The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods and to a blank for forming such container, which find particular application for holding consumer goods, such as smoking articles (for example cigarettes).

Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars are usually provided in soft-pack packs or hard-pack packs, such as flip-top boxes or hinge-lid boxes. These typically have a box part having a box front wall, a box rear wall, box side walls and a box base. They also usually have a lid part with a lid front wall, a lid rear wall, lid side walls and a lid top side. The lid part is typically hinged to the box part along a hinge line extending across a back wall of the container. The hinge line is usually provided as a pre-folded line, a crease line or a score line.

For hard-pack packs, it is known to round off or chamfer certain corners of the box and lid to give the container a distinctive appearance. This has typically been achieved in the past by providing creasing lines or scoring lines in the blank at the areas forming the edges of the container. These lines allow the blank to be folded in such a way that the corner does not sharply bend but instead progressively bends between two adjacent walls.

DE 10201 1 1 17302 discloses one such container, which is formed from a blank and comprises a front wall and a bottom wall, a left side wall and a right wall. The bottom wall depends from the front wall along a fold line. The left and right side walls are connected to the front wall by respective edge portions. The surface of the edge portions connecting the front wall to the side walls comprises a plurality of point-like embossments, such that through holes are effectively formed in the blank. This is so the edge portions of the blank connecting the front wall with the side walls are weakened, such that it is easier to give each edge portion a curved shape when folding the blank to form the container. This is exclusively limited to the edge portions of the container. Deformation of the edge portion of the blank occurs during forming of the container, and the consumer can easily detect the presence of the embossments in the finished container.

US 2008/02941 1 discloses a parallelepiped-shaped container for consumer articles, the container being formed from a blank and comprising a box portion and a hinge lid portion depending from a back wall of the box portion along a hinge line. The box portion also comprises a front wall, a bottom wall and two side walls extending between the front wall and the back wall. In the container of US 2008/02941 1 , the front wall and the back wall of the box portion may be formed from a single blank or from two separate blanks. The blank or blank portion comprising a panel for forming the back wall of the box portion further comprises a panel for forming a front cover hingedly depending from a side wall of the box portion. In the assembled container, the front cover is movable between a folded configuration, wherein the front cover substantially rests against the front wall of the box portion, and an unfolded configuration, wherein the front cover is substantially detached from the box portion. In an embodiment, a through hole is formed in the additional panel of the blank, such that, in the folded configuration, the surface of the front wall of the box portion is visible through the hole in the front cover. In another embodiment, one or more pre-cut lines are formed in the additional panel of the blank or in the front wall of the box portion or both, such that one or more portions of the additional panel or of the front wall of the box portion may be separated from the remainder of the blank and, as such, used to form a buildable item. In containers known from US 2008/02941 1 the pre-cut lines of the front wall are immediately and easily detectable for the consumer looking at the outer surface of the front wall of the finished container, so that it is easy for the consumer to identify the detachable portions. However, it would be desirable to provide a container for consumer goods that has a distinctive appearance, and provides the consumer with a novel visual and/or tactile perception. In particular, it would be desirable to provide a container for consumer goods with novel ways of displaying indicia such as text, images, letters, words, logos, patterns or the like. Likewise, it would be desirable to provide a container that, in addition or as an alternative, has a novel function that a user can interact with or activate. At the same time, it would be desirable that one such container be easy to assemble using standard packing apparatus and techniques, without the requirement for significant changes to existing machines and methods.

Further, it would be desirable to provide a blank for manufacturing one such container for consumer goods that makes the production and assembly process convenient and flexible.

According to the present invention, there is provided a container for consumer articles, the container being at least partially formed from a blank having a thickness (T), the blank defining a portion of the container, which comprises at least a first planar wall and one or more planar walls adjacent to the first planar wall. Each of the one or more adjacent planar walls is connected to the first planar wall by an edge portion or by a hinge portion. The inner surface of the first planar wall defines a first ablation area (A1 ) and the first ablation area (A1 ) comprises one or more first ablated zones having a residual thickness (RT1 ) that is less than the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. At least a portion of the one or more first ablated zones is spaced from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls.

