FIELD

The invention relates to an inner frame blank for a pack of tobacco industry products, a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products that includes an inner frame formed from the inner frame blank, and to a pack of tobacco industry products that includes an inner frame formed from the inner frame blank.

BACKGROUND

Some cigarette packs include a wrapped bundle that consists of a frame that at least partly surrounds a group of cigarettes, and a wrapper that encloses the frame and the cigarettes. The wrapper has a removable or openable portion for providing access to the cigarettes via an opening in the frame.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an inner frame blank for a pack of tobacco industry products, the inner frame blank being foldable to form an inner frame for holding a group of tobacco industry products, the inner frame blank comprising a first major panel and a second major panel joined to opposing edges of a central panel such that the first and second major panels are foldable relative to the central panel to form opposing sides of said inner frame, and wherein the inner frame blank further comprises an aperture in at least the central panel that defines an extraction opening for removing tobacco industry products from within said inner frame when the inner frame blank is folded to form said inner frame.

The aperture may extend from the central panel into at least one of the first and second major panels.

In some examples, the inner frame blank may comprise a closed figure that defines the aperture. That is, the aperture is surrounded by material of the inner frame blank on all sides such that the aperture does not extend an edge of the inner frame blank.

The inner frame blank may further comprise at least one side panel attached to an edge of the first major panel or the second major panel such that the side panel is foldable to extend between said opposing sides of said inner frame when the inner frame blank is folded to form said inner frame.

A strengthening tab may extend from the side panel such that, when the inner frame blank is folded to form said inner frame, the strengthening tab at least partially overlaps the central panel.

The inner frame blank may further comprise an end panel joined to an edge of one of the first major panel and the second major panel, the end panel being opposite the central panel.

The opposing edges of the central panel may comprise score lines.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is also provided an inner frame for a pack of tobacco industry products, the inner frame being formed by folding the inner frame blank described above.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, the wrapped bundle comprising a group of tobacco industry products, an inner frame formed by folding the inner frame blank described above about the group of tobacco industry products, and a wrapper enclosing the inner frame and the tobacco industry products.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a wrapped bundle of tobacco industry products, the wrapped bundle comprising a group of tobacco industry products, an inner frame folded about the tobacco industry products, and a wrapper enclosing the inner frame and tobacco industry products, the inner frame comprising a first major panel and a second major panel joined to opposing edges of a central panel such that the first and second major panels are folded relative to the central panel to form opposing sides of the inner frame, and wherein the inner frame further comprises an aperture in at least the central panel that defines an extraction opening for removing tobacco industry products from within the inner frame, and wherein the wrapped bundle further comprises an adhesive label adhered to the wrapper to cover the extraction opening of the inner frame.

The wrapper may comprise an access flap that is aligned with the extraction opening.

The wrapped bundle may further comprise a label applied to the access flap, the label comprising an adhesive such that the access flap is resealable.

The label may cover the access flap and overlie at least part of the wrapper outside of the access flap.

The adhesive may be pressure sensitive adhesive.

The wrapper may be sealably wrapped about the inner frame and tobacco industry products.

The wrapper may comprise fin seals.

The interior of the wrapped bundle may comprise a pressure differential relative to the exterior of the wrapped bundle.

In one example, the pressure differential may comprise at least a partial vacuum within the wrapped bundle.

The wrapped bundle may further comprise a one-way valve for extracting air from within the wrapped bundle or for inserting gas into the wrapped bundle.

The inner frame may further comprise a valve aperture that is aligned with the one-way valve.

The aperture of the inner frame blank may define an extraction opening in the inner frame that extends over an edge of the inner frame, and the edge may comprises a fold in the inner frame.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a pack of tobacco industry products, the pack comprising the wrapped bundle described above, and a pack outer adapted to receive the wrapped bundle.

The pack outer may comprise a hinged-lid pack outer having a parallelepiped base in which the wrapped bundle is received such that a portion of the wrapped bundle protrudes from the base, and a parallelepiped lid arranged to cover the portion of the wrapped bundle that protrudes from the base.

