EP4619321A1 - Rigid pack for smoking articles with a tilting opening - Google Patents

Abstract

Rigid pack (1) for smoking articles with tilting opening and comprising: a wrap (4), which wraps a group (5) of smoking articles; a rigid inner container (3) which houses the wrap (4); a rigid outer container (2), which houses the inner container (3); a hinge (6) which connects the inner container (3) to the outer container (2) in order to allow the inner container (3) itself to rotate between a closed position, wherein the inner container (3) is inserted inside the outer container (2), and an open position, wherein the inner container (3) is partially extracted from the outer container (2); and a stop member (33), which limits the extraction of the inner container (3) from the outer container (2) and hence establishes a maximum opening position of the inner container (3) relative to the outer container (2).

Description

“RIGID PACK FOR SMOKING ARTICLES WITH A TILTING OPENING”

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102022000023592 filed on November 16, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Art

The present invention relates to a rigid pack for smoking articles with tilting opening.

The present invention advantageously applies to a pack for cigarettes, which the hereinafter discussion will expressly refer to without losing its general character.

In this text, in fact, reference will be made indistinctly to the specific example of “cigaretes” rather than the more general expression “smoking articles”, without however losing its general character relatively to other types of articles (such as cigars, small cigars or cigarillos, electronic type cigarettes or ecigs, auxiliary products such as filters, ecig fillers and other products based on tobacco or on other components alternative to or substitutes of tobacco, or in turn packs containing smoking articles).

Prior Art

Rigid packs for cigarettes with tilting opening comprising two containers inserted one inside the other in a partially separable manner are known. In particular, an inner container is provided that accommodates a group of wrapped cigarettes and is housed inside an outer container so as to be able to be moved relative to the outer container itself by a rotation movement around a main hinge between a closed position, wherein the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open position, wherein the inner container is partially extracted from the outer container.

The inner container can be provided with a hinged lid that is mechanically constrained to the outer container by means of appropriate hooking elements to open and close the lid “automatically” (i.e. without the user having to touch the lid) by effect of the movement of the inner container relative to the outer container.

The inner container accommodates an inner wrap consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a wrap sheet. This wrap sheet can be a foil sheet which is initially completely closed and has a cigarette extraction opening that can be closed by a disposable tear-off portion (called “pull” that is removed when the pack for cigarettes is opened for the first time to allow the extraction of the cigarettes. Alternatively, such a wrap sheet can for example be of plastic or paper type and closed by a reusable closing tab (i.e. of type “open & close”) which is connected to the wrap by means of a repositionable glue. As is known, the pack for cigarettes with tilting opening is provided with a stop member, which limits the extraction of the inner container from the outer container and hence, establishes a maximum opening position of the inner container relative to the outer container.

In particular, it is known to arrange the stop member between the rear wall of the inner container and the rear wall of the outer container. This stop member is obtained by folding a further blank which is separate and different from the blank with which the outer container and the inner container are obtained.

However, the creation of such packs is difficult to achieve as it is difficult to manage the amount of blanks to be folded and connected together.

Document WO2019110792 and WO2015107478 describe a rigid pack of the tilting type, respectively. Document WO2017021811 describes a pack with lifting of the group of articles. Document US5174492A describes a multi-purpose pack.

Disclosure of the Invention

Aim of the present invention is to provide a rigid pack for smoking articles with tilting opening, which is free of the drawback described above and, at the same time, easy and economical to manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a rigid pack for smoking articles with tilting opening, according to what is claimed in the appended claims.

The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present disclosure.

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 of a rigid pack for cigarettes with tilting opening which is arranged in a closed configuration;

- 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 the pack for cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration;

- Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of a wrap of the pack of Figure 1 in a closed configuration with a closing tab applied;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a possible group of cigarettes enclosed in the inner wrap of Figure 4;

- 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 4;

- Figure 7 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a blank for making the pack of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a blank for making the pack of Figure 1;

- Figure 9 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a blank for making the pack of Figure 1; and

- Figure 10 is a plan view of a possible blank of a collar of a possible embodiment of the pack of Figure 1.

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In Figures 1-3, number 1 denotes a rigid pack for cigarettes as a whole with tilting opening. The pack 1 for cigarettes comprises a rigid outer container 2 (i.e. made of cardboard or rigid cardstock), a rigid inner container 3 housing a sealed inner wrap 4 (better shown in Figure 4 and hereinafter simply called “wrap”).

