CN116368080A

CN116368080A - Pack for smoking articles and corresponding blank

Info

Publication number: CN116368080A
Application number: CN202180068075.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 费伦佐·德拉盖蒂; 卢卡·塔罗齐
Original assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Current assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche SpA
Priority date: 2020-08-04
Filing date: 2021-08-03
Publication date: 2023-06-30
Also published as: EP4192761A1; WO2022029814A1

Abstract

A rigid packet (10; 100) for smoking articles (500) having a polygonal cross-section comprises a container (11) and a closable lid (12), the lid (12) being hinged to the container (11) so as to rotate between a closed position and an open position.

Description

Pack for smoking articles and corresponding blank

Technical Field

The embodiments described herein relate to rigid packages for smoking articles capable of containing tobacco products, such as cigarettes or cigarillos, for example, as conventional smoking articles.

Embodiments described herein also relate to blanks for producing the packages.

Background

Rigid packages for smoking articles with hinged lids are known.

These conventional packets have a rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprise a container or box-like body to which a lid is hinged. An inner wrapper for receiving the cigarette is also provided. For example, the inner wrapper may be a laminated metal film on a paper substrate or a metalized paper wrapped around the cigarette and folded over the ends of the cigarette. Inside the container there may also be a collar, typically made of cardboard or rigid paper, which at least partly surrounds the inner envelope.

Such packages are generally easy to produce starting from conventional blanks, that is to say from sheet-like materials such as cardboard, paperboard, paper or the like, suitably shaped and processed, and are easy and practical to use, in order to protect the smoking articles placed inside.

The package is typically covered with a transparent film of the disposable type, such as cellophane, polyethylene or other similar material, which then forms an outer packaging envelope or wrapper for the package.

The presence of such a film is undesirable in some cases, especially when it is desired to avoid the use of plastic materials for packaging the package.

The package also typically includes a label, tax stamp or government seal that is located on the surface of the package and is intended to be torn off when the package is first opened.

In some cases, government seals may not always exist in the form of physical adhesive labels.

In general, since it is strongly desired to ensure the integrity of the packet before the cigarettes contained therein are used, it is known to also provide specific tamper-resistant elements, so-called "tamper-evident" or "tamper-resistant" elements, which are present on the packet, in particular before the first use, if other objects than the end consumer have or have not opened the packet. For example, these particular tamper resistant elements may be formed from removable or tearable portions. In this case, the opening of the package is only allowed after these partially removable or tearable portions are removed.

Typically, these removable or tearable portions are temporarily connected to the lid and the container by respective perforated or weakened tearable lines.

Examples of packages with tamper-resistant elements formed by removable or tearable portions are described in patent documents US 5.678.690A, DE 10 2018127739 a1 and US 9.340.347B2.

In the known packages described in these documents, tamper-resistant elements are often arranged at the front wall of the package and, due to their position and arrangement, they may be inconvenient for the user to grasp. Furthermore, since the front wall of the package is affixed with text, logos or informational images, the location of tamper-resistant elements in the package is known to compromise the correct readability of such information or images, as these may be substantially modified after the tear-away portion is removed when the package is first opened, with the result that there is also an unsightly front wall.

These known packages are made from a suitably shaped paperboard blank comprising pre-weakened fold lines along which panels forming the blank are folded to form the package.

A blank for producing a package having such a removable portion requires the creation of a pair of tear lines at a location between the panels of the container and the lid, creating design constraints.

It is therefore desirable to provide a pack for smoking articles and a corresponding blank which may be unconstrained by typical designs of the prior art.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packet for smoking articles, the packet having at least one frangible tamper-evident element which is easy to manufacture, while being easy to remove and which does not detract from the final appearance of the packet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blank that is easy to process, allows for faster and more labor-saving operations for producing packages, and can be processed on conventional cigarette packaging machines without modification to the conventional packaging machines.

The applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, relating respectively to a rigid packet for smoking articles having a polygonal cross-section and a blank formed from a single piece for producing a rigid packet for smoking articles having a polygonal cross-section. The dependent claims describe other features of the invention or variants to the main inventive concept.

Drawings

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a pack for smoking articles according to the description herein, showing the configuration prior to its first use;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of a variant of the packet of fig. 1, showing the configuration before its first use;

figure 3 is a perspective view of the package of figure 1, with the removable portion torn off, the lid being raised in the open position;

figure 3a shows an enlarged detail of figure 3;

figure 4 shows a perspective view of the packet of figure 1, in a closed configuration and without removable portions, as it has been previously torn off;

figure 5 is a top view of the package of figure 1;

figures 6-7 are side views of the package of figure 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged and broken section taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5;

figure 9 is a perspective view of a variation of a pack for smoking articles according to an embodiment of the invention, with the removable portion adhered to the collar;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 9;

figure 11 is a partial cross-section along a vertical plane of the packet of figure 9 in a configuration prior to first use;

figure 12 shows a blank for producing the package of figures 1 and 3-8;

figure 13 shows a blank for producing the packet of figure 2, in which removable portions are present on both side walls of the lid;

figure 14 shows a blank for producing the package of figures 9-11.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be appreciated that elements and features of one embodiment may be readily combined with or incorporated into other embodiments without further description.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting illustration. The phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of providing a non-limiting example.

The embodiment shown in figures 1-8 relates to a rigid packet 10 for smoking articles 500 having a polygonal cross-section. In the example described herein, the package 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

In this specification, the term "smoking article" refers to, for example, a cigarette, cigar, cigarillo or other similar and comparable article.

The package 10 comprises a container 11 and a closable lid 12 hinged to the container 11.

The container 11 has a container front wall 13 and an opposing container rear wall 14, first and second

container side walls

15, 16 opposite each other and facing each other, and a lower wall 17 disposed perpendicular to the first and second

container side walls

15, 16, fig. 1-2.

The container 11 defines an interior cavity 18 configured to house a smoking article 500, fig. 3.

The lid 12 has a lid front wall 19, first and second

lid side walls

20 and 21 opposed to each other and facing each other, and an upper wall 22 provided perpendicularly to the first and second

lid side walls

20 and 21.

In this and in the following description, the terms front, rear, side, upper and lower refer to the orientation of the package 10 during its typical use. In particular, the term front refers to the front of the package 10 from which the cigarettes or smoking articles 500 contained therein can be accessed once the lid 12 is opened.

The lid 12 is hinged to the container 11 so as to rotate between a closed position, preventing access to the interior cavity 18 of the container, fig. 2 and 4, and an open position allowing access to the interior cavity 18 of the container 11, fig. 3.

When the lid is in the closed position:

the upper wall 22 is located opposite the lower wall 17,

the lid front wall 19 and the container front wall 13 lie on a common pack front plane P1 (figures 5-7),

the first lid side wall 20 and the first container side wall 15 lie on a common first package side plane P3 (figure 5),

the second lid side wall 21 and the second container side wall 16 lie on a common second package side plane P4 (fig. 5).

According to one aspect of the invention, the lid 12 comprises a removable portion 24 defined by a respective tear line 25, the removable portion 24 extending from an edge of the lid 12. Removable portion 24 is attached to container 11 by adhesive only and therefore must be torn off lid 12 along tear line 25 when package 10 is first opened.

In the embodiment of fig. 1, the lid 12 contains only one removable portion that is connected to the first lid sidewall 20.

On the other hand, in the variant of fig. 2, the lid 12 comprises two removable parts, one connected to the first lid side wall 20 and the other connected to the second lid side wall 21.

Thus, in package 10, there are no other tear lines than those that allow for a temporary connection between removable portion 24 and lid 12.

In particular, there is no tear line between removable portion 24 and container 11, the only tear line being the one that joins removable portion 14 to lid 12.

For example, as shown in fig. 1-2, the temporary connection of the removable portion 24 to the container 11 is ensured only by the adhesive dots 35.

The removable portion 24 advantageously serves as an anti-tampering element. For example, the package 10 may be generally supplied or sold to an end consumer with the lid 12 closed and the lid 12 attached to the container 11 by means of at least one removable portion 24 by glue. If the removable portion 24 is intact, that is, not torn off the lid 12, this indicates to the end consumer that the package 10 has not been opened by others. Conversely, if the removable portion 24 of the package 10 is torn off or removed from the lid 12 before the first use by the end consumer, this indicates that the package 10 has been tampered with.

According to some embodiments, the at least one removable portion 24 is an extension of the first cover sidewall 20 and/or the second cover sidewall 21. For example, the removable portion 24 may be a flap, tab, wing, fold extending from an edge of the lid 12. This extension is temporary in that the removable portion 24 is bound to the lid along a tear line 25 and must be torn off to open the lid 12.

The at least one removable portion 24 is generally coplanar with the respective first and/or second

lid side walls

20, 21.

Tear line 25 defines lid sidewall 20 with respect to removable portion 24 defining the respective edge. Tear line 25 can separate lid sidewall 20 from removable portion 24.

The tear line 25 may be made, for example, by having perforations, notches, points, or weakened portions that facilitate separation of the removable portion 24 from the first lid sidewall 20 and/or from the second lid sidewall 21.

The tear line 25 may define a first free lid side edge 20a and/or a second free lid side edge 21a of the first lid side wall 20 and the second lid side wall 21, respectively, for the entire length of the edge or for only a portion of the edge, and the tear line 25 may define a first removable portion edge 24a of the removable portion 24, fig. 6. The first removable portion edge 24a is located on the tear line 25 before the removable portion 24 is torn off the lid 12 and has a length shorter than the length of the first free lid side edge 20a and/or the second free lid side edge 21a from which the removable portion 24 extends 20a and/or the second free lid side edge 21 a.

According to one embodiment shown in fig. 3-3a and 4, the first container side wall 15 comprises a first container inner side wall 15a and a first container outer side wall 15b connected to each other and overlapping.

Likewise, the second container sidewall 16 includes a second container inner sidewall 16a and a second container outer sidewall 16b that are connected to and overlap each other, for example, see the cross-section shown in fig. 8.

In some embodiments, at least one removable portion 24 is bonded to the first container inner sidewall 15a and/or the second container inner sidewall 16a, as described above.

The first lid side wall 20 and the second lid side wall 21 are located on a common first pack side plane P3 and a common second pack side plane P4, respectively, with the first container side wall 15b and the second container side wall 16b, respectively, fig. 5.

According to some embodiments, at least one of the first container inner side wall 15a or the second container inner side wall 16a has a greater extension than the first container outer side wall 15b and the second container outer side wall 16b, respectively, fig. 3-3a, fig. 4 and fig. 8.

The difference in extension defines a protruding portion of the first container inner side wall 15a and/or the second outer side wall 16a, which protruding portion therefore exceeds the above-mentioned respective first container outer side wall 15b and second container outer side wall 16b, whereby the first container outer side wall 15b and second container outer side wall 16b end earlier; the protruding portion defines a positioning area 36 on the first container inner side wall 15a and/or the second container inner side wall 16a, which positioning area 36 is outlined with a dashed line in fig. 3a for easy identification, adapted to allow positioning and adhesion of the removable portion 24.

The edges of the first container outer side wall 15b and/or the second container outer side wall 16b are smaller than the above-described respective first container inner side wall 15a and second container inner side wall 16a, defining a step 37, the thickness of the step 37 being equal to the thickness of the first container outer side wall 15b and/or the second container outer side wall 16b, fig. 8.

According to a possible embodiment, the removable portion 24 may have a polygonal shape, preferably with rounded gripping areas or edges. However, it is not excluded that the removable portion 24 may also have a different shape.

According to a possible embodiment, the shape of the removable portion 24 may advantageously be complementary or co-operating with the shape of the positioning area 36, possibly with rounded edges, as described above, for better comfort in gripping and handling. In particular, it is advantageous that the thickness of the removable portion 24 is substantially equal to the thickness of the step 37. In this way, when lid 12 is closed, removable portion 24 is inserted into locating area 36 without protruding from the overall dimensions of package 10 and is substantially flush and coplanar with first container sidewall 15b or second container sidewall 16b. This solution allows to obtain a packet 10 without a large number of discontinuities and therefore pleasant and pleasant to the touch.

The removable portion 24 has a first removable portion edge 24a defined along the tear line 25 and a second removable portion edge 24b that meets the upper edge 15c of the first container outer side wall and/or the upper edge 16c of the second container outer side wall prior to first opening the package 10. As best seen in fig. 6, the removable portion 24 has a substantially triangular shape and also has a third removable portion edge 24c which third removable portion edge 24c is substantially aligned with a corresponding side edge of the container rear wall 14 prior to first opening the package. In other words, the third removable portion edge 24c is substantially parallel to the edge formed between the first container side wall 15 and/or the second container side wall 16 and the container rear wall 14 before the package is first opened.

In the example provided herein, the removable portion 24 has a substantially triangular configuration and is peripherally bounded by a first removable portion edge 24a, a second removable portion edge 24b, and a third removable portion edge 24 c.

As described above, the removable portion 24 may have a rounded gripping area or edge to facilitate gripping by a user, such as the angle between the second removable portion edge 24b and the third removable portion edge 24 c. For example, the rounded gripping area or edge may be lifted with a finger to facilitate separation of the removable portion 24 from the container 11.

The second removable portion edge 24b and the third removable portion edge 24c meet to form a rounded corner, thereby forming a gripping portion 24d comprising the rounded corner; the gripping portion 24d is easily lifted with the fingers before the removable portion 24 is torn off the lid 12 along the respective tear line 25 when the package is first opened, to allow the removable portion 24 to be separated from the container 11.

The rounded corner formed between the second removable portion edge 24b and the third removable portion edge 24c has a radius of curvature of between 1 and 4 mm.

