EP4025520B1

EP4025520B1 - A rigid pack for smoking articles provided with a hinged lid

Info

Publication number: EP4025520B1
Application number: EP20785598.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roberto Polloni; Alver Tacchi; Marcello TENAGLIA
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2020-09-04
Publication date: 2023-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-04
Also published as: IT201900015686A1; CN114616190A; CN114616190B; PL4025520T3; EP4025520A1; WO2021044359A1

Description

FIELD OF THE ART

The present invention relates to a rigid pack for smoking articles provided with a hinged lid.
The present invention advantageously applies to a pack of cigarettes, which the hereinafter description will expressly refer to without losing its general character.
In fact, in the present specification, reference will indiscriminately be made to the specific example of "cigarettes" rather than the more general expression "smoking articles", without however losing its general character relating to other types of items (such as cigars, small cigars or cigarillos, electronic cigarettes or ecigs, auxiliary products such as filters, ecig fillers and other tobacco-based products or other products alternative to or substitutes of tobacco).

PRIOR ART

The rigid packs of cigarettes with a hinged lid are the currently most widespread on the market as they are easy to make, of easy and practical use, and provide good protection to the cigarettes contained therein.
A rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises an inner wrap consisting in a group of cigarettes wrapped in a metallic paper sheet and a rigid outer wrap housing the inner wrap; the inner wrap is firstly completely closed and has a cigarette extraction opening which can be closed by a disposable portion to be torn off (so called "pull" portion) which is removed the first time the pack of cigarettes is opened to allow extracting the cigarettes enclosed by the inner wrap or can be closed by a reusable closing tab (i.e. of the "open & close" type) which is connected to the inner wrap by means of a repositionable glue. The outer wrap consists in a cup-shaped container having an open upper end, and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and is hinged to the container so as to rotate, relative to the container itself, between an opening position and a closing position of the open end. Around the outer wrap an over-wrapping sheet made of plastic or transparent material (normally cellophane or polypropylene) is wrapped, which is sealed by thermo-welding to preserve the tobacco humidity and aroma.
In the rigid pack for cigarettes with hinged lid disclosed in patent applications WO2008142540A1 and WO2012147073 the inner wrap is waterproof and has a cigarette extraction opening that extends partially through the upper wall of the inner wrap and partially through the front wall of the inner wrap and that is closed by a reusable closing tab. In other words, the closing tab is provided with the repositionable glue which does not dry and allows to arrange the closing tab several times in a closing position of the cigarette extraction opening. To simplify opening and closing the pack for cigarettes, i.e. to allow jointly opening or closing the lid of the outer wrap and the closing tab of the inner wrap in a single operation, a portion of the closing tab is permanently glued with strong glue to an inner surface of a front wall of the lid. Thereby, when the lid is opened or closed also the closing tab is simultaneously opened or closed.
However, in the known packs for cigarettes, in order to enable the closing tab to properly re-position on the extraction opening when the lid is taken from the open position to the closed position, an extraction opening must be made that has a small transverse size (measured parallel to the side walls of the inner wrap). In other words, to control the gradual closure of the closing tab it is required that it still maintains, when the lid is at its maximum opening as well as the closing tab, a portion glued to the upper wall and that this last portion is substantially tangent to the upper part itself. This enables the lid, while being closed, to push the closing tab so as to make it properly adhere on the upper wall of the inner wrap.
However, the aforesaid size decrease of the extraction opening size negatively affects the easy extraction of cigarettes. In particular, in the standard-sized rigid packs, i.e. rigid packs comprising twenty cigarettes arranged in three rows, at least a portion of the cigarettes arranged in the row adjacent to the rear wall is covered by the closing tab, thus making it difficult to extract them out of the rigid pack. Whereas, in the rigid pack having a small size, such as rigid pack comprising twenty small-diameter cigarettes and arranged in two rows of ten cigarettes each, the cigarettes arranged in the row adjacent to the rear wall are almost completely covered by the closing tab and, thus, it is difficult to extract them out of the rigid pack itself.
In order to ease extracting cigarettes out of the known types of packs, it is not possible to increase the transverse size of the extraction opening, as the extraction tab would not have any guide and would deform undesirably towards the inner portion of the lid, not enabling a regular and uniform closing thereof on the upper panel of the inner wrap. When the lid is later opened, the tab would not rise gradually but would on the contrary remain in its deformed position inside the lid rubbing against the upper portion of the inner wrap.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid pack for smoking articles provided with a hinged lid, that overcomes the above described drawbacks and that is, at the same time, of easy and cost-effective construction.
According to the present invention it is provided a rigid pack for smoking articles provided with a hinged lid, according to claim 1.
Claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, showing some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:

