WO2008114140A1

WO2008114140A1 - An improved packet

Info

Publication number: WO2008114140A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000735
Authority: WO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-19
Filing date: 2008-03-14
Publication date: 2008-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2009-09-19
Also published as: ITBO20070187A1

Abstract

This invention relates to an improved packet containing a product, in particular a food product such as chewing gum sticks, bars of chocolate and the like, where the product (10) is wrapped in a respective wrapper (21); the packet comprising at least one receptacle (30) for containing the wrapped product. (20) and means for supporting and protecting the receptacle and the product and which, in the closed condition, only partly enclose the wrapped product. According to particular aspects of the invention, the receptacle has a partly open form so that the product is immediately accessible without having to break the receptacle itself.

Description

An improved packet

Technical Field

This invention relates to a packet.

In particular, the packet according to the invention can be used for packaging a food, confectionery, pharmaceutical or other type of product.

The packet according to the invention is preferable for a product in stick, bar or any other like form.

Background Art

Packets for individually wrapped chewing gum sticks are known which comprise a paperboard box for containing and supporting the sticks and an inner case made of paper-like material or foil paper which partially encloses the wrapped sticks.

The wrappers are glued weakly to the inner case so that when one stick is removed from the packet, the remaining sticks are withheld.

The inner case is in turn glued strongly to the box so that it does not come out of the box when a stick is removed from it. hi particular, the box encloses the inner case completely and the opening of the box is on the side where the inner case is open.

The cost of these packets, however, is very high on account of the large amount of packaging material used to make the box.

Disclosure of the Invention

This invention therefore provides a packet for a product, in particular a product in pieces such as chewing gum sticks, bars of chocolate and the like, where the product is wrapped in a respective wrapper; the packet comprising at least one receptacle for containing the wrapped product and means for supporting and protecting the receptacle and the product; the packet being characterized in that the supporting and protecting means only partly enclose the wrapped product.

The packet thus obtained requires less packaging material to make and, consequently, costs less but is nevertheless sufficiently rigid and firm to enable easy use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These and other characteristics of the invention may be clearly inferred from the preferred embodiments described below purely by way of example and without limiting the scope of protection.

Figure 1 illustrates a single unwrapped product;

Figure 2 illustrates a single wrapped product;

Figure 3 illustrates a group of products inside a containing receptacle;

Figure 4 illustrates a group of products inside a containing receptacle closed at one end;

Figure 5 illustrates a second product arrangement inside a containing receptacle;

Figure 6 illustrates a second product arrangement inside a containing receptacle closed at one end;

Figure 7 illustrates a third product arrangement inside a containing receptacle;

Figure 8 illustrates a third product arrangement inside a containing receptacle closed at one end;

Figure 9 shows a first preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 10 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the packet;

Figure 11 shows a second preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 12 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of the packet;

Figure 13 shows a third preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 14 is a side view of the third preferred embodiment of the packet;

Figure 15 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 16 is a side view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the packet;

Figure 17 shows a fifth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 18 shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition; Figure 19 shows a seventh preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 20 shows an eighth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 21 shows an eighth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in an open condition;

Figure 22 shows a ninth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 23 shows a ninth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in an open condition;

Figure 24 shows a tenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in an open condition;

Figure 25 shows an eleventh preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 26 shows a twelfth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 27 is a side view of the twelfth preferred embodiment;

Figure 28 shows a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed condition;

Figure 29 is a side view of the thirteenth preferred embodiment;

Figure 30 shows a fourteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 31 shows a fifteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 32 shows a sixteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 33 shows a seventeenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in an open condition;

Figure 34 shows a eighteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in a closed or open condition;

Figure 35 shows an nineteenth preferred embodiment of the packet according to the invention in an open condition;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Figure 1 shows the bare product before being wrapped and placed inside the 35

packet according to the invention.

As may be seen in Figure 2, a wrapper (21) is placed around the bare product (10) and the resulting wrapped product is labelled (20). No particular wrapping styles are specified since they are all well known to experts in the trade and irrelevant to the invention. Figure 2 also shows how the wrapped product can be schematically represented with 6 faces, namely, a top face (26) and a bottom face (27), being the smallest of the faces, two lateral faces (24, 25), being the smallest of the remaining faces, a front face (22) and a rear face (23).

