EP2978675A1

EP2978675A1 - Packaging insert

Info

Publication number: EP2978675A1
Application number: EP14714314.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul Hodges; Alfred Vincent SPENCER
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-25
Filing date: 2014-03-25
Publication date: 2016-02-03
Also published as: TW201502037A; WO2014155086A1; WO2014155083A1; ZA201507937B; EP2978669A1; GB201305383D0; KR101783625B1; HRP20180286T1; AR095719A1; AR095718A1; WO2014155085A1; EP2978690A1; US20160031634A1; EP2978691A1; KR20150138287A; KR20150134421A; RS56827B1; KR20150134420A; EP2978690B1; WO2014155081A1

Abstract

The invention provides a packaging insert containing individually sealed elongate elements, comprising a first web having a series of grooves running parallel to its length and a second web arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and containing a single elongate element, a first end of the individual pockets is sealed, and a second end is temporarily sealed allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element. The invention also provides a method of preparing the same, and packet containing in it a packaging insert of the invention.

Description

Packaging Insert

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to packaging inserts containing elongate elements, particularly but not exclusively to packaging inserts containing smoking articles.

Background

Many variations of packets for elongate elements, such as smoking articles, are employed. Improvements in these types of packaging are desired.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect, there is provided a packaging insert containing individually sealed elongate elements, comprising a first web having a series of parallel grooves and a second web arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and hold a single elongate element, each first end of the individual pockets has a first seal, and each second end has a temporary second seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element.

The first and second seals cover the respective ends of the individual pockets providing a series of individually sealed pockets. The first end may be permanently or temporarily sealed. The second seal is a temporary seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element. Providing access to each pocket individually allows the user to remove a single elongate element without breaking the seal around any other elongate element in the packaging insert. Hence, the shelf-life of the elongate elements remaining in the packaging insert is increased.

The individual pockets may have any suitable cross section. For example, the individual pockets may have a triangular, circular, semi-circular, or hexagonal cross section.

The grooves of the first web may have any suitable shaped cross section so that each groove is shaped to form part of an individual pocket containing a single elongate element. For example, the grooves of the first web may have a V-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. In embodiments in which the second web has no grooves, V-shaped and U-shaped grooves provide individual pockets having triangular and semi-circular cross sections respectively. Alternatively, the grooves of the first web may have a polygonal shaped cross section such as a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section. In embodiments in which both the first web and the second web have three- sided polygonal shaped cross sections, the resulting individual pockets have a hexagonal cross section.

The second web may have no grooves. The second web may therefore be substantially flat. Alternatively, the second web may comprise a series of parallel grooves. The grooves of the second web may have any suitable shaped cross section so that each groove is shaped to form part of an individual pocket. For example, the grooves of the second web may have a V-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section.

Alternatively, the grooves of the second web may have a polygonal shaped cross section such as a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section.

In one embodiment, the first web and the second web both have a series of parallel grooves, wherein the webs are arranged so that the grooves of the first web face and align with the grooves of the second web.

The grooves of the first web and the second web may have the same shaped cross section.

For example, the first web and the second web may both have grooves having a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section, wherein the webs are arranged so that the grooves of the second web face and align with the grooves of the first web resulting in a series of individual pockets having a hexagon shaped cross-section each shaped to contain a single elongate element. The grooves of the first web and/ or the grooves of the second web may be equally spaced along each web.

The first and second webs may be made of the same material or of different materials. Any suitable material may be used including but not limited to thin walled card. For example, the first and second webs may be impervious to water, moisture and/or air. In such circumstances, the first and second webs maybe made of one material that is impervious to water/moisture/air. Alternatively, the first/second web may comprise any suitable base material, such as thin walled card, board, film or foil, and further comprise a layer or membrane that is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.

The first and second webs may be joined together. For example, the first and second webs may be bonded together. Any suitable bonding means may be employed including but not limited to adhesive. The first web and the second web may be joined together where the second web contacts with areas between the grooves of the first web. For example, a first web having grooves and ridges may be joined to a second web where the second web contacts the ridges of the first web facing the second web. A first web having grooves and ridges may be joined to a second web having grooves and ridges where the ridges of the first web contact the ridges of the second web facing the first web.

