WO2015186089A1

WO2015186089A1 - Package of smoke articles with a sliding opening and respective blanks

Info

Publication number: WO2015186089A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/054230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrizio Roila; Manuela MARDARE; Roberto Polloni; Stefano Negrini
Original assignee: G.D S.P.A.
Priority date: 2014-06-04
Filing date: 2015-06-04
Publication date: 2015-12-10

Abstract

A package (1) of smoke articles comprises an inner parallepiped-shaped container (2; 64) that is suitable for housing a group of smoke articles (3) and an outer container that is cup-shaped (4), wherein the inner container (2; 64) can slide between a closed position, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is housed inside the outer container (4), and an open position, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is partially extracted and it is possible to access the group of smoke articles (3). The inner container (2;) has a pair of major side walls (8; 71) that are opposite one another, an upper base wall (9; 72) and a lower base wall (10; 73), a pair of minor side walls (11,; 12; 74, 75) that are opposite one another comprising an inner minor side wall (11; 74), positioned in use inside the package (1), and an outer minor side wall (12; 75) defining an outer wall of the package (1). The outer container (4) has two major side walls (16) that are opposite one another, a minor side wall (17), an upper base wall (18) and a lower base wall (19), and comprises a push window (20; 50; 90) obtained at least at the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) to access the inner minor side wall (11; 74) of the inner container (2; 64) and move the inner container (2; 64) from the closed position to the open position by pushing the latter through the push window (20; 50; 90). The package (1) further comprises stop means suitable for limiting the sliding of the inner container (2; 64) with respect to the outer container (4) defining a maximum opening position that cannot be passed, the stop means comprising a tab (24; 44; 84) which is connected to the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) by a first hinge (25) and has a first end portion (26) fixed to the inner minor side wall (11) of the inner container (2; 64), the tab having moreover a second portion (27), which is connected to the first portion (26) by a second hinge (28) and extends between the first hinge (25) and the second hinge (28), the second portion (27) being divided into a first zone (29) and into a second zone (30) that are connected together by a third hinge (31). The tab (44; 84) further comprises a pair of side portions (45; 85) each arranged on opposite sides of the first portion (26), which extend longitudinally at least along the first portion (26), are each connected to the first portion of the tab (44; 84) by a pair of side hinges (46; 86), each side portion (45; 85) being fixed to a respective first portion (8a; 65a) of a respective major side wall (8; 71) of the inner container (2; 64).

Description

"Package of smoke articles with a sliding opening and respective blanks."

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a package of smoke articles, in particular with a sliding opening. In the description that follows reference will be made, for the sake of brevity, to a package of cigarettes with a sliding opening, without thereby narrowing the scope of the invention.

PRIOR ART

Rigid packages of cigarettes with a hinged lid are currently the most widespread packages of cigarettes on the market as they are easy to make, easy and practical to use and provide good mechanical protection for the cigarettes that they contain. A package of cigarettes with a rigid hinged lid comprises a container that is cup-shaped and has an open upper end, and a lid, which is also cup-shaped, hinged on the container along a hinge for rotating, with respect to the container itself, between an open and a closed position of the open end.

In addition to the rigid packages of cigarettes with a hinged lid, rigid packages of cigarettes with a sliding or slidable opening have been proposed, comprising two containers inserted one inside the other in a partially extractable manner.

A rigid package of cigarettes with a sliding opening comprises an outer container and an inner container. The outer container is cup-shaped and comprises a lower wall, an upper wall, two major side walls that are parallel to and opposite one another, a minor side wall and an opening, opposite the minor side wall, from which the inner container can exit. The inner container in turn comprises two major side walls that are parallel to and . opposite one another, two minor side walls that are parallel to one another and interposed between the major side walls, a lower wall, and an upper wall opposite the lower wall, which has an extraction opening. The inner container is suitable for receiving a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of metal foil and is housed inside the outer container so as to be able to slide with respect to the latter between a closed position, in which the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open position, in which the inner container is partially extracted from the outer container and it is possible to access the extraction opening. Sliding of the inner container with respect to the outer container can be determined by a translation between the two containers, or by a rotation between the two containers around a hinge that connects the two containers.

Stop means is provided in the package to limit sliding of the inner container with respect to the outer container when the inner container exits from the outer container. One example of a rigid package of cigarettes with rotation opening is shown by US 3,881,599. In US 3,881,599 an extreme edge of the inner minor side wall of the inner container interacts with a protrusion extending downwards made on the inner face of the upper wall of the outer container, when the inner container is moved from the closed position to the open position.

One drawback of US 3,881,599 is that the protrusion, obtained by folding a tab of the outer container, is costly to make inasmuch as it entails an addition package manufacturing step to obtain the aforesaid protrusion.

A further example of a rigid package with rotation opening is shown by EP 1923329. The package comprises a push window obtained in the minor side wall of the outer container by means of which it is possible to push the inner container in order to make the latter exits the outer container. The stop means is made as a pair of tabs made in the major side walls of the inner container that engage, when the package is open, with respective flaps of the major side walls of the outer container. The flaps of the inner container, obtained from a respective flat blank, are made by cutting out U-shaped openings in the panels that are intended to constitute the major side walls of the inner container.

Also the package disclosed by EP1923329 is expensive to make, because it requires additional blank-processing steps, to cut out the U-shaped openings and remove the blank offcuts thus obtained, and an additional step of making the packet to obtain the flaps of the inner container.

A further drawback of the packages of cigarettes disclosed previously is that the rotation of the inner container with respect to the outer container occurs with irregular movements that are unpleasant to the user, who cannot control the opening of the package itself.

Rigid packages of cigarettes with a sliding or slidable opening, comprising the two containers inserted inside one another in a partially extractable manner have been further proposed for housing a smaller group of cigarettes with respect to the overall inner volume of the inner container, for example because they contain cigarettes of reduced dimension, and i.e. a group of cigarettes of reduced diameter of the "slim" or "super-slim" type. In the case of cigarettes of reduced diameter, and with the same number of cigarettes as the number of cigarettes of standard dimension, the group of cigarettes has a transverse dimension that is less than the dimension of a major transverse edge of the inner container, defined between a major side wall 16 and the upper and lower base walls of the inner container. To prevent empty side spaces being present inside the package of cigarettes and thus prevent the group of cigarettes being able to "move" inside the package of cigarettes, it is known to insert inside the package of cigarettes a filling element to occupy the part of the inner side volume left free by the group of cigarettes. In fact, if the group of cigarettes were free to "move about" inside the package of cigarettes, the movements of the group of cigarettes during handling of the package of cigarettes, both during the production step and during the distribution and sale step, would subject the cigarettes to mechanical stress that could easily cause emptying of the tips, i.e. the loss of tobacco fibres from the free ends of the cigarettes. The filling element is usually made by folding an additional blank element and comprises an abutting wall parallel to a minor side wall of the inner container that usually abuts on the group of cigarettes and further comprises folded side walls, in which each side wall rests on a respective major side wall of the inner container. Optionally, the filling element can also have an upper base wall and two angular flaps, arranged on opposite sides of the upper wall that when they are folded in a position that is perpendicular to the upper base wall rest on and are fixed against upper portions of the inner surfaces of the side walls of the filling element.