Figure 3 shows a receptacle (30) containing a plurality of wrapped products.

The wrapped products contained in the receptacle are fixed to the latter by adhering means in non-permanent manner. The adhering means may be applied to any of the contact surfaces between the wrapper (21) and the inside of the receptacle (30). hi one particular embodiment, the adhering means are embodied by wax which has good adhesive power when applied hot but can be easily detached when cool.

The adhering means hold the product inside the receptacle unless detached with sufficient force, thus preventing it from falling out accidentally.

As shown in Figure 3, the receptacle does not enclose the wrapped product completely. This allows immediate access to the product without having to break the receptacle to take the product out. It also means that less packaging material is needed to make the packet, making its production simpler and inexpensive. hi this particular embodiment, the product extends beyond the receptacle to make it even easier to take the product out.

Figure 3 also shows how the receptacle can be schematically represented with 4 lateral faces connected to each other, comprising a first and a second side wall (33, 34) that are smaller than the other two opposite front and rear walls (31) and (32).

The receptacle contains a plurality of wrapped products placed side by side, that is to say, with the lateral faces (24, 25) of the wrapped product (20) abutting against and being substantially parallel with the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle (30).

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the receptacle, which has another wall (40) at the end of it, connected by the end edge (41) of the lateral faces.

As may be inferred from the two illustrations of these two embodiments, therefore, the receptacle is a "sleeve" that is placed around the wrapped product, terminates at two ends (41, 42) and may be closed at one of these ends by an additional wall, while the other end remains open and constitutes the part that provides access to the wrapped product.

If the closing wall is present, one of the two ends of the receptacle substantially coincides with one of the two faces (26, 27), top or bottom, of the wrapped product. If there is no closed end, the receptacle may be in any position around the wrapped product.

Figure 5 shows a second arrangement of the products inside the receptacle. In this case, the products are superposed, that is to say, the front face (22) of one product abuts against the rear face (23) of the adjacent one, and the lateral faces (24, 25) of the wrapped product are substantially parallel with the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle (30).

Figure 7 shows a second arrangement of the products inside the receptacle. In this case, the products are placed on edge, that is to say, the front face (22) of one product abuts against the rear face (23) of the adjacent one, and the lateral faces (24, 25) of the wrapped product are substantially parallel with the front wall (31) and rear wall (32) of the receptacle (30).

A first preferred embodiment of the packet, illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, comprises a group of wrapped products placed side by side, the corresponding protective receptacle and a single supporting wall (100) at the back which supports and protects the product and which is made preferably of paperboard or other flexible material having equivalent supporting and protective properties.

As may be noticed, the rear supporting wall (100) is located at the receptacle's rear wall (32) and is connected to the latter by connecting means (101).

In one particular embodiment, these connecting means (101) are glue points.

The rear supporting wall (100) extends, at one edge of it (91), beyond the rear wall (32) of the receptacle as far as the free end (90) of the portion of wrapped product (20) that remains outside the receptacle. Thus, the part of the product that is not enclosed by the receptacle is also supported and protected.

In one particular embodiment, to provide full support and protection for the product, the length LSP of the rear supporting wall (100) is substantially equal to the length LP of the wrapped product. T/IB2008/000735

For providing further support and protection for the product, the rear supporting wall (100) has two lateral edges (92, 93) located at respective side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle and its width WSP is substantially equal to the width WI of the receptacle.

In the case of a packet with a plurality of receptacles placed side by side, the rear supporting wall (100) has a width WSP that is substantially equal to the sum of the widths WI of the receptacles placed side by side.

The characteristic feature of this packet is that its condition is the same both when open, that is, when the product is being taken out of it, and when closed, that is to say, when inside a pocket or handbag or any other place and product is not being taken out of it. It may be noticed that both the product wrapper and the receptacle containing the product combine to form the outside layer of the packet.

A second preferred embodiment of the packet, illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, comprises the packet of Figures 9 and 10, with an additional bottom supporting wall (110) located substantially at the end (41) of the receptacle.

