WO2016088063A1

WO2016088063A1 - Rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size

Info

Publication number: WO2016088063A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/059298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luca Petrucci; Marcello TENAGLIA; Luca Federici
Original assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
Priority date: 2014-12-02
Filing date: 2015-12-02
Publication date: 2016-06-09
Also published as: TR201816420T4; EP3227195A1; EP3227195B1; PL3227195T3

Abstract

A rigid packet (1) of smoking articles having: a container (2); a lid (3) which is hinged to the container (2); an inner package (4) enclosing a group of smoking articles, is housed inside the container (2) and is smaller in cross section than the container (2); and a collar (13), which surrounds the inner package (4), is glued to the inside of the container (2) and projects from the open top end of the container (2); wherein at least one lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) so as to define, together with the corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) a lateral chamber (17) not occupied by the inner package (4); and wherein the collar (13) has at least one box body (18), which projects cantilevered from a corresponding lateral wall (15) and is arranged inside the lateral chamber (17).

Description

"RIGID PACKET WITH HINGED LID AND CONTAINING A GROUP OF SMOKING ARTICLES OF REDUCED SIZE."

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a rigid packet with hinged lid and containing a group of smoking articles of reduced size .

The present invention finds advantageous application to a packet of cigarettes, to which the following description will make explicit reference without implying any loss of generality .

PRIOR ART

The patent US4771882A1 describes a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid that has been modified to house a group of cigarettes of reduced size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller with respect to the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a filler, which is made with corrugated cardboard and is inserted inside the packet of cigarettes to occupy the inner volume left free by the group of cigarettes. The function of the filler is to avoid empty spaces inside the packet of cigarettes and thus prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes; in fact, if the group of cigarettes were free to "shake" inside the packet of cigarettes, the movements of the group of cigarettes during the handling of the packet of cigarettes (both in the production step, and during the distribution and sales step) would subject the cigarettes to mechanical stress that could easily determine an emptying of the tips (i.e. loss of tobacco fibers from the free ends of the cigarettes) .

However, the filler described in patent US4771882A1 has some drawbacks. First, the insertion of the filler inside the packet of cigarettes involves considerable constructional complications in the packing machine that must be changed to handle solid objects (the fillers) of relatively high dimension. In particular, the fillers always occupy a high volume and therefore require a large space occupation for the handling thereof; consequently, in an existing packing machine it is problematic to find the free space to add the necessary elements for handling the fillers. Moreover, said filler uses a relatively high amount of material with an evident increase of expenses and environmental costs of production and disposal (after the use) of the packet of cigarettes; consider, for example that the mass of the filler is comparable to, if not higher, than the total mass of the packing material used to form the packet of cigarettes. Patent applications EP0443365A2, EP0801011A1 and EP2666736A1 describe a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid that has been modified to house a group of cigarettes of a smaller size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller than the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a collar, which is provided with containment elements that project inwards to rest on the group of cigarettes in order to prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet of cigarettes. However, this technical solution has some drawbacks, since it is not always able to provide an adequate holding of the group of cigarettes (i.e. it is not always able to effectively prevent the group of cigarettes from "shaking" inside the packet cigarettes) .

The patent US3404770A discloses a rigid packet of cigarettes with hinged lid that has been modified to accommodate a group of cigarettes of a smaller size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller than the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a collar, which is provided with a box body that originates from a lateral wall and rests on the group of cigarettes from the side opposite to the lateral wall itself; however, the production of the box body involves the use of a large amount of packing material and therefore has high production costs.

The patent US5158664A describes a rigid packet of cigarettes with a hinged lid that has been modified to accommodate a group of cigarettes of a smaller size, i.e. a group of cigarettes smaller than the total inner volume. In particular, the packet of cigarettes comprises a collar, which is provided on each side with a horizontal panel that originates from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall and with a vertical panel that is connected to the horizontal panel, rests on the group of cigarettes and keeps the group of cigarettes spaced apart from the lateral wall of the collar; however, the horizontal panels of the collar tend to bend down when handling the packet of cigarettes assuming "irregular" positions giving the packet of cigarettes an unpleasant look.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a rigid packet of smoking articles with a hinged lid which is free from the drawbacks described above and, in particular, is simple and inexpensive to produce.

