EP2403778A1

EP2403778A1 - Hinge lid container with sliding element

Info

Publication number: EP2403778A1
Application number: EP09796979A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lucas Chatelain
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2009-03-03
Filing date: 2009-12-30
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-30
Also published as: EA019129B1; EA201171099A1; DK2403778T3; KR20110129448A; AU2009341464A1; NZ594623A; PT2403778E; UA102142C2; MY152506A; HK1164814A1; MX2011009170A; JP2012519117A; BRPI0924620A2; JP5715963B2; WO2010099815A1; SG173763A1; ES2407661T3; CN102341320A; PL2403778T3; CN102341320B

Abstract

A container (2) for consumer goods comprises: a housing (4) and a first sliding element (6). The housing (4) comprises a box (21) and a lid (28) hingedly connected to the box (21) across a hinge line (37) extending across the box back wall (25). Each side wall (22,24) of the box (21) includes an elongate slit (30), wherein the two elongate slits (30) are substantially parallel to each other. The first sliding element (6) is mounted in the elongate slits (30) of the box side walls (22,24) for movement therealong between a first position, in which the lid (28) is closed, and a second position, in which the lid (28) is open. The lid comprises a lid flap (45) which is arranged between the sliding element (6) and the box (21) such that an engagement of the lid flap (45) and the sliding element (6) is capable of opening the lid (21), wherein the lid flap (45) is capable of engaging with the sliding element (6) during movement of the sliding element from the first position to the second position.

Description

HINGE LID CONTAINER WITH SLIDING ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a hinge lid container for consumer goods comprising a sliding element. The container of the present invention finds particular application as a container for elongate smoking articles.

It is known to package elongate smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. Elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the smoking articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. Such packs are typically constructed from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the smoking articles held in the box.

Also known are slide and shell containers with or without a hinged Nd. For example, US-A-3 858 788 and US-A-3 933 299 describe hinge lid containers comprising an inner slide with a hinged lid housed within an outer shell. The outer shell has the form of a sleeve surrounding the inner slide. When the outer shell and the inner slide are moved relative to each other the lid may open or close. In these patent publications, the lid includes a flap on the outside of the lid, which engages with a flap on the inner surface of the outer shell as the outer shell is moved in a downwards direction. The flap is pulled downwards with the outer shell, thereby opening the lid. With these packs it is necessary for the consumer to hold the box with one hand and move the sliding element with the other hand, or to brace the box against a rigid surface whilst moving the sliding element.

It would be desirable to provide a hinge-lid container with a sliding element, which provides novel ways for the consumer to access the consumer goods within the container.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for consumer goods comprising a housing with a box and a lid, and a sliding element. The box comprises a box back wall, a box top wall, a first box side wall and a second box side wall. The first box side wall and the second box side wall each comprise an elongate slit. The two elongate slits are substantially parallel. The lid is hingedly connected to the box along a hinge line, extending across the box back wall. The sliding element is mounted in the elongate slits of the box side walls for movement therealong between a first position, in which the lid is closed, and a second position, in which the lid is open. The lid comprises a lid flap. The lid flap is arranged between the box and the sliding element such that an engagement of the lid flap and the sliding element is capable of opening the lid. The lid flap is capable of engaging with the sliding element during movement of the sliding element from the first position to the second position. In containers according to the present invention, the mounting of the sliding element within the elongate slits in the housing provides an effective way to limit the movement of the sliding element relative to the housing. Advantageously, this ensures that the sliding element is retained in place on the container and cannot be inadvertently removed from the container.

Furthermore, the sliding element covers only part of the housing, since the sliding element is retained in place on the container as a result of being mounted within the elongate slits. Advantageously, less materia! is required to make a container according to the invention compared to a slide and shell container of the state of the art. In addition, in comparison to slide and shell containers according to the state of the art, in a container according to the present invention, a larger section of the housing is available for consumer communication as it will not be obstructed by the sliding element

Advantageously, containers according to the present invention may comprise a sliding element which is movable between the first position and the second position using a single finger. In such cases, it may therefore be possible to open the container using only one hand.

The sliding element may be mounted within the two elongate slits using any suitable means or method. For example, the sliding element may be mounted in the two elongate slits by inserting a retention tab of the sliding element through at least one slit to the opposite, inner side of the housing such that this retention tab of the sliding element cannot pass back through the slit. Preferably, the sliding element comprises two retention tabs which are inserted through the elongate slits and folded back towards the sliding element, against the inner surface of the box side walls. When the housing is filled with consumer goods, such as a bundle of smoking articles, the retention tabs preferably lie between the inner surface of the sliding element and the outer surface of the consumer goods.