The bottom supporting wall (110) extends transversally from the rear supporting wall (100) and has a width WSI that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall, and a length LSI that is substantially equal to the height TI of the receptacle (30).

In another particular embodiment, illustrated in Figure 26, the packet comprises two superposed receptacles and the length LSI of the bottom supporting wall (110) is substantially equal to twice the height TI of the receptacle (30).

For added support, means (120) are provided for connecting the bottom supporting wall (110) to the end wall (40) of the receptacle (30).

If the receptacle does not have a bottom supporting wall, the connecting means act directly on the corresponding bottom faces (27) of the wrapped products (20). In this case, the connecting means must be non-permanent, embodied for example by wax, so that the wrapped product can be detached and taken out of the packet without damaging it. In this case, also, the connecting means between the wrapped product and the receptacle need not be provided.

The characteristic feature of this packet is that its condition is the same both when open, that is, when the product is being taken out of it, and when closed, that is to say, when inside a pocket or handbag or any other place and product is not being taken out of it. It may be noticed that both the product wrapper and the receptacle containing the product combine to form the outside layer of the packet. A third preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 13 and 14, comprises the packet of Figures 9 and 10, with the addition of two lateral supporting walls (130, 131) located substantially at the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle and extending transversally from the rear supporting wall (100).

For added product protection, the lateral supporting walls have a width WSL that is substantially equal to the length LSP of the rear supporting wall (100) and a length LSL that is substantially equal to the height TI of the receptacle (30).

Also imaginable for these walls are dimensions different from these and shapes other than rectangular (as shown for example in Figure 18).

In another particular embodiment, not illustrated in the drawings, the packet comprises two superposed receptacles and the length LSI of the lateral supporting walls (110) is substantially equal to twice the height TI of the receptacle (30).

For added support, means (140) are provided for connecting the lateral supporting walls (130, 131) to the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle.

A fourth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 15 and 16, comprises the packet of Figures 11 and 12, with the addition of a front supporting wall (150) located substantially at the front wall (31) of the receptacle, substantially parallel with the rear supporting wall (100) and extending transversally from the bottom supporting wall (110).

Means (180) are also provided for connecting the front supporting wall (150) to the front wall (31) of the receptacle.

For optimum protection, the front supporting wall (150) has a width WSF that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall (100), while the free edge (151) of the front supporting wall (150) is located substantially at the edge (42) of the receptacle, located at the product outlet opening.

The characteristic feature of this packet is that its condition is the same both when open, that is, when the product is being taken out of it, and when closed, that is to say, when inside a pocket or handbag or any other place and product is not being taken out of it. It may be noticed that both the product wrapper and the receptacle containing the product combine to form the outside layer of the packet. In a fifth preferred embodiment, shown in Figure 17, the free edge (151) of the front supporting wall (150) extends beyond the edge (42) of the receptacle and has a complex shape while at the same time allowing access to all the wrapped products (20).

In this embodiment, the front supporting wall (150) extends transversally from one of the two lateral supporting walls (130, 131).

If the connecting means (180) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front wall (31) of the receptacle are not provided, the wall (150) might be made in such a way that it can be opened in hinge-like fashion along the edge that connects it to the lateral supporting wall (130) from which it extends. In this case, the open and closed conditions of the packet are different. hi a sixth preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figure 18, the packet is similar in shape and size to that of Figure 17 but has lateral supporting walls that are not rectangular. These embodiments show that the shape of all the supporting surfaces may differ but without altering their function for the purposes of the invention.

A seventh preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 19, comprises the packet of Figures 15 and 16, with the addition of an upper protecting wall (190) extending transversally from the rear supporting wall (100) and located substantially at the free end of the wrapped product protruding from the receptacle.

The upper supporting wall (190) has a width WPS that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall and a length LPS that is substantially equal to the height (TI) of the receptacle (30). hi another particular embodiment that is not illustrated in the drawings, the packet comprises two superposed receptacles and the length LPS of the upper supporting wall (190) is substantially equal to twice the height TI of the receptacle (30).

An eighth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 20 and 21, comprises the packet of Figure 19, with the addition of a front protecting wall (200) extending transversally from the upper supporting wall (190), placed substantially over at least part of the front supporting wall (150) and covering the part of the wrapped product which extends beyond the containing receptacle and which is not covered by the front protecting wall.

