Patent Publication Number: US-2011062175-A1

Title: Slide action type hinged-lid package

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to slide action type hinged-lid packages, and more particularly, to a hinged-lid package that requires a slide action to open a hinged lid. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As packaging containers for containing articles, various types have been developed taking account of the properties of articles to be contained. For example, where the articles to be contained are smoking articles such as cigarettes or filter cigarettes, hinged-lid packages are very often used as such packaging containers. 
     One form of hinged-lid package has been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 1. 
     The conventional hinged-lid package includes a box-shaped outer body having an Open end at the top thereof. The outer body contains an inner pack, which includes a bundle of cigarettes and an inner wrapper wrapping the bundle. 
     A box-shaped lid is connected to a rear edge of the open end of the outer body by a hinge. The lid is pivotable about the hinge to open and close the open end. 
     Since this type of conventional hinged-lid package has been in use for many years, consumers are used to its opening/closing mode. It cannot be said, however, that the conventional hinged-lid package has such appeal as to encourage consumers to buy the package. 
     Accordingly, a slide action type hinged-lid package which makes use of a slide action to open and close the lid with a view to drawing consumers&#39; attention has been proposed, for example, in Patent Document 2. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-58777 
     Patent Document 2: Pamphlet of WO/2007/065514 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the case of the conventional slide action type hinged-lid package, the consumer slides up the inner pack part while pushing, with his/her thumb or finger, the front surface of the inner pack part exposed through a push-out aperture. Accordingly, the consumer&#39;s thumb or finger may possibly slip on the inner pack part, making it difficult to slide up the inner pack part. Also, if the number of the smoking articles contained is small, the inner pack part is deformed when pushed with the consumer&#39;s thumb or finger, making it difficult for the consumer to slide up the inner pack part. In such case, extra effort is required to take out a smoking article. 
     The present invention was made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a slide action type hinged-lid package which is simple in structure, employs an opening/closing mode so novel as to stimulate consumers&#39; buying motivation, and yet permits an article contained therein to be taken out with ease. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     To achieve the above object, a slide action type hinged-lid package according to the present invention comprises: an outer body having a rectangular parallelepipedic shape and having an open end at a top thereof; and an inner case slidably accommodated in the outer body and having a hinged lid at an upper end portion thereof for opening and closing the inner case, wherein the outer body includes a front wall and an opening formed through the front wall and allowing the inner case to be partly exposed therethrough, and the inner case includes a reinforcing member arranged on an inside of a front wall thereof which is exposed through the opening. 
     A consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, that portion of the front wall of the inner case which is exposed through the opening of the outer body, and then moves up the inner case by sliding the inner case upward with his/her thumb or finger. As a result, the inner case projects from the upper open end of the outer body. Since the reinforcing member is arranged on the inside of the front wall of the inner case, the inner case has increased rigidity, thus lessening deformation of the inner case. Consequently, even if the number of articles contained in the package has become small, the inner case can be satisfactorily slid up without a hitch. 
     The slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention may further comprise engagement means for engaging the outer body and the inner case with each other, and when the inner case is slid up relative to the outer body, the engagement means causes the hinged lid to open and also regulates an amount of sliding of the inner case. Thus, with the package of the present invention, as the inner case is pushed upward, the hinged lid gradually opens, and the inner case is stopped when protruded from the outer body by a predetermined length. 
     Specifically, the engagement means includes: a strip arranged on the hinged lid, the strip having an upper end connected to a rear part of the hinged lid by an upper hinge which is located at a level higher than a lid hinge allowing the hinged lid to open and close, and a lower end portion forming a turned-back piece which is folded toward an inner surface of the outer body; and a contact piece arranged inside the outer body, the contact piece extending from the open end toward the turned-back piece and capable of engaging with the turned-back piece. 
