JP6211600B2 - Container with sliding element for dispensing consumer goods - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a novel container for consumer goods comprising a sliding element for dispensing consumer goods from within the container. The container of the present invention has particular application as a container for storing elongated smoking articles such as cigarettes.

  It is known to package elongated smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers formed from folded laminated blanks. Elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generally have a hinge lid pack having a box for containing the smoking article and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the container To be sold in. In use, the lid pivots around the hinge line to open the pack, thereby providing access to the smoking article held in the box.

  Slide and shell containers are also known with or without a hinge lid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,788 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,933,299 describe a hinge lid container housed in an outer shell and having an inner slide with a hinge lid. The outer shell has the shape of a sleeve that surrounds the inner slide.

  Conventionally, it has been proposed to provide a slide and shell-type container having a hinge lid that moves to a take-out position when the inner slide is pushed upward against the outer shell. For example, European Patent Publication No. 2,029,446 describes a hinge lid container having an inner pack mounted inside an outer pack, the hinge lid being provided on one side of the outer pack. The inner pack and the outer pack are connected such that the hinge lid of the outer pack moves to the take-out position due to the displacement of the inner pack relative to the outer pack when the inner pack is pushed upward, for example.

  To remove a smoking article from any of these known hinge lid containers, the consumer first opens the hinge lid and then one smoking article from a bundle of smoking articles contained within the container. It is necessary to pull out. Usually, all smoking articles are of the same length and are positioned at the same height, so that removing only one smoking article from the container without touching other surrounding smoking articles is particularly It will be difficult if it is relatively full.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,858,788 US Pat. No. 3,933,299 European Patent No. 2,029,446

  It would be desirable to provide a new container with a sliding element configured to allow improved access to consumer goods within the container when opened. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a container that allows individual consumer goods to be conveniently extracted from the container. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a novel container with a sliding element that provides consumers with great flexibility to select a particular consumer product from a group or bundle of consumer products.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer goods comprising an outer housing, an inner shell, and a sliding element for containing consumer goods. The outer housing includes a first housing part pivotable about a first hinge line and a second housing part pivotable about a second hinge line opposite the first hinge line. Prepare. The first housing part and the second housing part are movable relative to each other between a closed position in which the housing parts are closed and a removal position in which the housing parts are separated and an access opening is provided between these housing parts. It is supposed to be. The inner shell is fixedly mounted in the outer housing and the sliding element is mounted in this inner shell.

  In the following description of the invention, the term “removal position” is used to describe the position of one of the housing parts that allows the removal of at least one of the consumer goods contained within the sliding element. The

  In the container according to the invention, the sliding element has a movement of the first housing part and the second housing part between the closed position and the removal position between the first sliding position and the second sliding position. Connected to the outer housing to cause sliding movement of the sliding element relative to the inner shell between. In the first sliding position, the sliding element is in the inner shell and the consumer goods are housed in the outer housing. In the second sliding position, the consumer goods protrude at least partly from the inner shell and are at least partly accessible through an access opening between the housing parts.

  In the second sliding position, the consumer goods preferably protrude at least partially from the sliding element. More preferably, in the second sliding position, the consumer goods protrude at least partially from the outer housing. The consumer goods preferably rise so that the upper end of the consumer goods reaches a height greater than the height of the closed container.

  The container according to the invention is composed of at least three separate components, an outer housing, an inner shell and a sliding element. These at least three separate components are attached and connected to each other so that the sliding element automatically moves as the housing portion of the outer housing moves away to dispense consumer goods from the access opening in the outer housing. Is done. Therefore, the container realizes automatic distribution of consumer goods using a simple opening operation.

  Furthermore, the structure of the container according to the invention with the three components mentioned above allows access to the protrusions of consumer goods from all sides, so that individual consumer goods can be separated from a group or bundle of consumer goods. Can be easily extracted. In addition, this provides an improved visibility of the consumer goods within the sliding element, thus providing a unique way of displaying the consumer goods when the container is in the removal position. As a result of improved accessibility and visibility to consumer goods when the container is open, consumers can also be given a great choice as to which of the multiple consumer goods are removed from the container.

  The container according to the invention is configured such that in the closed position of the outer housing, the consumer goods remain fully contained and protected within the outer housing and inner shell. Therefore, the state and freshness of the consumer goods in the container between each opening of the container can be maintained.

  As mentioned above, the container according to the invention is composed of at least three separate components, an outer housing, an inner shell and a sliding element. The outer housing is the outermost part of the container that houses the inner shell and the sliding element. The inner shell is fixedly mounted in the outer housing so that there is no relative movement between the inner shell and the outer housing. The sliding element is mounted in the inner shell and is slidable relative to the inner shell and thus relative to the outer housing. As described in detail below, the sliding element is connected to the outer housing such that movement of each housing portion of the outer housing relative to each other automatically causes relative sliding movement of the sliding element and the inner shell. The The connecting means between the sliding element and the outer housing can be an integral part of the outer housing or an integral part of the sliding element. Alternatively, the connecting means can be an additional material connected to both the outer housing and the sliding element, for example by an adhesive. Providing the connection means as a separate element can increase the flexibility of the arrangement and dimensions of the connection means as opposed to the configuration of the connection means as an integral part of the outer housing or sliding element.

  Providing the inner shell secured within the outer housing provides the container according to the present invention several advantages compared to prior art containers comprising only two slidably movable components. Providing an inner shell around the sliding element increases the rigidity and stability of the container and improves the protection of consumer goods during storage. As will be described in detail below, advantageously, the inner shell has the sliding element in the second sliding position and the outer housing is opened without interfering with the connection between the sliding element and the outer housing. Can be adapted so as not to affect access to consumer goods.

  Furthermore, the inner shell can guide the movement of the sliding element and limit the movement of the sliding element so that it can only be moved in particular in the desired direction. This makes it possible to maintain a smooth opening and closing operation even after the container has been repeatedly opened.

