A packet of smoking articles

Abstract

Packet (1) of smoking articles, comprising: a group (2) of smoking articles (2a); a wrapping (3) which envelops the group (2) of smoking articles (2a) and comprises a front face (3a) and a bottom (3b); a container (4) which contains the wrapping (3) and comprises an opening (4a) from which the wrapping (3) protrudes, a front wall (4b) and a bottom wall (4c) orthogonal to the front wall (4b); a lid (5) which is hinged to the container (4) to open and close the opening (4a) of the container (4); a support element (6) for at least one smoking article (2a). The support element (6) comprises: a first panel (60) arranged between the front wall (4b) of the container (4) and the front face (3a) of the wrapping (3); a second panel (61) arranged between the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) and the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3); a box-like element (62) connecting the first panel (60) and the second panel (61) and sized to support at least one smoking article (2a). Before the first opening of the packet (1), the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3) is spaced from the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) defining an empty space between the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) and the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3). [Figure 3]

Description

[0001] "A PACKET OF SMOKING ARTICLES

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a packet of smoking articles, in particular a rigid packet of smoking articles. In detail, the present invention relates to a packet of smoking articles comprising a support element arranged and shaped to allow the easy extraction of a first smoking article from the packet.

[0004] The generic term "smoking article" refers to any article from the tobacco sector, which comprises, for exemplary purposes: traditional cigarettes, new generation HNB heat not burn) cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos , electronic cigarettes or e-cigs, auxiliary products such as filters, refills for e-cigs, other tobacco-based products or tobacco alternative products or substitutes.

[0005] Rigid packets of smoking articles are commonly known to comprise: a group of smoking articles; a wrapping having a parallelepiped shape which envelops the group of smoking articles; a cup-shaped container which contains the wrapping and comprises an opening from which the wrapping protrudes; a lid which is hinged to the container to rotate with respect to the container to open and close the container opening.

[0006] When first opening the packet, the smoker opens the lid, tears off the portion of the wrapping protruding from the container and extracts a smoking article from the container. However, the extraction of the first smoking article is rather difficult, as the group of smoking articles is tightly packed in the wrapping and in the container, and it often happens that the smoker bends the smoking article to get hold of it with the risk of damaging and / or breaking it.

[0007] Document EP3455147A1 discloses a packet of cigarettes in which the extraction of the first cigarette is facilitated. In particular, this packet of cigarettes comprises: a group of cigarettes; a wrapping made of heat-sealable material which envelops the group of cigarettes, which provides an opening for extracting the cigarettes and which comprises a label to open and close the opening for the extraction of the cigarettes; a container which contains the wrapping and which comprises an opening from which the wrapping protrudes; a lid which is hinged to the container to rotate with respect to the container and to which the label is attached so that, by rotating the lid, the opening for the extraction of the wrapping is opened and closed.

[0008] In order to facilitate the extraction of the first cigarette, a support element is arranged inside the wrapping and in contact with the cigarettes, comprising: a first panel arranged parallel to and in contact with the front wall of the wrapping; a second panel arranged parallel to and in contact with the bottom wall of the wrapping; a step element which connects the first panel and the second panel and which is sized to support at least one cigarette. Thus, the cigarette resting on the step is raised with respect to the bottom wall of the wrapping and is easier to be extracted by the smoker.

[0009] It is commonly known that the wrapping of this packet is obtained by enveloping a sheet of wrapping material around the group of cigarettes coupled with the support element. However, as the cigarettes in the group are arranged at different heights, the group of cigarettes does not form a regular parallelepiped. Therefore, during the enveloping, the sheet of wrapping material would have to be partially enveloped in a vacuum and it is extremely complex, if not impossible, to give it a parallelepiped shape.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a packet that allows to easily extract the first smoking article and at the same time is simple to produce with packaging machines that are standard in the tobacco industry. The aforesaid object is achieved by a packet of smoking articles comprising the technical characteristics contained in claim 1 and / or in one or more of the claims dependent thereon.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the indicative and thus non-limiting description of an embodiment of the packet of smoking articles.

