WO2016005595A1

WO2016005595A1 - Container for consumer articles comprising an inner tray element

Info

Publication number: WO2016005595A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/065906
Authority: WO
Inventors: David PITTON
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2014-07-11
Filing date: 2015-07-10
Publication date: 2016-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-11
Also published as: EP3166857A1

Abstract

The method for preparing a container for consumer articles, comprises the steps of providing an inner tray element having at least one enclosing means for holding a collation of consumer articles and confining the consumer articles to a holding area, placing consumer articles within the at least one holding area, optionally wrapping the inner tray element holding the consumer articles with an inner liner, placing the filled inner tray element on a blank and folding the blank around the filled inner tray element to obtain a container. The container has a box portion comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls which extend between the front wall and the rear wall. The cross-section of the at least one holding area is at least 10 percent smaller than the cross-section of the box portion of the container. At least one of the outer dimensions of the inner tray element correspond with the inner dimensions of the box portion of the container, such that the inner tray element holding the collation of consumer articles can be placed within the container and holds the collation of consumer articles in a stable position The invention also relates to a container obtainable by this method.

Description

CONTAINER FOR CONSUMER ARTICLES COMPRISING AN INNER TRAY ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a novel container for housing consumer articles. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing this novel container. The containers of the present invention find particular application as containers for elongate consumer articles.

It is known to package consumer articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate consumer articles such as cigarettes and cigars are commonly sold in rigid box shaped containers. These containers can be hinged lid containers having a box portion with a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the container. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and provide access to the smoking articles held in the box. In some cases, the container further includes an inner frame partly wrapped around the consumer articles. This may provide further rigidity to the container as well as protect the consumer articles. In cases where the inner frame extends above an upper edge of the box portion, the inner frame typically also provides a surface against which the lid can close.

US 1 674 775 discloses a slide-and-shell carton for cigarettes and matches. In order to increase stability of the carton during transport, and in order to prevent spontaneous combustion of the matches, a stiffener is provided that supports the walls of the carton. This document is silent on the details of the manufacturing method. The shape of the disclosed stiffeners suggests that the cigarettes are placed in the container after the container has been folded and after the stiffener has been inserted into the container.

FR 2 445 276 discloses a slide-and-shell carton for cigars. The slide comprises additional flaps that can be folded to reduce the available space for holding the cigars. This document is silent on the details of the manufacturing method. Typically these cigar cartons are first folded and than filled with cigars.

WO 01/15975 A2 disclosed a manufacturing method for cigarette soft packs in which collation of cigarettes are placed on a tray element and are subsequently sealingly enclosed with a wrapper section. Due to the tray element the cigarette pack has a somewhat increased rigidity than conventional soft packs and is therefore also referred to as semi-rigid pack. The tray element does not define a holding area having a reduced size.

GB 366,662 discloses a slide-and-shell container for cigarettes in which the cross section of the slide corresponds to the cross section of the shell. During manufacturing of the container, the shell blank is provided first, and the slide blank is positioned on top of the shell blank. Both blanks are partially folded to define a receiving section for the cigarettes. After the cigarettes are filled into the receiving section, the slide blank and subsequently the shell blank are folded around the collation of cigarettes.

There is a need to provide containers with an internal volume that is bigger in size than the volume occupied by the consumer articles they hold. This excess internal volume may result in articles being displaced or shaken within the container during transport of the unopened container. The consumer articles are free to move around and may easily be shaken during transport of the container. In the case of cigarettes, this may cause some loose tobacco material to fall out the tobacco rods or the breakage of some cigarettes.

It is therefore desirable to provide an improved container for consumer articles such that the consumer articles are effectively held within a given section of the internal volume of the container. This is especially desirable when the volume occupied by the consumer articles is smaller than the inside volume of the containers which are used, or required, for packaging.

The subject invention is directed to a method for preparing a container for consumer articles. The method comprises the steps of providing an inner tray element having at least one enclosing means for holding a collation of consumer articles and confining the consumer articles to a holding area, placing consumer articles within the at least one holding area, optionally wrapping the inner tray element holding the consumer articles with an inner liner, placing the filled inner tray element on a blank, and folding the blank around the filled inner tray element to obtain the container. The container has a box portion comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls which extend between the front wall and the rear wall. The cross-section of the at least one holding area is at least 10 percent smaller than the cross-section of the box portion of the container. At least one of the outer dimensions of the inner tray element correspond with the inner dimensions of the box portion of the container, such that the inner tray element holding the collation of consumer articles can be placed within the container and holds the collation of consumer articles in a stable position

