EP3040292A1

EP3040292A1 - Hinge lid container with converging hinge lines

Info

Publication number: EP3040292A1
Application number: EP14200735.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lucas Chatelain
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2014-12-31
Filing date: 2014-12-31
Publication date: 2016-07-06

Abstract

A container (100) for consumer articles comprises a box portion (102) and a lid portion (104) connected to the box portion (102) along a lid hinge line (106) extending across a rear wall (112) of the container (100). The lid hinge line (106) comprises two lines of weakness (1061, 1062) extending from side edges of the container rear wall (112) and converging downwards to a hinge line vertex (109). The container (100) further comprises one or more rear lines of weakness (111) extending downwards from the hinge line vertex (109) along at least part of the container rear wall (112).

Description

The present invention relates to a novel hinge lid container, which finds particular application as a container for elongate consumer articles, such as smoking articles. For example, containers according to the present invention may be used for housing cigarettes.
It is known to package consumer articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. By way of example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are often sold in rigid box shaped containers, such as hinged lid containers having a box portion and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the container. Such packs are typically constructed from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks. In some cases, the container further comprises an inner frame at least partly wrapped around the consumer articles. This may provide further rigidity to the container and protect the consumer articles.
In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and so gain access to the consumer articles held in the box. In practice, in order to access the smoking articles, or other consumer goods, a consumer typically holds the box portion in one hand and uses the other hand to pivot the lid portion about the hinge line and to remove a smoking article from the box portion. However, it may some times be difficult for the consumer to access the consumer goods within the container. In particular, in the case of smoking articles, it is often difficult for the consumer to grab a single cigarette without touching any other cigarette in the pack.
It would be desirable to provide an improved hinge lid container for consumer goods which allows a consumer an improved ease of opening and access to the articles. In particular, wherever possible, it would be desirable to provide easier, selective access to one article, for example a smoking article, within the container. Further, it would be desirable to provide a laminar blank for such improved container that makes its manufacture straightforward and cost-effective.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for consumer articles comprising a box portion and a lid portion connected to the box portion along a lid hinge line extending across a rear wall of the container. The lid hinge line comprises two lines of weakness extending from side edges of the container rear wall and converging downwards to a hinge line vertex. The container further comprises one or more rear lines of weakness extending downwards from the hinge line vertex along at least part of the container rear wall
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laminar blank for forming a container for consumer articles, the blank comprising a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portion of the container and a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lid portion of the container. The box-defining blank portion comprises a rear wall panel for forming a rear wall of the container and a bottom wall panel for forming a bottom wall of the container. The lid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extending across the rear wall panel and the lid hinge line comprises a pair of hinge lines of weakness extending from side edges of the rear wall panel and converging downward to a hinge line vertex. The laminar blank further comprises one or more rear lines of weakness extending from the hinge line vertex towards the bottom wall panel along at least part of the rear wall panel.
It will be appreciated that any features described with reference to one aspect of the present invention are equally applicable to any other aspect of the invention. Advantages described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also apply to another aspect of the invention.
The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "side", "left", "right", "lateral", "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 an open end of the box portion at the top and the consumer goods accessible from the upper end at the front. The terms "side" and "lateral" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position.
The terms "upwards" and "downwards" are used to describe a general direction along which an element or elements of a container according to the invention extend and also refer to the container in an upright position with the open end of the box portion at the top. Thus, an element, such as a line, extending downwards shall be understood to extend in a general direction from the top to the bottom of the container. Similarly, an element extending upwards shall be understood to extend in a general direction from the bottom to the top of the container.
The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction from bottom to top of the container or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The term "panel" is used throughout this specification to refer to a portion of the blank that is used to form a wall in the assembled container. A panel may depend along one or more fold lines from one or more other panels. The term "fold line" refers to a fold between two adjacent panels. When forming the container, adjacent panels are folded along their common fold line, which may come to define an edge of the container or of a portion thereof. In the assembled container a "wall" may be formed of one or of several overlying panels that are attached to each other, for example by means of an adhesive. Further, a wall may be formed from two or more abutting or overlapping panels.
The term "hinge line" is used throughout this specification to refer to a line common to both the lid portion and the box portion of the container, such that the lid portion is adapted to substantially pivot about said line between a closed position and an open position. The hinge line may be effectively a single line or be formed of a combination of line segments, for example two line segments, as shall become apparent from the description of specific embodiments given below.
By the term "line of weakness" reference is made throughout this specification to a line along which the sheet material of the blank forming the container has been weakened. In some embodiments, this is achieved by pre-folding or pre-creasing or however adapting the sheet material of the blank to form a fold or crease in a panel of the laminar blank or in a wall of the assembled container. Without wishing to be bound to theory, it is generally understood that the creasing operation causes an internal de-lamination of the sheet material by compression along a line where folding needs to occur, which locally weakens the sheet material. In other embodiments, localized weakening is achieved by scoring the sheet material of the blank. Without wishing to be bound to theory, the skilled person shall appreciate that this results in a localized reduction of the stiffness of the sheet material along a line where folding needs to occur. In alternative embodiments, local weakening of the sheet material may be achieved by ablation, that is, by removal of some of the material from the sheet. Suitable ablation tools shall be known to the skilled person, including a laser or a blade. A laser is particularly preferred as the ablation tool as it can allow for a wide variety of ablation profiles and configurations, with minimal adjustment of the laser tool being needed.
