EP3227196B1

EP3227196B1 - Rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size

Info

Publication number: EP3227196B1
Application number: EP15837094.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luca Petrucci; Luca Federici
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2014-12-02
Filing date: 2015-12-02
Publication date: 2018-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-02
Also published as: EP3227196A1; PL3227196T3; WO2016088066A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size.
The present invention finds advantageous application to a packet of cigarettes, to which the following description will make explicit reference without implying any loss of 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 with respect to the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a filler, which is made with 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 is to avoid empty spaces inside the packet of cigarettes and thus 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 the handling of the packet of cigarettes (both 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 described in patent US4771882A1 has some drawbacks. First, the insertion of the filler inside the packet of cigarettes involves considerable constructional complications in the packing machine that must be changed to handle solid objects (the fillers) of relatively high dimension. In particular, the fillers always occupy a high volume and therefore require a large space occupation for the handling thereof; consequently, in an existing packing machine it is problematic to find the free space to add the necessary elements for handling the fillers. Moreover, said filler uses a relatively high amount of material with an evident increase of expenses and environmental costs of production and disposal (after the use) of the packet of cigarettes; consider, for example that the mass of the filler is comparable to, if not higher, than the total mass of the packing material used to form the packet of cigarettes.
Patent applications EP0443365A2 , EP0801011A1 and EP2666736A1 describe a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid that has been modified to house a group of cigarettes of a smaller size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller than the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a collar, which is provided with containment elements that project inwards to rest on the group of cigarettes in order to prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes. However, this technical solution has some drawbacks, since it is not always able to provide an adequate holding of the group of cigarettes (i.e. it is not always able to effectively prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet cigarettes). DE 10 2010 035938 also discloses a rigid packet of smoking articles according to preamble of claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid packet of smoking articles with a hinged lid which is free from the drawbacks described above and, in particular, is simple and inexpensive to produce.
According to the present invention, a rigid packet of smoking articles with a hinged lid, as claimed in the attached claims is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a packet of cigarettes according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a rear perspective view and in a closed configuration of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a front perspective view, in an open configuration, and with the removal of an inner package and of a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figures 6a and 6b are front perspective views of two different embodiments of a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figures 7a and 7b are plan respective views of two blanks used to make the collars of Figures 6a and 6b;
Figures 8a and 8b are respective schematic, partial and in longitudinal section views and with the removal of the inner package and of the collar of two alternatives of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank used to make a container and a lid of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 10 is a plan view of an alternative of the blank of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of an alternative of the collar of Figure 6;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 provided with the collar illustrated in Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a plan view of a blank used to make the collar of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a plan view of an alternative of the blank of Figure 13;
Figures 15 and 16 are two different plan views of a further alternative of the blank of Figure 13;
Figure 17 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of an alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 18 is a plan view of a blank used to make a container and a lid of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 17;
Figure 19 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of a further alternative of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
Figure 20 is a plan view of a blank used to make a container and a lid of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 19;
Figure 21 is a plan view of an alternative of the blank of Figure 20; and