[0012] This description will be set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for merely indicative and therefore non-limiting purposes, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the packet object of the present invention in a closed configuration;

[0014] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of Figure 1;

[0015] Figure 3 shows a rear perspective view of the wrapping and support element of the packet of Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 4 shows a rear perspective view of the container of the packet of Figure 1 in an open configuration, in which some parts have been removed;

[0017] Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the wrapping of Figure 3.

[0018] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the group of smoking articles contained in the wrapping of Figure 5;

[0019] Figure 7 shows a support element of the packet that is the object of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 8 shows the blank to make the support element of Figure 7.

[0021] In the enclosed figures, a packet of smoking articles 2a which is the object of the present invention has been indicated by the numerical reference 1. The term "smoking articles" refers, for example, to traditional cigarettes, heat-not-burn cigarettes, cigars, or electronic cigarettes. Preferably, the term "smoking articles" refers to cylindrical articles having a longitudinal extension along a relative extension axis.

[0022] The packet 1 object of the present invention comprises: a group 2 of smoking articles 2a; a wrapping 3 having a parallelepiped shape, which wrapping 3 envelops the group 2 of smoking articles 2a and comprises a front face 3a and a bottom 3b; a container 4 which contains the wrapping 3 and which comprises an opening 4a from which the wrapping 3 protrudes, a front wall 4b and a bottom wall 4c orthogonal to the front wall 4b; a lid 5 which is hinged to the container 4 to rotate with respect to the container 4 to open and close the opening 4a of the container 4.

[0023] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the container 4 is cup-shaped and comprises, in addition to the front wall 4b and the bottom wall 4c, a rear wall 4d opposite and parallel to the front wall 4b and a pair of side walls 4e opposite and parallel to each other.

[0024] With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, the lid 5 is also cup-shaped and comprises a front wall 5a, a rear wall 5b opposite and parallel to the front wall 5a, an upper wall 5c, a pair of side walls 5d opposite and parallel to each other and an opening 5e opposite the upper wall 5c. The rear wall 5b of the lid 5 is hinged to the rear wall 4d of the container 4 in order to be movable between a closed configuration (Figures 1 and 2), in which the lid 5 closes the opening 4a of the container 4, and an open configuration (Figure 4), in which the lid 5 allows access to the articles 2a through the opening 4a of the container 4 (in Figure 4, the wrapping 3 and the articles 2a have not been illustrated).

[0025] When the lid 5 is in the closed configuration (Figures 1 and 2), i.e. closes the opening 4a of the container 4, the front wall 5a of the lid 5 is parallel and aligned to the front wall 4b of the container 4, the rear wall 5b of the lid 5 is parallel and aligned to the rear wall 4d of the container 4, the side walls 5d of the lid 5 are parallel and aligned to the side walls 4e of the container 4, the upper wall 5c of the lid is opposite and parallel to the bottom wall 4c of the container and the opening 5e of the lid 5 faces the opening 4a of the container 4.

[0026] It should be specified that in the present discussion, geometrical references such as, for example, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower" or "bottom", "side", refer to the condition in which the packet 1 of smoking articles 2a is arranged in a vertical position with the opening 4a of the container 4 facing upwards; in other words, the packet 1 is considered to have the extension axis of the smoking articles 2a contained in the packet 1 arranged vertically.

[0027] With reference to Figure 6, the smoking articles 2a are cigarettes. Furthermore, the smoking articles 2a are arranged in three parallel rows, thus forming a group 2 with an essentially parallelepiped shape. It is understood that in accordance with alternative embodiments, the number of smoking articles 2a forming group 2 and / or the mutual arrangement of the smoking articles 2a may differ from what is shown for exemplary purposes in Figure 6.