     As the inner case moves upward within the outer body, the turned-back piece at the distal end of the strip becomes engaged with the contact piece of the outer body. Since the rear part of the hinged lid is pulled relatively downward by the strip because of the engagement, the hinged lid gradually opens. As the inner case is further moved upward, the hinged lid reaches a fully open position, where the inner case is stopped and further upward movement is prevented. Thus, an article contained in the package can be taken out with ease, and it is also possible to effectively prevent the inner case from dropping out of the outer body. The contact piece is interposed between the outer body and the inner case and thus is always in contact with the inner case. Accordingly, the contact piece serves as resistance to the upward-and-downward or reciprocating movement of the inner case, thus preventing the inner case from projecting to an undesirable extent from the outer body. 
     Preferably, the front wall of the inner case has a rough region formed at least on a portion of a surface thereof which is exposed through the opening. 
     Where the rough region is formed on that portion of the inner case which is exposed through the opening of the outer body, it is possible to prevent the consumer&#39;s thumb or finger from slipping on the inner case. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In the slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention, when the inner case containing articles is slid up to be protruded from the outer body, the hinged lid opens in a manner interlocked with the sliding movement. Thus, the hinged-lid package of the invention provides a unique, distinctive opening/closing mode, as compared with ordinary packages, and therefore has such a strong appeal to consumers as to stimulate the consumers&#39; motivation to buy the package. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a closed state of a package according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a state wherein an inner case is slid up to open a hinged lid. 
         FIG. 3  is a partly cutaway perspective view showing a separated state of the package of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the rear of the inner case. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a blank for forming the inner case. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a blank for forming an outer body. 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner case is contained in the outer body. 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner case is being slid up within the outer body. 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged lid of the inner case has begun to open. 
         FIG. 10  schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged lid of the inner case is fully opened. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing another reinforcing member. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing still another reinforcing member. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a package  2  according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     The package  2  is a packaging container for containing smoking articles as tobacco product, such as cigarettes or filter cigarettes, and is generally in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the package  2  comprises an inner case  6  having a lid  4 , and an outer body  8  slidably accommodating the inner case  6 . 
     The inner case  6  includes a box body  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , which contains inner packs  10 . 
     The box body  12  is in the form of a box with its upper end portion obliquely cut and has a size large enough to contain two inner packs  10  side by side. Each inner pack  10  includes ten smoking articles of 95 mm long wrapped in an inner wrapper. The inner wrapper comprises a sheet of paper and a film of aluminum formed on one surface of the paper sheet by vapor deposition. The aluminum film of the inner wrapper not only serves to protect the bundle of smoking articles from moisture but also prevents dissipation of aroma from the bundle of smoking articles, namely, from the individual smoking articles. For the inner wrapper, laminated paper may be used instead of the aluminum-metalized paper. In this case, the laminated paper has a shielding layer formed therein for preventing the passage of moisture and aroma. 
     More specifically, the box body  12  includes a rectangular front wall  14 , a rear wall  16  smaller in height than the front wall  14 , a pair of side walls  18 , and a rectangular bottom wall connected to the respective lower ends of the front, rear and side walls  14 ,  16  and  18 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Each side wall  18  has an upper edge  18   a  slanted so as to connect the upper end of the front wall  14  to the upper end of the rear wall  16 . Consequently, the box body  12  has a slanted opening at its upper end portion. 
     The front wall  14  has a generally rectangular cut  20  formed in the center of an upper portion thereof. The cut  20  serves to open the front of the box body  12  wide, thus making it easy to take out a smoking article. Also, a rectangular reinforcing plate serving as a reinforcing member for reinforcing the front wall  14  is bonded to a portion of the inner surface of the front wall  14  located at a lower level than the cut  20 . 