The rigid inner container 3 is of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented according to a prevailing vertical development direction and houses a wrap 4 (i.e. a wrapped cigarette bundle 5). The rigid parallelepiped- shaped outer container 2 houses the inner container 3. The inner container 3 is hinged to the outer container 2 along a main hinge 6 to rotate relative to the outer container 2 between a closed position (shown in Figures 1 and 2), wherein the inner container 3 is inserted inside the outer container 2, and an open position (shown in Figure 3), wherein the inner container 3 is partially extracted from the outer container 2 so as to make it possible to access the group of cigarettes contained in the wrap 4. The inner container 3 is parallelepiped-shaped, is cupshaped and has an open upper end 7 through which the wrap 4 is accessed, a front wall 8, two mutually parallel and opposite side walls 9 and an open rear end 10. Therefore, in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the inner container 3 is without a rear wall.

Between the front walls 8 and 9 of the inner container 3 there are defined two longitudinal corners.

The outer container 2 is also of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented according to a prevailing vertical development direction and has an upper wall 11, a lower wall 12 which is parallel and opposite the upper wall 11, an open front end 13 through which the inner container 3 can be moved, a rear wall 14 which is opposite the open front end 13 and is parallel and facing the open end 10 of the inner container 3 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position, and two side walls 15 which are parallel and opposite to one another and are parallel and facing the corresponding side walls 9 of the inner container 3 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position.

Between the rear 14 and side 15 walls of the outer container 2 there are defined two longitudinal comers, whereas between the side 15, upper 11 and lower 12 walls of the outer container 2 there are defined two transverse corners.

The longitudinal corners of the outer container 2 are parallel and aligned with the corresponding longitudinal corners of the inner container 3 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position.

Preferably, the pack 1 has in the area of the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 a through opening 16, which has a shape and size such as to allow the passage of a user’s finger. In particular, the user in order to open the pack 1 for cigarettes grasps the outer container 2 with one hand and inserts a finger inside the through opening 16 so as to exert a thrust on the wrap 4 so as to produce a relative movement (in particular, tilting) between the inner container 3 and the outer container 2.

The wrap 4 (shown in Figure 4) consists of a group 5 of cigarettes (shown by way of example in Figure 5) of substantially parallelepiped shape and of a wrap sheet that is wrapped around the group 5 of cigarettes to completely enclose it on the inside.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the wrap 4 is made by wrapping the group 5 of cigarettes with a sheet of heat-sealable wrapping material (i.e. which is sealed around the group 5 of cigarettes by heat sealing). This wrap 4 comprises a closing tab 27 (better described below) and a reinforcement element 17 which is arranged inside the wrap 4 to at least partially wrap the group 5 of cigarettes.

As an alternative to what is shown, the wrap 4 could be made by wrapping the group 5 of cigarettes with a sheet of wrapping material made of cardboard or cardstock. In such a case, the wrap 4 may be without the reinforcement element 17. Furthermore, this embodiment of the wrap 4 may or may not comprise the closing tab 27.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the wrap not shown, the wrap 4 could be made by wrapping the group 5 of cigarettes with a sheet of wrapping material made of foil. In this case, the wrap 4 is without the reinforcement element 17 and the closing tab 27. This embodiment of the wrap 4 provides a tear-off portion (called “pulF) which is torn off by the user when the pack 1 is opened for the first time.

In accordance with the embodiment of Figure 4, the wrap 4 has on the inside the reinforcement element 17 (shown for example in Figure 6), which is made of cardboard or rigid cardstock (completely similar to the cardboard or rigid cardstock constituting the outer container 2 and the inner container 3), folded in a “U” shape and is arranged inside the wrap 4 in contact with the group 5 of cigarettes. The reinforcement element 17 comprises a rectangular- shaped front wall 18, which is arranged in contact with a front wall 22 of the wrap 4 and a pair of side walls 19, which are connected to opposite sides of the front wall 18 and are arranged in contact with side walls 24 of the wrap 4. The front wall 18 has a window that is arranged at the top, is delimited by an edge 20, is “U”- shaped, and facilitates the extraction of the cigarettes from the group 5 of cigarettes from the wrap 4.

As mentioned above, according to a possible alternative embodiment, the wrap 4 is without the reinforcement element 17.

