GB2466204A

GB2466204A - Smoking product package comprising inner flip-top container within a sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2466204A
Application number: GB0822562A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Douglas Tearle
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-11
Filing date: 2008-12-11
Publication date: 2010-06-16
Also published as: GB0822562D0

Abstract

The package 10 comprises an outer she11 20 and an inner shell 30, the inner shell comprising an access opening for accessing the tobacco products and a flip-top type lid (140, Fig.3) hinged at 150 at one end of the inner shell arranged to cover the access opening when closed. The inner shell is slidable relative to the outer shell so as to prevent opening of the lid in the closed position. The inner shell may comprise two compartments and two openings on each end, which are openable by sliding the inner shell in one direction, or the other. The two compartments can each be made from a blank and then joined together. C-shaped cut outs (C, Fig.9) on the inner shells define engagement means (190b, 200b, 210b and 220b, Fig.9) which interact with respective engagement means on the outer shell (190a, 200a, 210a and 220a, Fig.8) to prevent complete withdrawal of the inner shell from the sleeve. A process on how to assembly such package is also shown.

Description

Package for Tobacco Industry Products

Description

The present invention relates to a package for tobacco industry products.

A tobacco industry product refers to any item made in, or sold by the tobacco industry, typically including a) cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes); b) non-smoking products incorporating tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitute, hard tobacco, and heat-not-burn products; and c) smokeless products such as for example snus, snuff and lozenges. This list is not intended to be exclusive, but merely illustrates a range of products which may be made and sold in the tobacco industry.

The invention relates particularly to packages for tobacco industry products having an inner slide and an outer sheli (also known as slide-shell packs). The invention also relates to an assembly of blsnks for making a package for tobacco industry Foducts.

Slide-shell packs for tobacco industry products differ from conventional hinged lid packs in that the tobacco industry products are provided in an inner shell which the user slides relative to an outer shell to access the smoking articles. A slide-shell pack is known from WO 2004/024595, in which a first container is slidably located within a second container.

Known slide shell packs have an opening in the inner shell for accessing the cigarettes. A disadvantage of such packs is that they allow for the ingress and egress of moisture to and from the contents of the package through the openings, which may ultimately affect the quality of the contents.

In order to limit this effect, the opening is usually located on a part of the inner shell which is covered by the outer shell when the pack is dosed. This limitation on the location of the openings can be inconvenient for the user, who may find it more difficult to remove smoking articles from known slide-sheli packs as compared with conventional flip top packs. Furthetmore, when the pack is dosed, the access openings will only be covered by a single layer; ie: the outer shell. Thus, moisture may potentially still pass into or out of the pack over time, particularly if the pack is made from a permeable material such as cardboard.

Still further, the single inner compartment of known slide shell packs allows for only one particular product-type. If two different types of tobacco industry product, for example two different types of cigarettes having different flavours and/or blends were to be supplied in a known cigarette package, the consumer could not readily identify and select one particular type.

Further, in order that the consumer receives information relating to the product and brand they choose, it is also desirable to marimise the surface area available to provide such information. Previous solutions to this problem have included the provision of coupons in the form of inserts in, or onserts on, the package.

One of the disadvantages of this solution is in the provision of additional components and materials adding to the complexity of the packaging process.

According to the invention a package for tobacco industry products is provided, the package comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, said inner shell comprising an access opening for accessing the tobacco industry FOducts and a hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when dosed, wherein the inner shell is slidable relative to the outer shell and the package is thereby slidably adjustable between: a flit position in which the hinged lid is openable and a second position in which the hinged lid is held dosed by the outer shell.

Thus, a user may cover the access opening of the inner shell by closing the hinged lid and may thereby prevent or limit the ingress and egress of moisture through the opening.

Also, since the hinged lid is held closed by the outer shell in the closed position, the likelihood of accidental opening of the lid is reduced.

Furthermore, in the closed position, the outer shell provides further protection for the tobacco industry products against the environment outside of the pack, and in particular provides further protection against moisture permeation through the opening.

Still further, the hinged lid provides surface space on the inner shell on which information relating to the product can be provided.

The hinged lid may be closed by slidably adjusting the package from the first position to the second position. Thus, the hinged lid may be automatically and conveniently closed by the user by sliding the pack into the closed position.

The outer shell may have a top wall and the hinged lid may be arranged so that the lid is closed by the top wall upon sliding the package from the first position to the second position.

