GB2451180A

GB2451180A - A flip top cigarette package with an inner package provided with a cover flap

Info

Publication number: GB2451180A
Application number: GB0813030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roberto Polloni; Michele Squarzoni; Giuseppe Marchitto
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2007-07-18
Filing date: 2008-07-16
Publication date: 2009-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-16
Also published as: CN101628651A; CN101628651B; GB2451180B; JP2009046196A; ITBO20070487A1; SG149770A1; JP5596279B2; DE102008033937A8; GB0813030D0; GB2451180A8; DE102008033937A1

Abstract

The outer package comprises a cup-shaped outer container 2 having an open top end 6, and a cup-shaped lid 7 hinged to the outer container. The inner package 3, is housed inside the outer container 2, and has a tobacco article extraction opening 4 closed by a cover flap 5; A rigid collar 16 is fixed to the inner package 3, and it projects partly outwards of the open top end 6 to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid 7 when the lid is in the closed position. The cover flap may be engaged to the rest of the inner container via a tear line (30, Fig.10) which can be torn when unsealing the cover flap and it may also be provided with a grip tab 21 which initially may be provided separately and glued thereto.

Description

PACKAGE OF TOBACCO ARTICLES HAVING AN INNER PACKAGE WITH

A COVER FLAP

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a package of tobacco articles having an inner package with a cover flap.

In the following description, reference is made,

for the sake of simplicity, to a rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes, purely by way of a non-limiting

example.

BACKGROUND ART

Rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce, practical and easy to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside.

A rigid, hinged-lid packet of cigarettes comprises an inner package defined by a group of cigarettes wrapped in a sheet of foil; and a rigid outer package housing the inner package. The outer package comprises a cup-shaped container housing the group of cigarettes and having an open top end; and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the container along a hinge to rotate, with repect to the container, between an open and a closed position opening and closing the open end respectively. A U-folded collar is normally fitted inside the container, and projects partly outwards of the open end to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

Tobacco is highly sensitive to environment. That is, in contact with the atmosphere, its organic characteristics tend to vary alongside variations in humidity (by losing or absorbing too much moisture) or due to evaporation of the volatile substances with which the tobacco is impregnated (especially in the case of aromatic cigarettes treated with spices such as cloves) To preserve the tobacco, packets of cigarettes are therefore cellophane-wrapped, i.e. wrapped in a heat-sealed overwrapping of airtight plastic material. This, however, may not always be sufficient to fully preserve the tobacco in the packet, especially if the packet is consumed some time after manufacture. Moreover, when the packet is unsealed, the overwrapping is removed, thus exposing the tobacco to the atmosphere, and, if the cigarettes are not consumed soon after the packet is unsealed, the organic characteristics of the remaining cigarettes may deteriorate visibly.

In an attempt to eliminate this drawback, rigid packets of cigarettes have been proposed in which the inner package is airtight, and comprises a sheet of airtight packing material having a cigarette extraction opening closed by a reusable cover flap. In other words, the cover flap has fastening means (e.g. a strip of non-dry re-stick adhesive) by which to repeatedly secure the cover flap in a closed position closing the cigarette extraction opening.

One problem of rigid packets of cigarettes, in which the inner package comprises a sheet of airtight packing material with a cigarette extraction opening, is that, once some of the cigarettes are removed, the inner package tends to collapse, thus making it difficult to withdraw the remaining cigarettes, and, in particular, to open and close the cover flap. To solve this problem, a new type of rigid packet of cigarettes has been proposed, in which the rigid collar is inserted inside the inner package and about the group of cigarettes to maintain the correct shape of the inner package.

Producing this new type of rigid packet of cigarettes, however, is complicated, by having to fold the collar about the group of cigarettes before folding the sheet of airtight packing material about the group of cigarettes, and therefore calls for a special packing machine that is much more expensive than an equivalent standard packing machine.

Moreover, in the new type of rigid packet of cigarettes described above, the lid is held in the closed position by friction between the lateral walls of the lid and the lateral walls of the inner package, which is sized to interfere with the lid. However, if the cover flap is eliminated (torn off) by the user, the inner package becomes less stiff crosswise, so friction between the lateral walls of the lid and the lateral walls of the inner package is greatly reduced and no longer capable of keeping the lid in the closed position. As a result, if the cover flap is removed, the lid remains permanently partly open.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package of tobacco articles having an inner package with a cover flap, which package is designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, while at the same time being cheap and easy to produce.