  Providing the inner shell for mounting the sliding element and guiding the movement of the sliding element is advantageous because the outer housing does not have to accommodate or guide the sliding element at all, so It also provides greater flexibility in movement. In particular, it is possible to provide a relative movement of each housing part over a greater distance so that each housing part can be moved further away from each other in the removal position. This leads to a larger access opening, so access to consumer goods can be improved. In addition, relative movement of the greater distance housing portion allows for relative movement between the larger distance sliding element and the inner shell. As a result, the sliding element can move a greater distance from the first sliding position to the second sliding position, thus increasing the rate at which the consumer goods protrude from the access opening. This further improves the accessibility to consumer goods when the container is opened.

  The structure and function of one embodiment of the inner shell is described in further detail below.

  The sliding element is connected to the outer housing to cause movement of the sliding element relative to the inner shell as the housing portion of the outer housing moves to the removal position. The sliding element can be connected to either the first housing part or the second housing part, or can be connected to both the first housing part and the second housing part. The sliding element is preferably mounted inside the outer housing and thus connected to the inner surface of the outer housing.

  In the following description of the present invention, the terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “side”, used to describe the relative positions of the components of the container according to the present invention, "Top", "bottom" and other terms refer to an upright container with an access opening at the top. When describing the container according to the invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described.

  The terms “left” and “right” are used with reference to the side wall of the container as viewed from the front in its upright position. The term “vertical” refers to the direction from the bottom to the top and vice versa. The term “lateral” refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

  Similarly, the terms “upwardly” and “downwardly” are used to describe the movement of the sliding element relative to the inner shell and outer housing of the container when the container is in an upright position.

  The term “hinge line” refers to a line around which the components of the container can pivot. The hinge line can be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the panel forming the container. Alternatively, the hinge can be formed by a label that spans the gap between the two elements of the container.

  The sliding element is preferably connected to the outer housing by at least one opening flap connecting the free edge of the sliding element to the wall of the first housing part or the second housing part, and the at least one opening flap Is hinged to the sliding element and the corresponding housing part.

  As the outer housing is opened, the first housing portion and the second housing portion move away from each other and at least one open flap will be pulled with the corresponding housing portion. When the opening flap is pulled with the corresponding housing part, the sliding element will also be pulled and will slide against the inner shell towards the second sliding position. At least one open flap is connected along the respective hinge line to both the sliding element and the outer housing to allow the flap to bend as the housing portion moves away. The at least one open flap will not bend or buckle in any position where the open flap moves away from the hinge line when the housing part is pulled away, but it can transmit a pulling force to the sliding element Preferably, it is sufficiently rigid.

  The degree of movement of the housing parts away from each other will normally be limited by at least one open flap, thereby exceeding a certain point where the open flap cannot be bent further along the hinge line. Thus, the relative movement of the housing portion is prevented. Thus, the distance that the sliding element can move relative to the inner shell will usually be determined by the length of the at least one open flap. The “length” of the open flap refers to the distance between the hinge line where the open flap is connected to the sliding element and the outer housing. Preferably, the at least one open flap has a length of at least one third, preferably at least one half of the length or height of the container.

  The hinge line to which the at least one open flap is connected to the sliding element is preferably positioned above or above the height of the inner shell when the sliding element is in the first sliding position. This configuration allows for immediate bending of the open flap along the hinge line as the housing portion moves toward the removal position so that movement of the sliding element is not constrained by the inner shell. Thus, with this configuration, at least one open flap is provided outside the inner shell in the first sliding position and remains outside the inner shell as the sliding element moves to the second sliding position.

  Thus, in the first sliding position, at least one open flap is usually located between the consumer goods inside the sliding element and the outer housing, and one or more of the walls of the sliding element. Form an extension. This arrangement further increases the rigidity of the container when the outer housing is closed and improves the protection of the consumer goods stored in the sliding element. The at least one opening flap preferably extends over substantially the entire width of the wall of the sliding element from which the opening flap depends.

  The at least one open flap is preferably formed integrally with the sliding element from the same laminated blank. Thus, the at least one open flap is preferably against the rest of the slide element along a line of weakness such as a fold line or a score line provided between the open flap of the slide element and the adjacent wall. Can pivot. The integration of at least one open flap into the laminated blank to form the sliding element facilitates the production and assembly of the container according to the invention and provides a more secure connection between the sliding element and the outer housing. .

  The end of the open flap is preferably connected to the inner surface of the corresponding housing part by a suitable adhesive. The position of the connection between the open flap and the corresponding inner surface of the housing part can be adjusted depending on the desired degree of relative movement of the housing part and the desired degree of movement of the sliding element. The end of the open flap is preferably bonded to the inner surface of the corresponding housing portion of the outer housing at a location closest to the top wall of the outer housing. This positioning maximizes the potential travel distance of the open flap, and thus the travel distance of the sliding element out of the inner shell and through the access opening.

  A single open flap connecting the sliding element to one of the housing parts can be provided on one side of the sliding element. However, it is more preferred to provide a pair of opposing open flaps to connect the sliding element to both the first housing part and the second housing part. In such an embodiment, the first opening flap and the opposing second opening flap extend from the opposing free edges of the sliding element to the inner surfaces of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, respectively. .

  The sliding element of the container according to the invention is adapted to contain consumer goods. The consumer goods are preferably supported on the bottom wall of the sliding element. The sliding element preferably contains at least part of the consumer goods. The sliding element preferably has an open end, and the consumer goods protrude from the sliding element at the end that moves through or towards the access opening in the outer housing. Most preferably, the sliding element has an upper open end so that a portion of the consumer goods protrudes through the top of the sliding element. This configuration ensures that the consumer goods are immediately accessible to the consumer when the outer housing is opened.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sliding element accommodates only a part of the consumer goods remaining in the outer housing in the second sliding position, so that the consumer goods are above the upper free edge of the sliding element. Protrusively. Accordingly, the portion protruding through the access opening in the second sliding position of the consumer goods is uncovered and exposed on all sides. As described above, this provides improved consumer goods visibility as well as improved access to all of the consumer goods, for example, as compared to conventional hinge lid containers.

  Alternatively, the sliding element can completely contain the consumer goods. In this case, however, it is preferable to provide the sliding element with a suitable lid or opening flap so that the consumer goods can be accessed through the opening of the lid or opening flap in the second sliding position.

