EP3099583B1

EP3099583B1 - A rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size

Info

Publication number: EP3099583B1
Application number: EP15710887.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Marchitto; Roberto Polloni; Stefano Negrini; Angelo Li Vigni
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2014-01-31
Filing date: 2015-01-30
Publication date: 2019-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2035-01-30
Also published as: EP3099583A1; WO2015114587A1; PL3099583T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size, according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention is advantageously applied to a packet of cigarettes, to which the following description will make explicit reference without thereby losing generality.

PRIOR ART

The patent US4771882A1 describes a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid that has been modified to house a group of cigarettes of reduced size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller than the total inner volume (because the group of cigarettes comprises a smaller number of cigarettes than the number of standard cigarettes, and/or because the cigarettes have a diameter less than the standard diameter). In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a filler element, which is made of corrugated cardboard and is inserted inside the packet of cigarettes to occupy the inner volume left free by the group of cigarettes. The function of the filler element is to prevent gaps inside the packet of cigarettes and thus to prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes; in fact, if the group of cigarettes were free to "shake" inside the packet of cigarettes, the movements of the group of cigarettes during handling of the packet of cigarettes (either in the production step and during the distribution and sales step) would subject the cigarettes to mechanical stress that could easily determine an emptying of the tips (i.e. loss of tobacco fibers from the free ends of the cigarettes).
However, the filler element described in patent US4771882A1 has some drawbacks.
First, the insertion of the filler element inside the packet of cigarettes involves considerable constructional complications in the packing machine that must be modified to manipulate solid objects (the filler elements) of relatively big dimension. In particular, the filler elements always occupy a large volume and therefore require that a large space is occupied for their manipulation; consequently, in an existing packing machine it is problematic to find free space to add the necessary elements for handling filler elements.
Furthermore, this filler element uses a relatively large amount of material with an evident increase of the economic and environmental costs of production and disposal (after the use) of the packet of cigarettes; consider, for example, that the filler element mass is comparable, if not greater, to the total mass of the wrapping material used to form the packet of cigarettes.
Patent application DE4342523A1 represents the closest prior art and discloses a flip top box for accommodating internally a wrapped block of cigarettes. The box comprises a chamber for holding a lighter next to the block of cigarettes; the chamber is enclosed by a front, side and inner wall, with the front wall joined to the collar's front wall. The chamber is enclosed solely near the box part, especially near the collar; the inside of the chamber side wall rests against, and is preferably joined to, a side of the box part.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size, said rigid packet thus being free from the drawbacks described above and, at the same time, easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
According to the present invention a rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size, as claimed in the appended claims is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a rigid packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration and not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;
Figures 3 and 4 are two different front perspective views of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration;
Figure 5 is a schematic view and in cross section of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figures 8 and 9 are two different front perspective views of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 provided with an alternative of the collar in accordance with the present invention and in an open configuration;
Figure 10 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain the collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 8 and 9;
Figure 11 is a perspective and rear view of an alternative of the collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 not forming part of the present invention;
The figures 12 and 13 are two schematic views and in cross section of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 using the collar of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain the collar of Figure 11;
Figure 15 is a perspective and rear view of another alternative of the collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 16 is a schematic view and in cross section of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 using the collar of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain the collar of Figure 15;
Figures 18-22 are cross-sections of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 provided with further alternatives of the collar not forming part of the present invention;