According to the invention there is provided a container for consumer articles. The container comprises a box portion comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The container further comprises a removable inner tray element having at least one enclosing means for holding a collation of consumer articles and confining the consumer articles to a holding area. The cross-sectional area of the at least one holding area is at least 10 percent smaller than the cross-sectional area of the box portion of the container. At least one of the outer dimensions of the inner tray element corresponds to the inner dimensions of the box portion of the container. When the inner tray element holding the collation of consumer articles is placed within the container the collation of consumer articles is held at a stable position within the container. The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "above", "below", "side", "lateral", "top", "bottom" and other terms used to describe relative positions of the components of containers according to the invention refer to the container in an upright position with an open end of the box portion at the top and the consumer goods accessible from the upper end at the front. The terms "side" and "lateral" are used with reference to side walls of the container when the container is viewed from the front in its upright position.

It shall be understood that, in addition, an element of the container may enclose the group of consumer articles over only a part of their length. For example, the receiving portion of the inner frame may enclose only three sides of a bottom section of the group of consumer articles. Of these three sides, at least two are substantially parallel to each other, for example the three sides may be defined by a front wall and two side walls.

The term "stable position" as used throughout this specification is used to describe a condition wherein, during regular use or shipping of the container according to the invention, a consumer article is confined substantially firmly in a predetermined position with respect to the container. Holding the consumer articles at a "stable position" further means that the consumer articles are prevented from being displaced during normal handling or transport of the unopened container.

The term "curved" used in this specification refers to any line which is not straight. In a container according to the invention, the additional element is shaped such as to conveniently at least partially enclose a number of consumer articles such that the overall volume occupied by the consumer articles is smaller than the whole internal volume available inside the box portion. Preferably, when the volume of the container is reduced so is the cross-sectional area of the container.

The expression that at least one dimension of the inner tray element corresponds to the inner dimensions of the box portion of the container, is to be understood in that way that the inner tray element can be placed within the box portion of the container, such that at least parts of the outer walls of the inner tray element are adjacent to parts of the inner walls of the box portion, thereby holding the inner tray element at a fixed position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cross-sectional area of the at least one holding area of the tray is at least 20 percent, and preferably at least 40 percent smaller than the cross sectional area of the box portion of the container. The holding area can consist of one continuous area. Depending on the form of the inner tray element, the holding area may also consist of two three or more separated holding areas.

The inner tray element may comprise an inner tray rear wall and inner tray side walls. Optionally the inner tray element also comprises an inner tray bottom wall. Use of an inner tray bottom wall can assist in maintaining the inner tray element side walls in the desired orientation with respect to the inner tray rear wall. The inner tray rear wall may have one or more cutouts at the upper end in order to facilitate removal of consumer articles from the container.

In a simplified embodiment the inner tray element may consist only of an inner tray rear wall and inner tray side walls, each comprising creasing lines along which the inner tray element can be folded to establish a holding area with reduced cross section.

The enclosing means for forming the at least one holding area with reduced cross- section may comprise rounded or chevron shaped sections or combinations thereof. Preferably the cross section of the at least one holding area is triangular, rectangular, trapezoid, semicircular or comprises combinations thereof. The enclosing means can also consist of a standard tray being provided with one or more creasing lines, along which the tray is to be folded. When folded folded along the creasing lines, the standard tray is deformed to form at least one holding area with reduced cross-section.

Preferably the inner tray element is formed from a single blank and the enclosing means comprise one or more of additional flaps, partial foldings and full length foldings for reducing the cross-section of the at least one holding area as compared to the cross section of the box portion.

The material of the inner tray element can be paper, cardboard, plastic, thermoformed plastic or molded plastic material. The inner tray element can be open on one or more faces, or can be closed or sealed.

Preferably the inner tray element is wrapped in an inner liner forming a wrapped collation of consumer articles. In this way the consumer articles are more firmly held within the holding area. In addition handling of the wrapped collation during manufacture of the container is simplified.

Preferably the inner tray element can either be pre-formed, that is, can be formed in a separate machine and is provided in the desired shape at the desired position to the packaging line. Alternatively, the inner tray element can be formed on-line during packaging of the consumer articles. In the latter method blanks for forming the inner tray element are provided to the packaging line and the inner tray element is formed during the packaging process from these blanks.

The inner tray element may be preferably formed from a standard tray blank, which is provided with one or more additional creasing lines such that the by folding the inner tray element along the one or more additional creasing lines the cross-section of the at least one holding area is reduced.

