Abstract: A method of producing a sealed bundle containing consumer articles such as smoking articles comprises the steps of wrapping a sealable material around an outer surface of a sleeve; at least partially sealing the sealable material while being wrapped around the sleeve at its bottom and along its length; pushing a group of smoking articles through the sleeve to remove the partially sealed sealable material from the sleeve; and sealing the partially sealed sealable material at the top so as to form the sealed bundle.

Abstract: A container includes a lower box portion, an upper lid portion, and a sliding portion. The lower box portion includes a box bottom wall, a box front wall and a box back wall. The upper lid portion is hinged to the box back wall. The sliding device at least partially covers the lower box portion. The container is opened by moving the sliding device in one direction and closed by moving the sliding device in a second, opposite direction along the lower box portion. The box back wall includes a first stopper flap to limit movement of the sliding device in the first direction, and a second stopper flap to limit movement of the sliding device in the second direction. The first and second stopper flaps are formed by a common cut or incision. Two blanks may be used for the box and sliding device.

Abstract: A container includes an outer shell and an inner slide. The outer shell comprises an outer shell front wall, an outer shell rear wall, left and right outer shell side walls and an outer shell stopper flap, and wherein the outer shell at least partially embraces an inner slide. The inner slide comprises a box portion wherein the box portion comprises a box bottom wall, a box front wall and a box rear wall and an inner slide stopper flap. The inner slide further comprises a lid portion wherein the lid portion comprises a lid top wall, and wherein the lid portion is hinged to the box portion at the box rear wall. The outer shell stopper flap and the inner slide stopper flap interact with each other and limit the movement between the outer shell and the inner slide when opening the container, the box front wall comprising the inner slide stopper flap and the outer shell front wall comprising the outer shell stopper flap.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for detecting and storing electromagnetic beams, an imager incorporating same, a method for making said device and use thereof. The inventive device comprises a field-effect phototransistor including: two source and drain contact electrodes, an electrical conduction unit which is connected to the two contact electrodes and which is coated with a photosensitive polymeric coating capable of absorbing the beams, of detecting, of generating in response the loads detected by said unit and of storing said loads, and a gate electrode which is capable of controlling the electric current in the unit as well as spatially distributing the loads in said coating and which is separated from said unit by a gate dielectric.

Abstract: A container comprises a box portion, a lid portion and a separate sliding device. The separate sliding device embraces at least part of the box portion. Moving the separate sliding device longitudinally along the box portion in a first direction pivots the lid portion to open the container and moving the separate sliding device longitudinally along the box portion in a second, opposite direction pivots the lid portion to close the container. The lid portion comprises a lid front wall.

Abstract: A nanotube-based flexible field effect transistor and its method of manufacture is provided. The field effect transistor according to the invention comprises at least two contact electrodes, respectively drain and source electrodes, an electrical conduction zone connected to the contact electrodes, said zone comprising a plurality of single-wall carbon nanotubes that are substantially aligned, a gate electrode for controlling the electric current circulating in said zone and a flexible substrate on which the contact and gate electrodes are deposited. The nanotube density in the conduction zone is strictly greater than 10 nanotubes per micrometer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for modyfing at least an electronic property of a carbon nanotube or nanowire comprising exposing said nanotube or nanowire to an acid having the formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are chosen in the group comprising (H, F, Cl, Br, I) with at least one of R1, R2 and R3 being different from H. At least part of the nanotube or nanowire may be a channel region of a field effect transistor.

Abstract: A method of producing a sealed bundle containing consumer articles such as smoking articles comprises the steps of wrapping a sealable material around an outer surface of the sleeve; at least partially sealing the sealable material while being wrapped around the sleeve at its bottom and along its length; pushing the group of smoking articles through the sleeve to remove the partially sealed sealable material from the sleeve; and sealing the partially sealed sealable material at the top so as to form the sealed bundle.

Abstract: A container includes an outer shell and an inner slide. The outer shell comprises an outer shell front wall, an outer shell rear wall, left and right outer shell side walls and an outer shell stopper flap, and wherein the outer shell at least partially embraces an inner slide. The inner slide comprises a box portion wherein the box portion comprises a box bottom wall, a box front wall and a box rear wall and an inner slide stopper flap. The inner slide further comprises a lid portion wherein the lid portion comprises a lid top wall, and wherein the lid portion is hinged to the box portion at the box rear wall. The outer shell stopper flap and the inner slide stopper flap interact with each other and limit the movement between the outer shell and the inner slide when opening the container, the box front wall comprising the inner slide stopper flap and the outer shell front wall comprising the outer shell stopper flap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising at least two electrodes and at least one nanotube or nanowire, in particular a carbon nanotube or nanowire, the device including at least one semiconductive nanotube or nanowire having at least one region that is covered at least in part by at least one layer of molecules or nanocrystals of at least one photosensitive material, an electrical connection between said two electrodes being made by at least one nanotube, namely said semiconductive nanotube or nanowire and optionally by at least one other nanotube or nanowire.

