US20110062175A1

US20110062175A1 - Slide action type hinged-lid package

Info

Publication number: US20110062175A1
Application number: US12/948,819
Authority: US
Inventors: Tetsuya Nakamura; Shunsuke Tawada; Hidehisa Tokita; Masahiro Fukui; Akihiro Saito
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2008-06-06
Filing date: 2010-11-18
Publication date: 2011-03-17
Also published as: JP2009292516A; ES2431356T3; RU2478540C2; JP5323399B2; KR20110002087A; EP2305567B1; CA2724107A1; RU2010154115A; EP2305567A1; EP2305567A4; MY152552A; TW201000369A; CA2724107C; UA101373C2; WO2009148034A1; CN102046478A

Abstract

A slide action type hinged-lid package (2) includes an inner case (6) having a lid (4), and an outer body (8) slidably accommodating the inner case. The outer body has an opening (46) formed through a front wall thereof (40) and allowing the inner case to be partly exposed, and a contact piece (48) provided at the rear edge of an upper open end thereof (38) and extending toward the interior of the outer body. The inner case has a reinforcing member arranged on the inside of a front wall thereof (14) which is exposed through the opening, and a strip (34) connected to the rear part of the lid and capable of engaging with the contact piece. When the inner case is slid up relative to the outer body, the engagement between the strip and the contact piece causes the lid to open and also regulates the amount of sliding of the inner case.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to slide action type hinged-lid packages, and more particularly, to a hinged-lid package that requires a slide action to open a hinged lid.

BACKGROUND ART

As packaging containers for containing articles, various types have been developed taking account of the properties of articles to be contained. For example, where the articles to be contained are smoking articles such as cigarettes or filter cigarettes, hinged-lid packages are very often used as such packaging containers.
One form of hinged-lid package has been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 1.
The conventional hinged-lid package includes a box-shaped outer body having an Open end at the top thereof. The outer body contains an inner pack, which includes a bundle of cigarettes and an inner wrapper wrapping the bundle.
A box-shaped lid is connected to a rear edge of the open end of the outer body by a hinge. The lid is pivotable about the hinge to open and close the open end.
Since this type of conventional hinged-lid package has been in use for many years, consumers are used to its opening/closing mode. It cannot be said, however, that the conventional hinged-lid package has such appeal as to encourage consumers to buy the package.
Accordingly, a slide action type hinged-lid package which makes use of a slide action to open and close the lid with a view to drawing consumers' attention has been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 2.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-58777

Patent Document 2: Pamphlet of WO/2007/065514

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In the case of the conventional slide action type hinged-lid package, the consumer slides up the inner pack part while pushing, with his/her thumb or finger, the front surface of the inner pack part exposed through a push-out aperture. Accordingly, the consumer's thumb or finger may possibly slip on the inner pack part, making it difficult to slide up the inner pack part. Also, if the number of the smoking articles contained is small, the inner pack part is deformed when pushed with the consumer's thumb or finger, making it difficult for the consumer to slide up the inner pack part. In such case, extra effort is required to take out a smoking article.
The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a slide action type hinged-lid package which is simple in structure, employs an opening/closing mode so novel as to stimulate consumers' buying motivation, and yet permits an article contained therein to be taken out with ease.

