Package for smoking and/or tobacco related articles, blank and method

Abstract

 The invention a package for elongate articles, in particular smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles. The package comprises a body having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, and a shell comprising a front, a rear wall, two side walls and a top wall dimensioned to accommodate the body from a top side and at least cover the top side of the body in a closed position of the package, wherein the package further comprises a flap coupled between the body and an inner side of a wall of the shell, the flap being configured to allow the body to be pulled out of the shell, turned upside down into a reverse position and be inserted into the shell in the reverse position of the body such that an outer side of the bottom wall of the body faces the inner side of the top wall of the shell. The invention also relates to blanks for the package and a method of manufacturing the package.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a package for elongate articles, in particular smoking and/or tobacco related articles and a blank and a method for manufacturing the package.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Tobacco related articles, preferably smoking articles like cigarettes or cigarillos, are often contained in disposable packages having a substantially cuboid or parallelepiped shape. A widespread type of a cigarette package is the hinged lid package. In a typical scenario, a hinged lid package is opened, a cigarette is offered to a friend or guest by holding the open package in front of the guest. The guest may remove a cigarette from the package and the host closes the package again. Dependent on the specific situation, it might, however, be desirable to keep the package open as a sign of generosity or politeness.. This usually requires to remove the cigarettes from the hinged lid package and to place them in an open box. The reason for this is that the conventional hinged lid package automatically closes the lid due to inherent forces in the lid, if the lid is not held open anymore.

SUMMARY

[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a package that allows keeping the package open in an appealing manner for offering elongate articles smoking articles or tobacco related articles from the hinged-lid package. It is another object of the invention to increase the available area on the package for advertisement and information. It is further an object of the invention to provide a respective method for manufacturing the package and to provide a blank for manufacturing the package.

[0004] According to an aspect, a package for elongate articles, in particular smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles is provided. The package can generally have a cuboid or parallelepiped shape. The package comprises a body. The body comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall and two side walls. The package further comprises a shell comprising a front, a rear wall, two side walls and a top wall. The shell is dimensioned to accommodate the body from a top side and at least cover the top side of the body in a closed position of the package. In other words, the shell can be pulled over the body from a top side of the body such that the package is closed. The top side of the body can have the access opening for accessing the content of the package or body. The package can further comprise a flap coupled between the body and an inner side of a wall of the shell. The flap is advantageously configured to allow the body to be pulled out of the shell, turned upside down into a reverse position and be inserted into the shell in the reverse position of the body such that an outer side of the bottom wall of the body faces the inner side of the top wall of the shell. The content of the body, the elongate articles, in particular smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles like cigarettes are accessible in the reverse position of the body and while the body resides in the shell in the reverse position. This means that the body can be rotated or swiveled by about 180° while it still coupled to the shell by the flap. After being rotated by 180° (upside down) the body can be inserted into the shell, but now with the bottom of the body first. There are two main advantages of the package according to theses aspects: the package is safely held open and the entire outer surfaces of the body and the shell can be used for information, advertisement and indicia.

[0005] In an aspect, the flap can be hingedly coupled to a front wall of the body. In particular, there can be first hinge or hinge line arranged between one edge of the flap and the front wall of the body. This allows the body to be swiveled about this first hinge.

[0006] Furthermore, the flap can be hingedly coupled to an inner side of the top wall of the shell. Accordingly, there might be a second hinge or hinge line that is arranged between the inner side of the walls of the shell and the flap. This further supports the possibility to swivel the body with respect to the shell.

[0007] Alternatively, the flap can also be coupled to an inner side of other walls of the body and in particular to inner edges of the body between the top wall and side or front/rear walls.

[0008] In an aspect, the rear wall of the shell can be shorter than anyone of a front wall and a side wall of the shell and/or at least the rear wall of the shell can be shorter than the full length of the body thereby allowing the body to be swiveled out of the shell towards the rear wall before the body is entirely pulled out of the shell. This provides that the body can be swiveled into the reverse position before it is entirely pulled out of the shell.