The wrap 4 shown for example in Figure 4 has a rear wall 21, a front wall 22, an upper wall 23, side walls 24 and a lower wall 25. The wrap 4 is formed by folding a sheet of wrapping material around the group 5 of cigarettes. In the event that the wrap 4 is made starting from a sheet of heat-sealable material, it may have a fin weld. The wrap 4 has at the top and preferably frontally a cigarette extraction opening 26 (shown in Figure 3) closed by the reusable closing tab 27 (shown in Figures 3 and 4). In other words, the wrap 4 has the cigarette extraction opening 26 in the area of at least a portion of the rear wall 21 and of the upper wall 23 that is closed by the reusable closing tab 27.

According to a possible embodiment, the closing tab 27 is made of plastic material or of a multilayer material comprising for example an inner layer in a paper material and an outer layer in a plastic material.

As shown in detail in the accompanying figures, the closing tab 27 is fixed to the wrap 4 by means of a repositionable glue that does not dry (not shown) arranged all around the extraction opening 26 of the wrap 4 to allow the closing tab 27 to be several times (i.e. each time the pack 1 for cigarettes is opened) partially separated from the wrap 4 and then fixed again to the wrap 4 (each time the pack 1 for cigarettes is closed).

Preferably, the closing tab 27 is fixed to the wrap 4 by means of a permanent glue in the area of the front wall 22 and preferably also of the portion in the area of the extraction opening 26.

In accordance with an embodiment not shown, the closing tab 27 is manually openable by the user.

Alternatively, the closing tab 27 may be connected, in particular glued, to the outer container 3 so as to be automatically peeled from the inner container 3 when the inner container 3 is moved from the closed position to the open position and, similarly, so as to be repositioned when the inner container 3 is moved from the open position to the closed position.

The specific embodiment of the wrap 4 shown in Figure 4 is described below. In particular, the closing tab 27 is fixed to the wrap 4, closes the cigarette extraction opening 26 and has a portion connected, in particular glued, to a wall of the outer container 2 (in particular, to the rear wall 14 or to the upper wall 11). Preferably, the closing tab 27 is fixed to the wall of the outer container 2 by means of glue 31 (schematically shown in Figure 4) which is in particular a permanent or strong glue, which is applied to a surface of the closing tab 27 facing the outer container 2. In Figure 4 the glue 31 is applied so as to connect the closing tab 27 to the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2. According to a possible alternative embodiment (not shown), the glue 31 is applied on the closing tab 27 (in the area of a portion thereof facing the upper wall 11 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position), so as to connect it to the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2. In other words, the closing tab 27 may preferably be permanently connected through the glue 31 to the rear wall 14 of the inner container 3 or to the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 so as to peel off the closing tab 27 during the opening of the inner container 3 and, similarly, to reposition the closing tab 27 during the closing of the inner container 3.

The pack 1 is provided with a stop member 33. The stop member 33 limits the extraction of the inner container 3 from the outer container 2 and hence establishes a maximum opening position (i.e., defines a so-called end of stroke) of the inner container 3 relative to the outer container 2. The stop member 33 is interposed between the outer container 2 and the wrap 4, in particular between the outer container 2 and the wrap 4 accommodated in the inner container 3.

Specifically, the stop member 33 is arranged between (i.e. interposed between) the two side walls 9 of the inner container 3, is folded by 90° relative to the side walls 9 of the inner container 3 along at least one longitudinal folding line 34 (shown in Figures 7-9), and is connected to at least one of the side walls 9 through the longitudinal folding line 34. In particular, as is visible from Figures 7-9, the inner container 3, the outer container 2 and the stop member 33 are made by folding the same blank 35.

The stop member 33 has a front panel 36 which is connected, in particular glued, to the front wall 22 of the wrap 4, a joining panel 37 which is connected, in particular glued, to the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2, and an intermediate panel 38 which is arranged between the front panel 36 and the joining panel 37 to connect them (i.e., the front and joining panels 36, 37) to one another. The front 36, joining 37 and intermediate 38 panels are separated from one another by a respective transverse folding line 39. Thus, the transverse folding lines 39 are two. The panels 36, 37 and 38 are folded by 90° relative to the side wall 9 of the container 4. Advantageously, the front panel 36 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal folding line 34 and the joining and intermediate panels 37 and 38 are separated from the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through a separation line, in particular a longitudinal separation line 40.

