WO2006090246A1

WO2006090246A1 - Rigid hinged-lid package for tobacco articles

Info

Publication number: WO2006090246A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/000366
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roberto Polloni; Luca Petrucci; Marco Ghini; Stefano Negrini
Original assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
Priority date: 2005-02-24
Filing date: 2006-02-23
Publication date: 2006-08-31
Also published as: EP1855962A1; JP4950078B2; ITBO20050099A1; CN101287661B; US20080283427A1; JP2008531409A; EP1855962B1; DE602006004570D1; WO2006090246A8; CN101287661A

Abstract

A rigid package (1) for tobacco articles, having at least one container (2), which is cup-shaped, is parallelepiped-shaped, and has a rear wall (6), a front wall (7), two lateral walls (8), a bottom wall (9), and an open top end (3); and a lid (4), which is cup-shaped, is hinged to the container (2) along a hinge (5) on the rear wall (6) of the container (2) to rotate between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the open top end (3), and has a rear wall (10), a front wall (11), two lateral walls (12), and a top wall (13); when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the front wall (11) of the lid (4) is positioned over the front wall (7) of the container (2) to almost completely cover the front wall (7) of the container (2), and the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4) are positioned over the lateral walls (8) of the container (2) to partly cover the lateral walls (8) of the container (2).

Description

RIGID HINGED-LID PACKAGE FOR TOBACCO ARTICLES

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid, hinged-lid package for tobacco articles. The present invention may be used to particular advantage in a rigid cigarette packet, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.

BACKGROUND ART

Rigid, hinged-lid cigarette packets are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce, practical and easy to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside.

A rigid, hinged-lid cigarette packet comprises a cup-shaped container having an open end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the container, between an open and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively. A

U-folded collar is normally fitted inside the container, and projects partly outwards of the open end to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

The outer surface of packets of cigarettes is printed with the brand name and information required by law (e.g. place and date of manufacture, tobacco composition, and government health warnings) . Recent regulations have greatly increased the surface area to be allotted to government health warnings, by also introducing photographs, thus greatly reducing the area available to the maker for the brand name and any other information (special offers, advertising of other products ...) .

Patent US6193060B1 describes a rigid cigarette packet comprising a cup-shaped, substantially parallelepiped-shaped container having a rear wall, a front wall, two lateral walls, a bottom wall, and an open top end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container along a hinge on the rear wall of the container to rotate between an open and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively, and having a rear wall, a front wall, two lateral walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. When the lid is in the closed position, the front wall of the lid is positioned over, and completely covers, the front wall of the container, the lateral walls of the lid are positioned over, and partly cover, the lateral walls of the container, and the bottom wall of the lid is positioned over, and partly covers, the bottom wall of the container. Having a larger lid, the packet described in Patent US6193060B1 has a larger outer surface for printing on than a normal hinged-lid packet, but also has various drawbacks: in particular, it is difficult to produce, and is awkward to open and close, on account of the bottom wall of the lid having to overcome the bottom edge of the front wall of the container when rotating the lid. Moreover, being so large, the lid is not very rigid, and tends to deform when opened and closed, thus making the packet difficult to open and close, and resulting in the formation of unsightly creases.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid package for tobacco articles, which is easier to use than known packages, has none of the aforementioned drawbacks, and, at the same time, is cheap and easy to produce.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rigid package for tobacco articles, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a rigid cigarette packet in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration;

Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 rigid cigarette packet in an open configuration;

Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 rigid cigarette packet in a closed configuration; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a blank by which to form the rigid cigarette packet in Figures 1-3;

Figures 5-7 show plan views of different embodiments of a blank by which to form the rigid cigarette packet in Figures 1-3;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a blank by which to form a different embodiment of a rigid cigarette packet in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 9 shows a front view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of a rigid cigarette packet in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration;

Figure 10 shows a front view in perspective of a further embodiment of a rigid cigarette packet in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration;