In the present invention, the individually sealed pockets are sealed at both ends. In one embodiment, the first end is permanently sealed. The seal at the second end is temporary and may comprise perforations arranged to allow individual access to each pocket. Access to each individual pocket is achieved by breaking the perforations; this in turn allows removal of an elongate element from the pocket. In one embodiment, the temporary seal at the end of each individual pocket comprises a tab. The tab may provide a part of the seal that a user can hold to help opening of each temporary seal and allow access to each individual pocket.

The seal(s) at one or both ends of the individual pockets may be formed from a continuous strip of material positioned over the (open) ends of the individual pockets. The strip may be joined to the ends of the individual pockets, for example by adhesive.

The strip may be the same width as the depth of the grooves of the first web or the same width as the combined depth of the grooves of the first and second webs (in embodiments in which the pockets are formed by a first web and a second web both having grooves that face and align with each other). When the strip of material is the same width as the grooves, part of the strip extends beyond the end of the individual pockets providing a tab for each individual pocket. The tab makes it easier to open the seal, and allow access to each individual pocket. Alternatively, the strip may be wider than the ends of the individual pockets.

The continuous strip may be joined to the end of the individual pockets by any suitable means including but not limited to bonding the strip to the ends of the individual pockets. For example, the continuous strip may be heat bonded to the ends of the individual pockets.

Positioning such a continuous strip at the ends of the individual pockets may create a temporary seal or a permanent seal. For example, a temporary seal may be created by providing a continuous strip having a series of perforated lines arranged lateral to the length of the strip so that perforation of one or more perforated lines allows access to one individual pocket containing an elongate element.

The strip may be made of the same material as the first and/or second webs, or can be different from the first and/or second webs. The strip may be made from any suitable material including but not limited to thin walled card, foil, opaque foil, or plastic such as transparent or translucent plastic. In some embodiments, the seal is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.

Alternatively, the seal at one or both ends of the individual pockets is formed by an extension of the second web that is folded such that it covers the ends of the individual pockets creating a seal. Such a seal may be possible when the second web has no grooves. For example, the second web may be folded along an axis running along the ends of the individual pockets.

To provide such an arrangement, the width of the first web may be less than the width of the second web, such that the width of the second web extends beyond the width of the first web, providing an additional width of second web in relation to the first web. The second web is then folded such that the additional width of the second web is positioned over one end of the series of individual pockets containing elongate elements thereby sealing one end of the individual pockets. The individual pockets may be sealed in this way at one end or both ends. The seals may be of any suitable shape including but not limited to semicircular, triangular, and hexagonal. For example, a seal may be the same shape and size as the end of each individual pocket. Alternatively, the seal has a size greater than the end of each individual pocket. Each seal would therefore overlap the end of each pocket providing an easy way of removing a temporary seal from the end of an individual pocket.

In the context of a temporary seal, the extension of the second web may further comprise a series of perforations that extend from the edge(s) of each individual pocket (where the first web joins the second web). The perforations are arranged to allow access to each individual pocket when the perforations are broken and to allow removal of an elongate element from each pocket.

Any kind of temporary seal may further comprise a tab. A tab facilitates the opening of a seal from the end of the pockets and allows the user to gain access to an elongate element inside each pocket.

A tab may be of any suitable shape including but not limited to semicircular.

Any individually sealed elongate element/smoking article may further benefit from being stored in an inert atmosphere. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the packaging inserts of the present invention further comprise an inert gas in each of the individual pockets. For example, an individual pocket may further comprise an inert gas such as nitrogen. The inert gas may be added during the preparation of the packaging insert. In some circumstances, it maybe appropriate to add the inert gas under positive pressure. Adding an inert gas may take place before, during and/ or after the elongate elements/smoking articles are fed to the grooves/pockets.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a method of preparing a packaging insert of the present invention, the method comprises providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and containing a single elongate element, sealing a first end of each pocket, and sealing a second end of each pocket with a temporary seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element.