The package may be adapted to contain smoking articles. As used herein, the term "smoking article" includes smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes and also heat-not-burn products.

The inner shell may comprise a minor lateral wall and the access opening may be arranged such that the height of said minor lateral wall is shorter than the length of one of the smoking articles.

Thus, a user may conveniently grip or pinch out the smoking article through the space above the top edge of the minor lateral wall.

The package may comprise a plurality of inner shells, longitudinally arranged with the outer shell. Each inner shell may have an access opening and a hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when closed. Each inner shells may be loaded with the same smoking article product type, or alternatively with different smoking article product types.

Each inner shell may be independently slidable relative to the outer shell to access the smoking articles. Thus, a user may select a chosen product-type in the pack by sliding the corresponding inner shell to access the product.

The package may, alternatively, have only one inner shell, having two hinged lids symmetrically arranged at opposing upper end regions of the inner shell. The inner shell may have a plurality of compartments.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a slide shell package for smoking articles in a closed position.

Figure 2a shows a perspective view of the outer shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 2b shows a side view of the outer shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the inner shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 3b shows a side view of the inner shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the slide shell package in a position in which the right hinged lid of the right inner shell is openable.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the slide shell package in a position in which the right hinged lid of the right inner shell is open.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a slide shell package in a position in which the left hinged lid of the left inner shell is openable.

Jo Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a slide shell package in a position in which the left hinged lid is open.

Figure 8 illustrates a blank for the outer shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 9 illustrates a blank for the inner shell of the slide shell package.

Figure 10 illustrates a process of assembling the inner shell of the package.

Figure 11 illustrates a process of assembling the package.

Figure 12 illustrates another slide shell package having two independently movable inner shells.

Figure 13 illustrates the slide shell package having two independently movable inner shells in an open position.

Figures 1 to 7 show a package 10 for smoking articles, comprising a parallelepiped cardboard container with substantially square edges. The package comprises an outer shell 20, and an inner shell 30.

The outer shell 20 comprises a front major lateral wall 40, a rear major lateral wall 50; a top end wall 60; a bottom end wall 70; and two open ends 80L, 80R.

As shown in Figure 3, the inner shell 30 comprises left and right compartments 30L, 30R for receiving charges of smoking articles, "left" and "right" being defined by the orientation when viewed from the viewpoint of Figure 1 and being referred to herein merely to assist in the understanding of the present invention and not to imply any specific orientation to the package.

As shown in Figure 3, the left and right compartments of the inner shell each comprise a front major lateral wall 90, a rear major lateral wall 100, left and right minor lateral walls 11OL, 11OR, a bottom wall 120, a top wall 130, and a hinged lid 140.

Referring to Figure 3, the left compartment 30L and the right compartment 30R of the inner shell are mirror images of one another and are adhesively fixed to one another back to back. As shown, the right minor lateral wall 11 OR of the left compartment 30L is adhesively fixed to the left minor lateral wall 11 OL of the right compartment 30R, thereby joining the left and right compartments to one another at a central point. Thus, the hinged lids 140 are symmetrically arranged at opposing end regions of the inner shell. Since the hinged lid 140L of the left compartment 30L is identical to the hinged lid 140R of the right compartment with the exception that it faces to the opposite direction, only hinged lid 140R of the right compartment 30R (also referred to herein as the "right hinged lid") will be described in detail.

As shown in Figure 3(a), the right hinged lid 140R is defined by a partially cut out region in the upper right portion of the compartment 30R. The partially cut out region is hingedly connected to the body of the right compartment 30R along a hinge line 150 formed in the top wall 130.

As shown, the top wall 130 has first and second edges where the top wall 130 meets the left and right minor lateral walls 11OL, 11OR respectively. The hinge line 150 is parallel to said first and second edges. The hinge line 150 is located between the first edge and the second edge.

The cut lines of the partially cut out region comprise a horizontal cut line 160 formed in minor lateral wall 110 and front and rear sloping cut lines 170 in the front and rear lateral walls 90, 100 which slope upwardly from opposing ends of cut line 160 to meet corresponding ends of the hinge line.

Thus, referring to Figure 4, the right hinged lid 140R comprises a rectangular upper wall 180, front and rear triangular lid side walls 190 and a lid front wall 200.

