AU761736B2 - Piece tobacco product and method of piece tobacco products packing - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 Piece Tobacco Product and Method of Piece Tobacco Products Packing This invention relates to the art of ood-processing industry and concerns to s manufacture and packing of piece tobacco products.

Background art Cigarettes made, at least partially, of finei- cut tobac.co wrapped in thin ("tissue") paper are the most widespread type of piece tobacco products.

Here and below in the description, claims and abstract, if no otherwise indicated, the term "cigarette" includes one popular in Russia called "papyroce".

The papyroce has a portion about one-third in length filled in finely cut tobacco and another portion about two-thirds in length of basically empty paper tube with or without filtering substance wrapped together in the tissue paper. The paper tube part of the papyroce sreves as a mouthpiece.

Cigars made of compact rolls of tobacco leaves are a little less widespread type of piece tobacco products.

The simplest cigarette consists wholly of finely cut tobacco wrapped in the tissue paper.

More widespread types of cigarettes are filled in finely cut tobacco only partially and are provided by an end portion of nicotine filter or mouthpiece.

Cigarettes made of finely cut tobacco relates to piece tobacco products of mass demand which are relatively quickly consumed. They are packed for retail trade, as a rule. in packs containing not less than 10 pieces. Cigars made of compact rolls of tobacco leaves relates to piece tobacco products of more restricted demand which are relatively slowly consumed. They are packed for retail trade, as a rule, in pieces or in packs containing 3-5 pieces.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 Piece tobacco products having a portion not filled in finely cut tobacco are placed (oriented) in a pack in such a manner that just these portions become.

accessible after opening the pack.

However, an opinion was expressed that it is more expedient to place that tobacco products in a pack in such a manner that portions of piece tobacco products filled in tobacco should be accessible after opening the pack In such a case, the piece tobacco producrt will be extracted from common pack by touching the tobacco filled portion and the probabl- pollution of portions contacting with lips of a consumer will be prevented. (See Russian patent application of Burchu V.I. and al, for the "Method of Cigarettes Packing in a Pack", No. 94023179/13, IPC B 65 B 19/22, published March 1996.) It was proposed, with the same purpose, to cover the cigarette portion, touched by fingers at extraction from common pack, by hygienic proterctor in the form of a cartridge or a cup, which shall be easily removed before the use. The hygienic protector can cover the part of cigarette curve surface adjacent to the end portion, or it can cover the end portion with the adjacent curve surface. (See Russian patent of Chachaturov Ju.R. for the "Cigarette", RU 2061396, IPC A 24 D 1/00, published June 1996.) In simplest cases such piece tobacco products as cigarettes are packed in packs directly, but in most cases the cigarettes which are the content of the pack, have additional shell, common for all or for a part of the content. Such individual shell is made, as a rule, from a foil. The additional shell may be considered as an element of the common packing.

Individual cigars may be wrapped from all sides in separate covers which are made of a material more dense than the tissue paper, for example. from cellophane.

There is a patent for a method of piece tobacco products packing and a corresponding piece tobacco product. It characterized in that group of piece WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 tobacco products such as cigarettes is wrapped additionally by common shell of a paper or similar floppy band in such a way that each piece product appears to be placed in separate compartment having no communications with other compartments. (See United States patent cf Mikhail A.G. for the "Individually Wrapped Cigarettes in Cigarette Pack or Box", US 5005698, IPC B 65 D 85/10, Nat Cl. 206/257, published April 1991.) Each such individual compartment with piece tobacco product is separated from the next compartment by a sealing seam, hc-metizing the corredspondmg compartment, and by longitudinal line of perforations which allows to separate an individual tobacco product, not opening the next compartments containing the other tobacco products.

The described method of piece tobacco products packing allows to preserve their aroma and freshness.

In this case any piece tobacco product may be considered as the constituent element of a set of uniform products incorporated by the continuous common shell, and may not be considered as an individual independent unit.

Design of common packing of group of tobacco products and its elements was improved in the process of manufacture development.

For example, a method of packing of group of cigarettes in common foil shell was decscribed which provides for formation of overlapped shell tucks on the narrow lateral parts, so that the movable lateral tucks are settled down inclined, that increasing the width of the frontal part of the shell. (See Soviet Union inventor's certificate SU 456402 of the Maschinen Fabrick F.R. Nipmann Co., for the "Method of Cigarrette Packing in a Foil Envelope", IPC B 65 D 85/10, published May 1975.) It was proposed to make the top part of common envelope for group of tobacco products separable from the envelope bottom part remaining in the pack.

For doing so, a line of perforations is provided between these parts of the 3 WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 envelope. (See European patent of the Alcan Deutschland GMBH, for the "Packaging for Cigarettes, Cigars, or similar", EP 0620166, IPC B 65 D 85/10, published 1997.) For the use of piece tobacco products packings as an information carriers, mainly of advertising nature, there was recommended to place in a pack with a group of tobacco products, besides a common shell, an extra sheet (an insert) bearing on the surface corresponding information such as texts or figures. (See, for example, German patent DE 4122999, IPC B 65 D 85/10, 199?, United Kingdom patent GB 533033, IPC B 65 D 85/10, 199?, or European patent of Minarelli Alessandro for the "Cigarette Packet", EP 0655174, IPC B 65 D 85/10, published 1997.) It was proposed to put the similar information for the same purpose on top part of the common shell of group of tobacco products, which becomes accessible to a review by the consumer after opening of such pack of tobacco products. (See European patent of Focke Co., for the "Paickage for Cigarettes As Well As a Web of Material for Producing an Inner Enclosure for It", EP 0646531, IPC B D 85/10, published 1997.) The appropriate information can also be placed on separable element attached to common shell of piece tobacco products which becomes accessible to a review at opening the pack. (See European patent EP 0476882, IPC B 65 D 85/10, 1992.) Thus, the known piece tobacco products have the inherent classical forms, and the known methods of their packing provides for placing of such products directly in a pack.

In case of tobacco products such as cigarettes, all or part of such products can be additionally placed in common shells, but sometimes each product can be covered with the individual shell. In case of tobacco products such as cigars, each WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 of them can previously be placed in an individual shell covering such product from all sides.

By other words, the tobacco products which are made, at least partially, of finely cut tobacco and placed in the shell of a tissue paper, may additionally have only such individual shell, which only partially cover corresponding product, and only tobacco products made from compact roll of tobacco leaves may have individual shells, covering the appropriate product from all sides.

In all cases the individual shells covering corresponding tobacco products partially or completely, are made from uniformely coloured and homogeneous material, without any images on their surfaces.

Common and individual shells of all known piece tobacco products are made from a material which may differ on density, but identical on appearance.

Known methods of piece tobacco products packing provide for placing in common pack only identical on appearance tobacco products.

The known and previously described ways of the use tobacco products being the minimal commodity units as carriers of an information, mainly of advertising nature, provide for placing this information on elements of common packing of tobacco products or on the separate sheets (inserts) placed in a packbut not on the tobacco products itself.

In current time of advanced industry of advertising business the existence of the advertising texts on elements of packings of tobacco products may not provide for effective positive influence to increase consumer's demand for tobacco products bearing advertising statements in comparison with tobacco products which are not bearing such statements.

The efficiency of advertising considerably depends on its repetability. In the same time the constant presence on packings of tobacco products one and the same advertising texts will leave the ordinary consumer emotially indifferent to advertising, or even can cause an irritation.

-6 The main aim solved by the present invention, is to made more attraction to piece tobacco products and to increase consumer demand, simultaneously improving their consumer properties.

Brief Description of the Invention The present invention provides a method of packaging piece tobacco products comprising: locating individual piece tobacco products in individual shells which bear on their surfaces images in the form of texts and/or pictures attractive to a customer; placing a plurality of the piece tobacco products located within the individual shells in a common package; and wherein images on the individual shells located in the common package do not repeat.

.:oooi Individual shell may cover appropriate product either partially, or from all i sides, forming inside the individual shell a closed space. A cavity, formed by the individual shell, can be tight (hermetical).

Here and below the "individual shell" means a shell covering a ready tobacco product having already the wrapping of tissue paper (if any) which creates and supports the appropriate form of the product.

The distinction of this claimed invenytion from all known ones lies in the observance of the afore mentioned conditions.

o •o oooo H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\60121-99.doc 4/04/03 WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 Figures 1 to 4 show schematically the various types of patented tobacco products: a papyroce (Fig. a traditional cigarette without the filter (Fig. a traditional cigarette with the filter (Fig. and a cigar (Fig. These figures illustrate one of the possible modes of realization of the invention.