The filling element disclosed above has some drawbacks.

In the first place, this filling element is not very stable. In fact, with use, the upper wall of the filling element may easily lift up, this making a space inside the container available in an undesired manner.

Further, a sliding package in which are present both the stop means of the sliding of the inner container with respect to the outer container and the filling element for housing a group of cigarettes of reduced dimension is very costly to make because it entails additional processing steps for making the stop means and further additional steps for folding the blank and obtaining the aforesaid filling element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a package of smoke articles with a sliding opening that is free of the drawbacks disclosed above and which, in particular, is simple and cheap to make.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a package of smoke articles with a sliding opening that is free of the drawbacks disclosed above and which, in addition, is able to house a group of cigarettes of reduced dimension. According to the present invention a package of smoke articles with a sliding opening according to what is claimed in the attached claims is provided.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be disclosed with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a rigid package for cigarettes according to the present invention, comprising an outer container and an inner container in a closed configuration;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 1 in the closed configuration, in which the outer container is made according to a version;

- figure 3 is a first perspective view of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 2 in an open configuration;

- figure 4 is a second perspective view of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 2 in the open configuration, some parts of the outer container removed for the sake of clarity to show a tab that is connected to the outer container and is fixed to the inner container.

- figure 5 is a schematic frontal view of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 1 in the open configuration and showing by a dashed line some inner components of the package;

- figure 6 is a schematic frontal view of the rigid package for cigarettes of figures 2 to 4 in the open configuration and showing by a dashed line some inner components of the package;

- figure 7 is a plan view of a first blank used for making the outer container of the rigid package for cigarettes of figures 1 and 5;

- figure 8 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the first blank of figure 7, used for making the version of the outer container of the rigid package for cigarettes of figures 2 to 5 e 6;

- figure 9 is a plan view of a second blank used for making the inner container of the rigid package for cigarettes of figures 1 to 6;

- figure 10 is a schematic frontal view of another version of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 1, in the open configuration and showing by a dashed line some inner components of the package;

- figure 11 is an axonometric view of an outer container used for making the rigid package of figure 10;

- figure 12 is an axonometric view of an inner container to be associated with the inner container of figure 11, used for making the rigid package of figure 10 wherein the inner container comprises filling means of an inner volume of the inner container; - figure 13 is a plan view of a first blank used for making the outer container of figure

11;

- figure 14 is a plan view of a second blank used for making the inner container of figure 12;

- figure 15 is a sectioned schematic view of the rigid package for cigarettes of figure 10, in which a group of cigarettes, the inner container and outer container and filling means of the inner volume of the inner container are shown.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In this description, alike elements that are common to the various embodiments illustrated have been indicated by the same numbering.

With reference to figures 1 to 6, with 1 a package of smoke articles is shown in the overall, in particular a rigid package 1 of cigarettes with a sliding opening that is opened by rotation.

The package 1 comprises an inner container 2, which is parallelepiped, which is suitable for housing internally a wrapped group 3 of smoke articles, for example cigarettes, i.e. a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet (not illustrated) of metal foil, or of another material.

The package further comprises an outer, cup-shaped, container 4, which slidingly houses the inner container 2 to enable the latter to slide with a rotation movement between a closed position, wherein the inner container is housed and completely inserted inside the outer container 4, and an open position, wherein the inner container 2 is partially extracted from the outer container 4 and it is possible to access the group of smoke articles via an extraction opening (not illustrated) of the inner container 2.

The inner container 2 has a containing body 5, in which the wrapped group of cigarettes 3 is housed, and a removable body 6, which is removably connected to the containing body 5 by intended separating lines 7. When the removable body is torn by a user, the extraction opening is defined by means of which it is possible to access the wrapped group of cigarettes 3.

The inner container 2 has a pair of major side walls 8 that are opposite and parallel to one another, an upper base wall 9 (upper being defined as the fact that it comprises the removable body 6), a lower base wall 10, in particular opposite and parallel to the upper base wall 9, and a pair of minor side walls 11, 12 that are opposite and parallel to one another comprising an inner minor side wall 11, positioned in use inside the package 1, and an outer minor side wall 12 defining an outer wall of the package 1. The minor side walls 11 and 12 are transverse to the major side walls 8.

As shown in figures 3 to 6, the removable body 6 extends on part of the upper base wall 9 and on part of at least a major side wall 8 of the inner container 2, so that removing the cigarettes through the extraction opening is simple and fast.

Between the major side walls 8 and the minor side walls 11, 12 four longitudinal edges 13 are defined, whereas between the major side walls 8, the minor side walls 11, 12 and the base walls 9, 10 eight transverse edges 14, 15 are defined. More precisely, the transverse edges are divided into four major transverse edges 14 (defined between the major side walls 8 and the upper base wall 9, and the major side walls 8 and the lower base wall 10) and in four minor transverse edges 15 (defined between the minor side walls 11, 12 and the upper base wall 9 and between the minor side walls 11, 12 and the lower base wall 10). According to what is illustrated in the attached figures all the longitudinal edges 13 and transverse edges 14, 15 are of right type.

The outer container 4 has a pair of major side walls 16 that are opposite and parallel to one another, a minor side wall 17, an upper base wall 18 (upper being defined as the fact that it is parallel to the upper base wall 9 of the inner container 2) and a lower base wall 19 that are opposite and parallel to one another.

Between the major side walls 16 and the minor side wall 17 two longitudinal edges 21 are defined, whereas between the major side walls 16 and the base walls 18 and 19 six transverse edges are defined that are divided into four major transverse edges 22 defined between the major side walls 16 and the base walls 18 and 19 and into two minor transverse edges 23 defined between the minor side wall 17 and the base walls 18, 19. According to what is illustrated in the attached figures, all the longitudinal edges 16 and transverse edges 22 and 23 are of right type.

As shown in figure 1, the outer container 4 comprises a push window 20 obtained at least at the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4 to access the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2 and move from the closed position to the open position the inner container 2 by pushing the latter through the push window 20. As the inner container 2 is entirely housed in the outer container 4, the push window 20 enables interacting with the inner container 2, which would otherwise be very difficult to exploit.

The container further comprises stop means suitable for limiting the sliding of the inner container 2 with respect to the outer container 4 defining a maximum opening position that cannot be passed.