As shown in Figure 5, the right hinged lid 140R can be hingedly opened. When the lid is opened, the partially cut out region defines an access opening 180 in the body through which the smoking articles 5 may be accessed. As shown, the opening 180 is substantially rectangular in shape and slopes downwards from the hinge line 150 to the cut line 160. The opening 180 is formed between the horizontal cut line 160, the front and rear sloping cut lines 170 and the hinge line and is defined by regions removed from the major lateral walls 90, 100, the minor lateral wall 11 OR and the top wall 130, the walls of the lid 1 40R corresponding to the removed regions.

The opening 180 defines a direction for the removal of the smoking articles 5, i.e: in the example depicted in Figure 1-7, the smoking articles 5 may be gripped or pinched on their exposed areas and then removed upwardly, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the top wall 60 of the outer shell 20 through the top of each compartment 30L, 30R.

As shown in Figure 4, the inner shell 30 is slideable relative to the outer shell 20 through the open end 80R between the closed position of Figure 1, in which the hinge lines 150 are covered by the outer shell 20 and the hinged lids 140 are held closed, and the position of Figure 4, in which the hinge line 150 of the right compartment 30R is outside the edge of the right open end 80R of the outer shell so that the right hinged lid 140R may be opened.

With the package in the closed position shown in Figure 1, a user may access the hinged lid 140R of the right compartment by holding the outer shell 20 and pushing the minor lateral wall 11 OL of the left compartment 30L leftwardly, thereby causing the left compartment 30L to slide into the open end 80L and causing the right compartment 30R to slide out of the open end 80R. The user may then access the smoking articles in the right compartment 30R by opening the hinged lid 140R.

As shown in Figure 5, as a result of the stiffness of the cardboard of the pack, once the hinged lid 140R has been opened and released, it will not fall immediately back into its closed state, but will instead remain at least partially open. When the user wishes to close the pack, he may do so by holding the outer shell 20 and pushing the minor lateral wall 11 OR of the right compartment to the left, thereby causing the right compartment 30R to slide into the open end 80R and causing the upper wall 180 of the open hinged lid 1 40R to push against the top wall 60 of the outer shell 20 so that the hinged lid 140R closes.

Similarly, the inner shell 30 is slideable relative to the outer shell 20 through the open end 80L between the closed position of Figure 1 and the position of Figure 6, in which the hinge line 150 of the left compartment 30L is outside of the edge of the left open end 80L of the outer shell so that the left hinged lid 140L may be opened.

Thus, starting from the closed position shown in Figure 1, a user may access the hinged lid of the left compartment by sliding the right compartment 30R into the open end 80R so that the left compartment 30L slides out of the open end 80L.

The user may then access the smoking articles in the left compartment by opening the hinged lid 140L. When a cigarette has been removed, the user may slide the eft compartment into the open end 80L so that the hinged lid 140L is closed by the top wall 60 of the outer shell 20.

Figures 8 and 9 show a blank assembly that is used to form the example of the package depicted in Figure 1 to 7.

For simplicity, the panels of the blank assembly have been designated with the same reference numerals as the walls that they respectively form in the assembled pack. Thus, the "walls" in Figure 1 to 7 are denoted as "panels" in Figures 8 and 9, e.g: the front major lateral wall 40 of Figures 1 to 7 corresponds to the front major lateral panel 40 of Figure 8. Also, the compartments 30L, 30R in Figures 1 to 7 are denoted as compartment blanks 30L, 30R in Figures 8 and 9, and likewise "outer shell 20/outer shell blank 20".

In addition to the walls/panels already described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, the outer shell blank 20 has a flap Ti depending from front major lateral panel and joined thereto along a fold line. The flap Ti has similar dimensions to Jo the bottom end panel 70.

Each compartment blank 30L, 30R has a respective flap T2 located laterally adjacent to the front major lateral panels 90. As shown in Figure 9, the flaps T2 are of approximately the same width and height as the minor lateral panels 11 0L, 110R. The front major lateral panels 90 also have tabs T3 and T4 formed as extensions thereof and depending from their lower and upper edges respectively.

The panels of the outer shell and compartment blanks are defined by crease/fold lines (shown in dashed lines in Figures 8 and 9), which makes the blanks easier to fold in a pre-determined manner. Optionally, in embodiments where the blanks are intended to be formed into a package with at least one non-square edge, single crease lines of Figures 8 and 9 could be replaced by a plurality of crease lines, located adjacent to each other and close together, thus facilitating the formation of a rounded edge. Alternative edges shapes are envisaged and will be within the understanding of the skilled person.