Means for Solving the Problems

To achieve the above object, a slide action type hinged-lid package according to the present invention comprises: an outer body having a rectangular parallelepipedic shape and having an open end at a top thereof; and an inner case slidably accommodated in the outer body and having a hinged lid at an upper end portion thereof for opening and closing the inner case, wherein the outer body includes a front wall and an opening formed through the front wall and allowing the inner case to be partly exposed therethrough, and the inner case includes a reinforcing member arranged on an inside of a front wall thereof which is exposed through the opening.
A consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, that portion of the front wall of the inner case which is exposed through the opening of the outer body, and then moves up the inner case by sliding the inner case upward with his/her thumb or finger. As a result, the inner case projects from the upper open end of the outer body. Since the reinforcing member is arranged on the inside of the front wall of the inner case, the inner case has increased rigidity, thus lessening deformation of the inner case. Consequently, even if the number of articles contained in the package has become small, the inner case can be satisfactorily slid up without a hitch.
The slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention may further comprise engagement means for engaging the outer body and the inner case with each other, and when the inner case is slid up relative to the outer body, the engagement means causes the hinged lid to open and also regulates an amount of sliding of the inner case. Thus, with the package of the present invention, as the inner case is pushed upward, the hinged lid gradually opens, and the inner case is stopped when protruded from the outer body by a predetermined length.
Specifically, the engagement means includes: a strip arranged on the hinged lid, the strip having an upper end connected to a rear part of the hinged lid by an upper hinge which is located at a level higher than a lid hinge allowing the hinged lid to open and close, and a lower end portion forming a turned-back piece which is folded toward an inner surface of the outer body; and a contact piece arranged inside the outer body, the contact piece extending from the open end toward the turned-back piece and capable of engaging with the turned-back piece.
As the inner case moves upward within the outer body, the turned-back piece at the distal end of the strip becomes engaged with the contact piece of the outer body. Since the rear part of the hinged lid is pulled relatively downward by the strip because of the engagement, the hinged lid gradually opens. As the inner case is further moved upward, the hinged lid reaches a fully open position, where the inner case is stopped and further upward movement is prevented. Thus, an article contained in the package can be taken out with ease, and it is also possible to effectively prevent the inner case from dropping out of the outer body. The contact piece is interposed between the outer body and the inner case and thus is always in contact with the inner case. Accordingly, the contact piece serves as resistance to the upward-and-downward or reciprocating movement of the inner case, thus preventing the inner case from projecting to an undesirable extent from the outer body.
Preferably, the front wall of the inner case has a rough region formed at least on a portion of a surface thereof which is exposed through the opening.
Where the rough region is formed on that portion of the inner case which is exposed through the opening of the outer body, it is possible to prevent the consumer's thumb or finger from slipping on the inner case.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

In the slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention, when the inner case containing articles is slid up to be protruded from the outer body, the hinged lid opens in a manner interlocked with the sliding movement. Thus, the hinged-lid package of the invention provides a unique, distinctive opening/closing mode, as compared with ordinary packages, and therefore has such a strong appeal to consumers as to stimulate the consumers' motivation to buy the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a package according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 1, illustrating a state wherein an inner case is slid up to open a hinged lid.

FIG. 3 is a partly cutaway perspective view showing a separated state of the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the rear of the inner case.

FIG. 5 illustrates a blank for forming the inner case.

FIG. 6 illustrates a blank for forming an outer body.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner case is contained in the outer body.

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner case is being slid up within the outer body.

