WO2011072806A1

WO2011072806A1 - Container with covered attachment tabs

Info

Publication number: WO2011072806A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/007332
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sandrine Saint-Girons
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2009-12-14
Filing date: 2010-12-02
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: UA106404C2; ES2630055T3; JP5678090B2; RU2555684C2; TWI504546B; CN102712381A; JP2013513533A; KR101825233B1; TW201139221A; RU2012129922A; EP2512938A1; PL2512938T3; MX2012006866A; MY163812A; KR20120103706A; EP2512938B1; CN102712381B

Abstract

The invention relates to a container 1 comprising a cup -shaped box 2 and a lid 3 connected to the cup -shaped box 2, further comprising a box side wall 5, 6 and an adjacent box front wall 7. An attachment tab 13, 14 depends from the box side wall 5, 6 of the container 1, wherein the attachment tab 13, 14 is attached to the box front wall (7) of the container 1. The container 1 further comprises a tab cover panel 30 depending from the box front wall 7, wherein the tab cover panel 30 at least partially overlies the attachment tab 13, 14 of the box 2, and an inner cover panel 34 depending from a tab cover panel 33. The inner cover panel 34 covers an inside portion of a wall of the container 1, wherein the inner cover panel 34 at least partially covers the inside of a top wall 23 of the lid 3. The invention further relates to a blank for a container and a method of lifting a consumer article at least partially from a container 1.

Description

CONTAINER WITH COVERED ATTACHMENT TABS

The present invention relates to a container that finds particular application as a container for consumer goods such as, for example, elongate smoking articles. The present invention further relates to a corresponding blank for such a container.

Containers for smoking articles and blanks are known in the prior art such as, for example, from the international patent application WO-A-2009/020383. This international application discloses a container for smoking articles that is formed from one blank. The blank comprises several panels. The panels are first glued to each other and then cut open to enable that the top lid portion can be pivoted around a hinge line at the back of the container. Some of the lid panels as well as the box panels of the container comprise attachments tabs, which are glued to adjacent walls. Due to the way the blank of such a container is constructed, a lot of waste is created as some of the panels stick out of the sides main surface area of the blank.

A similar container is known from GB 714 466 A. The container has additionally an inner lid panel that is folded into the lid of the panel to form a second lid top wall. The panels are arranged in the container blanks, such that an unsightly gap shows at the edges between the front wall and the side walls of the box when the open container is viewed from the front.

However, when the containers according to the prior art are in an open position, attachment tabs are visible. Thus, it is the object of the present invention to provide a container with a high-quality appearance in both the open and the closed positions. A further object of the invention is that the blank of such a container is adapted to create as little waste as possible due to an improved nesting of blanks on a larger sheet of blank material.

According to the invention there is provided a container comprising a cup-shaped box and a lid connected to the cup-shaped box, further comprising a box side wall and an adjacent box front wall. An attachment tab depends from the box side wall of the container and is attached to the box front wall of the container. Further, a tab cover panel depends from the box front wall, wherein the tab cover panel at least partially overlies the attachment tab. The container further comprises an inner cover panel that depends from a tab cover panel wherein the inner cover panel covers an inside portion of a wall of the container and wherein the inner cover panel at least partially covers the inside of a top wall of the lid.

The cut edges of a blank are generally not printed and have the color of the blank material. Where the blank material is cardboard, typically the cut edges of the blank are white or grey, unless a colored cardboard is used. This means, that these white or grey cut edges of the panels may be visible in an otherwise color printed container according to the prior art. According to the invention, the attachment tabs are arranged advantageously such that the attachment tabs that connect the box front wall and the box side wall in the container depend from the box side walls. Preferably, attachment tabs of the lid are arranged such that the attachment tabs that connect the lid front wall and the lid side wall of the container depend from the lid side walls. This means, that no cut edges are visible from the outside on the front of the container. Only the vertical cut edges of the box front wall are generally visible, but not from the front of the container, as they are facing towards the sides of the container. The front edges of the side walls of the lid and box of the container are not cut edges but printed folding lines between the side walls and the respective attachment tabs.