The term "curved" is used in the present specification to describe any non-straight line, including circular arc, parabolic arc, hyperbolic arc, elliptical arc. Further, the term "curved" is construed as encompassing a broken line, that is a line made up of straight lines that join a number of given points taken in some specified order.
In conventional hinge lid containers, the hinge line and the top back edge of the lid portion are generally both straight and parallel to the bottom back edge of the box portion (between the bottom wall of the box portion and the back wall of the box portion). In contrast to what happens with conventional hinge lid containers, in containers according to the invention, by virtue of the arrangement of lines of weakness provided in the rear wall, opening of the container results in the walls of the box portion of the container moving automatically into a slightly distorted configuration, which offers the consumer improved ease of access to the articles within the container. In more detail, while the rear wall is pushed towards the inside of the container, the lid practically snaps open, whereby the content of the container is exposed for the consumer to access it freely.
Thus, opening the container is made advantageously very easy, particularly even with only one hand, since the lid tends to flip or snap automatically from the closed position into the open position when a gentle pressure is applied onto the rear wall of the container. In particular, the consumer only needs to apply pressure on a small area of the rear wall of the container, which may be done even just with one finger of the same hand holding the container. Further, as long as a gentle pressure is maintained on the back wall of the container, the lid advantageously stays open.
According to the invention, the hinge line common to both the lid portion and the box portion of the container comprises a pair of hinge lines of weakness that extend from side edges of the container rear wall and converge downwards to a hinge line vertex. Each hinge line of weakness may be straight or curved. Further, the container comprises one or more rear lines of weakness extending in a generally downwards direction from the hinge line vertex along at least part of the container rear wall. This includes directions forming an angle with the side edges of the rear wall. Preferably, the container includes a single line of weakness that extends substantially vertically, that is parallel to the side edges of the rear wall.
In some embodiments, the hinge line is substantially symmetrical with respect to the rear line of weakness. Preferably, the rear line of weakness substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the rear wall of the container. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hinge lines of weakness are straight and the hinge line is substantially V-shaped and symmetrical with respect to the vertex.
Preferably, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of creasing lines forms an angle of at least about 3 degrees. Even more preferably, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of creasing lines forms an angle of at least about 5 degrees. In addition, or as an alternative, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of creasing lines preferably forms an angle of less than about 40 degrees. Even more preferably, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of creasing lines preferably forms an angle of less than about 20 degrees. In preferred embodiments, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of creasing lines preferably forms an angle from about 3 degrees to about 40 degrees, even more preferably from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees.
In some preferred embodiments, the box portion comprises a box front wall having a top edge and the container comprises a first front line of weakness extending downwards from the box front wall top edge across at least part of the box front wall. Preferably, the first front line of weakness extends substantially vertically, that is parallel to the side edges of the front wall. Even more preferably, the first front line of weakness substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the box front wall. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first line of weakness in the box front wall is substantially parallel to and coplanar with the rear line of weakness in the box rear wall.
Preferably, the container comprises a second front line of weakness extending along at least part of the lid front wall. Preferably, the second front line of weakness extends upwards from the lower edge of the lid front wall. More preferably, the second line of weakness substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the lid front wall. In practice, the second line of weakness in the lid front wall is preferably substantially aligned with the first line of weakness in the box front wall.
In some embodiments, the lid front bottom edge and the box front top edge are both inverted-V-shaped and, when the lid is in a closed position, the lid front bottom edge and the box front top edge abut each other along at least a part of their length. Preferably, the box front top edge comprises a pair of edge segments extending upwards from the box front side edges and converging to a front box vertex. A height of the front vertex of the box front edge relative to a box bottom wall is greater than a height of the rear vertex of the hinge line relative to the box bottom wall. In other words, the front box vertex is at a position above the hinge line vertex.
A container according to the present invention may be used in association with an inner frame to be wrapped around at least a portion of the consumer articles housed within the container. Typically, the inner frame is formed from a laminar blank separate from the laminar blank from which the box portion and the lid portion are formed. Further, the inner frame is typically secured to the inside of the box portion by applying an adhesive such that the adhesive bonds the two elements to one another. When a container according to the present invention comprises an inner frame, the inner frame preferably comprises an inner frame line of weakness extending downwards, preferably substantially vertically, across at least part of the inner frame front wall.
In preferred embodiments, the inner frame front creasing line substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the inner frame front wall. In a particularly preferred embodiment, in the assembled container, the inner frame front line of weakness is parallel to and coplanar with the first line of weakness in the box front wall and the rear line of weakness in the box rear wall.
In any of the embodiments described above, the container is preferably filled with elongate smoking articles, such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes. However, containers in accordance with the present invention can also be used with a variety of consumer goods other than smoking articles.
Containers according to the present invention can conveniently be manufactured by folding laminar blanks made from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the container is formed from a folded laminar cardboard blank. Preferably, the cardboard has a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre. In more detail, containers according to the invention will typically be assembled in the conventional way using standard manufacturing equipment, by folding one or more laminar blanks around the consumer articles and sealing overlying panels of the laminar blanks together in order to retain the container in the assembled shape. This may be achieved using conventional glues or adhesives.
Containers according to the invention may comprise box portions in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the box portion 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.