     The rear wall  16  has an upper end provided with a lid hinge  24 . The lid hinge  24  extends between the rear ends of the upper edges  18   a  of the two side walls  18 ,  18  and connects the rear wall  16  and the lid  4  to each other. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the lid  4  includes a rear wall  26  connected to the lid hinge  24 , a top wall  28 , and a pair of trapezoidal side walls  30 . The lid  4  is swingable about the lid hinge  24 . When the lid  4  is closed, the oblique lines of the side walls  30  of the lid  4 , that is, the slanted lower edges  30   a  of the side walls  30  meet the aforementioned upper edges  18   a  of the respective side walls  18  of the box body  12 . 
     The inner case  6  further includes a strip  34  provided at the rear of the lid  4 . 
     The strip  34  is a tongue-like member generally rectangular in shape. More specifically, as clearly shown in  FIG. 4 , the strip  34  has an upper edge connected to the lid  4  by an upper hinge  32  which is located at the center of a boundary between the rear and top walls  26  and  28  of the lid  4 . Also, the strip  34  has a turned-back piece  36  at its lower end portion. The turned-back piece  36  is formed by folding the lower end portion of the strip  34  outward in the thickness direction of the box body  12  to be directed upward so that the turned-back piece  36  may remain bent. Thus, while the inner case  6  is contained in the outer body  8 , the turned-back piece  36  of the strip  34  is kept pressed against the inner surface of the outer body  8 . 
     The strip  34  can be formed by using part of the rear wall  26  of the lid  4  and part of the rear wall  16  of the box body  12 . Thus, as is clear from  FIG. 4 , a U-shaped incision  22  is formed so as to extend from the rear wall  26  of the lid  4  past the lid hinge  24  to the rear wall  16  of the box body  12 . 
     The outer surface of the inner case  6  is formed as a corrugated surface  6   a  by die forming over its entire area. Specifically, the corrugated surface  6   a  has a large number of ridges extending in the width direction of the inner case  6  and spaced at regular intervals in the vertical or height direction of the inner case  6 . 
     The outer body  8  is a box in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having an open end  38  at the top thereof, as shown in  FIG. 1 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer body  8  includes a rectangular front wall  40 , a rectangular rear wall  42  having the same dimensions as the front wall  40 , a pair of side walls  44 , and a rectangular bottom wall connected to the respective lower ends of the front, rear and side walls  40 ,  42  and  44 . The front wall  40  has a generally rectangular opening  46  formed in the center thereof, and the inner case  6  accommodated in the outer body  8  is exposed through the opening  46  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). 
     Also, a contact piece  48  is provided at a rear edge of the open end  38 . More specifically, as clearly shown in  FIG. 3 , the contact piece  48  extends from the rear edge of the open end  38  toward the interior of the outer body  8  along the rear wall  42  and is folded along the rear edge to be directed inward in the thickness direction of the outer body  8  so that the contact piece  48  may remain bent. Thus, the contact piece  48  is pressed against the inner case  6  accommodated in the outer body  8 . When the inner case  6  in the outer body  8  is slid in a direction toward the open end  38 , therefore, the contact piece  48  becomes engaged with the turned-back piece  36  of the strip  34  of the inner case  6 . Further, as is clear from  FIG. 3 , the contact piece  48  has a generally rectangular cut  50  formed in the center of a lower end thereof. The width of the cut  50  is slightly larger than that of the turned-back piece  36  of the strip  34 . Accordingly, the contact piece  48  can reliably engage with the turned-back piece  36  of the inner case  6 . In this manner, the strip  34  and the contact piece  48  constitute engagement means. 
     The package  2  can be made by using an inner case blank  52  for forming the inner case  6  and an outer body blank  54  for forming the outer body  8 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the inner case blank  52  has a front panel  56  that constitutes the front wall  14  of the box body  12 , and a reinforcing panel  58  as the reinforcing plate is connected to a lower part, as viewed in the figure, of the front panel  56 . Side panels  60 ,  60  for forming the side walls  18  of the box body  12  are connected to the respective side edges of the front panel  56 . Further, a bottom panel  62 , which constitutes the bottom wall of the box body  12 , is connected to that end of the front panel  56  which is located opposite the reinforcing panel  58 . A rear panel  64  for forming part of the rear wall  16  of the box body  12  is connected to that end of the bottom panel  62  which is located opposite the front panel  56 . 
