WO2020234408A1

WO2020234408A1 - Flat-pack kit for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack, blanks and methods for forming such a kit and a method of constructing such a pack using such a kit

Info

Publication number: WO2020234408A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/064176
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexis WATERSON
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2019-05-23
Filing date: 2020-05-20
Publication date: 2020-11-26

Abstract

A flat-pack kit is provided for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack (2000, 5000, 7000, 8000) for smoking articles (2100, 5100, 7100, 8100). The pack comprises: a flat-form inner configured to be raised by hand into a hinged- lid container (2200, 5200) comprising a lid activation tab (2201, 5201); and a flat-form outer configured to be raised by hand into a sleeve (2300) comprising a sleeve hook tab (2301). The sleeve (2300) is configured to slidably receive the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) such that, as the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) is slid out from within the sleeve (2300), the sleeve hook tab (2301) engages the lid activation tab (2201, 5201) so that a lid of the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) automatically opens. Blanks and methods for forming such a kit and a method of constructing such a pack using such a kit are also provided.

Description

FLAT-PACK KIT FOR CONSTRUCTING A SLIDE-UP AUTOMATIC HINGED- LID PACK, BLANKS AND METHODS FOR FORMING SUCH A KIT AND A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SUCH A PACK USING SUCH A KIT

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to packaging for smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos, in particular slide-up automatic hinged-lid packs for smoking articles.

More specifically, aspects of the disclosure relate to a flat-pack kit for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack, blanks and methods for forming such a kit and a method of constructing such a pack using such a kit.

BACKGROUND

Various designs are known for slide-up automatic hinged-lid packs for smoking articles, for example those described in EP 2 305 567 B1 and US 9,254,938 B2. Such packs are generally designed so that a consumer can cause the hinged lid to open, and smoking articles contained within to be presented to them for selection, using a single hand.

While a variety of types of pack, including such slide-up automatic hinged-lid packs, are well known for ready-made smoking articles, there is increasing demand for variety in the portable pack styles available for those consumers who package their own smoking articles. Such consumers may roll their own smoking articles, or buy smoking articles in bulk, and require packs they can fill (and re-fill) themselves to keep and transport their smoking articles in. It is preferable to provide such packs in flat-pack form to reduce the space and protective packaging required to distribute them.

Accordingly an aim of the invention is to provide a flat pack solution and kit for users to be able to construct their own packs for storing smoking articles they roll or tube themselves. SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a flat-pack kit for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack for smoking articles. The kit comprises: a flat- form inner configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a hinged-lid container. The hinged-lid container comprises: a body portion; a lid portion hingedly connected to the body portion; and a lid activation tab. The kit further comprises a flat-form outer configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a sleeve comprising a sleeve hook tab. The sleeve is configured to slidably receive the hinged-lid container such that, as the hinged-lid container is slid out from within the sleeve, the sleeve hook tab engages the lid activation tab so that a lid of the hinged-lid container automatically opens.

The hinged-lid container can be configured to open and close by pivoting the lid portion with respect to the body portion about a single continuous hinge.

The body portion can comprise a body back wall. The lid portion can comprise a lid back wall. The hinge can connect the body back wall to the lid back wall across their entire width.

The body portion can define a substantially cuboid shape and comprise a body back wall which covers the entirety of a back face of the substantially cuboid shape.

The body portion can define a substantially cuboid shape and comprise a substantially rectangular body back wall. The flat-form inner can comprise a plurality of body panels configured to be raised into the body potion, a plurality of lid panels configured to be raised into the lid portion and one or more lid activation panels configured to be raised into the lid activation tab. The one or more lid activation panels of the flat-form inner can be articulated to one or more of the lid panels, but not to any of the body panels.

The flat-form inner can comprise a plurality of tabs configured to be folded and tucked in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a blank for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of the above aspect, the blank comprising: a plurality of body panels configured to form the body portion; a plurality of lid panels configured to form the lid portion; and a lid activation tab.

The plurality of body panels can comprise a body back panel. The plurality of lid panels can comprise a lid back panel. The lid back panel can be articulated along a single continuous fold line to the body back panel.

At least one of the plurality of lid panels can separate the lid activation tab from each of the plurality of body panels so that the lid activation tab is not adjacent any of the plurality of body panels.

The hinged-lid container can be a box.

The plurality of body panels can comprise a body back panel. The plurality of lid panels can comprise: a lid back panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the body back panel; and one or more further lid panels articulated via one or more longitudinal fold lines to the lid back panel.

The plurality of body panels can further comprise: a body right side flap articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body back panel; a body left side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body back panel; a body front panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body left side panel; a body right side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body front panel; a body bottom panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the body front panel; and a body bottom tab articulated along a transverse fold line to the body bottom panel. The plurality of lid panels can further comprise: a lid right side flap articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid back panel; a lid left side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid back panel; a lid front panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid left side panel; a lid right side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid front panel; a lid top panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the lid front panel; a left side lid back tab articulated along a transverse fold line to a left portion of the lid top panel; and a right side lid back tab articulated along a transverse fold line to a right portion of the lid top panel. The blank can further comprise a container tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the lid top panel. The lid activation tab can be articulated along a transverse fold line to the container tongue panel.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of forming the flat-form inner of the kit of some embodiments of the first aspect from the blank of some embodiments of the second aspect, the method comprising: affixing the body right side flap to the body right side panel and the lid right side flap to the lid right side panel to form a looped blank; and subsequently flattening the looped blank using a selection of the fold lines such that the body front panel overlies a portion of the body back panel and the lid front panel overlies a portion of the lid back panel.

The flat-form inner of some embodiments of the kit of the first aspect can further comprise a plurality of slits, each of the plurality of slits being configured to receive a corresponding one or the plurality of tabs in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container.

The hinged-lid container can be a tray.

