WO2024023864A1

WO2024023864A1 - Packet of smoking articles and corresponding production method

Info

Publication number: WO2024023864A1
Application number: PCT/IT2023/050178
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti
Original assignee: Fiorenzo Draghetti
Priority date: 2022-07-29
Filing date: 2023-07-26
Publication date: 2024-02-01

Abstract

Soft packet (100) of smoking articles (200) comprising both at least one internal containing casing (10) for holding the smoking articles (200) together, which comprises at least one wrapping sheet (110) shaped and folded in such a way as to form the at least one containing casing (10), and also an external containing body (101) made of flexible material to laterally wrap the at least one internal containing casing (10) leaving an upper wall (11) thereof exposed, so that the upper wall (11) is directly accessible to a consumer. The upper wall (11) comprises at least one removable zone (21) delimited by a closed profile (C) pre- incised on the at least one wrapping sheet (110).

Description

“PACKET OF SMOKING ARTICLES AND CORRESPONDING PRODUCTION METHOD”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a packet of smoking articles which comprises both an external containing body made of flexible material and also an internal containing casing configured to be inserted inside the containing body and used to contain an organized group of smoking articles. For example, the present invention can be applied in the field of soft packets of smoking articles, understood here as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or similar products. The present invention also concerns the method for making said packet of smoking articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smoking articles are traditionally packaged and sold in rigid or soft packets having an external containing body made of a sheet material, such as paperboard, cardboard, paper or similar materials, such as for example those described in patent documents US 1.458.977, WO 2019/121799 and WO 2016/087829.

As far as the present invention is concerned, soft packets are of particular importance. The latter are provided with a containing body open at the top and made with a very thin sheet of paper, in the order of a tenth of a millimeter, so as to have such a consistency as to be considered soft, or flexible, to the touch.

Before being packaged, smoking articles are normally grouped and disposed in such a way as to substantially define, in their entirety, a parallelepiped around which the internal containing casing, also known as internal wrapping, is then wrapped; the latter is then inserted inside the external containing body to form the packet.

The internal containing casing is usually made starting from a flat wrapping sheet of foil or metallized paper, which allows the qualities and organoleptic properties of the smoking articles present inside to be preserved in the best possible way.

In the state of the art, the wrapping sheet is initially folded into a “U” around the group of smoking articles, wrapping it on three sides; subsequently, the portions of the wrapping sheet protruding with respect to the group of smoking articles are folded around the latter to wrap it and then close it completely. In particular, the containing casing is made in such a way that the lower wall has no closing flaps and is disposed in contact with the rear end of the smoking articles, that is, the end where they are lit. The upper wall of the containing casing, on the contrary, is defined by the closing flaps which close the group of smoking articles at the top and is disposed in contact with the mouthpiece end thereof.

Usually, the containing casing is inserted inside the containing body so that the lower wall is disposed on the bottom of the packet and that the upper wall is exposed to view and accessible to the consumer, to allow the smoking articles to be extracted. Furthermore, in known soft packets marketed in many countries, in order to keep the closing flaps of the upper wall of the containing casing folded over one another and to prevent the latter from coming out of the upper aperture of the containing body, a printed element, such as a government stamp or an excise stamp for example, is glued transversely to said upper wall and to two larger walls of the containing body.

One disadvantage of known soft packets, taking into account the presence of the printed element, is that in order to extract the cigarettes from the containing casing, the consumer has to create an aperture by tearing some portions of the closing flaps of the upper wall, with the risk of ruining the structural integrity of the containing casing itself.

There is therefore a need to perfect a soft-type packet of smoking articles, which can overcome at least the disadvantage of the state of the art.