According to the present invention, there is provided a package of tobacco articles having an inner package with a cover flap, as claimed in the accompanying Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view in perspective of a packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration; Figure 2 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a partly open configuration; Figure 3 shows a rear view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a closed configuration; Figure 4 shows a front view in perspective of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a fully open configuration; Figure 5 shows a front view in perspective of an inner package of the Figure 1 packet fitted with a collar; Figure 6 shows a spread-out view of a sheet of airtight packing material fitted with a collar and from which to form the Figure 5 inner package; Figure 7 shows a spread-out view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes; Figure 8 shows a front view in perspective of a variation of the Figure 5 inner package; Figure 9 shows a spread-out view of a collar from which to form the Figure 8 inner package; Figure 10 shows a front view in perspective of another variation of the Figure 5 inner package; Figure 11 shows a spread-out view of a collar from which to form the Figure 10 inner package; Figure 12 shows a rear view in perspective of another variation of the Figure 5 inner package; Figure 13 shows a spread-out view of a collar from which to form the Figure 12 inner package; Figure 14 shows a front view in perspective of a variation of the Figure 1 packet of cigarettes in a partly open configuration; Figure 15 shows a spread-out view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the Figure 14 packet of cigarettes; Figure 16 shows a front view in perspective of a variation of an inner package of the Figure 1 packet; o, Figure 17 shows a front view in perspective of a stiffener of the Figure 16 inner package; Figure 18 shows a spread-out view of a sheet of airtight packing material fitted with a stiffener and from which to form the Figure 16 inner package; Figure 19 shows a front view in perspective of another variation of an inner package of the Figure 1 packet; Figure 20 shows a view in perspective of a cover flap of the Figure 19 inner package; Figure 21 shows a plan view of the Figure 20 cover flap with no grip tab; Figure 22 shows a plan view of a grip tab of the Figure 20 cover flap; Figure 23 shows a plan view of the Figure 20 cover flap; Figure 24 shows a plan view of a variation of the Figure 20 cover flap; Figure 25 shows a front view in perspective of another variation of an inner package of the Figure 1 packet; Figure 26 shows a spread-out view of a sheet of airtight packing material fitted with a collar and from which to form the Figure 21 inner package.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Number 1 in Figures 1-4 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes comprising a cup-shaped outer container 2 made of rigid cardboard; and an inner p package 3 housed inside container 2. Inner package 3 houses a parallelepiped-shaped group of cigarettes, and has, at the top and front, a cigarette extraction opening 4 closed by a reusable cover flap 5.

Outer container 2 has an open top end 6, and a cup-shaped lid 7 hinged to container 2 along a hinge 8 to rotate, with respect to container 2, between an open position (Figures 2 and 4) and a closed position (Figures 1 and 3) opening and closing open top end 6 respectively.

When lid 7 is in the closed position, outer container 2 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped comprising a top wall 9 and a bottom wall opposite and parallel to each other; two opposite parallel major lateral walls 11 and 12; and two opposite parallel minor lateral walls 13. More specifically, one major lateral wall 11 defines a front wall 11 of outer container 2, and the other major lateral wall 12 defines a rear wall 12 of outer container 2. Four longitudinal edges 14 are defined between lateral walls 13 and front and rear walls 11, 12; and eight transverse edges 15 are defined between top and bottom walls 9, 10 and front, rear, and lateral walls 11, 12, 13.

Packet 1 also comprises a collar 16, which is folded into a U and fixed (normally glued) inside outer container 2, so as to project partly outwards of open top end 6 and engage a corresponding inner surface of lid 7 when lid 7 is in the closed position. Collar 16 is made of rigid cardboard, and comprises a front wall 17 contacting front wall 11 of outer container 2; and two lateral walls 18 located on opposite sides of front wall 17 and contacting minor lateral walls 13 of outer container 2.

In a preferred embodiment, collar 16 has retaining members for holding lid 7 in the closed position, and which are preferably defined by two projections 19 which project laterally to interferentially engage the lateral walls of lid 7. In alternative embodiments not shown, the retaining members of collar 16 may differ from those shown in the accompanying drawings.

At least about extraction opening 4, collar 16 is fixed to both outer container 2 and inner package 3 to maintain the shape of inner package 3. In other words, even as inner package 3 is emptied, the fact that inner package 3 is fixed to collar 16, in turn fixed to outer container 2, maintains the original shape of inner package 3, and so prevents it from collapsing, thus making it difficult to withdraw the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, to open and close cover flap 5.