The stop means comprises a tab 24 which is connected to the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4 by a first hinge 25, obtained from a first weakened line, around which the tab 24 is folded entirely to define the push window 20. The tab has further a first end portion 26 which is fixed, by gluing, to the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2 (figure 5). The tab 24 forms a single body with the outer container 4 and is bounded by a contour border 57 obtained by making an incision in the outer container 4. Preferably, the tab 24 comprises a second portion 27 which is connected to the first portion 26 by a second hinge 28, obtained by a second weakened line, by means of which the inner container 2 can rotate with respect to the tab 24. The second portion 27 is connected to the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4 by the first hinge 25. Preferably, the second portion 27 is divided into a first zone 29 and into a second zone 30 that are connected together by a third hinge 31, obtained by a third weakened line. The first zone 29 is connected to the first portion 26 by the second hinge 28 whereas the second zone 30 is connected to the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4 by the first hinge 25.

The second portion 27, connected to the first portion 26 by the second hinge 28, thus extends between the first hinge 25 and the second hinge 28, is divided into the first zone 29 and into the second zone 30 that are connected together by the third hinge 31.

The first hinge, the second hinge 28 and/or the third hinge 31 are parallel to one another and are parallel to the minor transverse edges 23 of the outer container 4.

The push window 20 is thus arranged in an intermediate position between the two minor transverse edges 23, in such a manner that the end portion 26 of the tab 24, when the tab 24 is folded entirely around the first hinge 25 to define the push window 20, does not come into contact with the minor transverse edge 23 of the outer container 4 arranged between the minor side wall 17 and the lower base wall 19.

The lower base wall 19 of the outer container 4 has a weakened line that defines an opening hinge 32 which is parallel to the minor transverse edges 23 of the outer container and divides the lower base wall 19 into a first portion 19a that is adjacent and connected to the minor side wall 17 and into a second end portion 19b, the latter connected to the major side walls 16 by respective intended separating lines (which are not illustrated), each extending along respective portions of major transverse edges 22 on an opposite side to the second portion 19b. Alternatively to the intended separating lines incisions can be provided, these also extending along respective portions of major transverse edges 22.

The outer container 4 further comprises a pair of flaps 33 suitable for defining an inner surface portion of the major side walls 16 which are each fixed to the respective major side wall 16.

The package of cigarettes 1 disclosed above is obtained from a set of two blanks that are independent of and separate from one another. The outer container 4 is made by folding a first blank 34 (figure 7) whereas the inner container 2 is made by folding a second blank 35 (figure 9).

In one embodiment of the package of cigarettes 1 , the outer container 4 is fixed to the inner container 2 by gluing the second portion 19b of the lower base wall 19 of the outer container 4 to the inner container 2.

Further, the flaps 33 are obtained by folding parts of the first blank 34 to define two end longitudinal edges 36 of the major side walls 16 of the outer container 4.

The tab 24 is bounded by the contour border 57 which is obtained by making an incision in the first blank 34, and is formed of a plurality of portions 57', 57", 57"'as will be seen better below.

The tab 24 is folded entirely around the first hinge 25 to arrange the tab 24 between the inner container 2 and the outer container 4 and the first portion 26 of the tab 24 is fixed by gluing to the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2.

By folding the tab 24 entirely around the first hinge 25 the push window 20 is further defined that leaves uncovered a portion of the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 4, as shown in figure 1.

When the package 1 is in the closed position, the inner container 2 is entirely housed in the outer container 4. The upper base wall 18 of the outer container 4 is arranged in contact with the upper base wall 9 of the inner container, the lower base wall 19 of the outer container is arranged in contact with the lower base wall 10 of the inner container, thee major side walls 16 of the outer container 4 are arranged in contact with the major side walls 8 of the inner container and lastly the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4 is arranged in contact with the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2.

In use, by moving from the closed position to the open position the inner container 2, i.e. by pushing the latter through the push window 20 of the outer container 4, the intended separating lines connected to the portion 19b of the lower base wall 19 of the outer container 4 are torn and in this manner the inner container 2 can rotate around the opening hinge 32. The removable body 6 of the inner container 2 is made accessible to be torn and define the extraction opening. In this manner, the cigarettes can be accessed. The tab 24 limits the rotation of the inner container 2 with respect to the outer container 4 inasmuch as the maximum permitted rotation is determined by the length of the second portion 27, as illustrated in figure 5.

Advantageously, the second hinge 28 enables the inner container 2 to be rotated with respect to the tab 24 and thus the inner container 2 can exit the outer container 4 without jerks.

Still more advantageously, the presence of the third hinge 31 ensures that the package opens with a continuous and gentle movement.

According to a different embodiment of the rigid package 1, the outer container 4 is made according to a version shown in figures 2 to 4 and 6.

The outer container 4 comprises a tab 44 that differs from the tab 24 of the previous embodiment inasmuch as it further comprises a pair of additional side portions 45 each arranged on opposite sides of the first portion 26, that extend at least along the first portion 26.

It is pointed out that what has been said previously in relation to the tab 24 comprising the first portion 26, the second portion 27 divided into a first zone 29 and into a second zone 30, the second hinge 28 and the third hinge 31, also remains valid for the tab 44 but is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

The tab 44 is also folded entirely to define a push window 50, forms a single body with the outer container 4 and is bounded by a contour border 49 obtained by making an incision in the outer container 4.

The side portions 45, which are each connected to the first portion 26 by respective weakened lines defining a pair of side hinges 46, are each fixed, by gluing, to respective major side walls 8 of the inner container 2.

In particular, each side portion 45 is connected to a respective first portion 8a of the respective major side wall 8 of the inner container 2. Each side wall 8 of the inner container 2 has in fact a first portion 8a and a second portion 8b that are coplanar with one another which define the minor side wall 8.

The second portion 8b of the major side wall 8 of the inner container 2 is the remaining portion of the side wall 8, on which the side portion 45 of the tab 44 is not fixed.

It should be noted that each side hinge 46 is superimposed on a respective longitudinal edge 13 of the inner container 2 defined between the inner minor side wall 11 and the major side walls 8 of the inner container 2.

Preferably, each side portion 45 is connected to the first portion 26 exclusively by the respective side hinge 46 and has a first zone 45a arranged at the first portion 26 and a second end zone 45b that extends beyond the first portion 26 (figure 6). In other words, each side portion 45 has a longitudinal extent (along a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal edges 13 of the inner container 2) that is major than the dimension of the side hinges 46. The first zone 45a extends longitudinally along the side hinges 46 whereas the second zone 45b extends longitudinally beyond the side hinges 46 and has a longitudinal dimension that is major than or the same as the dimension of the first zone 45a.

The first zone 45a has a respective first area 47a e the second zone 45b has a respective second area 47b for fixing by gluing the side portion 45 to the respective first portion 8a of the major side wall 8 of the inner container 2.