According to the present invention, a rigid packet of smoking articles with a hinged lid, as claimed in the attached claims is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some examples of non-limiting embodiments, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view and in a closed configuration of a packet of cigarettes according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a rear perspective view and in a closed configuration of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 5 is a schematic, partial and in longitudinal section view of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a rear perspective view of a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 7 is a plan view of a blank used to make the collar of Figure 6;

- Figure 8 is a plan view of an alternative of the blank of Figure 7 ;

- Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank used to make a container and a lid of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 10 is a front perspective view and in an open configuration of an alternative packet of cigarettes of Figure 1;

- Figure 11 is a rear perspective view of a collar of the packet of cigarettes of Figure 10; and

- Figure 12 is a plan view of a blank used to make the collar of Figure 11.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 number 1 indicates as a whole a rigid packet of cigarettes.

The packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a container 2, a parallelepiped-shaped lid 3 which is hinged at the back to the container 2 to rotate between a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and an open position (illustrated in Figure 3), and an inner package 4 which encloses a group of cigarettes and is housed in the container 2. Normally, the inner package 4 is formed by the group of cigarettes wrapped in a packing sheet of metallized paper which is provided with an upper portion removable by tearing at the first opening of the packet 1 of cigarettes. The parallelepiped-shaped container 2 is cup-shaped and has an open top end, a bottom wall 5 opposite to the open top end, a front wall 6, a rear wall 7 (parallel and opposite to the front wall 6) , and two lateral walls 8 (parallel and opposite to each other) . In the container 2, between the walls 6 and 7 front and rear, respectively, and the lateral walls 8 four longitudinal edges are formed which are arranged parallel to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes. In the container 2, between the walls 6, 7 and 8 and the bottom wall 5 four transverse edges are formed which are arranged perpendicularly to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes.

The parallelepiped-shaped lid 3 is cup-shaped and has a top wall 9 (parallel and opposite to the bottom wall 5 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position) , a front wall 10 (coplanar with the front wall 6 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position) , a rear wall 11 (hinged to the rear wall 7 of the container 2 and coplanar with the rear wall 7 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position) , and two lateral walls 12 (coplanar to the corresponding lateral walls 8 of the container 2 when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position) . In the lid 3, between the walls 10 and 11 front and rear, respectively, and the lateral walls 12 four longitudinal edges are formed which are arranged parallel to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes, when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position. In the lid 3, between the walls 10, 11 and 12 and the top wall 9 four transverse edges are formed which are arranged perpendicularly to the cigarettes of the group of cigarettes, when the lid 3 is arranged in the closed position.

In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures all edges are right angles; according to other embodiments not illustrated and perfectly equivalent, part of the longitudinal and/or transverse edges may be beveled or rounded. According to what is well illustrated in Figure 4, the inner package 4 has a cross section (significantly) smaller than the cross section of the container 2, and therefore in the container 2 an area of substantial size (i.e. at least 15-20% of the total volume of the container 2) not occupied by the inner package 4 remains. In particular, in the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures the lateral walls of the inner package 4 are arranged at a given distance from the lateral walls 8 of the container 2 while the front wall and the rear wall of the inner package 4 are in substantial contact, with the front wall 6 and rear wall 7 of the container 2, respectively, (i.e. the inner package 4 is narrower with respect to the container 2 and the inner package 4 has the same depth of the container 2) .

As illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the packet 1 of cigarettes comprises a collar 13 which surrounds the inner package 4, is glued to the inside of the container 2 and projects from the open top end of the container 2. The collar 13 in cross-section is U-shaped and has a front wall 14 which is superimposed on and glued to the front wall 6 of the container 2 and two lateral walls 15 which are folded by 90° with respect to the front wall 14 and are superimposed on and glued to corresponding lateral walls 8 of the container 2. The front wall 14 of the collar 13 has a top window which is U- shaped and has the function of facilitating the extraction of the cigarettes from the inner package 4. The collar 13 has the function of maintaining in a correct position the inner package 4, i.e. to prevent the inner package 4 from performing unwanted movement inside the container 2 (since the inner package 4 is smaller than the container 2) . In addition, the collar 13 also has the function of maintaining the lid 3 in the closed position with a given force to prevent unwanted openings of the lid 3 itself; said "locking" function of the lid 3 in the closed position is carried out thanks to the fact that when the lid 3 is in the closed position the collar 13 partially projects from the open end of the inner container 2 and then engages a corresponding inner surface of the lid 3: in this way to open the lid 3 it is required to elastically and slightly deform the lid 3 and/or the collar 13 and therefore it is necessary to apply a given force to the lid 3 to open the lid 3 itself. According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, the front wall 14 of the inner container 3 is provided with a pair of extensions 16 which project laterally to engage with interference the lid 3 when the lid 3 is in the closed position so as to maintain with greater force the lid 3 in the closed position. According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the front wall 14 of the inner container 3 is devoid of the extensions 16.