In further embodiments, the inner tray element can be formed from a standard tray blank which is provided with an additional flap provided at least at one of the front edges of the inner tray side walls. By folding the at least one additional flap towards the rear wall of the inner tray element, a holding area having triangular or trapezoidal shape is obtained. The cross-section of this holding area is reduced compared to the cross-section of the box portion of the container. Preferably one additional flap is provided at each front edge of the inner tray side walls. The flaps preferably have an identical length. When folded toward the inner tray rear wall, the free edges preferably meet at the centre of the inner tray back wall to form a symmetrical triangular holding area.

In a further embodiment the tray blank comprises a central creasing line. By folding the tray blank along the central creasing line a chevron shaped tray element with two separated holding areas, located on either side of the central creasing line is obtained.

The inner tray element may be provided with any desired additional protrusions or embossed elements, which are suitable as enclosing means for holding a collation of consumer articles and confining these articles in a holding area such that a holding area with reduced cross section is obtained. For example the inner tray element may be provided with enclosing means having curved portions for forming a holding area having an at least partially curved perimeter. Preferably the curved portions are provided at the side walls of the tray element and have a radius that corresponds to the depth of the inner tray element.

The method may further comprise the additional step of changing the form of the tray after the tray has been at least partially filled with consumer articles. For example a tray can be filled with a first plurality of consumer products, then the tray is folded to reduce the holding area and finally a further plurality of consumer products is added.

The method for forming the container of the present invention can be used with a variety of existing packaging machinery. If a conventional Focke or GIMA packaging equipment is used the inner tray element may be directly introduced under the cigarette hopper to be filled with the desired number of cigarettes. The filled inner tray element is then transported via the cigarette collation conveyer to the further downstream process to eventually form the container around the inner tray element. Optionally, the inner tray element can be wrapped with an inner liner before the container is formed.

In packaging processes where GD packaging equipment is used, the inner tray element can be introduced on the so-called "pocket belt", and is then forwarded to further downstream packaging processes. The inner tray element is then filled with cigarettes optionally wrapped with an inner liner and formed into a container.

In either way of the above described methods the inner tray element can be easily included in a cigarette container manufacturing process. Only slight adaption of the existing packaging machinery is required in order to facilitate manufacture of the container of the present invention comprising an inner tray element. ln any of the embodiments described above, the container is preferably filled with elongate smoking articles, such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes, with diameters for the cigarettes ranging from 4 millimeters to 9 millimeters. However, containers in accordance with the present invention can also be used with a variety of consumer goods other than smoking articles.

Containers in accordance with the present invention may be of a hinged lid design such that the container comprises a lid pivotable along a hinge line, between a closed position and an open position in which consumer goods can be removed from the container. In these embodiments, the hinge lid may be pivotable along a hinge line extending across the rear wall of the box portion, such that the lid also includes a portion of the rear wall.

As well as hinged lid containers, the skilled person will appreciate that the present invention can be applied to containers of alternative design, such as soft packs, that is containers comprising a box portion constructed from a laminar blank made of a thinner, more easily deformable material, such as, for example, paper. Further, the present invention may be conveniently applied to containers having a sliding mechanism for opening the container.

Containers according to the invention will typically be assembled in the conventional way, by folding one or more laminar blanks around the consumer goods and sealing overlying panels of the laminar blanks together in order to retain the container in the assembled shape. This may be achieved using conventional glues or adhesives.

Containers according to the invention may comprise box portions in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the box portion may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the container according to the invention may comprise, without limitation:

- one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.

- one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall, and/or one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the back wall.

- one longitudinal rounded edge and one longitudinal bevelled edge on the front wall, and/or one transverse rounded edge and one transverse bevelled edge on the back wall.

- one or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall and one or two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on the front wall.

- two longitudinal rounded or bevelled edges on a first side wall or two transverse rounded or bevelled edges on the second side wall. Where the container comprises one or more rounded edges and is made from one or more laminar blanks, preferably the blanks comprise three, four, five, six or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced from each other by between about 0.3 millimetre and 4 millimetre.

Preferably, the spacing of the creasing lines or scoring lines is a function of the thickness of the laminar blank. Preferably, the spacing between the creasing lines or scoring lines is between about 0.5 and about 4 times larger than the thickness of the laminar blank.

Where the box portion of the container comprises one or more bevelled edge, preferably the bevelled edge has a width of between about 1 millimetre and about 10 millimetre, preferably between about 2 and about 6 millimetre. Alternatively, the container may comprise a double bevel formed by three parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two distinct bevels are formed on the edge of the container.