figure 1 is a front perspective view in a closed configuration of a pack for cigarettes made according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 1 in a closed configuration;
figure 3 is a front perspective view of an inner wrap of the pack of figure 1 in a closed configuration;
figure 4 is an unfolded view of a closing tab of the inner wrap of figure 3 with highlighted glue zones on the closing tab itself;
figures 5A and 5B are two perspective views of two possible groups of cigarettes enclosed in the inner wrap of figure 3;
figure 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcement element coupled to the group of cigarettes of figure 5 and enclosed in the inner wrap of figure 3;
figure 7 is a side view with some parts removed for ease of clarity of the pack for cigarettes of figure 1 with the lid in an open configuration and a restraining element according to a first embodiment;
figure 8 is a front perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 7;
figure 9 is a rear perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 7;
figure 10 is a front perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 1 with the restraining element according to a second embodiment;
figure 11 is a rear perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 10;
figure 12 is a front perspective view of the pack for cigarettes of figure 1 with the restraining element according to a third embodiment;
figure 13 is a plan view of a blank to make the restraining element of the pack of cigarettes of figures 7-9;
figure 14 is a plan view of a blank to make the collar with the restraining element of the pack for cigarettes of figures 10 and 11;
figure 15 is a plan view of a blank to make the collar with the restraining element of the pack for cigarettes of figure 12;
figure 16 is a plan view of a blank used to make the outer container and the hinged lid of the pack of the enclosed figures; and
figure 17 is a plan view of a thermo-weldable wrap sheet used to make the inner wrap of figure 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In figures 1-2 and 7-12 a rigid pack for cigarettes is referred to as a whole by 1. The pack 1 for cigarettes comprises a rigid outer container 2 (i.e. consisting in cardboard or rigid card stock), a sealed inner wrap 3 (better shown in figure 3) housed in the outer container 2 and a restraining element 33.
The outer container 2 is cup-shaped, has an open upper end (as visible in figures 7-12), and is provided with a lid 4. The lid 4 is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge 5 (shown in figure 2) to rotate, relative to the outer container 2 itself, between an open position (shown in figures 7-12) and a closed position (shown in figures 1 and 2).
The outer container 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented along a mainly vertical extension direction, is cup-shaped, and has the upper end that is open, a lower wall 6 opposite the upper end open that is open, a front wall 7 and a rear wall 8 (wherein the hinge 5 is arranged) that are parallel and opposite one another, and two side walls 9 parallel and opposite one another. Four longitudinal corners are defined among the front 7, rear 8 and side walls 9 of the outer container 2, while four transverse corners are defined among the walls 7, 8 and 9 and the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2. The lid 4 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, is cup-shaped, and has an open lower end (facing the open upper end of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), an upper wall 10 (that is parallel and opposite to the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), a front wall 11 (that is parallel and aligned to the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position), a rear wall 12 (that is parallel and aligned to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position and is hinged to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 along the hinge 5), and two side walls 13 parallel and opposite one another (that are parallel and aligned, in particular coplanar and adjacent, to the side walls 9 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position). Four longitudinal corners are defined among the front 11, rear 12 and side walls 13 of the lid 4, while four transverse corners are defined among the walls 11, 12 and 13 and the upper wall 10 of the lid 4. The longitudinal corners of the lid 4 are parallel and aligned to the corresponding longitudinal corners of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position and the transverse corners defined by the upper wall 10 of the lid 4 are parallel to the transverse corners defined by the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closed position.
According to what shown for instance in figures 7-9, the pack for cigarettes 1 does not have a rigid collar 14.
According to what illustrated in figures 10-12, the pack 1 for cigarettes comprises a rigid collar 14, which is connected (by gluing) folded in a "U" shape inside the outer container 2 to partially project out of the open upper end of the outer container 2 and engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 4, when the lid 4 is arranged in the closed position. The collar 14 comprises a front wall 15, which is connected to the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 and is in contact with the front wall 11 of the lid 4 when the lid 4 is in the closed position, and two side walls 16, which are connected to the side walls 9 of the outer container 2 and are in contact with the side walls 13 of the lid 4 when the lid 4 is in the closed position.