Figure 11 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 10 rigid cigarette packet in a half-open configuration; Figure 12 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 10 rigid cigarette packet in a fully-open configuration;

Figure 13 shows a plan view of a first blank by which to form the rigid cigarette packet in Figures 10- 12;

Figure 14 shows a plan view of a second blank by which to form the rigid cigarette packet in Figures 10- 12; Figure 15 shows a front view in perspective of a further embodiment of a rigid cigarette packet in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration; Figure 16 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 15 rigid cigarette packet in a half-open configuration;

Figure 17 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 15 rigid cigarette packet in a fully-open configuration;

Figure 18 shows a plan view of a further embodiment of a blank by which to form the rigid cigarette packet in Figures 1-3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Number 1 in Figures 1 to 3 indicates as a whole a rigid cigarette packet containing an orderly, parallelepiped-shaped group of cigarettes (not shown for the sake of clarity) wrapped in a sheet of foil wrapping material. Packet 1 comprises a cup-shaped container 2 having an open top end 3; and a cup-shaped lid 4 hinged to container 2 along a hinge 5 to rotate, with respect to container 2, between an open position (Figure 2) and a closed position (Figures 1 and 3) opening and closing open end 3 respectively.

Container 2 is cup-shaped to house the orderly group of cigarettes (not shown for the sake of clarity) , is parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises a rear wall 6, a front wall 7, two lateral walls 8, a bottom wall 9, and said open top end 3. Lid 4 is cup-shaped, is hinged to container 2 along hinge 5 on rear wall 6 of container 2, and comprises a rear wall 10, a front wall 11, two lateral walls 12, and a top wall 13.

When lid 4 is in the closed position (Figures 1 and 3) , front wall 11 of lid 4 is positioned over, and completely covers, front wall 7 of container 2, and lateral walls 12 of lid 4 are positioned over, and partly cover, lateral walls 8 of container 2. Lid 4 has no bottom wall, so that, when lid 4 is in the closed position, the bottom wall of container 2 is completely exposed.

In a different embodiment shown in Figure 9, when lid 4 is in the closed position, front wall 11 of lid 4 is positioned over, and almost completely covers, front wall 7 of container 2.

Lateral walls 12 of lid 4 are preferably shorter than front wall 11 of lid 4, so as to leave a bottom portion of front wall 11 laterally free.

Container 2 has four longitudinal edges 14 defined between lateral walls 8 and front wall 7 and rear wall 6; and four transverse edges 15 (two major and two minor) defined between bottom wall 9 and lateral walls 8, front wall 7, and rear wall 6. Lid 4 has four longitudinal edges 16 defined between lateral walls 12 and front wall 11 and rear wall 10; and four transverse edges 17 (two major and two minor) defined between top wall 13 and lateral walls 12, front wall 11, and rear wall 10.

Hinge 5 is normally located between rear wall 6 of container 2 and rear wall 10 of lid 4, and is parallel to the major transverse edges 15 and 17 of container 2 and lid 4. In a different embodiment shown in Figure 7, hinge 5 of lid 4 is located between rear wall 6 of container 2 and rear wall 10 of lid 4, and slopes slightly with respect to the major transverse edges 15 and 17 of container 2 and lid 4. In a further embodiment, not shown, hinge 5 is located between rear wall 6 of container 2 and rear wall 10 of lid 4, and is parallel to longitudinal edges 14 and 16 of container 2 and lid 4.

Longitudinal edges 16 of lid 4 are normally the same shape and substantially the same size as longitudinal edges 14 of container 2, so that, when in the closed position, lid 4 adheres firmly to container 2 underneath. In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, longitudinal edges 14 and 16 and transverse edges 15 and 17 are all square. In different embodiments not shown, at least some of longitudinal edges 14 of container 2 and the corresponding longitudinal edges 16 of lid 4 are rounded or bevelled, or at least some of transverse edges 15 of container 2 or of transverse edges 17 of lid 4 are rounded or bevelled. For example, all the longitudinal edges 14 and 16 may be non-square, rounded or bevelled edges, or (as in the cigarette packet described in Patent Application EP-A1-0764595) , some transverse edges 15 and 17 may be non-square, rounded or bevelled edges. Alternatively, some longitudinal edges 14 and 16 and some transverse edges 15 and 17 may be non-square, rounded or bevelled edges, so as to have both non-square, rounded or bevelled longitudinal edges 14, 16 and non-square, rounded or bevelled transverse edges 15, 17.