Collar 16 therefore provides for externally stiffening inner package 3 at extraction opening 4.

To achieve this, collar 16 need simply be fixed to outer container 2 and to inner package 3 at least about extraction opening 4, i.e. at least close to extraction opening 4, but is preferably fixed to inner package 3 over the whole area of collar 16 superimposed on inner package 3.

In a preferred embodiment, collar 16 is heat sealed to inner package 3. Alternatively, collar 16 may be glued to inner package 3.

In a preferred embodiment, cover flap 5 has a reusable retaining member by which to connect cover flap releasably to inner package 3, and which is preferably defined by non-dry, re-stick adhesive 20 (shown schematically in the drawings) applied to the underside surface of cover flap 5 and extending about the whole of extraction opening 4, so cover flap 5 can be repeatedly detached partly from inner package 3 (i.e. each time packet 1 of cigarettes is opened) and then fixed back onto inner package 3. In alternative embodiments not shown, the reusable retaining member of cover flap 5 may differ from that shown in the accompanying drawings.

Cover flap 5 comprises a grip tab 21, by which to grip and lift up cover flap 5, and which rests on front wall 17 of collar 16. In other words, to lift up cover flap 5, the user simply grips grip tab 21, which is in no way fixed to front wall 17 of collar 16. In a further embodiment, for easy grip of grip tab 21, front wall 17 of collar 16 has a through hole (semicircular or crescent-shaped) where grip tab 21 of cover flap S rests on front wall 17.

In an embodiment not shown, cover flap 5 has a tear line, by which it can be torn off, and which is typically located along a hinge line of cover flap 5.

As shown in Figure 6, inner package 3 is formed by folding a rectangular sheet 22 of packing material, which is first cut to define extraction opening 4, and then fitted with collar 16. Sheet 22 of packing material is then fitted with cover flap 5 gummed on the underside. That is, the underside surface of the cover flap is coated with re-stick adhesive 20 which, inside extraction opening 4, glues the inner portion of sheet 22 of packing material permanently to cover flap 5, and, outside extraction opening 4, glues sheet 22 of packing material detachably to cover flap 5.

Sheet 22 of packing material is preferably made of airtight laminated plastic material with an outer coating of heat-seal varnish. Alternatively, sheet 22 of packing material may be made of non-heat-seal plastic material or foil.

As shown in Figure 7, outer container 2 is formed by folding a flat, substantially elongated rectangular blank 23 of rigid cardboard, the parts of which are indicated, where possible, in the following description using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of outer container 2.

Blank 23 has two longitudinal fold lines 24, and a number of transverse fold lines 25 defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines 24, a panel 11' forming a top portion of front wall 11 (more specifically, the portion forming part of lid 7); a panel 9' forming top wall 9; a panel 12' forming rear wall 12; a panel lot forming bottom wall 10; and a panel 11" forming a bottom portion of front wall 11 (more specifically, the portion forming part of outer container 2) Each panel 11', 11", 12' has two lateral wings 13' and 13" located on opposite sides of panel 11', 11", 12' and separated from panel 11', 11", 12' by longitudinal fold lines 24. Panel 11' has a reinforcing flap 26; and each lateral wing 13', 13" of panel 12' has rectangular tabs 27 located at opposite ends of lateral wing 13', 13".

When forming packet 1, lateral wings 13', 13" are superimposed and glued to define minor lateral walls 13 of outer container 2; and each tab 27 is folded squarely with respect to relative lateral wing 13', 13", and is superimposed on and glued to an inner surface of a relative panel 9', 10' to define an inner portion of a relative wall 9, 10.

In the Figure 8 and 9 embodiment, collar 16 comprises a top wall 28 positioned contacting top wall 9 of outer container 2 when lid 7 is in the closed position, and which is obviously not fixed to top wall 9 of outer container 2, so lid 7 can be opened. Top wall 28 of collar 16 is fixed to inner package 3, about cover flap 5, to keep the shape of inner package 3, and is preferably defined by two top half-walls 28 located on opposite sides of cover flap 5 and connected to respective lateral walls 18.

In the Figure 10 and 11 embodiment, collar 16 has an extraction opening, which is superimposed over extraction opening 4 of inner package 3, is formed through front wall 17 and top wall 28 of collar 16, and is engaged by a removable portion 29 of collar 16.