The blank of some embodiments of the second aspect for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of some embodiments of the first aspect can comprise: a substantially rectangular body back panel; a body bottom panel articulated to a bottom edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a first medial slit intermediate first and second distal fold lines; a body left side panel articulated to a left side edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a second medial slit intermediate third and fourth distal fold lines; a body right side panel articulated to a right side edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a third medial slit intermediate fifth and sixth distal fold lines; a body bottom tab, body left side tab and body right side tab respectively articulated along first to third full fold lines to the body bottom panel, body left side panel and body right side panel; a lid back panel articulated along a fourth full fold line to a top edge of the body back panel; a lid top panel articulated to the lid back panel along an articulation line consisting of a fourth medial slit intermediate seventh and eighth distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line; a lid top flap articulated along a fifth full fold line to the lid top panel; a container tongue panel articulated along a sixth full fold line to the lid top flap; and a lid activation tab articulated along a seventh full fold line to the container tongue panel. The fifth to seventh full fold lines can all be substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line.

The blank could further comprise: a lid left side panel articulated to the lid back panel along an articulation line consisting of a fifth medial slit intermediate ninth and tenth distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line; a lid right side panel articulated to the lid back panel along an articulation line consisting of a sixth medial slit intermediate eleventh and twelfth distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line; a lid left side tab articulated along an eighth full fold line to the lid left side panel; and a lid right side tab articulated along a ninth full fold line to the lid right side panel. The eighth and ninth full fold lines can be substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of constructing a slide- up automatic hinged-lid pack for smoking articles using the kit of some embodiments of the first aspect, the method comprising, by hand and without the aid of additional fixing means: raising the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container; raising the flat-form outer into the sleeve; and sliding the hinged-lid container into the sleeve. According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a flat-pack kit for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack for smoking articles, the kit comprising: a flat- form inner configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a hinged-lid container comprising: a body portion; a lid portion hingedly connected to the body portion; and a lid activation tab wherein the flat- form inner comprises a plurality of tabs configured to be folded and tucked in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container; and either: a plurality of slits each of the plurality of slits being configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container, wherein the body portion and the lid portion each comprise a tab and a corresponding slit; or the body portion comprises a body back panel attached to a body front panel via a first body side panel, and via a body flap afixed to a second body side panel, and the lid portion comprises a lid back panel attached to lid front panel via a first lid side panel, and via a lid side flap afixed to a second lid side panel, such that when raising the flat-form inner a looped blank is formed; and a flat-form outer comprising a sleeve hook tab and a sleeve body portion, configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a sleeve, wherein the sleeve body portion comprises a sleeve back panel attached to a sleeve front panel via a first sleeve side panel, and via a sleeve flap affixing a second sleeve side panel to the sleeve front panel , such that when raising the flat-form outer a looped blank is formed, the sleeve being configured to slidably receive the hinged-lid container such that, as the hinged-lid container is slid out from within the sleeve, the sleeve hook tab engages the lid activation tab so that a lid of the hinged-lid container automatically opens.

Preferably, flat-form inner comprises a body bottom side panel, the body bottom side panel comprising a tab.

Preferably, the flat form inner comprises a body left side panel, a body right side panel and wherein the body left side panel, the body right side panel and the body bottom side panel each comprise a tab and associated slot. The hinged-lid container can be configured to open and close by pivoting the lid portion with respect to the body portion about a single continuous hinge.

The body portion can define a substantially cuboid shape and comprise a substantially rectangular body back wall.

Preferably, the flat formed outer further comprises: the sleeve flap articulated along a first longitudinal fold line to a sleeve left side panel, wherein the sleeve left side panel is the second sleeve side panel; the sleeve left side panel articulated along a second longitudinal fold line to the sleeve back panel ;the sleeve back panel articulated along a third longitudinal fold line to a sleeve right side panel, wherein the sleeve right side panel is the first sleeve side panel; the sleeve right side panel articulated along a fourth longitudinal fold line to the sleeve front panel; wherein the flat-form inner further comprises a sleeve tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line to an upper edge of the sleeve back panel; and the sleeve tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the sleeve hook tab; and wherein the sleeve flap and the sleeve front panel are affixed to each other.

The flat-form inner can comprise a plurality of body panels configured to be raised into the body potion, a plurality of lid panels configured to be raised into the lid portion and one or more lid activation panels configured to be raised into the lid activation tab. The one or more lid activation panels of the flat-form inner can be articulated to one or more of the lid panels, but not to any of the body panels. According to a sixth aspect, there is provided a blank for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of the above aspect, the blank comprising: a plurality of body panels configured to form the body portion; a plurality of lid panels configured to form the lid portion; and a lid activation tab.

The hinged-lid container can be a box.

The blank, and flat form inner, may further comprise a body right side flap articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body back panel, wherein the body flap is the body right side flap; a body left side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body back panel, wherein the first body side panel is the body left side panel; the body front panel is articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body left side panel; body right side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the body front panel, wherein the second body side panel is the body right side panel; a body bottom panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the body front panel; and a body bottom tab articulated along a transverse fold line to the body bottom panel; the plurality of lid panels further comprise: a lid right side flap articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid back panel wherein the lid right side flap is the lid slide flap; a lid left side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid back panel, wherein the lid left side panel is the first lid side panel; the lid front panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid left side panel; a lid right side panel articulated along a longitudinal fold line to the lid front panel, wherein the lid right side panel is the second lid side panel; a lid top panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the lid front panel; a left side lid back tab articulated along a transverse fold line to a left portion of the lid top panel; and a right side lid back tab articulated along a transverse fold line to a right portion of the lid top panel; the blank further comprises a container tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line to the lid top panel; and the lid activation tab is articulated along a transverse fold line to the container tongue panel.

According to a further aspect there is provided a blank for forming the flat form outer of the kit according to the above aspect.