Figures 23-27 are cross-sections of a different embodiment of a packet of cigarettes not forming part of the present invention;
Figures 28 and 29 are two different front perspective views of a different embodiment of a packet of cigarettes not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 30 is a cross section of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 28 and 29;
Figure 31 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 28 and 29;
Figure 32 is a drawing development of an alternative of the blank of Figure 31;
Figure 33 is a cross section of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 28 and 29;
Figure 34 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 33;
Figure 35 is a drawing development of an alternative of the blank of Figure 34;
Figure 36 is a cross section of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 28 and 29 not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 37 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 36;
Figure 38 is a drawing development of an alternative of the blank of Figure 37;
Figure 39 is a cross section of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figures 28 and 29 not forming part of the present invention;
Figure 40 is a drawing development of a blank used to obtain a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 39;
Figure 41 is a drawing development of an alternative of the blank of Figure 40.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes, which comprises a container 2 of parallelepiped shape and a single (one) inner package 3 (shown in Figure 3) which encloses a group of cigarettes and is housed inside the container 2. Preferably, the group of cigarettes has a reduced size compared to the standard size because the group of cigarettes comprises a smaller number of cigarettes than the number of standard cigarettes, and/or because the cigarettes have a diameter less than the standard diameter. In the non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the group of cigarettes comprises twenty cigarettes having a diameter less than the standard diameter (the so-called "slim" or "superslim" cigarette) and arranged in four rows of five cigarettes each (or on five rows of four cigarettes each). The inner package 3 has a parallelepiped shape and is made from a metal wrapping foil wrapped around the group of cigarettes.
The container 2 has an open top end 4 and is provided with a lid 5, which is cup-shaped and is hinged to container 2 along a hinge 6 so as to rotate, with respect to the container 2, between an open position (illustrated in figures 3 and 4) and a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) of the open top end 4.
The lid 5, when in its closed position, gives the container 2 a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a top wall 7 and a bottom wall 8 parallel and opposite to each other, a front wall 9 and a rear wall 10 parallel and opposite to each other, and two lateral walls 11 parallel and opposite to each other. Between the lateral walls 11 and the front 9 and rear 10 walls four longitudinal edges are defined, whereas between the top 7 and bottom 8 walls and the front 9, rear 10 and lateral 11 walls eight transverse edges are defined; in particular, between the top 7 and bottom 8 walls and front 9 and rear 10 walls four major transverse edges are defined, whereas between the top 7, bottom 8 and lateral 11 walls four minor transverse edges are defined.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the packet 1 also comprises a collar 12, which is connected (by gluing) inside the container 2 so as to project partly outwards of the open top end 4 and engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 5 when the lid 5 itself is arranged in said closed position.
As shown in Figure 5, the collar 12 comprises a lateral wall 13 which rests on and is glued to a corresponding lateral wall 11 of the container 2, a front wall 14 which rests on and is glued to the front wall 9 of the container 2, an additional front wall 15 which is arranged side by side to the front wall 14 of the collar 12 and rests on and is glued to the remaining part of the front wall 9 of the container 2, and a lateral wall 16 that is opposite to the lateral wall 13 of the collar 12 and rests on and is glued to a corresponding lateral wall 11 of the container 2. In addition, the collar 12 comprises an intermediate partition wall 17 which is arranged in a central position between the two front walls 14 and 15 of the collar 12, is connected perpendicularly to both the front walls 14 and 15 of the collar 12, and divides the inner volume of the container 2 into an open-topped main chamber 18 housing the inner package 3 and into a secondary chamber 19 arranged side by side to the main chamber 18. In other words, the intermediate partition wall 17 is arranged inside the container 2 and divides the inner volume of the container 2 itself into the main chamber 18 and in the secondary chamber 19; consequently, the intermediate partition wall 17 separates the two chambers 18 and 19 one with respect to the other and forms the partition between the two chambers 18 and 19 themselves.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front wall 14 of the collar 12 delimits at the front the main chamber 18 and has a U-shaped top recess 20 that is arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. arranged completely in the part of the front wall 14 that projects from the container 2), whereas the front wall 15 of the collar 12 delimits at the front the secondary chamber 19 and is free of recesses arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. the part of the front wall 15 that projects from the container 2 is intact, without any type of opening).
