WO2005061339A2

WO2005061339A2 - A pack and a method and blank for making the pack

Info

Publication number: WO2005061339A2
Application number: PCT/IB2004/004138
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sandro Quadrelli
Original assignee: Dreamer S.R.L.
Priority date: 2003-12-19
Filing date: 2004-12-15
Publication date: 2005-07-07
Also published as: WO2005061339A3; ITBO20030766A1

Abstract

Described is a pack (10) for containing an edible product in pieces such as, for example, coated sweets, pastilles, tablets or the like. The pack comprises a box-shaped container body (12) having an opening (28) providing an outlet for the passage of the product, a lid (14) and means for connecting the lid to the container body which enable the lid to move between an open position allowing the product to come out, and a closed position in which the opening (28) in the container body is closed. Retaining means are also provided for keeping the lid in the position in which the opening (28) in the container body is closed. The retaining means (12) comprise engagement means on the container body and engagement means on the lid. Advantageously, the engagement means on the lid consist of a single retaining tab (40).

Description

A PACK AND A METHOD AND BLANK FOR MAKING THE PACK

Technical field The present invention relates to a pack for holding a product, in particular an edible product, especially one in pieces such as coated sweets, pastilles, tablets and the like. The product is preferably in the form of chewing gum, sweets, chocolates or the like.

Background art Known in prior art are box-shaped packs for edible products such as coated chewing gum. These packs comprise a box-shaped container body, a lid and means for connecting the lid to the container body which enable the lid to move between an open position providing an outlet for the passage of the product and a closed position. Retaining means are also provided for keeping the lid in the closed position on the container body. The connecting means comprise engagement means on the container body and engagement means on the lid. In prior art packs of this kind, the lid has a pair of tabs protruding from the sides of it for engaging the retaining means on the container body which consist of a tab made at the end of the front wall of the container body away from the outlet for the passage of the product, also made in the front wall of the box- shaped container body. This design does not, however, provide an effective closure mainly because the tabs on the sides of the lid are very difficult to position so they are exactly aligned with each other. Furthermore, the processes known up to now for making a pack of this kind, when the pack is rectangular and the front wall coincides with one of the narrow sides, are excessively complicated and difficult to apply using automatic machinery. Thus, in known processes, a flat card blank is erected, folded and glued as it advances along a forming line with its large sides or walls parallel to the direction of feed. Once the container body is formed, the front wall of the lid is formed by rotating the pack about the direction of feed so that the front, narrow wall of the pack is parallel to the direction of feed. After the front of the lid has been formed, the pack is rotated once again so that its large sides are parallel to the direction of feed again. This unduly complicates the processes and the machinery used for making the packs .

Summary of the invention A pack is therefore provided for holding a product, preferably a product in pieces, especially an edible product in the form of coated sweets, pastilles and the like, such as, for example, chewing gum, sweets, chocolates or similar products; the pack comprises a container body with an opening made in it, a lid for closing the opening in the container body, and retaining means, provided between the container body and the lid, for keeping the lid in the closed position over the container body; the retaining means comprising reciprocal engagement means on the container body and on the lid. The pack is characterised in that the retaining means on the lid consist of a single retaining tab or tooth. This configuration provides a more effective hold between the lid and the container body. It has also been provided a method for making a pack, the pack being made from a blank, preferably of card, and comprising a container body with an opening made in it and a lid for closing the opening in the container body, the container body having a flat- rectangular base, a pair of opposite narrow side walls and a pair of opposite large side walls, while the lid has a front wall that extends over a narrow wall of the container body constituting the front wall of the pack, the method comprising the step of forming the pack by folding and gluing the panels of the blank while the blank is fed along a respective path; the method being characterised in that the top of the pack, including the lid, is formed without rotating the pack about the direction of blank feed as it moves along the pack forming path. This advantageously simplifies the pack forming process . The present invention also relates to a blank from which the pack according to the invention is made . Other advantageous aspects are set out in the other claims .

Brief description of the Drawings The technical characteristics of the invention are clearly described in the claims below and its advantages are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the open condition; - Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make the first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the steps of a preferred method for erecting the first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the inven ion; - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the open condition; - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross section of a detail of the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention, showing the opening and connecting part at the top of the front wall of the pack; - Figure 10 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 11 is a schematic representation of the steps of a preferred method for erecting the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention; - Figure 12 is a schematic perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 13 is a schematic perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the open condition; - Figure 14 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition; - Figure 15 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make the third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 16 is a schematic representation of the steps of a preferred method for erecting the third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention; - Figure 17 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a fourth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 18 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a fifth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 19 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a sixth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 20 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a seventh preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 21 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make an eighth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 22 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a ninth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 23 is a schematic top plan view of the blank used to make a tenth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention; - Figure 24 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away, of the top of the tenth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the present invention in the closed condition.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a first preferred embodiment 10 of a pack for containing a product, preferably an edible product in pieces, such as coated sweets, pastilles and the like. The product consists preferably of chewing gum, sweets, chocolates and the like. The pack 10 is made from a suitably shaped, flat blank 10'

