Abstract:
A hinge-lid container finding particular application as a hinge-lid pack or carton for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes, which includes a box portion; a lid portion hinged to the box portion across a rear wall thereof for pivotal movement between an pen position and a closed position; a flap extending across a lower part of the inner surface of a front wall of the lid portion; and a spacer panel extending across at least an upper part of the inner surface of a front wall of the box portion. The spacer panel, which preferably depends from and is folded about the upper edge of the front wall of the box portion, has a free edge that extends across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion and does not project from the box portion into space covered by the lid portion in the closed position.

Description:
This application is a national stage application under 35 USC §371 of International Application Number PCT/IB2005/004002, filed Dec. 7, 2005, the international Application being published in English and the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims priority under 35 USC §119 to European Application No. 04257628.0, filed Dec. 8, 2004. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel hinge-lid container and in particular to a novel hinge-lid pack or carton for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Cigarettes are commonly sold in hinge-lid cardboard packs having a box portion and a lid portion, which is hinged to the rear wall of the box portion. In use, with the pack in an upright position, the front of the lid portion is pivoted up and to the rear by the consumer to open the pack and thereby allow access to a bundle of cigarettes standing in the box portion. When the lid portion is closed, the front, side and rear walls of the lid portion form vertical extensions of the corresponding walls of the box portion. 
     Hinge-lid cigarette packs normally also include an inner frame or collar mounted inside the front and sides of the box portion, at least a portion of which projects from the box portion into the space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. A central cut-out is provided in the front wall of the inner frame to allow the consumer to readily remove cigarettes from the hinge-lid pack in the open position. In use, the inner frame provides interference or frictional engagement with the lid portion as it opens and closes, thereby helping to prevent accidental opening of the pack and helping to retain the lid portion in the closed position when desired. In addition, the inner frame also serves to reinforce the box portion of the hinge-lid pack. 
     Typically, the box portion and the lid portion of the hinge-lid cigarette pack are formed from a single, folded, laminar cardboard blank and the inner frame is formed from a second, separate, laminar cardboard blank. To produce the pack, a bundle of cigarettes wrapped in, for example, metallised paper or aluminium foil is placed together with the second laminar cardboard blank in a pocket on a wrapping wheel, which is lined with the first laminar cardboard blank. The wrapping wheel is indexable between a number of stations and as the pocket indexes around from station to station, the first laminar cardboard blank is folded in stages around the wrapped bundle of cigarettes and inner frame to form the hinge-lid pack. Typically, the formed hinge-lid cigarette pack is then shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     Hinge-lid containers with an integral inner frame, which are formed from a single, folded, laminar cardboard blank are also known. The blanks for such containers can be complicated and, in order to erect the container, require reverse folding that is difficult to achieve using conventional machinery. 
     Laminar cardboard blanks from which hinge-lid cigarette packs and other hinge-lid containers are formed often include an inner lid panel that extends from the panel of the blank which, in use, forms the front wall of the lid portion of the pack. During production, this inner lid panel is folded through 180 degrees and affixed to the inner surface of the lid front wall panel of the blank so that in the formed hinge-lid container it rests against the inside of the front wall of the lid portion thereof. As well as providing reinforcement to the lid portion of the formed hinge-lid container, the inner lid panel may be provided with retention means that, in use, cooperate with portions of an inner frame mounted in the container to retain the lid portion thereof in a completely closed position, with the lower edges of the lid portion abutting the upper edges of the box portion. In addition, the outer surface of the inner lid panel may be advantageously printed with consumer information. The fold line formed between the inner lid panel and the lid front wall panel also advantageously provides a neat, dull lower front edge to the lid portion of the formed hinge-lid container. 