Figure 22 is a plan view of a further alternative of the blank of Figure 9.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes.
The packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a container 2, a parallelepiped-shaped lid 3 which is hinged at the back to the container 2 to rotate between a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and an open position (illustrated in Figure 3), and an inner package 4 which encloses a group of cigarettes and is housed in the container 2. Normally, the inner package 4 is formed by the group of cigarettes wrapped in a packing sheet of metallized paper which is provided with an upper portion removable by tearing at the first opening of the packet 1 of cigarettes.
The parallelepiped-shaped container 2 is cup-shaped and has an open top end, a bottom wall 5 opposite to the open top end, a front wall 6, a rear wall 7 (parallel and opposite to the front wall 6), and two lateral walls 8 (parallel and opposite to each other). In the container 2, between the walls 6 and 7 front and rear, respectively, and the lateral walls 8 four longitudinal edges are formed which are arranged parallel to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes. In the container 2, between the walls 6, 7 and 8 and the bottom wall 5 four transverse edges are formed which are arranged perpendicularly to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes.
The parallelepiped-shaped lid 3 is cup-shaped and has a top wall 9 (parallel and opposite to the bottom wall 5 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position), a front wall 10 (coplanar with the front wall 6 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position), a rear wall 11 (hinged to the rear wall 7 of the container 2 and coplanar with the rear wall 7 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position), and two lateral walls 12 (coplanar to the corresponding lateral walls 8 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position). In the lid 3, between the walls 10 and 11 front and rear, respectively, and the lateral walls 12 four longitudinal edges are formed which are arranged parallel to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes, when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position. In the lid 3, between the walls 10, 11 and 12 and the top wall 9 four transverse edges are formed which are arranged perpendicularly to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes, when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position.
In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures all edges are right angles; according to other embodiments not illustrated and perfectly equivalent, part of the longitudinal and/or transverse edges may be beveled or rounded.
According to what is well illustrated in Figure 4, the inner package 4 has a cross section (significantly) smaller than the cross section of the container 2, and therefore in the container 2 an area of substantial size (i.e. at least 15-20% of the total volume of the container 2) not occupied by the inner package 4 remains. In particular, in the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures the lateral walls of the inner package 4 are arranged at a given distance from the lateral walls 8 of the container 2 while the front wall and the rear wall of the inner package 4 are in substantial contact, with the front wall 6 and rear wall 7 of the container 2, respectively, (i.e. the inner package 4 is narrower with respect to the container 2 and the inner package 4 has the same depth of the container 2).
As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 6a, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a collar 13 which surrounds the inner package 4, is glued to the inside of the container 2 and projects from the open top end of the container 2. The collar 13 of Figure 6a in cross-section is U-shaped and has a front wall 14 which is superimposed on and glued to the front wall 6 of the container 2 and two lateral walls 15 folded 90° with respect to the front wall 14. The front wall 14 of the collar 13 has a top window which is U-shaped and has the function of facilitating the extraction of the cigarettes from the inner package 4. The collar 13 of Figure 6b differs from the collar 13 of Figure 6a for the fact that the two lateral walls 15 do not extend for the entire longitudinal dimension of the collar 13, but extend only to an upper portion of the collar 13 itself. The collar 13 of Figure 6b is more stable, inside the container 2, than the collar 13 of Figure 6a because the transverse ends of the bottom portion of the front wall 14 of the collar 13 of Figure 6b rests on the lateral walls 8 of the container 2, as highlighted in figure 4 in which a cross section of a packet 1 comprising the collar 13 of Figure 6b is illustrated.