(illustrated in Figure 4) , preferably of card, which is appropriately folded and glued to form means for containing the product consisting - basically - of a box-shaped container body 12 and means for closing the container body, labelled 14 in their entirety. As illustrated, the box-shaped container body 12 has a plurality of containment walls which, as shown in Figure 1, comprise a top covering wall 16, a bottom wall 18, a narrow front wall 20, a narrow rear wall 22 (opposite the wall 20) , and a first and a second large side wall 24 and 26, opposite each other. As shown in particular in Figure 2, the box-shaped container body 12 also comprises an opening 28 through which the product can come out and which is made at the top 20' of the narrow front wall 20 of the container body 12. Advantageously, the opening 28 is as wide as the wall 20, being delimited at the sides by respective edge portions 24' and 26' of the large side walls 24, 26. The opening 28 has a curved bottom edge 29, with the concave part facing up, and a top edge 31, also curved, with the concave part facing down. As mentioned above, means are also provided for closing the opening in the container body. As illustrated, the closing means comprise a lid 14 for closing the opening 28 in the container body 12, the lid 14 in turn comprising a plurality of containment walls, namely, a top covering wall 30, a front wall 32, and a first and a second side walls 34 and 36. The lid 14 is joined to the container body by suitable connecting means designed to enable the lid to move between an open position providing an outlet for the passage of the product through the opening 28, and a closed position in which the opening 28 in the container body is closed. These connecting means comprise means for hinging the lid to the container body consisting of a transversal fold line 35 made on the top covering wall 16 of the container body 12. As illustrated, the fold line 35 is located in an intermediate area of the top covering wall 16 of the container body 12. Retaining means are also provided for keeping the closing means 14 in the position in which the opening 28 in the containing means 12 is closed. The retaining means comprise engagement means on the container body consisting of suitable tab means which comprise a single retaining tab 37 extending forwards and - when in use - downwards from a free upper edge 20" of the front wall 20 of the container body 12. As illustrated, the retaining tab 37 on the box-shaped container body extends, widthways, only along a central portion of the respective front wall of the container body. The above mentioned retaining means also comprise engagement means on the lid, which are designed to engage with the engagement means 37 opposite them on the container body. The engagement means on the lid comprise tab means consisting, advantageously, of a single retaining tab 40. The retaining tab 40 is located on the inside face of the front wall 32 of the lid and extends, in the first preferred embodiment of the invention, from a vertical edge 36' of a side wall 36 of the lid 14. The retaining tab 40 on the lid extends in the central area of the respective front wall 32 of the lid 14. Looking in more detail at the drawing, the retaining tab 40 on the lid extends, widthways, substantially along the full width of the respective wall 32 of the lid. As shown in Figure 3, the lower edge 37' of the tab 37 on the container body engages the upper edge 40' of the retaining tab 40 on the lid along the full width of the container body. This provides a particularly effective hold. As shown in Figure 2, the height of the tooth or tab 40 is substantially the same as the height of the front wall 32 of the lid. As illustrated, the narrow front wall 32 of the lid and the tooth 40, extending on the inside of the wall 32, have respective paired lower edges, labelled 32 'a and 240', respectively, which are curved with their convex parts facing down. As may be inferred from Figure 3, the upper edge 40' of the tab 40 on the lid, which engages with the lower edge of the tooth or tab 37 on the container body, is made from an indented cut 41b, as described in more detail below with reference to the blank from which the pack according to the invention is made. As mentioned above, the first preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention is made from a flat blank 10 ' , illustrated in Figure 4, preferably of card. The blank 10' comprises a long rectangular panel 20a, defining the narrow front wall 20 of the box-shaped container body and a long rectangular panel 22a, defining the narrow rear wall 22 of the box-shaped container body. The blank further comprises a first and a second wide rectangular panel 24a and 26a, defining, respectively, the first and the second large side wall 24 and 26 of the box-shaped container body. As illustrated, the rectangular panel 24a is separated from the panel 22a by a respective longitudinal crease line 2224. The rectangular panel 26a is separated from the panel 22a by a respective longitudinal crease line 2226, and from the panel 20a by another longitudinal crease line 2026. The blank further comprises an end panel or flap 16a defining a part of the underside of the top covering wall 16 of the box-shaped container body, and an end panel or flap 16b defining an upper and rear part of the top covering wall 16 of the box-shaped container body. The blank 10' yet further comprises a short panel 16d, defining a portion over which the panels 16a and 16b are folded at one end of the panel 22a. As illustrated, the panel 16a is separated from the panel 26a by a respective transversal crease line 1626, whilst the panel 16d is separated from the panel 22a by another transversal crease line 1622. The blank yet further comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth end panel 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d, together defining a bottom wall 18 of the box-shaped container body. More specifically, as illustrated, the panel 18a is separated from the panel 26a by a transversal crease line 1826, the panel 18d is separated from the panel 22a by another transversal crease line 1822, the rectangular panel 18c is separated from the panel 20a by yet another transversal crease line 1820 and the rectangular panel 18b is separated from the panel 24a by yet another transversal crease line 1824. The blank also advantageously comprises a slot 28a with a suitably shaped perimeter, defining the opening 28 in the box- shaped container body 12. The slot 28a is formed by short, longitudinal cut lines and curved transversal cut lines, drawn with continuous lines in the drawin . Looking in more detail, the slot extends for the full width of the respective panel 20a bounded by the lateral edges of the panels 24a, 26a. The slot 28a also has a curved edge 29 cut in the lower part of the panel 20a and an upper curved edge 31. The blank also comprises an end panel 23a which defines a gluing portion 23 'a, and which is separated from the panel 20a by a respective longitudinal crease line 2023. As illustrated, the blank also comprises a tab 37a, defining the retaining tooth 37, which extends from the top end of the panel 20a, and, more specifically, protrudes from the top edge of the end section 121a of the panel 20a above the opening 28. As illustrated, the blank also comprises a plurality of panels defining the lid 14 for closing the opening 28 in the container body 12. Thus, the blank comprises a panel 30b which, when erected, defines the lid's top covering wall 30, and a panel 32a, defining the lid's front wall 32. As illustrated the blank also comprises a first and a second panel 34a and 36a, essentially triangular in shape, defining the first and second side walls 34, 36 of the lid. As illustrated, the blank also has a longitudinal fold or crease line 35 that divides the respective end panel into a first section 16b defining the above mentioned rear part of the top covering wall 16, and a second section 30b defining the top covering wall 30 of the lid. The blank also has a flap 33a that joins the panel defining the side wall 34 of the lid to the panel defining the top covering wall 30. As illustrated, the upper panel 32a of the lid is separated from the panel 30a by a respective longitudinal crease line 3032. The rectangular flap 33a is separated from the substantially triangular panel 34a by a respective transversal crease line 3334. There is also a tear line 2436, made for example by punching, between the triangular panel 36a and the panel 24a. The tear line 2436 keeps the lid in place until torn when the pack is opened for the first time. As illustrated, the upper panel 30b of the lid is separated from the panel 36a by a respective longitudinal crease line 1624", while the panel 16b is separated from the panel 24a by another longitudinal crease line 1624'. As illustrated, the blank also has a tab 40a, defining the single retaining tooth 40 on the lid. The tab 40a extends from a longitudinal end crease line 3640 of the panel 36a defining a respective side wall of the lid. Further, the panel 40a which defines the retaining tooth 40 is separated from the panel 34a by a respective longitudinal crease line 3440. The tab 37a is in turn separated from the end of the panel