The front wall 15 of the collar 14 is provided with an extraction opening 17 (shown in figures 10 - 12) through which access to the content of the pack 1 for cigarettes is facilitated.
According to the embodiment shown in figures 10-12, the front wall 15 of the collar 14 does not have a pair of claws.
According to a different embodiment, not shown, the front wall 15 of the collar 14 is provided with a pair of claws that project at the sides to interference-engage the side walls 13 of the lid 4 when it is in the closed position so as to maintain the lid 4 in the closed position.
According to what shown in the enclosed figures, the pack 1 for cigarettes comprises an inner wrap 3 (shown in figure 3) which is housed in the outer container 2 to partially project out of the upper open end and partially encloses a parallelepiped shaped group of 18 cigarettes (shown for example in figures 5A and 5B).
According to a possible embodiment, the inner wrap 3 can have therein a reinforcing element 19 (shown for example in figure 6), which consists of a cardboard or rigid card stock (at all similar to the cardboard or rigid card stock constituting the outer container 2), is "U"-shaped and is arranged inside the inner wrap 3 in contact with the group 18 of cigarettes. The reinforcement element 19 comprises a rectangular-shaped front wall 20, which is in contact with a front wall of the group of cigarettes 18 and a pair of side walls 21, which are connected at the opposite sides of the front wall 20 and are in contact with the side walls of the group 18 of cigarettes. The front wall 20 has a window that is arranged at the top, delimited by an edge 22 and "U"-shaped, and facilitates the extraction of the cigarettes from the group 18 of cigarettes in that is leaves exposed an upper area of the front wall of the group of cigarettes 18.
According to an alternative embodiment, the inner wrap 3 does not have a reinforcement element 19.
In summary, there are provided some embodiments wherein the pack 1 for cigarettes is provided with: only the collar 14 (namely, the pack 1 for cigarettes does not have the reinforcement element 19), only the reinforcement element 19 (namely, the pack 1 for cigarettes does not have the collar 14) or both the collar 14 and the reinforcement element 19 (namely, the pack 1 for cigarettes has both of them, i.e. the collar 14 and the reinforcement element 19).
According to a possible embodiment shown for example in figure 5A, the inner wrap 3 comprises a group 18 of cigarettes provided with twenty cigarettes arranged in three rows, in particular subdivided into two rows of seven cigarettes each and a row of six. In particular, in this case each cigarette has a standard diameter, for instance of about 7.8 mm.
According to an alternative embodiment shown in figure 5B, the inner wrap 3 comprises the group 18 of cigarettes provided with twenty cigarettes arranged in two rows placed side by side composed of ten cigarettes each. In particular, in this case each cigarette has a diameter lower than the standard diameter, for instance the diameter of each cigarette is of about 5.4 mm.
The inner wrap 3 has at the top and at the front a cigarette extraction opening 23 (shown in the figures 8, 10 and 12) closed by a reusable closing tab 24 (shown in the figures 3, 4 and 7-12). According to a possible embodiment, the closing tab 24 is made of plastic material or of a multi-layer material comprising for instance an inner layer of a paper material and an outer layer of aluminium.
Preferably, the cigarette extraction opening 23 extends at the top to a rear corner 25 (for example indicated in figure 7) comprised between an upper wall 26 and a rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3.
As shown for example in figure 7, the closing tab 24 is fixed to the inner wrap 3 by means of repositionable glue 28 which does not dry (shown in figure 4), which is applied to an inner surface 29A of the closing tab 24 (i.e. the surface 29A of the closing tab 24 directed towards the inner wrap 3) and it is arranged all around the extraction opening 23 to make it possible to partially separate the closing tab 24 several times (i.e. each time the pack 1 for cigarettes is opened) from the inner wrap 3 and then again fixed to the inner wrap 3 (each time the pack 1 for cigarettes is closed).
Preferably, the closing tab 24 is fixed to the inner wrap 3 by a permanent glue at the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3.
In particular, the closing tab 24 is fixed to the inner wrap 3, closes the cigarette extraction opening 23 and has an end 30 connected, in particular glued, to a lid 4 wall (in particular, to the front wall 11). Preferably, the end 30 of the closing tab 24 is fixed to the lid 4 wall by means of glue 31 (shown in the figure 4) which is in particular a strong glue, that is applied to an outer surface 29B of the closing tab 24 (i.e. the surface 29B of the closing tab 24 directed towards the lid 4). The closing tab 24 is preferably permanently connected by the glue 31 to the front wall 11 of the lid 4 so as to lift the closing tab 24 when the lid 4 is open and, similarly, to lower the closing tab 24 when the lid 4 is closed.