The collar 13 has the function of maintaining in a correct position the inner package 4, i.e. to prevent the inner package 4 from performing unwanted movement inside the container 2 (since the inner package 4 is smaller than the container 2). In addition, the collar 13 has also the function of maintaining the lid 3 in the closed position with a given force to prevent unwanted openings of the lid 3 itself; said "locking" function of the lid 3 in the closed position is carried out thanks to the fact that when the lid 3 is in the closed position the collar 13 partially projects from the open end of the inner container 2 and then engages a corresponding inner surface of the lid 3: in this way to open the lid 3 it is required to elastically and slightly deform the lid 3 and/or the collar 13 and therefore it is necessary to apply a given force to the lid 3 to open the lid 3 itself. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the front wall 14 of the inner container 3 is provided with a pair of extensions 16 which project laterally to engage with interference the lid 3 when the lid 3 is in the closed position so as to maintain with greater force the lid 3 in the closed position. According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the front wall 14 of the inner container 3 is devoid of the extensions 16.
As illustrated in Figure 4, each lateral wall 15 of collar 13 is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2 so as to define, together with the corresponding lateral wall 8 of container 2 a lateral chamber 17 not occupied by the inner package 4; therefore, both lateral walls 15 of the collar 13 are spaced apart from the corresponding lateral walls 8 of the container 2 to define two different lateral chambers 17 arranged on opposite sides of the collar 13.
As illustrated in Figures 3 and 5, the container 2 comprises two top walls 18, each of which is arranged alongside and perpendicular to a lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 to close the top of a corresponding lateral chamber 17. In other words, each top wall 18 has an inner edge which is supported by a corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 and an outer edge (parallel and opposite to the inner edge) arranged at a top edge of a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2. Therefore, the container 2 comprises two top walls 18, which are arranged on opposite sides of the collar 13 and each closing the top of a corresponding lateral chamber 17. Preferably, each top wall 18 of the container 2 is flush with the top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2, i.e. the outer edge of each top wall 18 of the container 2 is aligned and joined to the top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2.
According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, each top wall 18 of the container 2 is connected seamlessly to the front wall 6 of the container 2 by means of a hinge; in other words, the top wall 18 of the container 2 is hinged to the front wall 6 of the container 2. With reference to Figure 5, each top wall 18 of the container 2 has a front edge that is hinged to the front wall 6 of the container 2 (in particular to the top edge of the front wall 6 of the container 2) and a rear edge which is hinged to a fastening tab 19 which rests on and is glued to the rear wall 7 of the container 2. In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, each top wall 18 comprises its own fastening tab 19 separate from and independent of the fastening tab 19 of the other top wall 18; alternatively, the fastening tab 19 is one only for both the top walls 18, i.e. the fastening tab 19 is one only, extending over the entire width of the rear wall 7 of the container 2, and is connected to both top walls 18 (in this case, the fastening tab 19 forms a mechanical connection, in addition to the front wall 6 of the container 2, between the two top walls 18).
For each top wall 18, the container 2 comprises a corresponding intermediate wall 20 which is arranged parallel to the top wall 18 and below the top wall 18 and is hinged to the fastening tab 19; each intermediate wall 20 has a rear edge that is hinged to the fastening tab 19 and a front edge that is hinged to a fastening tab 21 which rests on and is glued to the front wall 6 of the container 2. In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the fastening tab 21 is one only for both intermediate walls 20, i.e. the fastening tab 21 is one only, extending over the entire width of the front wall 6 of the container 2, and is connected to both intermediate walls 20 (in this case, the fastening tab 21 forms a mechanical connection between the two intermediate walls 20); alternatively, each intermediate wall 20 comprises its own fastening tab 21 separate from and independent of the fastening tab 21 of the other intermediate wall 20. According to further embodiments not illustrated, the intermediate walls 20 and therefore the fastening tab 21 are not provided (i.e. only the top walls 18 and the fastening tab 19 are present).
As illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b the fastening tab 21 can be folded downwards (i.e. towards the inside of the container 2) or upwards (i.e. towards the open top end of the container 2) to be glued to front wall 6 of the container 2 itself.
According to a possible embodiment not illustrated, at least part of at least one top wall 18 of the container 2 is hinged to move between a closed position, in which the top wall 18 completely closes the corresponding chamber 17 preventing access to the lateral chamber 17 itself, and an open position, in which the top wall 18 is spaced apart from the lateral chamber 17 allowing access to the lateral chamber 17 itself. In this embodiment, the movable top wall 18 of the container 2 has a graspable tab that projects from the remaining part of the top wall 18 of the container 2 to be grasped by a user and therefore allows to move the top wall 18 from the closed position to the open position.