20a by a fold line 3720. In addition, the retaining tab 33a extending longitudinally from the flap 34a defining one of the side walls of the lid is separated from the front wall panel 32a by a curved cut line 3233. The numeral 41' in Figure 4 denotes a slot defining an indented edge 41b for engaging the retaining tab 37 on the container body. Short cut lines 41c and 41d separate two longitudinally protruding portions 40c and 40d from the panel 32a. The reference 32 'a denotes the remaining curved longitudinal part of the free edge of the panel 32a, whilst the reference 240 'a denotes the curved transversal free edge of the tab 40a. The reference 16e indicates a narrow, longitudinal end panel separated from the gluing panel 23a by a transversal crease line 1623, this panel 16e eventually defining a part of the underside of the top covering wall. Present pack is advantageously made using a method whereby the lid for closing the narrow side of the pack is formed while the pack remains oriented in the direction of feed. More particularly, in the method for forming the pack, the top of the pack, including the lid, is formed without rotating the pack about the direction of feed while the blank moves along the pack forming path. In a preferred and advantageous embodiment, the container lid is formed while keeping the front of the pack oriented transversally, that is to say, while keeping it perpendicular to the direction of pack feed. This method greatly facilitates the packaging process. A preferred and advantageous method for making the first preferred embodiment of the pack comprises the step of creating the side wall structure of the container body in a substantially known manner and then gluing the portion 23' a of the panel 23a to the inside face of the panel 24a. The container thus formed into a flat tubular shape, that is to say with the inside faces of its side walls in substantial contact with each other, is fed to a packaging machine which, as may be inferred from Figure 5, fills and completes this first embodiment of the pack according to the invention. More particularly, in a first step of feeding the box-shaped container body in the machine, the container body is placed on a feed support or pocket consisting of a bracket or bucket which advances it along the packaging machine. The pack advances along a feed path labelled Z in Figure 5. During this feed step, contact between the container body and the surfaces of the feed support has the effect of "erecting" the container body, that is to say, opening out its side walls until each wall makes an angle of 90° with the walls adjacent to it. Further, in this preferred embodiment, as the container advances during this feed step, which is labelled A in Figure 5, the panel 40a defining the retaining tooth 40, together with the panels 34a and 33a extending from it, is advantageously folded by 90° in such a way that the panel 40a is positioned in front of the front wall 20 of the container body and placed over the upper opening 28 in the container body. This is followed by a step, labelled B as a whole, during which the bottom of the container is partially closed, leaving open only the panel 18b by which the bottom of the container body will later be finally closed by gluing. This step is not explicitly illustrated in Figure 5. During the next step, labelled C, the container body being formed is filled with product. This step is also not explicitly illustrated in Figure 5. Next, in a step labelled D, when the container body is further downstream, on the opposite side of the packaging machine, the panel 34a and the tab 33a extending from it are folded by 90° in such a way that the tab is placed over the panel 26a. Next, in a step labelled E, the retaining tab or tooth 37a on the container body and the flap 16d opposite it, defining the underside of the top covering wall of the container body are folded downwardly by 90°. Next, in a step labelled F, the panel 16a, defining the top covering wall of the container body, and the panel 33a for connecting the side wall 34 of the lid to the top covering wall 30 of the lid, are folded downwardly by 90°. During the step F, adhesive is applied to the surfaces of the panels 16b, 30b and 32, and the panels 16b and 30b are then folded over (and attached to) the panel 16a in step G, and the panel 32a is folded over (and attached to) the panel 40a in a step H following the step G. During the step F, adhesive is also applied to the surface of the lower panel 18b, which is then folded over (and attached to) the panel 18a during the step G. Thus, glue is applied at a single station (F) , which means that the number of areas on the machine that might be dirtied by glue is reduced to a minimum. The glue is sprayed or otherwise applied to the panels as the pack advances, in such a way as to provide at least one strip of glue or, preferably, a first and a second continuous strip of glue Kl, Kl ' and K2, K2 ' , parallel to each other, as illustrated. Alternatively, each strip of glue might consist of a respective plurality of equally spaced glue points lined up with each other along the same straight path. This advantageously provides means for gluing the front panel 32a of the lid to the panel below it, consisting of at least one strip or, preferably, a first and a second strip of glue Kl ' and K2 ' extending in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the panel 32a itself, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the fold line 3032 of this panel. This also advantageously provides means for gluing the top panels 30b, 16b of the container body to the covering panel 16a panel below it, consisting of at least one strip or, preferably, a first and a second strip of glue Kl ' and K2 ' extending in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the panel 30b, 16b itself, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the front and rear edges of the covering panel . In other terms, this provides, after the pack has been erected, one or more strips of glue, located between the front wall of the lid and the retaining tooth on the lid itself and extending vertically, that is to say, in a direction parallel to the side walls of the pack. In an equally advantageous manner, the means for gluing the bottom panel 18b to the respective panel 18a, which is already folded, of the container body consist of at least one strip of glue KS extending in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the panel 18b itself, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the front and rear edges of the bottom panel. In practice, during the forming process, the following operations are carried out on the blank panels. In step B, the bottom of the container is partly formed by suitably folding the tabs 18a, 18c and 18d about the transversal crease lines 1826, 1820, 1822 in a manner that is substantially known and therefore not described herein. The bottom is then completed by suitably folding the flap 18b about the transversal crease line 1824 in step G. The tabs 37a and 16d are in turn folded by an angle of 90° about the edge or crease lines 3720 and 1622, respectively, thus moving the tabs to a horizontal position perpendicular to the side walls of the container. The wide panel 16a is in turn folded by 90° about the edge or crease line 1626, moving the panel to a horizontal position perpendicular to the side walls of the container in step F, while the long panel 16b, 30b is folded by 90° about the edge or crease line 1624', 1624", moving the panel to a horizontal position perpendicular to the side walls of the container in step G. For forming the lid 14, the transversal panel 40a and the panels 34a and 33a extending from it are folded along the vertical fold or crease line 3640 by turning it through 90° until it is flat over the narrow front wall of the container body in step A. Next, the panel 34a extending longitudinally from the panel 40a and the panel 33a extending from it are folded along the vertical fold or crease line 3440 by turning it through 90° until it is flat over the side panel 26a of the container body in step A during which the latter is placed on the support and feed means . The longitudinal panel 33a is folded downwardly along the horizontal fold or crease line 3334 by turning it through 90° until it is flat over the upper end panel 16a of the container body, which is already folded, in step F. In step G, the longitudinal panels 30b and 16b and the panel

232a extending from them are folded along the horizontal fold or crease lines 1624' e 1624", by turning them through 90° until they are flat over the wide upper side panel 16a, which is also already folded, and to which the front section 30b of this long panel is made to adhere in order to form the lid. In step H, the transversal panel 32a is folded along the horizontal fold or crease line 3032, by turning it through 90° until it is flat over the front panel of the container body, and, more specifically, over the panel 40a, which is also already folded in step A, defining the retaining tooth on the lid, and to which the panel 32a is made to adhere. This method greatly facilitates the packaging process, since the pack remains oriented in the direction of feed at all times . That means the structure of the machine that implements the method is also greatly simplified. A second preferred embodiment of the pack is illustrated in Figures 6 to 11. The parts of the second preferred embodiment that are similar to those of the first preferred embodiment are denoted by the same reference characters used to describe the first preferred embodiment and, for brevity, will not be described in detail again. The retaining means on the lid in this second preferred embodiment comprise suitable tab means which advantageously comprise a single retaining tab 140 extending backwards and upwards from a free lower edge 142 of the front wall 32 of the lid