As illustrated in Figure 4, each lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall 4 of the inner package so as to define, together with the corresponding lateral wall 4 of the inner package a lateral chamber 17 not occupied by the inner package 4; therefore, both lateral walls 15 of the collar 13 are spaced apart from the corresponding lateral walls of the inner package 4 to define two different lateral chambers 17 arranged on opposite sides of the collar 13.

As illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the collar 13 comprises two box bodies 18, each projects cantilevered from a corresponding lateral wall 15, is arranged inside a corresponding lateral chamber 17 and has a panel 19 (better illustrated in Figure 3) which is connected to the lateral wall 15 and is arranged perpendicularly to the lateral wall 15 itself; a panel 20 which is connected to the panel 19, is arranged parallel to the lateral wall 15 and rests on a corresponding lateral wall 4 of the inner package; a panel 21 which is connected to the panel 20, is arranged perpendicularly to the lateral wall 15 and parallel to the panel 19; and a panel 22 which is connected to the panel 21, is arranged parallel to the lateral wall 15 (therefore parallel to the panel 20) and is superimposed on and glued to the lateral wall 15 itself. Therefore, the container 2 comprises two box bodies 18, which are arranged on opposite sides of the collar 13 and each closing the top of a corresponding lateral chamber 17. Each box body 18 is parallelepiped-shaped and has a rectangular- shaped cross-section (possibly square) . In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, in each box body 18, the panel 22 is folded towards the inside of the box body 18 so as to be arranged between the panel 19 and the panel 21; alternatively, in each box body 18 the panel 22 could be folded towards the outside of the box body 18 so as to be arranged below the panel 21. In Figure 5 is clearly visible how each lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 is internally glued to the panel 22 of a corresponding box body 18 and is externally glued to a corresponding lateral wall 8 of the container 2.

According to a preferred, but not binding, embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, the collar 13 comprises a pair of support elements 23, each of which extends from a corresponding lateral wall 15 towards the inside and rests on the inner package 4 to help maintain the correct position of the inner package 4 itself. Each support element 23 has a L- shaped cross section, and comprises a panel 24 that originates from a corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 and is arranged perpendicular to the lateral wall 15 itself and a panel 25 which is joined to the panel 24, originates from the front wall 14 of the collar 13, is arranged perpendicular to the front wall 14 and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package 4. It is important to note that each support element 23 is separate and independent (i.e. remote) from the corresponding box body 18; in other words, each lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 comprises an upper box body 18 which is supported by a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package 4 and comprises at the bottom a supporting member 23 which is separate and independent (i.e. remote) from the box body 18 and also rests on a corresponding lateral wall 4 of the inner package .

In Figure 6 only the collar 13 in its final configuration (i.e. U-folded around the inner package 4) is illustrated in perspective view, while in Figure 7 the collar 13 flat (i.e. the blank before being folded around to the inner package 4) is illustrated in plan view. In this embodiment, the lateral walls 15 of the collar 13 extend along the entire front wall 14 and are provided with the support elements 23. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the lateral walls 15 of the collar 13 extend only along a limited upper portion of the front wall 14 and are totally devoid of the support elements 23; this embodiment provides a less lateral support to the inner package 4 (lacking the support elements 23), but has the advantage of using a smaller quantity of packing material thanks to the fact that the collar 13 can be sliced from a continuous strip of packing material with no clippings (i.e. without the production of waste material to be removed) .

In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3-8, the panel 19 of each box body 18 is hinged to a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 (as clearly illustrated in Figures 7 and 8) ; the panel 20 is hinged to the edge of the panel 19 opposite with respect to the lateral wall 15, along a crease line; the panel 21 is hinged to the edge of the panel 20 opposite the panel 19, along a crease line; and the panel 22 is hinged to the edge of the panel 21 opposite the panel 20, along a crease; in other words, each box body 18 originates from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13.