In a different embodiment not shown, packet 1 may resemble the cigarette packet described in Patent Application EP-A1-1066205; in which case, rear wall 6 of container 2, front wall 7 of container 2, rear wall 10 of lid 4, and front wall 11 of lid 4 are all outwardly convex, and each have a respective flat central portion, and two curved creased lateral bands connecting the flat central portion to lateral walls 8 or 12 at respective sharp, non-square longitudinal edges 14 or 16.

In the Figure 1-7 embodiments, container 2 has two projections 18 projecting outwards to engage lid 4 with a given amount of interference when lid 4 is in the closed position. The purpose of projections 18 is to keep lid 4 in the closed position by requiring application of a certain amount of force to open lid 4.

In a different embodiment shown in Figure 8, a U- folded collar 19 is fitted inside container 2, and projects partly outwards of open top end 3 to engage a corresponding inner surface of lid 4 when lid 4 is in the closed position. Collar 19 comprises two projections 20, which project outwards to engage lid 4 with a given interference when lid 4 is in the closed position. The purpose of projections 20 is to keep lid 4 in the closed position by requiring application of a certain amount of force to open lid 4.

As shown in Figures 4-8 and 18, front wall 11 of lid 4 is preferably formed by a panel 11' and a panel 11", which are superimposed, are glued to each other, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of front wall 11 of lid 4.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, each lateral wall 12 of lid 4 is formed by two tabs 12" and 12", which are superimposed, are glued to each other, are substantially the same size, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of lateral wall 12 of lid 4.

As shown in Figures 4-7, packet 1 in Figures 1-3 is formed from a flat blank 21 substantially in the form of an elongated rectangle, and the component parts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of packet 1. Blank 21 comprises two longitudinal fold lines 22, and a number of transverse fold lines 23 defining between the two longitudinal fold lines 22 : panel 11' forming an inner portion of front wall 11 of lid 4/ panel 11" forming an outer portion of front wall 11 of lid 4; a panel 13' forming top wall 13 of lid 4; a panel 10' forming rear wall 10 of lid 4; a panel 6' forming rear wall 6 of container 2; a panel 9' forming bottom wall 9 of container 2; and a panel 7' forming front wall 7 of container 2.

Panel 11" has two tabs 12', which form lateral walls 12 of lid 4, are located on opposites sides of panel 11", and are separated from panel 11" by longitudinal fold lines 22. Panel 6' has two tabs 8', which form part of lateral walls 8 of container 2, are located on opposite sides of panel β¹, and are separated from panel 6" by longitudinal fold lines 22. Panel 7' has two tabs 8", which form part of lateral walls 8 of container 2, are located on opposite sides of panel 7 ' , and are separated from panel 7' by longitudinal fold lines 22.

Panel 10' has two tabs 24, which reinforce the inside of lateral walls 12 of lid 4, are located on opposite sides of panel 10', and are separated from panel 10' by longitudinal fold lines 22. Each tab 24 has a tongue 25 for reinforcing the inside of top wall 13 of lid 4; and each tab 8" has a tongue 26 for reinforcing the inside of bottom wall 9 of container 2.