14 of the box-shaped container according to the invention. The retaining tab 140 on the lid extends in the central area of the respective wall 32 of the lid 14 of the box-shaped container according to the invention. As illustrated, the retaining tab 140 on the lid extends, widthways, substantially along the full width of the respective wall 32 of the lid of this box-shaped container. Unlike the first preferred embodiment, the retaining means on the container body in the second preferred embodiment comprise suitable tab means which advantageously comprise a single retaining tab 137 extending forwards and downwards from a free edge 129" or 3716 of a panel 16c defining the top covering wall of the container body 12. As illustrated, particularly in the detail in Figure 9, the opening 128 has an upper edge 129", that is defined (in the central area) by the respective edge of the top covering wall 16c of the box-shaped body from which the retaining tooth 137 of the box-shaped body extends . On each side of the retaining tab 137 on the container body, the front wall comprises a first and a second portion 21a and 21b whose lower edges 21 'a and 21' b define a part of the edge of the product outlet opening 128 and provide means for guiding the product as it comes out. More specifically, the portions 21a, 21b define a lower transversal edge 21 'a, 21 'b that facilitates the passage of only one product at a time. On each side of the retaining tab 137 on the container body, the first and second portions 21a and 21b of the front wall connect the top of the container body and, more specifically, the panel 16c, to the side walls 24 and 26 of the container body. As illustrated, the first and second connecting portions 21a and 21b extend from opposite sides of the container body and the tab 137 is made from respective lateral cuts separating the tab from the portions 21a and 21b. The tab means 137, by extending forwards and downwards from an end edge 129" at a respective top wall of the container body 12 , also constitute contact means for guiding the product as it comes out of the opening 128. As illustrated, together with the opening 128 which extends as far as the top wall of the lid, the top wall of the container body has an inside surface that can also constitute contact means for guiding the product coming out. In practice, the product is made to slide on the inside surface of the top wall 16 of the container body and falls out of the outlet opening 128. Unlike the blank of the first preferred embodiment, the blank shown in Figure 10 comprises a tab 137a defining the retaining tooth 137, which extends from the flap 16c towards and into the slot 128a that defines the opening 128. The quadrangular panel 16c is separated from the side panel 20a, or rather, from its upper portions 21a, 21b, by respective transversal crease lines, labelled 1620' and 1620" in Figure 10. The opening 128a is also defined by short longitudinal cutting lines 2628, 2328 made at the edges of respective panels

26a and 23a. The opening 128a is also defined by short oblique cutting lines 2821a, 2821b made at respective edges of respective portions

21a and 21b of the panel 20a. The opening 128a is also defined by a transversal cutting line 2837 made at a respective free edge of the retaining tab 137. As already stated, the short transversal crease lines 3721a, 3721b separate the tab 137a from the panels

21a, 21b. This blank also comprises a panel 30a defining the upper surface of the top covering wall 30, and a panel 30b defining the underside of the top covering wall 30. This blank also comprises a flap 30c for connecting the wall

36 of the lid to the top wall of the lid formed by the panels 30a and 30b. This blank further comprises a tab 140a defining the single retaining tooth 140 extending from the panel 32a defining the front wall 32 of the lid 14, from which it is separated by a transversal crease line 3240. As illustrated, the upper panel 32a of the lid, in the second preferred embodiment, is separated from the side panel 36a by a respective longitudinal crease line 3236. The panel 30a is in turn separated from the panel 32a by a respective transversal crease line 3032, whilst the triangular panel 34a is separated from the panel 32a by a respective longitudinal crease line 3234. The rectangular flap 30c is separated from the substantially triangular panel 34a by a respective transversal crease line 3034. As may be inferred from Figure 10, the tab 137a is in turn separated from the flap 16c by a fold line 3716. During use, when the lid is open, the tab 137 is preferably inclined downwards by an angle of less than 45° with respect to the respective flap 16c. The method for making the second preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 11. The pack advances along a feed path labelled Z in Figure 11. In practice, the container body, while still partly formed - that is to say, with the portion 23' a of the panel 23a already glued to the inside face of the panel 24a - is conveyed or fed in this flat condition to a packaging machine, said machine not being illustrated in detail in the drawings. Further in the pre-glued condition of the container, the panel 140a defining the tooth 140 is already attached to the inside face of the panel 32a defining the front wall of the lid. During the step of feeding the box-shaped container to the machine, the container body is placed on a feed support or pocket in such a way that contact between it and the surfaces of the feed support has the effect of "erecting" the container body, that is to say, opening out its side walls until each wall makes an angle of 90° with the walls adjacent to it. Further, during this feed step, which occurs at the position indicated by the arrow labelled A2 in Figure 11, the panel 32a, with the panel 140a defining the retaining tooth 140 already attached to the inside face, is advantageously folded by 90° over the front face of the front wall 20 of the container body, and the panel 34a, with the panel 30c - extending from the panel 34a itself - is folded in the same way over the respective face of the side wall 26 of the container body. As illustrated, in the second preferred embodiment, this initial folding or erection of the panels 32a and 34a constituting the lid, occurs with the container facing backwards, that is to say, with the access opening and the panels 32a and 34a at the trailing end of the container with respect to the feed direction in which the container is advancing, whereas in the first preferred embodiment, the initial configuration or erection of the panels constituting the lid occurs with the container facing forwards, that is to say, with the access opening and the panels 40a and 34a at the leading end of the container with respect to the feed direction in which the container itself is advancing. This is followed by a step, labelled B2 as a whole, during which the bottom of the container is partially closed, leaving open only the panel 18b by which the bottom of the container body will later be finally closed by gluing, and then by a step, labelled C2, in which the box-shaped container body being formed is filled with the product in pieces. On the opposite side of the packaging machine, starting from a container body filled condition labelled D2, the flap 30a defining the top of the lid is folded by 90° downwardly towards the outside of the box-shaped container body. Next, in a step labelled E2, the flap 16d defining the top covering wall of the container body is folded downwardly by 90° towards the inside of the container body. • In the next step F2, the flap 16c from which the retaining tab or tooth 137a extends is folded downwardly by 90° towards the inside of the container body. Next, in a step labelled G2, the panel 16a, defining the top covering wall of the container body, and the panel 30a which connects the side wall of the lid to the top covering wall of the lid and which is positioned over the panel 16a, are folded downwardly by 90°. During the next step H2, adhesive material, denoted by the reference characters Kl, Kl ' and K2, K2 ' , is applied to a gluing surface of the panels 16b, 30b and 16e, and in a step "12", the panel 16b is then folded over (and attached to) the panel 16a, the panel is folded over (and attached to) the tab 30c, and the tab 16e is folded over (and attached to) the panel 30a. During the step H2, adhesive material, denoted by the reference characters Kl" and K2", is also applied to an opposite surface of the panel 30b, over which the panel 30a is folded over and glued in the next step L2. During the step H2, adhesive material, denoted by the reference characters KS, is also applied to the surface of the lower panel 18b, which is then folded over (and attached to) the panel 18a during the step 12. As indicated, during the step L2, the panel 30a is turned over through 180° and placed on the top face of the panel 30b, thus completing the pack lid. Thus, glue is applied to the various parts of the container in a single area of the machine. In this embodiment, too, the glue is sprayed or otherwise applied to the panels as the pack advances, keeping the glue guns or glue emitting means fixed on both sides of the advancing pack, in such a way as to provide at least one continuous strip of glue or, preferably, a first and a second continuous strip of glue, on each face, as illustrated. Alternatively, each strip of glue might consist of a respective plurality of equally spaced glue points lined up with each other along the same straight path. This advantageously provides means for gluing the top panel 30a of the lid to the panel below it, consisting of at least one strip or, preferably, a first and a second strip of glue extending in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the panel 30a itself, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the fold line 3032 of this panel. This provides a particularly effective hold. A third preferred embodiment of the pack is illustrated in