     In spite of the benefits discussed in the preceding paragraph, the inclusion of an inner lid flap in hinge-lid cigarette packs and other hinge-lid containers disadvantageously results in the lower region of the front wall of the lid portion of the container being of increased thickness compared to the upper region of the front wall of the box portion thereof. Due to the presence of the reinforcing flap, the bottom edge of the front wall of the lid portion is twice the thickness of the top edge of the front wall of the box portion against which it abuts when in the closed position. Such a thickness differential across the lid line is undesirable as the misalignment between the front wall of the lid portion and the front wall of the box portion can give rise to creases or wrinkles in polymeric film over wrappers subsequently applied to the formed hinge-lid container; as well as being unsightly, creases or wrinkles formed in the polymeric film may interfere with subsequent manufacturing and transport operations involving the over wrapped hinge-lid container. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present invention there is provided a hinge-lid container comprising: a box portion; a lid portion hinged to the box portion across a rear wall thereof for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position; a flap extending across a lower part of the inner surface of a front wall of the lid portion; and a spacer panel extending across at least an upper part of the inner surface of a front wall of the box portion, the spacer panel having a free edge that extends across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion, wherein the spacer panel does not project from the box portion into space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. 
     The inclusion of a spacer panel adjacent the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion spaces the upper part of the front wall of the box portion from the contents thereof. As it does not project into the space covered by the lid portion in the closed position, the spacer panel thereby compensates for the increased thickness of the lower part of the inner surface of the front wall of the lid portion due to the flap. By reducing or eliminating any thickness differential across the lid line of hinge-lid containers according to the invention, the spacer panel advantageously avoids misalignment between the front wall of the lid portion and the front wall of the box portion thereof that could result in creases or wrinkles in an over wrappers subsequently applied to the container. 
     The spacer panel also advantageously reinforces the box portion of hinge-lid containers according to the invention. Consequently, hinge-lid containers according to the invention having substantially the same rigidity as known hinge-lid containers may be advantageously formed from reduced thickness laminar cardboard blanks or other materials and/or without the need for inclusion of an inner frame. 
     Preferably, the spacer panel is of substantially the same thickness as the flap. 
     Preferably, the spacer panel has a free edge that extends across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion substantially parallel to the upper edge of the front wall of the box portion. 
     The flap preferably depends from and is folded about the upper edge of the front wall of the lid portion. The flap may be affixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the lid portion using, for example, an adhesive. The spacer panel may be affixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion using, for example, an adhesive. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spacer panel is integral with the front wall of the box portion. More preferably, the spacer panel depends from and is folded about the upper edge of the front wall of the box portion. 
     Preferably, the box portion, lid portion, flap and spacer panel are formed from a one-piece folded laminar blank. 
     In other embodiments of the invention, the spacer panel may be a separate panel that is, for example, adhered with a suitable adhesive or otherwise affixed to the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion. In such embodiments, the spacer panel has a pair of opposed free edges that extend across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion. 
     Hinge-lid containers according to the invention may further comprise a separate, non-integral inner frame mounted in the box portion and projecting from the box portion into space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. In such embodiments, the spacer panel is positioned between the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion and the inner frame. Where hinge-lid containers according to the invention comprise an inner frame, the spacer panel may be integral with the inner frame as shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, the spacer panel may depend from and be folded about the lower edge of the front wall of the inner frame so that the spacer panel has a free edge that extends across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion proximate the upper edge thereof. The box portion, lid portion and flap may be formed from a first, folded, one-piece laminar blank and the inner frame and spacer panel formed from a second, folded, one-piece laminar blank. 
     Where hinge-lid containers according to the invention comprise an inner frame, the spacer panel may alternatively be a separate panel that is adhered or otherwise affixed to the outer surface of the lower part of the inner frame, which is mounted in the box portion of the hinge-lid container. The spacer panel may be the same or a different size to the part of the lower part of the inner frame, which is mounted in the box portion. Furthermore, where the spacer panel is not integral with the inner frame, the spacer panel and the inner frame may be of different thickness and/or formed from different material. 
     The spacer panel may be of substantially the same dimensions as the front wall of the box portion. This is particularly preferred in embodiments where, as described below, the hinge-lid container according to the invention comprises a first opening extending through the front wall of the box portion and a second opening extending through the spacer panel. To reduce the quantity of cardboard or other material required to produce hinge-lid containers according to the invention, the spacer panel may, however, be of reduced dimensions compared to the front wall of the box portion. For example, the spacer panel may be of substantially the same dimensions as the flap. Preferably, the spacer panel extends across at least a central portion of the upper part of the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion. More preferably, the spacer panel extends across substantially the entire width of the inner surface of a front wall of the box portion. 