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 twenty smoking articles.
The smoking articles in the container may be arranged in different collations, depending on the total number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking articles may be arranged in a single row of 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 or seven; or four rows of four, five or six. Alternatively, the two or more rows may include at least two rows containing different number 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. 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 group or groups 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 one side wall to the other 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 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.
Containers according to the invention may be shrink-wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include one or more a tear tapes. In addition, the over wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data. The additional outer wrapper may advantageously protect the surface of the container for example against abrasion during handling.
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.
The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to the invention showing the side and front of the container;
Figure 2 is another schematic perspective view of the container of Figure 1, showing the side and rear of the container;
Figure 3 is a top view of a laminar blank for forming a container according to the invention; and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a container formed from the laminar blank of Figure 3 being opened by a consumer.

The hinge lid container 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped and comprises a lower box portion 102 an upper lid portion 104 that is hinged to the lower box portion 102 along a hinge line 106 extending along the rear wall of the container. The box portion 102 comprises a front wall 108, a rear wall 112, two side walls 110 extending between the front wall 108 and the rear wall 112, and a bottom wall. The lid portion 104 has a front wall 114, a left side wall 116, a right side wall, a back wall 118 and a top wall 120. The back wall 118 and the top wall 120 are joined at top back edge 107. When the container 100 is closed, the free edges of the walls of the lid portion 104 abut the free edges of the corresponding walls of the box portion 102 along a line of abutment. In the closed position, the walls of the lid portion 104 therefore form extensions of the corresponding walls of the box portion 102 to define the walls of the container 100.
The hinge line 106 comprises a pair of hinge lines of weakness 1061 and 1062, which may, for example, be formed by pre-creasing. The hinge lines of weakness 1061 and 1062 extend from the side edges of the rear wall 112 and converge downwards to a hinge line vertex 109. Further, the container 100 comprises a rear line of weakness 111 extending downwards from the hinge line vertex 109 along part of the rear wall 112. In more detail, each of the hinge lines of weakness 1061, 1062 is substantially straight. Thus, the hinge line 106 is substantially symmetrical and V-shaped. On the side opposite the rear creasing line 111, the hinge lines of weakness 1061, 1062 form an angle of about 100 degrees.
Further, the container 100 comprises a first front line of weakness 113 extending downwards from the top edge of the box front wall 108 along part of the box front wall 108. The first front line of weakness 113 may, for example, be formed by pre-creasing. The first front creasing line 113 defines an axis of symmetry of the box front wall 108. In addition, the container 100 comprises a second front line of weakness 115 extending upwards from the bottom edge of the lid front wall 114 along at least part of the lid front wall 114. The second front line of weakness 115 may, for example, be formed by pre-creasing. As illustrated, the second front line of weakness 115 defines an axis of symmetry of the lid front wall 114. Thus, the second line of weakness 115 in the lid front wall 114 is substantially aligned with the first line of weakness 113 in the box front wall 108. Further, the rear line of weakness 111 and the first and second lines of weakness 113, 114 are parallel and all lie in a same plane substantially perpendicular to the box front wall 108 and the box rear wall.
Figure 3 is a view of a cardboard laminar blank 300 for forming a container 1001 according to the invention. The container 1001 in the assembled state is shown in Figures 4 to 6. The container 1001 formed from the laminar blank 300 differs from the container 100 of Figures 1 and 2 in that the top edge of the box front wall 108 and the bottom edge of the lid front wall 114 are substantially inverted-V-shaped. When the lid 104 is in a closed position, the bottom edge of the lid front wall 114 and the top edge of the box front wall 108 abut each other. In more detail, the top edge of the box front wall 108 comprises a pair of edge segments extending upwards from side edges of the box front wall and converging to a front box vertex. In the assembled container, the front box vertex is at a position above the hinge line vertex. In the following, wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to parts of the container formed from the laminar blank 300 that correspond to equivalent parts of the container 100 of Figures 1 and 2.
