Abstract:
A slide and shell container, which finds particular application as a pack for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes, comprises an outer shell having a first access opening; and an inner slide having a second access opening. The inner slide is mounted within the outer shell for slidable movement relative thereto between a closed position, in which the second access opening is occluded by the outer shell and the interior of the inner slide is inaccessible, and an open position, in which the second access opening is substantially aligned with the first access opening such that the interior of the inner slide is accessible through the first and second access openings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to European Application No. 06256146.9, filed Nov. 30, 2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a novel slide and shell container that finds particular application as a pack for elongate smoking articles such as cigarettes. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is known to package smoking articles and other consumer goods in containers comprising an outer shell or sleeve and an inner slide or tray, mounted within the outer shell for slidable movement relative thereto, in which the consumer goods are housed. To remove consumer goods from such containers, a consumer slides the inner slide from an initial position inside the outer shell to an open position, in which the inner slide projects outwardly from the outer shell, in order to partially expose an open end or side of the inner slide through which the consumer goods housed therein may then be removed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to the present invention there is provided a slide and shell container comprising: an outer shell having a first access opening; and an inner slide having a second access opening, the inner slide being mounted within the outer shell for slidable movement relative thereto between a closed position, in which the second access opening is occluded by the outer shell and the interior of the inner slide is inaccessible, and an open position, in which the second access opening is substantially aligned with the first access opening such that the interior of the inner slide is accessible through the first and second access openings. 
         [0005]    In contrast to known slide and shell containers, consumer goods housed in the inner slide of slide and shell containers according to the invention are not removed through an opening in a portion of the inner slide that projects outwardly from the outer shell in the open position. In slide and shell containers according to the invention the portion of the inner slide that projects outwardly from the outer shell in the open position is “complete” and so advantageously provides a greater external surface area upon which manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information may be displayed compared to known slide and shell containers. 
         [0006]    In addition, in known slide and shell containers gaps can remain between the open end or side of the inner slide, through which the consumer goods are removed in the open position, and the outer shell in the closed position. Aside from being aesthetically undesirable, such gaps may disadvantageously result in the inadvertent loss of goods from the inner slide of the container. The provision of access openings in the outer shell and inner slide, which are offset relative to one another in the closed position, advantageously ensures that slide and shell containers according to the invention may be fully closed during use. 
         [0007]    In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first access opening is located in an upper end of the outer shell and the second access opening is located in an upper end of the inner slide, the inner slide being mounted in the outer shell for lateral slidable movement relative thereto. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the container comprises retention means for preventing removal of the inner slide from the outer shell. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the retention means restricts or substantially prevents slidable movement of the inner slide relative to the outer shell beyond the open position. 
         [0010]    The retention means may, for example, comprise a flap pivotably mounted on the outer shell and a tab mounted on the inner slide, that cooperate in a known manner during use to prevent slidable movement of the inner slide relative to the outer shell beyond the open position. 
         [0011]    Preferably, at least one cut-out or notch is provided along a free edge of the outer shell. More preferably, a pair of opposed cut-outs are provided along opposed parallel free edges of the outer shell. Most preferably, a pair of opposed cut-outs are provided along opposed parallel longitudinal free edges of the outer shell. In use, a consumer may advantageously grasp the inner slide through the one or more cut-outs provided along the free edges of the outer shell in order to slide the inner slide relative to the outer shell from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0012]    Alternatively or in addition to the provision of at least one cut-out along a free edge thereof, an aperture or window may be provided in a wall of the outer shell perpendicular to the direction of slidable movement of the inner slide relative to the outer shell in order to facilitate slidable movement of the inner slide from the closed position to the open position by the consumer. Preferably, the aperture is provided in a longitudinal side wall of the outer shell perpendicular to a lateral direction of slidable movement of the inner slide relative to the outer shell. In use, a consumer may push the inner slide through the aperture provided in the wall of the outer shell in the direction of slidable movement in order to slide the inner slide relative to the outer shell from the closed position to the open position. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the inner slide houses a plurality of elongate smoking articles. The smoking articles may be, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. Preferably, the smoking articles are cigarettes. It will be appreciated that containers according to the invention may be designed to contain different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof. 
