Patent Description:
Rigid cigarette packs with a hinged lid are the most popular cigarette packs currently on the market because they are easy to make, easy and practical to use, and offer good protection to the cigarettes inside them. A rigid pack of cigarettes with a hinged lid comprises an inner wrapping consisting of a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metallic paper and a rigid outer casing housing the inner wrapping. The inner wrapping is initially completely closed and has an extraction opening for the cigarettes that can be closed by a disposable, tear-away portion (called a "pull") that is removed when the cigarette pack is opened for the first time to allow the enclosed cigarettes to be extracted from the inner wrapping. Otherwise, it can be closed by a reusable closure label (i.e. "open & close" type) that is connected to the inner wrapping by means of a repositionable glue. In known rigid packs, the outer casing consists of a cup-shaped container with an open top end and a lid, which is also cup-shaped and hinged to the container to rotate between an open and a closed end position in relation to the container itself. A sheet of transparent plastic overwrapping (normally cellophane or polypropylene) is wrapped around the outer wrapping, the sheet being heat-sealed to preserve the moisture and aroma of the tobacco. Double rigid cigarette packs, i.e. two cigarette packs beside one another, or overlapping, are also known, for example from documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>. Double cigarette packs usually comprise a cup body comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls that define a housing space that is divided in two by a dividing element. In this case, each housing space has its own lid hinged to the cup body. Typically, the group of cigarettes (which may or may not be surrounded by an inner wrapping) is collected in one compartment, while, in the other compartment, used cigarettes or accessories, such as a lighter or another group of cigarettes (which may or may not be surrounded by an inner wrapping), are collected. In this case, the group of cigarettes collected inside the other compartment may comprise cigarettes of a different type (e.g. flavoured cigarettes) from the group of cigarettes collected in the other compartment.

From documents <CIT> and <CIT>, instead, is known a cigarette pack comprising a containing body containing a single group of cigarettes. The containing body comprises two hinged lids provided at two opposing longitudinal ends of the containing body to permit the access to the same compartment in correspondence of both ends. The user can thus grasp the cigarette in correspondence of the tobacco plug to prevent the contamination of the filter plug of the cigarette. In addition, the containing body of the pack disclosed by <CIT> has no front wall.

The tobacco product directives currently in force require that at least <NUM>% of the outer front and rear wall of cigarette packs must be covered by pictures and writings with health warnings about the dangers of smoking. Furthermore, the directive prohibits promotional and misleading elements being applied to the outer wrapping of tobacco products. Therefore, the packs of a known type have the disadvantage of having a reduced surface area available for the application of promotional messages and/or images. In fact, in current packages it is only possible to apply promotional messages and/or images on the surface of the collar projecting from the cup body and visible when the lid is opened.

The purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a pack for smoking articles that is free of the drawbacks of the prior art, and that is easy and economical to produce.

According to the present invention, a rigid pack for smoking articles is provided as claimed in the attached claims.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:.

In <FIG>, the reference numeral <NUM> globally denotes a cigarette pack. The cigarettes housed in the pack <NUM> can be, for example, HNB cigarettes (acronym for heat-not-burn, i.e. cigarettes wherein the tobacco is heated and not burned) or cigarettes of a reduced height. The cigarette pack <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The term "width" means a dimension measured parallel to the rear wall and perpendicular to the side walls.

The term "height" means a dimension measured parallel to the rear wall and perpendicularly to the end walls (closed pack).

The cigarette pack <NUM> comprises an inner containing element <NUM> (visible in <FIG>) and an outer containing element <NUM> (visible in <FIG>) preferably made of ordinary or rigid cardboard.

Two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged in the inner containing element <NUM>. Each group <NUM> of cigarettes is preferably surrounded by a respective inner wrapping <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>).

The groups <NUM> of cigarettes have, respectively: one front wall <NUM>, one rear wall <NUM>, two side walls <NUM>, one lower wall <NUM>, and one upper wall <NUM>. At the front wall <NUM> and the top wall <NUM> of the group <NUM> of cigarettes, there is an opening <NUM> for extracting the cigarettes. The two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged one adjacent to the other. In particular, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged so that they are rotated by <NUM>° in relation to each other. The term "adjacent" means that the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged beside one another (as for example in the embodiment shown in <FIG>) or are arranged on top of one another (as for example in the embodiment shown in <FIG>). In other words, the term "beside one another" means that the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged one beside the other and are adjacent to their respective side walls <NUM>. While, when they are arranged on top of one another, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are adjacent at the respective lower walls <NUM> of the group <NUM> of cigarettes, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes being rotated <NUM>° in relation to each other. The group <NUM> of cigarettes is arranged in the inner containing element <NUM> that, at least partially, surrounds them. In particular, the groups <NUM> of cigarettes are completely surrounded by the inner containing element <NUM>. The groups <NUM> of cigarettes are preferably sealed so as to preserve the aroma and freshness of the cigarettes.