     To allow a consumer to view, for example, the contents of the hinge-lid container or logos or other indicia provided on the inner frame or the outer surface of an inner wrapper in which the contents of the hinge-lid container are wrapped, hinge-lid containers according to the invention may further comprise: a first opening extending through the front wall of the box portion; and a second opening extending through the spacer panel, at least a portion of the second opening being aligned with at least a portion of the first opening. 
     Where hinge-lid containers according to the invention include an inner frame, they may further comprise a third opening extending through the inner frame, at least a portion of the third opening being aligned with at least a portion of the first opening and with at least a portion of the second opening in order to allow a consumer to view the contents of the container or logos or other indicia provided on the outer surface of an inner wrapper in which the contents of the container are wrapped. 
     The first opening, second opening and third openings may be of the same or different size and shape. For example, through an appropriate choice of the relative dimensions of the first opening and the second opening, the second opening provided in the spacer panel of hinge-lid containers according to the invention may advantageously be used to provide relief or depth to the first opening provided in the front wall of the box portion thereof. 
     Hinge-lid containers according to the present invention may be particularly advantageously employed as packs for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes and/or as cartons for holding a plurality of packs of elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, hinge-lid containers according to the invention for housing different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes may be produced. 
     A hinge-lid container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises: a box portion; a lid portion hinged to the box portion across a rear wall thereof for pivotal movement between an open position in which the lower edge of a front wall of the lid portion is spaced apart from the upper edge of a front wall of the box portion; a flap extending across a lower part of the inner surface of the front wall of the lid portion, the flap depending from and being folded about a hinge-line forming the lower edge of the front wall of the lid portion, and a spacer panel extending across the inner surface of the front wall of the box portion, the spacer panel depending from and being folded about a hinge-line forming the upper edge of the front wall of the box portion, wherein the spacer panel does not project from the box portion into space covered by the lid portion in the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an open hinge-lid container according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the inner face of a laminar one-piece blank for forming the lower box portion and upper lid portion of the container of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the inner face of a laminar blank for forming a hinge-lid container according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the inner face of a laminar blank for an inner frame having an integral spacer panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The hinge-lid container shown in  FIG. 1  is of largely the same construction as a conventional hinge-lid cigarette pack with right-angled vertical edges and comprises a lower box portion  2  and an integral upper lid portion  4 , which is hinged to the lower box portion along a hinge line  6 . The lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion  4  are formed from a single, folded, one-piece, laminar cardboard blank. 
     The lower box portion  2  has a front wall  8 , a left side wall  10 , a right side wall  12 , a rear wall  14 , and a bottom wall  16 . The lid portion  4  similarly has a front wall  8   a , left side wall  10   a , right side wall  12   a , and a rear wall  14   a , which function respectively as continuations of the similarly numbered walls of the lower box portion  2  when the box portion  2  and lid portion  4  are pivoted about the hinge line  6  from the open position shown in  FIG. 1  to a closed position. The upper lid portion  4  of the container additionally includes a top wall  18 . 
     A first flap  22 , which is adjacent and parallel to the inner surface of the front wall  8   a  of the lid portion  4 , extends from the lower edge  24  of the front wall  8   a  of the lid portion  4  and a second flap  26  (shown in heavy dotted lines in  FIG. 1 ), which is adjacent and parallel to the inner surface of the front wall  8  of the box portion  2 , extends from the upper edge  28  of the front wall  8  of the box portion  2 . 
     The hinge-lid container further comprises an inner frame  29  formed from a second, folded, one-piece, laminar cardboard blank, which is mounted in the lower box portion  2  and extends upwardly there from into space covered by the upper lid portion  4  when the upper lid portion  4  is pivoted about the hinge line  6  from the open position shown in  FIG. 1  to the closed position. The inner frame  29  has a front wall, a left side wall and a right side wall, the lower portions of which oppose the corresponding walls of the lower box portion  2 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the second flap  26  is adjacent and parallel to the outer surface of the front wall of the inner frame  29  and is situated between the inner frame  29  and the inner surface of the front wall  8  of the box portion. 
