Patent ID: 8276750

Claim:
A package of cigarettes, comprising: a group ( 4 ) of cigarettes having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall and two minor lateral walls connecting the front and rear walls, the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes oriented longitudinally between the top and bottom walls; a wrapping ( 3 ) enclosing the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes and made from a sheet ( 22 ) of wrapping folded about the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes; and a stiffener ( 25 ) made of rigid material and located inside the wrapping ( 3 ), contacting the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes; wherein: the sheet ( 22 ) of wrapping extends asymmetrically about the top wall of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes to define two flaps: a short flap ( 23 a ) resting entirely on the rear wall or front wall of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes, and a long flap ( 23 b ) extending also about the bottom wall of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes onto the rear wall or front wall of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes and superimposed over the short flap ( 23 a ); the two superimposed flaps ( 23 ) are transversely heat sealed to each other at the rear wall or front wall of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes; and the sheet ( 22 ) of wrapping is folded and heat sealed longitudinally at the minor lateral walls of the group ( 4 ) of cigarettes.