The inner containing element <NUM> has two distinct and separate extraction openings <NUM> to access the respective groups <NUM> of cigarettes. When the groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged in the inner containing element <NUM>, the openings <NUM> of the group <NUM> of cigarettes shall be arranged at the extraction opening <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, so that the group <NUM> of cigarettes can be accessed. The inner containing element <NUM> comprises a front wall <NUM>, two side walls <NUM> arranged perpendicularly to the front wall <NUM>, and/or a rear wall <NUM> (or at least a portion of a rear wall <NUM>). The two extraction openings <NUM> are made on at least the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> through which it is possible to access the respective group <NUM> of cigarettes.

According to a possible embodiment (shown, for example, in <FIG>), the inner containing element <NUM> also comprises two end walls <NUM> perpendicularly arranged to the front wall <NUM> and the respective rear wall <NUM>. When the end walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> are present, each extraction opening <NUM> also extends partially at the respective end wall <NUM>. That is, in this case, each extraction opening <NUM> extends at least partially at the front wall <NUM> and the end wall <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, two rear walls <NUM> can be connected to the two end walls <NUM>, the rear walls preferably being separated and spaced apart. Therefore, in this embodiment the two rear walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> are made like two panels that are arranged perpendicularly to the respective end wall <NUM>. Alternatively, the rear wall <NUM> could also be single and connected to one of the two end walls <NUM>.

The outer containing element <NUM> is arranged around the inner containing element <NUM>, surrounding the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes arranged adjacent to each other. The outer containing element <NUM> comprises a rear wall <NUM> and two lids <NUM>. The outer containing element <NUM> is devoid of (i.e. has no) front wall.

According to one possible embodiment, the outer containing element <NUM> may also comprise two side walls <NUM> that, if present, improve the housing of the inner containing element <NUM> in the outer containing element <NUM>. In particular, the side walls <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM> are arranged perpendicularly to the rear wall <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM>. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the outer containing element <NUM> comprises only the rear wall <NUM> and the two side walls <NUM>. The two side walls <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM> can be glued to the two side walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> preventing relative movement between the inner containing element <NUM> and the outer containing element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the two lids <NUM> are hinged at opposite ends of the rear wall <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM> along their respective hinges <NUM> and <NUM>. In other words, one of the lids <NUM> is hinged to an edge <NUM> of the rear wall <NUM> (i.e. along the hinge <NUM>) and the other lid <NUM> is hinged to the other edge <NUM> of the rear wall <NUM> (i.e. along the hinge <NUM>). The lids <NUM> can be rotated between an open position and a closed position of the corresponding extraction openings <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. In the open position, the lid <NUM> allows access to the respective extraction opening <NUM>, while in the closed position, the lid <NUM> closes the respective extraction opening <NUM>. Each lid <NUM> has a substantially rectangular, parallelepiped shape and is cup-shaped. The lids <NUM> each comprise a rear wall <NUM> hinged to the rear wall <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM>, two side walls <NUM>, a front wall <NUM>, and an end wall <NUM> interposed between the front wall <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when both lids <NUM> are in the closed position, both cover substantially the whole front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. In other words, in the closed position, a free edge <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM> is adjacent to a free edge <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> of the other lid <NUM>, so that the front walls <NUM> of both lids <NUM> substantially cover the whole front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. One half of the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> is covered by the lid <NUM>, while the other half of the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> is covered by the other lid <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the two lids <NUM> may have their respective free edges <NUM> and <NUM> extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes arranged in the group <NUM> of cigarettes. In other words, the two lids <NUM> have their respective free edges <NUM> and <NUM> extending in a direction parallel in relation to the end wall <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM>. Therefore, the front wall <NUM> of each lid <NUM> has a rectangular shape.

