WO2014067659A1

WO2014067659A1 - Container with removeable portion

Info

Publication number: WO2014067659A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/003275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Toinet; Lucas Chatelain
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2012-10-31
Filing date: 2013-10-30
Publication date: 2014-05-08

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (22) for consumer goods, in particular, smoking articles, comprising a box for housing the consumer goods and a cup-shaped lid for closing the box, the box comprising a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, the cup-shaped lid comprising a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and two side walls, the box and the lid are connected via a hinge line (29), and the box and the hinge lid being further partially connected via a removeable portion (23) of the container, the removeable portion being adapted to be removed in order to allow opening of the container. The removeable portion (23) comprises a first part (17) that depends via a weakening line (19) from a lid wall and a separate second part (18) which depends via a weakening line (20) from a box wall, wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other. The invention further relates to a blank (1) and a method for manufacturing a hinge lid container.

Description

Container with Removeable Portion

The present invention relates to a hinge lid container having a removeable portion that is adapted to be removed prior to opening the container for the first time. The container of the present invention finds particular application as a container for smoking articles, such as filter cigarettes.

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

Hinge lid containers, which are commonly used for packaging cigarettes and other consumer goods, are typically wrapped in an outer wrapper, which provides a barrier layer against the ingress or emersion of air, moisture, odours or flavours into and out of the container during storage. The outer wrapper is often a transparent polymeric materials, such as high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof. The outer wrapper usually includes a tear tape. The tear tape is positioned around the container below the lower edge of the front wall of the lid, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the lid is free to be rotated about the first hinge line. Alternatively or in addition, there may be a second tear tape positioned around the container above the hatch, such that once the tear tape has been removed, the hatch is free to be rotated about the second hinge line. Alternatively, the tear tape may be provided lengthways around the container.

The tear tape provides a tamper evidence in that once it is removed, it cannot be reclosed. Tamper evidence is a desirable feature as it assures the consumer that the contents of the container have not been touched by others.

However, overwrapping the container with a separate wrapper that has to be torn open and removed during the first opening of the container makes the production of the package more difficult and expensive since it introduces additional materials and processing steps. In addition, the wrappers are often discarded once opened and so this create additional undesirable waste.

It would be desirable to address this issue.

In US-A1 -2003/0213722, a container for a meal kit has a tear strip provided in a panel of the meal kit container. The tear strip is arranged such that the panel can be severed into two parts which allows the container to be opened. However, the panel comprising the tear strip may become detached from the container, especially if forces are applied involuntarily to its edges. Furthermore, the quality of the appearance and the quality of the tactile impression of the container is reduced due to the design of tear strip panel.

WO-A1 -2009/040 378 discloses a smoking article pack formed from a blank wherein the lid portion comprises an edge portion which connects a closure portion via a removeable portion to the outside of a front panel of the pack. However, the edge portion of the lid is smaller in its width than the front panel of the pack such that the overlap of the lid on the box front wall is visible to a consumer and provides an unsightly appearance of the pack. Furthermore, the front wall is not smooth due to the edge of the overlapping lid, as there is a small step between the lid and the box front wall. This step may cause inconvenience as it may be involuntarily engaged by the consumer or another object which may result in unintentional opening of the pack or at least in a worn out edge which makes the appearance of the pack even less favourable.

US-A-4,482,056 and US-A-3, 065,896 disclose containers, wherein removeable flaps form a large part of a container wall. After removing the flaps, the container is open and cannot be reclosed.

It is the object of the invention to provide a recloseable container, which has a novel tamper evidence feature. It is a preferred object to provide a novel tamper evidence feature in hinge lid containers.

The invention provides a container for consumer goods, in particular, smoking articles, comprising a box for housing the consumer goods the box comprising a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, and a lid comprising a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and two side walls for closing the box. The box and the lid are partially connected via a removeable portion of the container, the removeable portion being adapted to be removed in order to allow opening of the container. The removeable portion comprises a first part that depends via a weakening line from a lid wall and a separate second part which depends via a weakening line from a box wall, wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other.

This preferred design of the container allows that the container has the general shape of a regular hinge lid container once opened. After removing the removeable portion a small dip may be present at the lower front edge of the lid, where, previously, the removeable portion was provided. The dip may help in opening the lid, in particular as it may comprise a slightly rougher surface than the other edges of the container or may slightly protrude from the container. The aforementioned preferred configuration of the container prevents the accidental opening of the container. In particular, the first and second parts have substantially the same width as the upper part of the box of the container. The width of the box is defined in the transverse direction across the front wall from the left to the right side wall and perpendicular to the height direction in the upright longitudinal direction of the box. Preferably, the left and right side edges of the first and second parts are flush with the left and right side edges of the front wall in the upper portion of the box.