Each side portion 45 can further optionally comprise a tearable zone 48, in particular shaped as a circular or semicircular segment, which is also fixed during making of the package 1 by gluing to the respective first portion 8a of the major side wall 8 of the inner container 2 to be torn at the first use of the package 1. Each tearable zone 48 in the tab 44 is bounded, before use of the package 1 when it is still connected to the side portions 45, by a contour border 49 of the tab 44 which comprises, as will be seen below, a plurality of portions 49', 49", 49"' and 59.

The contour border 49 of the tab 44 is obtained by making an incision in an alternative embodiment of the first blank 32, illustrated in figure 8.

In a manufacturing phase of the package of cigarettes 1 according to the present embodiment, the outer container 4 is fixed to the inner container 2 by gluing the second portion 19b of the lower base wall 19 of the outer container 4 to inner container 2, according to what has already been illustrated previously.

The push window 50 is obtained by folding the tab 44 entirely around the first hinge 25, arranging the tab 44 between the outer container 4 and the inner container 2, fixing by gluing the first portion 26 of the tab 44 to the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2, by fixing by gluing the first area 47a and the second area 47b of each side portion 45 and optionally the tearable zone 48, to the respective first portion 8a of the major side wall 8 of the inner container 2.

The push window 50 extends both on the minor side wall 17 and on the major side walls 16 of the outer container 4, inasmuch as the contour border 49 of the tab 44 is obtained by incision on both the minor side wall 17 and on the major side walls 16 of the outer container 4.

Advantageously, the side portions 45 of the tab 44 ensure optimum fixing of the tab 44 to the inner container 2 during rotation of the package from the closed position to the open position, inasmuch as the outer container 4 is firmly fixed to the inner container 2 and to the inner minor side wall 11 and to the major side walls 8 of the inner container 2.

The push window 50 leaves uncovered both a portion of inner minor side wall 11 and of major side walls 8 of the inner container 2 and thus a further advantage of this embodiment is that with a close package 1, a user can push the inner container 2 through the push window even when the package is of "slim" type i.e. it has minor side walls of reduced dimensions. A package of cigarettes is thus obtained that is openable only with one hand, the opening of which occurs without jerks and in a controlled manner.

It has been said that the package shown in figures 1 and 5 is obtained from a set of blanks and more precisely in that the outer container 4 is obtained by folding the first blank 34 and that the inner container 2 is obtained by folding the second blank 35.

In order to obtain the package 1 shown in figures 2 to 4 and in figure 6, the outer container 4 is obtained by folding a version of the first blank, indicated by 38, that differs from the blank 34 by the manner of making the tab 44.

In the description that follows, the parts of the blanks 34, 38 and 35 will be indicated, if possible, by accented reference numbers that are the same as the reference numbers that distinguish the corresponding parts of the outer container 4 and of the inner container 2. The first blank 34, used for obtaining the package 1 shown in figures 1 and 5, is flat and has a substantially elongated rectangular shape and has two transverse weakening lines 51 that are parallel to one another and a plurality of longitudinal weakening lines 52 that are parallel to one another that define between the transverse weakening lines 51 a first panel 16' constituting the major side wall 16, a second panel 17' constituting the minor side wall 17 and a third panel 16"' constituting the other major side wall 16.

Each longitudinal weakening line 52 is designed to make a longitudinal edge 21 of the right type of the outer container 4. Each transverse weakening line 51 is designed to make a major transverse edge 22 or a minor transverse edge 23 of right type of the outer container 4.

The first panel 16' has a pair of flaps 18' and 19' that are arranged on opposite sides of the first panel 16', are connected to the first panel by the transverse weakening lines 51 and constitute an inner portion of the upper base wall 18 and of the lower base wall 19. The third panel 16"' has a pair of flaps 18"' and 19"' that are arranged on opposite sides of the third panel 16"', are connected to the first panel 16' by the transverse weakening lines 51 and constitute an outer portion of the upper base wall 18 and of the lower base wall 19.

The second panel 17' has a pair of flaps 18" and 19" that are arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 17', are connected to the second panel 17' by the transverse weakening lines 51 and constitute an inner portion of the upper base wall 18 and of the lower base wall 19.

It should be noted that both the flaps 19' and the flaps 19"' each have a respective longitudinal weakening line 53, parallel to the longitudinal weakening lines 52, that divides each flap 19', 19'" into two zones, i.e. an inner zone 19a', 19a'" facing the flap 19" and into an outer zone 19b', 19b'".

The longitudinal weakening lines 53 constitute the opening hinge 32 of the package, the inner zones 19a' and 19a'" constitute the first portion 19a of the major base wall 19 and the outer zones 19b' and 19b'" constituting the second end portion 19b of the major base wall 19 of the outer container 4. Preferably, the portions 19b' and 19b'" are separated respectively from the first panel 16' and from the third panel 16"' by intended separating lines 41 (optionally also made by incisions), intended to be torn when the package 1 is first used to permit the inner container 2 to be rotated from the closed position to the open position. The intended separating lines 41 are aligned on the transverse weakening line 51 that connects the first panel 16' and the third panel 16"' respectively to the flaps 19' and 19"'.

The first panel 16' has further a respective side flap 33' that is separated from the first panel 16' by a longitudinal weakening line 52 and constitutes the inner flap 33 of one of the major side walls 16. The third panel 16"' has a respective side flap 33"' that is separated from the third panel 16'" by a longitudinal weakening line 52 and constitutes the inner flap 33 of the other major side wall 16.

The tab 24 is obtained by making an incision in the second panel 17' of the first blank 34 and is connected to the second panel 17' by a first transverse weakening line 54 that constitutes the first hinge 25.

The tab 24 further has a second transverse weakening line 55 and a third transverse weakening line 56 that are parallel to one another and are parallel to the transverse weakening lines 51, which respectively constitute the second hinge 28 and the third hinge 31.

The second and the third transverse weakening line 55, 56 divide the tab 24 into a first panel 26', second panel 29' and third panel 30'. The first panel 26' constitutes the first portion 26 of the tab 24 whereas the second panel 29' constitutes the first zone 29 and the third panel 30' constitutes the second zone 30 of the second portion 27 of the tab 24. The second panel 29' and the third panel 30' thus constitute the second portion 27 of the tab 24.

The first panel 26', the second panel 29' and the third panel 30' of the tab 24 extend transversely over the entire second panel 17'.

The contour border 57 of the tab 24 is obtained by making an incision in the first blank 34, is separated from the first blank 34 by a pair of rectilinear portions 57' and 57"' that extend from the first transverse weakening line 54 on opposite sides of the first panel 26', of the second panel 29' and of the third panel 30' and are aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 52 arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 17'. The contour border 57 is further separated from the first blank by a transverse portion 57" that is inside the second panel 17', is parallel to the transverse weakening lines 51 and extends transversely over the entire second panel 17'.

