Patent Publication Number: US-7712607-B2

Title: Rigid swing-open packet of cigarettes

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of European patent application No. 08153811.8, filed Mar. 31, 2008 and Italian patent application No. BO 2007A000480, filed Jul. 17, 2007. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a rigid swing-open packet of cigarettes. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes are currently the most widely marketed, by being easy to produce, practical and easy to use, and by effectively protecting the cigarettes inside. 
     In addition to rigid, hinged-lid packets of cigarettes, rigid slide-open or swing-open packets of cigarettes have been proposed comprising two containers, one inserted in partly removable manner inside the other. In other words, a rigid slide-open or swing-open packet of cigarettes comprises a first container housing a group of cigarettes, and in turn housed inside a second container to move, with respect to the second container, between a closed position, in which the first container is inserted inside the second container, and an open position, in which the first container is extracted from the second container. The movement of the first container with respect to the second container may be either a straight (slide-open) movement, or a rotational (swing-open) movement about a hinge connecting the two containers. 
     A number of embodiments of rigid, straight slide-open packets of cigarettes are described in FR2499947A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,534,463A1 and 5,080,227A1, and one embodiment of a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes is described in WO2006021581. 
     Known rigid swing-open packets of cigarettes, however, have various drawbacks, by being complicated and expensive to produce, and relatively complicated to open. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid swing-open packet of cigarettes designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks, and which, in particular, is cheap and easy to produce. 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a rigid swing-open packet of cigarettes as claimed in the attached Claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A number of non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a view in perspective of a rigid, swing-open packet of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a view in perspective of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes in a fully open configuration; 
         FIG. 3  shows a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes in a partly open configuration; 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an inner container of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 5  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 6  shows a view in perspective of a different embodiment of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes in a fully open configuration; 
         FIG. 7  shows a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of the  FIG. 6  packet of cigarettes in a partly open configuration; 
         FIG. 8  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an inner container of the  FIG. 6  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 9  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the  FIG. 6  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 10  shows a view in perspective of a further embodiment of the  FIG. 1  packet of cigarettes in a fully open configuration; 
         FIG. 11  shows a front view, with parts removed for clarity, of a variation of the  FIG. 6  packet of cigarettes in a partly open configuration; 
         FIG. 12  shows a plan view of a blank from which to form an outer container of the  FIG. 11  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  show two variations of the  FIG. 12  blank to form an outer container with rounded longitudinal edges; 
         FIG. 15  shows a variation of the  FIG. 12  blank to form an outer container with bevelled longitudinal edges; 
         FIGS. 16-19  show plan views of various embodiments of a blank from which to form an inner container of the  FIG. 11  packet of cigarettes; 
         FIG. 20  shows a variation of the  FIG. 16  blank to form an inner container with rounded longitudinal edges; 
         FIG. 21  shows a variation of the  FIG. 16  blank to form an inner container with bevelled longitudinal edges. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Number  1  in  FIG. 1  indicates as a whole a rigid swing-open packet of cigarettes. 
     The  FIG. 1  packet  1  of cigarettes comprises two groups  2  of cigarettes (only one shown schematically in  FIG. 2 ); two rigid, parallelepiped-shaped inner containers  3 , each housing a group  2  of cigarettes; and a rigid, parallelepiped-shaped outer container  4  housing inner containers  3 . Each group  2  of cigarettes is preferably wrapped in a sheet of foil packing material having a tear-off top portion to permit removal of the cigarettes. 
     Each inner container  3  is hinged to outer container  4  at a hinge  14  to rotate, with respect to outer container  4 , between a closed position ( FIG. 1 ), in which inner container  3  is fully inserted inside outer container  4 , and an open position ( FIG. 2 ), in which inner container  3  is partly extracted from outer container  4  to allow access to group  2  of cigarettes. 