As shown in <FIG>, the two lids <NUM> may have their respective free edges <NUM> and <NUM> extending in a direction substantially transverse in relation to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes arranged in the group <NUM> of cigarettes. In other words, the two lids <NUM> have their respective free edges <NUM> and <NUM> extending in an inclined direction in relation to the end wall <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM>. Therefore, the front wall <NUM> of each lid <NUM> has a rectangular shape. In particular, the free edge <NUM> or <NUM> of each lid <NUM> forms an acute or obtuse angle with a side edge <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> (between, respectively, the front wall <NUM> and the side wall <NUM> of the same lid <NUM>) of the lid <NUM> itself.

According to a first embodiment, the inner wrapping <NUM> can be made by folding and welding a heat-sealable sheet (<FIG>). In this first embodiment, each inner wrapping <NUM> comprises an extraction opening <NUM> for the cigarettes and a possible repositionable closing tab (not shown in <FIG>) that is mobile to open and close the opening <NUM>. In accordance with a second embodiment, the inner wrapping <NUM> can be made by folding a blank made of a wrapping material (e.g. cardboard or a multilayer comprising a layer of paper). In this second embodiment, each inner wrapping <NUM> comprises an extraction opening <NUM> for the cigarettes and a repositionable closing tab, if necessary, that is mobile to open and close the opening <NUM>.

Therefore, both if the inner wrapping <NUM> is made from a heat-sealable sheet and if the inner wrapping <NUM> is made from a blank in wrapping material, the cigarette pack <NUM> may comprise two closing tabs <NUM>. Each closing tab can be connected to the inner containing element <NUM> above a corresponding extraction opening <NUM> and can be lifted to reveal the extraction opening <NUM> itself (<FIG>) or can be connected to the inner wrapping <NUM> (embodiment not shown). The closing tab <NUM> is reusable (i.e. of the "open & close" type) and is connected to the inner containing element <NUM> or inner wrapping <NUM> by means of a repositionable glue. In addition, the closing tab <NUM> can be permanently connected (at a corresponding end flap 50a) to a respective lid <NUM> (advantageously, with the opening/closing of the lid <NUM>, the closing label <NUM> is detached/reattached).

In addition, in accordance with an additional embodiment, the inner wrapping <NUM> could be made by folding a sheet of wrapping material (e.g. tin foil); this wrapping <NUM> comprises a portion that the smoker can manually detach, which creates an opening in the wrapping <NUM> for extracting the cigarettes. In this embodiment, the pack does not include any closing tab.

It is understood that one group <NUM> of cigarettes could have a wrapping <NUM> of a first type (for example, the wrapping <NUM> could be made from a sheet of heat-sealable material or a blank made of wrapping material or a sheet of tinfoil) and the other group <NUM> of cigarettes could have a wrapping <NUM> of a different type.

According to a possible embodiment of the invention, shown in <FIG>, each group <NUM> of cigarettes has a width (i.e. the dimension measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes) equal to half the width of the inner containing element <NUM> and a height (i.e. the dimension measured in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes) equal to the height of the inner containing element <NUM>. In this case, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged one beside the other and are adjacent to their respective side walls <NUM>. As the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are rotated <NUM>°, the two extraction openings <NUM> are arranged at opposite vertices along a diagonal of the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. Each extraction opening <NUM> has a width around equal to a width of the inner containing element <NUM>.

According to a possible alternative embodiment shown in <FIG>, which is not part of the present invention, each group <NUM> of cigarettes has the width (i.e. the dimension measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes) equal to a width of the inner containing element <NUM> and the height (i.e. the dimension measured in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes) equal to half of a height of the inner containing element <NUM>. In this case, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are arranged on top of one another and are adjacent in the area of respective end walls <NUM> or <NUM>. In particular, the two groups <NUM> of cigarettes are adjacent at the respective lower walls <NUM> of the group <NUM> of cigarettes. As can be seen in <FIG>, the two extraction openings <NUM> have a width equal around equal to the width of the inner containing element <NUM>. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the inner containing element <NUM> does not have the end wall <NUM>.

The cigarette pack <NUM> shall preferably have writings or drawings at least on the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. In particular, the writings or drawings are arranged beside the extraction openings <NUM> or between the two extraction openings <NUM>.

According to an additional embodiment, the inner containing element <NUM> can also be provided with at least one pair of claws <NUM> (shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>). The claws <NUM> protrude sideways from the inner containing element <NUM> to engage the side walls <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM> in order to keep the respective lid <NUM> in the closed position.