As illustrated in Figure 5, the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 is formed by two panels 21 which are identical and superimposed, each of which has one end connected to a corresponding front wall 14 or 15 of the collar 12 and an opposite end connected to the other panel 21. Preferably (but not obligatorily), the two panels 21 are glued together.
As illustrated in Figure 6, the collar 12 is obtained starting from a flat blank 22 which is shaped so as to be cut without waste (off-cuts) from a continuous strip of wrapping material.
As illustrated in Figure 7, the container 2 is obtained starting from a flat blank 23 having a substantially elongated rectangular shape and of a known type.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-6, the secondary chamber 19 is open-topped exactly as the main chamber 18; however, while the main chamber 18 houses the one and only inner package 3 of the packet 1 of cigarettes, the secondary chamber 19 is empty and is used for housing other objects (such as a lighter) which can be inserted during the formation of the packet 1 of cigarettes or can be inserted in use by the user after the first opening of the packet 1 of cigarettes itself.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 (in accordance with the present invention), the collar 12 comprises a top wall 24, which is arranged at the secondary chamber 19 and closes at the top the secondary chamber 19 itself. The top wall 24 of the collar 12 is formed by a tab 25 connected to the front wall 15 of the collar 12 and by a tab 26 connected to the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 and superimposed to the tab 25. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the tab 25 is engaged by the tab 26; in particular, the tab 26 has a through-slit 27 and the tab 25 has a projection 28 arranged inside the through-slit 27 (of course it could also be vice versa, i.e. the through-slit 27 may be inside the tab 25 and the projection 28 could be inside the tab 26). According to a different (and perfectly equivalent) embodiment not illustrated, the tabs 25 and 26 are glued to each other.
According to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 11-20, the collar 12 comprises a stabilizing element, which is connected to the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 and keeps the intermediate partition wall 17 perpendicular to the two front walls 14 and 15 of the collar 12. In other words, the stabilizing element prevents the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 from rotating (collapsing) inside of the secondary chamber 19; it is important to observe that the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 cannot rotate (collapse) inside the primary chamber 18 as the primary chamber 18 is fully engaged by the inner package 3 (in other words, towards the primary chamber 18, the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 rests on the package 3), whereas the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 may rotate (collapse) inside the secondary chamber 19 which is empty. According to a preferred (but not binding) embodiment, the stabilizing element is arranged in the secondary chamber 19 (which is empty and therefore fully available for housing the stabilizing element). According to a preferred (but not binding) embodiment, the stabilizing element rests on the rear wall 10 of the container 2; in this case, the stabilizing element is preferably (but not necessarily) glued to the rear wall 10 of the container 2.
According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 11-14, the stabilizing element is formed by a flap 29, which initially forms part of the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12, is separated from the intermediate partition wall 17 by means of an U-shaped incision 30 (highlighted in Figure 14), and is folded 90° in one direction (as illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 11 and as illustrated in Figure 12) or 90° in the opposite direction (as illustrated by a solid line in figure 11 and as illustrated in Figure 13) with respect to the intermediate partition wall 17 itself. As previously mentioned, in both alternatives the flap 29 rests on the rear wall 10 of the container 2 and is preferably (but not necessarily) glued to the rear wall 10 of the container 2.
According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 15, 16 and 17, the stabilizing element is formed by a flap 31 , which initially forms part of the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 and by the front wall 15 of the collar 12, is separated from the intermediate partition wall 17 and from the front wall 15 by means of two incisions 32 parallel to each other (highlighted in Figure 17), and is L-folded extending from one end of the intermediate partition wall 17 arranged at the rear wall 10 of the container 2 to an intermediate area of the front wall 15. As previously mentioned, the part of the flap 31 arranged in the vicinity of the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 rests on the rear wall 10 of the container 2 and is preferably (but not necessarily) glued to the rear wall 10 of the container 2.