Preferably, the attachment tabs are arranged such that the attachment tabs that connect the box rear wall and a box side wall in the container depend from the box rear wall. This means, that no attachment tabs are visible on the inside of the container even where the box back wall is not covered with a cover panel.

This gives the container an aesthetic appearance. This is particularly true for containers which are assembled from a blank which is only printed or coated on one side of the blank. In these containers preferably the side of the attachment tab that is attached to the second wall is the non-printed side of the blank. Preferably, all tab cover panels in the container are folded in such a way over the respective attachment tabs that the printed side of the tab cover panels is visible even if the blank is printed only on one side. The tab cover panel is preferably folded over the attachment tab.

According to the invention, the structural strength of the container is increased over containers without the tab cover panel as the attachment tab that depends from the first wall is not only attached to the second wall, but also covered by the tab cover panel such that at least the second wall of the container comprises at least a double layer of material. Preferably, the tab cover panel is also attached to a second wall panel of the container.

The term "panel" is used throughout the specification to indicate a section of the blank that is used to assemble the container. A panel is delimited on all sides by cut lines, crease line, score lines, fold lines or combinations thereof.

The terms "flap" or "tab" are used to indicate sections of the blank that depend only from one panel of the blank. "Tabs" and "flaps" can be used to attach panels to each other when assembling the container or for other, special purposes like lid closing mechanisms.

The term "wall" is used throughout the specification to indicate an outer wall of the lid of the container, the box of the container or the container itself. A "wall" can comprise a number of panels, flaps and tabs.

The terms "front", "back", "upper", "lower", "side", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the containers in an upright position with the lid at the top end and the hinge on the back. The terms "left" and "right" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position. When the container in the upright position is open, consumer articles contained in the box may be removed from the upper end of the container.

The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction from bottom to top or vice versa. The term "transverse" refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction across the front wall, the back wall or across one of the side walls.

The term "inside" is used throughout the specification in connection with a wall, tab, panel or other portion of the container to refer to the side of that wall, tab, panel or other portion that faces towards the interior of the container when the container is in the closed position. Likewise, the term "outside" is used throughout the specification in connection with a wall, tab, panel or other portion of the container to refer to the side of that wall, tab, panel or other portion that faces towards the exterior of the container when the container is in the closed position.

In one embodiment, the container according to the invention further comprises a lifting panel capable of at least partially lifting the consumer goods within the container upon opening of the container. Preferably, the lifting panel is adapted to be lifted by means of being connected over a folding mechanism to the inner cover panel.

Preferably, the container according to the invention further comprises a lifting back wall panel, a lifting bottom panel, and a back-folding panel, wherein the lifting back wall panel depends from the inner cover panel, the lifting bottom panel depends from the lifting back wall panel, and the back-folding panel depends from the lifting bottom panel and is connected to the lifting panel. Such a lifting feature allows better access to the consumer goods. Also, it can produce an appealing product offer when the container is first opened.

Preferably, the inner cover panel is about 5 to about 15 percent shorter than the lid top wall that it lies adjacent to, more preferably, about 5 to about 10 percent shorter. This takes the thickness of the blank base material into account where the container is closed such that the lifting back wall panel comes to lie snugly on the box back wall. In addition, when the container is opened, the lifting back wall panel is pulled upwards to accommodate the missing length between the inner cover panel and the lid top wall. This pulls the lifting bottom panel and the lifting bottom panel pulls on the back-folding panel such that back-folding panel is rotated. The rotation of the back-folding panel increases the distance between the bottom wall of the box and the lifting panel such that the consumer goods that are above the lifting panel are at least partially lifted. This is a very efficient mechanism to raise the consumer goods. At the same time, the lifting mechanism does not significantly complicate the blank of the container. Indeed, the lifting mechanism may still be integral with all other elements of the blank. In addition, the way that the lifting element folds according to the invention, the lifting element also has the same side of the blank exposed to a consumer such that the container can still be made from a single sided printed blank.

Preferably, the container is formed of only one blank of sheet material.

Preferably, the attachment tab depends from the first wall via a folding line. The folding line may already be provided in the blank for the container by, for example, a crease line or score line. The first and second walls may be the top, bottom, side, front or back wall of the box or lid of the container, wherein first and second walls refer to walls which are adjacent to each other along at least one of their edges in the container.