In figures 6a and 6b are illustrated, in perspective view, two collars 13 in their final configuration (or at least partially U-folded around the inner package 4), while in Figures 7a and 7b are illustrated, in plan view, the corresponding flat collars 13 (i.e. the blanks before being folded around the inner package 4). Note that in the alternative illustrated in Figure 7b, the extensions 16 of the collar 13 instead of projecting towards the outside of the front wall 14 (as is the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7a), project towards the inside of the front wall 14.
The container 2 and the lid 3 are obtained by folding, around the inner package 4 and around the collar 13 (previously folded around the inner package 4), a blank 22 (illustrated in Figure 9) comprising a plurality of panels that will be indicated with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers distinguishing the corresponding walls of the container 2 and of the lid 3. As illustrated in Figure 9, the blank 22 has two longitudinal fold lines 23 (which define the longitudinal edges of the container 2 and of the lid 3) and a plurality of transverse fold lines 24 defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines 23, a panel 6' forming the front wall 6 of the container 2, a panel 5' forming the bottom wall 5 of the container 2 and is directly connected to the panel 6' along a transverse fold line 24, a panel 7' forming the rear wall 7 of the container 2 and is directly connected to the panel 5' along a transverse fold line 24, a panel 11' forming the rear wall 11 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to panel 7' along a transverse fold line 24, a panel 9' which forms the top wall 9 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to the panel 11' along a transverse fold line 24, a panel 10' forming the front wall 10 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to the panel 9' along a transverse fold line 24.
The blank 22 comprises a plate 25, which is connected to the panel 10' along a transverse fold line 24, is folded by 180° onto the panel 10', and is glued to the inside of the panel 10' itself.
The blank 22 comprises a pair of flaps 8', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 6', are connected to the panel 6' along the two longitudinal fold lines 23, and form part of the lateral walls 8 of the container 2. The blank 22 comprises a pair of flaps 8", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 7', are connected to the panel 7' along the two longitudinal fold lines 23, form part of the lateral walls 8 of the container 2, and are superimposed on and glued to the corresponding flaps 8'. Each flap 8" comprises a tab 26 which is folded 90° with respect to the flap 8" and is superimposed on and glued to the panel 5'.
The blank 22 comprises a pair of flaps 12', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 10', are connected to panel 10' along the two longitudinal fold lines 23, and form part of the lateral walls 12 of the lid 3. The blank 22 comprises a pair of flaps 12" , which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 11', are connected to panel 11' along the two longitudinal fold lines 23, form part of the lateral walls 12 of the lid 3, and are superimposed on and glued to the corresponding flaps 12'. Each flap 12" comprises a tab 27 which is folded by 90° with respect to flap 12", and is superimposed on and glued to the panel 9'.
The blank 22 comprises a pair of strips, which project from the panel 6', are connected (hinged) to the panel 6' along a transverse fold line 24 and comprise two panels 18' forming the two top walls 18 of the container 2, two panels 19' forming the two fastening tabs 19, two panels 20' forming the two intermediate walls 20 of the container 2, and a single panel 21' forming the single fastening tab 21 common to both intermediate walls 20. In essence, from what appears evident in Figure 9, each top wall 18 of the container 2 is part of a strip which originates from a free edge of the front wall 6 of the container 2, is hinged to the free edge of the front wall 6 of the container 2 and is folded on itself into a "U" shape (in this embodiment the two "strips" have the connecting tab 21 in common, but alternatively the two "strips" may be separate and independent or the two "strips" may also have the connecting tab 19 in common or may have only the connecting tab 19 in common being devoid of the panels 20' and 21').
The blank 22 illustrated in Figure 10 differs from the blank 22 illustrated in Figure 9 only for the fact that in the blank 22 illustrated in Figure 10 a single connecting tab 19 in common to both the top walls 18 is provided (instead in the blank 22 illustrated in Figure 9, each top wall 18 has its own connecting tab 19 separate from and independent of the connecting tab 19 of the other top wall 18).