The box portion 102 and the lid portion 104 are formed together from the single laminar blank 300. In Figure 3, solid lines indicate cut lines and dashed lines indicate fold lines. The blank 300 comprises a box blank portion 302 for forming box portion 102 of the container 100, and a lid blank portion 304 for forming lid portion 104 of the container 100. The box blank portion 302 depends from the lid blank portion 304 along hinge line 106.
The box blank portion 302 comprises a front wall panel 308, a rear wall panel 312 and a bottom wall panel 309. Two side wall panels 310 extend from front wall panel 308, two side wall panels 311 extend from rear wall panel 312, and two box dust flaps 313 extend from side wall panels 311. When the box portion 102 is assembled from box blank portion 302, front wall panel 308 forms front wall 108, rear wall panel 312 forms rear wall 112, side wall panels 310, 311 overlap to form left and right side walls, and box dust flaps 313 overlap bottom wall panel 309 to form the bottom wall. Side wall panels 310, 311 are substantially the same size and shape as each other. When the container is formed, the panels 310, 311 directly overlie each other with their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner side wall panel is barely visible. Box dust flaps 313 are smaller than bottom wall panel 309. When the container is formed, box dust flaps 313 lie inside bottom wall panel 309. They provide additional structural support for the bottom wall of the container but are not visible from the outside of the container.
The lid blank portion 304 comprises a front wall panel 314, a rear wall panel 318 and a top wall panel 320. Two side wall panels 316 extend from front wall panel 314, two side wall panels 317 extend from rear wall panel 318, and lid dust flaps 319 extend from side wall panels 317. When the lid portion 104 is assembled from lid blank portion 304, front wall panel 314 forms front wall 114, rear wall panel 318 forms rear wall 118, side wall panels 316, 317 overlap to form right and left side walls, and lid dust flaps 319 overlap top wall panel 320 to form top wall 120. Side wall panels 316, 317 are substantially the same size and shape as each other. When the container is formed, the panels 316, 317 directly overlie each other with their free edges substantially aligned, such that the inner side wall panel is barely visible. Lid dust flaps 319 are smaller than top wall panel 320. When the container is formed, lid dust flaps 319 lie inside top wall panel 320. They provide additional structural support for the top wall of the container but are not visible from the outside of the container. It is noted that the lid dust flaps could have any suitable shape which allows them to lie inside the top wall panel to form the top wall of the container.
When the container is formed, the panels may be affixed to one another, for example using glue. The box blank portion 302 depends from the lid blank portion 304 along hinge line 106, which extends along the rear wall of the container. The rear wall panel 318 depends from the top wall panel 320 along top back edge 107.
Figures 4 to 6 show the container 1001 formed from the laminar blank of Figure 3 being opened by a consumer using only one hand. In particular, Figure 6 shows the container 1001 containing smoking articles, namely cigarettes.
Figure 4 and Figure 5 show the container 1001 being grasped by a consumer with one hand. In particular, the consumer is applying pressure onto the rear wall 112 and thus causing the lid 104 to flip and stay into the open position. In particular, as illustrated in Figure 5, the consumer has preferably applied pressure substantially at the vertex 109 to which the hinge lines of weakness 1061, 1062 converge, using the consumer's index finger. The pressure applied by the consumer has caused the lid to snap into the open configuration, with the walls of the box portion 102 tending to flip automatically into a slightly distorted configuration, wherein the inside of the container is exposed and easy to access for the consumer. The consumer may stabilize the container 1001 in the open configuration by squeezing the side walls of the container or by continuing to press on the rear wall 112 with the index finger, or both.
In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, the container 1001 also comprises an inner frame mounted within the box portion 102. As is visible in Figures 4 and 6, the inner frame comprises an upper portion extending above the upper edges of the box portion 102. In more detail, the inner frame has a front wall with a top edge and comprises an inner frame line of weakness extending downwards from the inner frame front wall top edge along at least part of the inner frame front wall. The inner frame creasing line is in substantial alignment with the first front line of weakness extending downwards from the top edge of the box front wall across part of the box front wall.
As illustrated in Figure 6, the opening of the container 1001 results in the box front wall 108 and the inner frame front wall also snapping into a slightly distorted configuration. As a consequence, the consumer articles contained therein naturally tend to shift within the container to nest against the box front wall. In particular, when the container 1001 contains elongated consumer articles (for example smoking articles like cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos), at least one consumer article will naturally tend to nest approximately where the box front wall 108 has bent along the first creasing line 113 formed therein. Thus, it becomes easy for the consumer to pick and remove a single smoking article out of the container, without touching the other smoking articles in the container.