In the Figure 5 and 6 embodiment, each tab 12' is connected to a further tab 12"; each tab 12' and the corresponding tab 12" are superimposed and glued to each other, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of a lateral wall 12 of lid 4. Each tab 12" is substantially the same shape as and slightly smaller than the corresponding tab 12 '. In the Figure 5 embodiment, each tab 12' is connected to corresponding tab 12" along a fold line 27 sloping with respect to longitudinal fold lines 22. In the Figure 6 embodiment, each tab 12' is connected to corresponding tab 12" along a fold line 27 parallel to longitudinal fold lines 22. In the Figure 18 embodiment, tabs 12" are connected to panel 11' along longitudinal fold lines 22, instead of to tabs 12' along fold lines 27. More specifically, in Figure 18, tabs 12" of panel 11' are smaller than in Figures 5 and 6, whereas, in variations not shown, tabs 12" of panel 11' are the same shape and size as tabs 12" in Figures 5 and 6. The Figure 10-17 embodiments comprise a number of containers 2, each of which is cup-shaped to house a group of tobacco articles, and has a respective open top end 3; lid 4 is hinged to one of containers 2 to rotate between the open position and the closed position respectively opening and closing the open ends 3 of all the containers 2. Containers 2 are connected to one another so as to be movable between a fold-up configuration (Figures 10, 11, 15, 16) , in which containers 2 are arranged contacting one another and side by side along front wall 7 and rear wall 6, and an unfolded configuration (Figures 12 and 17) , in which containers 2 are arranged side by side along lateral walls 8. As shown clearly in Figures 11 and 16, lid 4 can only be moved from the open position to the closed position respectively opening and closing open ends 3 of all of containers 2 when containers 2 are in the fold-up configuration .

The Figure 10, 11 and 12 embodiment comprises two containers 2 hinged to each other along respective longitudinal edges 14 by a double hinge 28 (shown more clearly in Figure 13) . The Figure 15, 16 and 17 embodiment comprises three containers 2 hinged to one another along respective longitudinal edges 14 by two double hinges 28.

In a preferred embodiment, package 1 comprises a supporting member 29 having common lid 4, and to which containers 2 are glued. More specifically, supporting member 29 comprises a connecting strip 30 (Figure 13) supporting lid 4 and double hinge 28, and which is glued to front wall 7 or rear wall 6 of containers 2 and to lateral walls 8 of containers 2.

As shown in Figure 13 (relative to the Figure 10, 11 and 12 embodiment) , supporting member 29 is formed from a first flat blank 31 having two longitudinal fold lines 32, and a number of transverse fold lines 33 defining, between longitudinal fold lines 32, a panel II¹ forming an inner portion of front wall 11 of lid 4; a panel 11" forming an outer portion of front wall 11 of lid 4; a panel 13' forming top wall 13 of lid 4; a panel 10' forming rear wall 10 of lid 4; and a panel 34, of connecting strip 30, which is glued to a rear wall 6 of a container 2. Panel 11" has two tabs 12', which form lateral walls 12 of lid 4, are located on opposite sides of panel 11", and are separated from panel 11" by longitudinal fold lines 32. Panel 10' has tabs 24, which reinforce the inside of lateral walls 12 of lid 4, are located on opposite sides of panel 10', and are separated from panel 10' by longitudinal fold lines 32. Each tab 24 has a tongue 25 for reinforcing the inside of top wall 13 of lid 4. A different embodiment, not shown, also comprises further tabs 12" shown in Figures 5 and 6 and described above .

Panel 34 is connected to a panel 35, which has double hinge 28 in the middle and is glued to a lateral wall 8 of both containers 2. Panel 35 of connecting strip 30 is connected to a panel 36, which is glued to front wall 7 of a container 2; and panel 36 of connecting strip 30 is connected to a panel 37, which is glued to a lateral wall 8 of a container 2. In the case of three containers 2, as shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17, panel 37 has a further double hinge 28 and is glued to a lateral wall 8 of both containers 2; and a further panel is connected to panel 37 and glued to rear wall 6 of a container 2. As shown in Figure 14, each container 2 is formed from a flat blank 38 independent of blank 31. Blank 38 has two longitudinal fold lines 39, and a number of transverse fold lines 40 defining, between longitudinal fold lines 39, a panel 6' forming rear wall 6 of container 2; a panel 9' forming bottom wall 9 of container 2; and a panel 7' forming front wall 7 of container 2. Panel 6' has two tabs 8', which form part of lateral walls 8 of container 2, are located on opposite sides of panel 6', and are separated from panel 6' by- longitudinal fold lines 39. Panel 7' has two tabs 8", which form part of lateral walls 8 of container 2, are located on opposite sides of panel 7', and are separated from panel 7' by longitudinal fold lines 39. And each tab 8' has a tongue 26 for reinforcing the inside of bottom wall 9 of container 2.