     Each inner container  3  is parallelepiped- and cup-shaped, and has an open top end  5  from which the cigarettes are withdrawn; a bottom wall  6  opposite open top end  5 ; a front wall  7 ; a rear wall  8  opposite and parallel to front wall  7 ; and two opposite parallel lateral walls  9 . 
     Outer container  4  is also parallelepiped-shaped, and has a top wall  10 ; a bottom wall  11  opposite and parallel to top wall  10 ; two opposite parallel lateral walls  12 ; and two opposite open lateral ends  13 , through each of which an inner container  3  is extracted from or inserted into outer container  4  into the open or closed position respectively. 
     Each inner container  3  is hinged to outer container  4  by a hinge  14  located between an edge of bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  and an edge of bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  at a respective open lateral end  13  of outer container  4 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, rear wall  8  of each container  3  is lower than front wall  7 , so that, in the closed position, front wall  7  closes respective open lateral end  13  of outer container  4  completely, and rotation of inner container  3  about hinge  14  and with respect to outer container  4  is not impeded by rear wall  8  interfering with top wall  10  of outer container  4 ; and the top portion of each lateral wall  9  of each inner container  3  is shaped to connect front wall  7  smoothly to rear wall  8  to compensate for the difference in height. 
     Packet  1  of cigarettes has stop means for limiting extraction, and preventing excessive extraction, of each inner container  3  from outer container  4 , and which, for each inner container  3 , comprise two retaining tabs  15  projecting outwards of outer container  4  from lateral walls  9  of inner container  3  and located close to rear wall  8  of inner container  3 ; and two retaining pockets  16  projecting inwards of outer container  4  from lateral walls  12  of outer container  4  and located close to the relative open end  13  of outer container  4 . In actual use, as inner container  3  rotates, about hinge  14  and with respect to outer container  4 , from the closed to the open position, each retaining tab  15  engages a respective retaining pocket  16  to arrest extraction of inner container  3 . 
     To open each inner container  3 , the user of packet  1  of cigarettes must pull inner container  3  with respect to outer container  4 , and must therefore grip outer container  4  with one hand, and inner container  3  with the other. For easy grip of inner containers  3 , each inner container  3  may comprise a grip tab (not shown) projecting outwards from a top edge of front wall  7 ; or each lateral wall  12  of outer container  4  may have a recess (e.g. semicircular) close to each open lateral end  13 , so the user of packet  1  of cigarettes can grip and exert pull on lateral walls  9  of each inner container  3 ; or top wall  10  of outer container  4  may have a recess (e.g. semicircular) close to each open lateral end  13 , so the user of packet  1  of cigarettes can grip and exert pull on front wall  7  of each inner container  3 ; or front wall  7  of each inner container  3  may have a recess (e.g. semicircular) at the top. 
     In the  FIG. 1-3  embodiment, packet  1  of cigarettes comprises two inner containers  3 , each housed inside outer container  4  and hinged to outer container  4  along a hinge  14  to rotate between the closed position and the open position. In a different embodiment not shown, packet  1  of cigarettes comprises one inner container  3  housed inside outer container  4  and hinged to outer container  4  along a hinge  14  to rotate between the closed position and the open position; in which case, outer container  4  is half the size of outer container  4  in  FIGS. 1-3 , and one of the two open lateral ends  13  of outer container  4  is closed by a further lateral wall. 
     In the  FIGS. 1-3  embodiment, packet  1  of cigarettes comprises two inner containers  3 , and two groups  2  of cigarettes, each housed in a respective inner container  3 . In a different embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , packet  1  of cigarettes comprises one group  2  of cigarettes housed in a main inner container  3   a , while the other secondary inner container  3   b  houses an accessory (e.g. matches or a lighter) or functions as an ashtray. In this case, the two inner containers  3  may either be identical (as in  FIG. 1-3 ) or different. For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , hinge  14  of main inner container  3   a  is located between an edge of bottom wall  6  of main inner container  3   a  and an edge of bottom wall  11  of outer container  4 , while hinge  14  of secondary inner container  3   b  is located between an edge of a lateral wall  9  of secondary inner container  3   b  and an edge of a lateral wall  12  of outer container  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each inner container  3  is formed by folding a flat, substantially elongated rectangular blank  17 , the component parts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of inner container  3 . 