For added protection for the wrapped product, the front supporting wall (200) has a width WPF that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall (100).

The same packet also includes engageable and disengageable connecting means (210) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front protecting wall (200), so as to provide easy access to the wrapped product and guaranteeing maximum protection after use. These connecting means may be embodied by a slit, a slit and a tab or any other customary method.

A ninth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 22 in a closed configuration and in Figure 23 in an open configuration, comprises the packet of Figure 17, with the addition of a front protecting wall (200) extending transversally from the lateral protecting wall (131).

A tenth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 24, comprises the packet of Figure 22 provided with permanent connecting means

(240) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front protecting wall (200). These connecting means are embodied by a glue line located between a crease

(241) half way along the front protecting wall and the edge that joins the front protecting wall (150) to the lateral supporting wall (131). This creates a wall that can be opened to provide easy access to the product.

An eleventh preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 25 in an open or closed configuration, comprises the packet of Figure 17, where the front supporting wall (150) is smaller in size than that of the packet of Figure 25, and has an added front protecting wall (200) extending transversally from the lateral protecting wall (131). It also comprises permanent connecting means (250) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front protecting wall (200).

A twelfth preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 26 and 27, comprises the packet of Figure 20 with two superposed receptacles.

In this embodiment, when the packet is closed, the front wall (31) of the first receptacle is located substantially at the front supporting wall (150), the rear wall (32) of the first receptacle is located substantially at the front wall (31') of the second receptacle and the rear wall (32') of the second receptacle is located substantially at the rear supporting wall (100).

Means (270, 271) are also provided for connecting the front wall (31) of the first receptacle to the front supporting wall (150) and the rear wall (32') of the second receptacle to the rear supporting wall (100), and means (272) for connecting the rear wall (32) of the first receptacle to the front wall (31') of the second receptacle.

In an alternative embodiment that is not illustrated, the connecting means (272) are not provided, thus making it possible to open the packet completely for easier access to the product inside both receptacles.

According to advantageous aspects of the invention, in a thirteenth preferred embodiment of it, as illustrated in Figures 28 and 29, for added protection and improved overall appearance, the outside layer of the packet is protected by an overwrap (290) made of flexible heat-sealable material that covers the packet completely.

A fourteenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 30, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figures 11 and 12, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

A fifteenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 31, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figures 15 and 16, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

A sixteenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure 32, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figures 13 and 14, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

A seventeenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure

33, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figures 20 and 21, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

An eighteenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure

34, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figure 25, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

A nineteenth preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figure

35, is based on the principles embodied by the packet of Figure 23, but contains a plurality of receptacles placed side by side.

The invention thus provides a packet in which the product can be easily packaged and adequately protected while minimizing the amount of packaging material needed to provide support and protection for the product thanks to the fact that the outside layer of the packet is formed by the product wrapper or the receptacle.

As may also be inferred from the description of the specific embodiments, the use of gluing to join the receptacle to the support not only holds the receptacle in place but also reinforces the structure of the packet. Moreover, all the embodiments of the packet according to the invention are easy to make by machine, with obvious advantages in terms of feasibility and production cost.

Claims

1) A packet for a product, in particular a product in pieces such as chewing gum sticks, bars of chocolate and the like, where the product (10) is wrapped in a respective wrapper (21); the packet comprising at least one receptacle (30) for containing the wrapped product (20) and means for supporting and protecting the receptacle and the product; the packet being characterized in that the supporting and protecting means only partly enclose the wrapped product.

2) The packet according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (30) forms part of the outside layer of the packet.

3) The packet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wrapper (21) forms part of the outside layer of the packet.

4) The packet according to any of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the receptacle (30) has at least one opening allowing access to the wrapped product (20).

5) The packet according to claim 4, wherein the receptacle (30) does not enclose the wrapped product (20) completely.

6) The packet according to claim 5, wherein the wrapped product (20) extends beyond the receptacle (30) containing it.

7) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 6, wherein the receptacle has a plurality of lateral faces connected to each other, comprising a front wall (31), a rear wall (32) and first and a second side wall (33, 34).