It should be noted that the contour border 57 of the tab 24 comprising the portions 57', 57", 57"', is obtained by a substantially "U"-shaped incision of the second panel 17' and that the tab 24 is obtained without machining chips. Advantageously, this enables additional blank machining steps to be avoided inasmuch as there are no chips to be removed during a manufacturing step of the blank.

With regard to the version 38 of the first blank, reference is made to what was previously described in relation to the first blank 34, highlighting only possible differences that are valid for the present embodiment.

To make the outer container 4 shown in figures 2 to 4 and 6, the first blank 38 is used, in which the tab 44 is further obtained by making an incision in the first panel 16' and in the third panel 16"'. The tab 44 comprises a first panel 26', a second panel 29', a third panel 30', a first transverse weakening line 54, a second transverse weakening line 55 and a third transverse weakening line 56 for which everything disclosed previously regarding the embodiment shown in figure 7 applies but is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

The tab further comprises a pair of side panels 45' and 45"' obtained respectively in the first panel 16' and in the third panel 16'" which are arranged on an opposite side at least of the first panel 26' and constitute the side portions 45 of the tab 44.

The tab 44 further comprises a pair of longitudinal weakening lines 58 that constitute the side hinges 46, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first panel 26' and are aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 52 arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 17'. It should be noted that the side panels 45' and 45"' extend longitudinally beyond the first panel 26' but are connected to the first blank 38 exclusively by the longitudinal weakening lines 58.

In detail, the side panels 45' and 45"' of the tab 44 extend from the first end panel 26' to the first transverse line 54 of the tab 44.

The contour border 49 of the tab 44 is obtained by making an incision in the first blank 38, in particular by making an incision in the first panel 16', the second panel 17' and in the third panel 16"' and is separated from the first blank 38 by: a pair of first portions 49' and 49"' of curved shape that extend inside the respective first panel 16' and third panel 16"'; a second rectilinear portion 49" that extends from the first panel 16' to the third panel 16"', traverses the second panel 17' entirely parallel to the transverse weakening lines 51 of the first blank 38 and connects ends of the portions 49' and 49"'; and a pair of third rectilinear portions 59 aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 58 of the tab 44, that extend from the first transverse weakening line 54 to the second transverse weakening line 55 of the tab 44.

The rectilinear portions 59 separate the panels 45' and 45" of the tab 44 from the second panel 17'. It should be noted that the contour border 49', 49", 49"' and 59 of the tab 44 is obtained without machining chips.

Each side panel 45'ande 45"' further comprises a respective tearable zone 48 bounded by the contour border of the tab 44, in particular by the respective first curved portion 49' and 49"of the contour border, and by respective intended separating lines 48' and 48 " ' extending inside each side panel 45 ' and 45 " ' .

Again, what was said previously for the blank of figure 6 also applies to this embodiment of the first blank, which is obtainable without machining chips.

The second blank 35 has two longitudinal weakening lines 60 that are parallel to one another and a plurality of transverse weakening lines 61 that are parallel to one another that define between the longitudinal weakening lines 60 a first panel 9' constituting part of the upper base wall 9 of the inner container 2, a second panel 8' constituting the major side wall 8, a third panel constituting 10' the lower base wall 10, a fourth panel constituting the other major side wall 8" and a fifth panel 9" constituting part of the upper base wall 9.

Each longitudinal weakening line 60 is intended to make a longitudinal edge 13 of right type of the inner container 4. Each transverse weakening line 61 is designed to make a major transverse edge 14 or minor transverse edge 15 of right type of the inner container 2.

The second panel 8' and the fourth panel 8' each have a pair of flaps 1 Γ and 12', 11" and 12" that constitute a part of the inner minor side wall 11 and of the outer minor side wall 12, are arranged on opposite sides of the respective second 8' and fourth panel 8" and are separated from the respective second 8' and fourth panel 8" by the longitudinal weakening lines 60. The flaps 11 ' and 11" constitute part of the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2 whereas the flaps 12' and 12" constitute part of the outer minor side wall 12 of the inner container 2.

The second panel 8' and the fourth panel 8" further have respective intended separating lines 7 which define respective zone 6' and 6" that constitute parts of the removable body 6.

The flaps 11" and 12" have respective tabs 62 connected to the respective flaps 11" and 12" by transverse weakening lines 63 parallel to the transverse lines 61, which are aligned on the panel 10' and constitute part of the lower base wall 10 of the inner container 2.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention that is not shown, the inner container 2 is slidable by means of a linear movement with respect to the outer container 4 between the closed and the open position.

According to this embodiment, between the major side walls 16 and the base wall 19 of the outer container 4 there are weakened lines and not the intended separating lines 41. The inner container 2 is in fact fixed to the outer container 4 only by gluing the first portion 26 of the tab 24 to the inner minor side wall 11 of the inner container 2.

Also in the case of sliding by translation, the tab 24 or the tab 44, if the outer container 4 is made by the different embodiment shown in figures 2 to 4 and in figure 6, limits sliding of the inner container 2 with respect to the outer container 4 inasmuch as maximum permitted translation is determined by the length of the second portion 27 of the tab 24 or 44.

A further embodiment of the rigid package 1, is shown in figures 10 to 15 and comprises an inner container 64 that differs from the container 2 of the preceding figures inasmuch as it comprises filling means, to occupy a part of inner volume of the inner container 64, suitable for abutting on a group of cigarettes 3 (figure 15) having a transverse dimension that is less than a major side edge of the inner container 64.

With regard to the outer container 4, reference is made to what has been disclosed previously, highlighting only possible differences that are valid for the present embodiment.

The inner container 64 has a containing body 79, in which the wrapped group of cigarettes is housed (not illustrated), and a removable body 80, which is removably connected to the containing body 79 by intended separating lines 81. When the removable body 80 is torn by a user, the extraction opening is defined by means of which it is possible to access the wrapped group of cigarettes (not illustrated).

The filling means reduces the inner volume of the containing body 79.

The filling means comprises a pair of filling flaps 65 folded inside the inner container 64 suitable for defining a pair of inner filling elements that take on the shape of recesses of the inner container 64.

The inner container 64 has a pair of major side walls 71 that are opposite and parallel to one another, an upper base wall 72, a lower base wall 73, in particular opposite and parallel to the upper base wall 72, and a pair of minor side walls 74, 75 that are opposite and parallel to one another comprising an inner minor side wall 74, positioned in use inside the package 1, and an outer minor side wall 75 defining an outer wall of the package 1. The minor side walls 74 e 75 are transverse to the major side walls 71. Between the major side walls 71 and the minor side walls 74, 75 four longitudinal edges 76 are defined, whereas between the major side walls 71, the minor side walls 74, 75 and the base walls 72, 73 eight transverse edges 77, 78 are defined. More precisely, the transverse edges are divided into four major transverse edges 77 (defined between the major side walls 71 and the upper base wall 72, and the major side walls 71 and the lower base wall 73) and in four minor transverse edges 78 (defined between the minor side walls 74, 75 and the upper base wall 72 and between the minor side walls 74, 75 and the lower base wall 73). According to what has been illustrated in the attached figures all the longitudinal edges 76 and transverse edges 77, 78 are of right type.