In figure 11 an alternative of the collar 13 is shown, wherein the collar 13 comprises two top lateral walls 15, each of which is arranged in contact with the inner package 4 and is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2, and two bottom lateral walls 28, each of which is separate, independent and offset (i.e. not aligned) with respect to the corresponding top lateral wall 15, is remote from the inner package 4, and is superimposed on and glued to a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2. Said embodiment allows to obtain a better mechanical connection between the collar 13 and the container 2, as the bottom lateral walls 28 are glued to the lateral walls 8 of the container 2.
According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, the collar 13 comprises a pair of support elements 29, each of which rises from a corresponding bottom lateral wall 28 towards the inside and rests on the inner package 4 to contribute in maintaining the correct position inside the inner package 4 itself. Each support element 29 has a L-shaped cross section, and comprises a panel 30 that originates from a corresponding bottom lateral wall 28 of the collar 13 and is arranged perpendicular to the bottom lateral wall 28 itself and a panel 31 which is joined to the panel 30, originating from the front wall 14 of the collar 13, is arranged perpendicular to the front wall 14 and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package 4.
In Figure 11 the single collar 13 in its final configuration is illustrated in perspective view (i.e. folded into a "U" around the inner package 4), while in Figure 13 collar 13 is illustrated flat in plan (i.e. before being folded around the inner package 4). In the alternative illustrated in Figure 14, the collar 13 also comprises two rear walls 32, each of which is hinged to a corresponding top lateral wall 15 and rests (possibly also glued) to the rear wall 7 of the container 2 being folded by 90° with respect to the corresponding top lateral wall 15.
Note that the alternative of the collar 13 illustrated in Figure 14 can be obtained from a continuous strip of flexible cardboard by cutting consecutive segments without producing clippings (i.e. without the production of waste material to be removed).
In Figures 15 and 16 a further alternative of the collar 13 is illustrated, wherein the collar 13 itself comprises on one side a single lateral wall 15 which extends seamlessly along the entire longitudinal extension of the collar 13 and the opposite side comprises a top wall 15 and a bottom wall 28 arranged offset one above the other; in other words, the collar 13 is made by half (to the left in the figure) as the collar 13 illustrated in Figures 6a and 7a and by the other half (to the right in the figure) as the collar 13 illustrated in Figures 11, 13 and 14. Even in this embodiment, at the bottom wall 28 a support element 29 formed by the two panels 30 and 31 is provided. In addition, in this embodiment a further panel 33 is provided which is folded by 180° and glued to the above bottom wall 28 to form a stiffening of the bottom wall 28 itself (figure 16). Alternatively, the panel 33 may be entirely absent or may be replaced by a corresponding rear wall 32 of the kind illustrated in Figure 14.
In Figure 17 an alternative of the packet 1 of cigarettes is illustrated having an asymmetrical arrangement of the inner package 4 instead of having a symmetrical arrangement of the inner package 4 as in the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figure 3. In the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figure 17, the inner package 4 (and thus the collar 13 which surrounds the inner package 4) is arranged all on one side, and is next to a lateral wall 8 of the container 2. Consequently, in the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figure 17, a lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2 to define a single lateral chamber 17, while the other lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 is superimposed on and glued to a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2; therefore, inside the container 2 only one lateral chamber 17 is provided and the container 2 comprises a single top wall 18 closing the single lateral chamber 17.
In Figure 18 the blank 22 used to make the container 2 and the lid 3 of the packet 1 of cigarettes illustrated in Figure 17 is illustrated.
In Figure 19 a further alternative of the packet 1 of cigarettes is illustrated, wherein the lid 3 comprises two fillers 34, each of which is arranged contacting a lateral wall 12 of the lid 3 to fill the gap between the lateral wall 12 of the lid 3 and a corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 (of course when the lid 3 is arranged in a closing position of the open top end of the container 2). Obviously, in the embodiment of the packet 1 corresponding to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 17 eventually a single filler 34 may be provided. The function of the fillers 34 is to help in keeping the lid 3 in the closed position of the open top end of the container 2 by increasing the mechanical interference between the lid 3 and the collar 13, and therefore increasing the force necessary to move the lid 3 from the closed position of the open top end of the container 2 to the opening position.