In contrast to known containers, material is removed at specific locations within the portion of the blank that forms an inner area of a planar wall of the container. In more detail, material is removed within an ablation area that is spaced from all the edges of the planar wall. An edge of the planar wall may be defined by an edge portion of the container connecting the planar wall with an adjacent planar wall of the container arranged to form a fixed, predetermined angle with the planar wall. As an alternative, an edge of the planar wall may be defined by a hinge portion of the container connecting the planar wall with an adjacent planar wall of the container that is hingedly movable with respect to the planar wall.

The presence of ablated zones on the inner surface of the blank is not visually detectable for the consumer inspecting the container from the outside. However, when a load is exerted on the body of the container, regardless of whether the load is applied directly on the planar wall comprising the ablated zones or on another portion of the container, indicia in the planar wall corresponding to the ablated zones may become visually or tactilely detectable, or both for the consumer.

Thus, according to the present invention it is easy to form a container having a novel and distinctive appearance. When the consumer interacts with the container and applies a pressure on a container according to the present invention, a portion of the container is deflected and a portion of the total deflection is permanently absorbed by the reduced thickness portion of the ablation area, so that a trail corresponding the ablated zones becomes visible or tactilely detectable for the consumer. On the other hand, because the outer surface of the blank is unaffected by the ablation process, the outer surface of the newly assembled container can be substantially smooth upon initial visual and tactile inspection on the part of the consumer. Because a relatively small amount of material needs to be removed from the overall planar wall, the strength of the planar wall of the container may be substantially maintained, so that the appearance and resistance of the newly assembled container are both preserved.

The blank may conveniently be manufactured by precisely removing material from the inner surface of the planar wall with an ablation tool (e.g. laser, blade). Repeated passages of the ablation tool over a given portion of the blank results in the removal of a greater percentage of material, that is in a reduced residual thickness. The ablated zones may advantageously be arranged such as to form a great variety of patterns, shapes, logos, text and so forth. In addition, or as an alternative, the ablated zones may advantageously provide a novel way of marking and authenticating containers for consumer goods so that it can be checked that they have originated from a genuine source and are not a counterfeit product. By way of example, the ablated zones in the planar wall may be advantageously arranged to form an identification code, which may be associated with information regarding production and can be used to authenticate the goods in the container.

The term ' inner surface" is used throughout the specification to refer to the side of a portion of the blank that, once the container is assembled, faces towards the interior of the container, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is closed. Thus, the inner surface is not directly visible for the consumer when the container is closed. Likewise, the term "outer surface" is used throughout the specification to refer to the side of a portion of the blank that, once the container is assembled, faces towards the exterior of the container. The term "edge portion" is used herein to refer to an edge portion of the container connecting two adjacent walls forming a predetermined angle in the assembled container. In some embodiments, the edge portion may be substantially defined by a single fold. In other embodiments, the edge portion may have an arc- 1 ike shape as viewed in cross-section and defines a rounded edge of the container. By the term "arc-like", reference is made to any non- straight line, including circular arc, parabolic arc, hyperbolic arc, elliptical arc, etc. In other alternative embodiments, the edge portion may have a substantially straight shape as viewed in cross-section and defines a chamfered or bevelled edge of the container.

The term "hinge portion" is used herein to refer to a portion of the container hingedly connecting two adjacent walls such that, in the assembled container, one wall is pivotable relative to the other wall from a first configuration, wherein the two walls are substantially coplanar, to a second configuration, wherein the two walls form a non-null angle. In some embodiments, the term "hinge portion" refers in particular to a portion of the container about which a lid of the container may be pivoted in order to open the container.

In some embodiments, the hinge portion may substantially be defined by a single hinge line. A hinge line may be, for example, a pre-folded fold line or a score line in the blank panel forming a planar wall, such as for example the back wall, of the container. In other embodiments, the hinge portion may be comprised between a pair of hinge lines provided as pre-folded fold lines or score lines in the blank panel forming a planar wall, such as for example a pair of lines defining a lens-shaped hinge portion.