To ensure gradually properly re-closing the closing tab 24 it is required that when the lid 4 is at its maximum opening as well as the closing tab 24, it is substantially tangent to the upper wall 26 itself, as shown in figure 7. In other words, to properly reposition the closing tab 24 (i.e. to gradually connect the closing tab 24 to the inner wrap 3 while closing the lid 4 so as to properly close the extraction opening 23) it is required that, when the lid 4 is completely open, the closing tab 24 substantially remains tangent to the upper wall 26 for a portion lower than 2 mm near the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3. Said portion tangent to the upper wall 26 may be null (as shown in figure 7). This condition is ensured by the restraining element 33 which prevents, thanks to its shape and position, when the lid 4 is in the open position, the compete and uncontrolled detachment of the closing tab 24 in particular at the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3.
In other words, the restraining element 33 thanks to its shape and position prevents, when the lid 4 is in the completely open position, the compete detachment of the closing tab 24 from the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3, in particular at the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3, and makes it possible to maintain a portion of the closing tab 24 at the last adhesion point, substantially tangent to the upper wall 26 or forming a β angle with the upper wall 26, which, at the maximum extension thereof, is lower than about 30°.
The restraining element 33 comprises a rear portion 34 and an upper portion 35. The rear portion 34 is arranged between the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3. The upper portion 35 is hinged to the rear portion 34 along a transverse folding line 36, is folded relative to the rear portion 34, and is above part of the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3 and part of the closing tab 24 which is at the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3 (as shown for example in figure 7). In particular, the upper portion 35 lies on the closing tab 24. The restraining element 33 comprises the rear portion 34 which is preferably glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and/or to the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3. The upper portion 35 is hinged to the rear portion 34 and is not glued to any wall of the pack 1 for cigarettes. The upper portion 35, is therefore able to adapt to the movement of the closing tab 24, to ensure maintaining the latter in the folded position towards the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 at the rear corner 25 thereof. In particular, the upper portion 35 lies and acts one the closing tab 24 so as to lower the portion adjacent to the rear corner 25 and maintain this last portion of closing tab 24 substantially tangent to the upper wall 26 itself, or to form with it the β angle lower than 30°. Therefore, the restraining element 33 is configured to maintain the closing tab 24 folded towards the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 at the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3 defined between the upper wall 26 and the rear wall 27.
In the lid 4 closed position, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 substantially forms with the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 an angle α that is about a right angle. In other words, in its closed position, the lid 4 presses the upper portion 35 towards the upper wall 26, and therefore, the upper portion 35 and the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3 are substantially parallel one another. In other words, in the lid 4 closed position, the upper portion 35 is substantially orthogonal to the rear portion 34.
By contrast, in the lid 4 open position, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 forms with the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 the angle α that is an obtuse angle, in particular between 95° and 120°, as a result of an elastic return thereof (figure 7). In other words, when the lid 4 is in the open position it does not act in the upper portion 35 by lowering it, and as a result of its elastic return, it rises and position tilted of the angle α (that is obtuse) relative to the rear portion 34.
According to a preferred embodiment, to ensure the required elastic return of the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33, it has a transverse L extension (indicated for example in the figures 13-15) measured parallel to the side walls 9 of the outer container 2 which is at least of 2 mm, and in particular of at least 4 mm.
Advantageously, as shown in the enclosed figures, the transverse folding line 36 of the restraining element 33 is parallel and placed side by side to the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3. In other words, as shown in figure 7, the folding line 36 and the rear corner 25 are arranged at the same distance from the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2. According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the transverse folding line 36 of the restraining element 33 is arranged at a distance from the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2 that is higher than the lower wall 6 of the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3. Figures 8-12 show several embodiments of the pack 1 for cigarettes and in particular of the restraining element 33 arranged in the pack 1 for cigarettes.