Claims

A container for consumer articles, the container comprising:
a box portion; and

a lid portion connected to the box portion along a lid hinge line extending across a rear wall of the container;

wherein the lid hinge line comprises two lines of weakness extending from side edges of the container rear wall and converging downwards to a hinge line vertex, and wherein the container further comprises one or more rear lines of weakness extending downwards from the hinge line vertex along at least part of the container rear wall.
A container according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a single rear line of weakness extending substantially vertically.
A container according to claim 2, wherein the hinge line is substantially symmetrical with respect to the rear line of weakness.
A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the hinge lines of weakness is substantially straight.
A container according to claim 3, wherein, on the side opposite the rear line of weakness, the pair of hinge lines of weakness forms an angle from about 3 degrees to about 20 degrees.
A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box portion comprises a box front wall having a top edge and wherein the container comprises a first front line of weakness extending downwards from the box front wall top edge along at least part of the box front wall.
A container according to claim 6, wherein the first front line of weakness extends substantially vertically.
A container according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first front line of weakness substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the box front wall.
A container according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the lid portion comprises a lid front wall having a bottom edge and wherein the container comprises a second front line of weakness extending upwards from the lid front wall bottom edge along at least part of the lid front wall.
A container according to claim 9, wherein the second creasing line substantially defines an axis of symmetry of the lid front wall.
A container according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the lid front bottom edge and the box front top edge are both inverted-V-shaped and wherein, when the lid is in a closed position, the lid front bottom edge and the box front top edge abut each other along at least a part of their length.
A container according to claim 11, wherein the box front top edge comprises a pair of edge segments extending upwards from side edges of the box front wall and converging to a front box vertex, wherein the front box vertex is at a position above the hinge line vertex.
A container according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the container further comprises an inner frame having an inner frame front wall with a top edge, the inner frame comprising an inner frame line of weakness extending downwards from the inner frame front wall top edge across at least part of the inner frame front wall.
A container according to any preceding claim, containing smoking articles.
A laminar blank for forming a container for consumer articles, the blank comprising:
a box-defining blank portion for forming a box portion of the container;

a lid-defining blank portion for forming a lid portion of the container;

the box-defining blank portion comprising a rear wall panel for forming a rear wall of the container and a bottom wall panel for forming a bottom wall of the container;

wherein the lid-defining blank portion depends from the box-defining blank portion along a lid hinge line extending across the rear wall panel and wherein the lid hinge line comprises two lines of weakness extending from side edges of the rear wall panel and converging downward to a hinge line vertex;

the laminar blank further comprising one or more rear lines of weakness extending from the hinge line vertex towards the bottom wall panel along at least part of the rear wall panel.
A method of removing a consumer article from a container according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising the steps of:
applying a force directed to the interior of the container onto the rear wall of the container sufficient to cause the lid to move from a closed position into an open position, so that the content of the container is exposed for the consumer to access it; and

removing a consumer article from the interior of the container.