In a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, blank 38 also comprises a panel 41' and a panel 41", which are superimposed and glued to each other to define a top wall 41 of container 2; in which case, container 2 has a tear-off portion 42 to permit withdrawal of the cigarettes through top end 3 of container 2. Packet 1 as described above has several advantages. It is fast and easy to produce, has a larger outer surface for printing on than a normal hinged-lid packet, and is extremely easy to open and close. Moreover, forming front wall 11 of lid 4 by joining two superimposed panels 11' and 11", and lateral walls 12 of lid 4 by joining two superimposed tabs 12' and 12", makes for an extremely rigid lid 4 despite its size, so that lid 4 undergoes no noticeable deformation when opened and closed. In view of the many advantages of packet 1 as described above, the form of packet 1 may also be applied integrally to the manufacture of other types of rigid packages for tobacco articles, such as a carton of packets of cigarettes or a cigar packet.

Claims

1) A rigid package for tobacco articles, comprising: at least one container (2), which is cup-shaped to house a group of tobacco articles, is parallelepiped- shaped, and comprises a rear wall (6), a front wall (7), two lateral walls (8), a bottom wall (9), and an open top end (3) ; and a lid (4), which is cup-shaped, is hinged to the container (2) along a hinge (5) on the rear wall (6) of the container (2) to rotate between an open position and a closed position respectively opening and closing the open top end (3) , and comprises a rear wall (10) , a front wall (11), two lateral walls (12), and a top wall (13); when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the front wall (11) of the lid (4) is positioned over the front wall (7) of the container (2) to completely or almost completely cover the front wall (7) of the container (2) , and the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4) are positioned over the lateral walls (8) of the container (2) to partly cover the lateral walls (8) of the container (2); the package (1) being characterized in that the lid (4) has no bottom wall, so that, when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) is completely exposed.

2) A package as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the front wall (11) of the lid (4) is positioned over the front wall (7) of the container (2) to completely cover the front wall (7) of the container (2) .

3) A package as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, when the lid (4) is in the closed position, the front wall

(11) of the lid (4) is positioned over the front wall (7) of the container (2) to almost completely cover the front wall (7) of the container (2) .

4) A package as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the front wall (11) of the lid (4) is defined by a first panel (H¹) and a second panel (H"), which are superimposed, are glued to each other, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of the front wall (11) of the lid (4) . 5) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein each lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) is defined by two tabs (12 ', 12"), which are superimposed, are glued to each other, are substantially the same size, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of the lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) .

6) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4) are shorter than the front wall (11) of the lid (4) , so as to leave a bottom portion of the front wall (11) of the lid (4) laterally free.

7) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the container (2) has four longitudinal edges

(14) defined between the lateral walls (8) and the front wall (7) and rear wall (6); and four transverse edges

(15) defined between the bottom wall (9) and the lateral walls (8), the front wall (7), and the rear wall (6); and the lid (4) has four longitudinal edges (16) defined between the lateral walls (12) and the front wall (11) and rear wall (10) ; and four transverse edges (17) defined between the top wall (13) and the lateral walls

(12), the front wall (11), and the rear wall (10).

8) A package as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the hinge (5) of the lid (4) slopes with respect to the transverse edges (15) of the container (2) and the transverse edges (17) of the lid (4) .

9) A package as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein the longitudinal edges (16) of the lid (4) are the same shape and substantially the same size as the longitudinal edges (14) of the container (2).