  As previously mentioned, the at least one open flap extends from the free edge of the sliding element which would normally be the upper edge of the sliding element. The open flaps preferably extend from the upper edges of the opposing front and rear walls of the sliding element. In the closed position of the outer housing when the sliding element is in the first sliding position, the open flap is on the opposite wall of the sliding element so that the consumer goods are further surrounded when the container is closed. Preferably, an extension is formed.

  The sliding element of the container according to the invention preferably contains a plurality of elongated consumer goods, most preferably a plurality of smoking articles. The plurality of consumer goods inside the sliding element are preferably packaged with a suitable inner wrapper or liner, which must be removed at least from the protruding part of the consumer goods when the container is first opened. There is. At least the upper part of the elongated consumer goods preferably projects above the upper free edge of the sliding element.

  The outer housing of the container according to the present invention includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, each pivotable about a hinge line provided on the outer housing. In the outer housing removal position, the first housing portion and the second housing portion are both closed into a closed container. The container is opened by moving the housing portions away from each other to provide an access opening.

  The first housing part and the second housing part are provided on opposite sides of the container. The first housing part and the second housing part are preferably provided at the front and rear of the container.

  The first housing portion and the second housing portion are each pivotable about a first hinge line and a second hinge line extending across the outer housing. The location of the first hinge line and the second hinge line will be determined by the proportion of the outer housing formed by the housing portion.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first housing part and the second housing part constitute the entire outer housing of the container. The first hinge line and the second hinge line are preferably provided along opposite edges of the bottom wall of the outer housing, most preferably along the leading and trailing edges of the bottom wall.

  Thus, in such an embodiment, it is possible to open the entire outer housing by moving the first housing part and the second housing part away from each other. This advantageously provides a relatively wide access opening at the removal position of the outer housing. In addition, advantageously, the potential relative movement area of the housing parts as they move away from each other is larger, which results in a larger potential movement area of the sliding element exiting through the access opening. In this way, the accessibility of the consumer goods at the removal position of the outer housing is optimized.

  In an alternative embodiment, the first housing portion and the second housing portion may form a lid for the outer housing, the outer housing enclosing a box that remains closed around the other components of the container. Further, it can be included. In this case, the first housing part and the second housing part are pivotable relative to the box of the outer housing along the first hinge line and the second hinge line. Thus, the first hinge line and the second hinge line pivot at intermediate positions along opposite walls of the outer housing, most preferably along the front and rear walls of the outer housing.

  In such an embodiment, the container has a two-part lid formed by a housing part that opens when the housing parts are moved away from each other. This configuration typically provides a more limited size access opening suitable for certain types of consumer goods.

  In the closed position of the outer housing, the second housing part is preferably housed at least partly within the first housing part. More preferably, in the closed position, the upper wall and the side walls of the second housing part are completely contained within the first housing part. At least partial accommodation of the second housing part within the first housing part results in at least partial overlap of the walls of the housing part. For example, if the second housing part is fully contained within the first housing part in the closed position, the wall of the first housing part may overlie the corresponding wall of the second housing part. Become. This provides greater rigidity for the closed container. In addition, the corresponding wall overlap of the housing part more securely closes the outer housing and improves the protection of consumer goods.

  In an alternative embodiment, the first housing part and the second housing part can be closed together with the free edges of the housing parts abutting each other, so that either housing part can be closed with the other housing part. Not inserted or accepted. In this case, the wall of the second housing part does not overlap in the closed position of the outer housing, but the wall of the second housing part extends from the corresponding wall of the first housing part to close the wall of the closed outer housing. Form.

  One or more along the free edge of the first housing part or the second housing part to facilitate gripping of the housing part for moving the housing parts away from each other to the removal position of the outer housing It is preferable that a notch is provided. For example, in an embodiment in which the second housing portion is at least partially housed within the first housing portion in the closed position of the outer housing, the first housing portion can be gripped to allow gripping of the second housing portion. One or more notches are preferably provided along the free edge of the housing part. A pair of substantially opposed notches are preferably provided along the free side edge of the first housing portion.

  As described above, the first and second housing portions of the outer housing of the container according to the present invention pivot the housing portions about their respective first and second hinge lines. In other words, they can move toward and away from each other. Typically, the more the housing parts are moved relative to one another, the wider the access opening that will be provided in the removal position.

  In order to move the housing part from the closed position to the removal position, the housing parts are pulled away from each other, usually in outward and downward directions. For example, in the foregoing embodiment where the housing portion forms the entire outer housing and the hinged wire is provided at the bottom of the outer housing, the housing portion remains in contact at the bottom end in both the closed position and the removal position. Will do.

  A container according to the present invention will typically include means for limiting the distance between the housing portions in order to define the outer housing removal position at which the outer housing is opened to the maximum possible extent. As described above, the removal position of the outer housing can be controlled by an open flap that connects the sliding element to the outer housing. Alternatively or additionally, retaining means may be provided to limit relative movement of the container components, as described below. The consumer can choose to partially open the outer housing such that the housing parts are separated from each other to a lesser extent than the removal position.

  The access opening that can be provided when the outer housing is in the removal position corresponds to the space between each separated housing part. The access opening is preferably located at the upper end of the container. Thus, in the removal position, consumer goods protrude through the top of the outer housing. The access opening preferably further extends at least part way down the side of the outer housing, depending on the degree of separation of the housing part at the removal position. This can further facilitate the removal of the consumer goods from the container. The access opening needs to be wide enough to allow all of the consumer goods contained within the sliding element to be discharged through the space between each housing part.

  The outer housing of the container according to the present invention preferably comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, as well as suitable folding and cut line configurations for forming the first and second hinge lines. Is formed of a single laminated blank containing If the outer housing is formed from a single laminated blank, the first housing portion and the second housing portion will be connected to each other and will typically share a common wall, such as the bottom wall.

  In the closed position of the outer housing, the outer housing is preferably substantially cuboid shaped. As described above, the outer housing houses the inner shell and the sliding element. In the closed position, the outer housing preferably does not have an opening or an open end and completely houses the inner shell and the sliding element. This provides optimal protection against consumer goods inside the sliding element.