It should be noted that prior to first opening the package 10, the first container inner side wall 15a and/or the second container inner side wall 16a has an

area

15d,16d not occupied by the removable portion 24, which

area

15d,16d is adjacent to the gripping portion 24d of the removable portion 24.

According to some embodiments, the first and second

lid side walls

20, 21 have first and second free

lid side edges

20a, 21a, respectively, the first and second free

lid side edges

20a, 21a being inclined with respect to the package upper plane P5 on the upper wall 22, fig. 6-7.

If the removable portion 24 is not present on one of the

lid side walls

20, 21, the first free lid side edge 20a or the second free lid side edge 21a has been fully defined, fig. 7. As shown in fig. 6, on the

lid side wall

20, 21 where the removable portion 24 is present, a portion of the first free lid side edge 20a is defined along the tear line 25.

According to some embodiments, as shown in fig. 6-7, the upper edge 15c of the first container sidewall and the upper edge 16c of the second container sidewall are inclined with respect to the lid upper plane P5.

With particular reference to fig. 6, at least a first segment 15c' of the upper edge 15c of the outer lateral wall of the first container has the same inclination as the corresponding first free lid side edge 20a, defining a lateral abutment of the lid 12 in the closed position.

The upper edge 15c of the outer side wall of the first container has a second section 15c "with a different inclination with respect to the inclination of the corresponding first section 15c', the inclination of this second section 15c" being substantially equal to the inclination of the second removable portion edge 24b before the first opening of the packet. Thus, the second removable portion edge 24b is only adjacent to the second section 15c'.

Therefore, the first section 15c' meets the first free lid side edge 20a and/or the second free lid side edge 21a, because in the closed state of the lid 12 the first section 15c "is parallel to the first free lid side edge 20a and/or the second free lid side edge 21a, and the second section 15c" is parallel to and close to the second removable portion edge 24b before the removable portion 24 is torn off the lid 12.

The first segment 15c' and the second segment 15c″ are inclined with respect to each other by a specular manner at an inclination angle α with respect to a vertical axis passing through the common vertex V, starting from the common vertex V (fig. 6).

Similar considerations apply if there is also a removable portion 24 on the other side of the lid 12.

According to some embodiments, the lid front wall 19 has a lid front wall edge 19a, which lid front wall edge 19a meets the container front wall upper edge 13a, the container front wall upper edge 13a defining a forward abutment of the lid 12 in the closed position, fig. 3.

According to some embodiments, the cover front wall 13 is devoid of at least one removable portion 24. In this way, the front of the package 10, where the text, logo or informational image is placed, has an available visual surface that is not affected by the discontinuity or interruption.

According to some embodiments, the lid 12 is hinged along a hinge line 26 located on the container rear wall 14, fig. 1.

The lid 12 includes a lid rear wall 23 opposite the lid front wall 19, the lid rear wall 23 being smaller in size than the lid front wall 19, fig. 1 and 4.

When the lid is in the closed position, the lid back wall 23 and the second container back wall 14 lie on a common package back plane P2, fig. 6-7.

Referring to the cross section shown in fig. 8, the first cover side wall 20 includes a first cover inner side wall 20b and a first cover outer side wall 20c connected to and overlapping each other.

Also, the second cover side wall 21 includes a second cover inner side wall 21b and a second cover outer side wall 21c connected to each other and overlapping.

At least one removable portion 24 is a temporary extension of the first lid outer side wall 20c and/or the second lid outer side wall 21c.

The tear line 25 coincides with the terminal edge of the first lid inner side wall 20b and/or the terminal edge of the second lid inner side wall 21b, and thus the tear line 25 is defined on at least one of the first lid outer side wall 20c or the second lid outer side wall 21c.

According to some embodiments, the package 10 further comprises a collar 27 located inside the container 11, the collar 27 having a collar front wall 28 and opposing first 29 and second 30 collar side walls, the collar front wall 28, the first 29 and second 30 collar side walls being in contact with the container front wall 13, the first 15 and second 16 container side walls, respectively. Collar front wall 28 has an aperture 31, is of U-shaped configuration and projects from the top of container 11, fig. 9.

The collar front wall 28 and at least one of the first collar side wall 29 or the second collar side wall 30 as a whole define a collar projection 32 relative to the container 11, which collar projection is shown by way of example in dashed lines in fig. 9, projecting from the container 11.

The embodiment shown in fig. 9-11 also relates to a package 100 comprising a container 11, a lid 12 and a collar 27, wherein at least one removable portion 24 is connected to the collar protruding portion 32 only by means of adhesive such that the at least one removable portion 24 has to be torn off the lid 11 along the respective tear line 25 when the package 100 is first opened.