     Inner side flaps  66 ,  66 , which are to be associated with the respective side panels  60 , are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel  64 . Also, a rear panel  68  for forming part of the rear wall  26  of the lid  4  is connected to that end of the rear panel  64  which is located opposite the bottom panel  62 , with a lid hinge line  70  for forming the lid hinge  24  located therebetween. A top panel  72 , which constitutes part of the top wall  28  of the lid  4 , is connected to that end of the rear panel  68  which is located opposite the rear panel  64 . Side panels  74 ,  74  for forming the side walls  30  of the lid  4  are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel  68 . Further, inner top flaps  76 ,  76 , which are to be superimposed on the top panel  72 , are connected to those ends of the respective side panels  74  which are located opposite the corresponding inner side flaps  66 . 
     The blank  52  has a U-shaped incision  78  (incision  22 ) extending from the rear panel  64  of the box body  12  to the rear panel  68  of the lid  4 . The region surrounded by the incision  78  is a strip region  63  for forming the aforementioned strip  34 . More specifically, the strip region  63  includes a lid rear panel  68   b  located in a position corresponding to the rear wall  26  of the lid  4 . The lid rear panel  68   b  has an upper end connected to the top panel  72  with a hinge line  80  for forming the upper hinge  32  located therebetween. A case rear panel  64   b  and a turn-back panel  64   c  for forming the turned-back piece  36  of the strip  34 , which correspond in position to the rear wall  16  of the box body  12 , are connected successively to that end of the lid rear panel  68   b  which is located opposite the top panel  72 . 
     An inner top flap  82 , which forms the remaining part of the top wall  28  of the lid  4 , and an inner back flap  84 , which forms the remaining part of the rear wall  26  of the lid  4 , are connected successively to that end of the top panel  72  which is located opposite the rear panel  68 . 
     Also, a rear panel  86  for forming the remaining part of the rear wall  16  of the box body  12  is connected to that end of the inner back flap  84  which is located opposite the inner top flap  82 , with a hinge line  88  corresponding to the lid hinge  24  therebetween. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the outer body blank  54  has a front panel  90  that constitutes the front wall  40  of the outer body  8 . Side panels  92 ,  92  for forming the side walls  44  of the outer body  8  are connected to the respective side edges of the front panel  90 . 
     A bottom panel  94 , which constitutes the bottom wall of the outer body  8 , is connected to the upper end, as viewed in the figure, of the front panel  90 . A rear panel  96  for forming the rear wall  42  of the outer body  8  is connected to that end of the bottom panel  94  which is located opposite the front panel  90 . Inner side flaps  98 ,  98 , which are to be associated with the respective side panels  92 , are connected to the respective side edges of the rear panel  96 . A contact panel  100  for forming the contact piece  48  of the outer body  8  is connected to that end of the rear panel  96  which is located opposite the bottom panel  94 . 
     In this embodiment, the blanks  52  and  54  are made of paper having a basis weight of 180 to 270 g/m 2  and a thickness of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. Specifically, the blanks  52  and  54  may be made of cardboard, Manila cardboard or the like. The inner case blank  52  is subjected to die forming to form a large number of ridges on one surface thereof which is to constitute the outer surface of the inner case  6  such that the ridges extend in the width direction of the inner case  6 , that is, in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the inner case  6 , and are spaced at regular intervals in the sliding direction. 
     The blanks  52  and  54  are individually folded along fold lines indicated by the dot-dash lines in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to form the inner case  6  and the outer body  8 , respectively. By folding the blanks, the package  2  with the lid  4  closed as shown in  FIG. 1  is obtained. 