Preferably, the box and the lid are connected via a hinge line, wherein an opening of the container can be closed and opened by means of the lid.

The invention further relates to a blank for a container for consumer goods, in particular, smoking articles, comprising a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a first panel and a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a second panel, wherein the first part and the second part are adapted to be fixed to each other.

Further, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a container for consumer goods, in particular smoking articles, from a blank comprising the steps of folding the blank at predetermined folding lines, fixing tabs and panels of the blank to each other, and fixing a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a first panel, to a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a second panel.

The removeable portion comprises a first part that depends via a weakening line from a lid wall and a separate second part which depends via a weakening line from a box wall, wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other. The advantage of this is that the removeable portion is reinforced, as it is comprised of two parts, which are attached to each other. This configuration provides a reliable tearing of the removeable portion.

The weakening line is preferably a scoring line. In particular, the weakening line is comprised of several separate cuts, which are positioned close to each other along a line. Preferably the first and the second parts are extending adjacent, parallel and preferably substantially congruent to each other. The first and second parts may have substantially the same dimensions. Several removeable portions may be provided in a container at different locations.

Preferably the first and second parts are attached to each other by means of adhesive.

A grasping tab may depend from the first or second part. Alternatively, one or more grasping tabs may depend from the first and second parts. However, it is preferred that a grasping tab depends only from one part, since such a configuration is easier to produce and the risk of accidental pulling of the tab is reduced. The grasping tab may protrude beyond a side of the container, such that it can be more easily grasped by a consumer. In one embodiment, the container comprises an inner frame mounted within the box and extending above the upper edge of at least the front wall of the box, such that the inner frame is provided inside of the removable portion. This enables that the inner frame still covers the contents of the container when the removeable portion is removed. In particular, the inner frame extends at least in the whole area of the removeable portion, to fully cover any potential opening in the container which could otherwise be created by the removal of the removeable portion.

The container comprises a front wall, a backwall and two side walls, the hinge lid being rotatable about a hinge line in the back wall and at least a part of the removeable portion located in the front wall of the container. In this case, the box side walls may be in contact with the respective hinge lid side walls along their entire length, which provides a desirable tactile sensation. Alternatively, the respective walls may be arranged so that they are not in contact along their entire length. For instance, the edges of the box side walls and the edges of the respective lid side walls may not be parallel to each other, thus creating a gap between the walls. This gap preferably provides an access to the removeable portion. Preferably it provides a space for the grasping tab such that a consumer can more easily grasp and pull the tab so as to remove the removeable portion.

In one aspect, the removeable portion is located across the front wall and substantially across the two side walls of the container. This provides stronger structural rigidity to the container.

The removeable portion formed of the first and second parts is preferably a double layer tear strip.

In another aspect, which can be in addition to or instead of the removeable portion comprising a tear strip, a length of string may be provided in the container, the string being adapted to tear a weakening line between the lid front wall and the box front wall. The string is attached to the container in a manner such that the string is pulled and tears a portion of the container across the front wall so as to disconnect the box portion from the hinge lid portion. The string material has a higher strength than the part of the container wall that is adapted to be torn, such that when the string is pulled open, it forces the separation of the box portion from the hinge lid portion. The string may be fixed by means of adhesive to the container wall. The string may be formed of any suitable material, such as a fibrous material, plastic or metal. Preferably the string is aligned with a removeable portion such that the string can be pulled in order to remove the removeable portion from the container. Preferably a portion of the string extends beyond the edge of the container so that it may be grasped more easily.

In one aspect of the invention, the first part directly overlays the second part, such that the part of the removeable portion depending from the lid is fixed onto the part of the removeable portion provided by the box wall. This provides a removeable portion that is more easily removed and reduces the risk of breakage of the removeable portion prior to full removal.

The container is preferably manufactured from a blank. The blank comprises a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a first panel and a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a second panel, wherein the first part and the second part are adapted to be fixed to each other. The first panel is a lid panel and the second panel is a box panel.

The first and second removeable portions substantially correspond in their geometry to each other. Preferably one removeable portion directly overlays the other removeable portion.

Preferably a grasping tab depends from one of the removeable portion parts. In a preferred aspect, the grasping tab of one removeable portion part protrudes beyond the respective other removeable portion part. This facilitates the grasping of the grasping tab by the consumer.

According to the method of production, the blank is folded at predetermined folding lines, tabs and panels of the blank are fixed to each other, and a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a first panel is fixed to a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a second panel. An advantage of this method is that the container can be manufactured on existing equipment with only minor modifications.

The removeable portion may also extend along the shorter sides of the container, particularly when the hinge line is also provided on the shorter side of the container opposite of the removeable portion.