[0009] In an aspect, the length of the unfolded flap between a top edge of the body and the second hinge line can be greater than the length of the rear wall but shorter than the length of any other wall of the shell. Furthermore, the length of the extended flap between the first hinge line and the second hinge line can be greater than the sum of the length of the rear wall of the shell and the distance between the first hinge line and the top edge of the body. These aspects provide that the body is sufficiently held inside the shell but can still comfortably be swiveled outside the shell before it is entirely pulled out of the shell.

[0010] The flap can at least partially form walls of the body in the closed position. The flap can then at least partially be formed by cutouts of the wall of the body. More specifically, the flap can at least partially form a front wall of the body in the closed position. Furthermore, the flap can form a lid for the body covering at least the top side of the body in the closed position. In other words, the body actually forms a hinged lid package where the hinged lid is formed by parts of the flap.

[0011] The flap can be folded along traverse hinge lines into portions having a width that is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the package (or smaller than a width of the inner side of the top wall of the shell). According to this aspect, the flap is folded together when the body is inserted in the shell in the closed position. The folded parts of the flap are then accommodated between the top of the body and the inner side of the top wall of the shell. Accordingly, the folded flap is accommodated in a rather small space. Once the body is pulled out of the shell (or the shell is pulled from the body) the flap unfolds. Once the flap is sufficiently or completely unfolded the body and shell cannot further be pulled apart from each other. This situation advantageously occurs before the body is entirely pulled out of the shell.

[0012] The invention also provides a blank for manufacturing the package according to the aspects of the invention. Advantageously, the blank of the body comprises a portion of which the flap can be formed. The flap can then advantageously be partially formed by a cut-out of the front wall of the body.

[0013] The invention further provides a method of manufacturing a package according to the aspects and embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] Further aspects and characteristics of the invention ensue from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIGs 1 to 8 are simplified perspective views on the package according to an embodiment wherein the package is changed from the closed position (FIG. 1) to the final open position (FIG. 8);

FIGs 9 to 14 are simplified side views of the package according to an embodiment wherein the package is changed from the closed position (FIG. 9) to the final open position (FIG. 14) illustrating the behavior the flap;

FIG. 15 is a simplified top view on blanks for the package according to an embodiment, and

FIG. 16 is a simplified top view on blanks for the package according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] FIGs 1 to 8 are simplified perspective views on the package 1 according to an embodiment. The package 1 is changed from the closed position (FIG. 1) to the final open position (FIG. 8).

[0016] FIG. 1 shows the package 1 in the closed position. Mainly the shell 2 is visible. The shell 2 has a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, a first side wall 5 and a second side wall 6 as well as a top wall 7. The shell 2 does not have a bottom wall. The body 8 is substantially covered by the shell 2 in this perspective. In this embodiment, the front wall 3 of the shell 2 and the side walls of the shell 5, 6 have substantially the same length as the body 8. None of the side walls 5, 6, the rear wall 4 and the front wall 3 of the shell 2 should be substantially longer than the maximum length of the body 8.