Cigarettes have part 1, filled in finaly cut tobacco, and mouthpiece part 2 or nicotine filter 3. They are covered with wrapping 4 of the tissue paper creating and supporting the traditional form of these products. Cigars are wholly made as compact roll of tobacco leaves Each product is additionally covered from all sides by individual shell 6, which size exceedes a little the size of the product itself.

shows the unfolded surface of the external part of the individual shell 6. Images 7, which may be texts and/or pictues are placed on this surface.

Fig. 6 shows the individual packing 8 of cigarettes 9 with filters placed in individual shells 4 which unfolded surfaces 10, 11, 12 bear non-identical images 13, 14, The "piece tobacco products" means, within the framework of this invention, cigarettes, cigars and similar products.

The individual shell shall cover a corresponding tobacco product, preferably from all sides, creating inside a closed space.The shell should be made of a material which is more dense than the tissue paper.

Images which are placed on a surface of the individual shell may be in the form of texts whic shall be integral on sense and plot, and shall attract attention of a consumer and cause his (hers) interest and positive emotions, by its content and form.

The leading principle of attracting consumer to images on individual shells of tobacco products (and, accordingly, to products themselves) is to make these images entertaining, interesting and useful from thr point of view of the consumer.

It can be made through the images content.

7 WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 Images of only decorative character can be used as auxiliary elements of the design of an individual shell surface.

Within the limits of present invention the "text" means the independent image bearing a readable information which occupies, at least, a part of a material surface; and the "picture" means all other independent images, except for textual.

The text may contain an information of educational, entertaining, instructive, training or other nature, which can cause consumer's interest and positive emnotions.

The texts may, for example, contain riddles, proverbs, sayings, aphorisms, signs, wishes, parting words and similar texts.

Pictures may, for example, be puzzzle ones, rebuses, chess tasks and etudes, conundrums. Reverse surface of the shell may bears key words and answers to tasks.

The images which are placed on an individual shell surface of the separate tobacco products shall be mainly not identical- They shall be regularly updated.

Except for the unequal images on surfaces, the individual shells may differ each other by colour and texture.

Such individual shells may have an aroma of the corresponding brand of tobacco.

Tobacco products placed in individual shells which constitute the tight closed internal spaces may be sterilized, for example, by radiation method.

The proposed method of piece tobacco products packing includes placing a some number of piece tobacco products in common pack. At least, part of the products are placed previously in individual shells. At least, part of the shells has surfaces which bear images in the form of pictures and/or texts.

It is desirable, that images which are placed on the surfaces of individual shells of piece tobacco products packed in common pack, would be, preferably, unequal.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 The optimum mode of realization of the proposed method provides for placing in common packing the piece tobacco products covered with individual shells with only unequal images on their surfaces.

A variety %nd non-repeatability of an information placed on surfaces of the individual shells, which is attractive for an average consumer, would be essential stimulus for bying the tobacco products made according to the present invention.

Detail:'d Descrip.ion of the Invention Piece tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars and similar products are placed now in common packing which traditionally have identical appearance, i.e., for example, any cigarette in a pack by no means differs from any other cigarette from this pack.

The basic inventive idea which is the basis of this invention, is to preserve the identical qualities of all piece tobacco products which are placed in a common packing, and to give unequal appearance, at least, to parts of the tobacco products.

This idea is realized in piece tobacco products which are additionally covered by individual shells of a material which is preferably more dense, than the tissue paper. The external surfaces of the additional individual shells bear, preferably, images.in the form of texts and/or pictures having a character which would be attractive to a consumer. At least part of the individual shells of tobacco products placed in a common packing bear images on its surfaces; the images shall be preferably unequal.

The proposed piece tobacco product is a product which is made, at least partially, of finely cut tobacco, wrapped in tissue paper, and which is additionally covered by an individual shell, or it is a product which is a compact roll of tobacco leaves, also covered by an individual shell.

The individual shell can cover piece tobacco product only partially (the curve surface along all or part of the length of the product, closing or not closing WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 one of a flat end face surface), or completely (all surfaces, including the end face surfaces), the last is preferable.

The tobacco product can be covered with the individual shell in one or several layers; the shell may be fastened on the product or can settle down freely.

s For convenience of releasing the tobacco product from the individual shell it is desirable, that said shell should be made of a material, which is more dense, than the tissue paper. A paper based material is preferable, but any other material may be used, in particulrr, it may b cellophane or foil.

If the individual shell covers piece tobacco product completely, the size of the shell should exceed the size of piece tobacco product so to allow to open the individual shell without touching the piece tobacco product itself and freely extract it from the individual shell.

If the individual shell covers the product from all sides, than the closed space is created, which may be tight (hermetical).