To do this it is necessary to solve the technical problem of producing a soft packet of smoking articles in which to extract the smoking articles it is not necessary to tear the portions of the closing flaps of the internal containing casing in order to make an aperture.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to provide a soft packet of smoking articles, and to perfect a corresponding production method, with which it is possible to make the aperture for removing the smoking articles easily and quickly without the risk of ruining the integrity of the internal containing casing.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a soft packet of smoking articles which is easy to produce, and which has limited production costs.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe other characteristics of the present invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes and to resolve the technical problem disclosed above in a new and original way, also achieving considerable advantages compared to the state of the prior art, a soft packet of smoking articles according to the present invention comprises both at least one internal containing casing for holding the smoking articles together, which comprises at least one wrapping sheet shaped and folded in such a way as to define an upper wall, a first larger wall and a second larger wall parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposite each other and perpendicular to the first and second larger walls, and a lower wall parallel to the upper wall and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to the smoking articles so as to form the at least one containing casing, and also an external containing body preferably made of flexible material, having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and provided at least with two larger lateral walls and two smaller lateral walls disposed in such a way as to laterally wrap the at least one internal containing casing leaving at least one portion of the upper wall of the at least one internal containing casing exposed, so that the upper wall is directly accessible to a consumer.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the at least one wrapping sheet is folded into a “U” so that the upper wall, which is interposed between the first and second larger walls, is placed in a position without overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet. The upper wall comprises at least one removable zone delimited by a closed profile, pre-incised on the at least one wrapping sheet, the removable zone being configured to be removed so as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles; at least one first portion of the closed profile is disposed on the at least one portion of exposed upper wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the upper wall is delimited by two smaller upper edges and by two larger upper edges. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the at least one first portion of the removable zone extends transversely between the two larger upper edges.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the removable zone also comprises at least one second portion made on at least one of either the first or second larger wall or in correspondence with one of either the first or second lateral wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the removable zone comprises two second portions made specularly on the first and second larger wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the two second portions made specularly on the first and second larger wall are the same as each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the removable zone is provided with at least one opening flap which is defined by an additional profile pre-incised on the wrapping sheet, disposed entirely inside the closed profile, in such a way that the pre-incised additional profile of the at least one opening flap and the pre-incised closed profile of the removable zone do not meet, the opening flap being configured to be grasped and lifted with respect to the surrounding removable zone in order to facilitate the complete removal of the removable zone.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the opening flap is made in such a way that one side thereof is adjacent to an upper edge chosen from the two larger upper edges or the two smaller upper edges.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the additional preincised profile of the at least one opening flap is configured to be folded along the upper edge to which it is adjacent.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the at least one flat wrapping sheet is divided into: a central panel configured to define, when folded, the upper wall; a first larger panel and a second larger panel which are adjacent, at the top and at the bottom, to the central panel, and are configured to define, when folded, the first larger wall and the second larger wall, respectively; a smaller rear flap adjacent to the first larger panel and a smaller front flap adjacent to the second larger panel, which are configured to define, when folded and at least partly overlapping each other, the lower wall. Moreover, on the sides of the central panel there are respective central flaps, on the sides of the first and second larger panels there are respective rear lateral flaps and respective front lateral flaps, and on the sides of the smaller rear and front flaps there are respective corner flaps; the central flaps, the rear lateral flaps, the front lateral flaps and the comer flaps being configured to define, when they are folded and at least partly overlapping, the first and second lateral walls.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the containing body is also provided with a bottom wall against which, during use, the lower wall of the at least one internal containing casing rests.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the packet comprises two internal containing casings, each made starting from a respective wrapping sheet, wherein the two containing casings are disposed side by side to each other so that one of either the first or second lateral wall of one containing casing is in contact with another one of either the second or first lateral wall of the other containing casing, the upper walls of each containing casing comprising respectively the removable zone so as to make the smoking articles contained in each containing casing accessible to a consumer.

In particular, the present invention also concerns an internal containing casing for holding smoking articles together, comprising a wrapping sheet shaped and folded in such a way as to define an upper wall, a first larger wall and a second larger wall parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposite each other and perpendicular to the first and second larger walls, and a lower wall parallel to the upper wall and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to the smoking articles, the upper wall being delimited by two smaller upper edges and by two larger upper edges.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the wrapping sheet is folded into a “U” so that the upper wall, which is interposed between the first and second larger walls, is placed in a position of the wrapping sheet without overlapping portions.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the upper wall comprises a removable zone delimited by a closed profile pre-incised on the wrapping sheet and configured to be removed so as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles. The removable zone comprises a first portion which extends transversely between the two larger upper edges and at least one second portion made on the first or second larger wall. The removable zone being adjacent to, or in contact with, one of the two smaller upper edges and therefore positioned asymmetrically in the upper wall.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the removable zone is provided with at least one opening flap which is defined by an additional profile pre-incised on the wrapping sheet, disposed entirely inside the closed profile, in such a way that the additional pre-incised profile of the at least one opening flap and the pre-incised closed profile of the removable zone do not meet, the opening flap being configured to be grasped and lifted with respect to the surrounding removable zone, in order to facilitate the complete removal of the removable zone.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a soft packet of smoking articles, comprising both two internal containing casings for holding the smoking articles together, disposed side by side to each other, and also an external containing body made of flexible material, having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and provided with two larger lateral walls and two smaller lateral walls disposed so as to laterally wrap the two internal containing casings, leaving the upper walls thereof exposed.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the upper wall of each of the two containing casings comprises a removable zone delimited by a closed profile pre-incised on the wrapping sheet and configured to be removed so as to define an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles from the respective containing casing.

