U.S. patent application number 12/948819 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-17 for slide action type hinged-lid package.
Invention is credited to Masahiro Fukui, Tetsuya NAKAMURA, Akihiro Saito, Shunsuke Tawada, Hidehisa Tokita.
Application Number | 20110062175 12/948819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41398111 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110062175 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKAMURA; Tetsuya ; et
al. |
March 17, 2011 |
SLIDE ACTION TYPE HINGED-LID PACKAGE
Abstract
A slide action type hinged-lid package (2) includes an inner
case (6) having a lid (4), and an outer body (8) slidably
accommodating the inner case. The outer body has an opening (46)
formed through a front wall thereof (40) and allowing the inner
case to be partly exposed, and a contact piece (48) provided at the
rear edge of an upper open end thereof (38) and extending toward
the interior of the outer body. The inner case has a reinforcing
member arranged on the inside of a front wall thereof (14) which is
exposed through the opening, and a strip (34) connected to the rear
part of the lid and capable of engaging with the contact piece.
When the inner case is slid up relative to the outer body, the
engagement between the strip and the contact piece causes the lid
to open and also regulates the amount of sliding of the inner
case.
Inventors: |
NAKAMURA; Tetsuya; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tawada; Shunsuke; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tokita;
Hidehisa; (Tokyo, JP) ; Fukui; Masahiro;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Saito; Akihiro; (Tokyo, JP) |
Family ID: |
41398111 |
Appl. No.: |
12/948819 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/JP2009/060019 |
Jun 2, 2009 |
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12948819 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/810 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/1054
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/810 |
International
Class: |
B65D 43/16 20060101
B65D043/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 6, 2008 |
JP |
2008-149236 |
Claims
1. A slide action type hinged-lid package comprising: 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.
2. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 1,
further comprising engagement means for engaging the outer body and
the inner case with each other, wherein, 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.
3. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 2,
wherein 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.
4. The slide action type hinged-lid package according to claim 3,
wherein 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.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] 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
[0002] 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.
[0003] One form of hinged-lid package has been proposed, for
example, in Patent Document 1.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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' 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
[0008] 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'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'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.
[0009] 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' buying motivation, and yet
permits an article contained therein to be taken out with ease.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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's thumb or finger from
slipping on the inner case.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] 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'
motivation to buy the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a
package according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0019] 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.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a partly cutaway perspective view showing a
separated state of the package of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the rear of the inner
case.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a blank for forming the inner case.
[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a blank for forming an outer body.
[0024] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner
case is contained in the outer body.
[0025] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a state wherein the inner
case is being slid up within the outer body.
[0026] FIG. 9 schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged
lid of the inner case has begun to open.
[0027] FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a state wherein the hinged
lid of the inner case is fully opened.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another reinforcing
member.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another
reinforcing member.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a package 2 according to one embodiment
of the invention.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] The inner case 6 includes a box body 12, as shown in FIG. 3,
which contains inner packs 10.
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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 18a 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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 18a of the two side walls 18, 18 and connects the rear wall
16 and the lid 4 to each other.
[0038] 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 30a of the
side walls 30 meet the aforementioned upper edges 18a of the
respective side walls 18 of the box body 12.
[0039] The inner case 6 further includes a strip 34 provided at the
rear of the lid 4.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] The outer surface of the inner case 6 is formed as a
corrugated surface 6a by die forming over its entire area.
Specifically, the corrugated surface 6a 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.
[0043] 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).
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
[0048] 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 68b
located in a position corresponding to the rear wall 26 of the lid
4. The lid rear panel 68b 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 64b and a turn-back panel
64c 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 68b which
is located opposite the top panel 72.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] In this embodiment, the blanks 52 and 54 are made of paper
having a basis weight of 180 to 270 g/m.sup.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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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 64c of the strip
region 63 is folded down and also the lid rear panel 68b 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
[0061] 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.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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'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.
[0064] 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.
[0065] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiment alone and may be modified in various ways.
[0066] 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.
[0067] 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 6a of the
inner case 6 are omitted for simplicity's sake.
[0068] 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
[0069] 2 package [0070] 4 lid [0071] 6 inner case [0072] 6a
corrugated surface [0073] 8 outer body [0074] 10 inner pack [0075]
12 box body [0076] 14 front wall [0077] 16 rear wall [0078] 18 side
wall [0079] 20 cut [0080] 22 incision [0081] 24 lid hinge [0082] 26
rear wall [0083] 28 top wall [0084] 30 side wall [0085] 32 upper
hinge [0086] 34 strip [0087] 36 turned-back piece [0088] 38 open
end [0089] 40 front wall [0090] 42 rear wall [0091] 44 side wall
[0092] 46 opening [0093] 48 contact piece [0094] 50 cut [0095] 52
blank for inner case [0096] 54 blank for outer body [0097] 102
reinforcing member [0098] 104 reinforcing member
* * * * *