Rigid package for tobaco articles

Abstract

A rigid package for tobacco articles having a first container for housing the tobacco articles and housed inside a second container so as to slide with respect to the second container between a closed position and an open position; each container is substantially parallelepiped shaped, and has two end walls, and a lateral surface bounded by the end walls, and by at least one minor lateral wall; the major lateral walls of both the containers are curved walls having the same concavity and the same radius of curvature, which is constant along the whole extension of each major lateral wall (FIG. 2 ).

1 . A rigid package for tobacco articles ( 3 ); the package ( 1 ) comprising a first container ( 2 ) for housing the tobacco articles ( 3 ), and a second container ( 4 ) for housing the first container ( 2 ) in sliding manner, so as to enable the first container ( 2 ) to slide, with respect to the second container ( 4 ), between a closed position, in which the first container ( 2 ) is fully inserted inside the second container ( 4 ), and an open position, in which part of the first container ( 2 ) is extracted from the second container ( 4 ); each container ( 2 ;  4 ) being substantially parallelepiped-shaped, and comprising two, respectively bottom and top, end walls ( 5 ,  6 ;  13 ,  14 ), and a lateral surface ( 7 ;  15 ) bounded by the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ;  13 ,  14 ) and defined by substantially parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 8 ;  16 ), and by at least one minor lateral wall ( 9 ;  17 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 8 ;  16 ) by corresponding longitudinal edges ( 10 ;  18 ); the package ( 1 ) being characterized in that the major lateral walls ( 8 ,  16 ) of both the containers ( 2 ,  4 ) are curved walls having the same concavity and the same radius of curvature (R), which is constant along the whole extension of each major lateral wall ( 8 ;  16 ).  
   
   
       2 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the longitudinal edges ( 10 ,  18 ) of both containers ( 2 ,  4 ) are rounded, non-square edges.  
   
   
       3 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the minor lateral walls ( 9 ,  17 ) and the end walls ( 5 ,  6 ,  13 ,  14 ) of both containers ( 2 ,  4 ) are flat walls.  
   
   
       4 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the lateral surface ( 7 ) of the second container ( 4 ) comprises two parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 8 ), a minor lateral wall ( 9 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 8 ) by two longitudinal edges ( 10 ), and an open end ( 11 ) which is parallel to and opposite the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) and permits passage of the first container ( 2 ); the lateral surface ( 15 ) of the first container ( 2 ) comprising two parallel, opposite major lateral walls ( 16 ), and two parallel, opposite minor lateral walls ( 17 ) separated from the major lateral walls ( 16 ) by four longitudinal edges ( 18 ); the top end wall ( 14 ) of the first container ( 2 ) comprising an open portion ( 20 ) permitting withdrawal of the tobacco articles ( 3 ) from the first container ( 2 ) when the first container ( 2 ) is in the open position; and, when the first container ( 2 ) is in the closed position, each lateral wall ( 8 ,  9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) being aligned with and facing a corresponding lateral wall ( 16 ,  17 ) of the first container ( 2 ).  
   
   
       5 . The package as claimed in  claim 4  characterized in that the minor lateral wall ( 9 ) of the second container ( 4 ) comprises at least one through hole ( 21 ) sized to permit insertion of a user's finger.  
   
   
       6 . The package as claimed in  claim 4  characterized in that each major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) comprises a recess close to the open end ( 11 ).  
   
   
       7 . The package as claimed in  claim 4  characterized by comprising stop means for limiting slide of the first container ( 2 ) with respect to the second container ( 4 ) and so preventing detachment of the first container ( 2 ) from the second container ( 4 ).  
   
   
       8 . The package as claimed in  claim 7  characterized in that the stop means comprise at least one first tongue projecting outwards of the first container ( 2 ) from a respective major lateral wall ( 16 ) of the first container ( 2 ), and a second tongue projecting inwards of the second container ( 4 ) from a respective major lateral wall ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) and located close to the open end ( 11 ) of the second container ( 4 ); the first and second tongue being so located that the first tongue engages the second tongue as the first container ( 2 ) slides out of the second container ( 4 ).  
   
   
       9 . The package as claimed in  claim 4  characterized in that the transverse dimension of the major lateral walls ( 8 ) of the second container ( 4 ) is smaller than the corresponding transverse dimension of the major lateral walls ( 16 ) of the first container ( 2 ), so that the second container ( 4 ) does not cover the two longitudinal edges ( 18 ) of the first container ( 2 ) facing the open end ( 11 ) of the second container ( 4 ) when the first container ( 2 ) is in said closed position.  
   
   
       10 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the minor lateral walls ( 17 ) of the first container ( 2 ) are parallel.  
   
   
       11 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the minor lateral walls ( 17 ) of the first container ( 2 ) converge.  
   
   
       12 . The package as claimed in  claim 11  characterized in that the minor lateral walls ( 17 ) of the first container ( 2 ) converge towards a point located at a distance from the center of gravity of the first container ( 2 ) ranging between 80% and 120% of the radius of curvature (R) of the major lateral walls ( 8 ,  16 ).  
   
   
       13 . The package as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that the minor lateral walls ( 17 ) of the first container ( 2 ) diverge.