Carton of Soft Packets of Cigarettes, Containing a Reusable Rigid Box

Abstract

A carton of soft packets of cigarettes, having: an outer package; a group of soft packets of cigarettes housed inside the outer package, and each having an inner package having a first sheet of flexible packing material folded about a respective group of cigarettes; and at least one reusable rigid box housed inside the outer package and containing a soft packet of cigarettes, while the other soft packets of cigarettes serve as refills for the reusable rigid box; the inner package of each soft packet of cigarettes having a tear-off top portion separated from the rest of the inner package by a tear line.

1 ) A carton of soft packets of cigarettes, comprising:
 an outer package ( 2 );   a group of soft packets ( 3 ) of cigarettes housed inside the outer package ( 2 ), and each comprising an inner package ( 7 ) comprising a first sheet ( 12 ) of flexible packing material folded about a respective group ( 13 ) of cigarettes; and   at least one reusable rigid box ( 4 ) housed inside the outer package ( 2 ) and containing a soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes, while the other soft packets ( 3 ) of cigarettes serve as refills for the reusable rigid box ( 4 );   the carton being characterized in that the inner package ( 7 ) of each soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes has a tear-off top portion ( 14 ) separated from the rest of the inner package ( 7 ) by a tear line ( 15 ).   
   
   
       2 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each tear-off top portion ( 14 ) involves part of a top wall and part of a front wall of the respective inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       3 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes comprises an airtight overwrapping ( 9 ). 
   
   
       4 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each airtight overwrapping ( 9 ) comprises a second sheet of heat-seal packing material wrapped and heat sealed about the respective inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       5 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each airtight overwrapping ( 9 ) comprises a tear strip ( 10 ) extending about the whole of a top portion of the airtight overwrapping ( 9 ), and by which to tear open the airtight overwrapping ( 9 ) and remove the top portion of the airtight overwrapping ( 9 ). 
   
   
       6 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes only comprises the inner package ( 7 ) and the airtight overwrapping ( 9 ); the airtight overwrapping ( 9 ) being applied on top of the inner package ( 7 ) and directly contacting the inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       7 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the inner package ( 7 ) has no glue, and is stabilized by the respective airtight overwrapping ( 9 ). 
   
   
       8 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a top wall of each inner package ( 7 ) has no cover flap ( 17 ) or similar. 
   
   
       9 ) A carton of soft packets of cigarettes, comprising:
 an outer package ( 2 );   a group of soft packets ( 3 ) of cigarettes housed inside the outer package ( 2 ), and each comprising an inner package ( 7 ) comprising a sheet ( 12 ) of flexible packing material folded about a respective group ( 13 ) of cigarettes; and   at least one reusable rigid box ( 4 ) housed inside the outer package ( 2 ) and containing a soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes, while the other soft packets ( 3 ) of cigarettes serve as refills for the reusable rigid box ( 4 );   the carton being characterized in that the inner package ( 7 ) of each soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes has a cigarette extraction opening ( 16 ) closed by a reusable cover flap ( 17 ).   
   
   
       10 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each cover flap ( 17 ) has a reusable retaining means for releasably connecting the cover flap ( 17 ) to the inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       11 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each reusable retaining means comprises non-setting, re-stick adhesive. 
   
   
       12 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each inner package ( 7 ) comprises a reinforcing member ( 20 ) located inside the inner package ( 7 ), between the group ( 13 ) of cigarettes and a sheet of packing material of the inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       13 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each reinforcing member ( 20 ) is fixed to the sheet of packing material of the inner package ( 7 ), at least about the extraction opening ( 16 ). 
   
   
       14 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein each reinforcing member ( 20 ) is fixed completely to the sheet of packing material of the inner package ( 7 ). 
   
   
       15 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each reinforcing member ( 20 ) comprises a front wall ( 21 ). 
   
   
       16 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each reinforcing member ( 20 ) comprises a front wall ( 21 ) and a bottom wall ( 22 ). 
   
   
       17 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each cover flap ( 17 ) comprises a grip tab ( 18 ) with no adhesive. 
   
   
       18 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein, when an inner package ( 7 ) is housed inside the reusable rigid box ( 4 ), the grip tab ( 18 ) of the cover flap ( 17 ) rests on a front wall of a collar of the reusable rigid box ( 4 ). 
   
   
       19 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a front wall of the collar of the reusable rigid box ( 4 ) has a through hole where the grip tab ( 18 ) of the cover flap ( 17 ) rests on the collar, to facilitate grip of the grip tab ( 18 ). 
   
   
       20 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the grip tab ( 18 ) of each cover flap ( 17 ) forms an integral part of the cover flap ( 17 ), and is defined by a bottom extension of the cover flap ( 17 ). 
   
   
       21 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each cover flap ( 17 ) comprises a movable portion; and a fixed border fixed permanently to the outer surface of the inner package ( 7 ) and separated from the movable portion by a tear line which is torn the first time the cover flap ( 17 ) is opened. 
   
   
       22 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the sheet of packing material of each inner package ( 7 ) is made of heat-seal material, and each inner package ( 7 ) is stabilized by heat sealing. 
   
   
       23 ) A carton as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each soft packet ( 3 ) of cigarettes only comprises the respective inner package ( 7 ).