According to these aspects of the present invention, the removable zone of each of the two containing casings can be of the type described in detail in the present disclosure with reference to the attached drawings; however, it is clear that it can also have any other conformation whatsoever, provided it is delimited by a closed profile and it is suitable for the purpose of allowing an easy removal by the user to define an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a soft packet of smoking articles comprising both at least one internal containing casing for holding the smoking articles together, and also an external containing body preferably made of flexible material, having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and provided with at least two larger lateral walls and two smaller lateral walls; wherein, in order to manufacture the at least one containing casing, the method comprises a shaping step and a plurality of folding steps in which at least one substantially flat wrapping sheet is first shaped and then folded in such a way as to define an upper wall, a first larger wall and a second larger wall, parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall opposite each other and perpendicular to the larger walls, and a lower wall parallel to the upper wall and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to the smoking articles.

In particular, in the shaping step it is provided that the upper wall, which is interposed between the first and second larger walls, is without overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet and the first and second larger walls extend from the upper wall in such a way as to contact lateral surfaces of the smoking articles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the method provides that on the upper wall of the wrapping sheet there is incised a closed profile which defines a removable zone configured to be removed in such a way as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles. Moreover, the method comprises an insertion step in which the at least one internal containing casing is inserted in the containing body leaving the upper wall of the at least one containing casing exposed, so that the removable zone is directly accessible to a consumer.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the shaping step, the closed profile is incised in such a way that the removable zone comprises at least one first portion that extends transversely between two larger upper edges of the upper wall.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the shaping step, the closed profile is incised in such a way that the removable zone also comprises at least one second portion made in correspondence with at least one of either the first or second larger wall or in correspondence with one of either the first or second lateral walls.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in the shaping step, on the at least one wrapping sheet, entirely inside the closed profile, there is incised an additional profile disposed in such a way as to not meet the closed profile, which defines an opening flap of the removable zone.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of folding steps comprises at least a first folding step in which the at least one wrapping sheet is initially folded into a “U” and is centered symmetrically on the smoking articles in such a way that a central panel of the at least one wrapping sheet, in which the first portion is present, is in contact with a mouthpiece end of the smoking articles, and in such a way that a first and a second larger panel of the at least one wrapping sheet, in which the at least one second portion is possibly present, are in contact with a lateral surface of the smoking articles. Moreover, when the wrapping sheet is folded into a “U” on the smoking articles, a respective smaller rear flap, a respective smaller front flap, respective central flaps, respective rear lateral flaps, respective front lateral flaps, and respective corner flaps of the at least one wrapping sheet protrude with respect to the smoking articles and are then folded and closed in such a way as to overlap and define, respectively, the lower wall and the lateral walls of the at least one internal containing casing.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of folding steps also comprises, in sequence: a second folding step in which the central flaps are folded toward the smoking articles, thus defining the upper wall; a third folding step in which the smaller rear flap is folded against a rear end of the smoking articles, and immediately after the smaller front flap is folded against the smaller rear flap; a fourth folding step in which the corner flaps are folded against the smoking articles, thus defining the lower wall; and a fifth and last folding step, in which the rear lateral flaps are folded against the smoking articles, thus defining the first larger wall, and immediately after the front lateral flaps are folded against the already folded rear lateral flaps, thus defining both the second larger wall and also the lateral walls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a packet of smoking articles according to the present invention in a condition of use;

- fig. 2 is another three-dimensional view of the packet of smoking articles of fig. 1 , in which some elements have been removed for reasons of clarity;

- fig. 3 is a three-dimensional view of an internal containing casing for the packet of smoking articles of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 4 is a three-dimensional view of the containing casing according to another embodiment of the present invention;

- fig. 5 is a top view of a wrapping sheet with which the containing casing of fig. 3 is made;

- figs, from 6 to 11 are a schematic representation of an operating sequence for making the containing casing of fig. 3 and the packet of smoking articles of fig. 1 ;

- fig. 12 is a three-dimensional view of a packet of smoking articles according to another embodiment of the present invention;

- fig. 13 is a three-dimensional view of a packet of smoking articles according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

We must clarify that in the present description the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the figures in the attached drawings also as described, have the sole function of better illustrating and explaining the present invention, their function being to provide a non-limiting example of the invention itself, since the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications. DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to fig. 1, a soft packet 100 of smoking articles according to the present invention comprises an external containing body 101 made of flexible material and with a substantially parallelepiped shape, and at least one containing casing 10 for holding together smoking articles 200, as defined above, which is able to be inserted with minimum play in the containing body 101.

The containing body 101 is open at the top, that is, it comprises an upper aperture, and it is provided with two larger lateral walls 102 and 103, two smaller lateral walls 105 and 106, and a bottom wall 107. Alternatively, the containing body 101 can also be open at the bottom, therefore not provided with the bottom wall 107. In accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, the containing body 101 is substantially soft, that is, it is made of a very thin sheet of paper, in the order of a tenth of a millimeter, which gives it a consistency such as to be considered soft, or flexible, to the touch. Therefore, when the containing body 101 is of the substantially soft type, the embodiments described here concern a packet 100 of the soft type.

Alternatively, the containing body 101 can be made with one or more thicker sheets of paper, in the order of about 0.1 to about 0.5 mm. In this way, the packet 100 has a substantially more resistant structure, which allows to better protect the integrity of the smoking articles 200 present therein.

The smoking articles 200 are usually grouped and organized in such a way as to substantially define, in their entirety, a parallelepiped. Moreover, each smoking article 200 comprises a mouthpiece end 201 (fig. 2) configured to be brought in correspondence with the mouth of the consumer and which can be provided with a filter, a rear or ignition end 202 (fig. 6), opposite the mouthpiece end 201, which can be ignited to smoke the smoking article 200, and an external lateral surface 203.

The containing casing 10 is made starting from a respective flexible and flat wrapping sheet 110 (fig. 5), having a rectangular development and configured to be suitably wrapped on the group of smoking articles 200, as will be described in detail below.

Preferably, the wrapping sheet 110 is made with an impermeable material, for example foil, capable of better preserving the qualities and organoleptic properties of the smoking articles 200 present therein.

In particular, the wrapping sheet 110 is shaped and folded in such a way that the containing casing 10 (figs. 2 and 3) comprises: an upper wall 11 that contacts, during use, the mouthpiece end 201 of the smoking articles 200; a first larger wall 12 and a second larger wall 13 parallel to each other and opposite each other, which contact, during use, the lateral surface 203 of the smoking articles 200; a first lateral wall 15 and a second lateral wall 16 opposite each other and perpendicular to the first and second larger wall 12 and 13; and a lower wall 17, opposite and parallel to the upper wall 11 , which contacts, during use, the rear end 202 of the smoking articles 200. We must clarify that by the term “during use” we mean a condition in which the containing casing 10, with the smoking articles 200 inside it, is inserted into the containing body 101 in order to form the packet 100 (figs. 1 and 2). Specifically, in such a condition, the upper wall 11 is exposed to view, while the lower wall 17 is in contact with the bottom wall 107 of the containing body 100.

As shown in fig. 3, the upper wall 11 is delimited by two smaller upper edges, or borders, 19 and two larger upper edges, or borders, 20.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the upper wall 11 comprises at least one removable zone 21 delimited by a pre-incised closed profile C, preferably with non-continuous incisions or perforations, on the wrapping sheet 110, the removable zone 21 being configured to be removed in order to define an aperture through which it is possible to extract the smoking articles 200.

The removable zone 21 develops, for most of its extension, on the upper wall 11.

The removable zone 21 is disposed adjacent to, or in contact with, one of the two smaller upper edges 19; specifically, the closed profile C is substantially rectangular and one of its larger sides laps one of the two smaller upper edges 19. Therefore, the removable zone 21, being in contact with one of the two smaller upper edges 19, is positioned asymmetrically in the upper wall 11 ; in doing so, there is the advantage that the removable zone 21 does not occupy or, possibly, occupies to a small extent, a central zone of the upper wall 11 in which a printed element 121 is often disposed transversely, as will be described in more detail below (fig. 1).

Furthermore, the closed profile C is manufactured in such a way that the removable zone 21 comprises a first portion 21a, which extends transversely from one larger upper edge 20 to the other, and at least one second portion 21b created on at least one of either the first or the second larger wall 12 or 13. In the example given here, the removable zone 21 comprises two second portions 21b equal to each other and made specularly on the first larger wall 12 and on the second larger wall 13, respectively. Please note that, during use, the two second portions 21b are not fully exposed to sight, since they are substantially covered by the containing body 101. The presence of portions 21b has the advantage of making it much easier to grip the smoking articles 200 for a consumer, once the removable zone 21 has been removed; in fact, in this way, it is also possible to grip a small portion of the lateral surface 203, without ruining the integrity of the containing casing 10.

The removable zone 21 is provided with at least one opening flap 23 which is defined by an additional profile pre-incised on the wrapping sheet 110, as specified above, and which is configured to be grasped and lifted by the consumer with respect to the surrounding removable zone 21 in order to facilitate the complete removal of the removable zone, and thus extract the smoking articles 200.

According to one embodiment described here with particular reference to figs. 1, 3 and 5-11, the opening flap 23 is disposed entirely inside the closed profile C so that the additional pre-incised profile that forms the opening flap 23 and the preincised closed profile C do not meet.

Advantageously, the opening flap 23 is made in such a way that one side thereof is adjacent to one or the other of the two larger upper edges 20, so that at least one part thereof can be lifted, or it can lift autonomously, to facilitate the identification and grip by the consumer.

In other embodiments, not shown, the opening flap 23 is made so that one side thereof is adjacent to one or the other of the two smaller upper edges 19.

In any case, whether the opening flap 23 is adjacent to a smaller upper edge 19 or to a larger upper edge 20, the additional pre-incised profile that defines the at least one opening flap 23 is configured to be folded along the upper edge to which it is adjacent.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, shown in Fig. 4, the containing casing 10 is provided both with the removable zone 21, which in this case constitutes a first removable zone, and also with a second removable zone 21 ’, which is made on the upper wall 11 in a position symmetrical with respect to the first one. In this case, the central zone of the upper wall 11 , delimited by the removable zones 21 and 21 ’, must be sufficiently wide in order to guarantee an adequate structural resistance of the upper wall 11 and therefore of the containing casing 10.

The wrapping sheet 110 (fig. 5), while advantageously being in a single body, is divided into: a central panel 111 that is configured to define, when the sheet is folded, the upper wall 11; a first and a second larger panel 112 and 113 which are adjacent the central panel 111 and which are configured to define, when folded, the first larger wall 12 and the second larger wall 13, respectively; a rear smaller flap 117a adjacent the first larger panel 112 and a front smaller flap 117b adjacent the second larger panel 113, which are configured to define, when folded and at least partly overlapping each other, the lower wall 17.

Moreover, to the sides of the central panel 111 there are respective central flaps 119, to the sides of the first and second larger panel 112 and 113 there are respective rear lateral flaps 115a and 116a and respective front lateral flaps 115b and 116b, and to the sides of the rear and front smaller flaps 117a and 117b there are respective corner flaps 120. The central flaps 119, the rear lateral flaps 115a and 116a, the front lateral flaps 115b and 116b and the corner flaps 120, are configured to define, when folded and at least partly overlapping each other, the first and second lateral wall 15 and 16, as will be described in detail below.

As seen in fig. 5, the closed profile C of the removable zone 21 is made on the central panel 111 adjacent to one of the central flaps 119 and the two portions 21b are made symmetrically on the first and on the second larger panel 1 12 and 113. By way of example, the closed profile C may be made by means of die cutting.

As stated, in accordance with one possible embodiment of the present invention, on at least one part of the upper wall 11 and one of the walls of the containing body 101 the printed element 121 can be disposed (fig. 1). By way of a non-limiting example, the printed element 121 can be a government stamp, an excise stamp, or other, indicative of the successful payment of a tax and/or excise duty, which usually needs to be tom, or divided, into two parts.

Advantageously, thanks to the fact that in the present invention the upper wall 11 is without folding flaps, the printed element 121 can be disposed longitudinally with respect to the upper wall 11, that is, not in a transverse direction, and partly overlapping with the removable zone 21, so that by removing the latter a part of the printed element 121 is also advantageously removed. This relative disposition between the removable zone 21 and the printed element 121 means that the latter also acts as an anti-tampering element configured to tear when the packet 100 is first opened; its integrity therefore guarantees to the consumer that the packet 100 is intact. Advantageously, when the packet 100 is yet to be opened for the first time, the printed element 121 also acts as a closing strap that prevents the unwanted escape of the containing casing 10 from the external containing body 101. In accordance with another embodiment shown in fig. 12, the packet 100 comprises two internal containing casings 10 for holding the smoking articles 200, as described above, together. In particular, the two casings 10 are disposed side- by-side to each other, with one of either the respective first or second lateral walls 15 or 16 of one containing casing 10 in contact with another one of either the respective second or first lateral walls 16 or 15 of the other containing casing 10, keeping the removable zone 21 of each containing casing 10 accessible to a consumer, that is, exposed to view.

Please note that the sizes of the containing casings 10 and, therefore, of the wrapping sheets 110 with which the latter are made are adapted to both the number of smoking articles 200 that they have to contain and also the size of the packet 100.

By way of example, while keeping the sizes of a packet 100 previously described unchanged, the width of the two containing casings 10 to be inserted into such packet 100 (figs. 12 and 13), considered along the smaller side of the larger lateral walls 102 and 103, is half the width of the containing casing 10 shown in figs, from 1 to 4.

As can be seen in fig. 12, the two containing casings 10 are disposed inside the packet 100 in such a way that the respective removable zones 21 are symmetrical with each other, that is, disposed close to the external smaller upper edges 19 so as to leave a central zone free for the possible disposition of the printed element 121.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 12, the two containing casings 10 are disposed so as to have the opening flaps 23 of the respective removable zones 21 on the same side, that is, both close to the same larger lateral wall 102 or 103 of the packet 100.

According to another embodiment, shown in fig. 13, the two containing casings 10 are disposed so as to have the opening flaps 23 of the respective removable zones 21 on opposite sides to each other, that is, with one opening flap 23 close to the larger lateral wall 102 and the other opening flap 23 close to the other larger lateral wall 103. This latter configuration is particularly advantageous since it allows to facilitate the removal of the removable zone 21, by acting on the opening flap 23, regardless of how the packet 100 is held.

The method for manufacturing the packet 100 according to the present invention containing a single containing casing 10 comprises the following steps.

In an initial shaping step, the wrapping sheet 110 is shaped to create the containing casing 10. In particular, the closed profile C that defines, during use, the removable zone 21 is incised on the central panel 111 and on the first and second larger panel 112 and 113. Moreover, an additional profile that defines the opening flap 23 is incised inside the removable zone 21.

Subsequently, in a first folding step (fig. 6) the wrapping sheet 110 shaped in this way is initially folded into a “U” and centered symmetrically on the group of smoking articles 200, so as to wrap the latter on three sides. In particular, the central panel 111 is disposed in contact with the mouthpiece ends 201 of the smoking articles 200 and the first and second larger panel 112 and 113 are disposed in contact with the lateral surface 203 of the smoking articles 200. In this step, the central flaps 119, the rear lateral flaps 115a and 116a, the front lateral flaps 115b and 116b, the rear and front smaller flaps 117a and 117b with the respective corner flaps 120 protrude with respect to the organized group of smoking articles 200; in particular, the rear and front smaller flaps 117a and 117b protrude with respect to the rear end 202 of the smoking articles 200.

Subsequently, in a second folding step (fig. 7), the central flaps 119 are folded simultaneously against the organized group of smoking articles 200, thereby defining the upper wall 11. From such folding, respective internal upper triangular- like folds 122 are created on the rear and front lateral flaps 115a, 116a and 115b, 116b.

Then, in a third folding step (fig. 8), the rear smaller flap 117a is folded against the rear ends 202 of the smoking articles 200, and immediately after the front smaller flap 117b is folded against the rear smaller flap 117a, defining the lower wall 17.

Then, in a fourth folding step (fig. 9), the comer flaps 120 are folded simultaneously against the organized group of smoking articles 200. From such folding, internal lower triangular-like folds 123 are created on the rear and front lateral flaps 115a, 116a and 115b, 116b which, as a consequence, each have an isosceles trapezoid shape.

Then, in a fifth and final folding step (fig. 10), the rear lateral flaps 115a, 116a are folded simultaneously against the organized group of smoking articles 200, thus defining the first larger wall 112, and immediately after the front lateral flaps 115b, 116b are folded simultaneously against the already folded rear lateral flaps 115a, 116a, thus defining both the second larger wall 13 and also the lateral walls 15 and 16.