         [0014]    Where the inner slide of a container according to the present invention houses a bundle of cigarettes or other elongate smoking articles, the smoking articles are preferably wrapped in an inner liner of, for example, metal foil or metallised paper. 
         [0015]    The outer shell and inner slide of containers according to the invention may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal or combinations thereof. Preferably, the outer shell and inner slide are formed from folded laminar blanks, more preferably from folded laminar cardboard blanks. 
         [0016]    The external surfaces of the outer shell and inner slide may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished (for example, using labels or stickers) with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. 
         [0017]    Containers of elongate smoking articles or other consumer goods according to the invention may be shrink wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include a tear tape. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the outer shell and inner slide are of substantially the same shape. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the internal dimensions of the outer shell are substantially the same as the external dimensions of the inner slide, so that inner surfaces of the outer shell overlie and abut the outer surfaces of the inner slide in the closed position. In use, frictional forces generated between the outer surfaces of the inner slide and the abutting inner surfaces of the outer shell resist slidable movement of the inner slide relative to the outer shell between the closed position and the open position. This advantageously prevents opening and closing of the container without the application of a positive force by the consumer. 
         [0020]    The outer shell and inner slide of containers according to the invention may be substantially rectangular parallepipedal in shape, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the outer shell and inner slide may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges, bevelled transverse edges or combinations thereof. For example, by scoring in a known manner laminar blanks from which the outer shell and the inner slide of the container are erected, a “rounded-corner” slide and shell container of cigarettes or other smoking articles according to the invention may be produced. 
         [0021]    According to the invention there is also provided a blank for forming the outer shell of a slide and shell container according to the invention, the blank comprising: a top wall panel; a front wall panel foldably attached to the top wall panel; a rear wall panel foldably attached to the top wall panel opposite the front wall panel; and an aperture extending across the top wall panel into the front wall panel and the rear wall panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a slide and shell container according to the present invention with the inner slide in the closed position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  with inner slide in the open position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a plan view of a one-piece cardboard blank for forming the outer shell of the container of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a plan view of a one-piece cardboard blank for forming the inner slide of the container of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The slide and shell container  2  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is a rectangular parallelepiped and generally comprises an outer shell  4  and an inner slide  6 , which is mounted within the outer shell  4 . The outer shell  4  comprises a front wall  8  and an opposed rear wall  10  (not shown), a top wall  12  and an opposed bottom wall  14  (not shown), which connect the front wall  8  and the rear wall  10  along their upper and lower edges respectively, and a left side wall  16  (not shown), which connects the front wall  8 , rear wall  10 , top wall  12  and bottom wall  14 . The walls  8 ,  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the outer shell  4  thus define an open-sided receptacle within which the inner slide  6  is mounted. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an access opening  18  is provided in the top wall  12  of the outer shell  4 , towards the right hand side thereof. The access opening  18  extends across the top wall  12  into the front wall  8  and rear wall  12  of the outer shell  4 . A pair of opposed semi-circular cut-outs  20  are also provided along the right-hand longitudinal free edges of the front wall  8  and rear wall  10  of the outer shell distant from the left side wall  16 . 
         [0029]    The inner slide  6  has a front wall  22  and an opposed rear wall  24  (not shown), a top wall  26  and an opposed bottom wall  28  (not shown), which connect the front wall  22  and the rear wall  24  along their upper and lower edges respectively, a left side wall  30  (not shown), which connects the left side edges of the front wall  22 , rear wall  24  and bottom wall  28 , and an opposed right side wall  32 , which connects the right side edges of the front wall  22 , rear wall  24 , top wall  26  and bottom wall  28 . An access opening  34  (shown by broken lines in  FIG. 1 ) of substantially the same size and shape as the access opening  18  in the outer shell  4  is provided in the top wall  26  of the inner slide  6 , adjacent the left side wall  30  thereof, and extends across the top wall  26  into the front wall  22  and rear wall  24  of the inner slide  6 . The walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  of the inner slide  6  thus define a receptacle with a partially open top. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a bundle of elongate smoking articles  36  is housed within the inner slide  6 . 