Preferably, the blank for forming the flat-form outer of the kit comprises: the sleeve flap articulated along a first longitudinal fold line to a sleeve left side panel, wherein the sleeve left side panel is the second sleeve side panel; the sleeve left side panel articulated along a second longitudinal fold line to the sleeve back panel; the sleeve back panel articulated along a third longitudinal fold line to a sleeve right side panel, wherein the sleeve right side panel is the first sleeve side panel; the sleeve right side panel articulated along a fourth longitudinal fold line to the sleeve front panel; wherein the flat-form inner further comprises a sleeve tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line to an upper edge of the sleeve back panel; and the sleeve tongue panel articulated along a transverse fold line 3356 to the sleeve hook tab.

The flat-form outer may be formed through folding of the first and third fold lines or the second and fourth fold lines such that the sleeve front panel overlies a portion of the sleeve back panel.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of forming the flat-form inner of the kit of some embodiments of the fifth aspect from the blank of some embodiments of the sixth aspect, the method comprising: affixing the body right side flap to the body right side panel and the lid right side flap to the lid right side panel to form the looped blank; and subsequently flattening the looped blank using a selection of the fold lines such that the body front panel overlies a portion of the body back panel and the lid front panel overlies a portion of the lid back panel.

When each of the plurality of slits are configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs, the hinged-lid container may be a tray.

The blank of some embodiments of the sixth aspect for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of some embodiments of the fifth aspect can comprise: a substantially rectangular body back panel; a body bottom panel articulated to a bottom edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a first medial slit intermediate first and second distal fold lines; a body left side panel articulated to a left side edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a second medial slit intermediate third and fourth distal fold lines; a body right side panel articulated to a right side edge of the body back panel along an articulation line consisting of a third medial slit intermediate fifth and sixth distal fold lines; a body bottom tab, body left side tab and body right side tab respectively articulated along first to third full fold lines to the body bottom panel, body left side panel and body right side panel; a lid back panel articulated along a fourth full fold line to a top edge of the body back panel; a lid top panel articulated to the lid back panel along an articulation line consisting of a fourth medial slit intermediate seventh and eighth distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line; a lid top flap articulated along a fifth full fold line to the lid top panel; a container tongue panel articulated along a sixth full fold line to the lid top flap; and a lid activation tab articulated along a seventh full fold line to the container tongue panel. The fifth to seventh full fold lines can all be substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of constructing a slide- up automatic hinged-lid pack for smoking articles using the kit of some embodiments of the fifth aspect, the method comprising, by hand and without the aid of additional fixing means: raising the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container; raising the flat-form outer into the sleeve; and sliding the hinged-lid container into the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures:

Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C illustrate a prior art pack design;

Figure 2A illustrates an example pack design in a closed configuration;

Figure 2B illustrates the example pack of Figure 2A in an open configuration; Figure 2C illustrates an example hinged-lid box for use in the pack of Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 2D illustrates an example sleeve for use in the pack of Figures 2A and 2B;

Figure 3 illustrates an example blank for forming the sleeve of Figure 2D;

Figure 4 illustrates an example blank for forming the hinged-lid box of Figure 2C; Figures 5A and 5B illustrate a further example pack in a closed configuration; Figure 5C illustrates the example pack of Figures 5A and 5B in an open configuration;

Figures 5D and 5E illustrate an example hinged-lid tray for use in the pack of Figures 5A to 5C;

Figure 6 illustrates an example blank for forming the hinged-lid tray of Figures 5D and 5E;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate further example packs; and Figure 9 is a flowchart of an example method of forming a pack from a flat-pack kit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the system, and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The terms“top”,“bottom”,“side”,“front”,“back”,“forward”,“rear” and other terms describing the orientation of features are not intended to be limiting and, where used, are purely included in order to facilitate the description of the relative location of these features in the context of the accompanying drawings. In use, or during storage, the features may be disposed in other orientations.

Figures 1A to 1 C illustrate one type of prior art design as described in EP 2 305 567 B1. Figure 1A shows a prior art pack 1000 in a closed position, Figure 1C shows the pack 1000 in an open position and Figure 1 B shows the pack 1000 in an intermediate position.

The movement of the pack 1000 will be now described in more detail with reference to Figures 1A to 1 C. The pack 1000 consists of an inner hinged-lid container inside an outer sleeve. As shown in Figures 1A to 1 C, the hinged-lid container comprises a lid portion and a body portion. The lid portion comprises a lid top wall 1227, a lid back wall 1222 and a lid front wall 1225. The body portion comprises a body front wall 1215, a body bottom wall 1217 and a body back wall 1212. The hinged-lid container also comprises a lid activation tab 1201 connected to the lid top wall 1227 by a container tongue 1203 (the latter only being visible separately from the lid back wall 1222 and body back wall 1212 in Figure 1 C). The sleeve comprises a sleeve front wall 1315, a sleeve bottom wall 1317 and a sleeve back wall 1312, as well as a sleeve hook tab 1301. There is a window 1304 in the sleeve front wall 1315, which exposes the body front wall 1215 of the hinged-lid container inside the sleeve. The lid activation tab 1201 and container tongue 1203 are provided in EP 2 305 567 B1 by partially cutting out a portion of panels forming the back face of the hinged-lid container.

As shown in Figure 1A, at first, the inner hinged-lid container is in its entirety accommodated in the outer sleeve with the lid closed.

The hinged-lid container can be slid upward within the sleeve using a finger or thumb applied to the body front wall 1215 of the hinged-lid container through the window 1304 in the sleeve front wall 1315. As this upward sliding of the hinged- lid container proceeds, the lid activation tab 1201 of the hinged-lid container becomes engaged with the sleeve hook tab 1301 arranged inside the sleeve, as shown in Figure 1 B.

The hinged-lid container is further moved upward within the sleeve, and since the sleeve hook tab 1301 and the lid activation tab 1201 are engaged with one another, the lid begins to open as the rear part of the lid is pulled relatively downward by the container tongue 1203, so that smoking articles 1 100 contained within the hinged-lid container are exposed.

As the hinged-lid container is further moved upward within the sleeve, the lid reaches a fully open position, where the hinged-lid container is stopped and is prevented from being moved further upward, as shown in Figure 1 C. In this way, the engagement of the sleeve hook tab 1301 with the lid activation tab 1201 causes the lid to open and also regulates the amount of sliding of the hinged-lid container so that it cannot pop entirely out of the sleeve, and thus out of the consumer’s grasp.