[0028] With reference to Figure 5, the wrapping 3 comprises, in addition to the front face 3a and the bottom 3b, a rear face 3c opposite and parallel to the front face 3a, a pair of side faces 3d opposite and parallel to each other and an upper face 3e opposite and parallel to the bottom 3b.

[0029] Preferably, the wrapping 3 is defined by the folding of a sheet of wrapping material around the group 2 of smoking articles 2a.

[0030] The wrapping material can be a sheet of paper and / or metal material (e.g. a tin foil). Preferably, the sheet of wrapping material is enveloped around the group 2 of smoking articles 2a so as to form a tubular wrapping parallel to the extension axis of the smoking articles 2a. Next, the upper and lower ends of the tubular wrapping are folded (e.g. with a soap folding) to form the bottom 3b and upper face 3e of the wrapping 3 (Figure 5).

[0031] Alternatively, the sheet of wrapping material could be enveloped around the group 2 of smoking articles 2a so to form a tubular wrapping orthogonal to the extension axis of the smoking articles 2a. Subsequently, the side ends of the tubular wrapping are folded (e.g. with a soap folding) to form the side faces 3d of the wrapping 3. In this embodiment not shown, preferably the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 comprises a weakening line that allows the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 to be torn (the reason for such a weakening line will be better specified later in this description).

[0032] The packet 1 further comprises a support element 6 for the at least one smoking article 2a which comprises: a first panel 60 arranged between the front wall 4b of the container 4 and the front face 3a of the wrapping 3; a second panel 61 arranged between the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 and the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3; a box-like element 62 connecting the first panel 60 and the second panel 61 and which is sized to support at least one smoking article 2a.

[0033] Before the first opening of the packet 1, the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 is spaced from the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 defining an empty space between the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 and the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 (Figure 3) so that, at the first opening of the packet 1, some smoking articles 2a can be pushed towards the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 so that the at least one smoking article 2a supported by the box-like element 62 is raised with respect to the other smoking articles 2a. When first opening the packet 1, the smoker shall: open the lid 5; tear off the upper part of the wrapping 3 to access the group 2 of smoking articles 2a; push part of the smoking articles 2a towards the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 so that the smoking article 2a supported by the box-like element 62 is raised with respect to the other smoking articles 2a so that it can be easily extracted from the packet 1. Advantageously, the proposed solution allows to easily extract the first smoking article 2a from the packet 1 while minimising the risk of damaging it. In addition, this packet 1 can be easily produced with packaging machines traditional in the tobacco sector.

[0034] As mentioned above, pressing the smoking articles 2a towards the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 does not require any particular precautions in the case where the wrapping 3 is obtained by enveloping a sheet of wrapping material around the group 2 of smoking articles 2a so as to form the tubular wrapping parallel to the extension axis of the smoking articles 2a (Figure 3); in this case, in fact, the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 is formed by folded parts of the wrapping 3 but not fixed to each other at the bottom 3b. In the event that the wrapping 3 is obtained by enveloping a sheet of wrapping material around the group 2 of smoking articles 2a so as to form a tubular wrapping orthogonal to the extension axis of the smoking articles 2a, then the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 provides a weakening line that allows the bottom 3b of the wrapping 3 to be torn when the smoking articles 2a are pushed against the bottom wall 4c of the container 4.

[0035] With particular reference to Figures 3 and 7, the box-like element 62 of the support element 6 comprises: a first portion 62a substantially orthogonal to the first panel 60 which is sized to support at least one smoking article 2a; a second portion 62b which is connected to the first portion 62a and the second panel 61 and is folded substantially orthogonal to the first portion 62a. In other words, the first portion 62a extends substantially orthogonal to the first panel 60 and substantially parallel to the second panel 61 while the second portion 62b extends substantially parallel to the first panel 60 and substantially orthogonal to the second panel 61.

[0036] Preferably, the box-like element 62 is step-shaped (Figure 7).