Each flap 65 forms a single body with the inner container 64 and is separated from the latter respectively by an upper incision 66 (upper being defined as the fact that it faces the upper base wall) and a lower incision 67 (lower being defined as the fact that it faces the lower base wall), which are which are parallel to one another and are further parallel to the lower base wall 73 of the inner container 64.

Each flap 65 further has a respective first end that is connected to the inner container 64 by a first hinge 68 and has further a second end that is connected to the inner container 64 by a second hinge 69. Each flap further comprises a third hinge 70, which is arranged between the first hinge 68 and the second hinge 69 and identifies in each flap a first zone 65a, arranged between the first hinge 68 and a third hinge 70, and a second zone 65b, arranged between the third hinge 70 and the second hinge 69, the first zone 65a and the second zone 65b being perpendicular to one another.

In other words, each flap 65 is an area of the inner container 64 of rectangular shape that is bounded above by the upper incision 66, below by the lower incision 67 and laterally by the first hinge 68 and by the second hinge 69, which is folded to the inside of the inner container 64 around the third hinge 70.

The pair of filling flaps 65 is arranged symmetrically on the sides of the inner minor side wall 74, if we consider a line of longitudinal symmetry S in the minor side wall, shown in figure 10. Each incision 66 and 67 has the same dimension and the flaps 65 are symmetrical and specular with respect to the line of symmetry S (and also to the axis of longitudinal symmetry A of the package 1) and are each arranged in a respective longitudinal edge 76, between the inner minor side wall 74 and the major side wall 71 of the inner container 64.

In each flap 65, the first hinge 68 is arranged in the inner minor side wall 74 of the inner container 64, the second hinge 69 is arranged in the major side wall 71 in such a manner that the transverse extent of the first zone 65a is equal to the distance between the first hinge 68 and the longitudinal edge 76 and the transverse extent of the second zone 65b is equal to the distance between the second hinge 69 and the longitudinal edge 76.

It should thus be noted that each filling flap 65 is folded inwardly around the respective first hinge 68 arranged in the inner minor side wall 74 of the inner container 64 and that each major side wall 71 of the inner container 64 comprises a first portion and a second portion 71b, in which the second portion 71b is on a plane that is parallel but staggered in relation to the exterior with respect to the first portion.

The first portion corresponds to the first zone 65a of the respective filling flap 65 whereas the second portion 71b corresponds to the remaining part of the major side wall 71 that is not affected by the filling flap 65.

Similarly, the inner minor side wall 74 comprises an upper portion and a lower portion bounded at the sides by the longitudinal edges 76 and a central portion 74a bounded by the pair of first hinges 68 that has a transverse dimension that is less than the transverse dimension of the upper portion and of the lower portion.

The inner minor side wall 74 has further a pair of symmetrical side portions, corresponding to the pair of second zones 65b of the pair of flaps 65, which are is on a plane that is parallel but staggered in relation to the outer minor side wall 75 with respect to the remaining part of the inner minor side wall 74 and are thus staggered to the interior in relation to the central portion 74a and to the upper and lower portion.

The outer container 4 comprises a tab 84, which is a version of the tab 44 of figures 2 to 4 and 6, that comprises a pair of additional side portions 85 each arranged on opposite sides of the first portion 26, that extend at least along the first portion 26.

It is pointed out that what has been said previously in relation to the tab 24, comprising the first portion 26, the second portion 27 divided into a first zone 29 and into a second zone 30, the second hinge 28 and the third hinge 31, also remains valid for the tab 84 but is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

The tab 84 is also folded entirely to define a push window 90, forms a single body with the outer container 4 and is bounded by a contour border 91 obtained by making an incision in the outer container 4, in particular only in the minor side wall 17 of the outer container. The push window 90 thus extends exclusively in the minor side wall 17 of the outer container 4.

The side portions 85 are each connected to the first portion 26 by respective weakened lines defining a pair of side hinges 86, which have a distance between them equal to the distance between the pair of first hinges 68 of the filling flaps 65, arranged in the inner minor side wall 74.

Each side portion 85 is fixed, by gluing, to the first portion of the respective major side wall 71 of the inner container 64 that corresponds to the first zone 65a of the inner container 64, staggered towards the inside of the inner container 64 with respect to the remaining second portion 71b of the major side wall 71.

It should be noted that each side hinge 86 of the tab 84 is superimposed on a respective first hinge 68 of a respective filling flap 65.

The longitudinal dimension of the filling flap 65 and thus the length of the first hinge 68, of the second hinge 69 and of the third hinge 70 has to be less than or the same as the longitudinal dimension of the tab 84, in such a manner that each first zone 65a of the filling flaps 65 can receive entirely a side portion 85 of the tab 84.

The push window 90 is thus arranged in an intermediate position between the two minor transverse edges 23 of the outer container 4, in such a manner that the end portion 26 of the tab 84, when the tab 84 is folded entirely around the first hinge 25 to define the push window 90, does not come into contact with the lower minor transverse edge 23 of the outer container 4.

In order to give major robustness to the inner container 64, the incisions 66 and 67 of each filling flap 65 are spaced away from the lower base wall 73, so that between the filling flaps 65 and the lower base wall 73 the lower portion of the inner minor side wall 74 remains.

It is added that the push window 90 leaves the upper portion of the inner minor side wall 74 uncovered, that is flat and devoid of recesses.

In use, a user can push the upper portion of the inner minor side wall 74 to move the inner container 64 from the closed position to the open position. The pair of filling flaps 65 and the central portion 74a of the inner minor side wall 74 remain on the other hand hidden to the user.

Each side portion 85 is connected to the first portion 26 exclusively by the respective side hinge 86 and has a first zone 85a arranged at the first portion 26 and a second end zone 85b that extends beyond the first portion 26. In other words, each side portion 85 has a longitudinal extent (along a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal edges 76 of the inner container 64) that is major than the dimension of the side hinges 86. The first zone 85a extends longitudinally along the side hinges 86 whereas the second zone 85b extends longitudinally beyond the side hinges 86 and has a longitudinal dimension that is major than or the same as the dimension of the first zone 85a.

The first zone 85a has a respective first area 87a and the second zone 85b has a respective second area 87b (figure 10) for fixing by gluing the side portion 85 to the respective first portion 65a of the major side wall 71 of the inner container 64.