The sloping and hori2ontal cut lines 160, 170 of the hinged lids of the eventual pack are shown as solid lines 160, 170 in Figure 9. The hinge line 150 is defined by crease/fold lines 171, 172 in the tab T4 and the upper wall 130.

A respective locking means is provided for each compartment 30L, 30R, for limiting the movement of the inner shell 30 relative to the outer shell 20, thereby defining a fully open position (shown in Figures 4 and 6), beyond which further movement of the inner shell 30 is restricted or prevented. In the depicted example, each locking means comprises two pairs of co-operating tongues. It will be understood that alternative embodiments of the present invention may provide a locking means comprising one pair of co-operating tongues for each compartment 30L, 30R.

One pair of co-operating tongues 190, 200 will now be described in detail.

A first tongue 190a is provided on the outer shell 20, as a left lateral extension of, and depending along a fold line from, the front major lateral wall 40. The -10 -first tongue 190a is folded inside the outer shell 20, so that it is not visible from the outside of the package 10.

A second co-operating tongue 190b is provided on the left compartment 30L.

The second tongue 190b comprises part of the front major lateral wall 90 of the left compartment 30L. Specifically, the second tongue 190b is defined by a c-shaped cut out C in the front major lateral wall 90; the cut-out C encircling the second tongue 190b. The ends of the c-shape are located along the edge that connect the front major lateral wall 90 with the tab T2. Hence, the second tongue 190b is provided in the front major lateral wall 90 adjacent to the "trailing end" of the left compartment 30L, the trailing end being defined with respect to the direction of opening of the package 10.

The tongues 190a, 190b interlock when the inner shell 30 is in the fully open position of Figure 6, with the second tongue 190b being held by the folded first tongue 190a that lies within the outer shell 20.

A second pair of co-operating tongues 200a, 200b is provided in a similar manner. The first tongue 200a is provided a right lateral extension of the front major lateral wall 40 of the outer shell 20. The first tongue 200a engages with another second tongue 200b, which comprises part of the front major lateral wall of the right compartment 30R of the inner shell 30. The tongues 200a and 200b are mirror images of the tongues 190a and 190b and connect in the same way. Whilst this may be preferred from a manufacturing perspective, it is within the scope of the invention to have first co-operating tongues which are of a different configuration than the second co-operating tongues.

Further pairs of co-operating tongues 210a, 210b, 220a, 220b, are provided for each compartment 30L, 30R, each pair of co-operating tongues being provided on adjacent lateral surfaces of the outer and inner shell 20, 30. Specifically, the tongue pairs 190a, 190b, 210a, 210b, limit leftwards movement of the inner shell -11 - 30, and the tongue pairs 200a, 200b, 220a, 220b limit rightwards movement of the inner shell 30.

Referring now to Figures 10, 11, a method of forming a package from the blank assembly of Figures 8 and 9 will now be described.

As apparatus for assembling the package from the blank assembly typically comprises at least two units, e.g: at least two machines. Although not specifically shown, their design and function can be implied from Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 10 shows the formation of the inner shell 30 from the compartment blanks. For simplicity, only the formation of the left compartment 30L of the inner shell 30 will be described, the right compartment 30R being formed with the same steps and the inner shell being formed by adhesively fixing the left and right compartments to one another back to back. It should be noted that the compartment blank stacks 30L, 30R in Figure 10 are shown reverse side up, with respect to the view shown in Figure 9.

In a first step, a line of glue G is applied to minor lateral panel 11OR. The compartment blank 30L is then folded along the crease line between the minor lateral panel 11OR and the rear major lateral panel 100, and along the crease line between the front major lateral panel 90 and the minor lateral panel 11OL. The front major lateral panel 90 and the flap T2 are then pushed flat to lie directly on top of the rear maj or lateral panel 100 and the minor lateral panel 11 OL. The minor lateral panel 11 OR is then pushed flat on top of the flap T2 (glue side down), so that the flap T2 adheres to the minor lateral panel 11OR. The compartment 30L is then expanded from its flattened form into a box shape.