     Blank  17  has two longitudinal fold lines  18 , and a number of transverse fold lines  19  defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines  18 , a panel  8 ′ forming rear wall  8 ; a panel  6 ′ forming bottom wall  6 ; and a panel  7 ′ forming front wall  7 . 
     Panel  7 ′ has a reinforcing flap  20  connected to panel  7 ′ along a transverse fold line  19 , and which is folded 180° onto panel  7 ′ to strengthen the top portion of front wall  7 . 
     Panel  8 ′ has two lateral wings  9 ′, which form respective inner portions of lateral walls  9 , are located on opposite sides of panel  8 ′, and are separated from panel  8 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  18 . Panel  7 ′ has two lateral wings  9 ″, which form respective outer portions of lateral walls  9 , are located on opposite sides of panel  7 ′, and are separated from panel  7 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  18 . Each lateral wing  9 ′ of panel  8 ′ has a tab  21  separated from lateral wing  9 ′ by a transverse fold line  19 . A window  22  is formed in each lateral wing  9 ′ and contains a respective retaining tab  15 . And each lateral wing  9 ″ has a recess  23  located so as to be superimposed over a respective retaining tab  15 . 
     To form inner container  3 , panels  7 ′ and  8 ′ are folded 90° with respect to panel  6 ′; lateral wings  9 ′ are folded 90° with respect to panel  8 ′; and lateral wings  9 ″ are folded 90° with respect to panel  7 ′ and on top of the folded lateral wings  9 ′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , outer container  4  is formed by folding a flat, substantially elongated rectangular blank  24 , the component parts of which are indicated, where possible, using the same reference numbers, with superscripts, as for the corresponding parts of outer container  4 . 
     Blank  24  has two longitudinal fold lines  25 , and a number of transverse fold lines  26  defining, between the two longitudinal fold lines  25 , a panel  11 ′ forming an inner portion of bottom wall  11 ; a panel  12 ′ forming one lateral wall  12 ; a panel  10 ′ forming top wall  10 ; a panel  12 ″ forming the other lateral wall  12 ; and a panel  11 ″ forming an outer portion of bottom wall  11 . 
     Panel  10 ′ has two reinforcing flaps  27 , which are located on opposite sides of panel  10 ′, are separated from panel  10 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  25 , and are folded 180° onto panel  10 ′ to strengthen top wall  10 . 
     Panels  12 ′,  12 ″ each have two retaining pockets  16 , which are located on opposite sides of panel  12 ′,  12 ″, are separated from panel  12 ′,  12 ″ by longitudinal fold lines  25 , and are folded 180° onto panel  12 ′,  12 ″. 
     Panel  11 ′ has two connecting tabs  28 , which are located on opposite sides of panel  11 ′, are separated from panel  11 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  25 , and are folded 180° onto panel  11 ′. Each connecting tab  28  is glued to bottom wall  6  of a respective inner container  3  to hinge the inner container  3  to outer container  4 , so the portion of longitudinal fold line  25  separating each connecting tab  28  from panel  11 ′ forms the hinge  14  of a respective inner container  3 . 
     To form outer container  4 , retaining pockets  16  are folded 180° onto relative panels  12 ′,  12 ″; reinforcing flaps  27  are folded 180° onto panel  10 ′; connecting tabs  28  are folded 180° onto panel  11 ′; panels  12 ′,  12 ″ are folded 90° with respect to panel  10 ′; panel  11 ′ is folded 90° with respect to panel  12 ′; and panel  11 ″ is folded 90° with respect to panel  12 ″ and on top of the folded panel  11 ′. 