The term "ablation area" is used herein to refer to the minimum area of the blank that encloses all ablated zones on the planar wall.

The term "ablated zone" is used herein to refer to an area of the planar wall from which material has been ablated (e.g. removed by means of a laser beam or a blade) from a surface of the laminar blank or container. Accordingly, the residual thickness of an ablated zone is less than the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. The "thickness" (T) of the blank is the thickness of the blank after it has been manufactured, but before any ablations or creases have been formed in the blank. That is, the thickness (T) of the blank is the thickness in any region of the blank not containing an ablated zone or a crease line. In some preferred embodiments, an ablated zone may be provided as a groove within the blank. This may be formed with a linear ablation tool, such as a laser or a blade.

The term "residual thickness" is used herein to refer to the minimum distance measured between two opposite surfaces of the laminar blank or of a wall of the container formed from the blank. In practice, the distance at a given location is measured along a direction locally perpendicular to the opposite surfaces. The "residual thickness" of an ablated zone may be constant over the ablated zone if material is removed homogenously substantially all over the ablated zone (flat profile). Alternatively, the residual thickness of the ablated zone may vary across a width of the ablated zone, if material is removed non-homogeneously over the ablated zone (e.g. V-shaped, U-shaped grooves).

As used herein, the terms "front", "back ^" , "upper, "lower", "top", "bottom" and "side ^" , refer to the relative positions of portions of containers according to the invention and components thereof when the container is in an upright position with the lid of the outer housing in the closed position and the hinge line at the back of the container. When describing containers according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described.

The term "spring-back force" is a known term of art for referring to a particular property of a laminar blank. It is sometimes referred to as 'the crease recovery ^' and means the force (N) required to hold a scored sample that is folded at 90 degrees for a 15-second period. The measurement is made at the end of the 15-second period. The spring-back force of a portion of a laminar blank can be measured using a known PIRA Crease and Board Stiffness Tester (commercially available for example from Messmer and Buchel, UK). As is known in the art, to measure the spring-back force of a curved edge portion of a container, a sample of the portion to be tested should first be removed from the laminar blank. As shown in Figure 1 , for round corner packs, for the purposes of the present invention the spring-back force of a pack is assessed using a sample measuring 38±1 millimetres by 38±0.5 millimetres, with the corner forming portion being positioned 21 ±0.5 millimetres from one side of the blank (see also Figure 2). The blank should be conditioned at 22 degrees Celsius and 60 percent relative humidity for at least 24 hours prior to testing.

In its most general terms, a container according to the present invention is at least partially formed from a laminar blank having a thickness (T). The blank defines a portion of the container, which comprises at least a first planar wall. The container further comprises at least another planar wall adjacent the first planar wall and connected to the first planar wall by an edge portion or by a hinge portion. The inner surface of the first planar wall defines a first ablation area (A1 ), which comprises one or more first ablated zones having a residual thickness (RT1 ) less than the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. At least a portion of the one or more first ablated zones is arranged at a distance from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls.

Preferably, the one or more first ablated zones define areas of weakness, such that the container can deform reversibly under the action of a load applied on the container by a user, for example an inwardly directed compressive load. Upon deformation of the container, the first ablated zones become irreversibly detectable by sight or touch by the user, in particular when the container is closed. This is advantageous in that it provides a distinctive container with novel and unusual ways of displaying content to the user. At the same time, the deformation of the container may be associated with a further function of the container. By way of example, raising the bottom wall of the container with respect to a non-deformed configuration may raise the consumer goods within the container, such that the consumer can access them more easily.