8) The packet according to claim 7, wherein the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle are smaller in size than the front and rear walls (31) and (32).

9) The packet according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the receptacle has an end wall (40) connected to the lateral faces.

10) The packet according to claim 9, wherein the end wall (40) is located at the end edge (41) of the lateral faces.

11) The packet according to any of the claims from 7 to 10, wherein the receptacle is open at least at one end (41, 42) of the lateral faces.

12) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 11, wherein the wrapped product (20) has a front face (22), a rear face (23), two side faces (24, 25), a top face (26) and a bottom face (27).

13) The packet according to claim 12, wherein the top and bottom faces (26) and (27) of the wrapped product (20) are the smallest in size of all the faces. 14) The packet according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the side faces (24, 25), of the wrapped product (20) are smaller in size than the front and rear faces (22) and (23).

15) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 14, wherein the side faces (24, 25) of the wrapped product (20) are substantially parallel with the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle (30).

16) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 14, wherein the side faces (24, 25) of the wrapped product are substantially parallel with the front and rear walls (31) and (32) of the receptacle (30).

17) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 16, wherein the receptacle (30) contains a plurality of wrapped products.

18) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 17, wherein means are provided for adhering the wrapped product (20) to the receptacle (30).

19) The packet according to claim 18, wherein the means for adhering the wrapped product to the receptacle are embodied by wax.

20) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 17 to 19, wherein adjacent products have abutting side faces.

21) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 17 to 19, wherein the front face of the products abuts against the rear face of the adjacent product.

22) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 21, wherein the packet contains a plurality of receptacles.

23) The packet according to claim 22, wherein adjacent receptacles have abutting side walls.

24) The packet according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the front face of the receptacles abuts against the rear face of the adjacent receptacle.

25) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 24, wherein the means for supporting and protecting the receptacle comprise a supporting wall.

26) The packet according to claim 25, wherein the supporting and protecting means comprise a rear supporting wall (100).

27) The packet according to claim 26, wherein the rear supporting wall (100) is located at the rear wall (32) of the receptacle.

28) The packet according to claim 27, wherein connecting means (101) are provided between the rear supporting wall (100) and the rear wall (32) of the receptacle. 29) The packet according to claim 28, wherein the connecting means (101) are embodied by glue points.

30) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 29, wherein the rear supporting wall (100) extends beyond the rear wall (32) of the receptacle.

31) The packet according to any of the claims from 25 to 30, wherein the free end (90) of the portion of the wrapped product (20) outside the receptacle is located substantially at a respective edge (91) of the rear supporting wall.

32) The packet according to claim 31, wherein the length LSP of the rear supporting wall (100) is substantially equal to the length LP of the wrapped product.

33) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 32, wherein the rear supporting wall (100) has opposite lateral edges (92, 93) located at respective side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle.

34) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 33, wherein the rear supporting wall (100) has a width WSP that is substantially equal to the width WI of the receptacle.

35) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 25 to 33, wherein the rear supporting wall (100) has a width WSP that is substantially equal to the sum of the widths WI of the receptacle placed side by side.

36) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 35, comprising a bottom supporting wall (110) located substantially at the end (41) of the receptacle.

37) The packet according to claim 36, wherein the bottom supporting wall (110) extends transversally of the rear supporting wall (100).

38) The packet according to claim 37, wherein the bottom supporting wall (110) extends from the rear supporting wall (100).

39) The packet according to claim 38, wherein the bottom supporting wall (110) has a width WSI that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall.

40) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 36 to 39, wherein the length LSI of the bottom supporting wall (110) is substantially equal to the height TI of the receptacle (30).

41) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 36 to 39, wherein the length LSI of the bottom supporting wall (110) is substantially equal to twice the height TI of the receptacle (30). 42) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 36 to 41, comprising means (120) for connecting the bottom supporting wall (110) to the end wall (40) of the receptacle (30).

43) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 36 to 41, comprising means (120) for connecting the bottom supporting wall (110) to the respective bottom faces (27) of the wrapped products (20).

44) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 43, comprising a lateral supporting wall (130) located substantially at the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle.

45) The packet according to claim 44, wherein the lateral supporting wall (130) extends transversally from the rear supporting wall (100).