Where the box portion of the container comprises a bevelled edge and is made from one or more laminar blanks, the bevel may be formed by two parallel creasing lines or scoring lines in the laminar blank. The creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged symmetrically to the edge between a first wall and a second wall. Alternatively, the creasing lines or scoring lines may be arranged asymmetrically to the edge between the first wall and the second wall, such that the bevel reaches further into the first wall of the container than into the second wall of the container.

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions of the box portion, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold different total numbers of smoking articles, or different arrangements of smoking articles. For example, through an appropriate choice of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and twenty smoking articles.

Containers according to the present invention may hold smoking articles of the same type or brand, or of different types or brands. In addition, both filterless smoking articles and smoking articles with various filter tips may be contained, as well as smoking articles of differing length (for example, between about 40 millimeter and about 180 millimeter), diameter (for example, between about 4 millimeter and about 9 millimeter). In addition, the smoking articles may differ in strength of taste, resistance to draw and total particulate matter delivery.

The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention may be such that, in the closed position, the resultant overall dimensions of the container are similar to the dimensions of a typical disposable hinge-lid pack of twenty cigarettes. Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 millimeter and about 150 millimeter, more preferably a height of between about 70 millimeter and about 125 millimeter, wherein the height is measured from the top wall to the bottom wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 millimeter and about 150 millimeter, more preferably a width of between about 70 millimeter and about 125 millimeter, wherein the width is measured from one side wall to the other side wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a depth of between about 6 millimeter and about 100 millimeter, more preferably a depth of between about 12 millimeter and about 25 millimeter wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container (comprising the hinge between box and lid).

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the container to the depth of the container is in between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 3 to 1 and 5 to 1 .

Preferably, the ratio of the width of the container to the depth of the container is between about 0.3 to 1 and about 10 to 1 , more preferably between about 2 to 1 and about 8 to 1 , most preferably between about 2 to 1 and 3 to 1.

Containers according to the invention may be shrink-wrapped or otherwise over wrapped with a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof in a conventional manner. Where containers according to the invention are over wrapped, the over wrapper may include one or more tear tapes. In addition, the over wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data. The additional outer wrapper may advantageously protect the surface of the container for example against abrasion during handling.

As well as housing a group of smoking articles, the container may further comprise other consumer goods, for example matches, lighters, extinguishing means, breath-fresheners or electronics. The other consumer goods may be attached to the outside of the container, contained within the container along with the smoking articles, in a separate compartment of the container or combinations thereof.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trademarks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a container according to the present invention comprising an inner frame, an inner liner and an inner tray element holding consumer articles, wherein the inner tray element is folded along folding lines in such way that a triangular tray area having a smaller cross section is formed;

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of an inner tray element of the present invention, wherein additional flaps are provided which are folded towards the centre of the inner tray element in such way that a triangular tray area having a smaller cross section is formed;

Figure 3 shows further embodiments of inner tray element of the present invention, wherein the inner tray element comprises additional embossed elements.

In Figure 1 a, an inner tray element 10 comprising inner tray rear wall 12 and inner tray side walls 14 is depicted. The dimensions of the inner tray walls 12,14 shown in Figure 1 a correspond to the inner dimensions of a conventional cigarette container. The consumer articles to be packaged in the container in this example are 20 cigarettes. The space required by the 20 cigarettes is considerably smaller than the available holding area 16a of the inner tray element 10 in Figure 1 a.

By providing creasing lines 18 at each of the inner tray side walls 14 of the inner tray element 10, and a central creasing line 20 in the inner tray rear wall 12 the inner tray element 10 may be folded into a tray element having the shape as illustrated in Figure 1 b. The cross- section of the holding area 16b of the tray element 10 of Figure 1 b is significantly reduced compared to the cross-section of the holding area 16a of the inner tray element 10 of Figure 1 a. In this example the enclosing means consist of the standard tray blank comprising the creasing lines along which the standard tray blank is to be folded.

The reduced cross-section of the holding area 16b of the inner tray element 10 of Figure

1 b has a size which is suitable to hold the 20 cigarettes to be packaged in a corresponding container in a stable position. Thus, in the sealed container the 20 cigarettes to be packaged are prevented from freely moving or shaking in during transport or normal handling of the cigarette container. Even after opening and as long as only some of the cigarettes are removed from the container, the remaining cigarettes are still prevented considerably from being displaced.