In one embodiment, the elongate article is a smoking article. The step of sealing one or both ends of the individual pockets may comprise positioning a continuous strip along the (open) ends of the individual pockets and joining the strip to the pockets creating a seal.

The strip may be the same width as the depth of the grooves of the first web or the same width as the combined depth of the grooves of the first and second webs (in embodiments in which the pockets are formed by a first web and a second web both having grooves that face and align with each other).

Joining the continuous strip to the end of the individual pockets may be carried out in any suitable way including but not limited to bonding the strip to the ends of the individual pockets. For example, the continuous strip maybe heat bonded to the ends of the individual pockets.

The strip may be made of the same material as the first and/or second webs, or can be different from the first and/or second webs. The strip maybe made from any suitable material including but not limited to thin walled card, foil, opaque foil, or plastic such as transparent or translucent plastic. In some embodiments, the seal is impervious to water, moisture and/or air.

Alternatively, the step of sealing one or both ends of the individual pockets may comprise folding part of the second web such that it covers the ends of the pockets creating a seal. Such a step may be possible when the second web has no grooves and no ridges, and has a width greater than the width of the first web. The second web may be folded along an axis running in the direction of travel of the second web.

For example, the width of the first web may be less than the width of the second web, such that the width of the second web extends beyond the width of the first web, providing an additional width of second web in relation to the first web. The second web is then folded such that the additional width of the second web is positioned over one end of the series of individual pockets containing elongate elements thereby sealin one end of the individual pockets. The individual pockets may be sealed in this way at one end or both ends.

The steps above may create a permanent seal or a temporary seal.

The series of parallel individual pockets formed from a first web and a second web as defined may be prepared by any conventional method. For example, the first web having grooves may be arranged with the second web to form the individual pockets before the elongate elements are positioned in the pockets. Alternatively, the elongate elements may be positioned in the grooves of the first web before the second web is arranged with the first web to provide a series of individual pockets each containing a single elongate element.

A suitable method is described in United Kingdom patent application no. GB1305383.0 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a packet, such as a cigarette packet, containing within it a packaging insert according to the first aspect of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention and in particular illustrates one example of how the individual pockets of the packaging insert may be sealed.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention and in particular illustrates an alternative example of how the individual pockets of the packaging insert may be sealed.

Figures 3a and 3b show alternative embodiments of the present invention and in particular illustrate alternative examples of how the individual pockets of the packaging insert may be sealed.

Figure 4 shows an example of a packaging insert of the present invention in a rolled configuration having individual pockets that are sealed.

Figures 5a and 5b show examples of packaging inserts in a triangular configuration having individually sealed pockets. Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention including an example of a method useful in preparing the same.

Detailed Description

It is desirable to package elongate elements in a manner that provides protection from bending and/or crushing during transportation and/or storage of the elements. It is also desirable to package elongate elements, in particular smoking articles, in a manner that improves customer experience both during the opening and withdrawing of the element from its container and preserving the element for longer in its desired state ready for use. In this respect, a packaging insert may be employed that retains one or more elongate elements and improves the protection provided by the packaging as a whole. Such a packaging insert may then be incorporated into a package. Elongate elements may be, but are not limited to, any cylindrical article.

Examples of suitable elongate elements include but are not limited to smoking articles and electronic cigarettes. As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn products. The smoking article may be provided with a filter for the gaseous flow drawn by the smoker. Other suitable elongate elements include any delicate or degradable items such as but not limited to halogen bulbs and glass ampules. Glass test-tubes containing one, two, three or more smoking articles may also be appropriate.

In the following examples, the invention is described in the context of packaging inserts containing smoking articles, although the invention should not to be viewed as limited as such. The packaging inserts of the invention are applicable to any suitable elongate element.