According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 18, the collar 12 comprises a rear wall 33 that is opposite to the front wall 15 of the collar 12 and rests on the rear wall 10 of the container 2; in this embodiment, the stabilizing element comprises a flap 34 , which has one end connected to the rear wall 33 of the collar 12 (i.e. originates from the rear wall 33 of the collar 12), is folded 90° with respect to the rear wall 33 of the collar 12, and is glued to the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12.
According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 19, the collar 12 comprises the rear wall 33 and the intermediate partition wall 17 is formed by a single panel (instead of two superimposed panels 21 as in the other embodiments described above); in this embodiment, the stabilizing element comprises a flap 35, which has one end connected to the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12 (i.e. originates from the intermediate partition wall 17), is folded 90° with respect to intermediate partition wall 17, and is glued to the front wall 15 of the collar 12.
According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 20, the collar 12 comprises a rear wall 33 and the intermediate partition wall 17 is formed by a single panel (instead of two superimposed panels 21 as in the other embodiments described above); in this embodiment, the stabilizing element comprises a flap 36, which has one end connected to the front wall 15 of the collar 12 (i.e. originates from the front wall 15), is folded 90° with respect to the front wall 15, and is glued to the intermediate partition wall 17 of the collar 12.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 21 and 22, the collar 12 is free of the stabilizing element and comprises the rear wall 33 that is opposite to the front wall 15 of the collar 12 and rests on the rear wall 10 of the container 2; in this embodiment, the rear wall 33 of the collar 12 may only involve the secondary chamber 19 (alternative illustrated in Figure 21), or it can also involve the main chamber 18 (alternative illustrated in Figure 22). In other words, in this embodiment, the rear wall 33 of collar 12 may extend only inside the secondary chamber 19 (alternative illustrated in Figure 21), or it can extend inside the main chamber 18 (alternative illustrated in Figure 22).
The packets 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 23-27 are different from the packets 1 of cigarettes shown in Figures 3-22 by the fact of comprising two partition walls 17, which extend from the front wall 9 of the container 2 to the rear wall 10 of the container 2 and which divide the inner volume of the container 2 in three distinct chambers 18 and 19. In these embodiments, each partition wall 17 is formed by a single panel (instead of two superimposed panels 21 as in other embodiments described above).
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 23, 24 and 25, two separate and independent inner packages 3 are provided and the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12 divide the inner volume of the container 2 in a secondary chamber 19 centrally arranged and in two main chambers 18, which are laterally arranged on opposite sides of the secondary chamber 19 in central position, are open at the top and house the inner packages 3.
In the alternative illustrated in Figure 23, the collar 12 comprises two front walls 14, each delimiting at the front a corresponding main chamber 18 and has at the top a recess 20 (not shown in Figure 23) which is arranged outside of the container 2 and is U-shaped; whereas, the collar 12 is free of the front wall 15 which delimits at the front the secondary chamber 19. In the alternative illustrated in Figure 23, the collar 12 comprises the rear wall 33, which is centrally arranged at the secondary chamber 19 and connects one with the other the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12.
In the alternative illustrated in Figure 24, the collar 12 comprises two front walls 14, each delimiting at the front a corresponding main chamber 18 and has at the top a recess 20 (not illustrated in Figure 24) which is arranged outside of the container 2 and is U-shaped; furthermore, the collar 12 comprises a front wall 15 which joins together the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12, delimiting at the front the secondary chamber 19 and is free of recesses arranged outside of the container 2. In the alternative illustrated in Figure 24, the collar 12 comprises two rear walls 33, each of which is arranged laterally at a corresponding main chamber 18 (i.e. delimits at the rear the corresponding main chamber 18).
In the alternative illustrated in Figure 25, the collar 12 comprises two front walls 14, each delimiting at the front a corresponding main chamber 18 and has an top recess 20 (not shown in Figure 25) which is arranged outside of the container 2 and is U-shaped; whereas, the collar 12 is free of the front wall 15 which delimits at the front the secondary chamber 19. In the alternative illustrated in Figure 25, the collar 12 comprises a rear wall 33, which is centrally arranged at the secondary chamber 19 (i.e. defines at the rear the secondary chamber 19) and connected one with the other the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12.