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged lid of the inner case has begun to open.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged lid of the inner case is fully opened.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another reinforcing member.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another reinforcing member.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a package 2 according to one embodiment of the invention.
The package 2 is a packaging container for containing smoking articles as tobacco product, such as cigarettes or filter cigarettes, and is generally in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the package 2 comprises an inner case 6 having a lid 4, and an outer body 8 slidably accommodating the inner case 6.
The inner case 6 includes a box body 12, as shown in FIG. 3, which contains inner packs 10.
The box body 12 is in the form of a box with its upper end portion obliquely cut and has a size large enough to contain two inner packs 10 side by side. Each inner pack 10 includes ten smoking articles of 95 mm long wrapped in an inner wrapper. The inner wrapper comprises a sheet of paper and a film of aluminum formed on one surface of the paper sheet by vapor deposition. The aluminum film of the inner wrapper not only serves to protect the bundle of smoking articles from moisture but also prevents dissipation of aroma from the bundle of smoking articles, namely, from the individual smoking articles. For the inner wrapper, laminated paper may be used instead of the aluminum-metalized paper. In this case, the laminated paper has a shielding layer formed therein for preventing the passage of moisture and aroma.
More specifically, the box body 12 includes a rectangular front wall 14, a rear wall 16 smaller in height than the front wall 14, a pair of side walls 18, and a rectangular bottom wall connected to the respective lower ends of the front, rear and side walls 14, 16 and 18, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each side wall 18 has an upper edge 18 a slanted so as to connect the upper end of the front wall 14 to the upper end of the rear wall 16. Consequently, the box body 12 has a slanted opening at its upper end portion.
The front wall 14 has a generally rectangular cut 20 formed in the center of an upper portion thereof. The cut 20 serves to open the front of the box body 12 wide, thus making it easy to take out a smoking article. Also, a rectangular reinforcing plate serving as a reinforcing member for reinforcing the front wall 14 is bonded to a portion of the inner surface of the front wall 14 located at a lower level than the cut 20.
The rear wall 16 has an upper end provided with a lid hinge 24. The lid hinge 24 extends between the rear ends of the upper edges 18 a of the two side walls 18, 18 and connects the rear wall 16 and the lid 4 to each other.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the lid 4 includes a rear wall 26 connected to the lid hinge 24, a top wall 28, and a pair of trapezoidal side walls 30. The lid 4 is swingable about the lid hinge 24. When the lid 4 is closed, the oblique lines of the side walls 30 of the lid 4, that is, the slanted lower edges 30 a of the side walls 30 meet the aforementioned upper edges 18 a of the respective side walls 18 of the box body 12.
The inner case 6 further includes a strip 34 provided at the rear of the lid 4.
The strip 34 is a tongue-like member generally rectangular in shape. More specifically, as clearly shown in FIG. 4, the strip 34 has an upper edge connected to the lid 4 by an upper hinge 32 which is located at the center of a boundary between the rear and top walls 26 and 28 of the lid 4. Also, the strip 34 has a turned-back piece 36 at its lower end portion. The turned-back piece 36 is formed by folding the lower end portion of the strip 34 outward in the thickness direction of the box body 12 to be directed upward so that the turned-back piece 36 may remain bent. Thus, while the inner case 6 is contained in the outer body 8, the turned-back piece 36 of the strip 34 is kept pressed against the inner surface of the outer body 8.
The strip 34 can be formed by using part of the rear wall 26 of the lid 4 and part of the rear wall 16 of the box body 12. Thus, as is clear from FIG. 4, a U-shaped incision 22 is formed so as to extend from the rear wall 26 of the lid 4 past the lid hinge 24 to the rear wall 16 of the box body 12.
The outer surface of the inner case 6 is formed as a corrugated surface 6 a by die forming over its entire area. Specifically, the corrugated surface 6 a has a large number of ridges extending in the width direction of the inner case 6 and spaced at regular intervals in the vertical or height direction of the inner case 6.
The outer body 8 is a box in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having an open end 38 at the top thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer body 8 includes a rectangular front wall 40, a rectangular rear wall 42 having the same dimensions as the front wall 40, a pair of side walls 44, and a rectangular bottom wall connected to the respective lower ends of the front, rear and side walls 40, 42 and 44. The front wall 40 has a generally rectangular opening 46 formed in the center thereof, and the inner case 6 accommodated in the outer body 8 is exposed through the opening 46 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
Also, a contact piece 48 is provided at a rear edge of the open end 38. More specifically, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, the contact piece 48 extends from the rear edge of the open end 38 toward the interior of the outer body 8 along the rear wall 42 and is folded along the rear edge to be directed inward in the thickness direction of the outer body 8 so that the contact piece 48 may remain bent. Thus, the contact piece 48 is pressed against the inner case 6 accommodated in the outer body 8. When the inner case 6 in the outer body 8 is slid in a direction toward the open end 38, therefore, the contact piece 48 becomes engaged with the turned-back piece 36 of the strip 34 of the inner case 6. Further, as is clear from FIG. 3, the contact piece 48 has a generally rectangular cut 50 formed in the center of a lower end thereof. The width of the cut 50 is slightly larger than that of the turned-back piece 36 of the strip 34. Accordingly, the contact piece 48 can reliably engage with the turned-back piece 36 of the inner case 6. In this manner, the strip 34 and the contact piece 48 constitute engagement means.