Figures 12 to 16. The parts of the third preferred embodiment that are similar to those of the first and second preferred embodiments are denoted by the same reference characters and will not be described in detail again. Unlike the other embodiments described above, the third preferred embodiment comprises a lid retaining tooth 237 that is made from a tab 237a and extends from one end of the panel 216a defining the top covering wall of the lid 14. As illustrated, the tooth 237 is folded downwardly along a longitudinal crease line 23720 made a little way along the tab 237a protruding from the front edge 216 'a of the panel 216a. The lid of the third embodiment comprises a single panel 30b that defines the lid's wall and that can be folded along the crease line 35 defining a connection that can be turned freely about the panel 16b that forms the fixed part of the top wall of the container body. The lid also comprises a triangular flap 234a, defining one of the lid's side walls which extends longitudinally from the panel 30b and which is folded by 90° about a crease line labelled 30234 in Figure 15. The reference numeral 232a in Figure 15 denotes a panel defining the front of the lid, extending in a direction transversal to the panel 30b about which it is folded along a longitudinal crease line 30232. The reference numeral 233a denotes a flap extending from the front panel 232a by which it is folded along a transversal crease line 23233. The flap 233a connects the front panel 232a to the side panel 234a, as described in more detail below. This single retaining tooth on the lid is made from a flap

240a extending transversally from the panel 36a defining one of the lid's side walls, by which it is folded along a crease line 36240 so that it can subsequently be connected to the inside face of the front panel 232a. The flap 240a has a triangular portion 240b at one end of it extending from the upper edge 240 'a of the panel, said edge 240 'a extending at a distance from the transversal edge 232 'a of the panel 232a opposite it. The method for making the third preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention is illustrated in Figure 16. In practice, the container body, while still partly formed, that is to say, with the panel 24a already glued to the inside panel 23a, is conveyed in this flat condition to a packaging machine, where, in a first step of feeding the box-shaped container body in the machine, the container body is placed on a feed support or pocket of the feed means, as in the other embodiments described above. During this feed step, contact between the container body and the surfaces of the feed support has the effect of "erecting" the container body, that is to say, opening out its side walls until each wall makes an angle of 90° with the walls adjacent to it. Further, during this feed step, labelled A3, the panel 240a defining the retaining tooth 240 is advantageously folded by 90° over the lid in front of the outside face of the front wall 20 of the container body. This is followed by a step, labelled B3 as a whole, during which the bottom of the container is partially closed, leaving open only the panel 18b by which the bottom of the container body will later be finally closed by gluing. During the next step, labelled C3, the container body being formed is filled with the product in pieces. On the opposite side of the packaging machine, starting from a container body filled condition labelled D3, the flap 16d defining the underside of the top wall of the container body is folded downwardly by 90° in a step labelled E3. In the next step F3, the flap 216a from which the retaining tab or tooth 237 extends is folded downwardly by 90°. During the next step G3 , adhesive material, denoted by the reference characters Kl and Kl ' , on the extension of the strip Kl, as well as K2 and K2 ' , on the extension of the strip K2, is applied to the respective surfaces of the panels 16b, 30b and 232a, and in the step H3 , the panels 16b and 30b are then folded over (and attached to) the panel 216a, while in a step 13, following the step H3, the panel 232a is folded over (and attached to) the panel 240a. During the step G3 , adhesive material, denoted by the reference characters KS, is also applied to the surface of the lower panel 18b, which is then folded over (and attached to) the panel 18a during the step G. Thus, glue is applied to the various parts of the container in a single area of the machine using glue guns or glue emitting means which are mounted on opposite sides of the pack as it advances along its feed path and which direct the glue at the pack from different angles. In this embodiment, too, the glue is sprayed or otherwise applied to the panels as the pack advances, keeping the glue guns or emitting means fixed on both sides of the advancing pack, in such a way as to provide at least one continuous strip of glue or, preferably, a first and a second continuous strip of glue, parallel to each other, as illustrated. Alternatively, each strip of glue might consist of a respective plurality of equally spaced glue points lined up with each other along the same straight path. This advantageously provides means for gluing the upper panel 232a of the lid to the panel 240a below it, consisting of at least one strip or, preferably, a first and a second strip of glue extending in a direction parallel to the lateral edges of the panel 232a itself, that is to say, in a direction perpendicular to the fold line 30232 of this panel. Next, in the step H3 , the panel 16b, 30b, defining the top covering wall of the container body, the panel 232a defining the front wall of the lid, and the connecting flap 233a extending from it are folded downwardly by 90°. In the next step 13, the flap 232a defining the front wall of the lid is folded downwardly by a further 90° and made to adhere to the tooth panel 240a, and the connecting tab 233a is positioned at and parallel to the side wall 26a of the container body. Next, in a step (not illustrated) following the step 13, the flap 234a defining the side wall of the lid is folded downwardly over the connecting flap 233a which is now located at and parallel to the side wall 26a of the container body. Figure 17 illustrates a blank for making a fourth preferred embodiment which is very much the same as the second preferred embodiment and which is therefore not described in particular detail . The fourth preferred embodiment differs from the second preferred embodiment in that the panel 34a defining the side wall 34 of the lid is fixed by folding a flap 30 'c extending longitudinally from the flap 30b defining the underside of the lid's top covering wall 30. The connecting flap 30 'c is separated from the end panel 30b by a crease line 3030. When the blank is erected, the connecting flap 30 'c is folded down relative to the end panel 30b and then attached to the inside face of the panel 34a. Figure 18 illustrates a blank for making a fifth preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention. The fifth preferred embodiment is very much the same as the third preferred embodiment from which it differs only in that, on the transversal edge opposite that of the longitudinal triangular extension 240b, it has a similar transversal triangular end portion 240c which extends from the upper edge 240 'a of said panel and which, together with the portion 240b defines a space into which the retaining tab 237 'a on the container body can be inserted. The tab 237 'a in turn extends from the upper edge of the end 121a of the panel 20a defining the front wall of the container body. Figure 19 illustrates a blank used for making a sixth preferred embodiment of the pack. This blank, from which the sixth preferred embodiment is made by a sequence of folding and gluing operations, has an appropriately shaped profile. The panels defining the container body of the sixth preferred embodiment are substantially the same as those of the other embodiments described above. More specifically, the sixth preferred embodiment is very similar to the second preferred embodiment from which it differs in that it comprises a flap 332b, which extends transversally from one end of the panel 30b defining the top wall of the lid and whose free edge has an undulating profile 332 'b with a wide inwardly curved central section forming a recess. During the formation of the pack, the tab 332b is folded downwardly away from the panel 30b and is positioned over the panel 332a, thus forming a double front wall for the lid. The undulating recessed section 332 'b on the front wall of the lid advantageously provides a facilitated gripping element for the user, that is to say, a superposed panel that leaves a part of the underlying panel 332a exposed. Figure 20 illustrates a blank used for making a seventh preferred embodiment of the pack. This blank, from which the seventh preferred embodiment is made by a sequence of folding and gluing operations, has an appropriately shaped profile. The arrangement of the panels for making the container body of the seventh preferred embodiment is the same as that of the fifth preferred embodiment described above. The panels defining the lid, on the other hand, are similar to those of the sixth embodiment. In the seventh embodiment, the panel 432a defining the inside of the front wall of the lid has an upper edge 432 'a that is indented at least (as illustrated) at its central portion so as to form, together with the panel 440a when the latter is folded onto the inside face of the panel 432a, a tooth for retaining the tooth 437 on the container body. Said tooth, being formed from two panels, is thus reinforced. Figure 21 illustrates a blank used for making an eighth preferred embodiment of the pack. This blank, from which the eighth preferred embodiment is made by a sequence of folding and gluing operations, has an appropriately shaped profile. The panels making up the container body and lid of the eighth preferred embodiment are arranged in substantially the same way as those of the first preferred embodiment described above. The eighth embodiment, however, has a short panel 530a extending longitudinally from the panel 532a from which it is separated by a respective crease line 53032. A panel 534a, together with the panel 530c, extends transversally from the panel 532a. The panel 530c is separated from the panel 534a by a respective crease line 53034. The panels 530a and 530c are positioned at and made to adhere to the underside of the panel 530b to form the top covering wall of the pack. Figure 22 illustrates a blank used for making a ninth preferred embodiment of the pack. This blank, from which the ninth preferred embodiment is made by a sequence of folding and gluing operations, has an appropriately shaped profile. The panels making up the container body and lid of the ninth preferred embodiment are arranged in substantially the same way as those of the third preferred embodiment described above. The ninth embodiment, however, also comprises a triangular panel 634a defining one of the lid's side walls which extends longitudinally from the panel 632b defining the front wall of the lid from which it is separated by a respective crease line 63032. During the formation of the pack, the panel 634a is folded by a suitable rotational movement and is positioned at the respective side wall of the container body, over the panel 633a extending over the panel 630b defining the lid's top wall which has been previously folded downwardly along the crease line 63033. The side panel 634a is then glued to the panel 633a. Figures 23 and 24 illustrate yet another, the tenth, preferred embodiment of the pack according to the invention. Advantageously, this embodiment of the pack is particularly well sealed. In Figures 23 and 24, the parts that are similar or equivalent to those of the other embodiments are denoted by the same reference characters and are not described again in any detail. This embodiment is very similar to the third preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 12 to 16, from which it differs, as evidenced by the blank illustrated in Figure 23, in that it comprises a longer flap 716e which extends from the end connecting panel 23a and whose end edge 716 'e is transversally aligned with the free end edge 716"a, of the flap 16a, which defines a top covering wall and from which the retaining tooth 237a on the container body extends. The tenth preferred embodiment also comprises a tab 716c extending from the long panel 20a and from which it is separated by a respective fold or crease line 1620. The flap 716c, which defines part of the top covering wall of the container body, and, more particularly, its front end, has a straight edge 3716c, that runs along the extension of the crease line 2023 that divides the long panel 20a from the connecting panel 23a. The flap 716c has a first connecting section 1716c or extension of the narrow central panel 20a, this section extending for the full length of the crease line 1620 and having an oblique edge 1716 'c extending inwards towards the central part of the tab 716c, that is to say, away from the opposite tab 16a. From the first section 1716c there extends a second section 2716c which has an edge 2716 'c running parallel to the longitudinal crease lines of the panel 20a starting from the end of the oblique edge 1716 'c. This creates a shaped profile 1716 'c, 2716 'c that is indented with respect to the imaginary line extending the longitudinal edge 2026 dividing the long panel 20a from the central panel 26a and which forms or extends the tab 237a, defining the retaining tooth on the container body, from the upper panel 16a. The tab 237a protrudes from the longitudinal edge 216 'a of the top covering panel 16a. There is also a panel 728 defining the tab that closes the product outlet opening. The panel 728 is connected to the wall 20a it forms part of by a plurality of tear lines (made for example by punching) , namely, an upper tear line 728a, side tear lines 728b and 728c and a lower, downward curving tear line 728d, said tear lines outlining the tab 728. Thanks to these tear lines, the user can open the pack for the first time by simply pressing the tab with a finger. In practice, the lid is opened first and then the tab 728, which may be torn only partly so as to remain connected to the container body along one of the edges 728a, 728b, 728c, 728d, preferably along the edge 728a, as shown in Figure 24. This embodiment of the container is therefore well sealed. The special closure is provided by the tab 716c which seals the space or gap between the edge 216c of the covering flap 16a and the upper edge 1620 of the front panel 20a. In the sequence of folding the upper flaps, the first flap to be folded is the flap 716e, over which the flap 716c is folded and then the flap 16a folded over the latter. The flap 16d is then folded over the flap 16e and, over the latter, the flap 16b partly defining the lid is folded last. This embodiment of the pack is thus provided with a particularly effective closure. As illustrated, the tab 716e has an outer longitudinal edge 716"e, which, when the pack is erected as shown in Figure 24, comes into substantial contact with the transversal rotation line 35 so that the tab 716e fully covers the space under the panel 30b of the lid. This provides a particularly rigid cover for the box- shaped container body 12. All the embodiments of the pack described above are made preferably from respective blanks of card. Further, the 16e, 16a, 16c, 16d, 16b sequence of folding the upper flaps in the tenth embodiment just described might also be adopted for the second embodiment (Figure 10) , the fourth embodiment (Figure 17) , the sixth embodiment (Figure 19) and the eighth embodiment (Figure 21) . It will be understood that the invention can be adapted and modified in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all of the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements .

Claims

1. A pack for holding a product, preferably a product in pieces, especially an edible product in the form of coated sweets, pastilles or the like, such as, for example, chewing gum, sweets, chocolates or similar products; the pack comprising a container body (12) with an opening (28) made in it, a lid (14) for closing the opening (28) in the container body, and retaining means, provided between the container body and the lid, for keeping the lid (14) in the closed position over the container body; the retaining means (12) comprising reciprocal engagement means on the container body (12) and on the lid (14) ; the pack being characterised in that the retaining means on the lid consist of a single retaining tab or tooth (40) .

2. The pack (10) according to claim 1 or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a container body in the form of a box-shaped container (12) having a plurality of containment walls.

3. The pack (10 according to either of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the box-shaped body has flat rectangular sides.

4. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the container body comprises a front wall (20) .

5. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the front wall (20) is a narrow wall of the box-shaped body.

6. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the container body comprises a covering wall (16) .

7. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the container body comprises at least one and, more particularly, a first and a second side wall (24, 26) .

8. The pack (10) according to claim 7, characterised in that the covering wall (16) comprises a respective panel (16a, 16b) extending from a side wall of the container body.

9. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 6 to 8, characterised in that the covering wall (16) comprises a panel (16c) extending from the front wall (20) of the container body.

10. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the opening (28) is made in a side wall (20) of the container body and, more specifically, in an upper section (20') of the side wall (20) of the container body (12) .

11. The pack (10) according to claim 10, characterised in that the opening is made in a front wall (20) of the container body (12) .

