Rigid Package Of Tobacco Articles

Abstract

A rigid package of tobacco articles, having two first containers, each housing a group of tobacco articles and housed inside a second container so as to slide with respect to the second container between a closed position, in which the first container is fully inserted inside the second container, and an open position, in which part of the first container projects from the second container.

1 . A rigid package of tobacco articles, the package ( 1 ) comprising: 
 a first container ( 2 ) housing a group ( 3 ) of tobacco articles; and    a second container ( 4 ) housing the first container ( 2 ), so that the first container ( 2 ) slides with respect to the second container ( 4 ) between a closed position, in which the first container ( 2 ) is fully inserted inside the second container ( 4 ), and an open position, in which part of the first container ( 2 ) projects from the second container ( 4 );    the package ( 1 ) is characterized by comprising at least two first containers ( 2 ), each of which houses a respective group ( 3 ) of tobacco articles, and is housed slidably inside the second container ( 4 );    each first container ( 2 ) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises two, respectively bottom and top, end walls ( 13 ,  14 ), and a lateral surface ( 15 ) bounded by the end walls ( 13 ,  14 ) and defined by lateral walls ( 16 ,  17 ) separated from one another by longitudinal edges ( 18 ); the lateral surface ( 15 ) of each first container ( 2 ) comprising two opposite, parallel major lateral walls ( 16 ), and two opposite, parallel minor lateral walls ( 17 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 16 ) by four longitudinal edges ( 18 ); the top end wall ( 14 ) of each first container ( 2 ) having an open portion ( 20 ) permitting withdrawal of the tobacco articles from the first container ( 2 ) when the first container ( 2 ) is in the open position;    stop means ( 22 ,  23 ) are provided to limit slide of the first containers ( 2 ) with respect to the second container ( 4 ), and so prevent detachment of the first containers ( 2 ) from the second container ( 4 ); the stop means ( 22 ,  23 ) comprise at least one pair of first tabs ( 22 ), each projecting from a major lateral wall ( 16 ) of a respective first container ( 2 ) and outwards of the first container ( 2 ); and at least one pair of second tabs ( 23 ), each projecting from a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) and inwards of the second container ( 4 ), and each located close to the open end ( 11 ) of the second container ( 4 ); the first and second tabs ( 22 ,  23 ) being so positioned that a first tab ( 22 ) engages a corresponding second tab ( 23 ) as a first container ( 2 ) slides out of the second container ( 4 );    each first container ( 2 ) has a pair of first tabs ( 22 ) located symmetrically on the major lateral walls ( 16 ) of the first container ( 2 ), so that the two first containers ( 2 ) are identical.    
   
   
       2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second container ( 4 ) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises two, respectively bottom and top, end walls ( 5 ,  6 ), and a lateral surface ( 7 ) bounded by the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ) and defined by lateral walls ( 8 ,  9 ) separated from one another by longitudinal edges ( 10 ); the lateral surface ( 7 ) of the second container ( 4 ) comprising two opposite, parallel major lateral walls ( 8 ), and a minor lateral wall ( 9 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 8 ) by two longitudinal edges ( 10 ); an open end ( 11 ) being provided opposite the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) to permit passage of the first containers ( 2 ).  
   
   
       3 . A package as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has at least one through push hole ( 21 ) sized to permit insertion of a user's finger.  
   
   
       4 . A package as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has two through push holes ( 21 ).  
   
   
       5 . A package as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each push hole ( 21 ) extends on both the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) and on a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ).  
   
   
       6 . A package as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the portion of each push hole ( 21 ) on the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) is semicircular; the portion of each push hole ( 21 ) on the major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) being rectangular and terminating with a semicircular portion.  
   
   
       7 . A package as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each push hole ( 21 ) extends over a limited portion of the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ), so as to only expose a portion of a minor lateral wall ( 17 ) of one respective first container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       8 . A package as claimed in claims  4 , wherein the two push holes ( 21 ) are not aligned with each other.  
   
   
       9 . A package as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein at least one push hole ( 21 ) is at least partly covered by a tear-off tab.  
   
   
       10 . A package as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the push holes ( 21 ) are at least partly covered by respective tear-off tabs.  
   
   
       11 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has a recess close to the open end ( 11 ).  
   
   
       12 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the four longitudinal edges ( 18 ) of the first container ( 2 ) and the two longitudinal edges ( 10 ) of the second container ( 4 ) are non-square, rounded or bevelled edges.  
   
   
       13 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the two longitudinal edges ( 10 ) of the second container ( 4 ), and the two longitudinal edges ( 18 ) of the first container ( 2 ) facing the two longitudinal edges ( 10 ) of the second container ( 4 ), are non-square, rounded or bevelled edges.  
   
   
       14 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the four transverse edges ( 19 ) of the first container ( 2 ) defined between the end walls ( 13 ,  14 ) and the major lateral walls ( 16 ), and the four transverse edges ( 12 ) of the second container ( 4 ) defined between the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ) and the major lateral walls ( 8 ), are non-square, rounded or bevelled edges.  
   
   
       15 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each major lateral wall ( 16 ) of the first containers ( 2 ) has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each relative minor lateral wall ( 17 ) along a respective sharp longitudinal edge ( 18 ), and subtends with each relative minor lateral wall ( 17 ) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; each major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has an outwardly convex half-profile, is connected to the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) along a respective sharp longitudinal edge ( 10 ), and subtends with the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle.  
   