The package 2 can be made by using an inner case blank 52 for forming the inner case 6 and an outer body blank 54 for forming the outer body 8.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the inner case blank 52 has a front panel 56 that constitutes the front wall 14 of the box body 12, and a reinforcing panel 58 as the reinforcing plate is connected to a lower part, as viewed in the figure, of the front panel 56. Side panels 60, 60 for forming the side walls 18 of the box body 12 are connected to the respective side edges of the front panel 56. Further, a bottom panel 62, which constitutes the bottom wall of the box body 12, is connected to that end of the front panel 56 which is located opposite the reinforcing panel 58. A rear panel 64 for forming part of the rear wall 16 of the box body 12 is connected to that end of the bottom panel 62 which is located opposite the front panel 56.
Inner side flaps 66, 66, which are to be associated with the respective side panels 60, are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel 64. Also, a rear panel 68 for forming part of the rear wall 26 of the lid 4 is connected to that end of the rear panel 64 which is located opposite the bottom panel 62, with a lid hinge line 70 for forming the lid hinge 24 located therebetween. A top panel 72, which constitutes part of the top wall 28 of the lid 4, is connected to that end of the rear panel 68 which is located opposite the rear panel 64. Side panels 74, 74 for forming the side walls 30 of the lid 4 are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel 68. Further, inner top flaps 76, 76, which are to be superimposed on the top panel 72, are connected to those ends of the respective side panels 74 which are located opposite the corresponding inner side flaps 66.
The blank 52 has a U-shaped incision 78 (incision 22) extending from the rear panel 64 of the box body 12 to the rear panel 68 of the lid 4. The region surrounded by the incision 78 is a strip region 63 for forming the aforementioned strip 34. More specifically, the strip region 63 includes a lid rear panel 68 b located in a position corresponding to the rear wall 26 of the lid 4. The lid rear panel 68 b has an upper end connected to the top panel 72 with a hinge line 80 for forming the upper hinge 32 located therebetween. A case rear panel 64 b and a turn-back panel 64 c for forming the turned-back piece 36 of the strip 34, which correspond in position to the rear wall 16 of the box body 12, are connected successively to that end of the lid rear panel 68 b which is located opposite the top panel 72.
An inner top flap 82, which forms the remaining part of the top wall 28 of the lid 4, and an inner back flap 84, which forms the remaining part of the rear wall 26 of the lid 4, are connected successively to that end of the top panel 72 which is located opposite the rear panel 68.
Also, a rear panel 86 for forming the remaining part of the rear wall 16 of the box body 12 is connected to that end of the inner back flap 84 which is located opposite the inner top flap 82, with a hinge line 88 corresponding to the lid hinge 24 therebetween.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the outer body blank 54 has a front panel 90 that constitutes the front wall 40 of the outer body 8. Side panels 92, 92 for forming the side walls 44 of the outer body 8 are connected to the respective side edges of the front panel 90.
A bottom panel 94, which constitutes the bottom wall of the outer body 8, is connected to the upper end, as viewed in the figure, of the front panel 90. A rear panel 96 for forming the rear wall 42 of the outer body 8 is connected to that end of the bottom panel 94 which is located opposite the front panel 90. Inner side flaps 98, 98, which are to be associated with the respective side panels 92, are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel 96. A contact panel 100 for forming the contact piece 48 of the outer body 8 is connected to that end of the rear panel 96 which is located opposite the bottom panel 94.
In this embodiment, the blanks 52 and 54 are made of paper having a basis weight of 180 to 270 g/m²and a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. Specifically, the blanks 52 and 54 may be made of cardboard, Manila cardboard or the like. The inner case blank 52 is subjected to die forming to form a large number of ridges on one surface thereof which is to constitute the outer surface of the inner case 6 such that the ridges extend in the width direction of the inner case 6, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the inner case 6, and are spaced at regular intervals in the sliding direction.
The blanks 52 and 54 are individually folded along fold lines indicated by the dot-dash lines in FIGS. 5 and 6, to form the inner case 6 and the outer body 8, respectively. By folding the blanks, the package 2 with the lid 4 closed as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.
More specifically, the blank 52 is folded first to obtain the package 2. First, the reinforcing panel 58 is folded and glued to the front panel 56. Then, the turn-back panel 64 c of the strip region 63 is folded down and also the lid rear panel 68 b is folded along the hinge line 80 toward the outer surface of the blank 52, that is, toward the outside of the box body 12 to be formed, so that these panels may remain bent on the same side. Subsequently, the side panels 74, 74, the inner top flaps 76, 76 and the top panel 72 are successively folded, and the inner top flaps 76 are glued to the inner surface of the top panel 72. Further, the inner top flap 82, the inner back flap 84 and the rear panel 86 are successively folded over and glued to the respective inner surfaces of the top and rear panels 72, 68 and 64. Then, two inner packs 10 are placed on the rear panels 64 and 68 with the rear panel 86 therebetween, and with the two inner packs 10 placed in this manner, the inner side flaps 66, the bottom panel 62, the front panel 56 and the side panels 60 are folded around the inner packs 10 and glued together. Thus, the inner case 6 containing the inner packs 10 is obtained as an intermediate product.
Subsequently, the blank 54 is folded to obtain the outer body 8. First, the contact panel 100 is folded down toward the inner surface of the blank 54, namely, toward the interior of the outer body 8 to be formed. Then, the above intermediate product is placed on the rear panel 96 such that the rear panel 68 of the intermediate product is superimposed on the contact panel 100. With the intermediate product placed in this manner, the blank 54 is folded around the intermediate product and glued in the manner known in the art, thereby forming the package 2 of FIG. 1 in which the inner case 6 with the lid 4 is contained in the outer body 8.