Removable portion 29 of collar 16 is separated from the rest of collar 16 by a tear line 30, and is fixed to and movable with cover flap 5. In other words, removable portion 29 of collar 16 is fixed to cover flap 5 so that, when cover flap 5 is raised to expose extraction opening 4 of inner package 3, removable portion 29 is raised together with cover flap 5.

In the Figure 12 and 13 embodiment, collar 16 comprises a rear wall 31 positioned contacting the rear wall 12 of outer container 2. Rear wall 31 of collar 16 is fixed to inner package 3 to keep the shape of inner package 3, and is preferably defined by two rear half-walls 31 located on opposite sides of cover flap 5 and connected to respective lateral walls 18.

In the Figure 1-13 embodiments, collar 16 is initially independent of, and glued to, outer container 2. In a different embodiment shown in Figures 14 and 15, collar 16 is incorporated in outer container 2.

In one embodiment not shown, collar 16 comprises a pocket formed in front wall 17 of collar 16 and for containing a bottom portion of a coupon. The pocket is preferably formed by cutting along three sides of front wall 17 of collar 16 and lifting the cut portion slightly, and serves to hold a respective coupon in position when forming packet 1 of cigarettes.

In the Figure 16 embodiment, inner package 3 comprises a stiffener 32 made of rigid cardboard (identical to the rigid cardboard of outer container 2 and collar 16) and located inside inner package 3, between the group of cigarettes and sheet 22 of packing material, i.e. an inner surface of stiffener 32 is positioned contacting the group of cigarettes, and an outer surface of stiffener 32 is positioned contacting sheet 22 of packing material. At least about extraction opening 4, stiffener 32 is fixed to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3 to maintain the shape of inner package 3. In other words, even as inner package 3 is emptied, the fact that sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3 is fixed to stiffener 32 assists in maintaining the original shape of inner package 3, and so prevents inner package 3 from collapsing, thus making it difficult to withdraw the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, to open and close cover flap 5. Stiffener 32 therefore provides for also stiffening inner package 3 internally at extraction opening 4.

To achieve this, stiffener 32 need simply be fixed to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3 at least about extraction opening 4, i.e. at least close to extraction opening 4, but is preferably fixed completely to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3. In a preferred embodiment, stiffener 32 is heat sealed to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3.

Alternatively, stiffener 32 may be glued to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3.

As shown in Figures 17 and 18, stiffener 32 comprises a front wall 33 and a bottom wall 34. In a different embodiment not shown, stiffener 32 only comprises front wall 33.

In the Figure 1-18 embodiments, grip tab 21 of cover flap 5 forms an integral part, and is defined by a bottom extension, of cover flap 5. In other words, grip tab 21 is formed by appropriately shaping cover flap 5, without applying any external elements to cover flap 5.

Grip tab 21 may be folded 1800 upwards onto the rest of cover flap 5, for easy grip of grip tab 21 by the user.

In this embodiment, however, closing lid 7 tends to move grip tab 21 back into its original unfolded position, and so make grip tab 21 more difficult to grip by the user the next time lid 7 is opened.

In the Figure 19-24 embodiment, grip tab 21 of cover flap 5 is initially independent of, and is glued to, cover flap 5, so grip tab 21 comprises a glued portion 35 glued to cover flap 5, and a free portion 36 (i.e. not glued to cover flap 5) which can be folded 180° onto glued portion 35. In a preferred embodiment, glued portion 35 of grip tab 21 is initially located beneath free portion 36 of grip tab 21, and free portion 36 can be folded 180° downwards onto glued portion 35, so that closing lid 7 tends to keep grip tab 21 in the down-folded position, so grip tab 21 is easier to grip by the user the next time lid 7 is opened.

In the Figure 1-24 embodiments, the whole front portion of cover flap 5 can be lifted off inner package 3 for access to extraction opening 4.

In the Figure 25 and 26 embodiment, cover flap 5 comprises a movable portion 37; and a fixed border 38 fixed permanently to the outer surface of inner package 3 and separated from movable portion 37 by a tear line 39 which is torn when unsealing cover flap 5. Fixed border 38 of cover flap 5 provides for further stiffening inner package 3 externally at extraction opening 4, assists in maintaining the original shape of inner package 3 as it is emptied, and so prevents inner package 3 from collapsing, thus making it difficult to withdraw the remaining cigarettes and, in particular, to open and close movable portion 37 of cover flap 5.

In a preferred embodiment, fixed border 38 of cover flap 5 is heat sealed to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3. Alternatively fixed border 38 of cover flap S may be glued to sheet 22 of packing material of inner package 3.