[0017] In this embodiment, only the rear wall 4 of the shell 2 is kept shorter than the front and side walls 3, 5, 6 of the shell and the rear wall 4 only extends from the top wall 7 of the shell down to a lower edge LERS. The distance between the lower edge LERS of the rear wall 4 and the lower edges of the side and front walls 3, 5, 6 of the shell 2 is D1. This means that a recess or opening is created in the rear wall 4 of the shell 2. If the shell 2 is lifted relative to the body 8 as indicated by arrow A1, the body 8 slips partially outside the shell 2 until it is held back by the flap 15 (shown in FIG. 2 and other Figures). This means that the flap 15 is configured to avoid that the body 8 entirely leaves the shell in a longitudinal direction (without rotation). The flap 15 can provide a resilient force to sufficiently keep the body 8 at least partially within the shell.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows the situation when the body 8 is pulled partially out of the shell 2. The body 8 has a front wall 9, side walls 10 and 12, a rear wall 11 and a bottom wall 13. Also visible is the first hinge line (or connecting line) HL1 at which the flap 15 is coupled to the front wall 9 of the body 8. The flap 15 still extends mainly inside the shell 2 from the first hinge line HL1 to an inner side of a wall of the shell 2. Advantageously, the flap 15 is coupled with and edge opposite to the hinge line HL1 to an inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2 (not visible). Once the shell 2 is sufficiently pulled apart from the body 8, the shell 2 and the body 8 can be swiveled relative to each other as indicated by arrow A2. The top side of the body 8 can then be swiveled through the opening or recess in the rear wall 4 of the shell 2 and thereby outside the shell 2. Due to the shorter rear wall 4 of the shell 2, the body 8 can be swiveled relative to the shell 2 before the top edge TEB of the body 8 passes the lower edge LES of the shell 2. The top edge TEP of the body 8 only needs to pass the lower edge LERS of the rear wall 4 of the shell 2. In other words, it is not necessary to entirely pull the body 8 out of the shell 2 before the shell 2 and the body 8 can be swiveled relative to each other.

[0019] The package 1 generally has a length L1 (longest extension of the package 1), a width W1 (second longest extension of the package 1) and a thickness T1 (shortest extension of the package 1).

[0020] FIG. 3 shows the package 1 when the shell 2 and body 8 already have been swiveled relative to each other to a certain extent. The top side of the body 8 having the access opening 14 for the content (here cigarettes) appears. The relative movement of the shell 2 and the body 8 can be continued as indicated by arrow A3 until, eventually, the body 8 (or shell 2) is swiveled upside down with respect to the shell 2 (or body 8),i.e. the relative angle of rotation of the body 8 and the shell 2 reaches about 180°.

[0021] FIG. 4 shows the package 1, when the relative rotation of the body 8 and the shell 2 has reached about 90°. The arrow A4 indicates the direction of the further rotation to reach the open position. Side wall 5 is omitted (only for visualization of the flap 15) and the flap 15 that couples the body 8 and the shell 2 is now visible.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the package 1, when the relative rotation of the body 8 and the shell 2 has reached about 120°. The arrow A5 indicates the direction of the further rotation to reach the open position. The flap 15 that couples the body 8 and the shell 2 is extended inasmuch as necessary to turn the body 8 and the shell with respect to each other.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows the package 1, when the relative rotation of the body 8 and the shell 2 has reached about 180°. The body 8 still extends from the shell and only the bottom 13 of the body remains inside the upper part of the shell 2. The body is now in reverse position with respect to the shell 2. The flap 15 is not entirely extended and therefore not entirely flat. However, in other embodiments, the flap 15 can be flatter than shown here. The flap 15 can generally provide a resilient force to sufficiently keep the body 8 at least partially within the shell 2.

[0024] FIG. 7 shows the package 1 when the relative rotation of the body 8 and the shell 2 is still about 180°. As in FIG. 6, the body 8 is in reverse position, i.e. it has been turned upside down. The flap 15 that couples the body 8 and the shell 2 is visible on the front wall 9 of the body 8. It can be seen that the flap 15 formed at least partially part of the front wall 9 of the body 8. The part of the flap 15 that covered the front side of the access opening 14 now extends in the opposite direction and into the shell 2. The top wall 7 of the shell 2 is now on the bottom side. The outside of the bottom wall 13 of the body 8 faces the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2. The body 8 being in the reverse position can now be pushed inside the shell 2 again.

[0025] FIG. 8 shows the package 1 in the final open position. The body 8 rests inside the shell 2 again. The access opening 14 ultimately remains open and grants access to the content of the body. The remainder of the flap 15 that is inside the shell 2 may now fold together.

[0026] FIGs 6 to 8 show the behavior of the flap 15 in more detail.