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the invention in which a tray element 10 is used which differs from the tray element 10 shown in Figure 1 in that one additional flap 32 is provided at the front edge 30 of each of the inner tray side walls 14. As shown in Figure 2b these additional flaps are folded towards the inner tray rear wall to define a triangular holding area 16b. ln Figure 3a a further embodiment of the description is depicted. The rear wall 12 of the inner tray element 10 is provided with a central creasing line 20. The width of the unfolded inner tray rear wall 12 is larger than the width of the rear wall of the box portion of the cigarette container. By folding the inner tray rear wall 12 as depicted in Figure 3a, the width of the inner tray element 10 is reduced to correspond to the dimensions of the box portion of the cigarette container. Between the central fold of the inner tray back wall 12 and the inner tray side walls 14 two triangular holding areas 16b are formed. The total cross section of these holding areas 16b is sufficient to hold 20 cigarettes at a stable position.

Figure 3b shows a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment additional flaps 42 are provided at each front edge 30 of the inner tray side walls 14. The additional flaps 42 are folded towards the center of the inner tray element 10 and parallel to the inner tray rear wall 12. At the free edges 40 of each additional flap 42 a concave flap 44 is provided. The concave flaps 44 are formed such that their free ends 46 meet adjacent to center of the inner tray rear wall 12. The curved side walls of the concave flaps 44 have a radius that corresponds to the depth of the inner tray element 10. Thus, the concave flaps 44 define a holding area 16b having a semi-circular cross-section. Again the cross-section of the semicircular holding area is suitable to hold 20 cigarettes at a stable position.

Claims

1 . A method for preparing a container for consumer articles, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an inner tray element having at least one enclosing means for holding a collation of consumer articles and confining the consumer articles to a holding area,

(b) placing consumer articles within the at least one holding area

(c) optionally wrapping the inner tray element holding the consumer articles with an inner liner

(d) placing the filled inner tray element on a blank

(e) folding the blank around the filled inner tray element to obtain a container, comprising a box portion comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls which extend between the front wall and the rear wall,

wherein the cross-section of the at least one holding area is at least 10 percent smaller than the cross-section of the box portion of the container, and

wherein at least one of the outer dimensions of the inner tray element correspond with the inner dimensions of the box portion of the container, such that the inner tray element holding the collation of consumer articles can be placed within the container and holds the collation of consumer articles in a stable position.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the inner tray element is preformed or formed on-line during packaging of the consumer articles.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner tray element is formed from a standard tray blank, which is provided with additional creasing lines such that by folding the tray along the additional creasing lines the cross-section of the at least one holding area is reduced.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner tray element is provided with one or more flaps which are folded toward the interior of the tray such that the cross-section of the at least one holding area is reduced.

5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner tray element is provided with one or more protrusions or embossed elements such that the cross-section of the at least one holding area is reduced.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the additional step of changing the form of the tray after the tray has been at least partially filled with consumer articles.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is used for packaging cigarettes.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the inner tray element is introduced under a cigarette hopper, is filled with cigarettes and is transported via a cigarette collation conveyer to a downstream packaging process or wherein the inner tray element is introduced on a pocket belt prior to further downstream packaging processes.

9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blank is folded to form a hinged lid container.

10. A container for consumer articles formed according to the method of claims 1 to 9, the container comprising:

a box portion comprising a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls which extend between the front wall and the rear wall;

an inner tray element which is removable from the container and which provides at least one enclosing means holding a collation of consumer articles and confining the consumer articles to a holding area,

wherein the cross-sectional area of the at least one holding area is at least 10 percent smaller than the cross sectional area of the box portion of the container, and

1 1 . A container according to claim 10, wherein the cross-sectional area of the at least one holding area is at least 20 percent, and preferably at least 40 percent smaller than the cross-sectional area of the box portion of the container.

12. A container according to any of claims 10 and 1 1 , wherein the enclosing means comprise rounded or chevron shaped sections or combinations thereof, and wherein the cross- section of the at least one holding area is preferably triangular, rectangular, trapezoid, semicircular or comprises combinations thereof.

13. A container according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the inner tray element is formed from a blank and comprises additional flaps, partial foldings or full length foldings, for reducing the cross-section of the at least one holding area as compared to the cross section of the box portion.

14. A container according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the inner tray element is made from paper, cardboard, plastic, thermoformed plastic or molded plastic.

15. A container according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein the inner tray element is open on one or more faces, is closed or sealed.

16. A container according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the inner tray element is wrapped in an inner liner.

17. A container according to any of claims 10 to 16, wherein the consumer articles are smoking articles.

18. A container for consumer articles, the container comprising: