Package for smoking articles

Abstract

 A package for smoking articles comprises an outer shell (4) and an inner shell (2). The outer shell (4) has two major lateral walls (20) opposite to each other, as well as a top wall (24), a rear wall (22) and a bottom wall connecting the lateral walls (20). The inner shell (2) is mounted in the outer shell (4) for pivotal movement relative to the outer shell (4) between a closed position, in which the interior of the inner shell (2) is not accessible, and an open position, in which the interior of the inner shell (2) is at least partially accessible and in which the inner shell (2) partially protrudes between front edges (32) of the lateral walls (20). The outer shell (4) comprises an inner panel (30) positioned between the inner side of one of the lateral walls (20) and the inner shell (2), the inner panel (30) being provided with at least one cutout (34), preferably a slot. The inner shell (2) comprises a protruding tab (18) which is adapted to interact with the at least one cutout (34) during movement of the inner shell (2) to produce a noise.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a package for smoking articles, e.g. for cigarettes or for cigarillos.

[0002] Usually, conventional packages for smoking articles are designed in a simple way and comprise a hinged lid to provide access to the smoking articles contained therein. More sophisticated designs, however, which attract some attention when used, are known as well.

[0003] For example, US 3,881,599 discloses a package for smoking articles comprising an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell includes two major lateral walls opposite to each other, as well as a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall connecting the lateral walls. The inner shell is mounted in the outer shell for pivotal movement relative to the outer shell between a closed position, in which the interior of the inner shell is not accessible, and an open position, in which the interior of the inner shell is at least partially accessible and in which the inner shell partially protrudes between front edges of the lateral walls.

[0004] A similar basic design is known from EP 1 669 306 A1. In this package, the rear wall of the inner shell extends upwardly in order to form a kind of tab which interacts with protrusions extending downwardly from the inner face of the top wall of the outer shell when the inner shell is moved to its open position. This interaction produces a sound, which is unexpected, interesting and calls for attention. Forming the protrusions, however, involves an additional manufacturing step, which is expensive.

[0005] It is the object of the invention to improve the aforementioned smoking articles packages of the prior art and to provide an attractive package for smoking articles which can be easily manufactured.

[0006] This problem is solved by a package for smoking articles having the features of claim 1. Advantageous versions of the invention follow from the dependent claims.

[0007] The package for smoking articles according to the invention comprises an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell has two major lateral walls opposite to each other, as well as a top wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall connecting the lateral walls. The inner shell is mounted in the outer shell for pivotal movement relative to the outer shell between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the interior of the inner shell is not accessible. In the open position, the inner shell partially protrudes between the front edges of the lateral walls so that the interior of the inner shell is at least partially accessible.

[0008] According to the invention, the outer shell comprises an inner panel positioned between the inner side of one of the lateral walls and the inner shell. The inner panel is provided with at least one cutout, preferably a slot. The inner shell comprises a protruding tab which is adapted to interact with the at least one cutout during movement of the inner shell to produce a noise.

[0009] Thus, the noise is generated by the interaction between the protruding tab of the inner shell and the cutout or cutouts in the inner panel of the outer shell. The cutouts can be easily formed by means of the stamp used for cutting a blank of the outer shell. The cutouts are not visible at the finished package because they are located at the inner panel, which is positioned between the inner shell and one of the lateral walls of the outer shell. The lateral walls form the major walls of the outer shell, which, because of their size, have the best acoustic properties of the parts of the package. Thus, when moving the inner shell into the open position, the noise is produced in an area like a large sounding-board, which significantly improves the quality of the sound.

[0010] The inner panel can be connected to the front edge of the lateral wall of the outer shell and be folded back to be placed against the inner side of the lateral wall. In this way, the inner panel slightly presses against the inner shell which acts as a brake and enhances the sound-producing interaction between the tab and the cutout(s) in the inner panel.

[0011] Preferably, the inner panel is provided with a series of cutouts, e.g. slots, adapted to produce, in interaction with the tab, a series of individual noises during movement of the inner shell from the closed position to the open position and/or from the open position to the closed position. The form, size and arrangement of the cutouts can be used as variables for designing the general sound during the movement of the inner shell.

[0012] The tab of the inner shell can be formed at a cut line and put out from the inner shell at a position which is close to the rear wall of the outer shell when the inner shell is in the closed position. This allows the tab to be made from part of a blank of the inner shell and does not require the attachment of additional parts.

[0013] In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the outer shell comprises a second inner panel, which is positioned between the inner side of the other lateral wall and the inner shell, wherein the second inner panel is provided with at least one cutout, preferably a slot. Similarly, the inner shell comprises a protruding second tab which is adapted to interact with the at least one cutout of the second inner panel during movement of the inner shell to produce a noise. In particular, both inner panels and both tabs can have the same respective shape and can be arranged symmetrically. Such package includes two sources of noise or sound. Moreover, the above-mentioned brake effect can be improved due to a symmetric action of both inner panels.