[0027] FIG: 9 shows the package 1 in the closed position. The flap 15 resides between the top edge TEB of the body 8 and the inners side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2. The flap is folded. The folded parts have a width that is smaller than the thickness TS of the shell 2 or rather the width of the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a situation in which the body 8 is pulled out of the shell 2 in order to open the package 1. The top edge TEB of the body 8 has passed the lower edge of the rear wall 4 of the shell 2. From this point on, it is possible to swivel the body 8 out of the rear side of the shell 2.

[0029] From FIG. 8 some advantageous design options for the package 1 become transparent.

(a) The length D4 (shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16) of the unfolded or extended flap 15 between the top edge TEB of the body 8 and the second connecting line or rather second hinge line HL2 where the flap is connected to the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2 is greater than the distance D2 between the second connecting line or rather second hinge line HL2 (or roughly the upper edge UES of the shell 2) and the lower edge LERS of the rear wall 4 of the shell 2.

(b) If the second hinge line HL2 is located on the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2, the distance D2 may also roughly be referred to as the length of the rear wall 4. In this regard, the length D4 (shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16) of the unfolded or extended flap 15 between the top edge TEB of the body 8 and the second hinge line HL2 should be greater than the length D2 of the rear wall. However, the length of the extended flap between the top edge of the body TEB and the second hinge line should not exceed D2 or the minimum length of the rear wall 4 by more than the difference between the length D2 of the rear wall and the length of the front wall 3.

(c) Also the side walls 5, 6 and the front wall 3 may have a shorter length, for example equal to D2. However, advantageously, at least one of the side walls 5, 6 and/or the front wall 3 should be longer than the length D2 of the rear wall 4 of the shell. At least one or all of the side walls 5, 6 and the front wall 3 should have a length that is a factor 1.1 or more than 10% greater than the length of the rear wall 4 This provides guidance for the body inside the shell 2 in a longitudinal direction even when the point for swiveling the body is reached.

(d) If the flap 15 is connected to a first connecting line or hinge line HL1 at the front wall 9 of the body 8, the length of the extended flap 15 between the first hinge line HL1 and the second hinge line HL2 should be greater than the sum of the distances D2 and D3, wherein D3 is the distance between the first hinge line HL1 and the top edge TEB of the body 8. However, the length of the extended flap 15 between the two hinge lines HL1 and HL2 may only be greater than the sum of D2 and D3 by a maximum of 25%, preferably 10%

(e) In order to allow the body 8 and the shell 2 to be swiveled relative to each other when the body 8 and the shell 2 have been pulled apart from each other by at least the distance D2, the rear wall 4 should advantageously have a length D2 over the full width of the rear wall 4. The length D2 is advantageously at least 10% shorter than the total length L1 (shown in FIG. 2) of the package 1. The minimum length D2 of the rear wall 4 over the full width of the package 1 can be 65 % of the total length of the package 1.

[0030] The flap 15 has folding lines FL1 and FL2 which allow the part of the flap 15 that extends between the top edge TEB of the body 8 and the second hinge line HL2 to be folded together as shown in FIG. 6 if the package is in the closed position

[0031] FIG. 9 shows the package 1 when the body 8 and the shell 2 have been swiveled relative to each other. The body 8, and in particular the access opening 14 of the body 8 are now visible. Furthermore, a third folding line FL3 of the flap 15 becomes visible. This folding line FL3 coincides with the top edge TEB of the body as long as the body 8 has not bee swiveled with respect to the shell 2.

[0032] Part 15-1 of the flap 15 forms part of the front wall 9 of the body 8 if the package is in the closed position. Part 15-1 can be a cut-out of the front wall 9. Furthermore, part 15-2 of the flap 15 can serve as top cover for the body in the closed position.

[0033] At least these parts 15-1 and 15-2 of the flap can be coupled to the walls of the body by creasing lines or perforations such that the access opening sealed until the first time the package is opened and the body and the shell are moved relative to each other from the closed position into the open position.

[0034] FIGs 12 to 14 illustrate the further relative movement of the body 8 and the shell 2 of the package 1 towards the open position.

[0035] FIG. 12 shows the situation when the body and the shell 2 have a relative position of 90°.