Preferably, each filler 34 is connected seamlessly to the front wall 10 of the lid 3 by means of a hinge. As illustrated more clearly in Figure 20, each filler 34 is formed by a strip which originates from an end edge of the front wall 10 of the lid 3, it is hinged to the end edge of the front wall 10 of the lid 3, and is folded on itself into a "U" shape (as illustrated in Figure 19). In particular, each filler 34 comprises a wall 35 having a front edge that is hinged to the front wall 10 of the lid 3 and a rear edge that is hinged to a fastening tab 36 which rest on and is glued to the rear wall 11 of the lid 3. Furthermore, the filler 34 comprises a further wall 37 which is arranged parallel to the wall 35 and above the wall 35 and is hinged to fastening tab 36; in particular, the additional wall 37 has a rear edge that is hinged to the fastening tab 36 and a front edge that is hinged to a fastening tab 38 which rests on and is glued to the front wall 10 of the lid 3.
In the embodiment of the blank 22 illustrated in Figure 20, each top panel 35' forming a wall 35 of the filler 34 of the lid 3, comprises its own fastening tab 36' separate from and independent of the fastening tab 36' of the other panel 35'; alternatively, the fastening tab 36' is one only for both panels 35', i.e. the fastening tab 36' is one only, extending over the entire width of the rear wall 11 of the lid 3, and is connected to both panels 35' (in this case, the fastening tab 36 forms a mechanical connection, in addition to the front wall 10 of the lid 3, between the two walls 35). In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the fastening tab 38' is one only for both panels 37', i.e. the fastening tab 38' is one only, extends over the entire width of the front wall 10 of the lid 3, and is connected to both panels 37' (in this case, the fastening tab 38 forms a mechanical connection between the two walls 37); alternatively, each panel 37' may comprise its own fastening tab 38' separate from and independent of the fastening tab 38' of the other panel 37'. According to further embodiments not illustrated, the panels 37' and therefore the fastening tab 38' are not provided (i.e. only the panels 35' and fastening tabs 36' are present).
The blank 22 illustrated in Figure 21 differs from the blank 22 illustrated in Figure 20 only for the presence of a pair of additional panels 39', each of which is interposed between a corresponding panel 37' and fastening tabs 38'. In this embodiment, each pair of panels 37' and 39' is folded into a "V" and the fastening tab 38' (or the fastening tabs 38') is glued to the rear wall 11 of the lid 3 superimposed on the fastening tabs 36' (or the fastening tab 36').
The strips forming the top walls 18 of the container 2 and the fillers 34 of the lid 3 are particularly suitable to be previously folded by 180° onto the inner surface of the blank 22, so that on completion of the packet 1 in a packing machine the blanks 22 have said strips already in the correct position to be opened and glued to the corresponding walls of the container 2 and of the lid 3 as described above.
In the embodiment of the blank 22 of figure 22 a further panel 18" arranged in an intermediate position between the two panels 18' and a further panel 19" are provided (an intermediate portion of which coincides with an intermediate portion of the panel 18") arranged in intermediate position between the single panel 19' and the panel 6', while the panels 20' and 21' are absent. By means of the blank 22 of figure 22 a container 2 is provided which has at the top end four openings equal and symmetrical: the container 2 is particularly suitable, in use, to accommodate four cigars or electronic cigarettes.
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.
In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above uses a relatively small quantity of packing material (i.e. only slightly higher than the amount of packing material used in a standard type rigid packet with a hinged lid).
Furthermore, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above ensures in all conditions an adequate holding of the inner package 4 (i.e. is always able to effectively prevent the inner package 4 from "shaking" inside the container 2).
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has also a great aesthetic impact at the opening of the lid 3, as the walls 18 closing the top lateral chambers 17 (otherwise visible) transmit to the consumer a feeling of "completeness" and "solidity" that are particularly appreciated. The top walls 18 may also be printed with trademarks, designs or writings (due to their very visible position, the top walls 18 allow to exploit printing in an optimal way the top walls 18 themselves).
The packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be made in a fast and inexpensive manner, since both the collar 13 and the blank 22 have a relatively conventional shape (i.e. similar to the collars/blanks known and normally used for making rigid packets of cigarettes with hinged lid currently on the market) .
Because of the many advantages presented by the packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the shape of that packet 1 of cigarettes may be integrally destined also for making a packet of other types of smoking articles (such as cigars, cigarettes, electronic charging cartridges for electronic cigarettes, pieces of tobacco for electronic cigarettes).