     An elongate, laminar cardboard blank  30  from which the lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion of the hinge-lid container of  FIG. 1  may be formed is shown in  FIG. 2 . The blank  30  includes various panels and flaps, which when folded about appropriate score lines (shown by broken lines in  FIG. 2 ) form the lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion of the hinge-lid container shown in  FIG. 1 ; the same reference numerals are used in  FIG. 2  for elements of blank  30  that are similar or related to elements of the container of  FIG. 1  previously described. 
     The blank  30  includes a box portion flap  26 , a box portion front wall panel  8 , a box portion outside left side wall panel  10  and a box portion outside right side wall panel  12 , a box portion bottom wall panel  16 , a box portion left flap  32  and a box portion right flap  34 , a box portion rear wall panel  14 , a box portion inside left wall panel  36  and a box portion inside right side wall panel  38 , a lid portion rear wall panel  14   a , a lid portion inside left side wall panel  40  and a lid portion inside right side wall panel  42 , a lid portion top wall panel  18 , a lid portion left flap  44  and a lid portion right flap  46 , a lid portion front wall panel  8   a , a lid portion outside left side wall panel  10   a  and a lid portion outside right side wall panel  12   a , and a lid portion flap  22 . 
     The box portion front wall panel  8  is defined in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a first transverse score line  28  and a parallel second transverse score line  48  and in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a first longitudinal score line  50  and a parallel second longitudinal score  52 , which extend between the first transverse score line  28  and the second transverse score line  48  and are perpendicular thereto. The box portion outside left side wall panel  10  and the box portion outside right side wall panel  12  are connected to the box portion front wall panel  8  along the first longitudinal score line  50  and the second longitudinal score  52 , respectively. 
     The box portion flap  26  extends longitudinally from the box portion front wall panel  8  at the first transverse score line  28 . The box portion bottom wall panel  16  extends longitudinally from the box portion front wall panel  8  at the second transverse score line  48  to a parallel third transverse score line  54 . The box portion bottom wall panel  16  is further defined in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a longitudinal first cut  56  and a parallel longitudinal second cut  58 , which extend between the second transverse score line  48  and the third transverse score line  54  and are perpendicular thereto, the longitudinal first cut  56  being a collinear extension of the first longitudinal score line  50  and the longitudinal second cut  58  being a collinear extension of the second longitudinal score line  52 . 
     The box portion rear wall panel  14  extends longitudinally from the box portion bottom wall panel  16  at the third transverse score line  54  to a parallel transverse hinge line  6  and is further defined in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a third longitudinal score line  60  and a parallel fourth longitudinal score line  62 , which extend between the third transverse score line  54  and the transverse hinge line  6  and are perpendicular thereto, the third longitudinal score line  60  being a collinear extension of the first longitudinal cut  56  and the fourth longitudinal score line  62  being a collinear extension of the second longitudinal cut  58 . The transverse hinge line  6  is defined by weakening the cardboard or other material from which the blank  30  is made by any suitable process such as, for example, scoring, creasing and/or embossing. The distance between the third transverse score line  54  and the transverse hinge line  6  is greater than the separation between the first transverse score line  28  and the second transverse score line  48  so that the longitudinal extent of the box portion rear wall panel  14  is greater than that of the box portion front wall panel  8 . 
     The box portion inside left side wall panel  36  and the box portion inside right side wall panel  38  are connected to the box portion rear wall panel  14  along the third longitudinal score line  60  and the fourth longitudinal score line  62 , respectively. The box portion inside left side wall panel  36  is of substantially the same shape and size as the box portion outside left side wall panel  10  and is defined in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a fourth transverse score line  64 , which is a substantially collinear extension of the third transverse score line  54 , and an angled third cut  66 . The box portion inside right side wall panel  38  is of substantially the same shape and size as the box portion outside right side wall panel  12  and is defined in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a fifth transverse score line  68 , which is also a substantially collinear extension of the third transverse score line  54 , and an angled fourth cut  70 . To facilitate folding of the blank  30 , the fourth transverse score line  64  and the fifth transverse score line  68  are longitudinally offset relative to the third transverse score line  54 , in the direction of the transverse hinge line  6 , by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the blank  30 . 