Preferably, the tab cover panel has generally the same size as the second wall, such that it fully covers the inside portion of the second wall. In certain embodiments, the tab cover panel may be folded over more than one attachment tab, for example over two attachment tabs. Furthermore, the attachment tabs may be attached to both the second wall and the tab cover panel. This adds to the structural strength of the container.

Preferably, the container comprises further at least one inner cover panel which depends from the tab cover panel, wherein the at least one inner cover panel overlies an inside portion of a wall of the container. Alternatively or in addition, an inner cover panel may also depend from another cover panel, which is covering an inner side, front or back wall of the container. This allows that a container wall adjacent to the second wall is fully or partially covered by the inner cover panel. Thus, the remaining inside wall portions of the container which may comprise the unprinted side of a blank towards the inside may be covered by at least one inner cover panel which provides the printed side of the blank towards the inside of the container. Furthermore, additional information for the consumer or marketing information may be provided on the inner cover panel. Due to the inventive arrangement of the panels in the container, the printed side of the inner cover panel will also appear on the inside of the container even with a blank which is only printed on one side.

In one embodiment, the inner cover panel covers the inner side of a top panel of the lid. This is particularly beneficial for containers which have a rather flat shape that is wherein the height of the container is comparatively low with respect to the depth and width of the container. Thus, the top panel of the lid comprises a large area suitable for displaying printed information, or for example, a mirrored section.

Preferably, the tab cover panel is arranged adjacent to the second wall and is facing the inside of the container, and the attachment tab is provided in between the tab cover panel and a second wall panel. Thus, if the tab cover panel has substantially the same size as the second wall, the edges of the tab cover panel are covered by container walls adjacent to the second wall.

In one embodiment, a rear wall of the container may comprise a hinge line connecting the box and the lid. In one embodiment the walls of the lid and the walls of the box abut at their edges such that the side walls and front walls of the box and lid are flush with each other when the container is closed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention at least the front wall of the lid overlies at least partially the front wall of the box. Alternatively or in addition, the side walls of the lid overlie at least partially the respective side walls of the box.

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

Preferably, an overlying lid front wall comprises a click flap defined by a cut and a folding line. The click flap protrudes from the lid front wall so as to engage with a closure cut-out of the box front wall. Alternatively, the click flap protrudes from the box front wall so as to engage with a closure cut-out of the lid front wall.

Preferably, the closure cut-out is provided on a tab cover panel that faces the inside of the container such that the closure cut-out is not visible from the outside. Preferably, the closure cut-out is provided on the cover panel of the lid front wall.

Preferably, the click flap is depending hingedly from the top edge of the front wall of the box or from the bottom edge of the front wall of the lid. Preferably, the click flap protrudes towards the closure cut-out so as to engage with the edges of the click flap in the closed position of the container.

This feature provides the benefit that the container is secured in the closed state. In addition, the click flap generates a click sound when entering the closure cut-out upon fully closing of the container. The click sound assures the consumer of the closure of the container.

In one embodiment, the front wall of the lid has an engagement cut-out so as to provide an engagement portion for opening the container. This feature is particularly suitable for such container according to the invention wherein the lid front wall at least partly overlies the outside of the box front wall when the container is closed. Advantageously, the box front wall can be engaged by a consumer through the engagement cut-out in the lid front wall. Furthermore, the engagement cut-out enables the consumer to apply pressure to the front wall of the box to elastically deform the front wall panel to the back. This facilitates the separation of the click portion from the closure cut-out. This advantageously allows for an easy opening of the container.

Preferably, the box of the container comprises smoking articles, in particular elongated smoking articles such as cigarettes.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a blank for a container comprising a box side wall panel, a box front wall panel and at least one attachment tab depending from the box side wall panel. The blank further comprises a tab cover panel depending from a box front wall panel and adapted to be folded so as to cover the attachment tab in the container.

The blank according to the invention comprises an inner cover panel that depends from an tab cover panel of the lid.

Preferably the inner cover panel depends from a lid front wall to cover the inside of the lid top wall. Alternatively, the inner cover panel that covers the inside of the lid top wail depends from a cover panel that covers an inside side wall of the lid.