         [0030]    The inner slide  6  is mounted in the outer shell  6  for lateral slidable movement between a closed position, shown in  FIG. 1 , and an open position, shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    In the closed position, the inner slide  6  is contained within the outer shell  4 , the front wall  8 , rear wall  10 , top wall  12 , bottom wall  14  and left side wall  16  of the outer shell  4  being adjacent to and overlying the front wall  22 , rear wall  24 , top wall  26 , bottom wall  28  and left side wall  30 , respectively, of the inner slide  6 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the access opening  34  in the top wall  26 , front wall  22  and rear wall  24  of the inner slide  6  is covered by the corresponding walls of the outer shell  4  in the closed position. The bundle of elongate smoking articles  36  housed within the inner slide  6  is, therefore, inaccessible in the closed position. 
         [0032]    The portions of the top wall  26 , front wall  22  and rear wall  24  of the inner slide  6  visible through the access opening  18  in the top wall  12 , front wall  8  and rear wall  10  of the outer shell  4  in the closed position may be printed with, for example, directions to the consumer regarding opening of the container  2 . 
         [0033]    In the open position, the left side wall  30  of the inner slide  6  is spaced apart from the left side wall  16  of the outer shell  4  and a portion of the inner slide  6  projects or protrudes outwardly from the outer shell  4  through the open right hand side thereof. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the relative positions of the inner slide  6  and outer shell  4  in the open position is such that the access opening  34  in the top wall  26 , front wall  22  and rear wall  24  of the inner slide  6  is aligned with the access opening  18  in the top wall  12 , front wall  8 , and rear wall  10 , of the outer shell  4 , thereby allowing access to the bundle of elongate smoking articles  36  housed within the inner slide  6 . 
         [0034]    In use, with the inner slide  6  in the closed position, the consumer holds the outer shell  4  of the container  2  in one hand and grasps the front wall  22  and rear wall  24  of the inner slide  6  through the opposed cut-outs  20  provided in the front wall  8  and rear wall  10  of the outer shell  4  with the thumb and forefinger of their other hand. To open the container  2 , the consumer pulls the inner slide  6  outwardly away from the outer shell  6 , in the direction shown by the block arrow in  FIG. 1 , in order to slide the inner slide  6  relative to the outer shell  4  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to the open position shown in  FIG. 2  and so align the access opening  34  in the inner slide  6  with the access opening  18  in the outer shell. 
         [0035]    If desired, alternatively or in addition to the pair of opposed semi-circular cut-outs  20  provided along the right-hand longitudinal free edges of the front wall  8  and rear wall  10  thereof, an aperture (not shown) may be provided in the left side wall  16  of the outer shell  4  through which, in use, a consumer may push on the left side wall  30  of the inner slide  6  in order to open the container. 
         [0036]    During opening and closing of the container  2 , frictional forces generated between the outer surface of the inner slide  6  and the inner surface of the outer shell  4  prevent slidable movement of the inner slide  6  relative to the outer shell  4  until a positive force is applied by the consumer. As described further below, the container  2  further comprises limiting means (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) for preventing the slidable movement of the inner slide  6  relative to the outer shell  4  beyond the open position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    Laminar cardboard blanks from which the outer shell  4  and the inner slide  6  of the container  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be formed are shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively. Corresponding reference numerals are used in  FIGS. 3 and 4  for elements of the outer shell blank  40  and the inner slide blank  60  that are similar or related to elements of the container  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  previously described. Each blank  40 ,  60  includes various panels, flaps and tabs (labelled in bold in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), which when folded about appropriate score lines (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  by broken lines) and affixed, with for example adhesive, in a conventional manner, form the required parts of the slide and shell container  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . The term score line is used to indicate a line formed by, for example, creasing, scoring, perforating, embossing or otherwise compressing, cutting or weakening the blanks  40 ,  60 . 