The flap T3 is then folded inwardly 90 degress. The compartment 30L is then charged with a bundle of smoking articles 5 such that the bundle, which may be wrapped in an inner foil, rests on flaps T3. Glue is then applied to the @n the drawings) underside of the bottom panel 120. The bottom panel 120 is then folded inwardly so as to adhere to the folded flaps T3. Alternatively, the compartment 30L may be charged with a bundle of smoking articles 5 once bottom panel 120 has been folded so as to adhere to flap T3. Once the smoking articles have been loaded into the package, the flapT4 is folded inwardly 90 degrees and glue is applied to the underside of the top panel 130. The top panel 130 is then folded inwardly so as to adhere to the folded flaps T4. The crease lines 171, 172 in the tab T4 and the upper wall 130 are thus aligned, thereby forming the hinge line 150 of the hinged lid 140L.

Referring now to Figure 11, to form the outer shell, the tongues 1 90a, 200a, 210a, 220a, are folded inwardly through almost 180 degrees and a line of glue is applied to the bottom end panel 70. Bottom end panel 70 is then folded through degrees along a fold line between end panel 70 and rear major panel 50. A further fold is then made along the fold line between the front major panel 40 and top end panel 60. The front major panel 40 and the flap Ti are folded through 180 degress so as to lie flat directly on top of the top end panel 60 and the rear major panel 50. The bottom end panel 70 is then folded through a further 90 degress, glue side down, onto the flap Ti, which adheres thereto. The outer shell 20 is then expanded for its flattened form into a box shape.

Referring to Figures 10 and ii, to assemble the pack 10, a line of glue is applied to the right minor lateral wall ii OR of the assembled left compartment 30L and the compartments 30L, 30R are then pushed into respective ends of the outer shell 20 until they meet back-to-back in a central region thereof so that they become adhesively fixed to one another to form the inner shell 30. Of course, a line of glue could alternatively, or in addition, be applied to the left minor lateral wall ii OL of the assembled right compartment 30R before pushing the compartments 30L, 30R together inside the outer shell 20.

A suitable apparatus can be used to assemble the package 10 in the steps set out below. The inner shell compartments could be formed by a first machine, the outer shell by a second machine and the assembly of the pack could be performed by a third machine. Alternatively, the second machine could also -13 -perform the assembly of the pack. Further alternatively, all assembly steps could be taken by a single machine. Alternatively, some or all assembly steps could be done by hand. Alternatively, a different folding method may be employed. For example, all of the folds could be made in a first step, followed by a gluing and assembly second step. Folding of the blanks is prefereably undertaken at folding stations by plunge folding means. Alternatively, the inner and outer shells may be formed about an arbour as will be known in the art.

According to the example given above, each of the two compartments of the inner shell provides a discrete space for smoking articles. These articles can be wrapped (e.g: with metallised paper wrappers). Thus, whilst the smoking articles in one of the inner shells are being consumed, the smoking articles in the other are protected from environmental factors. Different types of products could be provided in each inner shell, these different products being easily selectable by the consumer.

It is not essential for the inner shell to have left and right compartments.

Alternatively, the package may comprise a single inner shell having a single compartment for containing the smoking articles. In this case, the inner shell may be slid to the left or to the right relative to the outer shell in the manner described above with reference to the package 10.

Furthermore, it is not essential for the inner shell to have two access openings or two hinged lids. Alternatively, the inner shell could have a single access opening for accessing the smoking articles and a single hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when closed.

Alternatively, the package may comprise two inner shells which are independently moveable and independently slideable relative to the outer shell Jo through the open ends.

Figure 12 show one such package 230. The package 230 has left 240 and right inner shells 250 which are independently movable with respect to the outer shell 260. The left and right inner shells 240,250 are the same as the left and right compartments 30L, 30R of the inner shell 30 of the package 10 with the exception that the shells 240,250 are not joined together and are free to move independently with respect to one another and with respect to the outer shell 260. As shown in Figure 13, the left inner shell 230 has a hinged lid 270 in an upper left region of the shell and the right inner shell 240 has a hinged lid 280 in an upper right region of the shell.

The front and rear major lateral walls of the outer shell 260 of the package 230 each have two recesses R to assist gripping of the inner shells when the package is in the dosed position. Thus, a user may slide one or both inner shells relative to the outer shell to access the hinged lids. Figure 13 shows the package 230 in a configuration in which the left inner shell has been positioned to the left with respect to the outer shell and the right inner shell has been positioned to the right with respect to the outer shell. A user may access the smoking articles in the left or right inner shells by opening the hinged lids. Furthermore, a user may dose one or both compartments by sliding the compartments into the outer shell in the manner described above with reference to the package 10.