The panels of the blank that correspond to walls in the container depend from each other along scoring or creasing lines.

Preferably, the tab cover panel is substantially of the same size as the box front wall panel. This allows the tab cover panel to completely cover one side of the box front wall panel and thus a smooth surface without any edges of the blank can be obtained.

In one embodiment, the blank comprises a box bottom wall panel, wherein a box left side wall panel, a box right side wall panel and the box front wall panel are each depending from the box bottom wall panel. Furthermore, the blank comprises a lid top wall panel wherein a lid left side wall panel, a lid right side wall panel and a lid front wall panel are each depending from the lid top wall panel. A box back wall panel is depending from the lid top wall panel by a hinge line and depending from the box bottom wall panel. This blank enables a container with a cup-like box and a lid hingedly connected thereto.

Tab cover panels may be depending from the box left side wall panel, the box right side wall panel, the box front wall panel, and the lid front wall panel. Additional cover panels may depend from the lid left side wall panel and the lid right side wall panel. The additional cover panels allow the covering of the inside of the corresponding wall panels without an attachment tab disposed in between the cover panel and the corresponding wall panel. For example, where the lid front wall panel comprises attachment tabs, tab cover panels may depend from the lid left side wall panel and the lid right side wall panel to cover the aforementioned attachment tabs. In this embodiment, an inner cover panel that covers the inside of the lid top wall may depend from the lid front cover panel or one of the lid side tab cover panels. Preferably, the inner cover panel that covers the inside of the lid top wall panel is depending from the tab cover panel of the lid front wall panel. This enables that the blank does not comprise very high variations in its width, such that the manufacturing process of the blank requires little amounts of waste material, when cutting the blank out of same.

In a preferred embodiment, attachment tabs are provided at the side of the box back wall panel, the box side wall panels and the lid side wall panels.

The consumer goods within the container may be wrapped with an inner liner, which is visible in the opening of the box when the container is open.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles. Preferably the smoking articles are arranged in the container such that they extend from the front to the back wall of the box.

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

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

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

Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle of smoking articles housed inside the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 5 mm and about 180 mm, more preferably a height of between about 10 mm and about 20 mm, wherein the height is measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 mm and about 180 mm, more preferably a width of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the width is measured from the first side wall to the second side wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 mm and about 180 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 80 mm and about 100 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid). Preferably, the ratio of the depth of the container to the height of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1

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

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

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

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

Once filled, containers according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. The accompanying drawings are incorporated to form a part of the specification for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention. The drawings show how the invention can be made and used. Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and the more particular description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

The present invention is further directed to a method of lifting a consumer article at least partially from a container, the method comprising providing a container according to the invention, the method further comprising the step of providing a lifting panel, a lifting back wall panel a lifting bottom panel and a back-folding panel, wherein the lifting back wall panel depends from the inner cover panel, the lifting bottom panel depends from the lifting back wall panel, and the back-folding panel depends from the lifting bottom panel and connects the lifting panel, the method further comprising the step of lifting the lid of the container such that the lifting panel is lifted by at least a partial rotation of the back-folding panel. The at least partial rotation of the back folding panel may be a combination of a rotation and a translation movement.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention in a closed position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention in an open position; Fig. 3 is a view of the blank according to the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view of a blank for a container according to the invention with a lifting feature Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the lifting feature inside the closed container; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the lifting feature inside the opened container

A container 1 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a cup-shaped box 2 and a lid 3. The box 2 comprises a box bottom wall 4, and further a box left side wall 5, a box right side wall 6, a box front wall 7 and a box back wall 8 that are arranged perpendicular to the box bottom wall 4.

The lid comprises a lid top wall 9, and further a lid left side wall 10, a lid right side wall 11 and a lid front wall 12 that are arranged perpendicular to the lid top wall 9.

The lid top wall 9 is hingedly connected to the box back wall 8 along the top edge of the box back wall 8.

The walls of the container are connected to each other by attachment tabs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 (see Fig. 3) which connect the adjacent side walls, front wall and back wall to each other.

In the container the attachment tabs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are not visible, giving the container a high quality appearance.

An embodiment of the blank according to the invention is depicted in Fig. 3.