[0037] In accordance with a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the support element 6 defines a collar which protruded from the opening 4a of the container 4 and which comprises a pair of side panels 63 arranged between relative side walls of the container 4 and side faces 3d of the wrapping 3 (Figure 3). In this embodiment, the upper part of the support element 6 engages the inner surface of the lid 5 when it is in the closed configuration. In addition, the support element 6 comprises a pair of claws 64 defined at the corners between the first panel 60 and the side panels 63: these claws 64, by engaging the inner surface of the lid 5 when it is in a closed configuration, favour the retention of the lid 5 in said closed configuration.

[0038] Preferably, the first panel 60 of the support element 6 comprises a groove 60a at the upper part which protrudes from the opening 4a of the container 4; such a groove 60a allows an easier access to the smoking articles 2a.

[0039] Preferably, the support element 6 is obtained from a planar blank 6' suitably cut and bent.

[0040] The blank 6' comprises the first panel 60 (having a longitudinal extension substantially parallel to that of the smoking articles 2a) and the second panel 61 articulated to the first panel 60 at a horizontal bending line 66. Furthermore, the planar blank 6' comprises a pair of through cuts 67 and bending and / or weakening lines 65a, 65b, 65c suitably arranged to define the box-like element 62 by folding the blank 6'. In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the blank 6' further comprises a pair of side panels 63 articulated to the first panel 60 to define side walls of the support element 6.

[0041] In detail, the blank 6' comprises the pair of through cuts 67 orthogonal to the bending line 66 defined between the first panel 60 and the second panel 61. This pair of through cuts 67 is obtained at the first panel 60 and the second panel 61 by passing through the aforementioned bending line 66. Furthermore, the blank 6' comprises three bending and / or weakening lines 65a, 65b, 65c which are parallel to the bending line 66 defined between the first panel 60 and the second panel 61. The bending and / or weakening lines 65a, 65b are obtained at the second panel 61 while the bending and / or weakening line 65c is obtained at the first panel 60. The blank part 6' defined between the two through cuts 64 and the bending and / or weakening lines 65a, 65b defines the second portion 62b of the groove 62. The blank part 6' defined between the two through cuts 64 and the bending and / or weakening lines 65b, 65c defines the first portion 62a of the groove 62. Therefore, thanks to the through cuts 64 and the bending and / or weakening lines 65a, 65b, 65c, it is easy and fast to make the box-like element 62 of the support element 6.

[0042] In accordance with what shown in Figure 6, the group 2 of smoking articles 2a has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a first row arranged in contact with the front face 3a of the wrapping 3 and a second row parallel to the first row. In accordance with Figure 6, the group 2 of smoking articles 2a comprises a third row arranged in contact with the rear face 3c of the wrapping 3; the second row is arranged between the first row and the second row of smoking articles 2a.

[0043] Preferably, the box-like element 62 is sized to support at least one smoking article 2a of the first row of the group 2 of smoking articles 2a so that, when the packet 1 is first opened, some smoking articles 2a can be pushed towards the bottom wall 4c of the container 4 and the at least one smoking article 2a supported by the box-like element 62 is raised with respect to the other smoking articles 2a. Advantageously, the fact that it is a smoking article 2a from the first row that remains raised with respect to the other smoking articles 2a makes the extraction of the first smoking article 2a from the packet 1 even easier.

[0044] In accordance with the embodiment shown, the box-like element 62 is sized to support three smoking articles 2a from the first row of the group 2 of smoking articles 2a. In other words, the first portion 62a of the box-like element 62 is sized to receive three smoking articles 2a.

[0045] In accordance with design variants, the box-like element 62 can be sized to support a single smoking article 2a or two smoking articles 2a or an entire row of the group 2 of smoking articles. In other words, varying the sizing of the first portion 62a of the box-like element 62, the number of smoking articles 2a supported by it varies.

[0046] With particular reference to Figure 3, the second panel 61 of the support element 6 rests against the bottom wall 4c of the container 4. Advantageously, this shape and arrangement of the support element 6 allows to produce the wrapping 3 and packet 1 in a standard way.