Also for the tab 84 what has been said previously for the tab 44 applies, i.e. the side portions 85 of the tab 84 ensure optimum fixing of the tab 84 to the inner container 64 during rotation of the package from the closed position to the open position, inasmuch as the outer container 4 is firmly fixed to the inner container 64 both in the inner minor side wall 74 and in the major side walls 71 of the inner container 64.

It is, however, added that advantageously the inner container 64 provided with filling means 65 enables a group of cigarettes 3 of reduced dimension to be housed inside the inner container 64 to make a sliding package of cigarettes in which, for example, cigarettes of smaller diameter than normal cigarettes are received without moving inside the package (figure 15) and is at the same time devoid of additional expensive filling elements.

Owing to the particular arrangement and fixing of the tab 84 and of the filling flaps 65, the inner container 64 acts both as an effective filling means and stop means that enable a user to open with just one hand the package and creating an opening that occurs without jerks and in a controlled manner.

As said previously, also the package of cigarettes shown in figures 10 to 15 disclosed above is obtained from a set of two blanks that are independent of and separate from one another. The outer container 4 is made by folding a first blank 94 (figure 13), whereas the inner container 64 is made by folding a second blank 95 (figure 14), that are respectively versions of the first blank of figure 8 and of the second blank of figure 9.

What has been said previously in relation to the first blank 38 of figure 8 still remains valid and for the sake of brevity only the differences between blank 38 and blank 94 will be highlighted.

In order to make the outer container 4 shown in figures 10 and 11, the tab 84 is obtained by making an incision in only the second panel 17'. The tab 84 comprises a first panel 26', a second panel 29', a third panel 30', a first transverse weakening line 54, a second transverse weakening line 55 and a third transverse weakening line 56 for which everything applies that was previously disclosed in relation to the embodiment shown in figure 7, but which is not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

The tab 84 further comprises a pair of side panels 85' and 85"' obtained respectively in the second panel 17' which are arranged on an opposite side at least of the first panel 26' and constitute the side portions 85 of the tab 84, facing respectively the first panel' 16' and the third panel 16"'.

The tab 84 further comprises a pair of longitudinal weakening lines 96 that constitute the side hinges 86 of the tab 84, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first panel 26' and are not aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 52 arranged on opposite sides of the second panel 17'. The longitudinal weakening lines 96 are parallel to one another, parallel to the longitudinal weakening lines 52 but are arranged inside the second panel 17' that are symmetrical to a respective longitudinal axis of symmetry S of the second panel 17'.

It should be noted that the side panels 85' and 85"' extend longitudinally beyond the first panel 26' but are connected to the first blank 94 exclusively by the longitudinal weakening lines 96.

In detail, the side panels 85' and 85"' of the tab 84 extend from the first end panel 26' to the first transverse line 54 of the tab 84.

The contour border 91 of the tab 84 is obtained by making an incision in the first blank 94, in particular by cutting exclusively the second panel 17' and is separated from the first blank 94 by: a pair of first portions 91 ' of curved shape that extend inside the second panel 17' and are arranged symmetrically to the sides of the first transverse weakening line 54; a second rectilinear portion 91" that traverses the second panel 17' entirely parallel to the transverse weakening lines 51 of the first blank 94, a pair of third rectilinear portions 91 " arranged at and aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 52 which respectively connect ends of the portions 91 ' and 91 ' to the second portion 92"; and a pair of fourth rectilinear portions 97 aligned on the longitudinal weakening lines 96 of the tab 44, made inside the second panel 17' that extends from the first transverse weakening line 54 to the second transverse weakening line 55 of the tab 44.

It should be noted that the contour border 91 of the tab 84, made by the portions 91 ', 91 ", 91 "' and 97 is obtained without machining chips.

The second blank 95 of figure 14 has elements that are alike to the blank of figure 9.

In detail, the second blank 95 has two longitudinal weakening lines 98 that are parallel to one another and a plurality of transverse weakening lines 99 that are parallel to one another that define between the longitudinal weakening lines 98 a first panel 72' constituting part of the upper base wall 72 of the inner container 64, a second panel 71 ' constituting the major side wall 71, a third panel 73' constituting the lower base wall 73, a fourth panel 71" constituting the other major side wall 71 and a fifth panel 72" constituting part of the upper base wall 72.

Each longitudinal weakening line 98 is intended to make a longitudinal edge 76 of right type of the inner container 64. Each transverse weakening line 99 is designed to make a major transverse edge 77 or minor 78 of right type of the inner container 64.

The second panel 71 ' and the fourth panel 71 " each have a pair of flaps 74' and 75', 74" and 75" that constitute a part of the inner minor side wall 74 and of the outer minor side wall 75, are arranged on opposite sides of the respective second panel 71 ' and fourth panel 71" and are separated from the respective second panel 71 ' and fourth panel 71" by the longitudinal weakening lines 98. The flaps 74' and 74" constitute part of the inner minor side wall 74 of the inner container 64 whereas the flaps 75' and 75" constitute part of the outer minor side wall 75 of the inner container 64.

The second panel 71 ' and the fourth panel 71" further have respective intended separating lines 81 which define respective zone 80' and 80" that constitute parts of the removable body 80.

The flaps 74" and 75" have respective tabs 100 connected to the respective flaps 74" and 75" by transverse weakening lines 101 parallel to the transverse lines 99. The flaps 100 are aligned on the panel 73' and constitute part of the lower base wall 73 of the inner container 64.

The blank 95 has further a first pair of incisions 66' and 67' that extend from the flap 74' to the second panel 71 ', that constitute the incisions 66 and 67 bounding one of the filling flaps 65 and separate the filling flap 65 from the blank 95. The incisions of the pair of incisions 66' and 67' are parallel to one another.

The filling flap 65 is connected to the blank 95 by a first longitudinal weakening line 102' that defines the first hinge 68 and by a respective second longitudinal weakening line 103' that defines the second hinge 69. Between the first longitudinal weakening line 102' and the second longitudinal weakening line 103', the blank 95 comprises a third longitudinal weakening line 104' that defines the third hinge 70. The first longitudinal weakening line 102' is arranged in the flap 74', the second longitudinal weakening line is arranged in the second panel 71 ' whereas the third longitudinal weakening line 104' is aligned on the longitudinal weakening line 98 between the flap 74' and the second panel 71 '. A first panel 65a' between the first longitudinal weakening line 102' and the third longitudinal weakening line 104' constitutes the first zone 65a, whereas a second panel 65b' between the third longitudinal weakening line 104' and the second longitudinal weakening line 103' constitutes the second zone 65b. It should be noted that the first panel 65a' is contained entirely in the flap 74' whereas the second panel 65b' is contained entirely in the second panel 71 '.

The first, the second and the third longitudinal weakening line, respectively indicated by 102', 103' and 104', are parallel to one another, are parallel to the remaining longitudinal weakening lines of the blank 95 indicated by 98 and further extend between the incision 66' and the incision 67'.