The hinged-lid package of slide action type having smoking articles packaged therein is obtained in this manner, and each package is then wrapped in, for example, a transparent film.
A consumer who has purchased the package 2 first removes the wrapping film. Then, the consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, the front wall 14 of the inner case 6 exposed through the opening 46 in the front wall of the outer body 8, and slides up the inner case 6. As the inner case 6 is pushed up in this manner, the inner packs 10 contained in the inner case 6 project from the outer body 8 with the lid 4 opened.
The movement of the package 2 will be now described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. At first, the inner case 6 is in its entirety accommodated in the outer body 8 with the lid 4 closed, as shown in FIG. 7. As the inner case 6 is moved upward within the outer body 8, the turned-back piece 36 of the inner case 6 becomes engaged with the contact piece 48 arranged inside the outer body 8 (FIG. 8). The inner case 6 is further moved upward within the outer body 8, and since the contact piece 48 and the turned-back piece 36 are engaged with each other, the lid 4 begins to open as the rear part of the lid 4 is pulled relatively downward by the strip 34, so that the inner packs 10 are exposed (FIG. 9). As the inner case 6 is further moved upward within the outer body 8, the lid 4 reaches a fully open position, where the inner case 6 is stopped and is prevented from being moved upward (FIG. 10). Namely, the engagement of the contact piece 48 with the turned-back piece 36 causes the lid 4 to open and also regulates the amount of sliding of the inner case 6.
In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the contact piece 48 and the turned-back piece 36 and the length of the strip 34 are set so that the sliding of the inner case 6 may be stopped at a position where the smoking articles can be easily taken out from the upper open end of the outer body 8 and also the lid 4 is fully opened.
After the inner packs 10 are thus exposed through the upper open end of the outer body 8, the consumer opens either inner pack 10 and takes out a smoking article. To put the inner packs 10 back into the outer body 8, the consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, the front wall 14 of the inner case 6 exposed through the opening 46 in the outer body 8 and slides the inner case 6 down, so that the inner case 6 is withdrawn into the outer body 8. As the inner case 6 is withdrawn, the contact piece 48 and the turned-back piece 36 become disengaged from each other and the lid 4 gradually closes while being guided by the open end 38 of the outer body 8. When the inner case 6 finally comes into contact with the bottom wall of the outer body 8, the lid 4 is completely closed, thus closing the package 2.
When taking out a smoking article again, the consumer has only to press the front wall of the inner case 6 with his/her thumb or finger through the opening 46 and slide the inner case 6 upward in the same manner as stated above.
Thus, in the slide action type hinged-lid package 2 of this embodiment, the lid 4 can be opened in a manner interlocked with the projecting movement of the inner case 6 from the outer body 8. The hinged-lid package 2 therefore provides a novel opening/closing mode and can strongly appeal to consumers. Also, the outer surface of the inner case 6 is in its entirety corrugated, and the corrugated surface serves to prevent the consumer's thumb or finger from slipping on the inner case 6 when the inner case 6 is slid up, thus making it easier for the consumer to slide up the inner case 6. Further, since the reinforcing plate is attached to the inside of the front wall 14 of the box body 12, the box body 12 has increased rigidity, thus effectively preventing deformation of the box body 12. Accordingly, even if the number of the smoking articles contained has become small, the inner case 6 can be satisfactorily slid up and down without a hitch.
Also, according to this embodiment, by closing the lid 4 of the package 2, it is possible to prevent lowering in freshness of the smoking articles. Moreover, the package 2 can be conveniently used as a tobacco case in such a way that once the package 2 is bought, the consumer continues to use the package 2 by refilling the package 2 with new inner packs 10.
The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment alone and may be modified in various ways.
For example, in the above embodiment, the outer surface of the inner case 6 is corrugated in its entirety. Alternatively, only a surface region of the inner case 6 corresponding at least to the opening 46 of the outer body 8 may be corrugated. Also, in the foregoing embodiment, a large number of ridges are formed on the outer surface of the inner case 6. Antislip means is, however, not limited to such ridges alone, and round bumps or round dimples may alternatively be distributed over the entire surface or part of the surface of the inner case 6, for example.
Also, in the above embodiment, a rectangular plate corresponding in shape to the front wall 14 of the box body 12 is affixed as the reinforcing member to the inside of the front wall 14. Alternatively, plate members so combined as to have a U-shaped cross section may be arranged as a reinforcing member 102 within the box body 12, as indicated by the dot-dot-dash lines in FIG. 11, or plate members so combined as to have a T-shaped cross section may be arranged as a reinforcing member 104 within the box body 12, as indicated by the dot-dot-dash lines in FIG. 12. Namely, a reinforcing member with any desired shape may be used insofar as it is capable of increasing the rigidity of the box body 12. In FIGS. 11 and 12, thin lines indicating the corrugated surface 6 a of the inner case 6 are omitted for simplicity's sake.
Further, the package of the foregoing embodiment is of the type in which two inner packs each including ten smoking articles of 95 mm long are contained. Alternatively, the package may contain a single inner pack including 20 smoking articles with a length of 85 mm or thereabout. Also, the articles to be contained are not limited to smoking articles, and the slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention may be used to contain other goods, for example, food such as sweet stuff.