The invention provides a packaging insert having individually sealed pockets containing elongate elements. In the context of smoking articles, complete sealing of each individual pocket in this way provides a way of keeping the smoking article in an optimised environment to which it is best suited. In particular, the state of the smoking article just after manufacture maybe maintained. Environmental factors such as moisture and humidity can adversely affect a smoking article over time. Most importantly, a smoking article comprising tobacco that is packaged in an individually sealed pocket can avoid moisture loss and therefore retain its ideal moisture content. Sealing the individual pockets containing a smoking article helps avoid the negative effects such environmental factors can cause. By preserving the individual smoking articles in their own individual pocket/environment until they are smoked allows each smoking article to be at its optimised and intended state when it is smoked. Smoking articles that have been left for a period of time in an unsealed packet during which time they have been subjected to varying humidity and other environmental conditions, can when smoked lead to a harsher taste and hence a degraded smoking experience.

Furthermore, the packaging inserts of the present invention provide a way of extending the life of an elongate element product, such as a smoking article, without requiring plastic wrappers. Avoiding the use of such wrappers has a beneficial environmental impact. The packaging inserts of the present invention can reduce the amount of non-recyclable materials (e.g. plastic wrappers) employed in the package as a whole and employ materials that are easier to recycle.

Figure ι shows the preparation of a packaging insert according to one embodiment of the present invention. The packaging insert comprises a series of individual pockets 54 formed by a first web 51 having grooves and a second web 52 (which is shown in Figure 1 as having no grooves). Each pocket contains a single smoking article 53. Figure 1 illustrates one possible method of preparing such a packaging insert although any suitable method is applicable. In the exemplified method, to the series of individual pockets 54 are supplied two continuous strips 55 which are positioned over each end of the individual pockets 54. The resulting arrangement is then fed to a means 58 of heat sealing the continuous strip 55 to the ends of the individual pockets 54 to provide seals at each end of the individual pockets 54. Although it will be appreciated that other means of bonding the continuous strips to the ends of the pockets are possible.

The seals shown on the near side of Figure 1 have perforations 56 arranged so that each individual pocket containing a smoking article can be accessed independently. In Figure 5, each strip has equally spaced perforations 56 arranged so that breaking one or more perforations 56, for example a pair of adjacent perforations 56, allows access to one individual pocket 54 containing a single smoking article 53. A single smoking article may then be removed from an individual pocket. The strip 55 is arranged at the end of the individual pockets 54 so that the perforations 56 align with the edges of the pockets 54.

Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention in which a strip 55 is arranged at each end of the individual pockets 54. However, in an alternative, the strip 55 maybe arranged at just one end of the individual pockets. Likewise, in one embodiment the individual pockets may be permanently sealed at the far end shown in Figure 5 by any suitable means, for example by using a continuous strip that does not have perforations.

In general however a strip may be joined to the end of a series of individual pockets in any suitable way. For example, Figure 2 shows an alternative packaging insert of the present invention in which a continuous strip 61 is arranged at one end of the individual pockets 60 each containing a single smoking article (not shown). The strip of sealing material 61 may be joined to the ends of the individual pockets by any suitable means, for example using an adhesive.

The strip of sealing material 61 shown in Figure 2 also has equally spaced perforations 62 arranged to allow access to each individual pocket 60. The perforations maybe broken to allow access to each individual pocket and to allow a smoking article to be removed. The perforations 62 align with the beginning and end of one pocket and the next. As a result, breaking one or more perforations, for example breaking a pair of adjacent perforations 62, allows access to one individual pocket 60 containing a single smoking article (not shown).

As explained above, the temporary seals of the present invention may further comprise a tab. A seal with a tab provides improved access to each smoking article positioned in each individual pocket. For example, the strip 61 shown in Figure 2 has a tab 63 located between every pair of perforations 62. The tab 63 provides an effective way of pulling the seal 61 away from the end of each individual pocket 60, thus breaking a pair of adjacent perforations 62 and allowing access to a smoking article.