[0036] FIG. 13. Shows the situation when the body 8 and the shell 2 have reached a relative position of about 120°.

[0037] FIG. 14 shows the situation when the body 8 and the shell 2 have reached a relative position of 180°.

[0038] FIGs 15A and 15B are a top views on two blanks for the shell 2 and the body 8 of a package 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Dashed lines are creasing lines and solid lines are cutting lines. The package according to this embodiment has beveled edges and is substantially parallelepiped. The different walls are indicated in accordance with the previously described embodiments.

[0039] FIG. 15A shows the blank of the shell 2. The blank has portions for the front wall 3, for the side walls 5 and 6 and the rear wall 4. All these portions are coupled by areas for implementing the beveled edges. There is further a portion for the top wall 7 having edges that cooperate with the beveled edges. The rear wall 4 has a length D2 which is substantially shorter then the length of the side walls 5, 6 and the front wall 3.

[0040] FIG. 15B shows the blank for the corresponding body 8 to the shell 2 of FIG. 9A. There is a portion for the front wall 9, a portion for the side walls 10 and 12, respectively and a portion for the rear wall 11. The flap 15 partially cut-out from the front wall 9 (part 15-1) and partially extends over the length of the front wall 9 by two parts 15-2 and 15-3. The upper edge (HL2) of the flap 15 can be coupled to the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2 shown in FIG. 9A.

[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 15B, the flap 15 has substantially the same width as the front wall 9 of the body in those parts 15-2, 15-3 which extend beyond the front wall 9. This provides stability if the body 8 and the shell 2 are swiveled with respect to each other.

[0042] The first hinge line HL1 is located within the front wall 9 of the body 8. This provides that a part (15-1) of the front wall 9 is removed when the package 1 is in the open position and thereby provides better access to the content of the body. The first hinge line HL1 has a width that is shorter than the full width of the front wall 9. This helps keeping the content (for example cigarettes) in the body.

[0043] In this embodiment, the dimensions B1 to B24 can be chosen as follows:

Dimensions of shell 2:

[0044] B1 = 112.3 mm (total length of blank for shell 2); B2 = 24.3 mm (thickness of shell 2, i.e. thickness of package 1); B3 = 88 mm (length of front wall 3 of shell 2); B4 = B9 = 45 mm (width of front wall 3 and rear wall 4); B5 = B7 = B11 = B12 = B21 = B23 = 6.5 mm (beveled edges); B6 = B10 = 16 mm (width of side walls 5, 6); B8 = 160 mm (total width of blank for shell 2); B13 = 12 mm;

Dimensions of body 8:

[0045] B14 = 206 mm (total length of blank for body 8); B15 = B16 = 22 mm (length of folding parts 15-2 and 15-3 of flap); B17 = 86 mm (length of front wall 9 and side wall 10, 12 of body 8); B18 = 22 mm (width of bottom wall 13 of body 8); B19 = 54 mm (length of rear wall 11 of body 8); B20 = 13.5 mm; B21 = B23 = 6.5 mm (beveled edges); B22 = 85 mm (total width of blank for body 8); B24 = 13.5 mm; B45= 53 mm (length of bottom wall 13 of body 8).

[0046] The dimensions of the shell 2 are generally chosen such that the shell can accommodate the body 8 in the closed position and in the reverse position of the body 8.

[0047] TLF is the total length of flap 15 between hinge line HL1 and hinge line HL2. TLF is about B17/2 (half the length B17 of the front wall 9 and the side walls 10, 12) plus the lengths B15 and B16 of the two parts 15-1 and 15-2 of the flap 15. In this embodiment, the length of the flap 15 between the two hinge lines is about 89 mm.

[0048] In order to properly accommodate the body 8 in the shell 2 in the closed position, the length B3 of front wall 3 of the shell 2 should exceed the length of the side wall 10, 12 and the front wall 9 of the body by a certain amount. This length difference can range between 2 mm and 5 mm. The length difference between B3 and B17 can also be expressed as a function of the number of folded parts of the flap 15 and their expected thickness including a certain tolerance for the folding lines.