Preferably, the ends of the two elongate slits determine the first position and the second position of the sliding element. In the first position, the sliding element is thus positioned at one end of the two elongate slits, whilst in the second position the sliding element is positioned at the opposed end of the two elongate slits. This arrangement makes it particularly simple to move the sliding element into the first or second position.

The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with the lid at the top end and the hinge on the back. When describing containers according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described. The terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position. The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Similarly, the terms "upwards" and "downwards" are used to describe the movement of the sliding element relative to the housing of containers according to the invention when the container is in an upright position.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the back wall of the container. Alternatively, a hinge line may be a fold line or a score line in a piece of material connecting a wall of the lid or the hatch to a corresponding wall of the box. Such a piece of material may be, for example, a label that is permanently or removably attached to the back wall of the lid and/or the back wall of the box.

Preferably, the two elongate slits are arranged vertically and are parallel to the longitudinal edges of the container

In particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, in the first position the sliding element is positioned at the upper end of the vertical, elongate slits, whilst in the second position the sliding element is positioned at the lower end thereof. Thus, in such embodiments, the sliding element is moved in a downwards direction in order to open the container and in an upwards direction in order to close the container.

The lid of the housing of containers according to the invention may be pivotable about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the housing. The lid may be the entire upper part of the housing, or just a portion thereof. For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the lid forms an upper corner of the housing and is pivotable about a hinge line extending across the back wall thereof.

The housing of containers according to the present invention houses the smoking articles or other consumer goods to be provided within the container. In certain embodiments of the invention, the housing may fully enclose the consumer goods contained therein when the lid is closed. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the housing is at least partially open on its front side such that the housing only partially encloses the consumer goods. In such embodiments, the container preferably further comprises an outer sleeve which covers any open sides of the housing. The outer sleeve preferably only partially encloses the housing, such that movement of the sliding element and the hinge lid is not obstructed. Preferably, the container further comprises at least one friction element to increase the friction between the housing and the sliding element during the movement of the sliding element between the first position and the second position. The friction element ensures that the sliding element remains in position until a positive force is applied by the consumer. Advantageously, the risk that the container is inadvertently opened between uses is therefore reduced.

Alternatively or in addition to the at least one friction element, suitable retention means may be provided to keep the container in the closed or open position. For example, the retention means may include one or more magnets, Velcro® strips, low-tack adhesives, embossed or debossed areas on the sliding element, the housing or both the sliding element and the housing.

Preferably, at least one wall of the sliding element comprises an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel may, for example, be formed from one or more tabs extending from the edges of the outer panel and adhered to the inner surface of the outer panel. The inner panels strengthen the sliding element and may also reduce the wear on the edges of the sliding element, which may occur as a result of movement of the sliding element during use. In addition, folding the inner panels inwards creates a visible outer edge that may be printed. This avoids visible cut edges on the outer surface of the container.

In certain embodiments of containers according to the invention, the box further comprises a front wall opposite the box back wall. In addition, the housing further comprises a second lid pivotable about a second hinge line extending across the box front wall. The container further comprises a second sliding element mounted within elongate slits in the box side walls for movement therealong between a first position, in which the second lid is closed and a second position, in which the second lid is open.

In containers according to the invention comprising first and second sliding elements, the first sliding element may be mounted within the same elongate slits as the second sliding element. Alternatively, the first sliding element may be mounted in elongate slits which are different to the one or more elongate slits in which the second sliding element is mounted.

The first and second lids of container according to the invention may be opened and closed independently from each other by moving the first and second sliding elements, respectively, relative to the housing. The smoking articles or other consumer goods within the housing may therefore be accessed either by opening the first lid, or by opening the second lid.

Containers according to the invention comprising two lids may, if desired, contain two different types of consumer goods, such that a first type is accessible through the first lid and a second type is accessible through the second lid. For example, the housing may contain two separate bundles of smoking articles, wherein the smoking articles contained in one bundle may be the same as, or different to the smoking articles contained in the second bundle. This arrangement has the advantage that if desired, one bundle can remain wrapped, until the other bundle has been emptied.

The containers of the present invention may be formed from blanks of any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Where the container is formed of cardboard, preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre.

Preferably, the sliding element is formed from a separate blank to the one or more blanks used to form the housing. The blanks for forming the housing and the sliding element may be made from the same or different materials. If desired, the sliding element may be at least partially formed from a substantially transparent material. Preferably, the container is formed from one or more folded laminar blanks, more preferably from one or more folded laminar cardboard blanks.

Containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may comprise, without limitation:

- One or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.

- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and/or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall.

- Two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side wall.

Where the container comprises one or more rounded edges and is made from a laminar blank, preferably the blank comprises three, four, five, six or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced from each other by between about 0.3 mm and 4 mm. Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is a function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank.

Where the container comprises one or more bevelled edge, preferably the bevelled edge has a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two distinct bevels are formed on the edge of the container.

Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transversal cross section, for example polygonal such as triangular or hexagonal, or oval, semi-oval, circular or semi-circular.

Where the container comprises a bevelled edge and is made from a laminar blank, the bevel may be formed by two parallel creasing lines or scoring lines in the laminar blank. The creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged symmetrically to the edge between a first wall and a second wall. Alternatively, the creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, such that the bevel reaches further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the container.

Containers according to the invention may be used as packages for a variety of consumer goods. In a particularly preferred embodiment, containers according to the invention are used to package smoking articles. Containers according to the invention may be advantageously used to package smoking articles including, but not limited to, conventional lit-end cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, heated smoking articles comprising a combustible fuel element or heat source and an aerosol-generating substrate (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-4,714,082) and smoking articles for use with electrical smoking systems (for example cigarettes of the type disclosed in US-A-5,692,525).

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

Containers according to the invention may hold one, two, three four or five separate bundles of consumer goods. The separate bundles may be arranged substantially parallel to the front wall and to the back wall or substantially perpendicular to the front wall and to the back wall.

The smoking articles may be arranged in a bundle in different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles, the dimensions of the smoking articles or the cross sectional shape of the container. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in a bundle in a single row of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten. Alternatively, the smoking articles may be arranged in two or more rows. The two or more rows may contain the same number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in: two rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; three rows of five, six, seven, eight, nine or ten; or four rows of four, five or six. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different numbers of smoking articles to each other. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in: a row of five and a row of six (5-6); a row of six and a row of seven (6-7); a row of seven and a row of eight (7-8); a middle row of five and two outer rows of six (6-5-6); a middle row of five and two outer rows of seven (7-5-7); a middle row of six and two outer rows of five (5-6-5); a middle row of six and two outer rows of seven (7-6-7); a middle row of seven and two outer rows of six (6-7-6); a middle row of nine and two outer rows of eight (8-9-8); or a middle row of six with one outer row of five and one outer row of seven (5-6-7).

Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition, both filterless smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differing length (for example, between about 40 mm and about 180 mm), diameter (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). In addition, the smoking articles may differ in strength of taste, resistance to draw and total particulate matter delivery. Where the container comprises more than one bundle, each bundle within the same container may hold the same or different types of smoking articles as listed above.

Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle of smoking articles housed inside the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a width of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from the first side wall to the second side wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 100 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid). Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the height of the box back wall is between about 0 to 1 (hinge located at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1, more preferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably, between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid front wall to the height of the box front wall is between about 1 to 0 (lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1 to 10, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, most preferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. Alternatively, or in addition, the exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be at least partially covered with lacquer, metallisation, holograms, luminescent material, or any other materials that alter the feel, odour or appearance of the container.

Where the inner housing of a container according to the present invention contains one or more bundles of smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper.

Where the container comprises smoking articles, the container may further comprise waste- compartments (for example for ash or butts) or other consumer goods, for example matches, lighters, extinguishing means, breath-fresheners or electronics. The other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container along with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container or combinations thereof.

Where the box of a container according to the present invention contains a bundle of cigarettes or other elongate smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper.

Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a first, closed position.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the container of Figure 1, in a second, open position.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the container of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show, respectively, the laminar blanks for forming the inner part and the outer part of the housing and the sliding element of the container of Figures 1 to 3. The blanks are not drawn to scale.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in an open position.

The reference numerals used in Figures 1 to 3 correspond to those used in Figures 4a, b and c, such that each panel of the blanks 50, 60, 70 has been labelled with the reference numeral used to refer to the wall, flap or tab formed by that panel in the assembled container 2 and vice versa.

The container 2 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is rectangular parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a housing 4 and a sliding element 6. The housing 4 contains a bundle 8 of cigarettes 9. As seen most clearly in the exploded view of Figure 3, the housing 4 is formed of an inner sleeve 12 around the wrapped bundle 8. The container further comprises an outer sleeve 10 around the inner sleeve 12 and bundle 8.