     The box portion left flap  32  is connected to the box portion inside left side wall panel  36  along the fourth transverse score line  64  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  from the fourth transverse score line  64  to a transverse fifth cut  72 , which is a collinear extension of the second transverse score line  48 . The box portion right flap  34  is connected to the box portion inside right side wall panel  38  along the fifth transverse score line  68  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  from the fifth transverse score line  64  to a transverse sixth cut  74 , which is also a collinear extension of the second transverse score line  48 . 
     The lid portion rear wall panel  14   a  extends in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  from the box portion rear wall panel  14  at the transverse hinge line  6  to a parallel sixth transverse score line  76  and is further defined in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a fifth longitudinal score line  78  and a parallel sixth longitudinal score lines  80 , which extend between the transverse hinge line  6  and the sixth transverse score line  76  and are perpendicular thereto, the fifth longitudinal score line  78  being a collinear extension of the third longitudinal score line  60  and the sixth longitudinal score line  80  being a collinear extension of the fourth longitudinal score line  62 . 
     The lid portion inside left side wall panel  40  and the lid portion inside right side wall panel  42  are connected to the lid portion rear wall panel  14   a  along the fifth longitudinal score line  78  and the sixth longitudinal score line  80 , respectively. The lid portion inside left side wall panel  40  is further defined in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  by the separation between the angled third cut  66  and a seventh transverse score line  82 , which is a substantially collinear extension of the sixth transverse score line  76 . The lid portion inside right side wall panel  42  is defined in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  by the separation between the angled fourth cut  70  and an eighth transverse score line  84 , which is also a substantially collinear extension of the sixth transverse score line  76 . To facilitate folding of the blank  30 , the seventh transverse score line  82  and the eighth transverse score line  84  are also longitudinally offset relative to the sixth transverse score line  76 , in the direction of the transverse hinge line  6 , by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the blank  30 . 
     The lid portion top wall panel  18  extends longitudinally from the lid portion rear wall panel  14   a  at the sixth transverse score line  76  to a parallel ninth transverse score line  86 . The lid portion top wall panel  18  is further defined in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a longitudinal seventh cut  88  and a parallel longitudinal eighth cut  90 , which extend between the sixth transverse score line  76  and the ninth transverse score line  86  and are perpendicular thereto, the longitudinal seventh cut  88  being a collinear extension of the fifth longitudinal score line  78  and the longitudinal eighth cut  90  being a collinear extension of the sixth longitudinal score line  80 . The distance between the sixth transverse score line  76  and the ninth transverse score line  86  is the same as the separation between the second transverse score line  48  and the third transverse score line  54  so that the longitudinal extent of the lid portion top wall panel  18  is equal to that of the box portion bottom wall panel  16 . 
     The lid portion left flap  44  is connected to the lid portion inside left side wall panel  40  along the seventh transverse score line  82  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  from the seventh transverse score line  82  to a transverse ninth cut  92 , which is a collinear extension of the ninth transverse score line  86 . The lid portion right flap  46  is connected to the lid portion inside right side wall panel  42  along the eighth transverse score line  84  and extends in the longitudinal direction of the blank  30  from the eighth transverse score line  84  to a transverse tenth cut  94 , which is also a collinear extension of the ninth transverse score line  86 . 
     The lid front wall panel  8   a  extends longitudinally from the lid portion top wall panel  18  at the ninth transverse score line  86  to a parallel tenth transverse score line  24 . The lid front wall panel  8   a  is further defined in the lateral direction of the blank  30  by the separation between a seventh longitudinal score line  96  and a parallel eighth longitudinal score line  98 , which extend between the ninth transverse score line  86  and the tenth transverse score line  24  and are perpendicular thereto, the seventh longitudinal score line  96  being a collinear extension of the longitudinal seventh cut  88  and the eighth longitudinal score line  98  being a collinear extension of the longitudinal eighth cut  90 . The distance between the ninth transverse score line  86  and the tenth transverse score line  24  is greater than the separation between the transverse hinge line  6  and the sixth transverse score line  76  so that the longitudinal extent of the lid portion front wall panel  8   a  is greater than that of the lid portion rear wall panel  14   a.    
     The lid portion outside left side wall panel  10   a  and the lid portion outside right side wall panel  12   a , which are of substantially the same shape and size as the lid portion inside left side wall panel  40  and the lid portion inside right side wall panel  42  respectively, are connected to the lid portion front wall panel  8   a  along the seventh longitudinal score line  96  and the eighth longitudinal score line  98 , respectively. The lid portion flap  22 , which is of substantially the same shape and size as the box portion flap  26 , extends longitudinally from the lid portion front wall panel  8   a  at the tenth transverse score line  24 . 