Temporary connection of the removable portion 24 to the collar 27 is ensured, for example, only by the adhesive dots 35 in a similar manner to that described previously.

For example, at least one removable portion 24 is bonded to the protruding portion 32 of the first collar sidewall 29 and/or the protruding portion 32 of the second collar sidewall 30.

The upper edge 15c of the first container sidewall and/or the upper edge 16c of the second container sidewall define a step 38, the thickness of the step 38 being substantially equal to the thickness of the first container sidewall 15 and/or the second container sidewall 16, fig. 11.

Removable portion 24 may have a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of step 38 such that package 100 is free of a substantial amount of discontinuities and thus comfortable to the touch as described above with reference to the embodiment of fig. 1-8, fig. 11.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 9-11, at least one of the first container inner side wall 15a or the second container inner side wall 16a has an extension equal to the first container outer side wall 15b and the second container outer side wall 16b, respectively. Referring to fig. 10, by properly restricting the extension of the first container inner side wall 15a and the first container outer side wall 15b, a positioning region 36 may be defined on the protruding portion 32 of the first collar side wall 29.

To ensure that the first container sidewall 15 and/or the second container sidewall 16 and the removable portion 24 are flat, the removable portion 24 is comprised of a pair of identical flaps that overlap and adhere to each other to have a thickness equal to the height of the step 38, fig. 11.

It is apparent that the removable portion 24 may have the same configuration as described above with reference to the embodiment of fig. 1-8, e.g., having a triangular shape and being peripherally bounded by a first removable portion edge 24a, a second removable portion edge 24b, and a third removable portion edge 24 c. As previously described, the second and third removable portion edges 24b, 24c meet to form a rounded, gripping portion 24d comprising a rounded corner, and the gripping portion 24d is easily lifted with a finger to allow the removable portion 24 to be separated from the collar 32 before the removable portion 24 is torn off the lid 12 along the respective tear line 25 when the package 100 is first opened.

Referring to fig. 12, one embodiment of a blank, generally indicated by the numeral 200, that may be used to produce the package 10 of fig. 1-8 will now be described. Advantageously, the package 10 is provided starting from a single blank 200.

It should be noted that the various adjacent panels described below with reference to the embodiment of fig. 12-14 are separated by fold lines, i.e. lines formed on the formed sheet or blank 200, 300, 400, such as cut lines, or piecewise punched lines, or pre-crease lines, or piecewise pre-crease lines, along which folding is performed to produce the above-described

packages

10, 100.

The blank 200 comprises a container front panel 213 for forming the container front wall 13 and a container rear panel 214 for forming the container rear wall 14, the container rear wall 14 being arranged opposite the container front wall 13.

A lower panel 217 for forming the lower wall 17 is interposed between the container front panel 213 and the container rear panel 214.

The container front panel 213 has a first container outer panel 215b and a second container outer panel 216b on the side surfaces thereof.

A first container inner panel 215a and a second container inner panel 216a are provided on the side surfaces of the container rear panel 214, respectively. The overlap and bond between the first container inner panel 215a and the first container outer panel 215b and between the second container inner panel 216a and the second container inner panel 216b are intended to form a first container sidewall 15 and a second container sidewall 15, respectively, the first container sidewall 15 and the second container sidewall 15 being disposed opposite each other and perpendicular to the lower wall 17, thereby forming a container 11 defining an interior cavity 18, the interior cavity 18 being configured to receive a smoking article 500.

The first container inner panel 215a and the second container inner panel 216a have the same size.

The blank 100 further comprises a lid front panel 219 for forming the lid front wall 19.

On the side surfaces of the cover front panel 219 are a first cover side panel 220 and a second cover side panel 221, respectively, the first cover side panel 220 and the second cover side panel 221 are for forming a first cover side wall 20 and a second cover side wall 21 disposed opposite to each other, respectively, and an upper panel 222 for forming an upper wall 22 is disposed perpendicularly to the first cover side wall 20 and the second cover side wall 21.

The top panel 222 is interposed between the container rear panel 214 and the lid front panel 219, and the hinge line 26 of the lid 12 is located on the container rear panel 214.

According to one aspect of the invention, the blank 200 further comprises at least one removable portion 24, defined by the tear line 25 and extending from an edge of at least one of the first lid side panel 220 or the second lid side panel 221, as described above. The at least one removable portion 24 is sized and configured to be attached to the first container inner panel 215a and/or the second container inner panel 216a by adhesive only.

According to some embodiments, the first lid side panel 220 is formed from a first lid inner side panel 220b and a first lid outer side panel 220c, with the removable portion 24 extending from the first lid outer side panel 220 c. The overlap and bond between the first lid inner panel 220b and the first lid outer panel 220c is intended to form the first lid side wall 220.

