PACKET FOR SMOKING ARTICLES PROVIDED WITH AN OVERWRAP AND CORRESPONDING MANUFACTURING METHOD

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a packet for smoking articles provided with an overwrap and to a corresponding manufacturing method.

[0002] The present invention finds advantageous application to a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid, to which the following description will make explicit reference without thereby losing generality.

PRIOR ART

[0003] Rigid packets of cigarettes with a hinged lid are currently the most widespread packets of cigarettes on the market as they are simple to manufacture, are easy and practical to use, and offer good protection to the cigarettes contained therein.

[0004] A rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises an inner wrap formed by a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metallized paper and a rigid outer container that houses the inner wrap and is provided with a hinged lid; the inner wrap is initially completely closed and generally has a disposable tear-open upper portion (known as "pull") which is removed at the first opening of the packet of cigarettes so as to allow the extraction of the cigarettes enclosed by the inner wrap.

[0005] A rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid is generally provided with an overwrap that surrounds and encloses the outer container, is formed by a wrapping sheet of transparent plastic material (typically cellophane or polypropylene), and is provided with a tear-open band which is grasped and pulled by the user to divide (cut) the overwrap into two portions and therefore allows a simple, fast and at least partial removal of the overwrap.

[0006] In order to ensure the integrity of the packet of cigarettes, i.e. to ensure that the packet of cigarettes has never been previously opened, a stamp is generally used (often with a tax value) which in most cases is partly glued to the outer container and partly to the lid and is pre-weakened along a line overlapping the edge of the lid so that, to open the lid the first time, it is mandatory to tear (at least partially) the stamp. It has also been proposed to glue a part of the stamp to the overwrap so that already by eliminating the overwrap (i.e. without opening the lid) the stamp must necessarily be torn (at least partially). In other words, the packet of cigarettes must be "damaged" in some way at the first opening in order to indicate in a clear and non-maskable manner whether the packet of cigarettes has already been previously opened; when a stamp is provided, the "damage" is always inflicted on the stamp.

[0007] It is important to ensure the integrity of the packet of cigarettes as, especially in the poorest markets, an empty packet of cigarettes could be refilled with lower quality cigarettes, provided with a new transparent overwrap (the manufacturing thereof is relatively simple) and therefore sold as new in a fraudulent manner.

[0008] The patent application EP2548819A1 and the patent application WO0185574A1 represent the closest state of the art and describe a packet for smoking articles provided with an overwrap and a stamp which has a first portion glued to the outer container and a second portion which is separated from the first portion by a tearable weakening line and is glued to the overwrap so that the second portion of the stamp is separated by tearing from the first portion when the overwrap is at least partially removed. The patent application EP1138615A1 describes a rigid packet of cigarettes provided with a stamp arranged astride the hinged lid.

[0009] The patent application EP0803450A1 describes a rigid packet of cigarettes provided with a stamp applied to the transparent overwrap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a packet for smoking articles provided with an overwrap and a corresponding manufacturing method, which allows the first opening of the packet to be highlighted in a simple manner even in the absence of a stamp and, at the same time, to be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0011] According to the present invention, a packet for smoking articles with an overwrap according to claim 1 and a corresponding manufacturing method according to claim 15 are provided.

[0012] The attached dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiments, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a packet of cigarettes manufactured according to the present invention and already without a transparent overwrap;
• Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;
• -Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in an open configuration;
• Figure 4 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 provided with the transparent overwrap;
• Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 in a closed configuration;
• Figure 6 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture an outer container of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;
• Figure 7 is a plan view of an alternative of the blank of Figure 6;
• Figures 8 and 9 are two schematic views of a side wall of a lid of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 according to two

alternative embodiments; and

[0014] - Figures 10-17 are corresponding views of a side wall of a lid of the packet of cigarettes with different embodiments of a removable portion.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In Figures 1, 2 and 3, number 1 denotes as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes. The packet 1 of cigarettes comprises an outer container 2 which is preferably made of paper material (cardboard, rigid paperboard or flexible sheet), is cup-shaped and has a plurality of walls (better described in the following) .

[0016] The outer container 2 has an open upper end 3 (illustrated in Figure 3) and is provided with a lid 4, which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container 2 along a hinge 5 (illustrated in Figure 2) so as to rotate between a closing position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and an opening position (illustrated in Figure 3) of the open upper end 3. The outer container 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape oriented according to a prevalently vertical development direction, is cup-shaped, and has the upper end 3 open, a lower wall 6 opposite to the open upper end 3, a front wall 7 and a rear wall 8 (in which the hinge 5 is obtained), which are parallel to and opposite one another, and two side walls 9, which are parallel to and opposite one another. Four longitudinal edges are defined between the front 7, rear 8 and lateral 9 walls of the outer container 2, while four transverse edges are defined between the walls 7, 8 and 9 and the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2.