Claims

A rigid packet (1) of smoking articles, comprising:
a parallelepiped-shaped container (2) having an open top end, a bottom wall (5), a front wall (6), a rear wall (7), and two lateral walls (8);

a parallelepiped-shaped lid (3) hinged to the container (2) and having a top wall (9), a front wall (10), a rear wall (11), and two lateral walls (12);

an inner package (4) which encloses a group of smoking articles, is housed inside the container (2), and is smaller in cross section than the container (2); and

a collar (13) which surrounds the inner package (4), is glued to the inside of the container (2), projects from the open top end of the container (2), and has a front wall (14) which rests on the inner package (4) and is superimposed on and glued to the front wall (6) of the container (2); and two lateral walls (15) resting on the inner package (4);

wherein at least one lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2) so as to define, together with the corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2), a lateral chamber (17) not occupied by the inner package (4);

the packet (1) of smoking articles being characterized in that the container (2) comprises a top wall (18) located alongside a lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) to close the top of the lateral chamber (17).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 1, wherein:
a first lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2) to define the lateral chamber (17);

a second lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is superimposed on and glued to a corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2);

only one lateral chamber (17) is provided inside the container (2); and

the container (2) comprises only one top wall (18).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 1, wherein:
both the lateral walls (15) of the collar (13) are spaced apart from the corresponding lateral walls (8) of the container (2) to define two different lateral chambers (17) on opposite sides of the collar (13); and

the container (2) comprises two top walls (18), each closing the top of a corresponding lateral chamber (17).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 3, wherein the two top walls (18) are connected mechanically.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein at least part of the top wall (18) of the container (2) is hinged to move between a closed position, in which the top wall (18) closes, to prevent access to, the lateral chamber (17), and an open position, in which the top wall (18) is detached from, to allow access to, the lateral chamber (17).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the top wall (18) of the container (2) is flush with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the top wall (18) of the container (2) is connected seamlessly to the front wall (6) of the container (2) by a hinge.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 7, wherein the top wall (18) of the container (2) forms part of a first strip, which originates at an edge of the front wall (6) of the container (2), is hinged to the edge of the front wall (6) of the container (2), and is folded on itself into a 'U' shape.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the top wall (18) of the container (2) has a front edge hinged to the front wall (6) of the container (2); and a rear edge hinged to a first fastening tab (19) resting on and glued to the rear wall (7) of the container (2).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 9, wherein the container (2) comprises an intermediate wall (20) parallel to and beneath the top wall (18) and hinged to the first fastening tab (19).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 10, wherein the intermediate wall (20) has a rear edge hinged to the first fastening tab (19); and a front edge hinged to a second fastening tab (21) resting on and glued to the front wall (6) of the container (2).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the lid (3) comprises at least one filler (34), which is positioned contacting a lateral wall (12) of the lid (3) to fill the gap between the lateral wall (12) of the lid (3) and a corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 12, wherein the filler (34) is connected seamlessly to the front wall (10) of the lid (3) by a hinge.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 13, wherein the filler (34) is defined by a second strip, which originates at an edge of the front wall (10) of the lid (3), is hinged to the edge of the front wall (10) of the lid (3), and is folded on itself into a 'U' shape.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the filler (34) comprises a first wall (35) having a front edge hinged to the front wall (10) of the lid (3), and a rear edge hinged to a third fastening tab (36) resting on and glued to the rear wall (11) of the lid (3).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 15, wherein the filler (34) comprises a second wall (37) parallel to and above the first wall (35) and hinged to the third fastening tab (36).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 16, wherein the second wall (37) has a rear edge hinged to the third fastening tab (36); and a front edge hinged to a fourth fastening tab (38) resting on and glued to the front wall (10) of the lid (3).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of Claims 1 to 17, wherein the collar (13) comprises:
at least one top lateral wall (15) positioned contacting the inner package (4) and spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2); and

at least one bottom lateral wall (28), which is located below the top lateral wall (15), is independent of and offset with respect to the top lateral wall (15), is remote from the inner package (4), and is superimposed on and glued to a corresponding lateral wall (8) of the container (2).
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 18, wherein the collar (13) comprises at least one supporting member (29), which extends upwards and inwards from the bottom lateral wall (28) and rests on the inner package (4) to aid in keeping the inner package (4) in the correct position.
A packet (1) of smoking articles according to Claim 19, wherein the supporting member (29) has an L-shaped cross section, and comprises a panel (30) which originates at, and is perpendicular to, a corresponding bottom lateral wall (28) of the collar (13); and a panel (31) which originates at, and is perpendicular to, the front wall (14) of the collar (13), and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) .