   
       16 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each major lateral wall ( 16 ) of the first containers ( 2 ) has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each end wall ( 13 ,  14 ) along a respective sharp transverse edge ( 19 ), and subtends with each end wall ( 13 ,  14 ) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle; each major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has an outwardly convex profile, is connected to each end wall ( 5 ,  6 ) along a respective sharp transverse edge ( 12 ), and subtends with each end wall ( 5 ,  6 ) a respective substantially obtuse dihedral angle.  
   
   
       17 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the second container ( 4 ) is formed from a second flat blank ( 27 ) having two transverse fold lines ( 28 ), and a number of longitudinal fold lines ( 29 ) defining, between the two transverse fold lines ( 28 ), a first panel ( 8 ′) defining one major lateral wall ( 8 ), a second panel ( 9 ′) defining the minor lateral wall ( 9 ), and a third panel ( 8 ″) defining the other major lateral wall ( 8 ); the first panel ( 8 ′) having two first wings ( 5 ′,  6 ′), which are located at opposite ends of the first panel ( 8 ′), are separated from the first panel ( 8 ′) by the transverse fold lines ( 28 ), and define inner portions of the ends walls ( 5 ,  6 ); the second panel ( 9 ′) having two second wings ( 5 ″,  6 ″), which are located at opposite ends of the second panel ( 9 ′), are separated from the second panel ( 9 ′) by the transverse fold lines ( 28 ), and define inner portions of the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ); and the third panel ( 8 ″) having two third wings ( 5 ′″,  6 ′″), which are located at opposite ends of the third panel ( 8 ″), are separated from the third panel ( 8 ″) by the transverse fold lines ( 28 ), and define outer portions of the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ).  
   
   
       18 . A package as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second wings ( 5 ′,  6 ′,  5 ″,  6 ″) are shaped so as not to be superimposed when folded onto the third wings ( 5 ′″,  6 ′″) to define the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ) of the second container ( 4 ).  
   
   
       19 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each first container ( 2 ) is formed from a first flat blank ( 24 ) having two longitudinal fold lines ( 25 ), and a number of transverse fold lines ( 26 ) defining, between the longitudinal fold lines ( 25 ), a first panel ( 14 ′) defining part of the top end wall ( 14 ), a second panel ( 16 ′) defining one major lateral wall ( 16 ), a third panel ( 13 ′) defining the bottom end wall ( 13 ), a fourth panel ( 16 ″) defining the other major lateral wall ( 16 ), and a fifth panel ( 14 ″) defining part of the top end wall ( 14 ); the second panel ( 16 ′) having two first wings ( 17 ′), which are located on opposite sides of the second panel ( 16 ′), are separated from the second panel ( 16 ′) by the longitudinal fold lines ( 25 ), and define part of the minor lateral walls ( 17 ); and the fourth panel ( 16 ″) having two second wings ( 17 ″), which are located on opposite sides of the fourth panel ( 16 ″), are separated from the fourth panel ( 16 ″) by the longitudinal fold lines ( 25 ), and define part of the minor lateral walls ( 17 ).  
   
   
       20 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two first containers ( 2 ) contain identical respective groups ( 3 ) of cigarettes.  
   
   
       21 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two first containers ( 2 ) contain different respective groups ( 3 ) of cigarettes.  
   
   
       22 . A rigid package of tobacco articles, the package ( 1 ) comprising: 
 a first container ( 2 ) housing a group ( 3 ) of tobacco articles; and    a second container ( 4 ) housing the first container ( 2 ), so that the first container ( 2 ) slides with respect to the second container ( 4 ) between a closed position, in which the first container ( 2 ) is fully inserted inside the second container ( 4 ), and an open position, in which part of the first container ( 2 ) projects from the second container ( 4 );    the package ( 1 ) is characterized by comprising at least two first containers ( 2 ), each of which houses a respective group ( 3 ) of tobacco articles, and is housed slidably inside the second container ( 4 );    the second container ( 4 ) is substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprises two, respectively bottom and top, end walls ( 5 ,  6 ), and a lateral surface ( 7 ) bounded by the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ) and defined by lateral walls ( 8 ,  9 ) separated from one another by longitudinal edges ( 10 ); the lateral surface ( 7 ) of the second container ( 4 ) comprising two opposite, parallel major lateral walls ( 8 ), and a minor lateral wall ( 9 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 8 ) by two longitudinal edges ( 10 ); an open end ( 11 ) being provided opposite the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) to permit passage of the first containers ( 2 );    the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) has two through push holes ( 21 ), each of which is sized to permit insertion of a user's finger and extends on both the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) and on a major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ).    
   
   
       23 . A package as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the portion of each push hole ( 21 ) on the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) is semicircular; the portion of each push hole ( 21 ) on the major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) being rectangular and terminating with a semicircular portion.  
   
   
       24 . A package as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the two push holes ( 21 ) are not aligned with each other.  
   
   
       25 . A package as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein at least one push hole ( 21 ) is at least partly covered by a tear-off tab.  
   
   
       26 . A package as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the push holes ( 21 ) are at least partly covered by respective tear-off tabs.