In the alternatives illustrated in Figures 23 and 24, the two partition walls 17 are parallel to each other and to the lateral walls 11 of the container 2 (therefore the two partition walls 17 are perpendicular to the rear wall 10 and to the front wall 9 of the container 2). Whereas, in the alternative illustrated in Figure 25, the two partition walls 17 are tilted one towards the other (i.e. the two partition walls 17 form one with the other an acute angle) so that the secondary chamber 19 would assume a V-shape; in this alternative the two partition walls 17 are tilted (i.e. form an acute angle) with the rear wall 10 and with the front wall 9 of the container 2.
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 26 and 27, a single inner package 3 is provided and the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12 divide the inner volume of the container 2 in a open-topped main chamber 18 which is arranged in central position and houses the inner package 3, and in two secondary chambers 19 which are arranged laterally on opposite sides of the main chamber 18.
In the alternative illustrated in Figure 26, the collar 12 comprises two front walls 15, each defining at the front a corresponding secondary chamber 19 and is free of recesses arranged outside of the container 2; whereas, the collar 12 is free of the front wall 14 delimiting at the front 18 the main chamber. In the alternative illustrated in Figure 26, the collar 12 comprises a rear wall 33, which is arranged in central position at the main chamber 18 and connects one with the other the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12.
In the alternative illustrated in Figure 27, the collar 12 comprises a front wall 14 which joins together the two partition walls 17 of the collar 12, delimits at the front the main chamber 18, and has a U-shaped top recess 20 (not shown in Figure 27) which is arranged outside of the container 2; furthermore, the collar 12 comprises two front walls 15, each defining at the front a corresponding secondary chamber 19 and is free of recesses arranged outside of the container 2. In the alternative illustrated in Figure 27, the collar 12 comprises two rear walls 33, each of which is arranged laterally at a corresponding main chamber 18 (i.e. delimits at the rear the corresponding main chamber 18).
In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 23-27, each secondary chamber 19 may be open-topped, or may be closed at the top by a corresponding top wall 24 of the collar 12.
Furthermore, in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 23-27 stabilizing elements of the type of those described above and connected to the partition walls 17 can also be provided.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 28-32, the collar 12 has a more conventional shape and only comprises a single front wall 37 (which rests on and is glued to the front wall 9 of the container 2), and two lateral walls 13 and 16 (that rest on and are glued to the lateral walls 11 of the container 2) arranged on opposite sides of the front wall 37. Furthermore, the collar 12 has a single (one) intermediate partition wall 17 which extends perpendicularly from the front wall 9 of the container 2 (and therefore perpendicular to the front wall 37 of the collar 12) and which divides the inner volume of the container 2 in only one open-topped main chamber 18 housing the inner package 3 and in one open-topped secondary chamber 19 and is arranged side by side to the main chamber 18. The intermediate partition wall 17 initially forms part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 and of the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12, is separated from the front wall 37 of the collar 12 and from the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 by means of a single U-shaped incision 38, and is folded 90° with respect to the front wall 37 of the collar 12 itself. In particular, the intermediate partition wall 17 is connected to the front wall 37 of the collar 12 by means of a pre-weakened fold line 39, which joins (connects) one with the other the two opposite ends of the U-shaped incision 38. According to a preferred (but not binding) embodiment, the intermediate partition wall 17 has a flap 29, which is folded 90° with respect to the intermediate partition wall 17 itself and is supported (preferably glued) to the rear wall 10 of the container 2; the intermediate partition wall 17 is connected to its own flap 29 by means of a pre-weakened fold line 40 parallel to a pre-weakened fold line 39. According to a preferred embodiment, the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 is separated from the front wall 37 of the collar 12 by a respective pre-weakened fold line which is interrupted (i.e. not present) at the intermediate partition wall 17 (especially the flap 29 of the intermediate partition wall 17).
The front wall 37 of the collar 12 has at the top a U-shaped recess 20 that is arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. is arranged completely in the part of the front wall 37 that projects from the container 2). In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 28, 29 and 31, the recess 20 extends symmetrically on all the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. at both chambers 18 and 19); whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 32, the recess 20 extends asymmetrically on only part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. only at the main chamber 18).