Slide-open Packet of Smoke Articles

Abstract

A packet of smoke articles having an inner container, which slides with respect to an outer container between a closed configuration, and an open configuration, wherein the inner container is partly extracted from the outer container. A locking device locks, in a deactivatable manner, sliding of the inner container in the closed configuration, with a locking edge that protrudes inwards from a wall of the outer container and an engagement portion protrudes outwards from a wall of the inner container.

1 . A packet of smoke articles comprising:
 an inner container, which houses a group of smoke articles;   an outer container, the interior of the outer container slidably houses the inner container so as to enable the inner container to slide with respect to the outer container between a closed configuration, wherein the inner container is inserted inside the outer container, and an open configuration, wherein the inner container is partly extracted from the outer container; and   at least one locking device which comprises a locking element and an engagement portion and locks, in a deactivatable manner by an external action of a user, sliding of the inner container with respect to the outer container when the inner container is in the closed configuration;   the locking element protrudes inwards from a wall integral with the outer container and has a locking edge; and   the engagement portion protrudes outwards from a wall integral with the inner container and has a first engagement edge which faces, in the closed configuration of the inner container, the locking edge of the locking element, and engages the locking edge during the packet opening movement, and a second engagement edge which faces, in the open configuration of the inner container, the locking edge) of the locking element, and engages the locking edge during the packet closing movement.   
     
     
         2 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion includes two overlapping engagement panels which form a raised portion on an inner lateral wall of the inner container. 
     
     
         3 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the two engagement panels are connected along a folding line and are glued to each other, and   the first engagement edge is formed by the folding line and the second engagement edge is formed by the two free edges, opposite the folding line, of the engagement panels.   
     
     
         4 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the two engagement panels include a first engagement panel and a second engagement panel obtained on an external lateral wall of the inner container; and   the second engagement panel is folded 180° onto an outer surface of the first engagement panel and is glued to the outer surface of the first engagement panel.   
     
     
         5 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking element includes a locking tab hinged to an inner lateral wall of the outer container;   the locking tab is folded substantially 180° onto an internal surface of the inner lateral wall when the inner container is in the closed configuration and is substantially aligned with the inner lateral wall when the inner container is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein: the locking device includes two abutting portions for abutting on the locking edge;
 the two abutting portions are positioned on opposite sides of the engagement portion and are part of an inner lateral wall of the inner container; and   the two abutting portions include a first abutting portion bounded below by the first engagement edge of the engagement portion, and a second abutting portion, bounded above by the second engagement edge of the engagement portion.   
     
     
         7 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element and the engagement portion are configured in such a manner that the interaction between the locking edge and the first engagement edge and the interaction between the locking edge and the second engagement edge produces a sound. 
     
     
         8 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is concealed by the outer container in the closed configuration and in the open configuration of the inner container. 
     
     
         9 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 two locking devices;   wherein the locking devices are arranged on opposite sides of the packet with respect to a median plane of the packet.   
     
     
         10 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid, which is hinged to the outer container along a hinge to close an open top end of the outer container;   wherein the packet comprises at least one slot which is integral with a rear wall of the inner container and the lid comprises at least one engaging tab projecting inside the packet;   in the closed configuration of the inner container the at least one engaging tab is disengaged from the at least one slot and in the open configuration of the inner container the at least one engaging tab is engaged with the at least one slot to lock, in a deactivatable manner by an external action of a user, the inner container in the open configuration; and   the interaction between the at least one slot and the at least one tab produces a sound when the open configuration of the inner container is reached.   
     
     
         11 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion includes two overlapping engagement panels which form a raised portion on a rear wall of the inner container. 
     
     
         12 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the two engagement panels are connected along a folding line and are glued together; and   the second engagement edge is formed by the folding line and the first engagement edge is formed by the two free edges, opposite the folding line, of the engagement panels.   
     
     
         13 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a lid, which is hinged to the outer container along a hinge to close an open top end of the outer container;   the lid includes a top wall and a stiffener panel folded 180° onto the top wall on the side of the internal surface of the lid;   the stiffener wall has an extension wall including a first panel, glued to the rear wall of the inner container, and a second panel folded 180° onto the first panel and glued to the first panel;   the two engagement panels being a first engagement panel consisting of the first panel of the extension wall, and a second engagement panel consisting of the second panel of the extension wall.   
     
     
         14 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking element includes at least one locking tab hinged to a top edge of a stiffener panel of a rear wall of the outer container glued to an internal surface of the rear wall of the outer container;   the locking tab is folded substantially 180° onto an internal surface of the stiffener panel of the rear wall of the outer container when the inner container is in the closed configuration, and the locking tab is substantially aligned with the stiffener panel of the rear wall of the outer container when the inner container is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking element includes two locking tabs hinged to opposite sides of a top edge of a stiffener panel of a rear wall of the outer container glued to an internal surface of the rear wall of the outer container;   the locking tabs are folded substantially 180° onto an internal surface of the stiffener panel of the rear wall of the outer container when the inner container is in the closed configuration, and the locking tabs are substantially aligned with the stiffener panel of the rear wall of the outer container when the inner container is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the locking device includes two abutting portions for abutting on the locking edge;   the two abutting portions are respective portions of the rear wall of the inner container and have a first abutting portion, bounded below by the first engagement edge of the engagement portion when the inner container is in the closed configuration, and a second abutting portion, bounded above by the second engagement edge of the engagement portion when the inner container is in the open configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the locking element and the engagement portion are configured in such a manner that the interaction between the locking edge and the first engagement edge and the interaction between the locking edge and the second engagement edge produces a sound.   
     
     
         18 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking element is concealed by the outer container in the closed configuration and in the open configuration of the inner container. 
     
     
         19 . The packet of smoke articles according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 at least one slot integral with a rear wall of the inner container;   wherein the lid includes at least one engaging tab protruding towards the inside of the packet;   in the closed configuration of the inner container, the at least one engaging tab is disengaged from the at least one slot;   in the open configuration of the inner container, the at least one engaging tab is engaged in the at least one slot to lock the inner container in a deactivatable manner by an external action of a user; and   the interaction between the at least one slot and the at least one tab produces a sound when the open configuration of the inner container is reached.