The blank comprises a box bottom wall panel 19, which forms the box bottom wall 4 of the container 1. A box left side wall panel 20, a box right side wall panel 21 and a box front wall panel 22 are depending from the box bottom wall panel 19 via folding lines.. The folding lines may be either designated lines for folding without any modification of the blank or lines of lowered blank thickness, for example creasing or scoring lines, which enable an easier folding of the blank along the folding lines.

Further, the blank comprises a lid top wall panel 23, from which a lid left side wall panel 24, a lid right side wall panel 25, and a lid front wall panel 27 are depending, A box back wall panel 26 is depending from the box bottom wall panel 19 and the lid top wall panel 23.

To enable the covering of the attachment tabs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, tab cover panels 28, 29, 30, 33 are provided depending via folding lines from the box left side wall panel 20, the box right side wall panel 21 , the box front wall panel 22 and the lid front wall panel 27. Furthermore, cover panels 31 , 32 are provided depending via folding lines on the lid left side wall panel 24 and the lid right side wall panel 25 to cover the inner side of the lid left and right side wall panels 24, 25.

A further inner cover panel 34 is depending from the tab cover panel 33 of the lid front wall panel 27.

In the container 1 , the box left side wall panel 20 and the corresponding tab cover panel 28 form the box left side wall 5. The box right side wall panel 21 and the corresponding tab cover panel 29 form the box right side wall 6. The box front wall panel 22 and the corresponding tab cover panel 30 form the box front wall 7.

The lid left side wall panel 24 and the corresponding cover panel 31 form the lid left side wall 10. The lid right side wall panel 25 and the corresponding cover panel 32 form the lid right side wall 11. The lid front wall panel 27 and the corresponding tab cover panel 33 form the lid front wall 12.

The lid top wall panel 23 and the inner cover panel 34 form the top wall 9 of the lid 3.

In a container 1 with closed lid 3, the lid left and right side walls 10, 11 and the lid front wall 12 are arranged adjacent and parallel to the box left and right side walls 5, 6 and the box front wall 7 respectively, and on the outside of the container 1 as shown in Fig.1.

Furthermore, the blank comprises closure means adapted to keep the container 1 in a closed position while allowing the opening of the container in a convenient manner. A click flap 35 is provided at the box front wall panel 22 by providing a cut 36 in the tab cover panel 30 depending from the box front wall panel 22. The click flap 35 is a blank portion that is depending by a folding line 37 from the box front wall panel 22. The cut 36 comprises a certain width, creating a gap in between the click flap 35 and the remaining tab cover panel 30, such that the click flap 35 does not engage with the tab cover panel 30.

A closure cut-out 38 is provided in the tab cover panel 33 depending from the top front wall panel 27 in a distance to the top front wall panel 27.

In the container 1 , the click flap 35 can engage with the edges of the closure cut-out 38 and, therefore, maintain the container 1 in a closed state. During the closure of the container, the click flap 35 is first in contact with the tab cover panel 33 and will provide an audible click sound when settling into the closure cut-out 38.

An engagement cut-out 39 is provided in the lid front wall panel 27 and tab cover panel 33 in a symmetric manner with respect to the folding line in between these panels, such that it provides an engagement portion in the container 1 , for opening the container 1.

The box back wall panel 26 is depending via a hinge line 40 from the lid top wall panel 23 to provide a hinge for opening the lid 3 with respect to the box 2. In one embodiment of the invention, a blank according to Fig. 3 is used for the manufacture of the container according to Fig. 1 and 2.

In a first step, the outline of the blank is cut out of sheet material. The sheet material may be coated cardboard, but it is also possible to use plastic material. The sheet material is preferably coated and printed on at least one side.

Then, the attachment tabs 13 and 14 are attached to the inside of the box front wall panel 22. The attachment tabs 15 and 16 are attached to the box left side wall panel 20 and box right side wall panel 21 respectively. The attachment is carried out in particular by gluing, however any other connection techniques known in the art can be applied. The tab cover panels 28, 29 and 30 are folded on the inside of the respective box wall panels 20, 21 and 22 such that the attachment tabs 13, 14, 15 and 16 are provided in between the box wall panels 20, 21 , 22 and the tab cover panels 28, 29 and 30 respectively.