12. The pack (10) according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the opening (28) extends for the full width of the respective wall (20) .

13. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 10 to 12, characterised in that the opening (28) has an upper edge defined at least partly by the respective edge of the top covering wall (16) of the container body.

14. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining means on the container body comprise tab means (37) .

15. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the tab means extend along a side wall (20) of the container body and, more specifically, along a narrow front wall (20) of the container body.

16. The pack (10) according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the engagement tab means on the container body comprise a single retaining tab (37) .

17. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 16, characterised in that the retaining tab (37) on the container body extends, widthways, only along a central portion of the respective wall of the container body.

18. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 17, characterised in that on each side of the retaining tab (37) on the container body, there are a first and a second portion (21a, 21b) connecting the side wall (20) to the top wall of the container body, said first and second connecting portions (21a, 21b) extending on opposite side walls (24, 26) of the container body.

19. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 18, characterised in that on each side of the retaining tab (37) on the container body, the front wall has a first and a second portion (21a, 21b) defining, at least with their lower edges, part of the product outlet opening (28) and providing means for guiding the product as it comes out .

20. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the tab means (37) extend forwards and downwards from an end edge at a respective wall (16) of the container body (12) .

21. The pack (10) according to claim 20, characterised in that the tab means extend forwards and downwards from the end edge of the top wall (16) of the container body (12) .

22. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 14 to 21, characterised in that the retaining tab means on the container body constitute contact means for guiding the product as it comes out of the opening.

23. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 6 to 22, characterised in that the inside surface of the covering wall of the container body constitutes contact means for guiding the product as it comes out .

24. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises retaining tab means (40) extending along an inside face of a side wall of the lid (14) and, more specifically, along the inside face of the front wall (32) of the lid (14) .

25. The pack (10) according to claim 24, characterised in that the retaining tab means (40) on the lid extend backwards and upwards from a free lower edge (42) of a respective wall (32) of the lid (14) .

26. The pack (10) according to claim 24 or 25, characterised in that the retaining tab means (40) on the lid extend at least in the central area of the respective wall (32) of the lid (14) .

27. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 24 to 26, characterised in that the retaining tab means (40) on the lid extend, widthways, for the full width of the respective wall (32) of the lid (14) .

28. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 24 to 27, characterised in that the closing retaining tab means (40) on the lid engage the free edge of the retaining tab means (37) on the container body along the full width of the latter.

29. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises a plurality of containment walls .

30. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises a covering wall (30) .

31. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises a front wall (32) .

32. The pack (10) according to claim 31, characterised in that, in the closed condition, the front wall (32) of the lid closes the opening (28) in the container body.

33. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises at least one and, more particularly, a first and a second side wall (34, 36) .

34. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 30 to 33, characterised in that the top wall (30) of the lid comprises a first panel (30a) and a second panel (30b) placed over each other.

35. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises means for connecting the lid (14) to the container body (12) , designed to enable the lid (14) to move between a closed position and an open position providing an outlet for the passage of the product .

36. The pack (10) according to claim 35, characterised in that the connecting means comprise means for hingeing the lid to the container body.

37. The pack (10) according to claim 36, characterised in that the hingeing means consist of a fold line (35) made on the top covering wall (16) of the container body (12) .

38. The pack (10) according to claim 37, characterised in that the fold line (35) is made at an intermediate point of the top covering wall (16) of the container body.

39. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the container is made from a flat blank (10') .

40. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it comprises a long rectangular panel (20a) , defining the narrow front wall (20) of the box-shaped container body.

41. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one and, more particularly, a first and a second wide rectangular panel (24a, 26a) , defining the first and the second large side wall (24, 26) of the box-shaped container body.

42. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an end flap (16c) forming a part of the top covering wall of the box-shaped container body and extending from the front wall (20a) of the box-shaped container body.

43. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (32a) defining the front wall (32) of the lid.

44. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (32a) defining the top of the front wall (32) of the lid.

45. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (30a) defining the top of the covering wall (30) .

46. The pack (10) according to claim 45, characterised in that it comprises a panel (30a) defining the top of the covering wall (30) and extending transversally from the transversal end line of the main panel (32a) defining the front wall of the lid.

47. The pack (10) according to claim 45 or 46, characterised in that it comprises a panel (30b) defining the underside of the top covering wall (30) of the lid.

48. The pack (10) according to claim 47, characterised in that it comprises a panel (30b) extending transversally from the panel (32a) defining the front wall of the lid, and longitudinally from the transversal end line of the main panel (24a) defining a respective side wall (24) of the box-shaped container body.

49. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a first panel (34a) that is, in particular, essentially triangular in shape and defines the first side wall (34) of the lid.

50. The pack (10) according to claim 49, characterised in that the panel (34a) defining the first side wall (34) of the lid extends transversally from the panel (32a) defining the front wall of the lid.

51. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a second panel (36a) that is, in particular, essentially triangular in shape and defines the second side wall (36) of the lid.

52. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a fold line (35) made at the panel (16b) which is divided into a first part (16a) defining the covering wall (16) and a second part defining the wall (30b) of the lid.

53. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a flap (30c) connecting a wall (36) of the lid to the top wall (30) of the lid.

54. The pack (10) according to claim 53, characterised in that the flap (30c) connecting a wall (36) of the lid to the top wall (30) of the lid extends longitudinally from the panel (34a) defining the side wall of the lid.

55. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a tab (137a) defining the retaining tooth (37) which extends from the flap (16c) of the covering wall towards the opening (28) .

56. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a tab (140a) defining the single retaining tooth (140) on the lid and extending from a free lower edge (3240) of a front wall (32) of the lid (14).

57. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 51 to 56, characterised in that there is a tear line (2436) between the side wall (36a) of the lid and the side panel (24a) of the container body.

58. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 49 to 57, characterised in that, for connecting the panel (34a), defining a side wall of the lid, it comprises a flap (30 'c) extending longitudinally from the flap (30b) defining the lid (30) .

59. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a flap (233a) extending from a front panel (232a) of the lid, said flap (233a) serving to connect the front panel (232a) of the lid to the side panel (234a) of the lid.

60. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining tooth on the lid is defined by a flap (240a) that extends transversally from the panel (36a) defining a side wall of the lid from which it is folded so that it can be connected to the inside face of the front panel (232a) .

61. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that the flap (240a) defining the retaining tooth on the lid has a triangular portion (240b) at one end of it extending from the upper edge (240' a) of the flap (240a) itself.

62. The pack (10) according to claim 61, characterised in that, on the transversal edge opposite that of the longitudinal triangular extension (240b) , it comprises a similar transversal triangular end portion (240c) which extends from the upper edge (240 'a) and which, together with the portion (240b), creates a space for insertion of the retaining tab (237 'a) on the container body.

63. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a retaining tooth (237) on the container body in the form of a short shaped flap (237a) which extends transversally from an end flap (216a) defining the covering of the container body.

64. The pack (10) according to claim 63, characterised in that the crease or fold line (23720) of the tab (237a) is made at an intermediate point of the flap (216a) .

65. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (32a) with an end edge (32 'a) forming a lid whose front wall has a curved lower edge.

66. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 59 to 65, characterised in that it comprises a retaining tab (33a) which extends longitudinally from the flap (34a) defining the side wall of the lid and which is separated by a cut line (3233) from the respective side of the curved edge (32 'a) of the front panel (32a) .

67. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims from 43 to 66, characterised in that the front wall of the lid is made up of a first panel (332a) and a second panel (332b) , where the upper panel (332b) of the lid has a lower edge or section (332'b) that is recessed with respect to the panel (332a) below it.

68. The pack (10) according to claim 67, characterised in that it comprises a flap (332b) which extends transversally from one end of the panel (30b) defining the top wall of the lid and whose free edge has an undulating profile (332'b) with a wide inwardly curved central section.

69. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (432a) which defines the inside of the lid's front wall whose upper edge (432 'a) is indented at least at its central portion so as to form, together with the panel (440a) when the latter is folded onto the inside face of the panel (432a) , a tooth (437) for retaining the tooth on the lid, thus increasing the thickness .

70. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a short panel (530a) extending longitudinally from the panel (532a) from which it is separated by a respective crease line (53032) , the panel (530) , together with the panel (530c) extending longitudinally from the panel (534a) , being positioned at and made to adhere to the panel 530b to form the top of the covering wall of the pack.

71. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (634a) that is, in particular, essentially triangular in shape, defining a side wall of the lid, and extends longitudinally from the panel (632a) defining the front wall of the lid.

72. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel which defines the front wall (32a) of the lid and which is fixed by means of a continuous strip or line of points of adhesive material running parallel to the side edges of the front panel (32a) itself.

73. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel which defines the top wall (30b, 16b) of the container body and which is fixed to the underlying covering panel (16a) by at least one and, more particularly, a first and a second continuous strip or line of points of adhesive material running parallel to the side edges of the panel (30b, 16b) itself.

74. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one, and, more particularly, a first and a second continuous strip or line of points of adhesive material running in a substantially vertical direction between the front panel of the lid and the retaining tooth of the lid.

75. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a tab (716c) , which extends from a central panel (20a) of the container body and which has an indented side profile (1716 'c, 2716 'c) suitable for allowing the insertion of a tab (237a) , defining a retaining tooth on the container body.

76. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it comprises a flap (716e) which extends from the end panel (23a) connecting a larger or longer opposite panel (24) of the container body and whose end edge (716'e) is transversally aligned with the free end edge (716"a) , of the flap (16a) which extends from a main panel (26a) defining a side wall of the container body.

77. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims or according to the preamble to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a panel (728) which defines a tab for closing the product outlet opening and whose edge has at least one tearable part.

78. The pack (10) according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that it is made of card.

79. A blank for making a box-shaped pack, preferably of card, characterised in that it comprises panels and/or flaps and/or tabs made in accordance with any of the foregoing claims.

80. A method for making a pack, the pack being made from a blank, preferably of card, and comprising a container body (12) with an opening (28) made in it and a lid (14) for closing the opening (28) in the container body, the container body (12) having a flat rectangular base, a pair of opposite narrow side walls (20, 22) and a pair of opposite large side walls (24, 26) , while the lid has a front wall (32) that extends over a narrow wall (20) of the container body (12) constituting the front wall of the pack, the method comprising the step of forming the pack by folding and gluing the panels of the blank while the blank is fed along a respective path; the method being characterised in that the pack lid is formed without rotating the pack about the direction of blank feed as it moves along the pack forming path.

81. The method according to claim 80 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the lid is formed while keeping the front (20) of the pack oriented transversally, that is to say, while keeping it perpendicular to the direction of pack feed.

82. The method according to claim 80 or 81 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the lid (14) is formed by first folding the flap (40a) that defines the lid's retaining tooth (40) .

83. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 82, characterised in that the lid (14) is formed by folding the panel (30a), which defines the top of the lid's covering wall

(30), over the panel (30b), which defines the underside of the container body's covering wall and causing the panel (30a) to adhere to the panel (30b) .

84. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 83 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the retaining tooth on the container body is formed by folding the panel (16a) , from which the retaining tab (237a) extends, along a respective crease line (1626) in such a way that the panel (16b, 30b) forming part of the container body's covering wall (16) to a position where it closes the top of the container body.

85. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 84 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the covering wall of the container body (12) is formed by folding a panel (16c), forming part of the container body's covering wall (16) , along a respective crease line (3716) to a position where it closes the top of the container body.

86. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 84 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the retaining tooth on the container body (12) is formed by folding a panel (16c) to a position where it closes the top of the container body and so that the retaining tooth (137) itself protrudes from the front .

87. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 86 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the lid is formed while the blank is inserted into the feed pocket of the container being formed.

88. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 87, characterised in that it comprises a step of folding the transversal panel (40a) along the longitudinal fold or crease line (3640) by turning it through 90° until it is flat over the narrow front wall of the container body.

89. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 88, characterised in that the tab (37a) is folded downwardly through an angle less than 90° to a position suitable for the snap-shut engagement of the tooth with the inside face of the lid.

90. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 89 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the adhesive material for fixing a respective panel is applied by a movement relative to the pack.

91. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 90, characterised in that the adhesive material for fixing a respective panel is applied by a movement relative to the pack in the direction of feed of the pack itself.

92. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 91, characterised in that the adhesive material for fixing a respective panel is applied while the pack is fed forward.

93. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 92, characterised in that the adhesive material for fixing the upper and lower panels of the pack is applied in the same area (F) .

94. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 93 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the adhesive material for fixing the panels is applied while the glue emitting means are held in a fixed position.

95. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 94 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the glue emitting means that apply the adhesive material for fixing the panels are located on the same side of the pack.

96. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 95 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the glue emitting means that apply the adhesive material for fixing the panels are located on opposite sides of the pack.

97. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 96 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the panel (140a) defining the tooth on the lid is folded about an edge, and more particularly, a lower edge, of the panel (32a) defining the front wall of the lid.

98. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 97 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the lid's front wall (32) is fixed using one or more strips of adhesive material extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the fold or crease line of the panel that defines the lid's front wall (32).

99. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 98 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the top wall of the container body is formed by folding the flap (716) which extends longitudinally from the end connecting panel.

100. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 99 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the top wall of the container body is formed by folding the flap (716c) which extends from the central panel (20) defining the front wall of the container body.

101. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 100 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the top wall of the container body is formed by folding the flap (16a) which extends from a wide central panel (26a) defining a side wall of the container body.

102. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 101 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the top wall of the container body is formed by folding the flap (16d) which extends from a narrow central panel (22a) defining a rear wall of the container body.

103. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 102 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that the top wall of the container body is formed by folding the flap (16b) which extends from a wide central panel (24a) defining a side wall of the container body.

104. The method according to any of the foregoing claims from 80 to 103 or according to the preamble to claim 80, characterised in that a blank according to claim 79 is used.