         [0038]    The blank  40  for forming the outer shell  4  of the container  2  shown in  FIG. 3  has a front wall panel  8 , a rear wall panel  10 , a top wall panel  12 , an inner bottom wall panel  14   a , an outer bottom wall panel  14   b , and a left side wall panel  16 , which when folded form the corresponding walls of the outer shell  4 . An upper closure tab  42  and a lower closure tab  44  are connected to the left hand edges of the top wall panel  12  and outer bottom wall panel  14   b , respectively, of the blank  40  along score lines. During erection of the outer shell  4 , the upper closure tab  42  and the lower closure tab  44  are folded through 90 degrees about these score lines and affixed to the inner surface of the left side wall panel  16 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the blank  40  also includes front wall and rear wall reinforcement flaps  46  and a top wall reinforcement flap  48 , which are connected to the corresponding wall panels along score lines. During erection of the outer shell  4 , the front wall and rear wall reinforcement flaps  46  and the top wall reinforcement flap  48  are folded through 180 degrees about these score lines and affixed to the inner surface of the front wall panel  8 , rear wall panel  10  and top wall panel  12 , respectively. 
         [0040]    The blank  40  further comprises a closure flap  50 , which is connected to the left hand edge of the left side wall panel  16  along a score line, and a retention flap  52 , which is connected to the right hand edge of the outer bottom wall panel  14   b  along a score line. During erection of the outer shell  4  from the blank  40 , the closure flap  50  is folded through 90 degrees about the score line and affixed to the inner surface of the front wall panel  8  and the retention flap  52  is folded through 180 degrees about the score line so that it rests against the inner surface of the inner bottom wall panel  14   a  in the formed outer shell  4 . 
         [0041]    The fold lines formed between the front wall reinforcement flap  46 , rear wall reinforcement flap  46 , top wall reinforcement flap  48  and retention tab  52  and the front wall panel  8 , rear wall panel  10 , top wall panel  12  and outside bottom wall panel  14   b , respectively, of the blank  40  advantageously provide neat, dull right hand edges to the front wall  8 , rear wall  10 , top wall  12  and bottom wall  14  of the formed outer shell  4 . 
         [0042]    As previously described above, an aperture (shown by broken lines in  FIG. 3 ) may optionally be provided in the left side wall panel  16  of the blank  40  for forming the outer shell  4 . 
         [0043]    The blank  60  for forming the inner slide  6  of the container  2  shown in  FIG. 4  has a front wall panel  22 , a rear wall panel  24 , a top wall panel  26 , a bottom wall panel  28 , an outer left side wall panel  30 ′, an inner left side wall panel  30 ″ and a right side wall panel  32 , which when folded form the corresponding walls of the inner slide  6 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ and the inner left side wall panel  30 ″ are connected to the rear wall panel  24  and the front wall panel  22 , respectively, along longitudinal score lines. During erection of the inner slide  6  from the blank  60 , the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ and the inner left side wall panel  30 ″ are folded through 90 degrees about the longitudinal score lines and the inner left side wall panel  30 ″ is affixed to the inner surface of the outer left side wall panel  30 ′. 
         [0045]    A pair of lower closure tabs  62 ,  64  are connected to the lower edges of the right side wall panel  32  and the outer left side wall panel  30 ′, respectively, along transverse score lines and an upper closure tab  66  is connected to the upper edge of the right side wall panel  32  along a score line. During erection of the inner slide  6 , the lower closure tabs  62  and  64  and the upper closure tab  66  are folded through 90 degrees about the score lines and affixed to the inner surface of the bottom wall panel  28  and the inner surface of the top wall panel  26 , respectively. 
         [0046]    The blank  60  also includes a bottom closure flap  68 , which is connected to the rear edge of the bottom wall panel  28  along a transverse score line, and a top closure flap  70 , which is connected to the rear edge of the top wall panel  26  along a transverse score line. During erection of the inner slide  6  from the blank  60 , the bottom closure flap  68  and the top closure tab  70  are folded through 90 degrees about the transverse score lines and affixed to the inner surface of the rear wall panel  24 . 
