 15 is carried out around the group 2 of consumer products. Alternatively, according to a preferred embodiment, the group 2 of consumer products could be placed inside the partially formed box 3.

[0077] With reference to figure 6, it should be noted that the corner flaps 20 (formed by the coupling of the two corner portions 21) arranged between the two lateral walls 6 and the end wall 7 were removed for the sake of clarity; in particular, said corner flaps 20 are almost completely located under the relative sealing means 14.

[0078] Preferably, the closing label 11 is applied to the blank 15. In other words, the blank 15 is folded to form the box 3 already with the closing label 11. Alternatively, the closing label 11 can be applied to the box 3. In other words, first the blank 15 is folded to form the box 3 and subsequently the closing label 11 is fixed to the box 3.

[0079] In particular, the step of folding the panels 4’, 5’ 6’, 6”, 7’, 7” and 20’ of the blank 15 comprises the following sub-steps (whose sequence of execution is not defined by the order described below): folding each panel 6’ defining a respective inner part (with reference to the box 3) of the lateral wall 6 by 90° relative to the panel 5’ defining the front wall 5 of the package 1 (figures 6 and 7); folding each panel 7’ defining the respective end wall 7 substantially by 90° relative to the panel 5’ defining the front wall 5 of the package 1 (figures 6 and 7); folding each panel 6” (namely, the wing 6”) defining part of the lateral wall (6) substantially by 90° relative to the panel 4’ defining the rear wall 4 of the package 1 (figures 9 and 10); folding the panel 7” defining part of the end wall 7 substantially by 90° relative to the panel 4’ of the blank 15 defining the rear wall 4 of the package 1; connecting, in particular gluing by means of permanent glue or connecting by means of heat sealing, the respective panel 6” to the panel 6’ (below) and connecting (by means of gluing and / or heat sealing) the panel 7” to one of the two panels 7’.

[0080] Advantageously, as shown in figures 6-10, during the step of folding the panels 6” and the panel 7” by 90° relative to the panel 4’, each sealing means 14 is simultaneously folded (in particular, together with the folding of the respective panels 6”, 7’ and 7’ of the blank 15 below). Each sealing means 14, which is a disc with a circular shape, is folded relative to two radial folding lines 16 and 17 thereof, which substantially correspond to the transverse folding line 18 connecting the panel 4’ to the respective panel 7” and to the folding line 19 connecting the panel 4’ to the respective panel 6”.

[0081] In particular, the step of folding the panels 6’ and the panels 7’ relative to the panel 5’ comprises the step of folding a respective corner panel 20’ defining a respective corner flap 20 and arranged between each panel 6’ defining the respective lateral wall 6 and each panel 7’ and 7” defining the respective end wall 7 in such a way that the two panels 6’ and the two panels 7’ are folded by 90° relative to the panel 5’; the comer flap 20 seamlessly connects the panel 5’, the two lateral panels 6’ and the two end panels 7’ to one another. The step of folding each corner panel 20’ in a bellows shape comprises the steps of folding along the folding line 22 arranged between the two comer portions 21 of the corner panel 20’ so as to place each panel 6’ transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the respective end panel 7’. Furthermore, the method comprises the step of coupling (through gluing and / or heat sealing) the two corner portions 21 of each comer panel 20’ to one another.

[0082] Advantageously, the step of applying the closing label 11 can take place upstream of the folding of the blank 15 or downstream of at least one folding step to which the blank 15 is subjected.

[0083] In particular, with reference to the method sequences shown in figures 6-10, the step of applying the closing label 11 is not shown, as it takes place downstream of the complete folding of the box 3.

[0084] In the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, the longitudinal and transverse edges of the package 1 are right edges; alternatively, the longitudinal and / or transverse edges of the package 1 could be rounded or chamfered.

[0085] The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, without for this reason going beyond the scope of protection of the invention.

[0086] The manufacturing method and the package 1 described above have numerous advantages.

[0087] First of all, the package 1 allows the humidity and the organoleptic characteristics of the group 2 of products to be preserved, while at the same time being a solution with a reduced environmental impact. In particular, the fact of having a package 1 that includes a box 1 and at least one means 14 made of a material (preferably, a paper and / or heat-sealable material) such as to ensure the air-tightness of the package 1 allows the characteristics of the consumer products contained therein to be guaranteed.