[0014] To attach the inner shell to the outer shell, the inner shell can be hinged to the outer shell at a swivel line at the bottom wall of the outer shell. In this design, the bottom wall of the outer shell, preferably, has a smaller length than the top wall of the outer shell so that the swivel line is between the rear wall of the outer shell and the front edges of the lateral walls. The inner shell can comprise an attachment tab extending from the swivel line and being glued to the bottom wall of the outer shell.

[0015] In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the rear wall of the outer shell is provided with an aperture. A user can swivel the inner shell to its open position by pressing a finger, through this aperture, onto the inner shell. Thus, the aperture facilitates the handling of the package.

[0016] As already indicated, preferably, the outer shell can be folded from one blank. The same applies to the inner shell. By designing the blanks as, e.g., in the embodiment described below, it is not required to attach additional parts to the blanks.

[0017] In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by means of an embodiment. The drawings show in

Figure 1

an isometric view of the inner shell of an embodiment of a package according to the invention,

Figure 2

an isometric view of the inner shell of Figure 1 when inserted into the outer shell of the embodiment, the package being in its open position,

Figure 3

a top view onto a blank of the outer shell of a slightly different embodiment and

Figure 4

a top view onto a blank of the inner shell of the slightly different embodiment.

[0018] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a package for smoking articles. The package 1 comprises an inner shell 2 (see Figures 1 and 2) and an outer shell 4 (see Figure 2).

[0019] The inner shell 2 comprises a major lateral wall 10 and another major lateral wall 11 (which is hardly visible in Figures 1 and 2; see Figure 4) in parallel to lateral wall 10, a rear wall 12 and a top wall 14. The top wall' 14 covers about half of the top side of inner shell 2, thus leaving an aperture 15.

[0020] The aperture 15 extends to two cutouts 16 provided in the lateral walls 10 and 11, thus allowing access to the interior of the inner shell 2. In the embodiment, the inner shell 2 is filled with cigarettes, which are hidden behind a foil 17 in the views of Figures 1 and 2. When the aperture 15 and the cutouts 16 are exposed, the user can move away foil 17 in order to grasp a cigarette.

[0021] At the rear wall 12 of the inner shell 2, there are formed two tabs 18 and 19, which extend beyond the lateral walls 10 and 11, respectively.

[0022] Moreover, the inner shell 2 comprises a front wall and a bottom wall, which will be explained by means of Figure 4.

[0023] As illustrated in Figure 2, the outer shell 4 includes a major lateral wall 20, another major lateral wall 21 (not shown in Figure 2; see Figure 3) in parallel to lateral wall 20, a rear wall 22 and a top wall 24. An aperture 26 divides the rear wall 22 into two parts.

[0024] Moreover, the outer shell 4 comprises an inner panel 30, which is connected to the lateral wall 20 along a front edge 32 and is folded back into the interior of the outer shell 4. In this way, the inner panel 30 is arranged between the lateral wall 20 and the inner shell 2. Another inner panel 31 is connected to a front edge 33 on the hidden side in Figure 2 and is arranged in parallel to the inner panel 30, see also Figure 3.

[0025] The inner panel 30 is provided with a series of cutouts 34. In a similar way, inner panel 31 comprises cutouts 35.

[0026] As illustrated in Figure 2, the inner shell 2 is inserted into the outer shell 4 and is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the outer shell 4 between a closed position (not shown in the Figures) and an open position (see Figure 2). In the closed position, the inner shell 2 is completely inserted into the outer shell 4 so that the interior of the inner shell 2 is not accessible and the package 1 has a box-like shape. In the open position, the user can take a cigarette via the aperture 15 and the cutouts 16. The attachment in the bottom region of the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 4 allowing the pivotal movement will become evident from the description of Figure 4.

[0027] When the inner shell 2 is swivelled to the open position, the tabs 18 and 19 will move along the series of cutouts 34 and 35, respectively. In moving along their path, the tabs 18 and 19 will enter into the depressions provided by the individual cutouts 34 and 35, which results in an interesting sound or noise. When the inner shell 2 is swivelled back into the closed position, another sound or noise will be caused by the interaction of the tabs 18, 19 and the cutouts 34, 35. This second sound can be somewhat different from the first one.

[0028] Blanks, preferably from cardboard, for forming the outer shell 4 and the inner shell 2 are shown in Figure 3 and in Figure 4, respectively. The blanks in Figures 3 and 4 are designed for an embodiment of a package which is slightly different from that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Nevertheless, the same reference numerals are used as in Figures 1 and 2.