The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms having the same meanings used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with the lid at the top end and the hinge on the back. The terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position. When the container in the upright position is open, the consumer articles contained in the box may be removed from the upper end of the container. The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction across the front wall, the back wall or one of the side walls.

The term "hinge line" refers to a line about which the lid may be pivoted in order to open the container. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line or a score line in the back wall of the container. Alternatively, a hinge line may be a fold line or a score line in a piece of material bridging the lower edge of the back wall of the lid and the upper edge of the back wall of the box. Such a piece of material may be, for example, a label that is permanently or removably attached to the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box. Preferably, the hinge line extends across the back wall of the container, in particular at a level below the upper edge thereof, and more in particular in between the back wall of the lid and the back wall of the box.

Preferably, the container further comprises an inner frame mounted within the box, wherein the inner frame extends above the upper edges of at least the front wall of the box of the container. The inner frame is therefore visible to the consumer when the lid is opened. The front wall of the inner frame may be printed with indicia which may be the same as, or different to the indicia printed on the front wall of the box. Alternatively, or in addition, the front wall of the inner frame may be cut into a distinctive shape, for example, to reflect the branding of the consumer goods. If required, the inner frame may also comprise a line of weakness to facilitate flattening of the container.

Preferably, the front wall of the inner frame is provided with a cut out portion at the upper edge thereof. This enables more convenient access to the consumer goods within the container, without significantly reducing the surface area of the front wall of the inner frame.

Alternatively, or in addition to an inner frame, the consumer goods within the container may be wrapped with an inner liner, which is visible above the upper edge of the front wall of the box and the front wall of the inner frame (if present) when the container is open.

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

- One or two longitudinal rounded or beveled edges on the front wall, and/or

- One or two longitudinal rounded or beveled edges on the back wall.

- One or two transverse rounded or beveled edges on the front wall, and/or

- One or two transverse rounded or beveled edges on the back wall.

- One longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal beveled edge on the front wall, and/or

- One transverse rounded edge and one transverse beveled edge on the back wall.

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

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

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

Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is in function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank.

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

Alternatively to a container with a rectangular transverse cross section, the container may have a for example a polygonal cross section such as triangular, quadrangular or hexagonal, or a cross section which is oval, semi-oval, circular or semi-circular.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle of smoking articles housed inside the container. Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

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

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 100 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid).

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

The invention will now be explained with reference to exemplary embodiments as shown in the following figures.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a blank for a container according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention with a tear strip unopened.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention with a tear strip partially opened.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of a blank for a container according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a blank for a container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1 a blank 1 for a container according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in plan view. Dashed lines indicate folding lines, while full lines indicate cutting lines.

The blank 1 comprises panels forming a box bottom wall 2, a box frbnt wall 3 and a box back wall 4, and panels 5, 6 which form the box left wall when folded on each other, and panels 7, 8 which form the box right wall when folded on each other.

Further panels forming the lid of the container are depending via a hinge line 9 from the box back wall 4. These panels comprise in particular a lid top wall 10, a lid front wall 11 and a lid back wall 12. Further, the panels 13, 14 form the lid left wall when folded on each other, and panels 15, 16 form the lid right wall when folded on each other. The panel forming the lid front wall 11 is designated as first panel.

In particular, the blank 1 is adaptable to be folded around a bundle of smoking articles comprised in an inner liner, to form a smoking article container. The fixation of the blank in the container form is in particular obtained by fixing the side panels 5, 6, side panels 7, 8, side panels 13, 14 and side panels 15, 16 to each other by means of adhesive.

A first removeable portion 17, namely a first part 17 of a removeable portion 23, comprising a tear strip depends from the first panel 11. A second removeable portion 18, namely a second part 18 of the removeable portion 23, comprising a tear strip depends from the second panel 3.

The first removeable portion 7 comprises a line of weakness 19 between itself and the first panel 11. The second removeable portion 18 comprises a line of weakness 20 between itself and the second panel 3.

A grasping tab 21 , is provided on one side of the first removeable portion 17. When the blank is folded to form a container, the first removeable portion 17 directly overlays the second removeable portion 18 to form the double layer removeable portion 23. The first and second removeable portions 17, 18 are adhered to each other.

In Figure 2, the container 22 folded from the blank 1 of Figure 1 is shown. The container is in the unopened configuration of the double layer removeable portion 23. Since the portions 17,18 are arranged in a manner that the first portion 17 directly overlays the second portion, the line of weakness 19 of the first removeable portion 17 forms one long edge of the removeable portion 23 and the line of weakness of the second removeable portion (not shown) forms the other long edge of the removeable portion 23. Thus, the double layer removeable portion 23 comprises two lines of weakness 19, 20. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the second portion 18 may directly overlay the first portion 17 providing two lines of weakness with the line of weakness 20 (see Figure 1) visible and the line of weakness 19 not visible.