<FIG> show the blanks <NUM> and <NUM> for making the inner containing element <NUM> and the outer containing element <NUM> respectively. <FIG> and <FIG> relate to blanks <NUM> and <NUM> for making the inner containing element <NUM> and the outer containing element <NUM> respectively of an embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

<FIG> and <FIG> show possible blanks <NUM> for making the inner containing elements <NUM> of the packs shown in <FIG>. As shown in the figures, the blank <NUM> comprises, in succession, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the portion of the rear wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the end wall <NUM> of the containing element <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the other end wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, and an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the additional portion of the rear wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. Each panel <NUM>' is connected to the following and/or previous panel by means of a respective fold line <NUM> (in <FIG> and <FIG> the fold lines <NUM> are shown substantially vertical, i.e. with transverse extension in relation to the extension of the group <NUM> of cigarettes housed within it). The blank <NUM> also comprises two panels <NUM>' that constitute the side walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. The panels <NUM>' are connected to the panel <NUM>' at opposite edges by means of a fold line <NUM> that extends substantially orthogonal in relation to the fold lines <NUM>. At the fold lines <NUM> delimiting the front wall <NUM>, the claws <NUM>, if present, are made. The blank <NUM> also, preferably, comprises four panels <NUM>". The panels <NUM>" extend, respectively, on both sides from the other panels <NUM>". The panels <NUM>" constitute fins to maintain the relative position between the panel <NUM>" and the corresponding panel <NUM>', i.e. between the respective end wall <NUM> and the respective side wall <NUM>. The panels <NUM>" are preferably provided with glue. The panels <NUM>" are connected to the respective panel <NUM>' at opposite edges by fold lines <NUM>, substantially perpendicular in relation to the fold lines <NUM>. The fold lines <NUM> and <NUM> are substantially aligned with each other. Each panel <NUM>" is separated from the adjacent panel <NUM>' by incision lines <NUM>, in particular cutting lines. Two extraction openings <NUM> are made on the panel <NUM>' and on the corresponding panel <NUM>'. The two edges <NUM> of the extraction openings <NUM> that essentially face the centre of the panel <NUM>' have an orientation (i.e. inclination) in relation to the fold line <NUM> in such a way that they are, in use, parallel to the respective free edge <NUM> and <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM>. Therefore, the blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> substantially in the inclination of the edge <NUM> of the extraction opening <NUM> in relation to the fold line <NUM> (i.e. the edge of the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>). In <FIG>, the edge <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to the fold line <NUM>. On the other hand, in <FIG>, the edge <NUM> is transverse, i.e. inclined, in relation to the fold line <NUM>, forming an acute or obtuse angle with it.

In summary, the blank <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> comprises two panels <NUM>' panels that constitute two portions of the rear wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, two panels <NUM>' that constitute the end walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> (each of which is adjacent to the panel <NUM>') and the panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> (which is interposed between the two seventh panels <NUM>'). The two extraction openings <NUM> are made on the two panels <NUM>' and on the other panel <NUM>'.

With reference to <FIG>, additional embodiments of the blanks <NUM> are shown in order to make inner containing elements <NUM>.

The blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> only in that the panels <NUM>" that are connected to the respective panel <NUM>' at opposite edges by fold lines and are separated from the respective panel <NUM>' by incision lines.

The blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> in the sizing of the panels <NUM>": the panels <NUM>" of the blank <NUM> in <FIG> have different sizes between the panel pairs. In this embodiment, the blank <NUM> can advantageously be made from a strip of material without scrap material. In addition, the blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> in the shape of the opening <NUM>.

The blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> in the shape of the opening <NUM> and in the presence of the two closing tabs <NUM>.

With reference to the blanks <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, if the pack comprises two closing tabs, they will preferably be fixed by repositionable glue to the inner containing element <NUM> (in a manner similar to that shown in <FIG>).

The blank <NUM> in <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> in the shape of the opening <NUM> and in the sizing of the panels <NUM>', intended to form the rear wall, and of the panels <NUM>' intended to form the end wall <NUM>. This embodiment of the blank <NUM> can also, advantageously, be made from a strip of material without scrap material.