According to the first embodiment shown in figures 7-9, the pack 1 for cigarettes does not have any collar 14 and may have the reinforcement element 19 or may not have the reinforcement element 19. The restraining element 33 is made as a single separate element (shown in figure 13). In other words, a single restraining element 33 is provided that is arranged in a central portion relative to the rear wall 8. The upper portion 35 of the single restraining element 33 has a transverse size which, measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 that is equal to a total transverse size of the inner wrap 3 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2.
According to one possible embodiment, not shown, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 has a transverse size measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 that is lower than or equal to the transverse size of the closing tab 24. Thereby, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 does not project at a side of the closing tab 24. It is instead clear that, the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 may have a transverse size that is equal to or higher than the upper portion 35. In particular the rear portion 34 may have a transverse size that is equal to the transverse size of the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3.
Advantageously, in order to maintain the restraining element 33 in the proper position relative to the inner wrap 3, the rear portion 34 is glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and/or to the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3.
Advantageously, the rear portion 34 is glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 below the hinge 5 and/or the rear portion 34 is glued to the rear portion 27 of the inner wrap 3 below the rear corner 25, "below" meaning a zone of the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 directed towards the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2. Alternatively, the rear portion 34 of each restraining element 33 is not glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and/or to the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3.
According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the pack 1 for cigarettes shown in figures 7-9 is provided with more than one restraining element 33, i.e. more than one separate element and arranged placed side by side. For example, two restraining elements 33 may be provided that are distinct and separate from one another and are arranged at the opposite ends of the inner wrap 3. In particular, the term opposite ends means the two side ends of the rear wall 27.
According to the second embodiment shown in figure 10 and 11, the pack 1 for cigarettes has the collar 14. The inner wrap 3 may be provided with the reinforcement element 19 or may not have the reinforcement element 19. In this embodiment the restraining element 33 is made in a single piece, i.e. with no interruption, with the collar 14 (as shown in figure 14). The rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 is hinged to one of the two side walls 16 of the collar 14 and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall 16 of the collar 14. The pack 1 for cigarettes comprises two restraining elements 33 that are distinct and separate from one another and are arranged at the opposite ends of the inner wrap 3. In particular, the term opposite ends means the side ends of the rear wall 27. The rear portion 34 of each restraining element 33 is hinged to a corresponding side wall 16 of the collar 14 and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall 16 of the collar 14. In other words, the collar 14 has at each side wall 16 the respective restraining element 33. Each restraining element 33 is separate from the respective side wall 16 by means of a longitudinal folding line 37 (indicated in figure 14).
In particular, according to this embodiment, the upper portion 35 of each restraining element 33 has a transverse size which, measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 is at least equal to 25% of a total transverse size of the inner wrap 3 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2.
According to a possible embodiment, not shown, each upper portion 35 of the restraining elements 33 has a transverse size measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 that is lower than the transverse size of the respective portion 34 and, furthermore, the upper portions 35 are arranged transversally spaced apart from the respective longitudinal folding line 37 (namely, that each upper portion 35 has a longitudinal edge which is not aligned with the respective longitudinal folding line 37). Thereby, each upper portion 35 of the restraining elements 33 does not project at a side of the closing tab 24. Advantageously, the rear portion 34 of each restraining element 33 is not glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and/or to the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3. Alternatively, in order to maintain the restraining element 33 in the proper position relative to the inner wrap 3, the rear portion 34 of each restraining element 33 is glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 and/or the rear wall 27 of the inner wrap 3. Alternatively, the rear portion 34 is glued to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 below the hinge 5 and/or the rear portion 34 is glued to the rear portion 27 of the inner wrap 3 below the rear corner 25, "below" meaning a zone of the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 directed towards the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2.