Alternatively, a seal may be incorporated into a packaging insert as illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b. Figures 3a and 3b show a packaging insert 71 comprising a series of parallel individual pockets 72 each pocket containing a single smoking article 73. The packaging insert is made up of two webs. The first web 75 has grooves having a V- shaped cross section and the second web 74 has no grooves (is flat). Although it will be appreciated that other cross sections could be suitable in the exemplified arrangement. The second web 74 is wider than the first web 75 and therefore a portion of the second web 74 extends beyond the end of each pocket 72 containing a smoking article 73. The extension of the second web 74 is folded along an axis 76 (shown in Figure 3a) running along the ends of the individual pockets 72. When folded (as shown by the arrows in Figures 3a and 3b), the extension of the second web 74 provides a seal 77 over the ends of the individual pockets 72. Each individual pocket can then be opened as shown in Figure 3b by pulling the seal 77 away from the end of individual pocket 72 and allowing access to the smoking article 73 contained within it. The seals 77 illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b also include a tab 78. The tab 78 extends further beyond the end of the individual pockets providing a grip with which the user can open a single individual pocket. As discussed above, the packaging inserts of the present invention do not need to include a tab. In fact, the arrangement illustrated in Figures 7a and 7b is also useful without the tables 78. It is seen that without the tab the extension of the second web that forms the seal at the end of the individual pockets also extends beyond the openings of the individual pockets. This could also be used to help pull the seal away and allow access to the individual pockets. Figures 4, 5a and 5b illustrate other ways in which seals can be added to a packaging insert. For example, Figure 4 shows a packaging insert 80 comprising a first web 81 having grooves and a second web 82 which together provide a series of individual pockets 84 each pocket 84 containing a single smoking article 83. Although not essential, the packaging insert 80 of Figure 8 is shown in a rolled configuration. Each individual pocket 84 also has a seal 85 attached to one end allowing access to each smoking article 83 in each pocket 84. The seal 85 in Figure 8 also comprises a tab 86 to facilitate removal of the seal 85 from the end of the pocket 84. In particular, the seal 85 is shaped to match the cross section shape of the individual pockets 84. In this case, both are essentially triangular, although other cross sections such as semi-circular, hexagonal would also be appropriate.

Figures 5a and 5b show packaging inserts 90 according to embodiments of the present invention. The packaging inserts 90 comprise a first web 91 having grooves and a second web 92 arranged so as to provide a series of individual pockets 94, each pocket containing a single smoking article 93. The second web 92 in both cases has no grooves. In Figure 5a the grooves of the first web 91 have a V-shaped cross section, whereas in Figure 5b they have a U-shaped cross section. The individual pockets 94 each have a seal 95 that covers one end of the pockets 94. In both cases the shape of the seal 95 corresponds to the shape of the cross section of the individual pockets 94. In these Figures, the seals 95 shown are the temporary seals and may be pulled away to allow access to the smoking articles 93 contained within them. Furthermore, the seals 95 of Figures 5a and 5b further comprise a tab 96 to help remove of the seals 95 from the ends of the pockets 94.

Figures 5a and 5b also illustrate how the packaging inserts of the present invention may be modified into different configurations. For example, the packaging inserts 90 of Figures 5a and 5b are both folded into triangular configurations.

However, in Figure 5a the packaging insert 90 is folded such that the individual pockets 94 are located on the inside of the triangular configuration, whereas in Figure 5b the packing insert 90 is folded such that the individual pockets 94 are located on the outside of the triangular configuration.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention and a method of preparing the same. A first web 131 is provided having grooves 134 shaped for receiving a smoking article 133. In Figure 6, a continuous supply of a first web 131 is provided and fed to a means (not shown) for shaping the first web 131 into a groove shaped for receiving a single smoking article 133. For example, the first web 131 may be shaped using a vacuum mould. A continuous supply of smoking articles 133 is provided and the smoking articles 133 are positioned in the grooves. The first web 131 is arranged with a second web 132 (having no grooves). A continuous supply of a second web 132 is provided over the smoking articles 133 located in the grooves 134 of the first web resulting in a series of parallel individual pockets 135 each containing a single smoking article 133. The second web 132 shown in Figure 6 is made of a transparent material, although it will be appreciated that any suitable material may be employed. The first web 131 may also optionally be made of a transparent material although it will be appreciated that the first web 131 may be made of any suitable material.