As shown in Figure 2, the grasping tab 21 may be provided parallel to the removeable portion such that it protrudes from the lid front wall parallel enabling the consumer to grasp the tab very easily. Alternatively, it may be folded against the side panel 6, so to be perpendicular to the removeable portion (not shown) in which case it reduces the risk of undesirable pulling of the tab prior to use.

Figure 3 shows the container of Figure 2 in the partially opened configuration of the removeable portion 23. In use, the consumer grasps the grasping tab 21 and pulls the tab outwards from the container to break the perforations along the lines of weakness 19, 20. The tab is pulled until the removeable portion 23 is fully removed from the container 22 (not shown) such that the lid front wall 11 is no longer connected to the box front wall 3 and the hinge lid can be opened to provide access to the contents.

In Figure 4, a second embodiment identical to the first embodiment is shown except that the grasping tab 21 is provided parallel to the tear strip portions but does not protrude beyond the side wall of the lid front wall 11. This is achieved by reducing the length of the first removeable portion 17 so that it does not extend across the whole of the lid front wall 1 1. The advantage of this embodiment is that it also reduces the risk of accidental opening of the removeable portion 23. Figure 5 shows a third embodiment identical to the first embodiment except that the grasping tab 21 is provided on the second removeable portion 18. In this embodiment, the grasping tab 21 is adjacent the box front wall 3 making it easier to ensure alignment of the lid side walls 6,8 and the respective box side walls 13,15 during production. Further, in a container folded from the blank as shown in Figure 5, the portions 17,18 may be arranged in a manner that the second portion 18 directly overlays the first portion 17. Thus, the second portion 18 would form the outer wall of the container, while the first portion 17 would form an inner wall. However, the opposite configuration with the first portion 17 being arranged on top of the second portion 18 is also feasible.

Figure 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a blank for the container, where the panels 6, 8, 13, 15 are adapted not to touch along their length when the container is folded from the blank. In this embodiment, the edge of panel 6 that is in contact with box front panel 3 is shorter than the edge of panel 8 that is in contact with box front panel 3. The difference in edge length is equivalent to the short sides 24, 25, 26, 27 of the portions 17, 18 such that, when constructed, the removeable portion 23 connects the lid front wall 1 1 to the box front wall 3.

The container formed from the blank of Figure 6 is shown in Figure 7. The second portion 18 directly overlays the first portion 17. Thus, the second portion 18 forms the outer wall of the container, while the first portion 17 forms an inner wall. However, the opposite configuration with the first portion 17 being arranged on top of the second portion 18 is also feasible. A gap 28 is present between side panels 6,13, the gap increasing in size from the hinge line 29 to the front wall of the container. The gap corresponds to the height of the removeable portion 23 and provides the consumer with an easy access to the grasping tab 21.

Claims

1. A container for consumer goods, in particular, smoking articles, comprising a box for housing the consumer goods and a cup-shaped lid for closing the box,

the box comprising a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and two side walls,

the cup-shaped lid comprising a front wall, a back wall, a top wall and two side walls,

the box and the lid are connected via a hinge line, and

the box and the lid being further partially connected via a removeable portion of the container, the removeable portion being adapted to be removed in order to allow opening of the container, wherein

the removeable portion comprises a first part that depends via a weakening line from a lid wall and a separate second part which depends via a weakening line from a box wall, wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part are attached to each other by means of adhesive.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a grasping tab depends from the first or second part.

4. A container according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an inner frame mounted within the box and extending above the upper edge of at least the front wall of the box, such that the inner frame is provided inside of the removable portion.

5. A container according to any one of the previous claims , wherein the removeable portion is arranged in a wall opposite to the wall comprising the hinge line of the lid.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first part is depending from the lower side of the front wall of the lid, and the second part is depending from the upper side of the front wall of the box, and wherein the lower side of the back wall of the lid is depending via a hinge line from the upper side of the back wall of the box.

7. A container according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the first part is attached on top of the second part.

8. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second part is attached on top of the first part.

9. A container according to any one of the previous claims, being manufactured from a blank comprising folding and cutting lines.

10. A blank for a hinge lid container for consumer goods, in particular smoking articles, comprising a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a lid panel, and a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a box panel, wherein the first part and the second part are adapted to be fixed to each other.

11. A blank according to claim 10, wherein the first and the second removeable portion part substantially correspond in their geometry to each other.

12. A blank according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein a grasping tab is provided on the first or the second removeable portion part.

13. A method of manufacturing a hinge lid container for consumer goods, in particular smoking articles, from a blank, comprising the steps of

folding the blank at predetermined folding lines,

fixing tabs and panels of the blank to each other, and

fixing a first removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a lid panel, to a second removeable portion part, which depends via a weakening line from a box panel.