Similarly, the second lid side panel 221 includes a second lid inner side panel 221b and a second lid outer side panel 221c, which, once overlapped and adhered to each other, form the second lid side wall 221.

According to one aspect of the invention, the blank 200 may further comprise an in-lid front panel 219a connected to the lid front panel 219 along a fold line, and the in-lid front panel 219a has a smaller dimension than the lid front panel 219. Once folded, the in-cover front panel 219a overlaps the cover front panel 219 on the inside of the cover 12.

The blank 200 may also include a pair of flaps 222a that are connected to the first and second lid

inner panels

220b, 221b, respectively, along fold lines, the first and second lid

inner panels

220b, 221b, upon folding, will rest against the upper panel 222 in the interior of the lid 12.

The blank 200 may also include a pair of flaps 217a, the pair of flaps 217a being connected to the first container inner side panel 215a and the second container inner side panel 216a, respectively, along fold lines, the first container inner side panel 215a and the second container inner side panel 216a, once folded, will rest against the lower panel 217 in the interior of the container 11.

At least one of the first container outside panel 215b or the second container outside panel 216b has a smaller size than the container inside

panels

215a, 216a.

In this manner, when the first and second container

inner panels

215a, 216a overlap and adhere to each other with the respective first and second container

outer panels

215b, 216b, a portion of at least one of the container

inner panels

215a, 216a exceeds the respective container

outer panel

215b, 216b to define the locating region 36 to adhere the removable portion 24.

In the embodiment of fig. 12, wherein removable portion 24 is present only on first lid side panel 220, second container inner side panel 216a and second container outer side panel 216b have the same extension and mating shape.

Referring to the embodiment of fig. 13, a blank 200 for producing the package of fig. 2 is shown with removable portions 24 on both the first lid side panel 220 and the second lid side panel 221.

In this case, both the first container outside panel 215b and the second container outside panel 216b have smaller dimensions than the respective container inside

panels

215a, 216a.

In this manner, when the first and second container

inner panels

outer panels

215b, 216b, a portion of both container

inner panels

215a, 216a exceeds the respective container

outer panels

215b, 216b to define the locating areas 36 to adhere the removable portions 24 to both sides of the package 10.

The positioning area 36 and the removable portion 24 have a substantially triangular configuration defined peripherally by a first removable portion edge 24a, a second removable portion edge 24b and a third removable portion edge 24c along the tear line 25, the second removable portion edge 24b being intended to meet the inclined edge of the first container inner panel 215a and/or the inclined edge of the second container inner panel 216a, the third removable portion edge 24c being intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a fold line separating the container rear panel 214 from the first container inner panel 215a and/or the second container inner panel 216a prior to first opening the package, as indicated by the "L" in fig. 12-14.

The second removable portion edge 24b and the third removable portion edge 24c meet to form a rounded corner, thereby forming a gripping portion 24d that includes the rounded corner.

The embodiment shown in fig. 14 illustrates a blank 400 that may be used to produce the package 100 of fig. 9-11. Also in this case, it is advantageous that the packet 100 starts to be produced from a single blank 400.

In the example presented in fig. 14, there is a removable portion 24 provided only on the first lid side panel 220. This does not exclude that the removable portion 24 may be provided on both

lid side panels

220, 221 in the same manner as described for the blank 300 of fig. 13.

In this particular case, removable portion 24 is configured as a pair of flaps, with a first flap being made on first lid outer side panel 220c and a second flap being made on first lid inner side panel 220 b.

The overlap and bond between the first lid inner panel 220b and the first lid outer panel 220c is intended to form a first lid side wall 220 in which a pair of overlapping and bonded flaps define the removable portion 24.

The first container inner panel 215a has an extension equal to that of the first container outer panel 215 b.

In particular, the extension of the first container inner side panel 215a and the first container outer side panel 215b makes it possible to freely access the protruding portion 32 of the collar 27 once the package 100 has been produced, so as to adhere the removable portion 24 to the protruding portion 32 of the collar, in this particular case to the protruding portion of the first collar side wall 29.

Referring to the embodiment showing the blank 200, 300, 400 of fig. 12-14, the lines shown by way of example in dashed lines identify the corresponding intended fold lines, while the lines shown by way of example in solid lines identify the corresponding cut lines.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the

packet

10, 100 and to the respective blank 200, 300, 400 for smoking articles 500 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the appended claims, the sole purpose of the reference numerals in parentheses is to facilitate reading: they should not be considered as limiting factors in relation to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.