The positional relationship between the sleeve hook tab 1301 and the lid activation tab 1201 and the length of the container tongue 1203 are set so that the sliding of the hinged-lid container is stopped at a position where the smoking articles 1 100 can be easily taken out from the upper open end of the hinged-lid container and also the lid is fully opened. After the smoking articles 1 100 are thus exposed through the upper open end of the hinged-lid container, the consumer takes out a smoking article. To close the pack 1000 the consumer can then press, with their thumb or finger, the body front wall 1215 of the hinged-lid container exposed through the window 1304 in the sleeve front wall 1315 and slide the hinged-lid container down, so that the hinged-lid container is withdrawn into the sleeve. As the hinged-lid container is withdrawn, the sleeve hook 1301 and the lid activation tab 1201 become disengaged from each other as shown in Figure 1 B and the lid gradually closes while being guided by the open end of the sleeve. When the body bottom wall 1217 of the hinged-lid container finally comes into contact with the sleeve bottom wall 1317, as shown in Figure 1A, the lid is completely closed, thus closing the pack 1000.

As explained in US 9,254,938 B2, when the inner hinged-lid container of a pack such as pack 1000 is slid upwards harder than necessary stress is concentrated on the hinge of the hinged-lid container, which can lead to weakening of the hinge. For example, if the hinge is formed by a fold line in a paperboard blank then the paperboard may tear along the hinge. US 9,254,938 B2 addresses this problem using a stopper mechanism. However, this stopper mechanism requires a relatively complex arrangement of cuts and folds in a blank for forming the hinged-lid container and a corresponding blank for forming the sleeve.

While such a design is suitable for factory assembly for packaging ready-made smoking articles, it is not suitable for a consumer to construct themselves by hand. There will now be described example designs for flat-pack slide-up automatic hinged-lid packs for smoking articles.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an example slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack 2000, respectively in closed and open positions. The pack 2000 comprises a hinged-lid container 2200 within a sleeve 2300, respectively shown separately in Figures 2C and 2D, wherein Figure 2C shows the hinged-lid container 2200 in a partially open position. To transform the pack from the closed configuration shown in Figure 2A to the open configuration shown in Figure 2B, a consumer slides the hinged-lid container 2200 upwards by pushing on one, some or all of its body bottom wall (not visible in any of Figured 2A to 2C), its body front wall 2215 or its body back wall 2212. The body bottom wall is accessible since the sleeve 2300 has an open bottom end. (Alternatively, the sleeve could be provided with a bottom wall having a window for this purpose.) The body front wall 2215 and body back wall 2212 are respectively accessible through windows in the sleeve front wall 2315 and sleeve back wall 2312. In the example illustrated, these windows cut in from lower edges of the body front and back walls 2215, 2212. Alternatively, the windows could respectively be completely framed by portions of the front and back walls. Other configurations of windows in and/or open faces of the sleeve 2300 could be used, so long as a portion of the body of the hinged-lid container 2200 is accessible for a consumer to push on when the pack is closed. For example, a window could be provided in the sleeve left side wall 2314.

As the hinged-lid container 2200 is slid upwards with respect to the sleeve 2300, a lid activation tab 2201 of the hinged-lid container 2200 engages with a sleeve hook tab 2301 of the sleeve 2300. This creates tension in a container tongue 2203 which connects the lid activation tab 2201 to a back edge of a lid top wall 2227 of the hinged-lid container 2200, causing the lid of the hinged-lid container 2200 to pivot open around hinge 2202 (as shown in Figure 2C), revealing smoking articles 2100 as shown in Figure 2B.

As shown in Figure 2B, the lid of the example hinged-lid container 2200 is configured to protect the top ends of the smoking articles 2100 when the pack 2000 is closed, and comprises a lid left side wall 2224, lid front wall 2225, lid back wall 2222 and lid right side wall 2226 in addition to the lid top wall 2227.

In this example the hinged-lid container 2200 is in the form of a box comprising a body left side wall 2214 and body right side wall 2216 in addition to the body front wall 2215, body back wall 2212, body bottom wall (not shown) and lid. Thus, when the pack 2000 is closed the smoking articles 2100 are provided with a double layer of protection to their front, back and left and right sides, apart from a window in the front wall 2215 cut in from a top edge of the body front wall 2215 of the hinged-lid container 2200 to provide ease of access to the smoking articles 2100 when the pack 2000 is open as shown in Figure 2B.

Figure 2D illustrates how the sleeve hook tab 2301 is connected to the sleeve back wall 2312 by a sleeve tongue 2303.

As shown in Figure 2D, the sleeve front and back walls 2315, 2312 are connected to one another by sleeve left and right side walls 2314, 2316 to form a closed loop.

Figure 3 illustrates a blank 3300 which can be used to form the sleeve 2300 of Figures 2A, 2B and 2D. The blank 3300 comprises a sleeve flap 3313 articulated along a first fold line 3351 to a sleeve left side panel 3314. The sleeve left side panel 3314 is articulated along a second fold line 3352 to a sleeve back panel 3312. The sleeve back panel 3312 is articulated along a third fold line 3353 to a sleeve right side panel 3316. The sleeve right side panel 3316 is articulated along a fourth fold line 3354 to a sleeve front panel 3315. The first to fourth fold lines 3351 , 3352, 3353, 3354 are substantially parallel to one another. The blank 3300 further comprises a sleeve tongue panel 3303 articulate along a fifth fold line 3355 to an upper edge of the sleeve back panel 3312, the fifth fold line 3355 being substantially perpendicular to the first fold line 3351. The sleeve tongue panel 3303 is articulated along a sixth fold line 3356 to a sleeve hook tab 3301. The sixth fold line 3356 is substantially parallel to the fifth fold line 3355. The sleeve front and back panels 3315, 3312 comprise windows cut into their lower edges i.e. , in the case of the sleeve back panel 3312, the edge opposite the edge along which the fifth fold line 3355 lies.