  The outer housing of the container according to the invention preferably further comprises a locking device for locking the housing part in the closed position. The locking device keeps the housing parts from separating until a positive force is applied to pull the housing parts away from each other. This reduces the possibility of inadvertent opening of the outer housing, so that the consumer goods inside the container are safely held during each use. If the second housing part is at least partially housed within the first housing part in the closed position, a locking device can advantageously be provided between the overlapping walls of the housing part. Locking devices may include, for example, embossed or debossed areas in at least one of one or more magnets, Velcro® strips, low tack adhesives, housing parts. it can.

  In certain preferred embodiments, the locking device comprises at least one locking flap provided on one of the housing parts that can be engaged with the other housing position to hold the housing part in a closed position. Including. At least one locking flap can engage a corresponding flap provided in the other housing part. Engagement of the flaps means that more force is required to move each housing part away from each other towards the removal position.

  Alternatively and preferably, the other housing part comprises one or more cuts or notches in the surface of the outer housing. At least one locking flap engages one or more notches or notches when the housing portions are both in the closed position. In order to move the housing part toward the removal position, it is necessary to apply sufficient force to disengage the locking flap from the corresponding notch or notch. The locking flap is preferably provided on the inner surface of one wall of the housing part and the cut or notch is provided on the outer surface of the corresponding wall of the other housing part. The walls overlap each other when the outer housing is in the closed position so that the locking flap engages the notch or notch.

  The engagement of the lock flap within the notch or notch preferably generates an audible sound, such as an audible click, that gives the consumer an indication that the outer housing has been safely closed.

  For example, the outer housing can be free-standing in both open and closed positions so that the outer housing can be firmly supported on a flat surface by standing on its bottom wall. Is preferred. Thus, the open container can be placed on a flat surface, such as a tabletop, with the housing parts remaining spaced apart from each other and the consumer goods protruding through the access opening. This provides a unique way to supply and distribute consumer goods in containers.

  The inner shell of the container according to the invention is secured in the outer housing so that the inner shell remains fixed in the proper position in the container as the outer housing is moved between the closed position and the removal position. Attached. The inner shell is preferably secured to the inner surface of at least one wall of the outer housing using suitable adhesive means. It is particularly preferred that the inner shell is secured to the inner surface of the wall which remains fixed in place as the housing parts are moved relative to each other. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the inner shell is attached and secured to the bottom wall of the outer housing.

  The inner shell is adapted to allow movement of the sliding element between the first and second sliding positions. The inner shell preferably has at least one open end through which the sliding element can move, and it is particularly preferred that the inner shell has an open upper end.

  The inner shell preferably extends only part way along the height of the outer housing, and particularly preferably does not extend more than half along the height of the outer housing. This ensures that the inner shell does not affect the connection between the sliding element and the outer housing and does not restrict access to the consumer goods when the outer housing is in the removal position.

  As mentioned above, the inner shell holds the sliding element in the correct position when the outer housing is in the closed position, and the sliding element between the first, sliding and second sliding positions. Guides movement and maintains smooth opening and closing.

  In the first sliding position of the sliding element, the sliding element is preferably housed in the inner shell as much as possible. The bottom wall of the sliding element is preferably supported on the bottom wall of the inner shell. The sliding element is slidably movable with respect to the inner shell from the first sliding position to the second sliding position. The inner shell preferably fits around the sliding element so that the movement of the sliding element relative to the inner shell is constrained to a single linear movement relative to the inner shell. Thus, to move from the first sliding position to the second sliding position, the sliding element is moved in the first linear direction and to return the sliding element to the first sliding position. , Moved in the opposite linear direction. The sliding element is preferably forced to move linearly in the longitudinal direction of the container, most preferably in the vertical direction, so that the sliding element moves up and down within the outer housing. It is particularly preferred that the sliding element is moved upward from the first sliding position to the second sliding position so that the consumer goods rise out of the container at the second sliding position.

  As described above, the extent of movement of the sliding element out of the inner shell can be determined by the relative size of the inner shell and the sliding element and the position at which the sliding element is connected to the outer housing. .

  In order that the sliding element cannot be removed from the inner shell, the container according to the invention preferably further comprises holding means for preventing movement of the sliding element beyond the second sliding position. The retaining means can further limit the degree of separation of the housing part of the outer part due to the connection between the sliding element and the outer housing.

  In certain preferred embodiments, the retaining means includes at least one retaining tab provided on the sliding element. At least one retaining tab may engage the inner shell to prevent movement of the sliding element beyond the second sliding position. At least one retaining tab can engage a corresponding tab provided on the inside of the inner shell, and the engagement of the tab prevents further movement of the sliding element out of the inner shell. The Alternatively, the inner shell can include one or more notches on its inner surface, and engagement of at least one retaining tab with the one or more notches results in the sliding element Further movement is prevented.

  Instead of or in addition to the holding means for preventing the movement of the sliding element beyond the second sliding position, the container according to the invention provides a positive means for returning the sliding element to the first position. A holding means may be included for holding the sliding element in the second sliding position until a force is applied. This positive force will usually be applied by pushing the housing parts back towards the closed position towards each other. The holding means advantageously allows the container to be held open with the consumer goods protruding through the access opening, even when the consumer places the container on a support surface such as a table. This advantageously provides a unique way to show off consumer goods and dispense them from the container.

  The holding means for holding the sliding element in the second sliding position preferably includes a holding tab provided on the sliding element and a notch provided in the inner surface of the inner shell. As the sliding element is moved to the second sliding position, the retaining tab on the sliding element slides into the notch on the inner shell. In the absence of any applied force to reverse the sliding element toward the first sliding position, the retaining tab remains in the notch and is restricted only to movement within the notch. Thus, the engagement of the holding tab and the notch prevents the sliding element from going backward toward the first sliding position, whereby the sliding element is held in the second sliding position.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, not only the function of holding the sliding element in the second sliding position until a positive force is applied, but also the movement of the sliding element beyond the second sliding position. A single holding means can also be provided that also performs the blocking function. For example, a single retention tab can be provided on the sliding element for engaging a single notch in the inner surface of the inner shell. In this case, the engagement of the retaining tab in the notch not only prevents the sliding element from moving in the reverse direction back to the first sliding position until a force is applied, but also in the inner shell. Further movement of the sliding element from the outside is also prevented.