     In the  FIG. 1-3  embodiment, the open top end  5  of each inner container  3  is left open, i.e. has no covering. In a different embodiment not shown, each inner container  3  comprises a tear-off cover closing open top end  5 , connected to the rest of inner container  3  along tear lines, and which is torn off when inner container  3  is unsealed. In the  FIGS. 6 and 7  embodiment, each inner container  3  comprises a hinged lid  29  hinged to inner container  3  along a lid hinge  30  to rotate, with respect to inner container  3 , between an open position and a closed position opening and closing open top end  5  respectively. 
     Each lid  29  comprises a rectangular top wall  31  opposite and parallel to bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  when lid  29  is in the closed position; a rectangular rear wall  32  which forms an extension of rear wall  8  of inner container  3  when lid  29  is in the closed position; and two triangular lateral walls  33  which form extensions of lateral walls  9  of inner container  3  when lid  29  is in the closed position. And hinge  30  of each lid  29  connects a top edge of rear wall  8  of inner container  3  to a bottom edge of rear wall  32  of lid  29 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, each lid  29  has an actuating system  34  which connects lid  29  to outer container  4  so that, when inner container  3  is extracted from/inserted into outer container  4 , lid  29  is connected to outer container  4  to open/close lid  29 . By means of actuating system  34 , each lid  29  is therefore opened/closed “automatically”, with no manual effort on the part of the user, by extracting/inserting inner container  3 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each actuating system  34  comprises an actuating tab  35  extending inwards of outer container  4  from an edge of top wall  10  of outer container  4 ; and a slot  36  formed through top wall  31  of lid  29 , and which is engaged by actuating tab  35 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a blank  17  from which to form an inner container  3  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , i.e. with lid  29 . Blank  17  in  FIG. 8  differs from the  FIG. 4  blank  17  described above by comprising a panel  32 ′ forming rear wall  32  of lid  29 ; a panel  31 ′ forming top wall  31  of lid  29 ; and two lateral wings  33 ′ forming lateral walls  33  of lid  29 . Each lateral wing  33 ′ has a tab  37 , which is folded 90° with respect to lateral wing  33 ′, is fixed to an inner surface of panel  31 ′, and closes slot  36  from the inside. More specifically, each tab  37  has a bevelled corner to leave slot  36  partly open. Tabs  37  assist in holding actuating tab  35 , once inserted, inside slot  36 . It is important to note that, to insert actuating tab  35  inside slot  36 , tabs  37  must flex elastically and so act like springs which press actuating tab  35  against top wall  31  of lid  29 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a blank  24  from which to form the outer container  4  in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , i.e. with actuating tabs  35 . Unlike the  FIG. 5  blank  24  described above, reinforcing flaps  27  of the  FIG. 9  blank  24  each have a window  38  in which an actuating tab  35  is formed. 
     As described above, each inner container  3  is hinged to outer container  4  by a connecting tab  28 , which is hinged to outer container  4  along hinge  14  and glued to bottom wall  6  of inner container  3 . Each connecting tab  28  is not normally glued to bottom wall  11  of outer container  4 , so as to rotate freely with respect to outer container  4 . Alternatively, each connecting tab  28  may be glued to bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  using non-setting, re-stick adhesive applied between the bottom surface of connecting tab  28  and the top surface of bottom wall  11  of outer container  4 , so connecting tab  28  can be detached repeatedly from bottom wall  11  (i.e. each time inner container  3  is extracted from packet  1  of cigarettes) and then fixed back to bottom wall  11 . In one variation, each connecting tab  28  is glued to bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  using weak-stick adhesive which releases its hold the first time inner container  3  is extracted. In another variation, connecting tab  28  is fixed to bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  by a tear line which is torn the first time inner container  3  is extracted. In a different embodiment, as opposed to being hinged to outer container  4  and glued to inner container  3 , each connecting tab  28  may be hinged to inner container  3  and glued to outer container  4 . 