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 33, 34 and 35, the collar 12 comprises two intermediate partition wall 17 (mirrored and identical to each other) which are spaced apart one from the other by a certain cross distance and which divide the inner volume of the container 2 in only one open-topped main chamber 18 housing the inner package 3 and in two open-topped secondary chambers 19 which are arranged at opposite sides of the main chamber 18. The two intermediate partition walls 17 illustrated in Figures 33, 34 and 35 are entirely analogous to the intermediate partition wall 17 illustrated in Figures 28-32. Also in this embodiment, the front wall 37 of the collar 12 has a U-shaped top recess 20 that is arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. arranged completely in the part of the front wall 37 that projects from the container 2). In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 34, the recess 20 extends symmetrically on all the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. at both chambers 18 and 19); whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 35, the recess 20 extends asymmetrically on only part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. only at the main chamber 18).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 36, 37 and 38, the collar 12 comprises two intermediate partition walls 17 (mirrored and identical to each other) arranged one over the other at different heights, and therefore dividing the inner volume of the container 2 in only one open-topped main chamber 18 housing the inner package 3 and in only one open-topped secondary chamber 19 which is arranged side by side to the main chamber 18. The two intermediate partition walls 17 illustrated in Figures 36, 37 and 38 are similar to the intermediate partition wall 17 illustrated in Figures 28-32 but are free of the flap 29 (according to a alternative not shown could also comprise the flap 29). Also in this embodiment, the front wall 37 of the collar 12 has a U-shaped top recess 20 that is arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. arranged completely in the part of the front wall 37 that projects from the container 2). In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 37, the recess 20 extends symmetrically on all the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. at both chambers 18 and 19); whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 38, the recess 20 extends asymmetrically on only part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. only at the main chamber 18).
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 39, 40 and 41, the collar 12 comprises only one intermediate partition wall 17 which divides the inner volume of the container 2 in only one open-topped main chamber 18 housing the inner package 3 and in only one open-topped secondary chamber 19 arranged side by side to the main chamber 18. The intermediate partition wall 17 initially forms part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 and of the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12, is separated from the front wall 37 of the collar 12 and from the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 by means of two incisions 40 parallel one with respect to the other, and is folded 90° with respect to the front wall 37 of the collar 12 itself. In particular, the intermediate partition wall 17 is connected to the front wall 37 of the collar 12 by means of a pre-weakened fold line 39, which joins (connects) one to the other two facing ends of the two incisions 40. The intermediate partition wall 17 has a flap 41, which is bent 90° with respect to the intermediate partition wall 17, is connected to the intermediate partition wall 17 by means of a pre-weakened fold line 42, and is connected to the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 by means of a pre-weakened fold line 43. According to a preferred embodiment, the lateral wall 16 of the collar 12 is separated from the front wall 37 of the collar 12 by a relative pre-weakened fold line which is interrupted (i.e. not present) at the intermediate partition wall 17 (in particular of the flap 41 of the intermediate partition wall 17). Also in this embodiment, the front wall 37 of the collar 12 has a U-shaped top recess 20 which is arranged outside of the container 2 (i.e. completely arranged in the part of the front wall 37 that projects from the container 2). In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 40, the recess 20 extends symmetrically on all the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. at both chambers 18 and 19); whereas in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 41, the recess 20 extends asymmetrically on only part of the front wall 37 of the collar 12 (i.e. only at the main chamber 18).
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.
In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above is simple to be manufactured even in an existing packing machine (which must be subjected to a few un-invasive modifications). In fact, the intermediate partition wall 17 that separates the two chambers 18 and 19 one with respect to the other is integrated in the collar 12 and therefore the packet 1 of cigarettes has no additional component with respect to a standard packet 1 of cigarettes; the collar 12 is obtained from a continuous strip of wrapping material with similar processing to that performed for the manufacturing of a standard collar.
Furthermore, in the packet 1 of cigarettes described above the increase of wrapping material for the manufacture of the intermediate partition wall 17 is decidedly modest resulting in a low impact on the economic and environmental costs of production and disposal (after the use) of the packet 1 of cigarettes.