[0017] The lid 4 (which is an integral part of the outer container 2) has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, is cup-shaped, and has an open lower end (facing the upper open end 3 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position), an upper wall 10 (which is parallel to and opposite to the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position), a front wall 11 (which is parallel to and aligned with the front wall 7 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position), a rear wall 12 (which is parallel to and aligned with the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position and is hinged to the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2 along the hinge 5), and two side walls 13, which are parallel to and opposite one another (which are parallel to and aligned with, in particular coplanar and adjacent to, the side walls 9 of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position) . Obviously, all the walls 6-13 of the outer container 2 and of the lid 4 are formed by a same homogeneous wrapping material in all its extension. Four longitudinal edges are defined between the front 11, rear 12 and side 13 walls of the lid 4, while four transverse edges are defined between the walls 11, 12 and 13 and the upper wall 10 of the lid 4. The longitudinal and transverse edges of the lid 4 are parallel to and aligned with the corresponding longitudinal and transverse edges of the outer container 2 when the lid 4 is in the closing position.

[0018] According to the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the packet 1 of cigarettes is without a collar; according to a different embodiment not illustrated, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a collar, which is fixed (normally by gluing) "U"-folded inside the outer container 2 to partially protrude outside the open upper end and engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 4 when the lid 4 is arranged in the aforementioned closing position; the collar is preferably provided with closing elements (for example a pair of extensions which project laterally) to keep the lid 4 in the closing position.

[0019] As illustrated in Figure 3, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a sealed inner wrap 14 housed inside the outer container 2. The inner wrap 14 encloses a group 15 of cigarettes (partially illustrated in Figure 3) having a parallelepiped shape and has a cigarette extraction opening 16 at the top and in front closed by a reusable closing label 17. According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the inner wrap 14 is not sealed, it is formed by a sheet of metallized paper (the so-known as "foil") folded around the group 15 of cigarettes and without glue, and has a disposable tear-open upper portion (known as "pull") which is removed at the first opening of the packet 1 of cigarettes.

[0020] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises an overwrap 18 which surrounds and encloses the outer container 2 (therefore also the lid 4, which is an integral part of the outer container 2), is formed by a wrapping sheet of transparent plastic material (typically cellophane or polypropylene), and is provided with a tear-open band 19 which is grasped and pulled by the user to divide (cut) the overwrap 18 into two portions and therefore allowing a simple and rapid removal at least of a portion of the overwrap 18. To facilitate grasping, the tear-open band 19 has an initial end 20 which is completely separated and raised from the overwrap 18. According to a preferred embodiment, the tear-open band 19 is arranged at a lower edge of the lid 4 so as to divide the overwrap 18 into an upper portion (which surrounds the lid 4 and is always eliminated immediately so as to open the lid 4) and into a lower portion (which surrounds the outer container 2 and, more or less often, it is left around the outer container 2 even after the first opening of the lid 4).

[0021] As illustrated in Figure 4, a side wall 13 of the lid 4 has a removable portion 21 which is separated from the remaining part of the side wall 13 by a tearable weakening line 22. The removable portion 21 is stably connected to the overwrap 18 by means of the glue 23 so that, when the overwrap 18 is removed (at least one removable portion of the overwrap 18, in particular the upper part of the overwrap 18 surrounding the lid 4) the removable portion 21, which separates completely from the remaining part of the side wall 13 following the tearing along the weakening line 22 is also removed at the same time.

[0022] The glue 23 is preferably a hot (reactivatable) glue, capable of stably gluing paper and plastic material.

[0023] To summarize the above, a side wall 13 of the lid 4 has (at least) one removable portion 21 which is an integral part of the wall 13 of the outer container 2, affects at least part of the thickness of the side wall 13, is initially coplanar with the remaining part of the side wall 13, is formed by the exact same wrapping material as the rest of the side wall 13, is delimited by at least one tearable weakening line 22, and is stably connected to the overwrap 18 to be separated by tearing from the side wall 13 when the overwrap 18 is at least partially removed, and creates the formation of a hole in the side wall 13 when it is separated by tearing from the remaining part of the side wall 13.

[0024] According to what is illustrated in Figure 6, the outer container 2 and the lid 4 are made by folding a flat blank 24 made of cardboard or rigid paperboard and having a substantially elongated rectangular shape; the parts of the blank 24 are denoted with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers which distinguish the corresponding walls of the outer container 2 and of the lid 4 (which is an integral part of the outer container 2). In other words, the walls 6-13 of the outer container 2 and of the lid 4 are formed by a single and only blank 24 wrapped around the inner wrap 14 and the weakening line 22 which delimits the removable portion 21 is made by means of an incision in the blank 24.

[0025] The blank 24 has two pairs of pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines (which define the longitudinal edges of the outer container 2) and a plurality of pre-weakened transverse folding lines (which define the transverse edges of the outer container 2) which delimit, between the two longitudinal folding lines, a panel 7' that forms the front wall 7 of the outer container 2, a panel 6' that forms the lower wall 6 of the outer container 2, a panel 8' that forms the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, a panel 12' that forms the rear wall 12 of the lid 4, a panel 10' that forms the upper wall 10 of the lid 4, a panel 11' that forms the front wall 11 of the lid 4, and a panel 11" that forms a reinforcement flap and is folded by 180° and glued against an inner surface of the panel 11' (i.e. against an inner surface of the front wall 11 of the lid 4) to locally stiffen the front wall 11.

