PACKET OF CIGARETTES, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING A PACKET OF CIGARETTES

1 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes comprising:

an inner package ( 2 ) defined by a group ( 30 ) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material having at least one tear line ( 32 ) defining a tear-off top portion ( 31 );

an inner container ( 4 ) housing the inner package ( 2 ) and having an extraction opening ( 10 ) for access to the tear-off top portion ( 31 ); and

an outer container ( 5 ) housing the inner container ( 4 ) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container ( 4 ) to slide, with respect to the outer container ( 5 ), between a closed position, in which the inner container ( 4 ) is inserted inside the outer container ( 5 ), and an open position, in which the inner container ( 4 ) is extracted partly from the outer container ( 5 );

the packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes being characterized by comprising a tear-off lid ( 45 ) connected to the inner container ( 4 ) by at least one tear line ( 48 ), and covering at least part of the extraction opening ( 10 ).

2 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inner container ( 4 ) has no top wall ( 7 ), so that, once the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is removed, a top wall of the inner package ( 2 ) is completely exposed.

3 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is U-shaped, and comprises a top wall ( 46 ) covering a top wall of the inner package ( 2 ); and two lateral walls ( 47 ) covering part of two major lateral walls of the inner package ( 2 ), and coplanar with two major lateral walls ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ).

4 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the top wall ( 46 ) of the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is in no way connected to the inner container ( 4 ); and each lateral wall ( 47 ) of the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is connected to a respective major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ) along at least one tear line ( 48 ).

5 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a first lateral wall ( 47 ) of the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is connected to a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ) along a single U-shaped tear line ( 48 ); and a second lateral wall ( 47 ) of the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is connected to a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ) along two tear lines ( 48 ) on opposite sides of the second lateral wall ( 47 ).

6 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) leaves at least part of the extraction opening ( 10 ) uncovered, so as to form a grip by which to grip and remove the tear-off lid ( 45 ) easily.

7 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the top wall ( 46 ) of the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is smaller than the top wall of the inner package ( 2 ).

8 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 6 or 7 , wherein at least one part of the extraction opening ( 10 ) left uncovered by the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is located on a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ).

9 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) leaves uncovered two separate parts of the extraction opening ( 10 ), located symmetrically on two major lateral walls ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ); or the tear-off lid ( 45 ) only leaves uncovered one part of the extraction opening ( 10 ), located asymmetrically on one major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the inner container ( 4 ).

10 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is formed by superimposing and gluing together two separate panels ( 45 ′, 45 ″).

11 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) is glued to the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ).

12 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ) is defined by two separate overlapping portions ( 31 a , 31 b ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material.

13 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the two overlapping portions ( 31 a , 31 b ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material are glued to each other.

14 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in one of claims 1 to 13 , wherein:

the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes is substantially parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and has two parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 34 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls ( 35 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end walls ( 36 ) defined by flat ends of the cigarettes; four longitudinal edges ( 37 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ), four major transverse edges ( 38 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two end walls ( 36 ), and four minor transverse edges ( 39 ) are defined between the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ) and the two end walls ( 36 );

the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material is folded about the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes by superimposing two opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes seamlessly on all four sides, and having, at the minor lateral walls ( 35 ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes, two lateral ends which are folded to complete the inner package ( 2 );

the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) extends seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material; and

the opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material are only superimposed on a first major lateral wall ( 34 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

15 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 14 , wherein, at a first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes involving the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material has a tab ( 33 ) formed from part of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) and astride the first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ).

16 ) A packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the tab ( 33 ) is folded onto a first end wall ( 36 b ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

17 ) A method of producing a packet of cigarettes comprising an inner package ( 2 ) defined by a group ( 30 ) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material, and a rigid outer package ( 3 ) housing the inner package ( 2 );

the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes is substantially parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and has two parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 34 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls ( 35 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end walls ( 36 ) defined by flat ends of the cigarettes; four longitudinal edges ( 37 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ), four major transverse edges ( 38 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two end walls ( 36 ), and four minor transverse edges ( 39 ) are defined between the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ) and the two end walls ( 36 );

the method comprising the steps of:

forming on the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material a tear line ( 32 ) defining a tear-off top portion ( 31 );

folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material about the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes by superimposing two opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes seamlessly on all four sides and having two open lateral ends ( 42 , 43 ) at the minor lateral walls ( 35 ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes; and

folding the open lateral ends ( 42 , 43 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material to complete the inner package ( 2 );

the method being characterized in that:

the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) extends seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material; and

the opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material are only superimposed on a first major lateral wall ( 34 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

18 ) A method as claimed in claim 17 , and comprising the further step of folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material about a first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes involving the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to form, from part of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), a tab ( 33 ) astride the first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ).