Claims

1. A rigid packet (10) for smoking articles (500) having a polygonal cross-section, comprising:

-a container (11) having a container front wall (13) and an opposite container rear wall (14), a first container side wall (15) and a second container side wall (16) opposite each other and facing each other, and a lower wall (17) arranged perpendicular to the first container side wall (15) and the second container side wall (16), the container (11) defining an inner cavity (18) configured to house the smoking article (500);

-a closable lid (12) having a lid front wall (19), a first lid side wall (20) and a second lid side wall (21) opposite each other and facing each other, and an upper wall (22) arranged perpendicular to the first lid side wall (20) and the second lid side wall (21), the lid (12) being hinged to the container (11) so as to rotate between a closed position preventing access to the container (11) and an open position allowing access to the container (11), wherein when the lid (12) is in the closed position:

said upper wall (22) being located opposite said lower wall (17),

-said lid front wall (19) and said container front wall (13) being located on a common pack front plane (P1),

-said first lid side wall (20) and said first container side wall (15) lie on a common first pack side plane (P3),

-said second lid side wall (21) and said second container side wall (16) lie on a common second package side plane (P4),

wherein the lid (12) comprises at least one removable portion (24) defined by a tear line (25) and extending from an edge of the lid (12), the at least one removable portion (24) being connected to the container (11) only by adhesion and being an extension of the first lid side wall (20) and/or the second lid side wall (21), and wherein the at least one removable portion (24) has a substantially triangular configuration and is peripherally delimited by a first removable portion edge (24 a), a second removable portion edge (24 b) and a third removable portion edge (24 c), the first removable portion edge (24 a) being along the tear line (25), the second removable portion edge (24 b) being contiguous with an upper edge of the first container side wall (15), the third removable portion edge (24 c) being substantially parallel to a rounded edge formed between the first container side wall (15) and/or the second container side wall (16) and the third container side wall (24 c) before first opening the package, the removable portion (24 c) comprising rounded edges forming the removable portion (24 c), the gripping portion (24 d) is easily lifted with a finger to allow the at least one removable portion (24) to be detached from the container (11) before the at least one removable portion (24) is torn off the lid (12) along the respective tear line (25) when the package (10) is first opened.

2. The package (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first container side wall (15) comprises a first container inner side wall (15 a) and a first container outer side wall (15 b) connected to each other and overlapping, and the second container side wall (16) comprises a second container inner side wall (16 a) and a second container outer side wall (16 b) connected to each other and overlapping, the at least one removable portion (24) being glued to the first container inner side wall (15 a) and/or the second container inner side wall (16 a).

3. The package (10) according to claim 2, wherein the first and second lid side walls (20, 21) and the respective first and second container side walls (15 b, 16 b) are located on the common first and second package side planes (P3, P4), respectively.

4. A pack (10) as in claim 2 or 3, wherein the first container inner side wall (15 a) and/or the second container inner side wall (16 a) has an area (15 d,16 d) unoccupied by the removable portion (24) before the pack (10) is first opened, the area (15 d,16 d) being adjacent to the gripping portion (24 d) of the removable portion (24).

5. A packet (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second removable portion edge (24 b) meets the first upper edge (15 c) of the first container outer side wall and/or the second upper edge (16 c) of the second container outer side wall (16 c) before the packet (10) is first opened.

6. Package (10) according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the upper edge (15 c) of the first container outer side wall and/or the upper edge (16 c) of the second container outer side wall comprises a first segment (15 c ') and a second segment (15 c "), the first segment (15 c ') having the same inclination as the first free lid side edge (20 a) and/or the second free lid side edge (21 a) so as to define a lateral abutment of the lid (12) in the closed position, the second segment (15 c") having a different inclination with respect to the inclination of the first segment (15 c '), the inclination of the second segment (15 c ") being substantially equal to the inclination of the second removable portion edge (24 b) before the first opening of the package (10), i.e. before the at least one removable portion (24) is removed from the lid (12), the upper edge (15 c) of the first container outer side wall and/or the second container outer side edge (15 c) and/or the second container outer side edge (16 c) start to incline from the common apex (V) with respect to the second segment (V") by way of the apex (V).

7. The packet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first lid side wall (20) comprises a first inner side wall (20 b) and a first lid outer side wall (20 c) connected to each other and overlapping, and the second lid side wall (21) comprises a second lid inner side wall (21 b) and a second lid outer side wall (21 c) connected to each other and overlapping, the tear line (25) being defined on at least one of the first lid outer side wall (20 c) or the second lid outer side wall (21 c).

8. A packet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first removable portion edge (24 a) is located on said tear line (25) before said removable portion (24) is torn off from said lid (12), and has a length shorter than the length of the first free lid side edge (20 a) and/or the second free lid side edge (21 a), said removable portion (24) extending from said first free lid side edge (20 a) and/or said second free lid side edge (21 a).