46) The packet according to claim 45, wherein the width WSL of the lateral supporting wall (130) is substantially equal to the length LSP of the of the rear supporting wall (100).

47) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 44 to 46, wherein the length LSL of the lateral supporting wall (130) is substantially equal to the height TI of the receptacle (30).

48) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 44 to 46, wherein the length LSL of the lateral supporting wall is substantially equal to twice the height TI of the receptacle (30).

49) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 44 to 48, comprising means (140) for connecting the lateral supporting wall (130) to the side walls (33, 34) of the receptacle.

50) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 49, comprising a front supporting wall (150) located substantially at the front wall (31) of the receptacle.

51) The packet according to any claim 50, wherein the front supporting wall (150) extends in a direction substantially parallel with the rear supporting wall (100).

52) The packet according to 50 or 51, wherein the front supporting wall (150) has a width WSF that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall (100).

53) The packet according to any of the claims from 50 to 52, wherein the free edge (151) of the front supporting wall (150) is located substantially at the edge (42) of the receptacle, at the product outlet opening. 54) The packet according to any of the claims from 50 to 52, wherein the free edge (151) of the front supporting wall (150) extends beyond the edge (42) of the receptacle, at the product outlet opening.

55) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 50 to 52, wherein the shape of the front supporting wall (150) is such as to allow access to all the wrapped products (20).

56) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 50 to 55, comprising means (180) for connecting the front supporting wall (150) to the front wall (31) of the receptacle.

57) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 50 to 56, wherein the front supporting wall (150) extends transversally from the bottom supporting wall (110).

58) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 50 to 56, wherein the front supporting wall (150) extends transversally from the lateral supporting wall (130).

59) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 58, comprising an upper protecting wall (190) located substantially at the free end of the wrapped product that protrudes from the receptacle.

60) The packet according to claim 59, wherein the upper protecting wall (190) extends transversally from the rear supporting wall (100).

61) The packet according to claim 60, wherein the upper protecting wall (190) has a width WPS that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall.

62) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 59 to 61, wherein the length LPS of the upper protecting wall (190) is substantially equal to the height (TI) of the receptacle (30).

63) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 59 to 61, wherein the length LPS of the upper protecting wall (190) is substantially equal to twice the height (TI) of the receptacle (30).

64) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 63, comprising a front protecting wall (200) placed substantially over at least part of the front supporting wall (150).

65) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 64, comprising a front protecting wall (200) that covers the part of the wrapped product that protrudes from the containing receptacle. 66) The packet according to 64 or 65, wherein the front protecting wall (200) has a width WPF that is substantially equal to the width WSP of the rear supporting wall (100).

67) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 64 to 66, comprising engageable and disengageable connecting means (210) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front protecting wall (200).

68) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 64 to 67, wherein the front protecting wall (200) extends transversally from the upper protecting wall (190).

69) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 64 to 67, wherein the front protecting wall (200) extends transversally from the lateral protecting wall (131).

70) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 64 to 69, comprising permanent connecting means (230) between the front supporting wall (150) and the front protecting wall (200).

71) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 70, wherein the packet comprises two superposed receptacles.

72) The packet according to claim 71, wherein, when the packet is closed, the front wall (31) of the first receptacle is located substantially at the front supporting wall (150), the rear wall (32) of the first receptacle is located substantially at the front wall (31') of the second receptacle and the rear wall (32') of the second receptacle is located substantially at the rear supporting wall (100).

73) The packet according to claim 72, wherein means (270, 271) are provided for connecting the front wall (31) of the first receptacle to the front supporting wall (150) and the rear wall (32') of the second receptacle to the rear supporting wall (100).

74) The packet according to claim 73, wherein means (272) are provided for connecting the rear wall (32) of the first receptacle to the front wall (31') of the second receptacle.

75) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims from 1 to 74, wherein the outside layer of the packet is protected by an additional overwrap (290).

76) The packet according to claim 75, wherein the overwrap (290) covers the packet completely.

77) The packet according to claim 75 or 76, wherein the overwrap (290) is made of flexible heat-sealable material. 78) The packet according to any of the foregoing claims and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the objects stated herein.