In the embodiments shown in the drawings, edges 14 and 15 are all square. In a different embodiment not shown, the four longitudinal edges 14 are non-square rounded or bevelled edges.

In different embodiments not shown, at least some of longitudinal edges 14 or at least some of transverse edges 15 are rounded or bevelled (as in the packet of cigarettes described in Patent Application EP-Al- 0764595). Alternatively, both some longitudinal edges 14 and some transverse edges 15 may be non-square rounded or bevelled edges.

In a different embodiment not shown, packet 1 of cigarettes may be as described in Patent Application EP1066206A1; in which case, each major lateral wall 11, 12 is outwardly convex, is connected to each minor lateral wall 13 along a sharp longitudinal edge 14, and forms an obtuse dihedral angle with each minor lateral wall 13. Each major lateral wall 11, 12 comprises a flat central portion, and two longitudinally creased lateral bands; and each lateral band is curved with its concavity facing inwards to connect the central portion to the minor lateral wall 13 and form an obtuse dihedral angle with the minor lateral wall 13.

Clearly, changes may be made to packets 1 of cigarettes with the design described in Patent Application EP1066206A1, such as forming partly convex walls, or forming only one convex wall as opposed to two opposite convex walls, or forming convex minor lateral walls 13 as opposed to convex major lateral walls 11 and 12. By way of example, a number of variations of the packet of cigarettes described in Patent Application EP1066206A1 are proposed in Patent Application Packet 1 of cigarettes as described above has numerous advantages, by being cheap and easy to produce, and by maintaining the correct shape of inner package 3, even as inner package 3 is emptied.

Moreover, by folding collar 16 about the group of cigarettes after sheet 22 of airtight packing material is folded about the group of cigarettes, packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be produced using a substantially standard packing machine.

In packet 1 of cigarettes described above, lid 7, being held in the closed position by collar 16, is still held in the closed position even if cover flap 5 is eliminated (torn of f) by the user. It is important to note that this feature even enables packet 1 of cigarettes as described above to be produced with non-square rounded or bevelled longitudinal edges 14 or transverse edges 15.

Finally, lateral walls 18 of collar 16 cover the corresponding lateral walls of inner package 3, which, in the case of a heat sealed inner package 3, show unsightly seals.

In view of its numerous advantages, the design of packet 1 of cigarettes as described above may also be applied as a whole to the manufacture of a carton of cigarettes, which is substantially identical to packet 1 as described above, except that it contains packets, as opposed to a group, of cigarettes.

Claims

CLM MS

1) A package of tobacco articles, comprising a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container having an open top end, and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the outer container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the outer container, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end respectively; an inner package housed inside the outer container and enclosing the group of tobacco articles; and a rigid collar which is located, at least folded into a U, inside the outer container, and projects partly outwards of the open top end to engage a corresponding inner surface of the lid when the lid is in said closed position; the package being characterized in that the inner package has a tobacco article extraction opening closed by a cover flap; and the collar is fixed to the inner package, at least about the extraction opening.

2) A package as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the collar is glued to the outer container, at least close to the open top end of the outer container.

3) A package as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the collar is heat sealed to the inner package.

4) A package as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the collar is glued to the inner package.

5) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the collar is fixed to the inner package over the whole area of the collar superimposed on the inner package.

6) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the collar comprises a front wall positioned contacting a front wall of the outer container; and two lateral walls located on opposite sides of the front wall and positioned contacting two minor lateral walls of the outer container.

7) A package as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the collar comprises a rear wall positioned contacting a rear wall of the outer container.

8) A package as claimed in Claim 6 or 7, wherein the collar comprises a top wall positioned contacting a top wall of the outer container and not fixed to the top wall of the outer container.

9) A package as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the collar comprises an extraction opening superimposed over the extraction opening of the inner package.

10) A package as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the extraction opening of the collar is formed through the front wall and the top wall of the collar.

11) A package as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein the extraction opening of the collar is engaged by a removable portion of the collar, which removable portion is fixed to the cover flap and movable with the cover flap.

12) A package as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the removable portion of the collar is separated from the rest of the collar by a tear line.

13) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the collar is initially independent of the outer container, and is glued to the outer container.

14) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the collar is incorporated in the outer container.

15) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the collar has retaining members for holding the lid in the closed position.

16) A package as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the retaining members of the collar are defined by two projections projecting laterally to interferentially engage the lateral walls of the lid.

17) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 16, wherein the collar comprises a pocket formed in a front wall of the collar and for containing a bottom portion of a coupon.

18) A package as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the pocket is formed by cutting along three sides of the front wall of the collar and raising the cut portion slightly.

19) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 18, wherein the cover flap has a tear line by which to be torn off.

20) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the cover flap has a reusable retaining member for connecting the cover flap releasably to the inner package.

21) A package as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the reusable retaining member is defined by non-dry, re-stick adhesive.

22) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 21, wherein the outer container is formed by folding a rigid blank having two longitudinal fold lines, and a number of transverse fold lines defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines, a first panel forming a top portion of the front wall; a second panel forming the top wall; a third panel forming the rear wall; a fourth panel forming the bottom wall; and a fifth panel forming a bottom portion of the front wall.

23) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 22, wherein the inner package comprises a stiffener located inside, the inner package, between the group of cigarettes and a sheet of packing material of the inner package.

24) A package as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the stiffener is fixed to the sheet of packing material of the inner package, at least about the extraction opening.

25) A package as claimed in Claim 24, wherein the stiffener is fixed completely to the sheet of packing material of the inner package.

26) A package as claimed in Claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein the stiffener comprises a front wall.

27) A package as claimed in Claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein the stiffener comprises a front wall and a bottom wall.

28) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 27, wherein the cover flap comprises a grip tab.

29) A package as claimed in Claim 28, wherein the grip tab of the cover flap rests on a front wall of the collar.

30) A package as claimed in Claim 29, wherein, for easy grip of the grip tab, the front wall of the collar has a through hole where the grip tab of the cover flap rests on the front wall of the collar.

31) A package as claimed in Claim 28, 29 or 30, is wherein the grip tab of the cover flap forms an integral part of the cover flap, and is defined by a bottom extension of the cover flap.

32) A package as claimed in Claim 31, wherein, for easy grip of the grip tab by a user, the grip tab is folded 180° upwards onto the rest of the cover flap.

33) A package as claimed in Claim 28, 29 or 30, wherein the grip tab of the cover flap is initially independent of the cover flap, and is glued to the cover flap.

34) A package as claimed in Claim 33, wherein a free portion of the grip tab is folded 180° onto a glued portion of the grip tab.

35) A package as claimed in Claim 34, wherein the glued portion of the grip tab is initially located beneath the free portion of the grip tab, and the free portion is folded 180° downwards onto the glued portion.

36) A package as claimed in one of Claims 1 to 35, wherein the cover flap comprises a movable portion; and a fixed border fixed permanently to the outer surface of the inner package and separated from the movable portion by a tear line which is torn when unsealing the cover flap.

37) A package as claimed in Claim 36, wherein the fixed border of the cover flap is heat sealed to a sheet of packing material of the inner package.

38) A package as claimed in Claim 36, wherein the fixed border of the cover flap is glued to a sheet of packing material of the inner package.

39) A package of tobacco articles, comprising: a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container having an open top end, and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the outer container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the outer container, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end respectively; and an inner package, which is housed inside the outer container, encloses the group of tobacco articles, and has a tobacco article extraction opening closed by a cover flap having a grip tab; the package being characterized in that the grip tab of the cover flap is initially independent of the cover flap, and is glued to the cover flap.

40) A package as claimed in Claim 39, wherein a free portion of the grip tab is folded 1800 onto a glued portion of the grip tab.

41) A package as claimed in Claim 40, wherein the glued portion of the grip tab is initially located beneath the free portion of the grip tab, and the free portion is folded 180° downwards onto the glued portion.

42) A package of tobacco articles, comprising: a group of tobacco articles; a cup-shaped outer container having an open top end, and a cup-shaped lid hinged to the outer container along a hinge to rotate, with respect to the outer container, between an open position and a closed position opening and closing the open top end respectively; and an inner package, which is housed inside the outer container, encloses the group of tobacco articles, and has a tobacco article extraction opening closed by a cover flap; the package being characterized in that the cover flap comprises a movable portion; and a fixed border fixed permanently to the outer surface of the inner package and separated from the movable portion by a tear line which is torn when unsealing the cover flap.

43) A package as claimed in Claim 42, wherein the fixed border of the cover flap is heat sealed to a sheet of packing material of the inner package.

44) A package as claimed in Claim 42, wherein the fixed border of the cover flap is glued to a sheet of' packing material of the inner package.