The blank 3300 of Figure 3 is configured to be formed into a flat-form outer configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into the sleeve 2300 of Figures 2A, 2B and 2D. The flat-form outer can be formed from the blank 3300 by affixing the sleeve flap 3313 to the sleeve front panel 3315 (e.g. with adhesive) to form a loop, then flattening the looped blank using either the first and third fold lines 3351 , 3353 or the second and fourth fold lines 3352, 3354, such that the sleeve front panel 3315 overlies a portion of the sleeve back panel 3312. In this way, as can be seen from the blank shown in Figure 3, for the flat form outer the sleeve back panel 3312 is attached to the sleeve front panel 3315 via the sleeve right side panel 3316. In addition, for the flat form outer, due to the affixing of the sleeve flap 3313 to the sleeve front panel 3315, the sleeve back panel 3312 is attached to the sleeve front panel 3315 via the sleeve flap 3313 and the sleeve left side panel 3314. The sleeve tongue panel 3303 and sleeve hook tab 3301 can also optionally be folded in over the sleeve back panel 3312 using appropriate fold lines for a more compact flat-form outer. The process will be most efficient if this is done before the looped blank is flattened, and can optionally be done before the loop is formed.

Figure 4 illustrates a blank 4200 which can be used to form the hinged-lid container 2200 of Figures 2A, 2B and 2C.

The blank 4200 comprises a body right side flap 4213 and a body back panel 4212 articulated along a first fold line 4251 to the body right side flap 4213. A body left side panel 4214 is articulated along a second fold line 4252 to the body back panel 4212. A body front panel 4215 is articulated along a third fold line 4253 to the body left side panel 4214. A body right side panel 4216 is articulated along a fourth fold line 4254 to the body front panel 4215. A body bottom panel 4217 is articulated along a fifth fold line 4255 to the body front panel 4215. A body bottom tab 4218 is articulated along a sixth fold line 4256 to the body bottom panel 4217.

A lid back panel 4222 is articulated along a seventh fold line 4257 to the body back panel 4212. A lid right side flap 4223 is articulated along an eighth fold line 4258 to the lid back panel 4222. A lid left side panel 4224 is articulated along a ninth fold line 4259 to the lid back panel 4222. A lid front panel 4225 is articulated along a tenth fold line 4260 to the lid left side panel 4224. A lid right side panel 4226 is articulated along an eleventh fold line 4261 to the lid front panel 4225. A lid top panel 4227 is articulated along a twelfth fold line 4262 to the lid front panel 4225. A left side lid back tab 4228 is articulated along a thirteenth fold line 4263 to a left portion of the lid top panel 4227. A right side lid back tab 4229 is articulated along a fourteenth fold line 4264 to a right portion of the lid top panel 4227.

A container tongue panel 4203 is articulated along a fifteenth fold line 4265 to the lid top panel 4227. A lid activation tab 4201 is articulated along a sixteenth fold line 4266 to the container tongue panel 4203.

The first to fourth fold lines 4251 , 4252, 4253, 4254 and eighth to eleventh fold lines 4258, 4259, 4260, 4261 are all substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the fifth to seventh fold lines 4255, 4256, 4257 and twelfth to sixteenth fold lines 4262, 4263, 4264, 4265, 4266.

A first cut line 4241 perpendicular to the eighth fold line 4258 separates the lid right side flap 4223 from the body right side flap 4213. A second cut line 4242 parallel to the twelfth fold line 4262 separates the lid left side panel 4224 from the body left side panel 4214, the lid front panel 4225 from the body front panel 4215 and the lid right side panel 4226 from the body right side panel 4216. A third cut line 4243 creates a window in the body front panel 4215, cutting into its upper edge.

A fourth cut line 4244 cuts through a left distal portion of the sixth fold line 4256 and a fifth cut line 4245 cuts through a right distal portion of the sixth fold line 4256. The fourth and fifth cut lines 4244, 4245 assist in keeping the bottom of the hinged-lid container 2200 closed when the blank 4200 is assembled, with the body bottom tab 4218 tucked in against the body back panel 4212.

Eighth and ninth cut lines 4281 and 4280 cut through between the container tongue panel 4203 and the right and left lid back tabs 4228, 4229 respectively. A sixth cut line 4246 cuts through a left distal portion of the thirteenth fold line 4263 and a seventh cut line 4247 cuts through a right distal portion of the fourteenth fold line 4264. The sixth and seventh cut lines 4246, 4247 assist in the lid of the hinged-lid container 2200 keeping its shape when the blank 4200 is assembled, with the left and right side lid back tabs 4228, 4229 tucked in against the lid back panel 4222.

The blank 4200 of Figure 4 is configured to be formed into a flat-form inner configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into the hinged-lid container 2200 of Figures 2A, 2B and 2C. The flat-form inner can be formed from the blank 4200 by affixing (e.g. with adhesive) the body right side flap 4213 to the body right side panel 4216 and the lid right side flap 4223 to the lid right side panel 4226 to form a looped blank, then flattening the looped blank using appropriate fold lines such that the body front panel 4215 overlies a portion of the body back panel 4212 and the lid front panel 4225 overlies a portion of the lid back panel 4222. In this way, as can be seen from the blank shown in Figure 4, for the flat form inner the body back panel 4212 is attached to the body front panel via the body left side panel 4214. In addition, for the flat form inner, the body back panel 4212 is also attached to the body front panel 4215 via the body right side flap 4213 through being affixed to the body right side panel 4216. In addition, the lid back panel 4222 is attached to the lid front panel 4225 via the lid left side panel 4224. In addition, for the flat form inner, the lid back panel 4222 is also attached to the lid front panel 4225 via the lid right side flap 4223 through being affixed to the lid right side panel 4226. One or more of the parts of the blank 4200 configured for forming the lid and/or base of the hinged-lid container 2200, and/or the container tongue panel 4203 and/or the lid activation tab 4201 could also optionally be folded in over one or more of the parts of the blank 4200 configured for forming the body of the hinged-lid container 2200 using appropriate fold lines, for a more compact flat-form inner. The process will be most efficient if this is done before the looped blank is flattened, and can optionally be done before the loop is formed.

