Package for smoking articles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package for smoking articles comprising a container portion and a lid hingedly connected to the container portion about a hinge line. The container portion has an inner frame and an outer frame. The lid includes an end portion and a lid wall extending from the end portion that overlaps a container wall of the container portion when closed, the container wall having a locking element that locates over a corresponding locking part on the lid wall and a recess formed in the inner frame extending from an upper edge of the inner frame. In one embodiment, a lower edge of the recess is spaced further from the upper edge of the container wall than the locking element. In another embodiment, the recess extends into the second container wall.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A package for smoking articles comprising
 a container portion and a lid hingedly connected to the container portion about a hinge line,   the lid including an end portion and first and second lid walls extending from the end portion that overlap first and second container walls of the container portion when closed,   the first container wall having a locking element that locates over a corresponding locking part on the first lid wall and a recess formed in the first container wall that extends from an upper edge of the first container wall,   wherein the recess extends into the second container wall.   
     
     
         13 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , a lower edge of the recess is spaced further from the upper edge of the first container wall than the locking element. 
     
     
         14 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the container wall is part of an outer frame. 
     
     
         15 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the container wall is part of the inner frame. 
     
     
         16 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 15 , wherein the container portion has an outer frame and an inner frame, the inner frame upstanding from an upper end of the outer frame, and the recess being formed in the inner frame. 
     
     
         17 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 16 , wherein the lower edge of the recess is spaced from the upper end of the outer frame. 
     
     
         18 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking element is pivotable relative to the first container wall about a fold line, the fold line extending parallel to, but spaced from, the hinge line. 
     
     
         19 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking element is a flap. 
     
     
         20 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 19 , wherein the flap extends outwardly from a face of the inner front wall and extends downwardly when the package is closed. 
     
     
         21 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking element extends from a lower edge of the recess. 
     
     
         22 . The package for smoking articles according to  claim 12 , wherein the first lid wall is a major front wall that lies in a plane extending parallel to the hinge line about which the lid rotates, the first container wall being a major front wall of the package.