It is desirable that images shall be placed on the individual shell surface or on a part of it. The images shall be in the form of pictures and/or texts completed in a sence and plot, which contents and form may attract a consumer's attention and cause his positive emotions.

There are several modes of the invention embodiment in respect of various piece tobacco products.

The piece tobacco products formed of a finely cut tobacco may have individual shells with or without images on the shells surfaces.

If the individual shells cover the products only partially, the shells must bear images.

If the individual shells cover products from all sides, the images on the shells surfaces of may or may not be present.

The tobacco products which are compact rolls of tobacco leaves, shall be covered by the individual shells bearing or not bearing images on their surfaces.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 If the individual shells of such products cover the products only partially, the images on the shells surfaces may or may not be present.

If the individual shells cover the products from all sides, the images on the shells surfaces must be present.

Distinction of this claimed invention from all other ones lies in the observance of the afore mentioned conditions.

Really, known tobacco products of finely cut tobacco may have individual shells which cover the product paitially, but which bear no images on its surfaces; and the known tobacco products which are compact rolls of tobacco leaves may have individual shells covering products from all sides, but which bear no images on the surfaces. At the same time, tobacco products from finely cut tobacco covered by individual shells from all sides, and tobacco products which are compact rolls of tobacco leaves covered with individual shells only partially, are not described at all.

A particular semantic content is the main characteristic of the images on surfaces of individual shells. It is the basic element called to increase attractiveness of the products.

The images which may be texts and/or pictures shall positively influence the consumer's mood; they shall be useful, interesting and attractive to him.

The text may contain an information of educational, entertaining, instructive, reference, or other nature, which may be positively perceived by a consumer and cause the consumer's positive emotions.

In particular, proverbs, sayings, aphorisms, short poems or fragments of poems and prose may be cited, interesting facts and observations may be indicated, advices may be given, wishes and parting words may be expressed.

Pictures may, for example, be puzzle ones, rebuses, chess tasks and etudes, or conundrums.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 Reverse surface of the shell may bear key words or answers to tasks, indications of authorship and titles of literary works, which (or which fragments) are placed on the face surface of the shell.

The images on surfaces of individual shells of piece tobacco products may contain images of decorative nature, to aughment the images bearing semantic sense.

Patterns, vignettes. ornaments, abstract figures. other works of decorative art may be used as tl-c images cf decorative nature.

Images may be. present on surfaces of individual shells of tobacco products lo which simultaneously include texts and pictures.

Individual shells may have different colour and (or) texture; they may have an aroma of corresponding brand of tobacco.

If the individual shell covers piece tobacco product from all sides and make it tight, such product may be prepared sterile by means of sterilization, for example, by radiation method.

The proposed method of piece tobacco products packing consists in that some number of piece tobacco products are placed in common packing. At least, part of piece tobacco products are placed in individual shells. At least part of the shells bear images in the form of pictures and/or texts having a content which shall be attractive to a consumer.

The proposed method of packing shall be considered as being used also in a case. when even minimal part of packed piece tobacco products is represented bv piece tobacco products covered by individual shells, as it is described above.

By other words, either part, or all of piece tobacco products in the common zs pack shall be covered by the individual shells.

It is desirable, that surfaces of the individual shells of piece tobacco products, packed in a common pack, may bear unequal images.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 In preferable mode of realization of the method, surfaces of the individual shells of piece tobacco products packed in a common pack, must bear unequal images.

The "images inequality" means the non-coinsidence of the compiete s corresponding images, though separate elements of the images may coincide.

It is understood in the limits of this invention, that the requirement of the "images inequality" is satisfied equally under the folloving conditions: at least one in:lage on a surface of the individual shell of tobacco product in a common packing does not repeat; the images on surfaces of the individual shells of each tobacco product in a common packing do not repeat.

It is preferable, that the images on surfaces of the individual shell of tobacco products in common packing would be linked logically, for example, by a common idea, by a uniform subject, or by another in a similar way.

The principle of inequality of the images on surfaces of individual shells of tobacco products, which lies in the foundation of the proposed method, has, ideally, the purpose that a consumer using any tobacco product will receive a various information placed on surfaces of individual shells. When the consumer byes the next common packing of such products, he (she) would receive the block piece of tobacco products, which individual shells would bear images different from the images which were placed on surfaces of individual shells in the earlier acquired packs.

Really, it is possible only to ninimize the probability of repeated purchase by one consumer of tobacco products with identical images on surfaces of individual shells.