[0047] In particular, before the packet 1 is first opened, the bottom 3b of wrapping 3 is spaced from the bottom wall 4c of container 4 by a distance of between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm. This distance is defined by the extension of the second portion 62b of the box-like element 62.

[0048] Thus, after the smoker has pushed a few smoking articles 2a against the bottom wall 4c of the container 4, the at least one smoking article 2a supported by the box-like element 62 will protrude with respect to the other smoking articles 2a by about 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm.

[0049] The proposed packet 1 allows to easily extract the first smoking article 2a and at the same time is easy to produce with packaging machines that are standard in the tobacco industry. In other words, the wrapping 3 of the packet 1 is of the traditional type and, contrary to what is known from document EP3455147A1, it does not require any special arrangements to be produced since the support element 6 is external to the wrapping 3.

Claims

1. packet (1) of smoking articles, comprising: a group (2) of smoking articles (2a); a wrapping (3) having a parallelepiped shape, which wrapping (3) envelops the group (2) of smoking articles (2a) and comprises a front face (3a) and a bottom (3b); a container (4) which contains the wrapping (3) and which comprises an opening (4a) from which the wrapping (3) protrudes, a front wall (4b) and a bottom wall (4c) orthogonal to the front wall (4b); a lid (5) which is hinged to the container (4) to rotate with respect to the container (4) to open and close the opening (4a) of the container (4); the package (1) being characterized in that: it comprises a support element (6) for at least one smoking article (2a) which comprises: a first panel (60) arranged between the front wall (4b) of the container (4) and the front face (3a) of the wrapping ( 3); a second panel (61) arranged between the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) and the bottom (3b) of the package (3); a box-like element (62) which connects the first panel (60) and the second panel (61) and which is sized to support at least one smoking article (2a); before the first opening of the packet (1), the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3) is spaced from the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) defining an empty space between the bottom wall (4c) of the container ( 4) and the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3) so that, at the first opening of the packet (1), some smoking articles (2a) can be pushed towards the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) so that the at least one smoking article (2a) supported by the box-like element (62) is raised with respect to the other smoking articles (2a).

2. Packet (1) according to claim 1, in which the box-like element (62) comprises: a first portion (62a) substantially orthogonal to the first panel (60) which is sized to support at least one smoking article (2a); a second portion (62b) which is connected to the first portion (62a) and to the second panel (61) and is folded substantially orthogonal to the first portion (62a).

3. Packet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the box-like element (62) is shaped like a step.

4. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support element (6) defines a collar which protrudes from the opening (4a) of the container (4) and which comprises a pair of side panels (63) arranged between the relative side walls (4e) of the container (4) and the side faces (3d) of the wrapping (3).

5. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support element (6) is obtained starting from a planar blank (6') which comprises a pair of through cuts (67) and bending and / or weakening lines (65a, 65b, 65c) suitably arranged to define the boxlike element (62) when the blank (6') is folded.

6. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: the group (2) of smoking articles (2a) has a parallelepiped shape and comprises a first row arranged in contact with the front face (3a) of the wrapping (3) and a second row parallel to the first row; the box-like element (62) is sized to support at least one smoking article (2a) of the first row of the group (2) of smoking articles (2a) so that, at the first opening of the packet (1), some smoking articles (2a) can be pushed towards the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) and the at least one smoking article (2a) supported by the box-like element(62) is raised with respect to the other smoking articles (2a).

7. Packet (1) according to claim 6, in which the box-like element (62) is sized to support a plurality of smoking articles (2a), preferably three, of the first row of the group (2) of smoking articles (2a).

8. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second panel (61) of the support element (6) rests on the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4).

9. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wrapping (3) is defined by the folding of a sheet of wrapping material around the group (2) of smoking articles (2a).

10. Packet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which before the first opening of the packet (1), the bottom (3b) of the wrapping (3) is spaced from the bottom wall (4c) of the container (4) of a distance between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm.

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