[0026] The blank 24 comprises a pair of panels 9', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 7', are connected to the panel 7' along a pair of longitudinal folding lines, and form an outer part of the side walls 9 of the outer container 2. The blank 24 comprises a pair of panels 9", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 8', are connected to the panel 8' along a pair of longitudinal folding lines, form the inner part of the side walls 9 of the outer container 2, and are glued and overlap the corresponding panels 9'. Each panel 9" comprises a flap 6" which is folded by 90° with respect to the panel 9" to be subsequently placed on and sometimes glued to the panel 6'.

[0027] The blank 24 comprises a pair of panels 13', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 11', are connected to the panel 11' along a pair of longitudinal folding lines, and form an outer part of the side walls 13 of the lid 4. The blank 24 comprises a pair of panels 13", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 12', are connected to the panel 12' along a pair of longitudinal folding lines, form the inner part of the side walls 13 of the lid 4, and are glued and overlap the corresponding panels 13'. Each panel 13" comprises a flap 10" (conventionally known as "dust-flap") which is folded by 90° with respect to the panel 13" to be subsequently placed on and sometimes glued to the panel 10'.

[0028] According to that best illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, each side wall 13 of the lid 4 is formed by overlapping an outer panel 13' and an inner panel 13" overlapped and glued to one another by means of a permanent glue 25 (for example of the vinyl type).

[0029] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the permanent glue 25 (arranged between the outer panel 13' and the inner panel 13") is not provided at the removable portion 21 and therefore the removable portion 21 is constrained to the side wall 13 (in particular to the outer panel 13'of the side wall 13) only along the weakening line 22 (preferably formed by through incision sections) and can be removed from the side wall 13, with the application of a weak force by the user, together with the portion of the overwrap 18. In this embodiment, the elimination of the removable portion 21 defines, in the outer panel 13', a through window showing a portion of the underlying inner panel 13" (if there were no underlying inner panel 13" provided, a portion of the underlying inner wrap 14 would be shown). In this embodiment, the removable portion 21 affects the entire thickness of the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13, i.e. the weakening line 22 passes through the entire thickness of the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13; in this way, when the removable portion 21 is eliminated due to the elimination of the corresponding portion of the overwrap 18, through the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13 a through hole (window) is formed (i.e. a hole that crosses through the entire thickness of the outer panel 13' from side to side) which shows a portion of the underlying inner panel 13" (if there were no underlying inner panel 13", a portion of the underlying inner panel 14 would be shown) .

[0030] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 9, the permanent glue 25 (arranged between the outer panel 13' and the inner panel 13") is also provided at the removable portion 21 and therefore when the corresponding portion of the overwrap 18 is removed, an outer part of the outer panel 13" (forming the removable portion 21) remains attached to the overwrap 18 (to which it adheres by means of the hot glue 23) while the remaining inner part of the outer panel 13" (not forming the removable portion 21) remains attached to the underlying inner panel 13" (to which it adheres by means of the permanent glue 25); in other words, when the corresponding portion of the overwrap 18 is removed, the outer panel 13" of the side wall 13 divides into two pieces, one remains attached to the overwrap 18 (to which it adheres by means of the hot glue 23 and which forms the removable portion 21) and the other attached to the underlying inner panel 13" (to which it adheres by means of the permanent glue 25 and which does not form the removable portion 21). Consequently, the removable portion 21 is formed only by a surface layer of the side wall 13 (in particular a surface layer of the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13); the weakening line 22 is preferably (but not necessarily) formed by a continuous partial incision in the thickness of the side wall 13. The elimination of the removable portion 21, together with the portion of the overwrap 18, by a weak force applied by the user, uncovers an intermediate layer of the paper material of the side wall 13 and does not define a through window. In other words, the removable portion 21 affects only a limited part of the thickness of the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13 and in this case the weakening line 22 may not pass through the entire thickness of the outer panel 13' of the side wall 13.

[0031] According to a possible embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 6, the inner panel 13" of the side wall 13 affected by the removable portion 21 does not have the permanent glue 25 at the removable portion 21 and has, instead, at the removable portion 21 a drawing 26 arranged so that said drawing 26 can be seen from the outside only after the removal of the removable portion 21, when the through window is defined.

[0032] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the removable portion 21 is made in a side wall 13 of the lid; according to other embodiments not illustrated, the removable portion 21 is made in the upper wall 10 of the lid 4 or in the front wall 11 of the lid 4 or partially in the rear wall 12 of the lid 4 and partially in the upper part of the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, i.e. astride the hinge 5.