     To form the lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion of the hinge-lid container shown in  FIG. 1  from the blank  30  shown in  FIG. 2 , the lid portion flap  22  is folded about the tenth transverse score line  24  so that it lies parallel and adjacent to the lid portion front wall panel  8   a . The box portion flap  26  is similarly folded about the first transverse score line  28  so that it lies parallel and adjacent to the box portion front wall panel  8 . Preferably, the box portion flap  26  and the lid portion flap  22  are adhesively attached to the box portion front wall panel  8  and the lid portion front wall panel  8   a , respectively. To complete erection of the lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion of the hinge-lid container, the blank  30  is also folded in a known manner along the second to ninth transverse score lines  48 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 ,  76 ,  82 ,  84  and  86 , and along the eight longitudinal score lines  50 ,  52 ,  60 ,  62 ,  78 ,  80 ,  96  and  98 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an elongate, laminar cardboard blank  100  for forming a hinge-lid container according to a second embodiment of the invention. The blank  100  shown in  FIG. 3  is of largely similar construction to the blank  30  shown in  FIG. 2  and the same reference numerals are used in  FIG. 3  for elements of blank  100  corresponding to elements of the blank  30  of  FIG. 2  previously described. In contrast to the blank  30  shown in  FIG. 2 , the box portion flap  26  of the blank  100  shown in  FIG. 3  is of substantially the same size and shape as the box portion front wall panel  8 . A first triangular opening  102  is provided in the front wall of the box portion front wall panel  8  proximate the second transverse score line  48 . A second triangular opening  104 , of substantially the same size as the first triangular opening  102  and aligned centrally therewith in the lateral direction of the blank  100 , is provided in the box portion flap  26  distant from the first transverse score line  28 . The remaining features of the blank  100  are identical to those of the blank  30  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     A hinge-lid container according to a second embodiment of the invention is erected from the blank  100  of  FIG. 3  by folding the blank  100  in the same manner previously described to erect the lower box portion  2  and upper lid portion of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIG. 1 , from the blank  30  of  FIG. 2 . The relative orientation and position of the first triangular opening  102  and the second triangular opening  104  of the blank  100  of  FIG. 3  are such that when the box portion flap  26  thereof is folded about the first transverse score line  28 , so that it lies parallel and adjacent to the box portion front wall panel  8 , the second triangular opening  104  in the box portion flap  26  is aligned with the first triangular opening  102  in the box portion front wall  8 . 
     If desired, the hinge-lid container according to a second embodiment of the invention erected from the blank  100  shown in  FIG. 2  may further comprise an inner frame of the type included in the hinge-lid container according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Where the hinge-lid containers according to the first and second embodiments of the invention are to be used as hinge-lid cigarette packs, the folding of the blank  30  shown in  FIG. 2  and the blank  100  shown in  FIG. 3 , respectively, may be carried out on conventional machinery for producing hinge-lid cigarette packs having an inner lid panel. For example, hinge-lid cigarette packs according to the first and second embodiments of the invention may be produced using the packers sold under model numbers X2, X3 and H1000 by G.D S.p.A. of Bologna, Italy and/or the packers sold under model numbers 350, 700, F5 and F8 by Focke &amp; Co. (GmbH &amp; Co.) of Verden, Germany, which have been modified to include an additional folding mechanism for folding the box portion flap  26  in, for example, the region where the inner lid panel  22  is folded. 
     While the invention has been discussed largely in terms of the packaging of elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes, it will be appreciated that hinge-lid containers according to the invention may also be used to package a variety of other items such as, for example, cosmetics, confectionery products and other foodstuffs. 
     Furthermore, while the invention has been exemplified above with reference to hinge-lid containers having right-angled edges, hinge-lid containers according to the invention may also include, for example, one or more rounded or beveled edges. By scoring in a known manner a laminar blank from which it is erected, a “rounded-corner” hinge-lid container according to the invention for housing a plurality of cigarettes or other elongate smoking articles may, for example, be produced.