  The inner shell and the sliding element can have the same shape. Thereby, the smooth movement of the sliding element between the first sliding position and the second sliding position can be enabled. For example, both the inner shell and the sliding element can be substantially cuboid shaped. In that case, both the inner shell and the sliding element have a substantially rectangular cross section in both the transverse and longitudinal directions. The term “longitudinal section” refers to a section cut along the longitudinal direction, ie from top to bottom. The longitudinal cross section can be cut substantially parallel to the front and rear walls of the inner shell or sliding element, or substantially parallel to the side walls of the inner shell or sliding element. The term “cross section” refers to a cross section cut transversely, ie perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the inner shell and the sliding element can have different shapes. This can limit the movement of the sliding element relative to the inner shell between the first sliding position and the second sliding position. This can help to prevent movement of the sliding element beyond the second sliding position. For example, the inner shell can be substantially cuboid shaped and the sliding element can be substantially trapezoidal prism shaped. In this case, the inner shell has a substantially rectangular cross section in the transverse and longitudinal directions, whereas the sliding element has a substantially trapezoidal cross section in one of the longitudinal directions. The sliding element has a substantially trapezoidal longitudinal section cut substantially parallel to the side wall of the sliding element, and a substantially rectangular longitudinal section cut substantially parallel to the front and rear walls of the sliding element. It is preferable to have a surface. A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with two parallel edges and two non-parallel edges. The trapezoid can be an isosceles trapezoid. The trapezoid can be a right trapezoid. The angle between the parallel sides of the trapezoid and the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid can be selected as desired to produce the desired friction between the sliding element and the inner shell. Preferably, the angle between the parallel sides of the trapezoid and the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid is from about 85 ° to about 95 °, more preferably from about 88 ° to about 93 °.

  The container of the present invention can be formed from a blank of any suitable material including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Where the container is formed of cardboard, the cardboard preferably has a weight of about 100 grams per square meter to about 350 grams per square meter.

  The inner shell and sliding element are preferably formed from one or more separate blanks relative to the one or more blanks used to form the outer housing. The blanks for forming the outer housing, the sliding element, and the inner shell can be made from the same or different materials. The container is preferably formed from one or more folded laminated blanks, more preferably from one or more folded laminated cardboard blanks.

The container according to the invention can be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a right vertical edge and a right horizontal edge. Alternatively, the container can include one or more rounded vertical edges, rounded horizontal edges, beveled vertical edges or beveled horizontal edges, or combinations thereof. . For example, the container according to the present invention is not limited,
One or two longitudinally rounded or beveled edges on the front wall and / or one or two longitudinally rounded or beveled edges on the rear wall;
-One or two laterally rounded or beveled edges on the front wall and / or one or two laterally rounded or beveled edges on the rear wall;
One longitudinally rounded edge and one longitudinally beveled edge on the front wall and / or one laterally rounded edge and one lateral direction on the rear wall Beveled edges,
One or two laterally rounded or beveled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinally rounded or beveled edges on the front wall;
-Two longitudinally rounded or beveled edges on the first side wall or two laterally rounded or beveled edges on the second side wall;
Can be included.

  If the container includes one or more rounded edges and is made from one or more laminated blanks, the blank is used to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. Preferably, three, four, five, six or seven score lines or fold lines are included. The score line or fold line can be either inside the container or outside the container. The score lines or fold lines are preferably separated from each other by about 0.3 mm to 4 mm.

  The spacing between the fold lines or score lines is preferably a function of the thickness of the laminated blank. The spacing between each fold line or each score line is preferably about 0.5 to about 4 times greater than the thickness of the laminated blank.

  Where the container includes one or more beveled edges, the beveled edges preferably have a width of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, preferably about 2 to about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container can include a double ramp formed by three parallel fold lines or score lines spaced apart such that two separate ramps are formed on the edge of the container.

  If the container includes a beveled edge and is made from one or more laminated blanks, the inclined can be formed by two parallel fold lines or score lines in the laminated blank. The fold line or score line can be placed symmetrically with respect to the edge between the first wall and the second wall. Alternatively, the fold line or score line is between the first wall and the second wall so that the slope reaches further in the first wall of the container than in the second wall of the container. It can be arranged asymmetrically with respect to the edge.

  Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular cross section, for example a polygonal, semi-elliptical, or semi-circular cross section such as a triangle or hexagon.

  The container according to the invention has particular application as a pack for elongate smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. Through appropriate selection of container dimensions, it should be understood that containers according to the present invention can be designed for different numbers of conventional sizes, king sizes, super king sizes, slim or super slim cigarettes. Alternatively, other consumer goods can be stored inside the container.

  Through appropriate selection of the dimensions of the container according to the present invention, the container according to the present invention can be designed to hold a different number of smoking articles or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through appropriate selection of the dimensions of the container according to the present invention, the container according to the present invention can be designed to hold a total of 5 to 30 smoking articles.

  The smoking articles can be arranged in different collations depending on the total number of smoking articles. For example, smoking articles can be arranged in a single row consisting of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. Alternatively, the smoking articles can be arranged in two or more rows. Two or more rows can contain the same number of smoking articles. For example, the smoking article may be 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 in 2 rows, 5 or 7 in 3 rows, or 4, 5 or 6 It can be arranged in four rows composed of books. Alternatively, the two or more rows can include at least two rows containing different numbers of smoking articles. For example, the smoking article is composed of 5 rows and 6 rows (5-6), 6 rows and 7 rows (6-7), 7 rows. A row composed of 8 and a row composed of 8 (7-8), a central row composed of 5 and 2 outer rows composed of 6 (6-5-6), 5 A central row of 7 and 2 outer rows of 7 (7-5-7), a central row of 6 and 2 outer rows of 5 (5 -6-5), consisting of 6 central rows and 7 outer rows (7-6-7), 7 central rows and 6 Two outer rows (6-7-6), a central row comprised of nine and two outer rows (8-9-8) comprised of eight or one comprised of five Outside Can be from columns and six with one outer row consists seven arranged in columns (5-6-7) of the central constructed.

  Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand and may hold smoking articles of different types or brands. In addition, not only smoking articles of different lengths (eg, about 40 mm to about 180 mm) and diameters (eg, about 4 mm to about 9 mm), but both filterless smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips. Can fit. In addition, smoking articles may differ in flavor intensity, suction resistance, and total particulate delivery. The dimensions of the container are preferably adapted to the length of the smoking article and the collation of the smoking article. Generally, the outer dimension of the container is about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimension of the bundle or bundles of smoking articles housed inside the container.

  The length, width and depth of the container according to the invention is such that the overall dimensions of the resulting container are similar to the dimensions of a typical disposable hinge lid pack of 20 cigarettes in the closed position of the outer housing. can do.

  The container according to the present invention preferably has a height of about 60 mm to about 150 mm, more preferably a height of about 70 mm to about 125 mm, when the height is measured from the bottom wall to the top wall of the container. .

  The container according to the present invention preferably has a width of about 12 mm to about 150 mm, more preferably a width of about 70 mm to about 125 mm, when the width is measured from one side wall to the other side wall of the container.

  The container according to the present invention preferably has a depth of about 6 mm to about 150 mm, more preferably a depth of about 12 mm to about 25 mm, when the depth is measured from the front wall to the rear wall of the container.

  The ratio of container height to container depth is preferably 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, it is between pair 1 and 5: 1.

  The ratio of container width to container depth is preferably between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1, more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1, and about 2 Most preferably, it is between pair 1 and 3: 1.

  Print, emboss, deboss or otherwise print manufacturer or brand logos, trademarks, slogans and other consumer information and markings on the inner or outer surface of the container, or both the inner and outer surfaces of the container according to the invention Can be decorated.

  The consumer goods inside the container according to the present invention may be individually packaged or a plurality of consumer goods may be packaged together.

  In a filled state, the container according to the present invention is shrink-wrapped in a conventional manner, for example with a transparent polymer film of high density or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film or combinations thereof. It can be overwrapped. When overwrapping containers according to the present invention, the overwrapping paper can include one or more opening tapes. In addition, images, consumer information or other data can be printed on the top wrapping paper.

  Where an opening tape is provided, the opening tape is preferably substantially vertically around the container, i.e., unlike in conventional packs where the opening tape generally extends substantially horizontally around the container. Extends vertically. Providing a vertical arrangement of the opening tape ensures that the outer wrapper is completely removed before the consumer attempts to open the outer housing by separating the housing parts from each other. This ensures that no part of the outer wrapper is held on the container which could otherwise affect the opening mechanism.

  If the container contains smoking articles, the container may contain a partition for waste (eg for ash or butts) or other consumer goods such as matches, lighters, fire extinguishing means, diversion agents, or electronics. Further, it can be included. These other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, may be placed in separate partitions of the container inside the container together with the smoking article, or a combination thereof.

  As mentioned above, the present invention is further directed to a method of accessing consumer goods from a container according to the present invention, wherein the method removes the first housing portion and the second housing portion of the outer housing from the closed position. Moving the sliding elements away from each other, thereby simultaneously moving the first sliding element such that the consumer goods protrude at least partially from the inner shell and are at least partially accessible through the access opening. Moving from the position to the second sliding position and moving the first housing part and the second housing part of the outer housing towards each other from the take-out position to the closed position, thereby simultaneously using unused consumer goods Moving the sliding element from the second sliding position to the first sliding position such that the return to the interior of the container.

  The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, with the outer housing in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the container of FIG. 1 with the outer housing in a removal position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a partially exploded state with the sliding element removed from the outer housing. 4 is a laminated blank suitable for forming the outer housing of the container of FIGS. 4 is a laminated blank suitable for forming the inner shell of the container of FIGS. 4 is a laminated blank suitable for forming the sliding element of the container of FIGS.

  The reference numerals used in FIGS. 1 to 3 correspond to those used in FIGS. 4a, b and c, and vice versa, and each blank panel has a panel in the assembled container. Reference numerals are provided that are used to indicate the walls, flaps or tabs that form. In FIGS. 4a, b, and c, the broken line in the blank indicates a fold line, and the solid line indicates a cut line.

  The shape of the container 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a rectangular parallelepiped, and includes an outer housing 12, an inner shell 14, and a sliding element 16. The sliding element 16 houses a packaged cigarette bundle 18.

  The outer housing 12 includes a front housing portion 20 and a rear housing portion 21 connected to opposite front and rear edges of the bottom wall 22 of the outer housing. The front housing part 20 and the rear housing part 21 have substantially the same shape and dimensions. The outer housing 12 can be assembled from a single laminated blank 112 shown in FIG. 4a.

  The front housing portion 20 includes a front wall 24, a left side wall 26, a right side wall 28, and an upper wall 30. The back surface of the first housing part 20 is open. The front housing portion 20 is connected to the bottom wall 22 along the front edge A of the bottom wall 22 and is pivotable about the front edge. The rear housing portion 21 includes a rear wall 32, a left side wall 27, a right side wall 29, and an upper wall 31. The front surface of the second housing part 21 is open. The rear housing part 21 is connected to the bottom wall 22 along the rear edge B of the bottom wall 22 and is pivotable about this rear edge.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, each housing part 20, 21 comprises a pair of opposed notches 34 extending from opposing free edges of the side walls of the housing part. The notches 34 in the first housing part 20 make it easy to grip the second housing part 21 and move the housing parts away from each other.

  The first and second housing portions 20 and 21 of the outer housing 12 are pivotable relative to each other between the closed position shown in FIG. 1 and the removal position shown in FIG. In the closed position, the second housing part 21 is housed in the first housing part 20, and the upper wall 30 and the side walls 26, 28 of the first housing part 20 are the corresponding upper walls of the second housing part 21. 31 and side walls 27 and 29.

  To move the outer housing 12 to the removal position shown in FIG. 2, the housing portions 20, 21 are pulled away from each other so that each housing portion pivots away from the other and moves outward and downward. . The bottom wall 22 of the outer housing remains fixed in place. As shown in FIG. 2, in the removal position of the outer housing 12, the housing portions 20, 21 are spaced apart from each other to provide an access opening through which smoking articles can be removed. The access opening extends downward across the upper end of the container 10 to the middle of the side of the container.