In some embodiments, the one or more ablated zones become detectable by sight or touch by the user upon application of a compressive load on the first planar wall. This can advantageously provide a container wherein display of indicia or the activation of a function is closely associated with a particularly direct and personal interaction of the consumer with a surface of the container. In other embodiments, the one or more ablated zones become detectable by sight or touch by the user upon application of a compressive load on a planar wall adjacent to the first planar wall or on the edge portion or hinge portion connecting the first planar wall with an adjacent wall or on both. A particular advantage of the present invention is that the one or more first ablated zones are positioned on a planar wall portion of the blank, and therefore are not on a portion of the blank that is typically subjected to folding forces during manufacture of the container. This advantageously allows the container of the invention to be formed on existing standard machinery, using existing techniques, with no or minimal modifications required. Further, because the one or more first ablated zones are positioned on a portion of the blank that is not typically subjected to folding forces during manufacture of the container, the likelihood that the one or more first ablated zones become visually or tactilely detectable prior to the consumer intentionally applying a load on the container is advantageously minimised.

Preferably, the portion of the one or more first ablated zones is spaced from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls by at least about 5 mm. More preferably, the portion of the one or more first ablated zones is spaced from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls by at least about 10 mm. In addition, or as an alternative, the portion of the one or more first ablated zones is preferably spaced from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls by less than about 50 mm. More preferably, the portion of the one or more first ablated zones is preferably spaced from each and all of the edge portions or hinge portions connecting the first planar wall with the one or more adjacent planar walls by less than about 35 mm.

Preferably, each of the first ablated zones has a residual thickness (RT1 ) of less than about 50 percent of the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. More preferably, each of the first ablated zones has a residual thickness (RT1 ) of less than about 30 percent of the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. In addition, or as an alternative, each of the first ablated zones preferably has a residual thickness (RT1 ) of at least about 5 percent of the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. More preferably, each of the first ablated zones preferably has a residual thickness (RT1 ) of at least about 10 percent of the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. In some preferred embodiments, each of the first ablated zones has a residual thickness (RT1 ) of about 20 percent of the thickness (T) of the laminar blank. Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that it is possible to ablate material from the blank to such relatively high depths, without such ablation being visually and/or tactilely detectable on the outside of the blank prior to assembly and, even more surprisingly, without substantially being visually and/or tactilely detectable on the outside of the container after assembly. Furthermore, by ablating to such relatively high depths, the Applicant has surprisingly found that the one or more first ablated zones can then be very clearly visible and/or tactilely detectable on the outside of the container after a consumer has applied a load to the container.

In some embodiments, the one or more first ablation zones are provided as one or more scoring lines or grooves.

In addition, or as an alternative, the one or more first ablation zones are preferably arranged on the inner surface of the first planar wall to form indicia. In general, term "indicia" is used to refer to a discrete visual element, or repeating visual elements or patterns that may provide an aesthetically pleasing or informative representation. The indicia may be in the form of text, images, letters, words, logos, patterns or a combination thereof. By way of example, the ablated zones may be disposed to form a brand or manufacturer logo that allows the consumer to identify the type or origin of the consumer goods. In addition, the indicia could be presented in a way that presents a message, for example with the ablated zones becoming visible upon application of a load to the container and spelling a word or otherwise collectively conveying a message to the user. In particular, this is advantageous where the ablated zones are arranged to form an identification code, which may be associated with information regarding production, and can be used to authenticate the consumer goods.

In some preferred embodiments, at least one planar wall adjacent to the first planar wall is connected to the first planar wall by an edge portion. The inner surface of the edge portion defines a second ablation area (A2) that has a length in the longitudinal direction of the edge portion and a width that extends transversely to the length. The second ablation area (A2) comprises one or more second ablated zones, each having a residual thickness (RT2). Preferably, the residual thickness of the second ablated zones is less than about 90 percent of the residual thickness (RT1 ) of each of the one or more first ablated zones. Preferably, the residual thickness (RT2) of each of the one or more second ablated zones is at least about 80 percent of the residual thickness (RT1 ) of each of the one or more first ablated zones.

The edge portion may be a square edge portion. That is, the edge portion may be formed from a single scoring or creasing line, such that an angle of 90 degrees is formed between the planar walls adjacent the edge portion. Alternatively, the edge portion may be a curved edge portion, as is the case in rounded-edge containers. As a further alternative, the edge portion may be a planar portion slanted with respect to the two planar walls it connects, as is the case in bevelled-edge containers.