[0033] When the removable portion 21 is made in the rear wall 12 of the lid 4 and/or in the rear wall 8 of the outer container 2, the inner wrap 14 is directly arranged and visible under the removable portion 21, i.e. the elimination of the removable portion 21 defines a through window and part of the inner wrap 14 is visible from the outside; in this embodiment, the inner wrap 14 could have a drawing, (quite similar to the drawing 26 on the inner panel 13") arranged at the removable portion 21 so that said drawing is visible from the outside only after removal of the removable portion 21.

[0034] According to a possible embodiment already described previously, the inner panel 13" of the side wall 13 affected by the removable portion 21 is provided with permanent glue 25 at the removable portion 21 and therefore the removal of the overwrap 18 involves the tearing of a removable portion 21 formed by a portion of the surface layer of the outer panel 13' delimited by the weakening line 22 shaped in a closed formation and made as a non-through incision. The fact that the panels 13' and 13" are glued together offers greater stability and robustness to the wall 13 allowing to remove in an easier manner the removable portion 21 of the surface layer of the outer panel 13'.

[0035] According to a possible embodiment, the removable portion 21 could be comprised within a silver hologram (or another type of drawing), provided on the surface of the blank 24 (i.e. on the side wall 13 of the lid 4), which would be unmistakably damaged at the removal of the portion of the overwrap 18. The blank 24 of Figure 7 can already be provided with the hot reactivable glue 23 on the removable portion 21, by a supplier of the wrapping materials. In other words, the side wall 13 of the lid 4, provided with the removable portion 21, has a drawing (for example a silver hologram) which is at least partially arranged at the removable portion 21 so that the elimination of the removable portion 21 (together with the overwrap 18) obligatorily leads to the elimination of a (relevant) part of said drawing. Preferably, the side wall 13 of the lid 4, provided with the removable portion 21, has a drawing, (for example a silver hologram) which is only partially arranged at the removable portion 21 so that the elimination of the removable portion 21 (together with the overwrap 18) obligatorily leads to the elimination of a (relevant but not complete) part of said drawing.

[0036] According to further embodiments, the removable portion 21 is made in a wall of the outer container 2 which is not part of the lid 14, for example in a side wall 9, in the front wall 7, in the rear wall 8 or in the lower wall 6.

[0037] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a single removable portion 21; according to other embodiments not illustrated, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises more than one removable portion 21, for example two or three removable portions 22 separate and independent from one another.

[0038] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the removable portion 21 has a circular shape, but according to other perfectly equivalent embodiments not illustrated, the removable portion 21 can take any other shape (rectangular, square, star-like, of an object, a company logo ...).

[0039] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the packet 1 of cigarettes is of the rigid type and has a lid 4 hinged to the container 2 (hinged lid packet), but according to an alternative embodiment not illustrated the packet 1 of cigarettes is soft (soft packet) or semi-rigid (soft-rigid packet) and therefore the container 2 is without a lid (i.e. it is open at the top) and is made by folding a wrapping sheet of different weights (for example flexible) around the inner wrap 14.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the manufacturing of the packet 1 of cigarettes provides for: manufacturing the inner wrap 14, wrapping the blank 24 around the inner wrap 14 to make the outer container 2, applying hot glue 23 on the blank 24 at the removable portion 21 (before wrapping or after having wrapped the blank 24 around the inner wrap 14), letting the hot glue 23 applied on the blank 24 dry at the removable portion 21, wrap the overwrap 18 around the outer container 2, and heating the glue 23 to reactivate the hot glue 23 and therefore determine a steady adhesion between the removable portion 21 and the overwrap 18 (in this step, generally, pressure is also applied, from the outside, on the overwrap 18 that presses the overwrap 18 against the removable portion 21 with the interposition of the glue 23). In other words, preferably, the glue 23 is not applied at the time of wrapping the overwrap 18, but is previously applied on the blank 24 and is reactivated by heating after completing the wrapping of the overwrap 18. The applying of the glue 23 on the blank 24 can take place during the wrapping process in the machine, or the blank 24 may have already been prepared with hot activable glue before being used in the machine.

[0041] According to a different embodiment, the glue 23 is applied on the blank 24 or on the inner side of the overwrap 18 sheet immediately before wrapping the overwrap 18 around the outer container 2 and therefore the glue 23 is not dried at first to be subsequently reactivated.

[0042] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the longitudinal and transverse edges are straight; alternatively, the longitudinal and/or transverse edges could be rounded or bevelled.

[0043] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-10, a single removable portion 21 is provided which has a circular shape and is delimited by a single weakening line 22 closed in a loop (i.e. a weakening line 22 without a beginning and an end as it is closed in a loop on itself).

[0044] In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, a single removable portion 21 is provided which has a non-circular shape and is delimited by a single weakening line 22 closed in a loop (i.e. a weakening line 22 without a beginning and an end as it is closed in a loop on itself).