Moreover, since the opening <NUM> is larger than the other embodiments, this blank <NUM> is particularly suitable for making a pack wherein the two possible closing tabs <NUM> are fixed to the inner wrapping <NUM> and not to the inner containing element <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the blank <NUM> for making the inner containing element <NUM> of the cigarette pack <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG>. According to this embodiment, the blank <NUM> comprises a panel <NUM>" that constitutes a part of the side wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the back wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the other side wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, and a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the other portion of the side wall <NUM>. In particular, this last panel <NUM>' overlaps and is glued to the panel <NUM>". Each panel <NUM>", <NUM>', and <NUM>' of the blank <NUM> is connected to the following and/or previous panel by a respective fold line <NUM>. At the fold lines <NUM> delimiting the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, the claws <NUM>, if present, are made.

In summary, the blank <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprises the panel <NUM>" that constitutes the part of the side wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, the panel <NUM>' that constitutes the rear wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM> (that is arranged beside the panel <NUM>"), the panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>, and two panels <NUM>' that constitute, respectively, the two side walls <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. The panel <NUM>' is interposed between the second panel <NUM>' and the third panel <NUM>', while the first panel <NUM>' is arranged beside the third panel <NUM>'.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> show the blank <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM>.

The blank <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM> comprises, in succession, a panel <NUM>" that constitutes a reinforcement flap of the front wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the end wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the rear wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>, a panel <NUM>' that constitutes the rear wall <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM>, an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the rear wall <NUM> of the other lid <NUM>, an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the end wall <NUM> of the other lid <NUM>, an additional panel <NUM>' that constitutes the front wall <NUM> of the other lid <NUM>, and a panel <NUM>" that constitutes the reinforcement flap of the front wall <NUM> of the other lid <NUM>.

Each panel of the blank <NUM> is connected to the following and/or previous panel by a respective fold line <NUM>. In <FIG> and <FIG>, the fold lines <NUM> are shown substantially vertical, i.e. with transverse extension in relation to the extension of the group <NUM> of cigarettes housed within it.

The reinforcement flap <NUM>" of the two lids <NUM> are configured to be overlapped (i.e. folded <NUM>° along the respective fold line <NUM>) and glued to the panel <NUM>' to construct a reinforcement inside the respective front wall <NUM> of each lid <NUM>.

The blank <NUM> in <FIG> or <FIG> differs from the blank <NUM> in <FIG> substantially in terms of the inclination of the fold line <NUM> interposed between the panels <NUM>' and <NUM>" in relation to the other fold lines <NUM>. In particular, the two fold lines <NUM> are inclined in relation to the side edge <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. The two inclined fold lines <NUM> make, respectively, the free edge <NUM> or <NUM> of the lid <NUM> when the two reinforcement flaps <NUM>" are folded in relation to the panel <NUM>'. At the two fold lines <NUM> delimiting the front wall <NUM> there may be portions having incision lines <NUM>, in particular cutting lines (optional).

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, at opposite edges of the panel <NUM>', two panels <NUM>' respectively extend that constitute the side wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. The panel <NUM>' is connected to the other panel <NUM>' by a fold line <NUM>. The fold line <NUM> substantially makes the side edge <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> of the lid <NUM>.

The panels <NUM>" extend from opposite edges of the two panels <NUM>', the former constituting, together with the panels <NUM>", fins to maintain the relative position between the panels <NUM>', <NUM>' and <NUM>', i.e. between the respective rear walls <NUM>, the front walls <NUM>, and the end walls <NUM> of each lid <NUM>. The panels <NUM>" extend at opposite edges of the panel <NUM>' and are connected to it by fold lines <NUM> that are substantially perpendicular to the other fold lines <NUM>. In contrast, the panels <NUM>" and <NUM>" are connected to each other by fold lines <NUM> that are substantially aligned with the respective fold line <NUM> arranged between the panels <NUM>' and <NUM>'. The panels <NUM>' and <NUM>' are respectively overlapped and glued to the panels <NUM>" and <NUM>" of the respective lid <NUM>.

The panels <NUM>" are separated by the respective adjacent panels <NUM>' and <NUM>' by incision lines <NUM>, in particular cutting lines. The incision lines <NUM> comprise two incision lines arranged perpendicular to each other. An incision line is arranged between the panels <NUM>' and <NUM>" and the other between the panels <NUM>' and <NUM>". The panels <NUM>' extend respectively from two opposite edges of the panels <NUM>', the former constituting the side walls <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM>. The panels <NUM>' are connected to the respective panel <NUM>' by a fold line <NUM>. The fold line <NUM> is substantially aligned with the other fold line <NUM>.