Claims

A rigid packet (1) of smoking articles, comprising:
• a parallelepiped-shaped container (2) having a front wall (9), a rear wall (10), a bottom wall (8), and two lateral walls (11);

• an inner package (3) which encloses a group of smoking articles, is housed inside the container (2), has a smaller cross dimension with respect to the cross dimension of the container (2);

• a lid (5) hinged to the container (2) to close an open top end (4) of the container (2); and

• a collar (12) arranged inside the container (2) so as to project partly outwards of the open top end (4);
wherein the collar (12) comprises:
• a first lateral wall (13) resting on a corresponding lateral wall (11) of the container (2);

• a first front wall (14) resting on part of the front wall (9) of the container (2);

• a second front wall (15) arranged side by side with the first front wall (14) of the collar (12) and resting on the remaining part of the front wall (9) of the container (2);

• a second lateral wall (16) opposite the first lateral wall (13) of the collar (12) and resting on a corresponding lateral wall (11) of the container (2); and

• an intermediate partition wall (17), which is connected perpendicularly to both front walls (14, 15) of the collar (12), and divides the inner volume of the container (2) into an open-topped main chamber (18) housing the inner package (3), and into a secondary chamber (19) arranged side by side with the main chamber (18); the packet (1) of smoking articles is characterized in that the collar (12) comprises a top wall (24) arranged at the secondary chamber (19) and which closes the top of the secondary chamber (19) itself, and in that the intermediate partition wall (17) is arranged in a central position between the two front walls (14, 15) of the collar (12).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 1, wherein the first front wall (14) of the collar (12) delimits at the front the main chamber (18) and has a U-shaped top recess (20) arranged outside the container (2); whereas the second front wall (15) of the collar (12) delimits at the front the secondary chamber (19) and has no recess outside the container (2) .
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12) is composed of two superimposed panels (21), each of which has one end connected to a corresponding front wall (14, 15) of the collar (12), and an opposite end connected to the other panel (21).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the top wall (24) of the collar (12) comprises a first tab (25) connected to the second front wall (15) of the collar (12); and a second tab (26) connected to the second lateral wall (16) of the collar (12) and superimposed on the first tab (25).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 4, wherein the first tab (25) and the second tab (26) are glued to each other.
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 4, wherein the first tab (25) is engaged by the second tab (26).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 6, wherein the first tab (25) has a through slit (27), and the second tab (26) has a projection (28) arranged inside the through slit (27).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to one of Claims from 1 to 7, wherein the collar (12) comprises a stabilizer element, which is connected to the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12) and keeps the intermediate partition wall (17) perpendicular to the two front walls (14, 15) of the collar (12).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 8, wherein the stabilizing element is arranged in the secondary chamber (19).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the stabilizing element rests on the rear wall (10) of the container (2).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 10, wherein the stabilizing element is glued to the rear wall (10) of the container (2).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to one of Claims from 8 to 11, wherein the stabilizing element is formed by a first flap (29) which initially forms part of the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12), is separated from the intermediate partition wall (17) by an U-shaped incision (30), and is folded 90° with respect to the intermediate partition wall (17).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to one of Claims from 8 to 11, wherein the stabilizing element is formed by a second flap (31) which initially forms part of the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12) and by the second front wall (15) of the collar (12), is separated from the intermediate partition wall (17) and from the second front wall (15) by two parallel incisions (32), and is L-folded extending from one end of the intermediate partition wall (17) at the rear wall (10) of the container (2), to an intermediate portion of the second front wall (15).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein:
the collar (12) comprises a rear wall (33) opposite the second front wall (15) of the collar (12) and resting on the rear wall (10) of the container (2); and

the stabilizing element is formed by a third flap (34) which has one end connected to the rear wall (33) of the collar (12), is folded 90° with respect to the rear wall (33) of the collar (12), and is glued to the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the stabilizing element is formed by a fourth flap (35) which has one end connected to the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12), is folded 90° with respect to the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12), and is glued to the second front wall (15) of the collar (12).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the stabilizing element is formed by a fifth flap (36) which has one end connected to the second front wall (15) of the collar (12), is folded 90° with respect to the second front wall (15) of the collar (12), and is glued to the intermediate partition wall (17) of the collar (12).
The packet (1) of smoking articles, according to one of Claims from 1 to 16, wherein the collar (12) comprises a rear wall (33) opposite the second front wall (15) of the collar (12) and resting on the rear wall (10) of the container (2).