According to the third embodiment shown in figure 12, the pack 1 for cigarettes comprises the collar 14. The inner wrap 3 may be provided with the reinforcement element 19 or may not have the reinforcement element 19. In this embodiment the restraining element 33 is made in a single piece, i.e. with no interruption, with the collar 14 (as shown in figure 15). The rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 is hinged to one of the two side walls 16 of the collar 14 and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall 16 of the collar 14. The pack 1 for cigarettes comprises a single restraining element 33 at one of ends of the inner wrap 3. In particular, the term end means one of the two side ends of the rear wall 27. The rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 is hinged to a side wall 16 of the collar 14 and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall 16. In other words, the collar 14 has the restraining element 33 at one of the side walls 16. The restraining element 33 is separate from the respective side wall 16 by means of a longitudinal folding line 37 (indicated in figure 15).
According to a possible embodiment, not shown, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 has a transverse size measured parallel to the rear portion 8 of the outer container 2 that is lower than the transverse size of the rear portion 34 and, furthermore, the upper portion 35 is arranged transversally spaced apart from the longitudinal folding line 37. In other words, in this embodiment the upper portion 35 has a longitudinal edge thereof which is not aligned with the longitudinal folding line 37. Thereby, the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33 does not project at a side of the closing tab 24. According to a possible embodiment, the transverse folding line 36 of the restraining element 33 is provided with a creasing or perforations.
According to a possible embodiment, a lower edge 46 of the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 is substantially in contact with the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2. In other words, for instance in the embodiment shown in figures 8-9, the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 has a longitudinal extension measured parallel to the main extension of the cigarettes which is substantially the same as the longitudinal extension of the inner wrap 3. Therefore, in this case, the lower edge 46 of the rear portion 34 is in contact with the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2. The restraining elements 33 might therefore have a longitudinal extension measured parallel to the main extension of the cigarettes which is substantially the same as the longitudinal extension of the inner wrap 3 (unlike what shown).
Advantageously, the restraining element 33 is made of paper material or of plastic material.
According to a possible embodiment, the restraining element 33 is made of a card stock with a grammage ranging from 150 to 450 g/m², preferably from 200 to 380 g/m², and with a thickness ranging from 200 to 500 micrometres, preferably from 300 to 450 micrometres.
According to an alternative embodiment, the restraining element 33 is made of plastic material, preferably polypropylene, with a thickness ranging from 200 to 500 micrometres, preferably from 300 to 450 micrometres.
According to what shown in figure 16, the outer container 2 and the lid 4 are made by folding a plane blank 38 consisting in cardboard or rigid card stock and having a substantially rectangular shape. The blank 38 is a traditional one and comprises two longitudinal folding lines 39 (pre-weakened) and a plurality of transverse folding lines 40 (pre-weakened) that define, between the two longitudinal folding lines 39, a panel 7' constituting the front wall 7 of the outer container 2, a panel 6' constituting the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2, a panel 8' constituting the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, a panel 12' constituting the rear wall 12 of the lid 4, a panel 10' constituting the upper wall 10 of the lid 4, a panel 11' constituting the front wall 11 of the lid 4, and a reinforcement strip 11". The reinforcement strip 11" is connected to the front wall 11 of the lid 4 along a transverse folding line 40, it is folded by 180° (in the pack 1 for cigarettes) relative to the front wall 11 of the lid 4 (i.e. relative to the panel 11"), and it lies and is glued against an inner surface of the front wall 11 of the lid 4 (i.e. against the panel 11'). The blank 38 comprises a pair of wings 9', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 7', are connected to the panel 7' along the two longitudinal folding lines 39, and constitute part of the side walls 9 of the outer container 2. The blank 38 comprises a pair of wings 9", which are arranged at opposite sides of the panel 8", are connected to the panel 8" along the two longitudinal folding lines 39, constitute part of the side walls 9 of the outer container 2, and are overlapped and glued at the corresponding wings 9' to constitute the side walls 9 of the outer container 2.
The blank 38 comprises a pair of wings 13', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 11', are connected to the panel 11' along the two longitudinal folding lines 39, and constitute part of the side walls 13 of the lid 4. The blank 38 comprises a pair of wings 13", which are arranged at opposite sides of the panel 12", are connected to the panel 12" along the two longitudinal folding lines 39, constitute part of the side walls 13 of lid 4, and are overlapped and glued at the corresponding wings 13' to constitute the side walls 13 of the outer container 4.