The blank 95 further comprises a second pair of incisions 66" and 67" that extend from the other flap 74" to the second panel 71 ' and constitute the incisions 66 and 67 bounding the other filling flap 65 and separate the other filling flap 65 from the blank 95.

The blank further comprises a first, a second and a third longitudinal weakening line, respectively indicated by 102", 103" and 104" that extend between the incision 66" and the incision 67" of the other filling flap 65.

What has been said previously about the filling flap 65 also applies to the other filling flap 65 and will not be repeated here.

It should be noted that both the flaps 74' and 74" are shaped and have respective central portions of reduced dimension 74a' and 74a", that constitute part of the central portion 74a of the inner minor side wall 74.

Owing to the pair of incisions 66' and 67', that bound a filling flap 65 and to the pair of incisions 66" and 67", that delimit the other filling flap 65, an inner container 64 is easily obtainable which has filling means for reducing the inner volume of the inner container 64.

Claims

1. Package (1) of smoke articles comprising:

an inner parallepiped-shaped container (2; 64) that is suitable for housing a group of smoke articles (3) and an outer container that is cup-shaped (4), wherein the inner container (2; 64) can slide between a closed position, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is housed inside the outer container (4), and an open position, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is partially extracted and it is possible to access the group of smoke articles (3); wherein the inner container (2; ) has a pair of major side walls (8; 71) that are opposite one another, an upper base wall (9; 72) and a lower base wall (10; 73), a pair of minor side walls (11, 12; 74, 75) that are opposite one another comprising an inner minor side wall (11; 74), positioned in use inside the package (1), and an outer minor side wall (12; 75) defining an outer wall of the package (1); and

wherein the outer container (4) has two major side walls (16) that are opposite one another, a minor side wall (17), an upper base wall (18) and a lower base wall (19), and comprises a push window (20; 50; 90) obtained at least at the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) to access the inner minor side wall (11; 74) of the inner container (2; 64) and move the inner container (2; 64) from the closed position to the open position by pushing the inner container (2; 64) through the push window (20; 50; 90); and wherein the package (1) further comprises stop means suitable for limiting the sliding of the inner container (2; 64) with respect to the outer container (4) defining a maximum opening position that cannot be passed;

the package (1) being characterised in that the stop means comprises a tab (44; 84) which is connected to the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) by a first hinge (25) and has a first end portion (26) fixed to the inner minor side wall (11) of the inner container (2; 64), the tab having moreover a second portion (27), which is connected to the first portion (26) by a second hinge (28) and extends between the first hinge (25) and the second hinge (28), the second portion (27) being divided into a first zone (29) and into a second zone (30) that are connected together by a third hinge (31), wherein the tab (44; 84) further comprises a pair of side portions (45; 85) each arranged on opposite sides of the first portion (26), which extend longitudinally at least along the first portion (26), are each connected to the first portion of the tab (44; 84) by a pair of side hinges (46; 86), each side portion (45; 85) being fixed to a respective first portion (8a; 65a) of a respective major side wall (8; 71) of the inner container (2; 64).

2. Package according to claim 1, wherein the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) is bounded by two minor, in particular right, transverse edges (23), defined between the minor side wall (17) and the upper base wall (18) and between the minor side wall (17) and the lower base wall (19), and wherein the first hinge (25), the second hinge (28) and the third hinge (31) are parallel to the said two minor transverse edges (23).

3. Package according to any preceding claim, wherein each side portion (45; 85) is connected to the first portion (26) exclusively by the respective side hinge (46; 86) and has a first zone (45a; 85a) at the first portion (26) and a second free end zone (45b; 85b) extending beyond said first portion (26).

4. Package according to claim 3, wherein in each side portion (45; 85), the first zone (45a; 85a) has a respective first area (47a; 87a) and the second zone (45b; 85b) has a respective second area (47b; 87b) to fix the side portion (45; 85) to the respective first portion (8a; 65a) of the respective major side wall (8) of the inner container (2; 64).

5. Package according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner minor side wall (11) of the inner container (2) is bounded by two longitudinal, in particular right, edges (13) between the minor side wall (11) and the major side walls (8) of the inner container (2), wherein the major side wall (8) of the inner container (2) comprises a second portion (8b) which is coplanar with the first portion (8a), each side hinge (46) being superimposed on a respective edge of said longitudinal edges (13).

6. Package according to claim 5, wherein each side portion (45) comprises a tearable zone (48), in particular shaped as a circular or semicircular segment, which is fixed to the respective major side wall (16) of the outer container (4) to be torn at the first use of the package.

7. Package according to claim 6, wherein the tearable zone (48) is bounded by a contour border (49) of the tab (44).

8. Package according to any preceding claim, wherein the tab (44) is folded entirely around the first hinge (25) to define the push window (50), the latter extending both in the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4) and in the major side walls (16) of the outer container (4).

9. Package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the group of smoke articles (3) is of reduced dimension inasmuch as it has a transverse dimension that is that is less than the transverse dimension of the major side wall (71) of the inner container (64) and wherein the inner container (64) comprises filling means, arranged for occupying an internal volume part of the inner container (64) and suitable for abutting on the group of cigarettes (3) of reduced dimension, the filling means comprising a pair of filling flaps (65) folded inside the inner container (64), each filling flap (65) being folded around a respective first hinge (68) arranged in the inner minor side wall (74) of the inner container (64) and wherein each major side wall (71) of the inner container (64) comprises a second portion (71b) which is parallel and staggered externally with respect to the respective first portion (65a), each side hinge (86) of the tab being superimposed on a respective first hinge (68) of a respective filling flap (65).

10. Package according to claim 9, wherein each filling flap (65) is bounded by a first upper incision (66) and by a first lower incision (67) and has a respective first end connected to the inner container (64) by the first hinge (68) and a second end connected to the inner container by a second hinge (69) and further comprises a third hinge (70) arranged between the first hinge (68) and the second hinge (69), which define a first zone (65a), arranged between the first hinge (68) and the third hinge (70), the first portion of the major side wall (71) of the inner container (64) corresponding to the first zone (65a) of the respective filling flap (65).

11. Package according to claim 9, or 10, wherein the distance between the pair of first hinges (68) in the inner minor side wall (74) of the inner container (64) is the same as the distance between the side hinges (86) of the tab (84).

12. Package according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the tab (84) is folded entirely around the first hinge (25) to define the push window (90), the latter extending exclusively inside the minor side wall (17) of the outer container (4).

13. Package according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is slidable by means of a linear movement with respect to the outer container (4) between the closed position and the open position.

14. Package according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the inner container (2; 64) is slidable by a rotation movement around an opening hinge (32) with respect to the outer container (4) between the closed position and the open position.