19 ) A method as claimed in claim 18 , and comprising the further step of folding the tab ( 33 ) onto a first end wall ( 36 b ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

20 ) A method as claimed in claim 19 , and comprising the further step of fixing the tab ( 33 ) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) covering the first end wall ( 36 b ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

21 ) A method as claimed in claim 20 , and comprising the further step of applying weak-stick glue between the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

22 ) A method as claimed in claim 20 , and comprising the further step of applying a tear-off sticker ( 44 ), coated with weak-stick glue, over the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

23 ) A method as claimed in claim 20 , and comprising the further step of gluing a tear-off sticker ( 44 ) over the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) permanently to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

24 ) A method as claimed in claim 22 or 23 , wherein the sticker ( 44 ) has a grip flap not glued to the tab ( 33 ) and/or to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

25 ) A method as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 24 , wherein the step of folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material to form the tab ( 33 ) comprises the further steps of:

folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material, at a first open lateral end ( 42 ) involving the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), about a first longitudinal edge ( 37 a ) and onto a first minor lateral wall ( 35 a ), without first folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material ( 29 ) about the first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ); and

then folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material, at the first open lateral end ( 42 ), about a second longitudinal edge ( 37 b ) and onto the first minor lateral wall ( 35 a ).

26 ) A method as claimed in claim 25 , and comprising the further step of first folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material about a second minor transverse edge ( 39 b ) of the first minor lateral wall ( 35 a ), before folding the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material about the first longitudinal edge ( 37 a ).

27 ) A method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 26 , and comprising the further step of superimposing a tear-off lid ( 45 ) of the outer package ( 3 ) or a tear-off sticker ( 44 ) on the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ).

28 ) A method as claimed in claim 27 , and comprising the further step of gluing the tear-off lid ( 45 ) of the outer package ( 3 ) or the tear-off sticker ( 44 ) to the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ).

29 ) A packet of cigarettes comprising:

an inner package ( 2 ) defined by a group ( 30 ) of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material having a tear line ( 32 ) defining a tear-off top portion ( 31 ); and

a rigid outer package ( 3 ) housing the inner package ( 2 );

the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes is substantially parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and has two parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 34 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls ( 35 ) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end walls ( 36 ) defined by flat ends of the cigarettes; four longitudinal edges ( 37 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ), four major transverse edges ( 38 ) are defined between the two major lateral walls ( 34 ) and the two end walls ( 36 ), and four minor transverse edges ( 39 ) are defined between the two minor lateral walls ( 35 ) and the two end walls ( 36 );

the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material is folded about the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes by superimposing two opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes seamlessly on all four sides, and having, at the minor lateral walls ( 35 ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes, two lateral ends which are folded to complete the inner package ( 2 );

the packet ( 1 ) of cigarettes being characterized in that:

the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) extends seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material; and

the opposite flaps ( 40 , 41 ) of the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material are only superimposed on a first major lateral wall ( 34 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

30 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 29 , wherein, at a first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes involving the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), the sheet ( 29 ) of wrapping material has a tab ( 33 ) formed from part of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) and astride the first minor transverse edge ( 39 a ).

31 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the tab ( 33 ) is folded onto a first end wall ( 36 b ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

32 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 31 , wherein the tab ( 33 ) is fixed temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) covering the first end wall ( 36 b ) of the group ( 30 ) of cigarettes.

33 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32 , wherein weak-stick glue is applied between the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

34 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32 , and comprising a tear-off sticker ( 44 ) coated with weak-stick glue and applied over the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) temporarily to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

35 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 32 , and comprising a tear-off sticker ( 44 ) glued over the tab ( 33 ) and the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ), to fix the tab ( 33 ) permanently to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

36 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 34 or 35 , wherein the sticker ( 44 ) has a grip flap not glued to the tab ( 33 ) and/or to the rest of the tear-off top portion ( 31 ).

37 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 34 , wherein the outer package ( 3 ) comprises a tear-off lid ( 45 ) superimposed on the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ), or a tear-off sticker ( 44 ) is superimposed on the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ).

38 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the tear-off lid ( 45 ) of the outer package ( 3 ) or the tear-off sticker ( 44 ) is glued to the tear-off top portion ( 31 ) of the inner package ( 2 ).

39 ) A packet of cigarettes as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 38 , wherein the outer package ( 3 ) comprises an inner container ( 4 ) housing the inner package ( 2 ); and an outer container ( 5 ) housing the inner container ( 4 ) in sliding manner, to allow the inner container ( 4 ) to slide between a closed position, in which the inner container ( 4 ) is inserted inside the outer container ( 5 ), and an open position, in which the inner container ( 4 ) is extracted at least partly from the outer container ( 5 ).