When the inner container 3 is in the closed position, the front panel 36, the joining panel 37 and the intermediate panel 38 are all parallel to one another and are also coplanar (i.e., arranged in the same plane) with one another. When the inner container 3 is in the open position, the front panel 36, the joining panel 38 and the intermediate panel 37 are inclined relative to one another.

Figures 7-9 show different embodiments of the blank 35 for making the outer container

2, the inner container 3 and the stop member 33. In all three embodiments shown, the stop member 33 has the front 36, joining 37 and intermediate 38 panels which are arranged in succession along the longitudinal extension of the blank 35 of the pack 1. In particular, the front panel 36 is arranged flush with a lower edge 41 of the side wall 9 of the inner container 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the stop members 33 are two and are distinct and separate from one another. Each stop member 33 is connected to the respective side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the respective longitudinal folding line 34. In particular, each front panel 36 of the stop member 33 is connected to the respective side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the respective longitudinal folding line 34; whereas, each joining panel 37 and intermediate 38 is separated from the respective side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal separation line 40.

In accordance with the embodiment of Figure 7, each stop member 33 has a transverse size (i.e. a width L) measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3 which is smaller than or equal to 50% of an overall transverse size of the wrap 4 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3. Therefore, the two stop members 33 can be spaced apart from one another or can be in abutment (i.e., with side edges 42 side by side and in contact with one another).

Alternatively, in accordance with an embodiment not shown, the two stop members 33 at least partially overlap crosswise along a direction parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3.

Advantageously, the stop member 33 has a longitudinal size (i.e. a height Hl) which is smaller than a longitudinal size (i.e. a height H2) of the front wall 8 of the inner container

3.

According to a possible alternative embodiment, shown for example in Figure 9, the stop member 33 may also have a rear panel 43 which is hinged to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal folding line 34. The rear panel 43 is separated from the joining panel 37 by a transverse separation line 44. Thus, in such a case the longitudinal separation line 40 is interposed between two portions of the longitudinal folding line 34. The rear panel 43 (if any) of the stop member 33 is connected, in particular glued, to the wrap 4. The panels 36, 37, 38 and 43 are folded by 90° relative to the side wall 9 of the container 4 and the panels 36 and 43 are in particular parallel to one another. As can be seen from Figure 9, the rear panel 43 has a longitudinal size (i.e. height) complementary to the overall size given by the front 36, joining 37 and intermediate 38 panels. Therefore, the stop member 33 (i.e., the set of the front 36, joining 37, intermediate 38 and rear 43 panels) has the longitudinal size Hl equal (i.e., about equal) to the longitudinal size H2 of the front wall 8 of the inner container 3.

According to a possible further alternative embodiment, shown for example in Figure 8, the stop member 33 is single. The stop member 33 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal folding line 34. In particular, the front panel 36 of the stop member 33 is connected to the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal folding line 34; whereas, the joining 37 and intermediate 38 panel is separated from the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 through the longitudinal separation line 40.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the stop member 33 has a transverse size (i.e. the width L) measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3 which is greater than 30%, in particular 50%, of the overall transverse size of the wrap 4 measured parallel to the rear wall 8 of the inner container 3.

Advantageously, the stop member 33 may comprise at least one claw 45. The claws 45 are shown by way of example in Figure 9. It is understood that the embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8 may also be provided with the claws 45. The claw 45 is obtained in the area of the longitudinal folding line 34. In particular, the claw 45 could be formed astride the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the front panel 36. Alternatively or additionally, the claw 45 may be formed astride the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43.

Therefore, the blank 35 may be without the claws 45, or it may provide the only pair of claws 45 formed astride the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the front panel 36 of the stop member 33, or it may provide the only pair of claws 45 formed astride the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43, or it may provide both pairs of claws 45 (as shown in Figure 9). Advantageously, thanks to its arrangement, the pair of claws 45 formed astride the side wall 9 of the inner container 3 and the rear panel 43 is particularly effective in maintaining the inner container 3 in the closed position.

In accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the claws 45 protrude laterally to engage by interference with the side walls 15 of the outer container 2 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position so as to keep it in the closed position. Alternatively, slots could be provided in the area of the side walls 15 of the outer container 2 wherein the claws 45 are inserted when the inner container 3 is in the closed position.