10) A package as claimed in Claim 9, wherein at least some of the longitudinal edges (14) of the container (2) and the corresponding longitudinal edges (16) of the lid (4) are rounded or bevelled.

11) A package as claimed in Claim 9, wherein at least some of the transverse edges (15) of the container (2) or of the transverse edges (17) of the lid (4) are rounded or bevelled. 12) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the container (2) comprises two projections (18) which project outwards to engage the lid (4) with a given amount of interference when the lid (4) is in the closed position.

13) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein a collar (19) is fitted, folded into a U, to the inside of the container (2), and projects partly outwards of the open top end (3) to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid (4) when the lid (4) is in the closed position.

14) A package as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the collar (19) comprises two projections (20), which project outwards to engage the lid (4) with a given amount of interference when the lid (4) is in the closed position.

15) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the container (2) and the lid (4) are formed from a flat blank (21) having two longitudinal fold lines (22), and a number of transverse fold lines (23) defining between the longitudinal fold lines (22) : a first panel (H') forming an inner portion of the front wall (11) of the lid (4); a second panel (H") forming an outer portion of the front wall (11) of the lid (4); a third panel (13') forming the top wall (13) of the lid (4); a fourth panel (10') forming the rear wall (10) of the lid (4) ; a fifth panel (6¹) forming the rear wall (β) of the container (2) ; a sixth panel (9') forming the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) ; and a seventh panel (7^?) forming the front wall (7) of the container (2) ; the second panel (H") has two first tabs (12') which form the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4), are located on opposite sides of the second panel (H"), and are separated from the second panel (H") by the longitudinal fold lines (22); the fifth panel (β¹) has two second tabs (8'), which form part of the lateral walls (8) of the container (2), are located on opposite sides of the fifth panel (β'), and are separated from the fifth panel (6¹) by the longitudinal fold lines (22); the seventh panel (7') has two third tabs (8"), which form part of the lateral walls (8) of the container (2), are located on opposite sides of the seventh panel

(7¹), and are separated from the seventh panel (7¹) by the longitudinal fold lines (22) .

16) A package as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the fourth panel (10') has fourth tabs (24), which reinforce the inside of the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4), are located on opposite sides of the fourth panel (10¹), and are separated from the fourth panel (10') by the longitudinal fold lines (22); and each fourth tab (24) has a first tongue (25) for reinforcing the inside of the top wall (13) of the lid (4).

17) A package as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein each second tab (8¹) has a second tongue (26) for reinforcing the inside of the bottom wall (9) of the container (2) .

18) A package as claimed in Claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein each first tab (12¹) is connected to a fifth tab

(12"); each first tab (12') and the corresponding fifth tab (12") are superimposed and glued to each other, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of a lateral wall (12) of the lid (4).

19) A package as claimed in Claim 18, wherein each fifth tab (12") is substantially the same shape as and slightly smaller than the corresponding first tab (12^f).

20) A package as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein each first tab (12') is connected to the corresponding fifth tab (12") along a fold line (27) parallel to the longitudinal fold lines (22) . 21) A package as claimed in Claim 18 or 19, wherein each first tab (12') is connected to the corresponding fifth tab (12") along a fold line (27) sloping with respect to the longitudinal fold lines (22) .

22) A package as claimed in Claim 15, 16 or 17, wherein the first panel (II¹) has two fifth tabs (12"), which form part of the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4) , are located on opposite sides of the first panel (H'), and are separated from the first panel (H') by the longitudinal fold lines (22); and a first tab (12') and a corresponding fifth tab (12") are superimposed and glued to each other to respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of a lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) .

23) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, and comprising a number of containers (2) , each of which is cup-shaped to house a group of tobacco articles, and has a respective open top end (3) ; the lid (4) is hinged to one of the containers (2) to rotate between the open position and the closed position respectively- opening and closing the open top ends (3) of all the containers (2) .