[0029] Most of the parts of the inner shell 2 and the outer shell 4 have already been explained with respect to Figures 1 and 2. In Figures 3 and 4, these parts are evident from their reference numerals and need not much additional explanation.

[0030] In Figure 3, a bottom wall 40 of the outer shell 4 is shorter than the top wall 24 in order to provide space for the swivelling movement of the inner shell 2. Generally, attachment flaps are designated by 42 and fold lines by 44. In assembling the outer shell 4, the parts or panels of its blank are folded along the fold lines 44 and are glued together by means of adhesive applied to the attachment flaps 42.

[0031] Figure 4 shows some additional parts as well, which are not visible in Figures 1 and 2. These parts or panels are a front wall 50 and a bottom wall 51 as well as several attachment flaps 52. Some of the lines in Figure 4 are fold lines, designated by 54, and some of the lines are cut lines, designated by 56.

[0032] A flap 58 adheres to the bottom wall 51 via a swivel line 60. The swivel line 60 forms the hinge for the pivotal movement of the inner shell 2 with respect to the outer shell 4. Flap 58 is glued to the inner side of the bottom wall 40 (or one of the associated flaps 42) of the outer shell 4.

[0033] Another flap 62, in the assembled state, fills the gap in the bottom area of the inner shell 2 caused by flap 58. Although flap 62 is not firmly attached to the lateral walls 10 and 11, it adds to the function of the bottom and supports part of the contents of the inner shell 2.

[0034] The blank of the inner shell 2 comprises two cutouts 64 and 65, which serve to expose the tabs 18 and 19, respectively. Due to the cutouts 64 and 65, the tabs 18 and 19, respectively, can freely vibrate when moving along the cutouts 34 and 35, respectively, which improves the sound generated in this way.

Claims

1. A package for smoking articles, comprising

- an outer shell (4) having two major lateral walls (20, 21) opposite to each other, as well as a top wall (24), a rear wall (22) and a bottom wall (40) connecting the lateral walls (20, 21),

- an inner shell (2) mounted in the outer shell (4) for pivotal movement relative to the outer shell (4) between a closed position, in which the interior of the inner shell (2) is not accessible, and an open position, in which the interior of the inner shell (2) is at least partially accessible and the inner shell (2) partially protrudes between front edges (32, 33) of the lateral walls (20, 21),

characterised

- in that the outer shell (4) comprises an inner panel (30) positioned between the inner side of one of the lateral walls (20) and the inner shell (2), the inner panel (30) being provided with at least one cutout (34), preferably a slot, and

- in that the inner shell (2) comprises a protruding tab (18) which is adapted to interact with the at least one cutout (34) during movement of the inner shell (2) to produce a noise.

2. Package according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner panel (30) is connected to the front edge (32) of said lateral wall (20) of the outer shell (4) and is folded back to be placed against the inner side of said lateral wall (20).

3. Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the inner panel (30) is provided with a series of cutouts (34), preferably slots, adapted to produce, in interaction with the tab (18), a series of noises during movement of the inner shell (2) from the closed position to the open position and/or from the open position to the closed position.

4. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the tab (18) is formed at a cut line (64) and put out from the inner shell (2) at a position which is close to the rear wall (22) of the outer shell (4) when the inner shell (2) is in its closed position.

5. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the outer shell (4) comprises a second inner panel (31), which is positioned between the inner side of the other lateral wall (21) and the inner shell (2), the second inner panel (31) being provided with at least one cutout (35), preferably a slot, and in that the inner shell (2) comprises a protruding second tab (19) which is adapted to interact with the at least one cutout (35) of the second inner panel (31) during movement of the inner shell (2) to produce a noise.

6. Package according to claim 5, characterised in that both inner panels (30, 31) and both tabs (18, 19) have the same respective shape and are arranged symmetrically.

7. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the inner shell (2) is hinged to the outer shell (4) at a swivel line (60) at the bottom wall (40) of the outer shell (4).

8. Package according to claim 7, characterised in that the bottom wall (40) of the outer shell (4) has a smaller length than the top wall (24) of the outer shell (4) so that the swivel line (60) is between the rear wall (22) of the outer shell (4) and the front edges (32, 33) of the lateral walls (20, 21).

9. Package according to claim 8, characterised in that the inner shell (2) comprises an attachment tab (58) extending from the swivel line (60) and being glued to the bottom wall (40) of the outer shell (4).

10. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the rear wall (22) of the outer shell (4) is provided with an aperture (26).

11. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the outer shell (4) is folded from one blank.

12. Package according to anyone of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the inner shell (2) is folded from one blank.

Drawing