In Figure 6, it is also possible to use a first web 131 is used that is wider (in a lateral direction relative to the direction of travel of the first web 131) than the second web 132. The first web 131 would therefore extend beyond the width of the second web 132 providing an additional width of the first web 131. The additional width of the first web 131 may then be positioned over the ends of the individual pockets 134 creating a seal. In practice, this method of sealing the ends of the pockets may be carried out at one end or both ends of the individual pockets.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior packaging inserts containing elongate elements. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a

representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/ or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A packaging insert containing individually sealed elongate elements, comprising a first web having a series of parallel grooves and a second web arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and contain a single elongate element, each first end of the individual pockets having a first seal, and each second end having a temporary second seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element.

2. The packaging insert of claim 1, wherein the grooves of the first web have a V- shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section.

3. The packaging insert of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second web has no grooves.

4. The packaging insert of claim 1, wherein the individual pockets have a triangular, circular, semi-circular, or hexagonal cross section.

5. The packaging insert of claim 1, wherein the first web and the second web both have a series of parallel grooves, the webs are arranged so that the grooves of the first web face and align with the grooves of the second web.

6. The packaging insert of claim 5, wherein the first web and the second web have the same shaped cross section.

7. The packaging insert of claim 1, wherein the first web and the second web may both have grooves having a three-sided polygonal shaped cross section, the second web is positioned over the first web so that the grooves of the second web face and align with the grooves of the first web resulting in a series of individual pockets having a hexagonal shaped cross-section each shaped to contain a single elongate element.

8. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the grooves of the first web and/or the grooves of the second web are equally spaced along the web.

9. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first web and/ or the second web may be made of one material that is impervious to water, moisture, and/or air.

10. The packaging insert of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first web and/ or the second web comprise a base material and a layer or membrane that is impervious to water, moisture, and/or air.

11. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end is permanently sealed by the first seal.

12. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the temporary second seal comprises perforations arranged so as to allow individual access to each pocket.

13. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first seal and/ or the temporary second seal comprises a continuous strip of material positioned over the ends of the individual pockets.

14. The packaging insert of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first seal and/or the second seal is formed by an extension of the second web that when folded closes the ends of the individual pockets.

15. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first seal and/ or the temporary second seal is the same shape and size as the cross section of each individual pocket.

16. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the temporary second seal further comprises a tab.

17. The packaging insert of claim 16, wherein the tab is semi-circular shaped.

18. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, the packaging insert further comprising an inert gas in each of the individual pockets.

19. The packaging insert of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate element is a smoking article.

20. A method of preparing a packaging insert of the present invention, the method comprises providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and containing a single elongate element, sealing a first end of each pocket with a first seal, and sealing a second end of each pocket with a temporary second seal allowing individual access to each pocket containing a single elongate element. 20. A packet for elongate elements comprising within it a packaging insert as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A packaging insert containing individually sealed smoking articles, comprising a first web having a series of parallel V-shaped or U-shaped grooves, and a second web having no grooves arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and contain a single smoking article, a first end of the individual pockets has a first seal, a second end has a temporary second seal comprising a continuous strip of material arranged over the ends of the individual pockets, the continuous strip comprising perforations arranged to allow individual access to each pocket containing a smoking article.

22. A packaging insert containing individually sealed smoking articles, comprising a first web having a series of parallel V-shaped or U-shaped grooves, and a second web having no grooves arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and contain a single smoking article, a first end of the individual pockets has a first seal, a second end has a temporary second seal formed by an extension of the second web that when folded covers the ends of the individual pockets creating a seal.

23. A packaging insert containing individually sealed smoking articles, comprising a first web having a series of parallel V-shaped or U-shaped grooves, and a second web having no grooves arranged over the grooves of the first web providing a series of parallel individual pockets each shaped to fit and contain a single smoking article, each first end of the individual pockets has a first seal, and each second end has a temporary second seal formed by an extension of the second web that when folded covers the ends of the individual pockets creating a seal, each temporary second seal having the same shape and size as the cross section of each individual pocket.

24. A packaging insert as hereinbefore described and with reference to the Figures.