Package of cigarettes

• US 7,954,635 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Original Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni.
• Inventors: Bertuzzi, Ivanoe, Squarzoni, Michele, Biondi, Andrea, Polloni, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US12/667,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 206/252, 206/266, 206/255, 206/265, 206/271, 206/273, 206/817
• US Class Current: 206/252
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4204 Inspection openings or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5838 combined with separate fixed tearing means, e.g. tabs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/10 for cigarettes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/1009 provided with proffering means B65D85/1054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/10564 having means for holding the lid in a closed position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/1081 Inserts or accessories added or joined to the container, e.g. coins, pens, cards, spacers B65D85/1009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/817 Follower

Abstract

A package of cigarettes having a group (4) of cigarettes; an inner package (3) which encloses the group (4) of cigarettes, is defined by a sheet (22) of transparent, heat-seal plastic packing material folded directly about the group (4) of cigarettes and in direct contact with the cigarettes, and is stabilized by heat sealing; and a U-shaped stiffener (23) of rigid material located inside the inner package (3) and contacting the group (4) of cigarettes.

Claims

1. A package of cigarettes comprising:

a group (4) of cigarettes;

an inner package (3) enclosing the group (4) of cigarettes and having a central cigarette extraction opening (5);

two elastic bodies (28) located inside the inner package (3), on opposite sides of the inner package (3), to exert elastic thrust on the group (4) of cigarettes and so keep the group (4) of cigarettes in a central position facing the extraction opening (5); and

a U-shaped stiffener (23) which is made of rigid material, is located inside the inner package (3), contacting the group (4) of cigarettes, and comprises a bottom wall (24) positioned contacting a bottom wall of the group (4) of cigarettes, and two lateral tabs (25) connected to the short sides of the bottom wall (24), positioned contacting the minor lateral walls of the group (4) of cigarettes and supporting the two elastic bodies (28) exerting elastic thrust on the group (4) of cigarettes.

2. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cigarette extraction opening (5) extends over a limited portion of a front wall of the inner package (3), and a limited portion of a top wall of the inner package (3).

3. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lateral tab (25) of the stiffener (23) has a top appendix which is folded onto a top wall of the group (4) of cigarettes.

4. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lateral tab (25) of the stiffener (23) comprises two lateral portions foldable along at least two respective longitudinal fold lines.

5. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each elastic body (28) is integral with a respective lateral tab (25) of the stiffener (23).

6. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each elastic body (28) is defined by a sheet of cardboard at least partly folded accordion-fashion.

7. The package as claimed in claim 6, wherein each elastic body (28) comprises a number of panels (30) folded accordion-fashion.

8. The package as claimed in claim 7, wherein each elastic body (28) comprises three panels (30) folded accordion-fashion about respective longitudinal fold lines (29).

9. The package as claimed in claim 6, wherein each elastic body (28) comprises a central panel (31), and two groups of lateral panels (32);

the lateral panels (32) in each group of lateral panels (32) being folded accordion-fashion.

10. The package as claimed in claim 9, wherein each group of lateral panels (32) comprises two lateral panels (32) folded accordion-fashion about respective longitudinal fold lines (29).

11. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic bodies (28) are shorter in height than the inner package (3), so as to be located a given distance from the extraction opening (5).

12. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central cigarette extraction opening (5) is closed by a cover flap (6).

13. The package as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover flap (6) is reusable and fixed to the inner package (3) by non-dry, re-stick adhesive.

14. The package as claimed in claim 1 and comprising:

a rigid outer container (2), which houses the inner package (3), is cup-shaped, and has an open top end (7); and

a cup-shaped lid (8) hinged to the outer container (2) along a hinge (9) to rotate, with respect to the outer container (2), between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end (7) respectively.

15. The package as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lateral tabs (25) of the stiffener (23) permanently contacts a lateral wall of the inner package (3) and supports a respective elastic body (28) exerting elastic thrust on the group (4) of cigarettes.

16. The package as claimed in claim 15, wherein each elastic body (28) is integral with a respective lateral (25) of the stiffener (23).

17. The package as claimed in claim 16, wherein each elastic body (28) is defined by a sheet of cardboard at least partly folded accordion-fashion.

18. The package as claimed in claim 17, wherein each elastic body (28) comprises a number of panels (30) folded accordion-fashion.