It is possible, with this purpose. in particular, to limit the batch cf the goods with identical series of the images on individual shells of tobacco products and periodically to update theseimages.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 The preferrcd mode of realization of the proposed method provides for placing in a common pack only such products which are covered by additional individual shells with non-repeating images on their surfaces.

Principles of completing packs by piece tobacco products having individual shells with images on their surfaces may vary, in particular, they may be thematic or topical.

Packs of tobacco products provided for the sale, for example, at mass sports events, may hav; an inform.'tion on surfaces of individual shells oftoba.'.co products which relates to the history of corresponding kinds of sports, to prominent sportsmen, to sports successes of playing commands.

Packs of tobacco products distributed, for example, in elite institutions, may bear on the surfaces of individual shells an information about experts of a high class such as, for example, lawyers, doctors, hairdressers, barbers, veterinaries, masseurs, jewellers, and also about experts rendering other services. Such information should have not advertising character, but reference one.

The mode of packing of the piece tobacco products will have certain advantages when products will be covered from all sides by multi-colored individual shells and placed in a pack in such a manner that face parts of products having different color would form some pattern after opening the pack.

If the products which have undergone sterilization are packed into a common pack, it is expedient to fill in a pack only sterile products.

The essence of the proposed invention is illustrated by the following examples which are not having, however, any limiting character.

EXAMPLE 1.

A piece tobacco product being a cigarette without a nicotine filter which was made of finely cut tobacco wrapped in tissue paper, was additionally covered with an individual shell of a material which is more dense than the tissue paper. The 14 WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 additional individual shell had covered the product from all sides. The sizes of this individual shell exceeded the sizes of the product, so the cigarette can be freely extracted from the additional individual shell after the shell opening.

The individual shell was painted, and a part of its external surface beared the textual fragment which was one of the proverbs about work.

Cigarettes, each of which was covered by such additional individual shell, were placed in a common pack in such a manner that in any pack there were cigarettes witi: individuai shells of different colour, and the proverbs on their surface did not repeat.

The information placed on the individual shell surface becomes accessible to a review after the cigarette extraction and after the shell was unfolded.

EXAMPLE 2.

A piece tobacco product being papyroce was made partially of finely cut tobacco wrapped in tissue paper; it had a mouthpiece portion which is free from the tobacco. The product was additionally covered by the individual shell of a material which is more dense, than the tissue paper. The additional shell contacted directly the tissue paper wrapping. The papyroce had been covered by the individual shell almost on all curve surface and on an end face of the mouthpiece portion. A papyroce end face on the part of its portion which is filled in by the tobacco, and some adjacent part of the lateral part remained free from the shell and this free part is used for the papyroce extraction from the individual shell.

The individual shell covered the papyroce by several layers, which number depends on volume of information placed on its surface. An external layer of the individual shell was fixed by glue drops. The shell having such design keeps the form and not to be opened spontaneously during a storage.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 The shell was painted, it had an aroma of that brand of tobacco, which was used for manufacture of the given papyroces, and all its external side beared picture which was some rebus.

The papyroces, each of which was covered by such additional individual shell, were placed in a common pack in such a manner that in a pack there were papyroces with the individual shells of different colour, and the rebuses placed on their surfaces did not repeat.

The informatic.n placed on the individual shell becomes accessible to a review after the papyroce extraction, removal of a face part of the shell and after the shell was unfolded.

EXAMPLE 3.

A piece tobacco product being a cigarette with a nicotine filter was formed partially of finely cut tobacco wrapped in tissue paper; it ended by the nicotine filter. The cigarette was covered by an additional individual shell of a material which was more dense, than the tissue paper. The additional individual shell covers cigarette from all sides, including both end faces. The sizes of the additional shell exceed the sizes of the cigarette so to allow to remove the end part of the shell, not touching the cigarette and to extract it freely from the individual shell, which covers the cigarette in several layers.

The shell may or may be not painted; its external surface shall bear the text and corresponding picture concerning the signs about the weather.

Each cigarette was covered by the additional individual shell. They were placed in a common pack in such a manner, that face surfaces of individual shells of different colour made some pattern which will be accessible to a review after opening the pack, and the individual images on the shells did not repeat.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 The information which was placed on a surface of the induvidual shell.

becomes accessible to a review after extraction the cigarette, removal of both face parts of the shell and after the shell was unfolded.

EXAMPLE 4.