[0088] The package 1 also has the advantage that it is completely sealed until the first opening thereof. Therefore, the consumer product housed in the package 1, even if it is consumed after some time (in the order of weeks or months), has the same organoleptic characteristics as well as humidity of the freshly packaged product.

[0089] Furthermore, the sealing of the package 1 is also supported by the presence of the comer flaps 20, which permit the folding of the lateral walls 6 and of the two end walls 7 by 90° relative to the front wall 5 by means of a so-called bellows fold, in which the comer flap 20 is folded substantially in the area of the folding line 22 to bring its two portions 21 closer to one another in order to be made integral to one another (through gluing and / or heat sealing). Therefore, there are no air leaks from the transverse edges between the two lateral walls 6 and the respective end wall 7.

[0090] Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the closing label 11, which can also be made of a material that prevents air from flowing through (i.e. a barrier effect material as described above with reference to the box 3 and / or to the means 14), which permits a releasable closing of the package 1, it is able to preserve humidity and organoleptic characteristics even after the first opening of the box 3. In other words, the package 1 is capable of preventing the degradation of organoleptic characteristics and humidity, providing the user with a satisfactory consumption experience even when the package 1 is almost finished.

[0091] The package 1 also has the advantage of considerably reducing the use, and therefore the consumption, of plastic or metal material, while ensuring a stability of the shape of the package 1 so as to preserve the shape and structural integrity of the product contained therein.

[0092] Therefore, the package 1 has a lower environmental impact than known plastic packages. LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS OF THE FIGURES

[0093] 1 package

[0094] 2 group of products

[0095] 3 box

[0096] 4 rear wall

[0097] 5 front wall

[0098] 6 lateral walls

[0099] 7 end walls

[0100] 8 weakening line

[0101] 9 closing flap

[0102] 10 extraction opening

[0103] 11 closing label

[0104] 12 re- stick glue

[0105] 13 permanent glue

[0106] 14 sealing means

[0107] 15 blank

[0108] 16 radial folding line

[0109] 17 radial folding line

[0110] 18 transverse folding line

[0111] 19 longitudinal folding line 20 comer flap

[0112] 21 comer portions

[0113] 22 folding line

[0114] 23 connection material portion 4' panel

[0115] 5' panel

[0116] 6' panel

[0117] 6" panel

[0118] 7' panel 7" panel

[0119] 20' panel

[0120] S thickness

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sealed package (1) for consumer products, in particular of the tobacco field, comprising: a group (2) of consumer products; a box (3), preferably made of a paper material, surrounding the group (2) of consumables and comprising a front wall (5), a rear wall (4), two lateral walls (6) and two end walls (7); the box (3) has in correspondence with at least one of the walls, preferably at least the front wall (5), a line (8) of weakening delimiting a closure flap (9) and along which the box (3) is tearable at the first opening of the package (1), so as to separate at least partially the closure flap (9) from the remaining portion of the box (3) and to define an extraction opening (10) for the consumer products; a closure label (11) which is attached to the box (3) and applied to the closure flap (9) to move the closure flap (9) relative to the box (3) between an open position, in which access to the products is permitted through the extraction opening (10), and a closed position; and at least a sealing means (14) which is attached to the box (3) and which is arranged between the rear wall (4) and at least one other wall (6, 7) of the box (3) adjacent to it, so as to prevent air leakage.

2. The package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing means (14) is arranged within the box (3) and is at least partially facing the group (2) of consumer products.

3. The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each sealing means (14) is a heat- sealable element applied in correspondence with at least one, in particular all, vertices defined between the rear wall (4), respective lateral walls (6) and respective end walls (7).

4. The package (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein: each sealing means (14) is a disc of circular shape, folded with respect to two of its radial fold lines (16, 17) substantially corresponding to a first transverse fold line (18) connecting the rear wall (4) with the respective end wall (7) and a second longitudinal fold line (19) connecting therear wall (4) with the respective lateral wall (6).

5. The package (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein between each lateral wall (6) and each end wall (7), a respective comer flap (20) is arranged; the comer flap (20) seamlessly connects the front wall (5), the two lateral walls (6) and the two end walls (7) to each other; the comer flap (20) is folded in a bellows shape, so that the two lateral walls (6) and the two end walls (7) are arranged transversely, and in particular orthogonally, to the front wall (5) respectively.