24) A package as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the containers (2) are connected to one another so as to be movable between a fold-up configuration, in which the containers (2) are arranged contacting one another and side by side along the front wall (7) and the rear wall (6), and an unfolded configuration, in which the containers (2) are arranged side by side along the lateral walls (8); and the lid (4) can only be moved from the open position to the closed position respectively opening and closing the open top ends (3) of all the containers (2) when the containers (2) are in the fold-up configuration . 25) A package as claimed in Claim 24, and comprising two containers (2) hinged to each other along respective longitudinal edges (14) .

26) A package as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the containers (2) are hinged to each other by a double hinge (28) .

27 ) A package as claimed in Claim 24 , and comprising three containers ( 2 ) hinged to one another in pairs along respective longitudinal edges ( 14 ) . 28) A package as claimed in Claim 27, wherein the containers (2) are hinged to one another by two double hinges (28) .

29) A package as claimed in any one of Claims 23 to 28, and comprising a supporting member (29) having the common lid (4), and to which the containers (2) are glued.

30) A package as claimed in Claim 29, wherein the supporting member (29) comprises a connecting strip (30) supporting the lid (4) and which is glued to the front wall (7) or rear wall (β) of the containers (2) and to the lateral walls (8) of the containers (2) .

31) A package as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the supporting member (29) is formed from a flat first blank (31), and each container (2) is formed from a flat second blank (38) independent of the first blank (31); the first blank (31) has two longitudinal fold lines (32), and a number of transverse fold lines (33) defining between the longitudinal fold lines (32) : a first panel (II¹) forming an inner portion of the front wall (11) of the lid (4); a second panel (H") forming an outer portion of the front wall (11) of the lid (4); a third panel (13 ') forming the top wall (13) of the lid (4); a fourth panel (10 ') forming the rear wall (10) of the lid (4) ; and a fifth panel (34), of the connecting strip (30), which is glued to the rear wall (6) of a container (2) .

32) A package as claimed in Claim 31, and comprising two containers (2) ; the fifth panel (34) is connected to a sixth panel (35), which has a double hinge (28) in the middle and is glued to a lateral wall (8) of both the containers (2) ; and the sixth panel (35) of the connecting strip (30) is connected to a seventh panel

(36), which is glued to the front wall (7) of a container

(2) . 33) A package as claimed in Claim 31, and comprising three containers (2); the fifth panel (34) is connected to a sixth panel (35), which has a double hinge (28) in the middle and is glued to a lateral wall (8) of two containers (2); the sixth panel (35) of the connecting strip (30) is connected to a seventh panel (36), which is glued to the front wall (7) of a container (2); the seventh panel (36) of the connecting strip (30) is connected to an eighth panel (37), which has a double hinge (28) in the middle and is glued to a lateral wall (8) of two containers (2); and the eighth panel (37) of the connecting strip (30) is connected to a ninth panel, which is glued to the rear wall (6) of a container (2) .

34) A package as claimed in Claim 31, 32 or 33, wherein the second panel (H") has two first tabs (12'), which form the lateral walls (12) of the lid (4), are located on opposite sides of the second panel (H"), and are separated from the second panel (H") by the longitudinal fold lines (22) . 35) A package as claimed in Claim 34, wherein each first tab (12") is connected to a second tab (12"); each first tab (12') and the corresponding second tab (12") are superimposed and glued to each other, and respectively define an outer surface and an inner surface of a lateral wall (12) of the lid (4) .

36) A package as claimed in Claim 35, wherein each second tab (12") is substantially the same shape as and slightly smaller than the corresponding first tab (12'). 37) A package as claimed in Claim 35 or 36, wherein each first tab (12') is connected to the corresponding second tab (12") along a fold line (27) parallel to the longitudinal fold lines (22) .

38) A package as claimed in Claim 35 or 36, wherein each first tab (12') is connected to the corresponding second tab (12") along a fold line (27) sloping with respect to the longitudinal fold lines (22) .