In summary, the blank <NUM> comprises two panels <NUM>" that constitute the reinforcement flap of the respective lid <NUM>, two panels <NUM>' that constitute the front wall <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM> (each of which is adjacent to the panel <NUM>"), two panels <NUM>' that constitute the end wall <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM> (each of which is adjacent to the second panel <NUM>'), two panels <NUM>' constituting the rear wall <NUM> of the respective lid <NUM> (each of which is adjacent to the third panel <NUM>') and the panel <NUM>' constituting the rear wall <NUM> of the outer containing element <NUM> (that is interposed between the two fourth panels <NUM>').

The cigarette pack <NUM> described above has multiple advantages.

Mainly, the cigarette pack <NUM> has a greater surface area available for applying promotional messages and images compared to known packs. In fact, in known packs it is only possible to apply promotional messages and/or images on the surface of the collar projecting from the cup body and visible when the lid is opened <NUM>. In contrast, with the cigarette pack <NUM> in question, promotional messages and images can be applied to the whole front wall <NUM> of the inner containing element <NUM>. In this way, the surface area available for applying promotional messages and images is considerably increased, while maintaining the consumption of material for producing the blank <NUM> and <NUM> almost unchanged and making maximum use of the space available for the assembly of groups <NUM> of cigarettes.

It is understood that the cigarettes of one group <NUM> may be arranged in an opposite orientation to the cigarettes of the other group <NUM>. In this case, the smoker will extract the cigarettes of one group <NUM> from, for example, the tobacco side, and the cigarettes of the other group <NUM> from, for example, the filter side.

The cigarette pack <NUM> also has the advantage that the lids <NUM> and, thus, the respective extraction openings <NUM> can be opened one at a time (i.e. not simultaneously), thus better preserving the freshness of the group <NUM> of cigarettes that is not opened. In other words, by opening one of the lids <NUM> it is possible to access only and exclusively a given group <NUM> of cigarettes, while the other group <NUM> of cigarettes is kept closed. It is, therefore, possible to access groups <NUM> of cigarettes independently of each other. The group <NUM> of cigarettes that is not opened and will be consumed later, thus preserves its freshness and aroma. This is even more important in packs wherein the closing tab is permanently connected to the lid <NUM>.

Should the smoker still want to open both lids, the pack <NUM> described so far allows for greater stability by being arranged essentially horizontally, supported by the front walls <NUM> of each lid <NUM>. In particular, the embodiment shown in <FIG> has the advantage that by opening both the lids <NUM>, the pack <NUM> of cigarettes could be used as a box, case, or tabletop display. In fact, by opening the two lids <NUM> at the same time, they can be used as support points to keep the pack open and accessible for the removal of cigarettes. Another advantage of the pack <NUM> described so far is that the amount of material used to make the blanks <NUM> and <NUM> is similar to that of the known rigid packs.

Claim 1:
A pack (<NUM>) for smoking articles, the pack having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprising:
two groups (<NUM>) of smoking articles arranged adjacent to one another;
an inner containing element (<NUM>), which surrounds the two groups (<NUM>) of smoking articles, has two distinct and separate extraction openings (<NUM>) to access the respective groups (<NUM>) of smoking articles, and comprises a front wall (<NUM>), two side walls (<NUM>) and optionally a rear wall (<NUM>);
an outer containing element (<NUM>), which is arranged around the inner containing element (<NUM>), surrounds the two groups (<NUM>) of smoking articles, and comprises a rear wall (<NUM>); the outer containing element (<NUM>) having no front wall; and
two lids (<NUM>), which are hinged at opposite ends of the rear wall (<NUM>) of the outer containing element (<NUM>), rotate between an open position and a closed position of the corresponding extraction openings (<NUM>), and each comprise a rear wall (<NUM>) hinged to the rear wall (<NUM>) of the outer containing element (<NUM>), two side walls (<NUM>), a front wall (<NUM>) and an end wall (<NUM>) interposed between the front wall (<NUM>) and the rear wall (<NUM>);
the pack (<NUM>) for smoking articles is characterized in that:
each group (<NUM>) of smoking articles has a width equal to half a width of the inner containing element (<NUM>) and a height equal to a height of the inner containing element (<NUM>);
the two groups (<NUM>) of smoking articles are arranged beside one another and are adjacent in an area of respective side walls (<NUM>); and
the two extraction openings (<NUM>) are arranged in an area of opposite vertexes along a diagonal of the front wall (<NUM>) of the inner containing element (<NUM>) and each has a width that is approximately equal to half a width of the inner containing element (<NUM>).