[0045] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 12-16, several adjacent portions 21 which are mutually adjacent and delimited by several weakening lines 22 are provided; in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 12-14 and 16 the removable portions 21 are side-by-side (i.e. arranged one beside the other) while in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 15 the removable portions 21 are inserted one inside the other (not necessarily concentric and/or identical in shape one with the other). The presence of several removable portions 21 adjacent to one another allows to obtain a correct functioning of at least part of the removable portions 21 even when the permanent glue 23 is applied in a position (slightly) different from the optimal position, i.e. when the permanent glue 23 expands after application beyond the intended area.

[0046] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1-15, the weakening lines 22 are closed in a loop (i.e. they have no beginning nor end since they are closed in a loop on themselves); in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 16 and 17, the weakening lines 22 are open (i.e. they have a beginning and an end distinct and separate from the beginning).

[0047] In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the packet 1 of cigarettes contains a group 15 of cigarettes; alternatively, the packet 1 of cigarettes can contain any other type of smoking articles such as cigars, electric or electronic cigarettes (i.e. cigarettes that generate an aerosol without combustion), cartridges and refills for electronic cigarettes, new generation cigarettes.

[0048] The embodiments described herein can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0049] The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.

[0050] In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above allows to highlight the fact that the first opening has been carried out in a simple manner even in the absence of a stamp; in fact, the removable portion 21 is removed "automatically" (i.e. without the user having to do any additional or different operation) when the overwrap 18 is removed and leaves an indelible and unmaskable mark of the first opening of the packet 1 of cigarettes.

[0051] Furthermore, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be manufactured in a standard packaging machine for rigid packets of cigarettes with a hinged lid with very few modifications, concentrating essentially on the application of the permanent glue 23 (the weakening line 22 and the possible drawing 26 are made at the moment of the production of the blank 24 as a simple integration of the normal cutting and printing operations). Therefore, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above not require the use of an expensive special packaging machine (i.e. specially designed for these types of packets 1 of cigarettes) for its production does.

Claims

1. A packet (1) for smoking articles comprising:

a group (15) of smoking articles;

an outer container (2), which has a plurality of walls (6-13) each of which is formed by the same wrapping material;

an inner wrap (14), which encloses the group (15) of smoking articles and is housed in the outer container (2); and

an overwrap (18), which surrounds and wraps the outer container (2) ;

wherein at least one wall (13) of the outer container (2) has at least one removable portion (21), which is delimited by at least one tearable weakening line (22), and is stably connected to the overwrap (18) so as to be separated from the wall (13) of the outer container (2), by tearing, when the overwrap (18) is at least partially removed;

the packet (1) for smoking articles is characterized in that the removable portion (21) is an integral part of the wall (13) of the outer container (2), affects at least part of the thickness of the wall (13) of the outer container (2), is initially coplanar with the remaining part of the wall (13) of the outer container (2), is formed by the same identical wrapping material as the rest of the wall (13) of the outer container (2), and

causes the formation of a hole in the wall (13) of the outer container (2) when it is separated by tearing from the remaining part of the wall (13) of the outer container (2).

2. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein:

the overwrap (18) comprises a tear-open band (19) which is suited to be pulled in order to divide the overwrap (18) into two portions, thus allowing at least a portion of the overwrap (18) to be removed; and

the removable portion (21) is stably connected to a removable portion of the overwrap (18), preferably an upper portion.

3. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the outer container (2) has an open upper end (3), a lower wall (6) opposite to the open upper end (3), a front wall (7) and a rear wall (8), which are parallel to and opposite one another, and two side walls (9), which are parallel to and opposite one another;

the outer container (2) comprises a lid (4), which is cup-shaped and is hinged to the outer container (2) so as to rotate between an opening position and a closing position to open and close the open upper end (3);

the lid (4) has an open lower end, an upper wall (10), a front wall (11) and a rear wall (12), which are parallel to and opposite one another, and two side walls (13), which are parallel to and opposite one another; and

the removable portion (21) is obtained in a wall (13) of the lid (4) .

4. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 3, wherein the removable portion (21) is obtained in a side wall (13) of the lid (4).

5. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of claims from 1 to 4, wherein:

the wall (13) of the outer container (2) provided with the removable portion (21) is formed by the overlapping of an outer panel (13') and an inner panel (13"); and

the removable portion (21) only affects the outer panel (13') and does not affect the inner panel (13").

6. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 5, wherein the outer panel (13') is glued to the inner panel (13") by means of a permanent glue (25), which is not arranged at the removable portion (21).

7. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 6, wherein the inner panel (13") has a drawing (26) arranged at the removable portion (21) so that said drawing (26) is visible from the outside only after the removal of the removable portion (21) .

8. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to claim 5, wherein the outer panel (13') is glued to the inner panel (13") by means of a permanent glue (25), which is also arranged at the removable portion (21).

9. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein the inner wrap (14) has a drawing arranged at the removable portion (21) so that said drawing (26) is visible from the outside only after the removal of the removable portion (21).

10. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 9, wherein the removable portion (21) is stably connected to the overwrap (18) by means of hot glue (23).

11. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, wherein the removable portion (21) affects the entire thickness of at least one panel (13') of the corresponding wall (13).

12. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 10, wherein the removable portion (21) affects only part of the thickness of at least one panel (13') of the corresponding wall (13).

13. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 12, wherein the wall (13) provided with the removable portion (21) has a drawing, which is at least partially - and preferably only partially - arranged at the removable portion (21) so that the elimination of the removable portion (21) necessarily leads to the elimination of part, preferably only part, of said drawing.

14. The packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 13, wherein the walls (6-13) of the outer container (2) are formed by a blank (24) wrapped around the inner wrap (14) and the weakening line (22), which delimits the removable portion (21) is made by an incision in the blank (24).

15. A manufacturing method to manufacture the packet (1) for smoking articles according to one of the claims from 1 to 14 and comprising the steps of:

manufacturing an inner wrap (14) around a group (15) of smoking articles;

cutting, into a blank (24), at least one tearable weakening line (22), which delimits at least one removable portion (21);

wrap a blank (24) around the inner wrap (14) so as to manufacture an outer container (2), which has a plurality of walls (6-13), one of them being provided with the removable portion (21); and

wrapping an overwrap (18) around the outer container (2), stably connecting the overwrap (18) to the removable portion (21).

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 15 and comprising the further steps of:

applying hot glue (23) on the blank (24) at the removable portion (21) before wrapping or after having wrapped the blank (24) around the inner wrap (14);

letting the hot glue (23) applied on the blank (24) at the removable portion (21) dry; and

heating the hot glue (23) to reactivate the hot glue (23) and, hence, determine a steady adhesion between the removable portion (21) and the overwrap (18).

17. The manufacturing method according to claim 16 and comprising the further step of applying hot glue (23) on the removable portion (21) or on the overwrap (18) at the removable portion (21) immediately before wrapping the overwrap (18) around the outer container (2).

Ansprüche

1. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel, umfassend:

eine Gruppe (15) von Rauchartikeln;

einen Außenbehälter (2), der mehrere Wände (6-13) hat, von denen jede aus dem gleichen Einwickelmaterial gebildet ist;

eine Innenhülle (14), die die Gruppe (15) von Rauchartikeln umschließt und in dem Außenbehälter (2) aufgenommen ist; und

eine Umhüllung (18), die den Außenbehälter (2) umgibt und umhüllt;

wobei wenigstens eine Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) wenigstens einen entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) hat, der durch wenigstens eine zerreißbare Schwächungslinie (22) begrenzt ist und mit der Umhüllung (18) stabil verbunden ist, so dass er von der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) durch Abreißen getrennt wird, wenn die Umhüllung (18) wenigstens teilweise entfernt wird;

wobei die Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) ein integraler Bestandteil der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) ist, wenigstens einen Teil der Dicke der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) betrifft, anfänglich koplanar mit dem verbleibenden Teil der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) ist, aus dem gleichen identischen Einwickelmaterial wie der Rest der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) gebildet ist und die Bildung eines Lochs in der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) bewirkt, wenn er von dem verbleibenden Teil der Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2) durch Abreißen getrennt wird.

2. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 1, wobei:

die Umhüllung (18) ein Aufreißband (19) umfasst, das geeignet ist, um gezogen zu werden, um die Umhüllung (18) in zwei Abschnitte zu teilen, um so zu ermöglichen, dass wenigstens ein Abschnitt der Umhüllung (18) entfernt wird; und

der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) mit einem entfernbaren Abschnitt der Umhüllung (18) stabil verbunden ist, vorzugsweise mit einem oberen Abschnitt.

3. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei:

der Außenbehälter (2) ein offenes oberes Ende (3), eine untere Wand (6) gegenüber dem offenen oberen Ende (3), eine vordere Wand (7) und eine hintere Wand (8), die parallel zueinander sind und einander gegenüberliegen, und zwei Seitenwände (9), die parallel zueinander sind und einander gegenüberliegen, aufweist;

der Außenbehälter (2) einen Deckel (4) umfasst, der becherförmig ist und so an dem Außenbehälter (2) angelenkt ist, um sich zwischen einer Öffnungsposition und einer Schließposition zu drehen, um das offene obere Ende (3) zu öffnen und zu schließen;

der Deckel (4) ein offenes unteres Ende, eine obere Wand (10), eine vordere Wand (11) und eine Rückwand (12), die parallel zueinander sind und einander gegenüberliegen, und zwei Seitenwände (13), die parallel zueinander sind und einander gegenüberliegen, aufweist; und

der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) in einer Wand (13) des Deckels (4) enthalten ist.

4. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 3, wobei der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) in einer Seitenwand (13) des Deckels (4) enthalten ist.

5. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei:

die Wand (13) des Außenbehälters (2), die mit dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) versehen ist, durch Übereinanderlegen eines äußeren Paneels (13') und eines inneren Paneels (13") gebildet wird; und

der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) lediglich das äußere Paneel (13') betrifft und nicht das innere Paneel (13") betrifft.

6. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 5, wobei das äußere Paneel (13') mittels eines Permanentklebers (25), der nicht am entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) angeordnet ist, auf das innere Paneel (13") geklebt ist.

7. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 6, wobei das innere Paneel (13") eine Zeichnung (26) aufweist, die an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) angeordnet ist, so dass die Zeichnung (26) von außen nur nach dem Entfernen des entfernbaren Abschnitts (21) sichtbar ist.

8. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach Anspruch 5, wobei das äußere Paneel (13') mittels eines Permanentklebers (25), der auch auf dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) angeordnet ist, auf das innere Paneel (13") geklebt ist.

9. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei die Innenhülle (14) eine Zeichnung aufweist, die an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) angeordnet ist, so dass die Zeichnung (26) von außen nur nach dem Entfernen des entfernbaren Abschnitts (21) sichtbar ist.

10. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) mit der Umhüllung (18) mittels eines Heißklebers (23) stabil verbunden ist.

11. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) die gesamte Dicke wenigstens eines Paneels (13') der entsprechenden Wand (13) betrifft.

12. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei der entfernbare Abschnitt (21) nur einen Teil der Dicke des wenigstens einen Paneels (13') der entsprechenden Wand (13) betrifft.

13. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, wobei die Wand (13), die mit dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) versehen ist, eine Zeichnung aufweist, die wenigstens teilweise - und vorzugsweise nur teilweise an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) angeordnet ist, so dass das Beseitigen des entfernbaren Abschnitts (21) notwendigerweise zum Beseitigen eines Teils, vorzugsweise nur eines Teils, der Zeichnung führt.

14. Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei die Wände (6-13) des Außenbehälters (2) durch einen Zuschnitt (24) gebildet werden, der um die Innenhülle (14) gewickelt ist, und wobei die Schwächungslinie (22), die den entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) begrenzt, durch einen Schnitt in den Zuschnitt (24) gebildet wird.

15. Herstellungsverfahren zum Herstellen der Verpackung (1) für Rauchartikel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14 und umfassend die Schritte:

Herstellen einer Innenhülle (14) um eine Gruppe (15) von Rauchartikeln;

Schneiden wenigstens einer zerreißbaren Schwächungslinie (22), die wenigstens einen entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) begrenzt, in einen Zuschnitt (24);

Wickeln eines Zuschnitts (24) um die Innenhülle (14), um einen Außenbehälter (2) herzustellen, der mehrere Wände (6-13) hat, wovon eine von diesen mit dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) versehen ist; und

Wickeln einer Umhüllung (18) um den Außenbehälter (2), wobei die Umhüllung (18) mit dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) stabil verbunden ist.

16. Herstellungsverfahren nach Anspruch 15 und umfassend die weiteren Schritte:

Aufbringen von Heißkleber (23) auf den Zuschnitt (24) an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) vor dem Einwickeln oder nachdem der Zuschnitt (24) um die Innenhülle (14) gewickelt worden ist;

Trocknenlassen des Heißklebers (23), der an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) auf den Zuschnitt (24) aufgebracht wurde; und

Erhitzen des Heißklebers (23), um den Heißkleber (23) zu reaktivieren, und somit Bewirken einer gleichmäßigen Haftung zwischen dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) und der Umhüllung (18).

17. Herstellungsverfahren nach Anspruch 16 und umfassend den weiteren Schritt des Aufbringens von Heißkleber (23) auf den entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) oder auf die Umhüllung (18) an dem entfernbaren Abschnitt (21) unmittelbar vor dem Wickeln der Umhüllung (18) um den Außenbehälter (2).

Revendications

1. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer comprenant :

un groupe (15) d'articles à fumer ;

un contenant externe (2) qui a une pluralité de parois (6-13), dont chacune est formée par le même matériau d'emballage ;

un emballage interne (14) qui enferme le groupe (15) d'articles à fumer et est logé dans le contenant externe (2) ; et

un suremballage (18) qui entoure et emballe le contenant externe (2) ;

dans lequel au moins une paroi (13) du contenant externe (2) a au moins une partie amovible (21) qui est délimitée par au moins une ligne de faiblesse déchirable (22) et est raccordée de manière stable au suremballage (18) afin d'être séparée de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2), par déchirure, lorsque le suremballage (18) est au moins partiellement retiré ;

le paquet (1) pour articles à fumer est caractérisé en ce que la partie amovible (21) fait partie intégrante de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2), affecte au moins une partie de l'épaisseur de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2), est initialement coplanaire avec la partie résiduelle de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2), est formée avec le même matériau d'emballage identique au reste de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2), et provoque la formation d'un trou dans la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2) lorsqu'elle est séparée par déchirure par rapport à la partie résiduelle de la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2).

2. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 1, dans lequel :

le suremballage (18) comprend une bande d'ouverture par déchirure (19) qui est appropriée pour être tirée afin de diviser le suremballage (18) en deux parties, permettant ainsi de retirer au moins une partie du suremballage (18) ; et

la partie amovible (21) est raccordée de manière stable à une partie amovible du suremballage (18), de préférence une partie supérieure.

3. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel :

le contenant externe (2) a une extrémité supérieure ouverte (3), une paroi inférieure (6) opposée à l'extrémité supérieure ouverte (3), une paroi avant (7) et une paroi arrière (8) qui sont parallèles et opposées entre elles, et deux parois latérales (9) qui sont parallèles et opposées entre elles ;

le contenant externe (2) comprend un couvercle (4) qui est en forme de coupelle et est articulé par rapport au contenant externe (2) afin de pivoter entre une position d'ouverture et une position de fermeture pour ouvrir et fermer l'extrémité supérieure ouverte (3) ;

le couvercle (4) a une extrémité inférieure ouverte, une paroi supérieure (10), une paroi avant (11) et une paroi arrière (12) qui sont parallèles et opposées entre elles, et deux parois latérales (13) qui sont parallèles et opposées entre elles ; et

la partie amovible (21) est obtenue dans une paroi (13) du couvercle (4).

4. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la partie amovible (21) est obtenue dans une paroi latérale (13) du couvercle (4).

5. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel :

la paroi (13) du contenant externe (2) prévu avec la partie amovible (21) est formée par le chevauchement d'un panneau externe (13') et d'un panneau interne (13") ; et

la partie amovible (21) affecte uniquement le panneau externe (13') et n'affecte pas le panneau interne (13").

6. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le panneau externe (13') est collé au panneau interne (13") au moyen d'une colle permanente (25) qui n'est pas disposée au niveau de la partie amovible (21).

7. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 6, dans lequel le panneau interne (13") a un dessin (26) disposé au niveau de la partie amovible (21) de sorte que ledit dessin (26) est visible depuis l'extérieur uniquement après le retrait de la partie amovible (21).

8. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le panneau externe (13') est collé au panneau interne (13") au moyen d'une colle permanente (25) qui est également disposée au niveau de la partie amovible (21).

9. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel l'emballage interne (14) a un dessin disposé au niveau de la partie amovible (21) de sorte que ledit dessin (26) est visible depuis l'extérieur uniquement après le retrait de la partie amovible (21).

10. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel la partie amovible (21) est raccordée de manière stable au suremballage (18) au moyen de colle chaude (23).

11. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel la partie amovible (21) affecte toute l'épaisseur d'au moins un panneau (13') de la paroi (13) correspondante.

12. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel la partie amovible (21) affecte uniquement une partie de l'épaisseur d'au moins un panneau (13') de la paroi (13) correspondante.

13. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 12, dans lequel la paroi (13) prévue avec la partie amovible (21) a un dessin qui est au moins partiellement - et de préférence uniquement partiellement - disposé au niveau de la partie amovible (21) de sorte que l'élimination de la partie amovible (21) conduit nécessairement à l'élimination de la partie, de préférence uniquement d'une partie, dudit dessin.

14. Paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 13, dans lequel les parois (6-13) du contenant externe (2) sont formées par une ébauche (24) enroulée autour de l'emballage interne (14) et la ligne de faiblesse (22) qui délimite la partie amovible (21), est réalisée par une incision dans l'ébauche (24).

15. Procédé de fabrication pour fabriquer le paquet (1) pour articles à fumer selon l'une des revendications 1 à 14 et comprenant les étapes consistant à :

fabriquer un emballage interne (14) autour d'un groupe (15) d'articles à fumer ;

couper, dans une ébauche (24), au moins une ligne de faiblesse déchirable (22) qui délimite au moins une partie amovible (21) ;

enrouler une ébauche (24) autour de l'emballage interne (14) afin de fabriquer un contenant externe (2) qui a une pluralité de parois (6-13), l'une d'entre elles étant prévue avec la partie amovible (21) ; et

enrouler un suremballage (18) autour du contenant externe (2), raccordant de manière stable le suremballage (18) à la partie amovible (21).

16. Procédé de fabrication selon la revendication 15 et comprenant les étapes supplémentaires consistant à :

appliquer de la colle chaude (23) sur l'ébauche (24) au niveau de la partie amovible (21) avant d'enrouler ou après avoir enroulé l'ébauche (24) autour de l'emballage interne (14) ;

laisser sécher la colle chaude (23) appliquée sur l'ébauche (24) au niveau de la partie amovible (21) ; et

faire chauffer la colle chaude (23) pour réactiver la colle chaude (23) et par conséquent, déterminer une adhérence constante entre la partie amovible (21) et le suremballage (18).

17. Procédé de fabrication selon la revendication 16 et comprenant l'étape supplémentaire consistant à appliquer de la colle chaude (23) sur la partie amovible (21) ou sur le suremballage (18) au niveau de la partie amovible (21) immédiatement avant d'enrouler le suremballage (18) autour du contenant externe (2).

Drawing