The blank 38 comprises two flaps 41 that are connected to the wings 9" along a transverse folding line 40, are folded by 90° and lied on an inner surface of the panel 6'.
The blank 38 comprises two flaps 42 that are connected to the wings 13" along a transverse folding line 40, are folded by 90° and lied on an inner surface of the panel 10'. According to what shown in figures 14 and 15 the collar 14 is made by folding a rigid blank 43 and provided with two (pre-weakened) longitudinal folding lines 44. The blank 43 comprises a panel 15' that constitutes the front wall 15 of the collar 14 and two panels 16' that constitute the side walls 16 of the collar 14 respectively and that are adjacent to the panel 15'. The panel 15 and the adjacent panels 16' are separated from one another by the (pre-weakened) longitudinal folding lines 44.
According to the embodiment shown in figure 14, the blank 43 comprises two panels 34' which constitute the rear portion 34 of the respective restraining element 33 respectively and that are adjacent to each panel 16'. Panels 34' and panels 16' are separated from one another by the (pre-weakened) longitudinal folding lines 37. Each panel 34' is connected on top to a panel 35' that constitutes the respective upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33. Panels 35' and 36' are adjacent between one another and are separated by a (pre-weakened) transverse folding line 36.
According to the embodiment shown in figure 15, the blank 43 comprises a single panel 34' constituting the rear portion 34 of the restraining element 33 and that is adjacent to one of the two panels 16'. Panel 34' and panel 16' are separate from one another by the (pre-weakened) longitudinal folding lines 37. The panel 34' is connected on top to the panel 35' that constitutes the upper portion 35 of the restraining element 33. Panels 35' and 36' are adjacent between one another and are separate by the (pre-weakened) transverse folding line 36.
According to what shown in figure 17, the inner wrap 3 is obtained by folding a thermo-weldable wrap sheet 45, which is rectangular-shaped, is folded around the group of cigarettes 18 and once folded it is engaged by thermo-welding (i.e. the overlapped portions of the wrap sheet 45 are stably connected one another by thermo-welding). The wrap 45 sheet has a "U"-shaped incision and defines the extraction opening 23 of the inner wrap 3. Furthermore, the closing tab 24 completely covering the incision (i.e. the extraction opening 23) is glued to the wrap sheet 45. The re-positionable glue 28 that is pressure-sensitive (i.e. it does not dry) and allows to separate the closing tab 24 from the wrap sheet 45 even after a long time and for several times, and consequently to join again the closing tab 24 to the wrap sheet 45 is interposed between the closing tab 24 and the wrap sheet 45.
In the embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, the longitudinal and transverse corners are right; in alternative, the longitudinal and/or transverse corners may be rounded or beveled.
The herein described embodiments can combine one another without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.
The above described pack 1 for cigarettes has several advantages.
Primarily, the above described pack 1 for cigarettes allows to obtain an accurate re-positioning of the closing tab 24 by simply adding a restraining element 33, whose introduction does not make the composition of a smoking article packing machine complicated.
In fact, thanks to the restraining element 33 a gradual proper gluing (re-closure) of the closing tab 24 on the extraction opening 23 is obtained from the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3, even if the closing tab 24 had been previously detached from the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3. Through the action of the restraining element 33 on the closing tab 24 it is ensured that at least a portion of the closing tab 24 remains substantially tangent to the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3 even if the lid 4 is arranged in the open position or, alternatively, that the closing tab 24 forms with the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3 a β angle, which is lower than 30° at the maximum extension thereof.
The pack 1 for cigarettes according to the present invention allows an improved cigarette extraction, as the extraction opening 23 has a larger size extending up to the rear corner 25 of the inner wrap 3, without negatively affecting the proper re-positioning of the closing tab 24 and, therefore its correct re-gluing to the upper wall 26 of the inner wrap 3, when the lid 4 is closed.
The restraining element 33 guides the closing tab 24 both during its rising path and its descending path and thus allows to avoid an undesired deformation of the closing tab 24 inwardly of the lid 4, which would not allow one later correct re-positioning thereof. Therefore, the restraining element 33 ensures a gradual detachment of the closing tab 20 and allows properly re-positioning it, without crumpling it.
It is thus clear that the pack 1 for cigarettes according to the present invention preserves better the aroma and humidity of the group 18 of cigarettes wrapped by the inner wrap 3, as the closing tab 24 is always perfectly positioned on the extraction opening 23, when the lid 4 is closed.
The pack 1 for cigarettes also has an improved cigarette extraction as the opening 23 extends to the rear corner 25 and as it is no longer required that at least a portion of the closing tab 24 remains glued to the upper wall 26 when the lid 4 is in the open position.