Figures 5A to 5C illustrate another example pack 5000, with Figures 5A and 5B showing it in a closed position, respectively from the front and the back, and Figure 5C showing it in an open position. The pack 5000 comprises a hinged-lid container 5200, shown separately in Figures 5D and 5E, respectively from the front and the back. The example pack 5000 also comprises a sleeve, which is identical to the sleeve 2300 of the pack 2000 of Figures 2A and 2B, except for that it only has a window in its back wall 5312, revealing a portion of a body back wall 5212 of the hinged-lid container 5200 as shown in Figure 5B. The front wall 5315 of the sleeve covers the entire front face of the pack 5000 when in the closed position, as can be seen in Figure 5A. Also visible in Figures 5A and 5B are a sleeve left side wall 5314 and a lid top wall 5227.

Figure 5C shows how, when the pack 5000 is open, the lid of the hinged-lid container 5200 is tilted back to reveal smoking articles 5100 contained within the hinged-lid container 5200. The view of Figure 5C shows the sleeve front wall 5315, the sleeve left side wall 5314, a body left side wall 5214, a lid left side wall 5224, a lid back wall 5222, the lid top wall 5227, a lid right side wall 5226 and a body right side wall 5216. The hinged-lid container 5200 does not have any front wall, since it is in the form of a tray, as can be seen in Figure 5D. This provides easy access to the smoking articles 5100 when the pack 5000 is open. In addition to those parts of the hinged-lid container visible in Figures 5A to 5C, Figure 5D shows a body bottom wall 5217 and a hinge 5202. Figure 5E additionally shows a container tongue 5203 and a lid activation tab 5201.

One or more of the side, top and bottom walls of the hinged-lid container 5200 can be provided with increased rigidity by being constructed from a double thickness of sheet material created by tucking tabs into slots, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6 shows a blank 6200 for forming the hinged-lid container 5200 of Figures 5A to 5E. The blank 6200 comprises a substantially rectangular body back panel 6212 and a body bottom panel 6217 articulated to a bottom edge of the body back panel 6212 along an articulation line consisting of a first medial slit 6701 intermediate first 6801 and second 6802 distal fold lines. A body left side panel 6214 is articulated to a left side edge of the body back panel 6212 along an articulation line consisting of a second medial slit 6702 intermediate third 6803 and fourth 6804 distal fold lines. A body right side panel 6216 is articulated to a right side edge of the body back panel 6212 along an articulation line consisting of a third medial slit 6703 intermediate fifth 6805 and sixth 6806 distal fold lines. A body bottom tab 6218, body left side tab 621 1 and body right side tab 6213 are respectively articulated along first to third full fold lines 6251 , 6252,

6253 to the body bottom panel 6217, body left side panel 6214 and body right side panel 6216. A lid back panel 6222 is articulated along a fourth full fold line

6254 to a top edge of the body back panel 6212. A lid top panel 6227 is articulated to the lid back panel 6222 along an articulation line consisting of a fourth medial slit 6704 intermediate seventh 6807 and eighth 6808 distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line 6254. A lid top flap 6228 is articulated along a fifth full fold line 6255 to the lid top panel 6227. A tongue panel 6203 is articulated along a sixth full fold line 6256 to the lid top flap 6228. A lid activation tab 6201 is articulated along a seventh full fold line 6257 to the tongue panel 6203. The fifth to seventh full fold lines 6255, 6256, 6257 are all substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line 6254.

Body bottom panel 6217 has body bottom panel left side tab 6233 articulated to the body bottom panel 6217 along fold line 6262, and body bottom panel right side tab 6234 articulated to the body bottom panel 6217 along fold line 6263.

A lid left side panel 6224 is articulated to the lid back panel 6222 along an articulation line consisting of a fifth medial slit 6705 intermediate ninth 6809 and tenth 6810 distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line 6254. A lid right side panel 6226 is articulated to the lid back panel 6222 along an articulation line consisting of a sixth medial slit 6706 intermediate eleventh 6811 and twelfth 6812 distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line 6254. A lid left side tab 6221 is articulated along an eighth full fold line 6258 to the lid left side panel 6224. A lid right side tab 6223 is articulated along a ninth full fold line 6259 to the lid right side panel 6226. The eighth 6258 and ninth 6259 full fold lines are substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line 6254.

As shown in Figure 6, a first cut line 6241 separates the lid left side tab 6221 from the body left side tab 6211. A second cut line 6242 separates the lid left side panel 6224 from the body left side panel 6214. A third cut line 6243 separates the lid right side panel 6226 from the body right side panel 6216. A fourth cut line 6244 separates the lid right side tab 6223 from the body right side tab 6213.

The blank 6200 of Figure 6 can be a flat-form inner configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into the hinged-lid container 5200 of Figures 5A to 5E. Alternatively, a more compact flat-form inner can be formed from the blank 6200 by folding one or more of the other panels in over the body back panel 6212 using appropriate fold lines.

When raising the flat-form inner of Figure 6 into the hinged-lid container 5200 body bottom tab 6218 is folded towards body bottom panel 6217 along fold line 6251 such that it is received in first medial slit 6701. Body right side tab 6213 is folded towards body right side panel 6216 is along fold line 6253 such that it is received in third medial slit 6703. Body left side tab 621 1 is folded towards body left side panel 6214 is along fold line 6252 such that it is received in second medial slit 6702. Tabs

Lid right side tab 6223 is folded to be received in sixth medial slit 6706, and lid left side tab 6221 is folded to be received in fifth medial slit 6705. Lid top flap 6228 is folded along fifth full fold line 6255 tucking lid activation tab 6201 and tongue panel 6203 through fourth medial slit 6704.