Then, the attachment tabs 17 and 18 are attached to the inside of the lid front wall panel 27. The tab cover panel 33 is attached to the inside of the attachment tabs 17, 18 and lid front wall panel 27. In this position, the inner cover panel 34 is adjacent to the inside of the lid top wall panel 23, such that it covers the lid top wall panel 23. Finally, the cover panels 31 , 32 are attached to the lid left and right side wall panels 24, 25 to cover the inside of the lid left and right side wall panels 24, 25.

The click flap 35 is folded to the outside of the box front wall 7 of the container 1 (as can be seen in Fig. 2) such that the edges of the cut-out 38 of the lid 3 can engage with the click flap 35.

Thus, with a blank which is only printed on one side, a container 1 , can be provided wherein the majority of inside walls of the container are covered by the printed sides of tab cover panels, cover panels or inner cover panels. Furthermore, all attachments tabs 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are covered, such that a high quality appearance of the container 1 is obtained.

It should be noted that in the other embodiments the attachment tabs may also be attached to the outside of the adjacent wall panels. In this case, the tab cover panels are folded on the outside of the wall panels as well, such that the attachment tabs are covered.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide an inner cover panel for the box such that the box bottom wall is covered by an inner cover panel as well.

The inner cover panel may be provided at any tab cover panel or cover panel.

The container may further comprise a lifting device that lifts the smoking articles when the container is opened. For example, the lifting device may be formed by two cover panels (not shown) that depend from the back edge of the inner cover panel 34 and cover the inside of the box back wall 8 and the inside of the box bottom wall 4. Alternatively, a section of the inner liner of the smoking articles may be attached to the inside of the lid top wall to lift the smoking articles up along the back wall once the lid is opened by more than 90 degrees.

Fig. 4 shows a blank of a further embodiment of the present invention with an additional lifting feature. The lifting feature comprises a lifting panel 46, a lifting back wall panel 42, a lifting bottom panel 44 and a back-folding panel 45, wherein the lifting back wall panel 42 depends from the inner cover panel 34, the lifting bottom panel 44 depends from the lifting back wall panel 42, and the back-folding panel 45 depends form the lifting bottom panel 44 and connects the lifting panel 46. At the end of the lifting panel is a lifting flap 48 that is preferably glued to the inside of the box bottom panel 19. In the assembled container 1 , the inner cover panel 34 lies against the inside of the lid top wall 9. The lifting back wall panel 42 is folded about 90 degrees down into the box 2 against the box back wall 8. The lifting bottom panel 44 is folded by about 90 degrees to lie against the box bottom wall 4. The back-folding panel 45 is folded by about 180 degrees back towards the box back wall 8 such that it creates a z-fold between the lifting bottom wall 44 and the lifting panel 46. The arrangement of the panels in the closed position of the container 1 is shown in Fig. 5.

The inner cover panel 34 is about 5 to about 15 percent shorter than the lid top wall 9. This has the effect that, when the container 1 is pivoted about the hinge line 40 in the direction indicated by arrow 50, the lifting back wall panel 42 is pulled upwards into the direction of arrow 52 to accommodate the missing length between the inner cover panel 34 and the lid top wall 9. This pulls the lifting bottom panel 44. The lifting bottom panel 44 pulls on the back-folding panel 45 such that back-folding panel 45 is rotated. The rotation of the back-folding panel 45 increases the distance between the box bottom wall 4 and the lifting panel 46 such that the consumer goods that are above the lifting panel 46 are at least partially lifted into the direction indicated by arrow 54. When the container 1 is closed, the panels return to their initial position.

Claims

1. A container (1) comprising

a cup-shaped box (2) and

a lid (3) connected to the cup-shaped box (2),

further comprising a box side wall (5, 6) and an adjacent box front wall (7), wherein an attachment tab (13, 14) depends from the box side wall (5, 6) of the container (1), wherein the attachment tab (13, 14) is attached to the box side wall (5, 6) of the container (1), further comprising a tab cover panel (30) depending from the box front wall (7), wherein the tab cover panel (30) at least partially overlies the attachment tab (13, 14) of the box (2), the container further comprising an inner cover panel (34) depending from a tab cover panel (33),

characterized in that

the inner cover panel (34) covers an inside portion of a wall of the container (1), wherein the inner cover panel (34) at least partially covers the inside of a top wall (23) of the lid (3).