Claims

A pack (1) for smoking articles comprising:
a group (18) of smoking articles;

an inner wrap (3), which wraps the group (18) of smoking articles and has: an upper wall (26), a rear wall (27) and a smoking article extraction opening (23), which is also obtained through the upper wall (26);

a rigid outer container (2), which is cup-shaped, houses the inner wrap (3) and has: an open upper end, a lower wall (6) opposite the open upper end, a front wall (7) and a rear wall (8) opposite one another, and two side walls (9) opposite one another;

a lid (4), which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container (2) along a hinge (5) so as to rotate, relative to the outer container (2), between an open position and a closed position; and

a closing tab (24), which is connected to the inner wrap (3), closes the smoking article extraction opening (23) and has an end (30) connected to a wall, in particular the front wall (11), of the lid (4);

the pack (1) is characterized in that it comprises at least one restraining element (33) which is provided with a rear portion (34) that is arranged between the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2) and the rear wall (27) of the inner wrap (3) and with an upper portion (35) which is hinged relative to the rear portion (34) along a folding line (36), is folded relative to the rear portion (34), and is above a part of the upper wall (26) of the inner wrap (3) and a part of the closing tab (24) which is at the upper wall (26) of the inner wrap (3);

and wherein the restraining element (33) is configured to maintain the closing tab (24) folded towards the front wall (7) of the outer container (2) at a rear corner (25) of the inner wrap (3) defined between the upper wall (26) and the rear wall (27).
A pack (1) according to claim 1, wherein the smoking article extraction opening (23) extends up to the rear corner (25) of the inner wrap (3).
A pack (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, when the lid (4) is in the open position, the upper portion (35) of the restraining element (33) forms, with the rear portion (34) of the restraining element (33), an obtuse angle (α), in particular ranging from 95° to 120°, due to an elastic return.
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper portion (35) of the restraining element (33) has a transverse extension which, measured parallel to the side walls (9) of the outer container (2), is at least equal to 2 mm and, in particular, is at least equal to 4 mm.
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rear portion (34) of the restraining element (33) is connected, in particular glued, to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2) and/or to the rear wall (27) of the inner wrap (3).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the folding line (36) of the restraining element (33) is parallel and next to the rear corner (25) of the inner wrap (3).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:
a collar (14) is provided, which is folded in a "U" shape, is inserted into the outer container (2) so as to partially project out of the open upper end and has: a front wall (15) and two side walls (16) opposite one another; and

the rear portion (34) of the restraining element (33) is hinged to a side wall (16) of the collar (14) and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall (16) of the collar (14).
A pack (1) according to claim 7, wherein:
two restraining elements (33) are provided, which are distinct and separate from one another and are arranged at the opposite ends of the inner wrap (3); and

the rear portion (34) of each restraining element (33) is hinged to a corresponding side wall (16) of the collar (14) and is folded, preferably by 90°, relative to the side wall (16) of the collar (14).
A pack (1) according to claim 8, wherein the upper portion (35) of each restraining element (33) has a transverse size which, measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2), is at least equal to 25% of a total transverse size of the inner wrap (3) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two restraining elements (33) are provided, which are distinct and separate from one another and are arranged at the opposite ends of the inner wrap (3).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one single restraining element (33) is provided, which is arranged in a central position.
A pack (1) according to claim 11, wherein the upper portion (35) of said single restraining element (33) has a transverse size which, measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2), is equal to a total transverse size of the inner wrap (3) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2).
A pack (1) according to claim 11, wherein the upper portion (35) of said single restraining element (33) has a transverse size which, measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2), is smaller than a transverse size of the closing tab (24) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the outer container (2).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the folding line (36) of the restraining element (33) is provided with a creasing or with perforations.
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a lower edge (46) of the rear portion (34) of the restraining element (33) is substantially in contact with the lower wall (6) of the outer container (2).
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the restraining element (33) is made of a card stock with a grammage ranging from 150 to 450 g/m², preferably from 200 to 380 g/m², and with a thickness ranging from 300 to 450 or is made of a plastic material, preferably polypropylene, with a thickness ranging from 200 to 500 micrometres, preferably from 300 to 450 micrometres.
A pack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the group (18) of smoking articles comprises twenty smoking articles arranged in two rows side by side, each consisting of ten smoking articles.