Explanation OF REFERENCE SIGNS

2 package
4 lid
6 inner case
6 a corrugated surface
8 outer body
10 inner pack
12 box body
14 front wall
16 rear wall
18 side wall
20 cut
22 incision
24 lid hinge
26 rear wall
28 top wall
30 side wall
32 upper hinge
34 strip
36 turned-back piece
38 open end
40 front wall
42 rear wall
44 side wall
46 opening
48 contact piece
50 cut
52 blank for inner case
54 blank for outer body
102 reinforcing member
104 reinforcing member

Claims

1. A slide action type hinged-lid package comprising:

an outer body having a rectangular parallelepipedic shape and having an open end at a top thereof; and

an inner case slidably accommodated in the outer body and having a hinged lid at an upper end portion thereof for opening and closing the inner case,

wherein the outer body includes a front wall and an opening formed through the front wall and allowing the inner case to be partly exposed therethrough, and

the inner case includes a reinforcing member arranged on an inside of a front wall thereof which is exposed through the opening.

2. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 1, further comprising engagement means for engaging the outer body and the inner case with each other,

wherein, when the inner case is slid up relative to the outer body, the engagement means causes the hinged lid to open and also regulates an amount of sliding of the inner case.

3. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 2, wherein the engagement means includes:

a strip arranged on the hinged lid, the strip having an upper end connected to a rear part of the hinged lid by an upper hinge which is located at a level higher than a lid hinge allowing the hinged lid to open and close, and a lower end portion forming a turned-back piece which is folded toward an inner surface of the outer body; and

a contact piece arranged inside the outer body, the contact piece extending from the open end toward the turned-back piece and capable of engaging with the turned-back piece.

4. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 3, wherein the front wall of the inner case has a rough region formed at least on a portion of a surface thereof which is exposed through the opening.