In the event that the pack 1 is not provided with the reinforcement element 17, in order to guarantee the rigidity of the wrap 4 when the user must open the pack 1, it is possible to arrange a rigid collar 46 (shown in Figure 10) on the wrap 4 in the area of the open rear end 10. The collar 46 is connected (by means of glue) folded in a “U” shape inside the inner container 3 in the area of the open rear end 10. The collar 46 engages a corresponding inner surface of the outer container 2, when the inner container 3 is arranged in the closed position. The collar 46 comprises a main wall 47, which is connected to the rear wall 21 of the wrap and is arranged in contact with the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 when the inner container 3 is in the closed position, and two side walls 48, which are connected to the side walls 9 of the inner container 3 and/or to the side walls 24 of the wrap 4. The front wall 47 of the collar 46 is provided with an extraction opening 49 through which access to the contents of the pack 1 for cigarettes is facilitated.

Advantageously, the collar 46 has a pair of claws 50 obtained between the main wall 47 and the respective side wall 48.

Advantageously, if the collar 46 is present and it has the claws 50, then the stop element 33 is without at least one of the pairs of claws 45.

Advantageously, the folding lines 34 and/or 39 of the stop member 33 comprise a creasing or perforations.

Advantageously, the separation line 40 of the stop member 33 comprises a cutting line and at least two joining points which break when the inner container 3 is opened for the first time. Therefore, the separation line 40 also serves as a first opening test of the pack 1.

The separation line 43 may either comprise a continuous cutting line or it may comprise a cutting line and at least two joining points which break when the inner container 3 is opened for the first time.

According to what is shown in Figures 7-9, the outer container 2, the inner container 3 and the stop member 33 are made by folding the blank 35 made of cardboard or rigid cardstock and having a substantially rectangular elongated shape. The blank 35 comprises two longitudinal folding lines 51 (pre-weakened) and a plurality of transverse folding lines 52 (pre-weakened) which define, between the two longitudinal folding lines 51, the following panels: a panel 11 ’ which constitutes the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 on which the panel 11” which defines a reinforcement strip of the upper wall 11 is folded by 180° and glued; a panel 14’ which constitutes the rear wall 14 of the outer container 2 and is provided with the through opening 16; a panel 12’ which constitutes the lower wall 12 of the outer container 2; a panel 8’ which constitutes the front wall 8 of the inner container 3; a panel 8” that is folded against the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 and defines a reinforcement strip of the front wall 8. The reinforcement strip 8” is connected to the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 along a transverse folding line 52, it is folded by 180° (in the pack 1 for cigarettes) relative to the front wall 8 (i.e. relative to the panel 8’), and it lies and is glued against an inner surface of the front wall 8 of the inner container 3 (i.e. against the panel 8’). Similarly, the reinforcement strip 11” is connected to the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 along a transverse folding line 52, is folded by 180° (in the pack 1 for cigarettes) relative to the upper wall 11 (i.e. relative to the panel 11’), and it lies and is glued against an inner surface of the upper wall 11 of the outer container 2 (i.e. against the panel 11’).

The blank 35 comprises a pair of wings 11’ ”, which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 11’, are connected to the panel 11’ along the two longitudinal folding lines 51, and constitute part of the side walls 15 of the outer container 2.

The blank 35 comprises a pair of wings 15’, which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 14’, are connected to the panel 14’ along the two longitudinal folding lines 51, constitute part of the side walls 15 of the outer container 2, and overlap and are glued to the corresponding wings 11’” to constitute the side walls 15 of the outer container 2. Each side panel 15’ also has a reinforcement flap 15”. The reinforcement strip 15” is connected to the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 along a transverse folding line 52, is folded by 180° (in the pack 1 for cigarettes) relative to the side wall 15 (i.e. relative to the panel 15’), and it lies and is glued against an inner surface of the side wall 15 of the outer container 2 (i.e. against the panel 15’).

The blank 35 comprises a pair of wings 9’, which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 8’, are connected to the panel 8’ along the two longitudinal folding lines 51, and constitute the side walls 9 of the inner container 3.

The blank 35 comprises two tabs 53 which are connected to the panel 12’ along the transverse folding line 51, are folded by 90° and face an inner surface of the panel 15’. To this arrangement of the panels/wings concerning the portions of the pack 1 inherent to the outer container 2 and to the inner container 3 are also added the panels to obtain from the same blank 35 the stop member 33.