     In the  FIG. 1-9  embodiments, each hinge  14  is located at an edge of bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  and an edge of bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  at a respective open lateral end  13  of outer container  4 . In other words, in the  FIG. 1-9  embodiments, each hinge  14  coincides with a bottom transverse edge of inner container  3 , and with a bottom transverse edge of outer container  4 . 
     In a different embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , each hinge  14  is located a given distance from an edge of bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  and from an edge of bottom wall  11  of outer container  4  at a respective open lateral end  13  of outer container  4 . In other words, in the  FIG. 11  embodiment, each hinge  14  is located a given distance from a bottom transverse edge of inner container  3  and from a bottom transverse edge of outer container  4 , so the two hinges  14  are located closer to the centre (i.e. closer to each other). 
     Locating the two hinges  14  closer to each other improves extraction of inner containers  3 , and reduces the distance between top wall  31  of each lid  29  and top wall  10  of outer container  4  when inner containers  3  are in the closed position. The  FIG. 11  embodiment is particularly suitable for tall, narrow packets  1  of cigarettes. Moreover, by locating the two hinges  14  at different distances from the respective edges of bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  and bottom wall  11  of outer container  4 , two inner containers  3  of different sizes can be accommodated. Obviously, the larger the inner container  3  is, the greater the distance is between hinge  14  and the respective edges of bottom wall  6  of inner container  3  and bottom wall  11  of outer container  4 . 
     In the  FIG. 11  embodiment, each lateral wall  12  of outer container  4  has two recesses  39  exposing the lateral walls  9  of inner containers  3  underneath, and which provide for easy grip of inner containers  3  in the closed position. In other words, the two opposite lateral walls  9  of an inner container  3  in the closed position can be gripped by the user through the two opposite recesses  39  to pull inner container  3  easily into the open position. 
       FIG. 12  shows a flat blank  24  from which to form outer container  4  of the  FIG. 11  packet  1  of cigarettes, and the component parts of which are indicated using the same reference numbers as for blank  24  in  FIG. 9 .  FIGS. 13 and 14  show two variations of the  FIG. 12  blank  24 , to form outer container  4  with rounded longitudinal edges; and  FIG. 15  shows a variation of the  FIG. 12  blank  24 , to form outer container  4  with bevelled longitudinal edges. 
     In the  FIG. 14  variation, panel  10 ′ (forming top wall  10  of outer container  4 ) has two reinforcing flaps  27 , which are located on opposite sides of panel  10 ′, are separated from panel  10 ′ by longitudinal fold lines  25 , and are folded 180° onto panel  10 ′ to strengthen top wall  10 . Each reinforcing flap  27  has a further reinforcing flap  40 , which is separated from reinforcing flap  27  by a longitudinal fold line, and is folded 180° onto reinforcing flap  27  to further strengthen top wall  10 . In this embodiment, actuating tabs  35  are connected to reinforcing flaps  40  along longitudinal fold lines. The  FIG. 14  variation of blank  24  uses more material, but has the advantage of producing an extremely rigid top wall  10  of outer container  4 . Reinforcing flaps  40  in  FIG. 14  form part of a blank  24  from which to form an outer container  4  with rounded longitudinal edges, but may obviously also form part of any other embodiment of blank  24 , such as that in  FIG. 9 . 
     In a different embodiment not shown, packet  1  of cigarettes comprises a retaining member for holding a respective inner container  3  in the closed position with a certain amount of force, and which, for each inner container  3 , comprises a deformable member that must be deformed to move the inner container  3  from the closed to the open position. In other words, to move an inner container  3  from the closed to the open position, sufficient force must be exerted on inner container  3  to deform the deformable member elastically. The function of the retaining member is to hold the inner container  3  in the closed position with a certain amount of force, and so prevent inner container  3  from opening accidentally. 
       FIG. 16  shows a flat blank  17  from which to form inner container  3  of the  FIG. 11  packet  1  of cigarettes, and the component parts of which are indicated using the same reference numbers as for blank  17  in  FIG. 8 . 