In this way, a containing casing 10 is created in which the wall in contact with the mouthpiece end 201 of the smoking articles 200, that is, the upper wall 11, is advantageously without folds.

In order to form, and therefore produce, the packet 100, a subsequent insertion step is provided, in which the internal containing casing 10 thus made is inserted inside the external containing body 101 (fig. 11) so as to leave the upper wall 11 (figs. 1 and 2), and therefore at least the first portion 21a of the removable zone 21 , exposed to the view of the consumer.

We wish to clarify that the operations for folding the wrapping sheet 110 to produce the containing casing 10 and the operation for inserting the latter in the containing body 101 to form the packet 100 are carried out by means of suitable mechanical means of a known type, schematically indicated with arrows F in figs, from 6 to 11.

We must also clarify that the embodiments of the packet 100 shown in figs. 12 and 13, in which the packet 100 contains two containing casings 10, can also be obtained with the method described above. In fact, in order to produce each containing casing 10, the sequence of operations for folding the wrapping sheet 110 is the same as the one described with reference to figs, from 6 to 11, changing only the sizes of the wrapping sheet 110, and of course the number and disposition of the smoking articles 200 contained in each containing casing 10.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts and steps may be made to the packet 100 and to the method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

For example, in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, not shown in the drawings, the removable zone 21 can be disposed in any zone whatsoever of the upper wall 11 of the containing casing 10.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art will be able to achieve other equivalent forms of internal containing casings for packets of smoking articles, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate their reading and they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection defined by the very claims.

Claims

1. Soft packet (100) of smoking articles (200) comprising both one internal containing casing (10) for holding said smoking articles (200) together, which comprises a wrapping sheet (110) shaped and folded in such a way as to define an upper wall (11), a first larger wall (12) and a second larger wall (13) parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall (15) and a second lateral wall (16) opposite each other and perpendicular to said first and second larger walls (12, 13), and a lower wall (17) parallel to said upper wall (11) and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to said smoking articles (200) so as to form said containing casing (10), and also an external containing body (101), having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and provided with two larger lateral walls (102, 103) and two smaller lateral walls (105, 106) disposed in such a way as to laterally wrap said internal containing casing (10) leaving at least one portion of said upper wall (11) of said internal containing casing (10) exposed, so that said upper wall (11) is directly accessible to a consumer, wherein said wrapping sheet (110) is folded into a “U” so that said upper wall (11), which is interposed between said first and second larger walls (12, 13), is placed in a position without overlapping portions of said wrapping sheet (110), characterized in that said upper wall (11) comprises a removable zone (21) delimited by a closed profile (C) pre-incised on said wrapping sheet (110) and configured to be removed so as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract said smoking articles (200), wherein at least one first portion (21a) of said closed profile (C) is disposed on said at least one exposed portion of upper wall (11).

2. Packet (100) as in claim 1, characterized in that said upper wall (11) is delimited by two smaller upper edges (19) and by two larger upper edges (20).

3. Packet (100) as in claim 2, characterized in that said at least one first portion (21a) of the removable zone (21) extends transversely between said two larger upper edges (20).

4. Packet (100) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said removable zone (21) also comprises at least one second portion (21b) made on at least one of either said first or second larger wall (12, 13), or in correspondence with one of either said first or second lateral wall (15, 16).

5. Packet (100) as in claim 4, characterized in that said removable zone (21) comprises two second portions (21b) made specularly on said first and second larger wall (12, 13).

6. Packet (100) as in claim 5, characterized in that said two second portions (21b) made specularly on said first and second larger wall (12, 13) are the same as each other.

7. Packet (100) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said removable zone (21) is provided with at least one opening flap (23) which is defined by an additional profile pre-incised on said wrapping sheet (110), disposed entirely inside said closed profile (C), in such a way that said pre- incised additional profile of said at least one opening flap (23) and said pre-incised closed profile (C) of said removable zone (21) do not meet, said opening flap (23) being configured to be grasped and lifted with respect to the surrounding removable zone (21), in order to facilitate the complete removal of said removable zone (21).

8. Packet (100) as in claim 7 when it depends on claim 2, characterized in that said opening flap (23) is made in such a way that one side thereof is adjacent to an upper edge chosen from said two larger upper edges (20) or said two smaller upper edges (19).