The outer sleeve 10 comprises a first outer sleeve side wall 14, a second outer sleeve side wall 15, an outer sleeve back wall 20, an outer sleeve top wall 16, an outer sleeve bottom wall 19, and an outer sleeve front wall 18. The sleeve front wall 18 is substantially the same length as the container 2, while the outer sleeve back wall 20 has a length of approximately one fifth of the length of the container 2. The outer sleeve 10 does not cover a section of the inner sleeve 12, that section extending over the outer sleeve top wall 16, the outer sleeve side walls 14 and the outer sleeve back wall 20. The missing section is to provide sufficient space to allow movement of the sliding element 6.

The inner sleeve 12 comprises a box 21 and a lid 28. The box 21 comprises a first box side wall 22, a second box side wall 24 opposed to the first box side wall 22, a top wall 26, a bottom wall 23 and a back wall 25. The box front side of the inner sleeve 12 is open, to enable insertion of the wrapped bundle 8 during assembly of the container 2. Each of the box first side wall 22 and the box second side wall 24 comprises a substantially vertical, elongate slit 30, or cut out. The elongate slits 30 are substantially the same length and width as each other and are substantially opposed to each other.

The inner sleeve 12 further comprises a lid 28. The lid 28 is hinged to the box back wall 25 across a fold line 37 and comprises a lid back wall 35, a lid top wall 31 , and two lid side walls 33. The lid includes an additional lid flap 45 (not visible in Figures 1 to 3) extending from the upper edge of the lid back wall 35 down beyond the position of the hinge line 37. The lid flap 45 comprises a first lid flap panel 39, a second lid flap panel 32 and an opening tab 34. The lid flap panel 39 is connected to the back edge of the lid top wall 31. The second lid flap panel 32 depends from the first lid flap panel 39 across a fold line at approximately the same position as the hinge line 37 in the box back wall 20, about which the hinge lid 28 is pivotable. At the other end of the second lid flap panel 32 is a opening tab 34 that is folded upwards by approximately 180 degrees towards the outer side thereof. The purpose of the lid flap 45 is described in detail below.

The slider 6 comprises a first slider side wall 36, a second slider side wall 38 opposed to the first slider side wall 36 and a slider back wall 41. The length of the slider 6 is approximately two thirds of the length of the elongate slits 30 in the inner sleeve 12. As can be seen from Figure 3, the slider 6 includes a pair of additional retention tabs 40, extending from the edges of the first slider side wall 36 and the second slider side wall 38, respectively. The retention tabs 40 are each folded inwards by approximately 180 degrees, towards the inner surface of the slider 6. During assembly of the container 2, the retention tabs 40 are inserted through the elongate slits 30 in the box side walls 22, 24 of the outer sleeve 12, respectively. The retention tabs 40 therefore lie between the outer sleeve 12 and the wrapped bundle 8.

The first slider side wall 36 and the second slider side wall 38 are each made up of an inner panel 43 and an outer panel 36, 38. Each of the inner panels 43 is formed from a pair of tabs extending from the opposed upper and lower edges of the outer panel 36, 38 and adhered to the inner surface of the outer panel 36, 38.

Once the container 2 is assembled, the slider 6 is moveable within the elongate slits 30 between the first, closed position shown in Figure 1 and the second, open position shown in Figure 2. The closed position and the open position are determined by the position of the upper and lower ends of the pair of elongate slits 30.

In the closed position, the slider 6 has been moved as far upwards as possible within the elongate slits 30. As shown in Figure 1 , when the slider 6 is in the closed position, it overlies the hinge lid 28 and the hinge line 37 in the box back wall 20 so that the hinge lid 28 is unable to pivot about the hinge line 37. The upper edges of the slider 6 are at substantially the same level as the upper edges of the outer sleeve 10.

Conversely, in the open position, the slider 6 has been moved as far downwards as possible within the slits 30. As shown in Figure 2, when the slider 6 is in the open position, the upper edges thereof are positioned below the hinge line 37 in the box back wall 20 such that the slider 6 does not obstruct the opening of the hinge lid 28.

The slider 6 includes an opening tab 42 extending from the upper edge of the slider back wall 41 and folded inwards by approximately 180 degrees, towards the inner surface of the slider 6. Once the container 2 is assembled, the opening tab 42 of the slider 6 lies between the slider back wall 41 and the lid back wall 35.

During use, as the slider 6 is moved from its closed position in a downwards direction, the opening tab 42 of the slider engages with the opening tab 34 of the lid flap 45. The lid flap 45 is then pulled downwards with the slider 6 as it is moved to the open position shown in Figure 2. Since the lid flap 45 is connected to the hinge lid 28, the downwards movement of the lid flap 45 causes the hinge lid 28 of the inner sleeve 12 to open. In order to enable the outwards pivoting of the hinge lid, the lid flap 45 bends about the fold line between the lid flap panel 39 and the second lid flap panel 32 as the slider 6 is moved towards the open position. The further the slider 6 is moved downwards, the more the lid flap 45 bends about the hinge line 37 and the greater the angle of the hinge lid 28 from its closed position.