     The  FIG. 16  blank  17  differs from blank  17  in  FIG. 8  as to the shape of tabs  21  (perfectly rectangular in  FIG. 8 , and with a bevelled corner in  FIG. 16 ), and above all as regards tabs  37  of wings  33 ′ forming lateral walls  33  of lid  29 . In the  FIG. 8  blank  17 , each tab  37  is connected to respective wing  33 ′ along a transverse fold line  19  extending the full width of tab  37 ; whereas, in the  FIG. 16  blank  17 , each tab  37  is connected to respective wing  33 ′ along a transverse fold line  19  extending along only part (roughly half) of the width of tab  37 , in that a cut  41  is also formed between tab  37  and wing  33 ′. 
     Each cut  41  provides for a more supple connection of tab  37  and wing  33 ′, so that less force is required to rotate tab  37  with respect to wing  33 ′. To be inserted inside slot  36 , each actuating tab  35  must deform tabs  37 , the force required to do which is reduced by cuts  41 , thus making it easier to insert actuating tab  35  inside slot  36 . It is important to note that tabs  37 , on the one hand, oppose insertion of actuating tab  35  inside slot  36 , but, on the other, assist in holding actuating tab  35 , once inserted, inside slot  36 . Cuts  41  provide for achieving just the right elasticity of tabs  37 , and which represents the best compromise between allowing insertion of actuating tab  35  inside slot  36 , and holding actuating tab  35 , once inserted, inside slot  36 . 
       FIG. 17  shows a different flat blank  17  from which to form inner container  3  of the  FIG. 11  packet  1  of cigarettes, and the component parts of which are indicated using the same reference numbers as for blank  17  in  FIG. 8 . The  FIG. 17  blank  17  differs from blank  17  in  FIG. 8  by comprising a further panel  3111  connected to panel  31 ′ along a transverse fold line  19 , and which is folded onto panel  31 ′ to strengthen top wall  31  of lid  29 . 
       FIG. 18  shows a different flat blank  17  from which to form inner container  3  of the  FIG. 11  packet  1  of cigarettes, and the component parts of which are indicated using the same reference numbers as for blank  17  in  FIG. 8 . The  FIG. 18  blank  17  differs from blank  17  in  FIG. 8  as regards the shape of tabs  37 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a different flat blank  17  from which to form inner container  3  of the  FIG. 11  packet  1  of cigarettes, and the component parts of which are indicated using the same reference numbers as for blank  17  in  FIG. 8 . The  FIG. 19  blank  17  differs from blank  17  in  FIG. 8  as regards tabs  37 . More specifically, each tab  37  comprises an appendix  42 , which is located close to panel  31 ′ (i.e. close to top wall  31  of lid  29 ), is connected to tab  37  along an oblique fold line  43 , and is folded 180° onto tab  37 . 
       FIG. 20  shows a variation of the  FIG. 16  blank  17  to form an inner container  3  with two rounded front longitudinal edges (i.e. on opposite sides of front wall  7 ). 
       FIG. 21  shows a variation of the  FIG. 16  blank  17  to form an inner container  3  with two bevelled front longitudinal edges (i.e. on opposite sides of front wall  7 ). 
     In the embodiments shown in the attached drawings, the longitudinal and transverse edges of inner container  3  and outer container  4  are all square. Alternatively, the longitudinal and/or transverse edges of inner container  3  and outer container  4  may be non-square rounded or bevelled edges. Blanks  24  for forming outer container  4  with rounded or bevelled longitudinal edges are shown in  FIGS. 13 ,  14 ,  15 , and blanks  17  for forming inner containers with rounded or bevelled front longitudinal edges are shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . 
     Packet  1  of cigarettes as described herein has numerous advantages, by being easy to produce, and, above all, by making inner containers  3  extremely easy to open (i.e. extract from outer container  4 ).