2. The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a lifting panel (46) capable of at least partially lifting the consumer goods within the container upon opening of the container (1 ).

3. The container according to claim 2, further comprising a lifting back wall panel (42) a lifting bottom panel (44) and a back-folding panel (45), wherein the lifting back wall panel (42) depends from the inner cover panel (34), the lifting bottom panel (44) depends from the lifting back wall panel (42), and the back-folding panel (45) depends from the lifting bottom panel (44) and connects the lifting panel (46).

4. The container according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the tab cover panel (30) is arranged adjacent to the box front wall (7) and is facing the inside of the container (1), and the attachment tab (13, 14) is completely covered by the tab cover panel (30).

5. The container according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a back wall (8) of the container (1) comprises a hinge line (40) connecting the box (2) and the lid (3), and a front wall (7, 12) of the box (2) or the lid (3) comprises a click flap (35) defined by a cut (36) and a folding line (37), wherein the click flap (35) protrudes from the front wall (7, 12) so as to engage with a closure cut-out (38) of a front wall (7, 12) of the other of lid (3) or box (2).

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein the click flap (35) is part of one of the tab cover panels (30) and the closure cut-out (38) is provided in another tab cover panel (33).

7. The container according to any one of the previous claims, wherein an engagement cutout (39) is provided in the lid front wall (12), so as to provide an engagement portion for opening the container (1).

8. The container according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the container (1) comprises smoking articles.

9. A blank for a container (1), comprising

a box side wall panel (20, 21);

a box front wall panel (22); and

an attachment tab (13, 14) depending from the box side wall panel (20, 21), further comprising a tab cover panel (30) depending from the box front wall panel (20, 21), and adapted to be folded so as to cover the attachment tab (13, 14) in the container, characterized in that

the blank further comprises an inner cover panel (34) depending from a tab cover panel (33).

10. A blank according to claim 9, further comprising a lifting panel (46), a lifting back wall panel (42) a lifting bottom panel (44) and a back-folding panel (45), wherein the lifting back wall panel (42) depends from the inner cover panel (34), the lifting bottom panel (44) depends from the lifting back wall panel (42), and the back-folding panel (45) depends from the lifting bottom panel (44) and connects the lifting panel (46).

1 1. The blank according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the tab cover panel (30) is substantially of the same shape as the box front wall panel (22).

12. The blank according to any one of the claims 9 to 11 , comprising:

a box bottom wall panel (19);

a box left side wall panel (20), a box right side wall panel (21) and the box front wall panel (22), each depending from the box bottom wall panel (19);

a lid top wall panel (23);

a lid left side wall panel (24), a lid right side wall panel (25), and a lid front wall panel (27), each depending from the lid top wall panel (23); and

a box back wall panel (26), depending from the lid top wall panel (23) by a hinge line (40) and depending from the box bottom wall panel (19).

13. The blank according to claim 12, wherein tab cover panels (28, 29, 30, 33) are depending from:

the box left side wall panel (20),

the box right side wall panel (21),

the box front wall panel (22), and

the lid front wall panel (27); and

additional cover panels (31 , 32) are depending from:

the lid left side wall panel (24), and

the lid right side wall panel (25).

14. The blank according to claim 12 or 13, wherein attachment tabs (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) are provided at the side of:

the box back wall panel (26),

the box side wall panels (20, 21), and

the lid side wall panels (24, 25).

15. Method of lifting a consumer article at least partially from a container, the method comprising:

providing a container according to claim 1 , the method further comprising the steps of providing a lifting panel (46), a lifting back wall panel (42) a lifting bottom panel (44) and a back-folding panel (45), wherein the lifting back wall panel (42) depends from the inner cover panel (34), the lifting bottom panel (44) depends from the lifting back wall panel (42), and the back-folding panel (45) depends from the lifting bottom panel (44) and connects the lifting panel (46), the method further comprising the step of

lifting the lid (3) of the container (1) such that the lifting panel (46) is lifted by at least a partial rotation of the back-folding panel (45).