9. A packet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rounded corner formed between the second removable portion edge (24 b) and the third removable portion edge (24 c) has a radius of curvature comprised between 1 and 4 mm.

10. A rigid packet (100) for smoking articles (500) having a polygonal cross-section, comprising:

-a closable lid (12) having a lid front wall (19), a first lid side wall (20) and a second lid side wall (21) opposite each other and facing each other, and an upper wall (22) arranged perpendicular to the first lid side wall (20) and the second lid side wall (21), the lid (12) being hinged to the container (11) so as to rotate between a closed position and an open position, wherein when the lid (12) is in the closed position:

said upper wall (22) being located opposite said lower wall (17),

-a collar (27) located inside the container (11) and having a collar front wall (28) and a first collar side wall (29) and an opposite second collar side wall (30), the collar front wall (28), the first collar side wall (29) and the second collar side wall (30) being in contact with the container front wall (13), the first container side wall (15) and the second container side wall (16), respectively, wherein the collar (27) has at least one collar protruding portion (32) protruding from the container (11), wherein the lid (12) comprises at least one removable portion (24) defined by a tear line (25) extending from an edge of the lid (12), the at least one removable portion (24) being adhesively connected to the at least one collar protruding portion (32) and being an extension of the first lid side wall (20) and/or the second lid side wall (21), and wherein the at least one removable portion (24) has a triangular configuration and the second removable portion (24) is delimited by a first removable portion (24 a) and a substantially triangular configuration along the removable portion (24 b) at the edge (24 a), the second removable portion edge (24 b) meets the upper edge of the first container side wall (15), the third removable portion edge (24 c) being substantially parallel to the edge formed between the first container side wall (15) and the container rear wall (14) prior to first opening the package, characterized in that the second removable portion edge (24 b) and the third removable portion edge (24 c) meet to form a rounded corner, thereby forming a gripping portion (24 d) comprising the rounded corner, the gripping portion (24 d) being easily lifted by a finger to allow the at least one removable portion (24) to be separated from the collar (32) before the at least one removable portion (24) is torn off the lid (12) along the respective tear line (25) upon first opening the package (100).

11. A blank (200, 300; 400) formed from a single piece for producing a rigid packet (10; 100) for smoking articles (500) having a polygonal cross section, comprising:

-a container front panel (213) and a container rear panel (214), the container front panel (213) being intended to form a container front wall (13), the container rear panel (214) being intended to form a container rear wall (14), the container rear wall (14) being arranged opposite the container front wall (13), a lower panel (217) being interposed between the container front panel (213) and the container rear panel (214) to form a lower wall (17), a first container outer side panel (215 b) and a second container outer side panel (216 b) being present on the side of the container front panel (213), respectively, and a first container inner side panel (215 a) and a second container inner side panel (216 a) being present on the side of the container rear panel (214), respectively, wherein the overlap and adhesion between the first container inner side panel (215 a) and the first container outer side panel (215 b) and the second container inner side panel (216 a) are intended to form a first container side wall (15) and a second container side wall (16) respectively, and the second container inner side wall (16) being arranged opposite each other (16) and the container inner side wall (16) being arranged to form a vertical cavity (17), the inner cavity (18) is configured to house a smoking article (500);

a lid front panel (219) for forming a lid front wall (19), a first lid side panel (220), a second lid side panel (221) being present on the sides of the lid front panel (219) for forming a first lid side wall (20) and a second lid side wall (21) arranged opposite each other, respectively, and an upper panel (222) for forming an upper wall (22) being arranged perpendicular to the first lid side wall (20) and the second lid side wall (21), the upper panel (222) being interposed between the container rear panel (214) and the lid front panel (219), a hinge line (26) of a lid being located on the container rear panel (214),

-at least one removable portion (24) defined by a tear line (25) and extending from an edge of at least one of the first lid side panel (220) or the second lid side panel (221), the at least one removable portion (24) having a substantially triangular configuration and being peripherally delimited by a first removable portion edge (24 a), a second removable portion edge (24 b) and a third removable portion edge (24 c), the first removable portion edge (24 a) being along the tear line (25), the second removable portion edge (24 b) being intended to meet an inclined edge of the first container inner side panel (215 a) and/or an inclined edge of the second container inner side panel (216 a), the third removable portion edge (24 c) being intended to be arranged substantially parallel to a fold line (L) separating the container rear panel (214) from the first container inner side panel (215 a) and/or the second container inner side panel (216 a) prior to first opening the package, the fold line (L) being intended to form a rounded corner, the removable portion (24 c) comprising the rounded corner edge.