In some preferred embodiments, the laminar preferably blank forms at least a part of the container comprising a box portion, the first planar wall being one of a box front wall, a box rear wall, box bottom wall, and box side walls extending between the box front wall and the box rear wall. In addition, or in alternative embodiments, the laminar blank preferably forms at least a part of the container comprising a lid portion, the first planar wall being one of a lid front wall, a lid rear wall, lid top wall, and lid side walls extending between the lid front wall and the lid rear wall.

The container has preferably a spring-back force of less than about 10 milliNewton metres between adjacent planar walls that are connected by the edge portion. This is advantageous, in particular in those embodiments comprising a curved edge portion or a bevelled edge portions as described above, since formation of the container in a packing machine is made easier.

Containers according to the present invention find application as containers for consumer goods, in particular elongate consumer goods such as smoking articles. However, they can also be used for several other types of consumer goods.

The blank may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paperboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the blank is a laminar cardboard blank having a weight of between about 100 grams per square metre and about 350 grams per square metre. In preferred embodiments, the blank has a thickness of from about 100 micrometres to about 500 micrometres, preferably from about 200 micrometres to about 350 micrometres.

The container may optionally comprise an outer wrapper, which is preferably a transparent polymeric film of, for example, high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene, polyvinylidene chloride, cellulose film, or combinations thereof and the outer wrapper is applied in a conventional manner. The outer wrapper may include a tear tape. In addition, the outer wrapper may be printed with images, consumer information or other data.

Further, the consumer articles may be provided within the container in the form of a bundle wrapped in an inner package formed of metal foil or metallised paper. The inner package material may be formed as a laminate of a metallised polyethylene film, and a liner material. The liner material may be a super-calendered glassine paper. In addition, the inner package material may be provided with a print-receptive top coating. The inner package has an access opening through which consumer goods can be removed when a lid of the container is in a respective open position. The container is preferably a rectangular parallelepiped comprising two wider walls spaced apart by two narrower walls. Hinge lid containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the hinge lid container may comprise one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof. For example, the hinge lid 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 bevelled edge, preferably the bevelled edge has a width of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 2 and about 6 mm. Alternatively, the container may comprise a multi-bevelled edge formed by parallel creasing or scoring lines that are spaced such that two or more distinct bevels are formed on at least one edge of the container.

Alternatively, the container may have a non-rectangular transversal cross section, for example polygonal such as triangular or hexagonal, semi-oval or semi-circular.

Containers according to the invention find particular application as packs for elongate smoking articles such as, for example, cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. It will be appreciated that through appropriate choices of the dimensions thereof, containers according to the invention may be designed for different numbers of conventional size, king size, super-king size, slim or super-slim cigarettes. Alternatively, other consumer goods may be housed inside the container.

Through an appropriate choice of the dimensions, 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, containers according to the invention may be designed to hold a total of between ten and thirty smoking articles.

The smoking articles may be arranged in different collations, depending on the total number of 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 filter-less 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 mm and about 180 mm), diameter (for example, between about 4 mm and about 9 mm). Preferably, the dimensions of the container are adapted to the length of the smoking articles, and the collation of the smoking articles. Typically, the outer dimensions of the container are between about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm larger than the dimensions of the bundle or bundles of smoking articles housed inside the container.

The length, width and depth of containers according to the invention may be such that the resultant overall dimensions of the container are similar to the dimensions of a typical disposable pack of twenty cigarettes.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a height of between about 60 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a height of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, wherein the height is measured from the bottom wall to the top wall of the container.

Preferably, containers according to the invention have a width of between about 12 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a width of between about 70 mm and about 125 mm, 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 mm and about 150 mm, more preferably a depth of between about 12 mm and about 25 mm wherein the depth is measured from the front wall to the back wall of the container.

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 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 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 .

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid back wall to the height of the box back wall of the outer sleeve is between about 0 to 1 (lid located at the top edge of the container) to about 1 to 1 , more preferably, between about 1 to 5 and about 1 to 10, most preferably, between about 1 to 6 to about 1 to 8.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the lid front wall of the outer sleeve to the height of the box front wall of the outer sleeve is between about 1 to 0 (lid covering the entire front wall) to about 1 to 10, more preferably, between about 1 to 1 and about 1 to 5, most preferably, between about 1 to 2 and about 1 to 3.