Many other modifications and variations will be evident to those skilled in the art, that fall within the scope of the following rl*ims:

Claims

-15 -Claims 1. A package for tobacco industry products, comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, the inner shell comprising an access opening for accessing the tobacco industry products and a hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when closed, wherein the inner shell is slidable relative to the outer shell and the package is thereby slidably adjustable between: a first position in which the hinged lid is openable; and a second position in which the hinged lid is held closed by the outer shell.
2. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 1, wherein the hinged lid can be closed by slidably adjusting the package from the first position to the second position.
3. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 2, wherein the outer shell has a top wall and wherein the hinged lid is arranged so that the lid is closed by the top wall upon sliding the package from the first position to the second position.
4. A package according to any preceding claim, wherein the tobacco industry products are smoking articles.
5. A package for smoking articles according to claim 4, wherein the inner shell comprises a minor lateral wall and wherein the access opening is arranged such that the height of said minor lateral wall is shorter than the length of a smoking article.
6. A package for tobacco industry products according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner shell comprises a plurality of access openings for accessing the tobacco industry products and a plurality of hinged lids arranged to cover the access openings when closed.

-16 -
7. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 6, wherein the hinged lids are symmetrically arranged at opposing upper end regions of the inner shell.
8. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the inner shell has a plurality of compartments.
9. A package for tobacco industry products according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the package comprises a plurality of inner shells, each inner shell having an access opening and a hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when closed.
10. A package for smoking articles according to claim 9, wherein each inner shell comprises a minor lateral wall and wherein the access openings are arranged such that height of each minor lateral wall is shorter than the length of a smoking article.
11. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the plurality of inner shells are longitudinally arranged within the outer shell.
12. A package according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein each inner shell is independently slidable relative to the outer shell.
13. A package for tobacco industry products according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the hinged lid of a first of said inner shells is arranged at an end region of the upper portion of said first inner shell; and Jo the hinged lid of a second of said inner shells is arranged at an end region of the upper portion of said second inner shell; -17 -
14. A package for tobacco industry products according to any of claims 6 to 13, the package being slidably adjustable to a third position in which one of the hinged lids is openable, wherein the hinged lid which is openable in the third position is different to the hinged lid which is openable in the first position, and wherein in the second position, all of the hinged lids are held closed by the outer shell.
15. A package for tobacco industry products according to claim 14, wherein the hinged lid which is openable in the third position can be closed by slidably adjusting the package from the third position to the second position
16. A package for tobacco industry products according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the hinged lids are symmetrically arranged at opposing upper end regions of the inner shells.
17. A package for tobacco industry products according to any preceding claim, wherein the outer shell comprises two major lateral walls, two minor lateral walls, a first open end and a second open end.
18. An assembly of blanks for a tobacco industry product package comprising: an outer shell blank; and one or more inner shell blanks, wherein the one or more inner shell blanks are formable into one or more inner shells, the one or more inner shells comprising: one or more access openings for accessing the tobacco industry products; and one or more hinged lids arranged to respectively cover one or more of said access openings when closed.
19. An assembly of blanks according to rl*im 18, wherein the one or more inner shell blsnks have a plurality of cut lines which form the one or more hinged lids when the one or more inner shells are formed.
20. An apparatus for assembling a package, the apparatus being adapted to receive a stack of inner shell blanks and a stack of outer shell blanks and to assemble a package so as to provide: an outer shell; and an inner shell, said inner shell comprising: an access opening for accessing the tobacco industry products; and a hinged lid arranged to cover said access opening when dosed; wherein the inner shell is slidable relative to the outer shell and the package is thereby slidably adjustable between: a first position in which the hinged lid is openable; and a second position in which the hinged lid is held dosed by the outer shell.
21. A method of making a package for tobacco industry products, comprising the steps of: providing an outer shell blank and an inner shell blank; and assembling the package so as to provide: an outer shell; and an inner shell, said inner shell comprising: an access opening for accessing the tobacco industry products; and a hinged lid arranged to cover the access opening when dosed; wherein the inner shell is slidable relative to the outer shell and the package is thereby slidably adjustable between: a first position in which the hinged lid is openable; and a second position in which the hinged lid is held dosed by the outer shell.