The blank 35 of Figure 7 has (in addition to the panels/wings concerning the portions of the pack 1 inherent to the outer container 2 and to the inner container 3) a pair of panels 36, 37 and 38 which constitute the stop member 33 and are arranged on one side of each panel 9’ which constitutes the side walls of the inner container 3. The panel 36 is connected to the panel 9’ along the two longitudinal folding lines 34; whereas, the joining and intermediate panels 37 and 38 are separated from the respective panel 9’ by two separation lines 40. The panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged in succession and are connected to one another by two transverse folding lines 39.

Advantageously, the blank of Figure 7 allows the pack 1 to be made in a particularly simple way by machine.

The blank 35 of Figure 8 has (in addition to the panels/wings concerning the portions of the pack 1 inherent to the outer container 2 and to the inner container 3) a panel 36, a panel 37 and a panel 38 which constitute the stop member 33 and are arranged in the area of only one panel 9’ which constitutes one of the side walls 9 of the inner container 3. The panel 36 is connected to the panel 9’ along the longitudinal folding line 34; whereas, the joining and intermediate panels 37 and 38 are separated from the panel 9’ by the separation line 40. The panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged in succession and are connected to one another by two transverse folding lines 39.

The blank 35 of Figure 9 has (in addition to the panels/wings concerning the portions of the pack 1 inherent to the outer container 2 and to the inner container 3) a pair of panels 36, 37, 38 and 39 which constitute the stop member 33 and are arranged on one side of each panel 9’ which constitutes the side walls of the inner container 3. The panel 36 and the panel 43 are connected to the panel 9’ along the two longitudinal folding lines 34; whereas, the joining and intermediate panels 37 and 38 are separated from the respective panel 9’ by two separation lines 40. The panels 36, 38 and 37 are arranged in succession and are connected to one another by two transverse folding lines 39. The panel 43 is separated from the joining panel 37 by the transverse separation line 44.

Advantageously, this embodiment allows not to use the collar 46 even if the wrap 4 is without the reinforcement element 17.

In accordance with an embodiment not shown, also the blank 35 of Figure 8 could be provided with the rear panel 43 similar to the one of the blank of Figure 9.

In the embodiments shown in the accompanying figures, the longitudinal and transverse corners are right; in alternative, the longitudinal and/or transverse comers may be rounded or bevelled.

The embodiments described herein may be combined with 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 pack 1 for cigarettes described above allows to obtain a simpler and easier management of the stop member 33 during the entire process of making the pack 1. In fact, the pack 1 described above allows a single blank 35 to be folded and moved. Therefore, it is necessary to coordinate a single element (i.e. the blank 35).

The presence of the separation line 40 with some (i.e. at least two) joining points allows to maintain the integrity of the separation line 40 throughout the manufacturing process allowing an easy realization of the pack 1. It is then the user, through his first opening of the pack 1, who allows a subsequent tilting of the inner container 3 relative to the outer container 2. In addition, the not broken joining points guarantee the user that the pack has never been opened.

The stop member 33 allows the wrap 4 to be held stably in position in the inner container 3.

List of Reference Numbers of the Figures

1 pack

2 outer container

3 inner container

4 wrap

5 group of cigarettes

6 hinge

7 upper end

8 front wall

9 side walls

10 rear end

11 upper wall

12 lower wall

13 front end

14 rear wall

15 side wall

16 through opening

17 reinforcement element front wall side wall reinforcement edge rear wall front walls upper wall side walls lower wall extraction opening closing tab glue stop member folding line blank front panel joining panel intermediate panel folding line separation line edge edge rear panel separation line claw collar main wall side walls extraction opening claw longitudinal folding line transverse folding line tab

Claims

1. A rigid pack (1) for smoking articles with tilting opening and comprising: a group (5) of smoking articles; a wrap (4), which wraps the group (5) of smoking articles and has: a front wall (22), an upper wall (23), a rear wall (21); a rigid inner container (3), which houses the wrap (4) and has an open upper end (7), a front wall (8) and a pair of side walls (9); a rigid outer container (2), which houses the inner container (3) and has an upper wall (11), a lower wall (12) opposite the upper wall (11), a rear wall (14), a pair of side walls (15) and an open front end (13), which is arranged between the upper wall (11) and the lower wall (12) and through which the inner container (3) is moved; a hinge (6), which connects the inner container (3) to the outer container (2) in order to allow the inner container (3) to rotate between a closed position, wherein the inner container (3) is inserted inside the outer container (2), and an open position, wherein the inner container (3) is partially extracted from the outer container (2) through the open front end (13); and a stop member (33), which limits the extraction of the inner container (3) from the outer container (2) and, hence, establishes a maximum opening position of the inner container