         [0047]    A left side wall reinforcement flap  72  is connected to the upper edge of the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ along a further transverse score line and a top wall reinforcement flap  74  is connected to the left hand edge top wall panel  26  along a score line. During erection of the inner slide  6 , the left side wall reinforcement flap  72  and the top wall reinforcement flap  74  are folded through 180 degrees about the score lines and affixed to the inner surface of the inner left side wall panel  30 ″ and the inner surface of the top wall panel  26 , respectively. The fold line formed between the left side wall reinforcement flap  72  and the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ and the fold line formed between the top wall reinforcement flap  74  and the top wall panel  26 , respectively, advantageously provide a neat, dull upper edge to the left wall  30  and a neat, dull, left hand edge to the top wall  26  of the formed inner slide  6 . 
         [0048]    The blank  60  further comprises a bottom retention tab  76 , which is connected to the left hand edge of the bottom wall panel  28  along a score line. During erection of the inner slide  6  from the blank  60 , the bottom retention tab  76  is folded through 180 degrees about the score line so that it rests against the outer surface of the bottom wall panel  28 . 
         [0049]    The blank also comprises a first side retention flap  78 , which is connected to the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ along a longitudinal score line, and a second side retention flap  80 , which is connected to the inner left side wall panel  30 ″ along a longitudinal score line. 
         [0050]    During erection of the inner slide  6  from the blank  60 , the first side retention flap  78  is folded through 90 degrees about the longitudinal score line so that it rests against the outer surface of the front wall  22  of the formed inner slide  6 . The second side retention flap  80  is folded through 90 degrees about the longitudinal score line and inserted through a cut or slit  82  provided along the longitudinal score line between the outer left side wall panel  30 ′ and the rear wall panel  24 , so that it rests against the outer surface of the rear  24  wall of the formed inner slide  6 . 
         [0051]    The first side retention flap  78  and the second side retention flap  80  are not affixed to the outer surface of the front wall panel  22  and the outer surface of the rear wall panel  24 , respectively. Instead, the first side retention flap  78  and the second side retention flap  80  are biased against the front wall panel  22  and the rear wall panel  24 , respectively, of the blank  60  due to the bending moment about the longitudinal score lines. The biasing ensures that the first side retention flap  78  and the second side retention flap  80  of the inner slide  6  interact with the front wall reinforcement flap  46  and the rear wall reinforcement flap  46 , respectively, of the outer shell  4 , as described further below, once the inner slide  6  is inserted into the outer shell  4 , thereby helping to retain the inner slide  6  within the outer shell  4 . 
         [0052]    To form the container of cigarettes shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bundle of cigarettes is wrapped in an inner liner consisting of a folded sheet of metal foil or metallised paper in a conventional manner and the various panels, flaps and tabs of the one-piece laminar cardboard blanks  40 ,  60  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are folded and secured to one another to form the outer shell  4  and inner slide  6 , respectively, of the container  2 . 
         [0053]    It will be appreciated that the precise order in which the various panels, flaps and tabs of the one-piece laminar cardboard blanks  40 ,  60  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are folded and secured to one another to form the outer shell  4  and inner slide  6 , respectively, of the container  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  may be varied depending upon, for example, the apparatus used to produce the container  2 . 
         [0054]    In use, as the inner slide  6  reaches the open position shown in  FIG. 2 , the outwardly folded retention tab  76  of the inner slide  6  engages the inwardly folded retention flap  52  of the outer shell  4 , thereby advantageously preventing further slidable movement of the inner slide  6  relative to the outer shell  4  beyond the open position. 
         [0055]    In addition, as the inner slide  6  reaches the open position shown in  FIG. 2 , the first side retention flap  78  and the second side retention flap  80  of the inner slide  6  engage the front wall reinforcement flap  46  and the rear wall reinforcement flap  46  of the outer shell  4  thereby advantageously also preventing further slidable movement of the inner slide  6  relative to the outer shell  4  beyond the open position. 
         [0056]    The invention has been exemplified above with reference to a slide and shell container of cigarettes; it will be appreciated, however, that containers according to the invention may house other consumer goods.