Tab 6232 and 6231 are tucked in to support the roof of the lid formed by lid top panel 6227 and Lid top flap 6228. Body bottom panel left side tab 6233 and body bottom panel right side tab 6234 are folded such that they are received between left side tab 6211 and body left side panel 6214, and body right side tab 6213 and body right side panel 6216 respectively.

Figure 7 illustrates an alternative example pack 7000, similar to the example pack 2000 of Figures 2A to 2C in all respects except that access to the body front wall 7215 of the hinged-lid container is provided through a window which is entirely framed by the sleeve front wall 7315, rather than through a window cut into its bottom edge. Figure 8 illustrates an alternative example pack 8000, similar to the example pack 2000 of Figures 2A to 2C in all respects except that access to the body of the hinged-lid container is provided through a window in the sleeve left side wall 8314, which reveals the body left side wall 8214 of the hinged-lid container.

In all of the example packs described above, the hinge of the hinged-lid container is a single continuous hinge which connects the body back wall to the lid back wall across their entire widths. This makes the hinge less likely to tear than in designs such as those described in EP 2 305 567 B1 , where the hinge is formed in two thinner parts due to the lid activation tab and container tongue being formed by cutting out medial portions of panels forming the back face of the hinged-lid container. In addition, in contrast to the packs described in EP 2 305 567 B1 , since the lid activation tab and container tongue of the above- described example packs are provided as dedicated additional panels rather than cut from back panels of the hinged-lid container, when the packs are closed the smoking articles within are protected from the environment by a double thickness of packaging material over the entire back face of the pack. This improves the pack’s functions of protecting the smoking articles from damage and keeping them fresh.

Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method 900 of constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack (such as example packs 2000, 5000, 7000 or 8000 described above) for smoking articles using a flat-pack kit. The method comprises, at step 910, raising a flat-form inner into a hinged-lid container; at step 920, raising a flat-form outer into a sleeve; and at step 930, sliding the hinged-lid container into the sleeve. Steps 910 and 920 can be performed one before the other in either order, or concurrently. The method 900 is performed by hand and without the aid of additional fixing means such as glue.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only. In addition, where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it could be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claims set forth herein not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claim. That is, the operations/steps may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments may include additional or fewer operations/steps than those disclosed herein. It is further contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation/step before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is in accordance with the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A flat-pack kit for constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack (2000, 5000, 7000, 8000) for smoking articles (2100, 5100, 7100, 8100), the kit comprising:

a flat-form inner configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) comprising:

a body portion;

a lid portion hingedly connected to the body portion; and

a lid activation tab (2201 , 5201)

wherein the flat-form inner comprises a plurality of tabs (6213, 6214, 6218, 6228, 4228, 4229, 4218) configured to be folded and tucked in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200); and either:

a plurality of slits (6701 , 6702, 6703, 6704) each of the plurality of slits being configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs (6213, 6214, 6218, 6228) in order to raise the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container (5200), wherein the body portion and the lid portion each comprise a tab and a corresponding slit; or

the body portion comprises a body back panel (4212) attached to a body front panel (4215) via a first body side panel (4214), and via a body flap (4213) afixed to a second body side panel (4216), and the lid portion comprises a lid back panel (4222) attached to lid front panel (4225) via a first lid side panel (4224), and via a lid side flap (4223) afixed to a second lid side panel (4226), such that when raising the flat-form inner a looped blank is formed; and

a flat-form outer comprising a sleeve hook tab (3301) and a sleeve body portion, configured to be raised by hand, without the aid of additional fixing means, into a sleeve (2300), wherein the sleeve body portion comprises a sleeve back panel (3312) attached to a sleeve front panel (3315) via a first sleeve side panel (3316), and via a sleeve flap (3313) affixing a second sleeve side panel (3314) to the sleeve front panel (3315), such that when raising the flat-form outer a looped blank is formed, the sleeve (2300) being configured to slidably receive the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) such that, as the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) is slid out from within the sleeve (2300), the sleeve hook tab (2301 ) engages the lid activation tab (2201 , 5201 ) so that a lid of the hinged- lid container (2200, 5200) automatically opens.

2. The kit of claim 1 , wherein the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) is configured to open and close by pivoting the lid portion with respect to the body portion about a single continuous hinge (2202, 5202).

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein:

the body portion comprises a body back wall (2212, 5212);

the lid portion comprises a lid back wall (2222, 5222); and

the hinge (2202, 5202) connects the body back wall (2212, 5212) to the lid back wall (2222, 5222) across their entire width.

4. The kit of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flat formed outer further comprises:

the sleeve flap (3313) articulated along a first longitudinal fold line (3351 ) to a sleeve left side panel (3314), wherein the sleeve left side panel (3314) is the second sleeve side panel;

the sleeve left side panel (3314) articulated along a second longitudinal fold line (3352) to the sleeve back panel (3312);

the sleeve back panel (3312) articulated along a third longitudinal fold line (3353) to a sleeve right side panel (3316), wherein the sleeve right side panel (3316) is the first sleeve side panel (3316);

the sleeve right side panel (3316) articulated along a fourth longitudinal fold line (3354) to the sleeve front panel (3315);

wherein the flat-form inner further comprises a sleeve tongue panel (3303) articulated along a transverse fold line (3355) to an upper edge of the sleeve back panel (3312); and

the sleeve tongue panel (3303) articulated along a transverse fold line 3356 to the sleeve hook tab (2301 3301 ); and wherein the sleeve flap (3313) and the sleeve front panel (3315) are affixed to each other.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the flat-form outer is formed through folding of the first (3351 ) and third (3353) fold lines or the second (3352) and fourth (3354) fold lines such that the sleeve front panel (3315) overlies a portion of the sleeve back panel (3312). 6. A blank (4200, 6200) for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of any preceding claim, the blank comprising:

a plurality of body panels configured to form the body portion;

a plurality of lid panels configured to form the lid portion; and

a lid activation tab (4201 , 6201 ).