(3) relative to the outer container (2); the pack (1) is characterized in that the stop member (33) is: arranged between the two side walls (9) of the container (3); folded by 90° relative to the side walls (9) of the inner container (3) along at least one first longitudinal folding line (34); and connected to at least one of the side walls (9) of the inner container (3) by means of the first longitudinal folding line (34).

2. The pack according to claim 1, wherein the inner container (3), the outer container (2) and the stop member (33) are obtained by folding the same blank (35).

3. The pack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stop member (33) has: a front panel (36), which is connected, in particular glued, to the rear wall (21) of the wrap

(4); a joining panel (37), which is connected, in particular glued, to the rear wall (14) of the outer container (2); an intermediate panel (38), which is arranged between the front panel (36) and the joining panel (37) in order to connect them to one another; and the front panel (36), the joining panel (37) and the intermediate panel (38) are separated from one another by a respective second folding line (39), in particular a transverse folding line (39).

4. The pack according to claim 3, wherein the front panel (36) is connected to the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by the first longitudinal folding line (34); and the joining panel (38) and the intermediate panel (37) are separated by the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by a first separation line (40), in particular a longitudinal separation line (40).

5. The pack according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: when the inner container (3) is in the closed position, the front panel (36), the joining panel (37) and the intermediate panel (38) are all parallel and coplanar to one another; and when the inner container (3) is in the open position, the front panel (36), the joining panel (37) and the intermediate panel (38) are inclined relative to one another.

6. The pack according to any one of the claims from 3 to 5, wherein the stop member (33) comprises a rear panel (43), which is hinged to the side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by the respective first longitudinal folding line (34); and the rear panel (43) is separated from the joining panel (37) by a second separation line (44), in particular a transverse separation line (44).

7. The pack according to any one of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein the stop member (33) has a longitudinal size (Hl), which is smaller than a height (H2) of the front wall (8) of the inner container (3).

8. The pack according to claim 6, wherein the stop member (33) has a longitudinal size (Hl), which is the same as a height (H2) of the front wall (8) of the inner container (3).

9. The pack (1) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein there is only one stop member (33), which has a transverse size (L) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3), which is greater than 30%, in particular 50%, of a total transverse size of the wrap (4) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

10. The pack (1) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 8, wherein: there are two stop members (33), which are distinct and separate from one another; and each stop member (33) is connected to the respective side wall (9) of the inner container (3) by the respective first longitudinal folding line (34).

11. The pack (1) according to claim 10, wherein each stop member (33) has a transverse size measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3), which is smaller than or equal to 50% of a total transverse size of the wrap (4) measured parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

12. The pack (1) according to claim 10, wherein the two stop members (33) at least partially overlap one another crosswise along a direction that is parallel to the rear wall (8) of the inner container (3).

13. The pack (1) according to any one of the claims from 1 to 12, wherein the stop member (33) is provided with at least one first claw (45) in the area of the first longitudinal folding line (34).

14. The pack according to any one of the claims from 1 to 13, wherein the wrap has, on the inside, a “U”-shaped reinforcement element (17), which is arranged in contact with the group (5) of cigarettes.

15. The pack according to any one of the claims from 1 to 13, wherein: a collar (46) is provided, which is folded in a “U” shape, is arranged in the area of an open rear end (10) of the inner container (3) and has: a main wall (47) and two side walls (48) opposite one another; and the side walls (48) of the collar (46) are connected, in particular glued, to the wrap (4) and/or to the side walls (9) of the inner container (3).

16. The pack (1) according to claim 15, wherein the collar (46) has a pair of claws (50) obtained between the main wall (47) and the respective side wall (48).

17. The pack (1) according to any one of the claims from 4 to 16, wherein the first separation line (40) of the stop member (33) comprises a cutting line and at least two joining points, which break when the inner container (3) is opened for the first time.