The exterior surfaces of containers according to the invention may be printed, embossed, debossed or otherwise embellished with manufacturer or brand logos, trade marks, slogans and other consumer information and indicia. In some preferred embodiments, at least a portion of the printing corresponds to the positioning of the one or more first ablation zones. This means that when a consumer applies a load to the container to thereby make the one or more first ablation zones visually and/or tactilely detectible, the consumer can make a connection between the printing and the visually or tactilely detectable ablation zones. In this way, additional information may be revealed to the consumer.

Containers according to the invention may be filled and assembled using conventional apparatus and methods, modified to include the step of forming the ablated zones in the blank. The ablated zones may be produced using an ablation tool, such as a laser or a blade. A laser is particularly preferred as the ablation tool as it can allow for a wide variety of ablation profiles and configurations, with minimal adjustment of the laser tool being needed. For example, the laser may be repeatedly passed over a given portion of the blank to iteratively remove different amounts of material, allowing for a very finely controlled ablation profile. This is particularly beneficial if the ablation zone is to have a wide profile, such as one more than about 3 mm wide. It is also beneficial if fine ablated zones are required, with narrow widths. It is possible to accurately control the relative movement of the laser and the blank so as to form any type of pattern with varying removal intensity ("depth") over the ablation area.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 depicts a sample portion of a laminar blank for use in determining the spring- back force of the blank;

Figure 2 depicts an apparatus for determining the spring-back force of a blank.

Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention in a non-deformed state;

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the container of Figure 1 in a deformed state; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a blank for forming the container of Figures 3 and 4.

Wherever possible, the reference numerals used in Figures 3 and 4 correspond to those used in Figure 5, such that each panel of the blank has been labelled with the reference numeral used to refer to the wall formed by that panel in the assembled container, and vice versa.

The container 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is rectangular parallelepipedal in shape and comprises a box portion 12 and a hinge lid 14 connected to the box portion 12 along a hinge line (not shown) extending across the back wall of the container 10. The overall size and construction of the box 12 and lid 14 of the container 10 are substantially the same as that of a standard hinge lid cigarette pack. The box portion 12 comprises a box front wall 20, a box back wall, a box bottom wall 22, a box left side wall and a box right side wall. The hinge lid 14 comprises a lid front wall 24, a lid back wall, a lid top wall, a lid left side wall and a lid left side wall. The hinge lid 14 is pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the hinge lid 14 covers an access opening of the container 10 and the walls of the hinge lid form extensions of the corresponding walls of the box portion. In the open position (not shown), the hinge lid 14 is pivoted to project backwardly from the box portion 12 and the access opening at the top end of the box portion 12 is fully uncovered.

The box portion 12 and the hinge lid 14 may be formed together from the single laminar blank 300 having a thickness T shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, the dashed lines indicate lines of weakness and the solid lines indicate cut lines. The laminar blank 300 may be assembled and filled using standard apparatus.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the inner surface of the box front wall 20 defines an ablation area A1 , which comprises a plurality of ablated zones 301 having a residual thickness RT1 that is less than the thickness T of the laminar blank. A portion of the ablated zones 301 is spaced from each and all of the edge portions connecting the box front wall 20 with the box side walls and box bottom wall 22.

The ablated zones 301 define areas of weakness, such that the container 10 can deform reversibly under the action of an inwardly directed compressive load applied on the container 10 by a user. As depicted in Figure 2, upon deformation of the container 10, the ablated zones 301 become irreversibly detectable by sight or touch by the user. In particular, in the container 10, the ablated zones 301 may become detectable by sight or touch by the user upon application of a compressive load on the box front wall 20 or at the edge portion connecting the box front wall 20 and the box bottom wall 22.

Each of the ablated zones 301 has a residual thickness RT1 of about 20 percent of the thickness T of the blank. The ablated zones 301 are formed in the blank 300 by laser ablation.