[0049] The cardboard or other material of the flap 15 can have between 250 g/sqm and 300 g/sqm. The thickness of the flap 15 can then range from 310 µm and 420 µm. The front wall 3 and/or the side walls 5, 6 and/or the rear wall 4 of the shell can then have a greater length than the maximum length of the wall 9, 10, 11, 12 of the body that can be described by the number of layers of the flap 15 which are folded above each other when the package 1 is in the closed position. If the number of layers is n, the maximum length of at least one wall (3, 4, 5, 6) of the body should be smaller than the maximum length of at least one wall (9, 10, 11, 12) of the shell by at least n times the thickness of flap 15.

[0050] There are two folding parts 15-3 and 15-2 of the flap 15 which means that n=2 in this embodiment. For a thickness of the material of the flap of about 0.5 mm (approx. 420 µm), the minimum length difference should be about 1 mm. However, a certain tolerance could be included for the folding lines of the folded parts 15-2 and 15-3 of the flap 15 in the closed position. Accordingly, the difference can advantageously be between 2 mm and 5 mm.

[0051] FIGs 16A and 16B show blanks of another embodiment of a package 1. This package is basically rectangular.

[0052] The blank for the shell 2 is shown in FIG. 16A. It has a portion for the front wall 3, for the side wall 5 and the side wall 6 as well as for the rear wall 4. Once again, the length D2 of the rear wall 4 is shorter than the length of the side walls 5, 6 and the front wall 3. This provides the previously described advantages.

[0053] FIG. 16B shows the blank for the body 8 that corresponds to the shell 2 shown in FIG. 16A. The blank comprises a portion for the front wall 9, a portion for the rear wall 11 and portions for the side walls 10 and 12. Also in this embodiment, a part 15-1 of the flap 15 is formed by a cut-out from the front wall 9. In this embodiment, four parts (15-2 to 15-5) extend beyond the upper edge of the front wall 9. The second hinge line HL2 may be formed between the last part 15-5 and the adjacent part 15-4 of the flap. The entire part 15-5 may then be coupled (glued etc) to the inner side of the top wall 7 of the shell 2. The other creasing lines within flap 15 correspond to folding lines FL1 to FL3 as described with respect to FIGs 10 and 11.

[0054] The dimensions B25 to B44 can be chosen as follows:

Dimensions of shell 2:

[0055] B25 = 165 mm; B26 = 56 mm; B27 = 23 mm; B28 = 89 mm (length of front wall 3 of shell 2 should be some millimeters longer than length of front wall 9 and side walls 10 of body 8); B29 = 22.2 mm; B30 = 57 mm; B31 = 101.4 mm; B32 = 22.2 mm.

Dimensions of body 8:

[0056] B33 = 278 mm; B34 = B35 = B36 = B37 = 21 mm (length of a folding part 15-2 to 15-4 of the flap 15); B38 = 86 mm (length of front wall 9 of body 8); B39 = 22 mm; B40 = 86 mm (can be equal to B38); B41 = 21.2 mm; B42 = 55.5 mm; B43 = 97.9 mm; B44 = 21.2 mm.

[0057] The dimensions of the shell 2 are generally chosen such that the shell can accommodate the body 8 in the closed position and in the reverse position of the body 8.

[0058] TLF is the total length of flap 15 between hinge line HL1 and hinge line HL2. TLF is about B17/2 (half the length B17 of the front wall 9 and the side walls 10, 12) plus the lengths B35, B36 and B37 of the three parts 15-2, 15-3 and 15-4 of the flap 15. In this embodiment, the length of the flap 15 between the two hinge lines is about 106.6 mm.

[0059] In order to properly accommodate the body 8 in the shell 2 in the closed position, the length B28 of front wall 3 of the shell 2 should exceed the lengths B38, B40 of the side wall 10, 12 and the front wall 9 of the body by a certain amount. This length difference can range between 2 mm and 5 mm. The length difference between B28 and B38, B40 can also be expressed as a function of the number of folded parts of the flap 15 and their expected thickness including a certain tolerance for the folding lines.

