Packet of cigarettes, and method of producing a packet of cigarettes

A packet of cigarettes comprising an inner package (2) defined by a group (30) of cigarettes wrapped in a rectangular sheet (29) of wrapping material having a tear line (32) defining a tear-off top portion (31);

• and a rigid outer package (3) housing the inner package (2);
• wherein the group (30) of cigarettes is substantially parallelepiped-shaped with a rectangular cross section, and has two parallel, opposite major lateral walls (34) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls (35) defined by cylindrical lateral walls of the cigarettes, and two parallel, opposite end walls (36) defined by flat ends of the cigarettes;
• four longitudinal edges (37) are defined between the two major lateral walls (34) and the two minor lateral walls (35), four major transverse edges (38) are defined between the two major lateral walls (34) and the two end walls (36), and four minor transverse edges (39) are defined between the two minor lateral walls (35) and the two end walls (36);
• wherein the sheet (29) of wrapping material is coupled in an unfolded state to the group (30) of cigarettes so that before the sheet (29) of wrapping material is initially folded, the longitudinal edges (37) of the group (30) of cigarettes are parallel to long sides of the sheet (29) of wrapping material, and the major transverse edges (38) of the group (30) of cigarettes are parallel to the short sides of sheet (29) of wrapping material;
• wherein the sheet (29) of wrapping material is folded about the group (30) of cigarettes by superimposing, on a first major lateral wall (34a) of the group (30) of cigarettes, two opposite flaps (40, 41) of the sheet (29) of wrapping material to form a tubular wrapping enclosing the group (30) of cigarettes on all four sides, and having, at the minor lateral walls (35) of the group (30) of cigarettes, two lateral ends which are both initially open in the tubular wrapping and are successively folded to complete the inner package (2);
• wherein the tear line (32) is “L” shaped so that the tear-off top portion (31) extends seamlessly over a single portion of the sheet (29) of wrapping material arranged laterally at only one corner of the sheet (29) of wrapping material;
• and
• wherein, at a first minor transverse edge (39a) of the group (30) of cigarettes involving the tear-off top portion (31), the sheet (29) of wrapping material has a tab (33) that protrudes from the first minor transverse edge (39a), is formed from part of the tear-off top portion (31), and is arranged astride the first minor transverse edge (39a).