9. Packet (100) as in claim 8, characterized in that said additional pre-incised profile which defines said at least one opening flap (23) is configured to be folded along the upper edge to which it is adjacent.

10. Packet (100) as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it comprises two containing casings (10), each made starting from a respective wrapping sheet (110), in which said two containing casings (10) are disposed side by side to each other so that one of either said first or second lateral wall (15, 16) of one containing casing (10) is in contact with another one of either said second or first lateral wall (16, 15) of the other containing casing (10), the upper walls (11) of each containing casing (10) respectively comprising said removable zone (21) so as to make the smoking articles (200) contained in each containing casing (10) accessible to a consumer.

11. Internal containing casing (10) for holding smoking articles (200) together, comprising a wrapping sheet (110) shaped and folded in such a way as to define an upper wall (11), a first larger wall (12) and a second larger wall (13) parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall (15) and a second lateral wall (16) opposite each other and perpendicular to said first and second larger walls (12, 13), and a lower wall (17) parallel to said upper wall (11) and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to said smoking articles (200), said upper wall (11) being delimited by two smaller upper edges (19) and by two larger upper edges (20), wherein said wrapping sheet (110) is folded into a “U” so that said upper wall (11), which is interposed between said first and second larger walls (12, 13), is placed in a position of the wrapping sheet (110) without overlapping portions, characterized in that said upper wall (11) comprises a removable zone (21) delimited by a closed profile (C) pre-incised on said wrapping sheet (110) and configured to be removed so as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract said smoking articles (200), in that said removable zone (21) comprises a first portion (21 a) which extends transversely between said two larger upper edges (20) and at least one second portion (21b), made on said first or second larger wall (12, 13), and in that said removable zone (21) is adjacent to, or in contact with, one of said two smaller upper edges (19) and therefore positioned asymmetrically in said upper wall (11).

12. Internal containing casing (10) as in claim 11, characterized in that said removable zone (21) is provided with at least one opening flap (23) which is defined by an additional profile pre- incised on said wrapping sheet (110), disposed entirely inside said closed profile (C), in such a way that said additional pre-incised profile of said at least one opening flap (23) and said pre-incised closed profile (C) of said removable zone (21) do not meet, said opening flap (23) being configured to be grasped and lifted with respect to the surrounding removable zone (21), in order to facilitate the complete removal of said removable zone (21). 13. Method for manufacturing a soft packet (100) of smoking articles (200) comprising both an internal containing casing (10) for holding said smoking articles (200) together, and also an external containing body (101), having substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and provided with two larger lateral walls (102, 103) and two smaller lateral walls (105, 106) disposed in such a way as to wrap said containing casing (10), wherein, in order to make said containing casing (10), said method comprises a shaping step and a plurality of folding steps in which a substantially flat wrapping sheet (110) is first shaped and then folded in such a way as to define an upper wall (11), a first larger wall (12) and a second larger wall (13), parallel to each other and opposite each other, a first lateral wall (15) and a second lateral wall (16) opposite each other and perpendicular to said larger walls (12, 13), and a lower wall (17) parallel to said upper wall (11) and disposed on the opposite side to the latter with respect to said smoking articles (200), wherein in said shaping step it is provided that said upper wall (11), which is interposed between said first and second larger walls (12, 13), is without overlapping portions of the wrapping sheet (110) and said first and second larger walls (12,

13) extend from said upper wall (11) in such a way as to contact lateral surfaces (202) of said smoking articles (200), characterized in that on said upper wall (11) of the wrapping sheet (110) there is incised a closed profile (C) which defines a removable zone (21) configured to be removed in such a way as to leave an aperture through which it is possible to extract said smoking articles (200), and in that it comprises an insertion step in which said internal containing casing (10) is inserted in said containing body (101) leaving said upper wall (11) of said containing casing (10) exposed, so that said removable zone (21) is directly accessible to a consumer.

14. Method as in claim 13, characterized in that in said shaping step, said closed profile (C) is incised in such a way that said removable zone (21) comprises at least one first portion (21a) which extends transversely between two larger upper edges (20) of said upper wall (11) and at least one second portion (21b) made in correspondence with at least one of either said first or second larger wall (12, 13) or in correspondence with one of either said first or second lateral wall (15, 16).

15. Method as in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that in said shaping step, on said wrapping sheet (110), entirely inside said closed profile (C), there is incised an additional profile, disposed in such a way as to not meet the closed profile (C), which defines an opening flap (23) of said removable zone (21).