  The outer housing 12 includes a lock flap 36 formed in the inner panel of the upper wall 30 of the first housing portion 20 and a cut 38 extending across the outer panel of the upper wall 31 of the second housing portion 21. Includes a locking device. In the closed position of the outer housing 12, the lock flap 36 is received within the cut 38 and a second force is applied until a positive force is applied to release the lock flap 36 from the cut 38 away from each housing portion. The housing part 21 is held in place within the first housing part 20.

  Inner shell 14 is mounted within outer housing 12 and includes a sleeve bottom wall 40, a sleeve front wall 42, a sleeve rear wall 44, a sleeve left side wall 46, and a sleeve right side wall 48. The upper end of the inner shell 14 is open. The inner shell 14 can be assembled from a single laminated blank 114 shown in FIG. 4b.

  The sleeve bottom wall 40 is attached to the bottom wall 22 of the outer housing 12. The inner shell 14 has a height corresponding to about half of the height of the outer housing 12. The outer cross section of the inner shell 14 corresponds to the inner cross section of the outer housing 12 such that the wall of the outer housing 12 overlies the corresponding wall of the inner shell 14 in the closed position of the outer housing 12.

  The inner shell 14 includes a notch 50 in the inner panel of the sleeve right side wall 48, the purpose of which will be described below. The inner shell 14 also includes an engagement tab 49 connected to the sleeve rear wall 44, the purpose of which will be described below as well.

  The sliding element 16 is mounted in the inner shell 14 and is slidable in a direction perpendicular to the inner shell. The sliding element 16 includes a sliding bottom wall 52, a sliding front wall 54, a sliding rear wall 56, a sliding left side wall 58, and a sliding right side wall 60. The upper end of the sliding element 16 is open. The sliding element 16 has substantially the same height as the inner shell 14. The outer cross section of the sliding element 16 corresponds to the inner cross section of the inner shell 14 so that when the sliding element moves relative to the inner shell, the front wall, rear wall and side walls of the sliding element 16 are Slidably in contact with the corresponding wall of the inner shell 14. The sliding element 16 can be assembled from a single laminated blank 116 shown in FIG. 4c.

  The sliding element 16 includes a retaining tab 62 toward the lower end of the sliding right side wall 60. The retention tab 62 is pivotable about a hinge line that extends substantially horizontally across the sliding right side wall. As the sliding element 16 moves upwardly and out of the inner shell 14, the retention tab 62 sinks into the notch 50 in the sleeve right wall 48 and is folded downward about the hinge line. The retaining tab 62 engages the upper edge of the notch 50 to prevent any upward movement of the sliding element 16.

  The sliding element 16 also includes an engagement tab 53 connected to the sliding bottom wall 52. As the sliding element 16 moves upwardly and out of the inner shell 14, the engagement tab 53 engages with the engagement tab 49 on the inner shell 14, thereby making the engagement element 53 with respect to the inner shell 14 of the sliding element 16. This prevents any upward movement. The engagement tabs 53 and corresponding engagement tabs 49 on the inner shell 14 may be provided on either side of the sliding element 16 and the inner shell 14. Alternatively, the sliding element 16 may be provided with more than one engagement tab and the engagement tab corresponding to the inner shell 14.

  Retention tab 62 and notch 50 can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to engagement tabs 53 and 49.

  In the second sliding position, the holding tab 62 is bent downward as described above, and the bent holding tab 62 is hooked to the lower edge of the notch 50. This hooking of the retention tab 62 prevents the sliding element 16 from moving in a downward direction until a positive downward force is applied to release the retention tab 62 from the notch 50. Therefore, the sliding element 16 is held in the raised position and cannot slide spontaneously back into the inner shell 14. When a positive force is applied to release the retaining tab 62 from the notch 50, the sliding element 16 moves back into the inner shell 14 and the retaining tab 62 bends upward to the initial position. It is done.

  The sliding element 16 further includes a front opening flap 64 extending from the upper edge of the sliding front wall 54, the front opening flap 64 being pivotable about a fold line extending along the upper edge. Similarly, the rear opening flap 65 extends from the upper edge of the sliding rear wall 56, and the rear opening flap 65 is pivotable about a fold line extending along the upper edge. The front opening flap 64 and the rear opening flap 65 extend over the entire width of the sliding element 16.

  The front connection tab 66 extends from the upper edge of the front opening flap 64, and similarly, the rear connection tab 67 extends from the upper edge of the rear opening flap 65. The front connection tab 66 and the rear connection tab 67 are pivotable about a fold line extending over their upper edges and around the upper edges of the corresponding open flaps.

  In the assembled container 10, the front connection tab 66 is glued to the inner surface of the front wall 24 of the front housing portion 20, adjacent to the upper edge of the front wall 24. Similarly, the rear connection tab 67 is adhered to the inner surface of the rear wall 32 of the rear housing portion 21. Thus, the front opening flap 64 and the rear opening flap 65 connect the sliding element 16 and the housing parts 20, 21 with each opening flap pivoting relative to both the connected sliding element 16 and the housing part. It is possible to move. In FIG. 3, for purposes of illustration only, the container is shown with connection tabs 66, 67 removed from the outer housing.

  In the closed position of the outer housing 12 shown in FIG. 1, the sliding element 16 is fully inserted into the inner shell 14 with the sliding rear wall 52 supported on the bottom wall 22 of the outer housing. In the sliding position. In this first sliding position, the open flaps 64, 65 are located between the bundle 18 of smoking articles and the outer housing 12 and form extensions of the front sliding wall 54 and the rear sliding wall 56, respectively. ing.

  Due to the connection between the open flap and the housing part, the open flaps 64, 65 are also directed outwardly when the housing parts 20, 21 are moved away from each other to move the outer housing towards the removal position shown in FIG. Pulled on. This results in an upward movement of the sliding element 16 from within the inner shell 14 to the outside.

  In the removal position of the outer housing 12 shown in FIG. 2, the sliding element 16 is in the second sliding position. In the second sliding position, the sliding element 16 is partially raised from the inner shell 14 so that the bundle 18 of smoking articles protrudes through an access opening formed between the housing parts 20, 21. It has become. In this position, the wrapper can be removed from the bundle and one or more of the smoking articles can be removed.