Figure 4a shows the blank 50 from which the outer sleeve 10 is made. Figure 4b shows the blank 60 from which the inner sleeve 12 is made. Figure 4c shows the blank 70 from which the slider 6 is made. All of the blanks 50, 60, 70 are made from laminar cardboard and fold lines are indicated by dashed lines.

In order to form the container 2, the inner sleeve 12 and slider 6 are first formed from the laminar blanks 60, 70 shown in Figures 4b and 4c, respectively. Then, the slider is mounted in the elongate slits 30 by folding the retention tabs 40 by 180 degrees and inserting them through the elongate slits 30. The wrapped bundle 8 is then inserted into the inner sleeve 12. Finally, the outer sleeve 10 is formed around the inner sleeve 12 and wrapped bundle 8, from the laminar blank 50 shown in Figure 4a.

The container 100 shown in Figure 5 is rectangular parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a housing 104, a first sliding element 106 and a second sliding element 106'. The housing 104 contains two adjacent bundles. In a similar manner to the container 2 shown in Figures 1 to 3 and described above, the housing 104 is formed of an inner sleeve 112 around the bundle 108, and an outer sleeve 110 around the inner sleeve 112 and bundle 108. The outer sleeve 110 comprises a front wall, a back wall opposed to the front wall, a lower wall, a left side wall and a right side wall. The front wall and back wall are rectangular in shape. When the container 100 is assembled, the outer sleeve encompasses only the lower of the inner sleeve 112, extending less than one third of the way up the length of the container 102.

The inner sleeve 112 is of a similar construction to that of the inner sleeve 12 of container 2, as described above, except that both upper corners of the inner sleeve 112 are cut to provide a first hinge lid (not visible) and a second hinge lid 128'. The first and second 128' hinge lids are pivotable in opposite directions to each other about opposed fold lines extending across the front and back walls of the inner sleeve 112, respectively. A lid flap of identical construction to the lid flap 32 of container 2 extends from the upper edge of each of the front and back walls of the inner sleeve 112.

The left and right sliders 106, 106' are both of identical construction to the slider 6 of container 2 and are mounted in the same way in a pair of opposed elongate slits 130 in the inner sleeve. Each of the sliders 106 also function in the same way as the single slider 6 of the container 2.

Each of the hinge lids may be opened and closed independently from the other one by moving the corresponding slider 106, 106' between the open and closed positions. Figure 5 shows the container 100 with the hinge lid closed and with the second hinge lid 128' open.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods comprising: a housing comprising a box, wherein the box comprises a box back wall, a box top wall, a first box side wall and a second box side wall, each of the first box side wall and the second box side wall comprising an elongate slit, wherein the two elongate slits are substantially parallel to each other, the housing further comprising a lid wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the box across a hinge line, extending across the box back wall; and a first sliding element mounted in the elongate slits of the box side walls for movement therealong between a first position, in which the lid is closed, and a second position, in which the lid is open, wherein the lid comprises a lid flap, and wherein the lid flap is arranged between the sliding element and the box such that an engagement of the lid flap and the sliding element is capable of opening the lid and wherein the lid flap is capable of engaging with the sliding element during movement of the sliding element from the first position to the second position.

2. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the first position of the sliding element is defined by one end of the two elongate slits and the second position of the sliding element is defined by the opposed end of the elongate slit.

3. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the sliding element comprises an opening flap folded against the inner surface thereof, which is engageable with the lid flap of the housing as the sliding element is moved from the first position to the second position.

4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the box further comprises a front wall opposite of the back wall, wherein the housing further comprises a second lid pivotable about a second hinge line extending across the box front wall and wherein the container further comprises a second sliding element mounted within the two elongate slits or separate elongate slits of the box side walls for movement therealong between a first position, in which the second lid is closed and a second position, in which the second lid is open.

5. A container according to any preceding claim further comprising an outer sleeve.

6. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the sliding element comprises a first side wall and a second side wall arranged parallel to the box side walls and wherein the sliding element further comprises retention tabs depending from each side wall of the sliding element, wherein the retention tabs are folded by about 180 degrees through the respective elongate slits and rest against the inside of the box side walls.

7. A container according to any preceding claim comprising smoking articles.

8. A blank for making the housing of a container according to any preceding claim, wherein the blank includes two or more substantially parallel, elongate slits or cut outs.

9. A blank according to claim 8, wherein the blank is made from cardboard.