[0060] The cardboard or other material of the flap 15 can have between 250 g/sqm and 300 g/sqm. The thickness of the flap 15 can then range from 310 µm and 420 µm. The front wall 3 and/or the side walls 5, 6 and/or the rear wall 4 of the shell can then have a greater length than the maximum length of the wall 9, 10, 11, 12 of the body that can be described by the number of layers of the flap 15 which are folded above each other when the package 1 is in the closed position. If the number of layers is n, the maximum length of at least one wall (3, 4, 5, 6) of the body should be smaller than the maximum length of at least one wall (9, 10, 11, 12) of the shell by at least n times the thickness of flap 15.

[0061] There are four folding parts 15-2, 15-3, 15-4 and 15-5 of the flap 15 which means that n=4 in this embodiment. For a thickness of the material of the flap of about 0.5 mm (approx. 420 µm), the minimum length difference should be about 2 mm. However, a certain tolerance could be included for the folding lines of the folded parts 15-2 to 15-5 of the flap 15 in the closed position. Accordingly, the difference can advantageously be between 2 mm and 5 mm, and in particular 3 mm.

[0062] D4 is the total length of the parts 15-2, 15-3 and 15-4 of the flap 15 that extend over the upper edge of the body 8. The minimum length for D4 is the minimum length D2 of the rear wall 4.

[0063] The minimum length D2 of the rear wall 4 of the shell 2 can be equal to or greater than 65% of the length of the front wall 3 of the shell.

[0064] In other words, The length of the front wall 3 and/or the length of the side walls 5, 6 of the shell 2 should be at least a factor 1.1 (or 10 % longer) longer than the maximum length of the front wall 9, the maximum length of the rear wall 11 and the maximum length of the side walls 10, 12 of the body 8.

[0065] Advantageously, there can be a recess or opening in the front wall 3 and or rear wall 4 of the shell 2 through which the length of the front and/or rear wall 3, 4 of the shell 2 is reduced. This simplifies that the body 8 can be grabbed and pulled out of the shell 2.

[0066] Although the invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, it is not limited to these embodiments and no doubt further alternatives will occur to the skilled person that lie within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A package for elongate articles, in particular smoking articles and/or tobacco related articles, the package comprising a body having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, and a shell comprising a front, a rear wall, two side walls and a top wall dimensioned to accommodate the body from a top side and at least cover the top side of the body in a closed position of the package, wherein the package further comprises a flap coupled between the body and an inner side of a wall of the shell, the flap being configured to allow the body to be pulled out of the shell, turned upside down into a reverse position and be inserted into the shell in the reverse position of the body such that an outer side of the bottom wall of the body faces the inner side of the top wall of the shell.

2. The package according to claim 1, wherein the content of the body is accessible in the reverse position.

3. The package according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flap is hingedly coupled to a front wall of the body at a first hinge line.

4. The package according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the flap is hingedly coupled to an inner side of the top wall of the shell at a second hinge line.

5. The package according to claim 4, wherein a length of the unfolded flap between a top edge of the body and the second hinge line is greater than the length of the rear wall but shorter than the length of any other wall of the shell.

6. The package according to claim 4 inasmuch as claim 4 depends on claim 3, wherein the length of the extended flap between the first hinge line and the second hinge line is greater than the sum of the length of the rear wall of the shell and the distance between the first hinge line and the top edge of the body.

7. The package according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the flap at least partially forms a front wall of the body in the closed position.

8. The package according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein at least a part of the flap forms a lid for the body covering at least the top side of the body in the closed position.

9. The package according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the flap comprises traverse creasing lines for folding the flap into portions having a width that is equal to or smaller than a thickness of the package.

10. The package according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein at least the rear wall of the shell is shorter than the length of the body.

11. A blank for manufacturing the package according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, wherein the flap is at least partially formed as a cut-out from the front wall of the body.

12. A method of manufacturing a package according to anyone of claims 1 to 10.

Drawing