  In the second sliding position, the retaining tab 62 of the sliding element 16 engages the notch 50 on the inner surface of the inner shell 14. The abutment of the edge of the notch 50 and the free edge of the retaining tab 62 prevents any upward movement of the sliding element 16 relative to the inner shell 14. This consequently prevents any movement of the housing parts 20, 21 further away. In addition, the engagement of the retention tab 62 with the notch 50 holds the sliding element in the second sliding position until a positive force is applied to push the housing parts 20, 21 back to the closed position. To do.

  In order to close the container 10, the housing parts 20, 21 are pushed back towards each other. This causes a downward movement of the sliding element 16 back into the inner shell 14.

  In FIG. 4c described above, the sliding left side wall 58 and the sliding right side wall 60 are rectangular and match the rectangular shapes of the left side wall 46 and the sleeve right side wall 48 of the inner shell 14, respectively. However, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the sliding left side wall 58 and the sliding right side wall 60 are trapezoidal. In this embodiment, the upper and lower edges of the sliding left wall 58 are still parallel to each other, but the leading and trailing edges of the sliding left wall 58 are not parallel. Similarly, the upper and lower edges of the sliding right wall 60 are still parallel, but the leading and trailing edges of the sliding right wall 60 are not parallel. The angle between the upper or lower edge of the sliding sidewall 58, 60 and the leading or trailing edge of the sliding sidewall 58, 60 is about 85 ° to about 95 °, more preferably about 88 ° to about 93 °. It can be. The two sliding side walls 58, 60 are preferably of the same shape, and the lower edges of the sliding side walls 58, 60 are preferably longer than the upper edges of the sliding side walls 58, 60. When the laminated blank 116 is assembled, the sliding element 16 has the shape of a trapezoidal prism. The sliding element 16 has a trapezoidal longitudinal section cut substantially parallel to the sliding side walls 58, 60. This trapezoidal shape provides friction between the sliding element 16 and the inner shell 14 as the sliding element 16 moves relative to the inner shell 14. This limits the movement of the sliding element 16 relative to the inner shell 14, so that some other holding means (e.g. holding tab 62 and notch 50 or engaging tabs 53, 49) may also be dispensed with. The particular angle between the upper or lower edge of the sliding side wall and the leading or trailing edge of the sliding side wall depends on the requirement to create the desired friction between the sliding element 16 and the inner shell 14. You can choose. In yet another alternative configuration, the sliding front wall 54 and sliding rear wall 56 are trapezoidal, while the sliding left wall 58 and sliding right wall 60 are rectangular. In this case, the sliding element 16 has a trapezoidal longitudinal section cut substantially parallel to the front sliding wall 54 and the rear sliding wall 56.

  As described above, the container 10 can be assembled from the laminated blank shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b, and 4c. First, the sliding element 16 is assembled from the laminated blank 116 shown in FIG. 4 c and a bundle 18 of packaged smoking articles is inserted from the open end of the sliding element 16. Next, the inner shell 14 is assembled from the laminated blank 114 shown in FIG. 4b and the filled sliding element is inserted from the open end of the inner shell 14. The outer housing 12 is assembled from the laminated blank 112 shown in FIG. 4a. Next, the inner shell 14 and the sliding element 16 are mounted in the assembled outer housing 12 and the bottom wall 40 of the inner shell 14 is bonded to the bottom wall panel 22 of the outer housing 12 using a suitable adhesive. Finally, as described above, the front connection tab 66 and the rear connection tab 67 are glued to the inner surfaces of the corresponding housing parts 20, 21. The housing parts 20, 21 can be closed together and the container 10 can be overlapped with a transparent outer wrapper in a conventional manner.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container 12 Outer housing 16 Sliding element 18 Packed bundle of smoking articles 20 Front housing part 21 Rear housing part 26 Left side wall 27 of front housing part Left side wall 28 of rear housing part Right side wall 29 of front housing part Right side wall 30 of rear housing part Upper wall 31 of front housing part Upper wall 34 of rear housing part Notch 64 Front opening flap 65 Rear opening flap

Claims (13)

A container for consumer goods,
An outer housing comprising a first housing part pivotable about a first hinge line and an opposing second housing part pivotable about a second hinge line, One housing part and the second housing part move relative to each other between a closed position in which the housing part is closed and a removal position in which the housing part is separated and an access opening is provided between the housing parts An outer housing that is possible;
An inner shell fixedly mounted in the outer housing;
A sliding element mounted in the inner shell for storing the consumer goods;
With
The sliding element is connected to the outer housing by at least one opening flap connecting a free edge of the sliding element to a wall of the first housing part or the second housing part, and the at least one opening A flap is hinged to the sliding element and the corresponding housing part, and movement of the first housing part and the second housing part between the closed position and the removal position is slid. A first sliding position in which a moving element is in the inner shell and the consumer goods are received in the outer housing; and the consumer goods protrude at least partially from the inner shell and between the housing parts. The sliding element relative to the inner shell between a second sliding position that is at least partially accessible through an access opening Container, characterized by being adapted to cause the sliding movement. The container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one open flap is integrally formed with the sliding element. 3. A container according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the at least one open flap is adhered to the inner surface of the corresponding housing portion adjacent to the upper wall of the outer housing. The sliding element is connected to the outer housing by a first open flap and an opposing second open flap extending from opposing free edges of the slide element, the first housing portion and the second housing 4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 connected to each part. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the sliding element is configured such that the protruding portion of the consumer goods is exposed on all sides in the second sliding position. The first and second hinge lines about which the first housing portion and the second housing portion are pivotable extend across opposing edges of the bottom wall of the outer housing. Item 6. The container according to any one of Items 1 to 5 . Wherein in the said closed position of the outer housing, the second housing portion is housed at least partially within said first housing portion A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Said inner shell, said is attached to the bottom wall of the outer housing, the container according to any one of claims 1 to 7. It said sliding element further comprises a retaining means for preventing the coming off from the inner shell container according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , further comprising holding means for holding the sliding element in the second sliding position. Further comprising, a container according to any of claims 1 to 10, the locking means for retaining said outer housing in the closed position. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the inner shell is substantially rectangular, and the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the sliding element mounted in the inner shell is substantially trapezoidal. . A plurality of smoking articles are housed in said sliding element, the container according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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