The container 2 and the lid 3 are obtained by folding, around the inner package 4 and around the collar 13 (previously folded around to the inner package 4) a blank 26 (illustrated in Figure 9) comprising a plurality of panels that will be indicated with accented reference numbers equal to the reference numbers distinguishing the corresponding walls of the container 2 and of the lid 3. As illustrated in Figure 9, the blank 26 has two longitudinal fold lines 27 (which define the longitudinal edges of the container 2 and of the lid 3) and a plurality of transverse fold lines 28 defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines 27, a panel 6' forming the front wall 6 of the container 2, a panel 5' forming the bottom wall 5 of the container 2 and is directly connected to the panel 6' along a transverse fold line 28, a panel 7' forming the rear wall 7 of the container 2 and is directly connected to the panel 5' along a transverse fold line 28, a panel 11' forming the rear wall 11 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to panel 7' along a transverse fold line 28, a panel 9' which forms the top wall 9 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to the panel 11' along a transverse fold line 28, a panel 10' forming the front wall 10 of the lid 3 and is directly connected to the panel 9' along a transverse fold line 28.

The blank 26 comprises a plate 29, which is connected to panel 10' along a transverse fold line 28, is folded by 180° onto the panel 10' , and is glued to the inside of the panel 10' itself .

The blank 26 comprises a pair of flaps 8', which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 6' , are connected to the panel 6' along the two longitudinal fold lines 27, and form part of the lateral walls 8 of container 2. The blank 26 comprises a pair of flaps 8", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 7', are connected to the panel 7' along the two longitudinal fold lines 27, form part of the lateral walls 8 of container 2, and are superimposed on and glued to the corresponding flaps 8' . Each flap 8" comprises a tab 30 which is folded by 90° with respect to the flap 8" and is superimposed on and glued to the panel 5' .

The blank 26 comprises a pair of flaps 12', which are arranged on opposite sides of panel 10', are connected to the panel 10' along the two longitudinal fold lines 27, and form part of the lateral walls 12 of the lid 3. The blank 26 comprises a pair of flaps 12", which are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 11', are connected to panel 11' along the two longitudinal fold lines 27, form part of the lateral walls 12 of the lid 3, and are superimposed on and glued to the corresponding flaps 12' . Each flap 12" comprises a tab 31 which is folded by 90° with respect to the flap 12", and is superimposed on and glued to the panel 9' .

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3-8, the panel 19 of each box body 18 is aligned with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13. In the different embodiment illustrated in Figures 10-12, the panel 19 of each box body 18 is arranged at a given distance from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13; in other words, each box body 18 is arranged spaced and lower with respect to a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10-12 (as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8) the lateral walls 15 of the collar 13 extend only along a limited upper portion of the front wall 14 and are totally devoid of the support elements 23. Also the collar 13 of Figure 12 has the advantage of being able to be cut from a continuous strip of packing material without producing clippings . In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10-12, the panel 19 of each box body 18 is hinged to a bottom edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 (as clearly illustrated in Figure 12); the panel 20 is hinged to the edge of the panel 19 opposite the lateral wall 15, along a crease line; the panel 21 is hinged to the edge of the panel 20 opposite the panel 19, along a crease line; and the panel 22 is hinged to the edge of the panel 21 opposite the panel 20, along a crease line; in other words, each box body 18 originates from a bottom edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10-12, the panel 21 of each box body 18 is arranged at a given distance from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 (i.e. each box body 18 is arranged spaced and lower with respect to a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13); according to an alternative not illustrated, the panel 21 of each box body 18 is aligned with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 (i.e. each box body 18 is aligned with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 ) .

In the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the inner package 4 is arranged symmetrically with the center of the container 2 (see, for example what illustrated in Figure 4) . According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the inner package 4 is arranged asymmetrically on one side of the container 2, i.e. the packing material 4 is arranged all on one side and is close to a lateral wall 8 of the container 2; consequently, in the container 2 there is a single lateral chamber 17 and the collar 13 comprises only one box body 18, and (possibly) a single support element 23. In other words, in this embodiment with the asymmetric arrangement of the inner package 4 only one lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package 4 to define the inner lateral chamber 17, while the other lateral wall 15 of the collar 13 rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package 4.

The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has numerous advantages.

In the first place, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above uses a relatively small quantity of packing material (i.e. only slightly higher than the amount of packing material used in a standard type rigid packet with a hinged lid) .

Furthermore, the packet 1 of cigarettes described above ensures in all conditions an adequate holding of the inner package 4 (i.e. is always able to effectively prevent the inner package 4 from "shaking" inside the container 2) .

The packet 1 of cigarettes described above has also a great aesthetic impact at the opening of the lid 3, as the box bodies 18 closing the lateral chambers 17 (otherwise visible) transmit to the consumer a feeling of "completeness" and "solidity" that are particularly appreciated. The panels 19 of box bodies 18 can also be printed with trademarks, designs or writings (due to their very visible position, the panels 19 of the box bodies 18 allow to exploit printing in an optimal way the panels 19 themselves) .