A piece tobacco product, made of compact rolls of tobacco leaves, was covered with the individual shell of a material which is more dense, than the tissue paper. An individual shell covercO' the cigar from all sides, including both end faces. The sizes of the individual shell exceed the sizes of the cigar, so to allow to remove the face parts of the shell, not touching the cigar and to extract it freely from the individual shell.

External surface of the shell beared a text such as a short poem, and the reverse side of the shell beared an information on the author and the poem title.

Edges of the shell beared a pattern which is the same for all shells of products placed in one common packing.

The cigars, each of which was covered by such individual shell, were placed in a common packing. The poems which were placed on the surfaces of the individual shells of products in common packing, did not repeat.

The information placed on the individual shell surface becomes accessible to a review after the cigar extraction from the shell, removal of both face parts of the shell and after the shell was untblded.

EXAMPLE A piece tobacco product being a cigarette with a nicotine filter was formed partially of finely cut tobacco wrapped in tissue paper. It ended by the nicotine filter. The cigarette was covered additionally by an individual shell of a material which is more dense, than the tissue paper.

WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 The additional individual shell covers a cigarette from all sides, including both end faces, in such a manner that a tight cavity is created inside.

The sizes of the additional shell exceed the cigarette sizes, so to allow to remove the face part of the shell not touching the cigarette and to extract it freely from the individual shell.

Such cigarettes, covered with individual shells, were exposed by the radiation sterilization.

The common pack was filed in exclusively by the sterilized cigarettes which were placed in the sealed individual shells.

Differences were indicated above of claimed products from ones known before and having individual shells which cover, partially or fully, the corresponding products.

The differences, first of all, consist in that the known individual shells do, not bear any images on the shells surfaces, especially the images of such character, as provided for the claimed products.

So, the applicant's proposal differs from the afore mentioned invention described in United States patent US 5005698 by that: the proposed method of tobacco product packing provides for placing in any separate pack of individual products, which are additionally covered by individual shells. The shells may have various colour and texture. They may bear on the surface non-identical images. The known method of packing, contrary, provides for placing in a separate pack of the block of individual and completely identical tobacco products incorporated by the common additional shell; the proposed product is a piece product, it additionally has an individual shell, while products described in the known method are blocks of products, which are incorporated by common continuous shell; WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 the proposed product provides a possibility of presence of the individual shell which covers a product from all sides, or covering it only partially. Products described in the known method, contrasry, provide only the possibility of presence of the additional common shell covering each of the block of products from all sides; the proposed product bears on the individual shell surface an image such as a picture or a text. There aie no such images on the products which are described at disclosing the kr..wn method; the proposed product can be made sterile. Its individual shell can be made with an aroma of the corresponding sort of tobacco. Such opportunities are not described at disclosing the known method.

The individual shell, covering each proposed tobacco product, carries out two functions: on the one hand, it preservs the product from loss of aroma, from pollution, shrinkage or moisture, and, on the other hand, it creates additional surface, which can bear the useful information as the texts and (or) pictures.

Hence, such individual shell is a functional element of the product and, simultaneously, an information carrier. Various inserts which, for example, may bear the similar information, are not functional elements of such products.

Besides presence of the individual shell on each piece product allows considerably to increase information volume, and the information may be presented in accessible, original and entertaining form.

At the present invention use it appears possible to increase competitiveness of piece tobacco products which are made in accordance with this invention because: variety, non-repetability, availability, attractiveness of the information in the form of images, placed on the individual tobacco products surfaces, will induce a consumer to buy such products, instead of products having no such images; WO 00/13534 PCT/RU99/00324 various colour, texture, aroma, which can be additionally given to all or some individual shells, covering the tobacco products, bring in an additional element of the external appearance variety of piece tobacco products placed in common packing, that strengthen effect of their attractiveness; possibility of piece tobacco products sterilization and keeping them sterile even after opening the common packing, will attract attention of smokers, especially ones who cares about their health.

Claims (2)

1. A method of packaging piece tobacco products comprising: locating individual piece tobacco products in individual shells which bear on their surfaces images in the form of texts and/or pictures attractive to a customer; placing a plurality of the piece tobacco products located within the individual shells in a common package; and wherein images on the individual shells located in the common package do not repeat.

2. A piece tobacco product packed according to claim 1. Dated this 4th day of April 2003 IGOR ANATOLIEVICH STAVRULOV By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK *Fellows Institute of Patent and 20 Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia r H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\60121-99.doc 4/04/03