7. The blank (4200, 6200) of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of body panels comprises a body back panel (4212, 6212); the plurality of lid panels comprises a lid back panel (4222, 6222); and the lid back panel (4222, 6222) is articulated along a single continuous fold line (4257, 6254) to the body back panel (4212, 6212).

8. The blank (4200, 6200) of either of claims 6 or 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of lid panels separates the lid activation tab (4201 , 6201 ) from each of the plurality of body panels so that the lid activation tab (4201 , 6201 ) is not adjacent any of the plurality of body panels.

9. The blank (4200) of any of claims 6 to 8 for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of claim 5, wherein:

the hinged-lid container is a box (2200); and

the plurality of lid panels comprises:

the lid back panel (4222) articulated along a transverse fold line (4257) to the body back panel (4212); and

one or more further lid panels articulated via one or more longitudinal fold lines to the lid back panel (4222). 10. The blank of claim 9, wherein:

a body right side flap (4213) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4251 ) to the body back panel (4212), wherein the body flap (4213) is the body right side flap (4213);

a body left side panel (4214) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4252) to the body back panel (4212), wherein the first body side panel is the body left side panel (4214);

the body front panel (4215) is articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4253) to the body left side panel (4214);

body right side panel (4216) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4254) to the body front panel (4215), wherein the second body side panel is the body right side panel (4216);

a body bottom panel (4217) articulated along a transverse fold line (4255) to the body front panel (4215); and

a body bottom tab (4218) articulated along a transverse fold line (4256) to the body bottom panel (4217);

the plurality of lid panels further comprise:

a lid right side flap (4223) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4258) to the lid back panel (4222) wherein the lid right side flap (4223) is the lid slide flap (4223);

a lid left side panel (4224) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4259) to the lid back panel (4222), wherein the lid left side panel (4224) is the first lid side panel;

the lid front panel (4225) articulated along a longitudinal fold line

(4260) to the lid left side panel (4224);

a lid right side panel (4226) articulated along a longitudinal fold line (4261 ) to the lid front panel (4225), wherein the lid right side panel (4226) is the second lid side panel;

a lid top panel (4227) articulated along a transverse fold line

(4262) to the lid front panel (4225);

a left side lid back tab (4228) articulated along a transverse fold line (4263) to a left portion of the lid top panel (4227); and a right side lid back tab (4229) articulated along a transverse fold line (4264) to a right portion of the lid top panel (4227);

the blank (4200) further comprises a container tongue panel (4203) articulated along a transverse fold line (4265) to the lid top panel (4227); and the lid activation tab (4201 ) is articulated along a transverse fold line (4266) to the container tongue panel (4203).

11. A method of forming the flat-form inner of the kit of any of claim 1 to 5 from the blank of claim 10, the method comprising:

affixing the body right side flap (4213) to the body right side panel (4216) and the lid right side flap (4223) to the lid right side panel (4226) to form the looped blank; and

subsequently flattening the looped blank using a selection of the fold lines such that the body front panel (4215) overlies a portion of the body back panel (4212) and the lid front panel (4225) overlies a portion of the lid back panel (4222).

12. The kit of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein, when each of the plurality of slits are configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of tabs, the hinged- lid container is a tray (5200).

13. The blank (6200) of any of claims 6 to 8 for forming the flat-form inner of the kit of claim 12, the blank comprising:

a substantially rectangular body back panel (6212);

a body bottom panel (6217) articulated to a bottom edge of the body back panel (6212) along an articulation line consisting of a first medial slit (6701) intermediate first (6801) and second (6802) distal fold lines;

a body left side panel (6214) articulated to a left side edge of the body back panel (6212) along an articulation line consisting of a second medial slit (6702) intermediate third (6803) and fourth (6804) distal fold lines;

a body right side panel (6216) articulated to a right side edge of the body back panel (6212) along an articulation line consisting of a third medial slit (6703) intermediate fifth (6805) and sixth (6806) distal fold lines; a body bottom tab (6218), body left side tab (621 1 ) and body right side tab (6213) respectively articulated along first to third full fold lines (6251 , 6252, 6253) to the body bottom panel (6217), body left side panel (6214) and body right side panel (6216);

a lid back panel (6222) articulated along a fourth full fold line (6254) to a top edge of the body back panel (6212);

a lid top panel (6227) articulated to the lid back panel (6222) along an articulation line consisting of a fourth medial slit (6704) intermediate seventh (6807) and eighth (6808) distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line (6254);

a lid top flap (6228) articulated along a fifth full fold line (6255) to the lid top panel (6227);

a container tongue panel (6203) articulated along a sixth full fold line (6256) to the lid top flap (6228); and

a lid activation tab (6201 ) articulated along a seventh full fold line (6257) to the container tongue panel (6203);

wherein the fifth to seventh full fold lines (6255, 6256, 6257) are all substantially parallel to the fourth full fold line (6254).

14. The blank (6200) of claim 13, further comprising:

a lid left side panel (6224) articulated to the lid back panel (6222) along an articulation line consisting of a fifth medial slit (6705) intermediate ninth (6809) and tenth (6810) distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line (6254);

a lid right side panel (6226) articulated to the lid back panel (6222) along an articulation line consisting of a sixth medial slit (6706) intermediate eleventh (6811 ) and twelfth (6812) distal fold lines, said articulation line being substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line (6254);

a lid left side tab (6221 ) articulated along an eighth full fold line (6258) to the lid left side panel (6224); and

a lid right side tab (6223) articulated along a ninth full fold line (6259) to the lid right side panel (6226);

wherein the eighth (6258) and ninth (6259) full fold lines are substantially perpendicular to the fourth full fold line (6254).

15. A method (900) of constructing a slide-up automatic hinged-lid pack (2000, 5000, 7000, 8000) for smoking articles (2100, 5100, 7100, 8100) using the kit of any of claims 1 to 5 or 12, the method comprising, by hand and without the aid of additional fixing means:

raising (910) the flat-form inner into the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200); raising (920) the flat-form outer into the sleeve (2300); and

sliding (930) the hinged-lid container (2200, 5200) into the sleeve (2300).