The packet 1 of cigarettes described above can be made in a fast and inexpensive manner, as the collar 13 has a relatively conventional shape (i.e. similar to the collars known and normally used for making rigid packets of cigarettes with a hinged lid currently on the market) , while the blank 22 has an entirely conventional shape (i.e. completely identical to the blanks known and normally used for making rigid packets of cigarettes with a hinged lid currently on the market) . Because of the many advantages presented by the packet 1 of cigarettes described above, the shape of that packet 1 of cigarettes may be integrally destined also for making a packet of other types of smoking articles (such as cigars, cigarettes, electronic charging cartridges for electronic cigarettes, pieces of tobacco for electronic cigarettes) .

Claims

1. A rigid packet (1) of smoking articles comprising:

a parallelepiped-shaped container (2) having an open top end, a bottom wall (5), a front wall (6), a rear wall (7), and two lateral walls (8);

a parallelepiped-shaped lid (3) hinged to the container (2) and having a top wall (9), a front wall (10), a rear wall (11), and two lateral walls (12);

an inner package (4) which encloses a group of smoking articles, is housed inside the container (2) and is smaller in cross section than the container (2); and

a collar (13), which surrounds the inner package (4), is glued to the inside of the container (2), projects from the open top end of the container (2) and has a front wall (14) which is superimposed on and glued to the front wall (6) of the container (2), two lateral walls (15) which are superimposed on and glued to corresponding lateral walls (8) of the container ( 2 ) ;

wherein at least one lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) so as to define, together with the corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4), a lateral chamber (17) not occupied by the inner package (4);

wherein the collar (13) comprises at least a box body (18), which cantilevering projects from a corresponding lateral wall (15) and is arranged inside the lateral chamber (17);

the packet (1) of smoking articles being characterized in that the box body (18) of the collar (13) comprises:

a first panel (19) which is arranged perpendicular to the lateral wall (15) and parallel to the bottom wall (5) of the container (2), is connected to the lateral wall (15) itself, and closes the lateral chamber (17);

a second panel (20) which is arranged parallel to the lateral wall (15) and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) and is connected to the first panel (19); a third panel (21) which is arranged perpendicular to the lateral wall (15) and parallel to the first panel (19) and to the bottom wall (5) of the container (2), is connected to the second panel (20), and closes the lateral chamber (17); and a fourth panel (22) which is arranged parallel to the lateral wall (15), is superimposed on and glued to the lateral wall (15) itself, and is connected to the third panel (21) .

2. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein:

a first lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) is spaced apart from a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4) to define the lateral chamber (17);

a second lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package (4);

only one lateral chamber (17) is provided inside the container ( 2 ) ; and

the collar (13) comprises only one box body (18), which is arranged inside the lateral chamber (17) .

3. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 1, wherein :

both the lateral walls (15) of the collar (13) are spaced apart from the corresponding lateral walls of the inner package (4) to define two different lateral chambers (17) on opposite sides of the inner package (4); and

the collar (13) comprises two box bodies (18), each arranged inside a corresponding lateral chamber (17) .

4. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) is arranged a given distance from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) the collar (13) .

5. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) is aligned with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) .

6. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the collar (13) comprises a supporting member (23), which is separate from and independent of the box body (18), and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package ( 4 ) .

7. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 6, wherein the supporting member (23) has an L-shaped cross section, and comprises a fifth panel (24) which originates at, and is perpendicular to, a corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13); and a sixth panel (25) which originates at, and is perpendicular to, the front wall (14) of the collar (13), and rests on a corresponding lateral wall of the inner package ( 4 ) .

8. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) is hinged along a crease line to a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) .

9. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 8, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) forms a top closure of the lateral chamber (17) and the third panel (21) of the box body (18) forms a bottom closure of the lateral chamber ( 17 ) .

10. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) is hinged along a crease line to a bottom edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) .

11. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 10, wherein the first panel (19) of the box body (18) forms a bottom closure of the lateral chamber (17) and the third panel (21) of the box body (18) forms a top closure of the lateral chamber ( 17 ) .

12. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the third panel (21) of the box body (18) is arranged a given distance from a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) .

13. A packet (1) of smoking articles according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the third panel (21) of the box body (18) is aligned with a top edge of the corresponding lateral wall (15) of the collar (13) .