6. The package (1) according to claim 5, wherein each corner flap (20) comprises two corner portions (21) and a third fold line (22) disposed between the two corner portions (21) to allow the two corner portions (21) to be folded and coupled so as to arrange each lateral wall (6) transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the respective end wall (7) and front wall (5).

7. The package (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein: the at least one line (8) of weakening comprises incisions and / or cut-outs and / or perforations not passing through the thickness of the material; or the at least one line (8) of weakening comprises cut-outs and / or cut-outs and / or perforations passing through the thickness of the material and the closure label (11) is attached to the box by means of an adhesive surrounding the line (8) of weakening.

8. The package (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the box (3) is made of a material, preferably paper and / or heat- sealable, having a surface provided with a coating layer that ensures the air-tightness of the package (1).

9. The packaging (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure label (11) is made of a material chosen between: a plastic material, a paper material, a multilayer material, or a combination thereof.

10. A manufacturing method of a sealed package (1) for consumer products, in particular of the tobacco field; the package (1) comprising:a group (2) of consumer products; a box (3) surrounding the group (2) of consumables and comprising a front wall (5), a rear wall (4), two lateral walls (6) and two end walls (7); the box (3) has in correspondence with at least one of the walls, preferably at least the front wall (5), a line (8) of weakening delimiting a closure flap (9) and along which the box (3) is tearable at the first opening of the package (1), so as to separate at least partially the closure flap (9) from the remaining portion of the box (3) and to define an extraction opening (10) for the consumer products; a closure label (11) which is attached to the box (3) and applied to the closure flap (9) to move the closure flap (9) relative to the box (3) between an open position, in which access to the products is permitted through the extraction opening (10), and a closed position; and at least one sealing means (14) applied to the box (3) and which is arranged between the rear wall (4) and at least one other wall (6, 7) of the box (3) adjacent thereto, so as to prevent air leakage; the method comprises the steps of- providing a flat blank (15) intended to form the box (3) comprising a plurality of panels (4', 5' 6", 6", 7" and 20') and provided with at least one sealing means (14) applied to it;- providing a group (2) of consumer products;- folding the plurality of panels (4', 5' 6', 6", 7', 7" and 20') of the blank (15) to obtain the box (3); and- arranging the group (2) of consumables inside the box (3);- applying the closure label (11) to the box (3) or the blank (15) on the closure flap (9) of the package (1).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of folding the panels (4', 5' 6", 7", 7" and 20') of the blank (15) comprises the following sub-steps:Folding each first panel (6') defining a respective inner part of the lateral wall (6) 90° to the second panel (5') defining the front wall (5) of the package (1);Folding each third panel (7') defining the respective end wall (7) substantially 90° in relation to the second panel (5') defining the front wall (5) of the package (1);Folding each fourth panel (6”) defining part of the lateral wall (6) substantially 90° to the fifth panel (4') defining the rear wall (4) of the package (1);Folding the sixth panel (7”) defining part of the end wall (7) substantially 90° to the fifth panel (4') defining the rear wall (4) of the package (1); and connecting, in particular gluing or heat-sealing, the respective fourth panel (6") to the respective first panel (6') and connect, in particular glue or heat-sealing, the sixth panel (7") to one of the two third panels (7').

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein during the step of folding the fourth panels (6") and the sixth panel (7") by 90° with respect to the fifth panel (4') each sealing means (14) is simultaneously folded; each sealing means (14) is a disc of circular shape and is folded with respect to two of its radial fold lines (16, 17) which correspond substantially to a first transverse fold line (18) connecting the fifth panel (4') with the respective sixth panel (7") and a second longitudinal fold line (19) connecting the fifth panel (4') with the respective fourth panel (6").

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the step of folding the first panels (6') and the third panels (7') with respect to the second panel (5') comprises a step of folding a respective seventh angular panel (20') defining a respective corner flap (20) and disposed between each first panel (6') defining the respective inner lateral wall (6) and each third panel (7') defining the respective end wall (7) in such a manner that the two first panels (6') and the two third panels (7') are fold 90° with respect to the second panel (5'); the corner flap (20) seamlessly connects the second panel (5'), the first two first lateral panels (6') and the two third end panels (7') to each other.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the step of folding each seventh angular panel (20') comprises the steps of: folding along a third fold line (22) disposed between two corner portions (21) of the seventh angular panel (20'); connecting said two corner portions (21) to each other, in particular gluing or heat sealing, such that each first angular panel (6') is arranged transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the respective third end panel (7').

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