     More specifically, the blank  52  is folded first to obtain the package  2 . First, the reinforcing panel  58  is folded and glued to the front panel  56 . Then, the turn-back panel  64   c  of the strip region  63  is folded down and also the lid rear panel  68   b  is folded along the hinge line  80  toward the outer surface of the blank  52 , that is, toward the outside of the box body  12  to be formed, so that these panels may remain bent on the same side. Subsequently, the side panels  74 ,  74 , the inner top flaps  76 ,  76  and the top panel  72  are successively folded, and the inner top flaps  76  are glued to the inner surface of the top panel  72 . Further, the inner top flap  82 , the inner back flap  84  and the rear panel  86  are successively folded over and glued to the respective inner surfaces of the top and rear panels  72 ,  68  and  64 . Then, two inner packs  10  are placed on the rear panels  64  and  68  with the rear panel  86  therebetween, and with the two inner packs  10  placed in this manner, the inner side flaps  66 , the bottom panel  62 , the front panel  56  and the side panels  60  are folded around the inner packs  10  and glued together. Thus, the inner case  6  containing the inner packs  10  is obtained as an intermediate product. 
     Subsequently, the blank  54  is folded to obtain the outer body  8 . First, the contact panel  100  is folded down toward the inner surface of the blank  54 , namely, toward the interior of the outer body  8  to be formed. Then, the above intermediate product is placed on the rear panel  96  such that the rear panel  68  of the intermediate product is superimposed on the contact panel  100 . With the intermediate product placed in this manner, the blank  54  is folded around the intermediate product and glued in the manner known in the art, thereby forming the package  2  of  FIG. 1  in which the inner case  6  with the lid  4  is contained in the outer body  8 . 
     The hinged-lid package of slide action type having smoking articles packaged therein is obtained in this manner, and each package is then wrapped in, for example, a transparent film. 
     A consumer who has purchased the package  2  first removes the wrapping film. Then, the consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, the front wall  14  of the inner case  6  exposed through the opening  46  in the front wall of the outer body  8 , and slides up the inner case  6 . As the inner case  6  is pushed up in this manner, the inner packs  10  contained in the inner case  6  project from the outer body  8  with the lid  4  opened. 
     The movement of the package  2  will be now described in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 . At first, the inner case  6  is in its entirety accommodated in the outer body  8  with the lid  4  closed, as shown in  FIG. 7 . As the inner case  6  is moved upward within the outer body  8 , the turned-back piece  36  of the inner case  6  becomes engaged with the contact piece  48  arranged inside the outer body  8  ( FIG. 8 ). The inner case  6  is further moved upward within the outer body  8 , and since the contact piece  48  and the turned-back piece  36  are engaged with each other, the lid  4  begins to open as the rear part of the lid  4  is pulled relatively downward by the strip  34 , so that the inner packs  10  are exposed ( FIG. 9 ). As the inner case  6  is further moved upward within the outer body  8 , the lid  4  reaches a fully open position, where the inner case  6  is stopped and is prevented from being moved upward ( FIG. 10 ). Namely, the engagement of the contact piece  48  with the turned-back piece  36  causes the lid  4  to open and also regulates the amount of sliding of the inner case  6 . 
     In this embodiment, the positional relationship between the contact piece  48  and the turned-back piece  36  and the length of the strip  34  are set so that the sliding of the inner case  6  may be stopped at a position where the smoking articles can be easily taken out from the upper open end of the outer body  8  and also the lid  4  is fully opened. 
     After the inner packs  10  are thus exposed through the upper open end of the outer body  8 , the consumer opens either inner pack  10  and takes out a smoking article. To put the inner packs  10  back into the outer body  8 , the consumer presses, with his/her thumb or finger, the front wall  14  of the inner case  6  exposed through the opening  46  in the outer body  8  and slides the inner case  6  down, so that the inner case  6  is withdrawn into the outer body  8 . As the inner case  6  is withdrawn, the contact piece  48  and the turned-back piece  36  become disengaged from each other and the lid  4  gradually closes while being guided by the open end  38  of the outer body  8 . When the inner case  6  finally comes into contact with the bottom wall of the outer body  8 , the lid  4  is completely closed, thus closing the package  2 . 