Abstract: The invention concerns a container comprising a lower box portion, an upper lid portion and a sliding device, wherein said lower box portion comprises a box bottom wall, a box front wall and a box back wall, wherein the upper lid portion is hinged to the box back wall, wherein the sliding device embraces at least partly the lower box portion, wherein the container is opened by moving the sliding device longitudinally along the lower box portion in a first direction and closed by moving the sliding device longitudinally along the lower box portion in a second, opposite direction, wherein the box back wall comprises a first stopper flap limiting the movement of the sliding device in the first direction and a second stopper flap limiting the movement of the sliding device in the second, opposite direction and wherein the first stopper flap and the second stopper flap are formed by a common incision. The invention further relates to two blanks for making the box and the sliding device.

Abstract: A kit for the self-assembly of a reclosable container of consumer goods includes a disposable cartridge of consumer goods comprising: a sealed enclosure of consumer goods; and an outer housing around the sealed enclosure of consumer goods having an opening through which the sealed enclosure of consumer goods protrudes and is accessible. The kit also includes a reusable closure comprising: a dispensing aperture; and a lid moveable between a closed position, in which the lid covers the dispensing aperture, and an open position, in which the dispensing aperture is accessible. The reusable closure and the outer housing of the disposable cartridge are releasably engageable so that the dispensing aperture of the reusable closure and the opening of the outer housing are substantially aligned. The kit is particularly suitable for the self-assembly of a reclosable pack of smoking articles such as cigarettes.

Abstract: A hinge-lid pack of smoking articles such as cigarettes comprises: a box portion; a lid portion hinged to the box portion; and at least two longitudinally offset tiers of smoking articles mounted in the box portion. Each of the at least two tiers comprises a separately wrapped bundle of smoking articles. In one embodiment, the smoking articles in each of the at least two tiers are of substantially the same length and the upper ends and the lower ends of the separately wrapped bundles of smoking articles are longitudinally offset relative to one another. In another embodiment, the smoking articles in each of the at least two tiers are of different length and the upper ends of the separately wrapped bundles of smoking articles are longitudinally offset relative to one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device comprising at least two electrodes and at least one nanotube or nanowire, in particular a carbon nanotube or nanowire, the device including at least one semiconductive nanotube or nanowire having at least one region that is covered at least in part by at least one layer of molecules or nanocrystals of at least one photosensitive material, an electrical connection between said two electrodes being made by at least one nanotube, namely said semiconductive nanotube or nanowire and optionally by at least one other nanotube or nanowire.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for modyfing at least an electronic property of a carbon nanotube or nanowire comprising exposing said nanotube or nanowire to an acid having the formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are chosen in the group comprising (H, F, Cl, Br, I) with at least one of R1, R2 and R3 being different from H. At least part of the nanotube or nanowire may be a channel region of a field effect transistor.

Abstract: A water-soluble container comprising at least one first compartment, said one or each first compartment containing a composition that comprises less than 5 wt % free water, and a second compartment containing a second composition, wherein the second composition generates a gas on exposure to the atmosphere or water, and more than 50% of the surface area of the second compartment is enclosed by the first compartment or first compartments.

Abstract: A water-soluble container comprising a first compartment containing a first composition, a second compartment containing a second composition and a rigid spacer located in the first compartment and/or the second compartment, such that a wall or wall section of the first and/or second compartment is prevented from contacting a wall or wall section of the other compartment.

Abstract: An article comprising a skin formed from a water soluble resin, wherein the resin comprises a water-soluble polymer and a water-soluble filler.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mask-free localised grafting of organic molecules capable of being electrically activated, on a composite surface comprising conductive and/or semiconductive portions, by contacting said organic molecules with said composite surface, whereby the grafting is carried out electrochemically in one single step on specific selected zones of said conductive and/or semiconductive portions, said zones being brought to a potential not less than an electric potential threshold determined relative to a reference electrode, said electric potential threshold being the potential beyond which the grafting of said organic molecules occurs.