     When taking out a smoking article again, the consumer has only to press the front wall of the inner case  6  with his/her thumb or finger through the opening  46  and slide the inner case  6  upward in the same manner as stated above. 
     Thus, in the slide action type hinged-lid package  2  of this embodiment, the lid  4  can be opened in a manner interlocked with the projecting movement of the inner case  6  from the outer body  8 . The hinged-lid package  2  therefore provides a novel opening/closing mode and can strongly appeal to consumers. Also, the outer surface of the inner case  6  is in its entirety corrugated, and the corrugated surface serves to prevent the consumer&#39;s thumb or finger from slipping on the inner case  6  when the inner case  6  is slid up, thus making it easier for the consumer to slide up the inner case  6 . Further, since the reinforcing plate is attached to the inside of the front wall  14  of the box body  12 , the box body  12  has increased rigidity, thus effectively preventing deformation of the box body  12 . Accordingly, even if the number of the smoking articles contained has become small, the inner case  6  can be satisfactorily slid up and down without a hitch. 
     Also, according to this embodiment, by closing the lid  4  of the package  2 , it is possible to prevent lowering in freshness of the smoking articles. Moreover, the package  2  can be conveniently used as a tobacco case in such a way that once the package  2  is bought, the consumer continues to use the package  2  by refilling the package  2  with new inner packs  10 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment alone and may be modified in various ways. 
     For example, in the above embodiment, the outer surface of the inner case  6  is corrugated in its entirety. Alternatively, only a surface region of the inner case  6  corresponding at least to the opening  46  of the outer body  8  may be corrugated. Also, in the foregoing embodiment, a large number of ridges are formed on the outer surface of the inner case  6 . Antislip means is, however, not limited to such ridges alone, and round bumps or round dimples may alternatively be distributed over the entire surface or part of the surface of the inner case  6 , for example. 
     Also, in the above embodiment, a rectangular plate corresponding in shape to the front wall  14  of the box body  12  is affixed as the reinforcing member to the inside of the front wall  14 . Alternatively, plate members so combined as to have a U-shaped cross section may be arranged as a reinforcing member  102  within the box body  12 , as indicated by the dot-dot-dash lines in  FIG. 11 , or plate members so combined as to have a T-shaped cross section may be arranged as a reinforcing member  104  within the box body  12 , as indicated by the dot-dot-dash lines in  FIG. 12 . Namely, a reinforcing member with any desired shape may be used insofar as it is capable of increasing the rigidity of the box body  12 . In  FIGS. 11 and 12 , thin lines indicating the corrugated surface  6   a  of the inner case  6  are omitted for simplicity&#39;s sake. 
     Further, the package of the foregoing embodiment is of the type in which two inner packs each including ten smoking articles of 95 mm long are contained. Alternatively, the package may contain a single inner pack including 20 smoking articles with a length of 85 mm or thereabout. Also, the articles to be contained are not limited to smoking articles, and the slide action type hinged-lid package of the present invention may be used to contain other goods, for example, food such as sweet stuff. 
     Explanation OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           2  package 
           4  lid 
           6  inner case 
           6   a  corrugated surface 
           8  outer body 
           10  inner pack 
           12  box body 
           14  front wall 
           16  rear wall 
           18  side wall 
           20  cut 
           22  incision 
           24  lid hinge 
           26  rear wall 
           28  top wall 
           30  side wall 
           32  upper hinge 
           34  strip 
           36  turned-back piece 
           38  open end 
           40  front wall 
           42  rear wall 
           44  side wall 
           46  opening 
           48  contact piece 
           50  cut 
           52  blank for inner case 
           54  blank for outer body 
           102  reinforcing member 
           104  reinforcing member