Technical Field

The present invention relates to a pack for smoking articles and, in particular, to a pack having an outer housing and an inner casing contained within, and extendable out of, the outer housing.

Background

Many variations of packs for smoking articles are known. One such pack is the so- called 'hinged-lid' pack which generally comprises a body portion and a lid portion hmgedly connected to a rear wall of the body portion and pivotable between an open position to allow access to the inteiior of the body portion through an access aperture in the top of the body portion, and a closed position in which the opening in the body portion is closed by the lid.

An alternative type of pack is the 'shell and slide' type of pack, m which an inner casing containing the smoking articles is received in an outer housing or sleeve, known as the 'shell'. In use, a user manipulates the pack so that the inner casing extends out of the outer housing to allow access to the smoking articles. The inner casing may pivot out of an opening m one side of the outer housing, or the inner casing may slide like a drawer out of an opening m one side of the outer housing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved and/ or alternative configuration of pack foi smoking articles.

Summary

Accordingly, the present invention provides a pack for smoking articles comprising an outer housing having an open end, and an inner pack member configured to receive a bundle of smoking articles and being telescopically slidable within the outer housing between an open position in which the inner pack member at least partially extends out of the open end of the outer housing to provide access to smoking articles received by the inner pack member, and a closed position in which the inner pack member is retracted further into the outer housing than in the open position, the pack further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the inner pack member in a sliding direction thereof relative to the outer housing.

The inner pack member may be entirely received within the outer housing when in the closed position.

The inner pack member preferably comprises a generally parallelepiped casing having an opening in an upper end thereof to provide access to smoking articles contained within the inner casing, and the pack may further comprise a hinged lid pivotable between a closed position m which it covers said opening and an open position in which it extends away from said opening.

The hinged lid may be pivotally connected to the inner casing and may be connected to a rear wall of the inner casing or a side wall of the inner casing.

Alternatively, the hinged hd may be connected to a top wall of the inner casing or the hinged hd may be pivotally connected to the outer housing.

The inner casing may comprise a top wall which may enable the inner casing to be pushed into the outer housing.

Preferably, the hinged lid hes flush with the outer surface of the outer housing when in its closed position, although in an alternative embodiment, the hinged lid protrudes beyond the plane of one or more outer walls of the outer housing when m its closed position.

The outer housing may include an inner frame against an inside wall thereof and protruding out of said open end, and the inner frame may be formed integrally with the outer housing or may be a separate component from the outer housing. A lower edge of the hinged hd may be spaced from an upper edge of the outer housing in a closed position of the pack to expose a portion of the inner frame. The pack preferably includes a locking mechanism configured to hold the inner casing in the closed position within the outer housing. The locking mechanism may comprise a first locking element on the hinged lid and a second locking element on the outer housing or inner frame, the first and second locking elements configured to engage with each other when the inner casing and lid are moved to their closed positions. The first and second locking elements may comprise tabs on an inside wall of the hinged lid and an outside wall of the outer housing or inner frame, respectively and at least one of the tabs may extend away from the surface of the inside wall of the hinged hd and/ or the outer wall of the outer housing or inner frame.

Preferably, at least one of the tabs is glued against the surface of the inside wall of the hinged hd and/or the outer wall of the outer housing or inner frame, and at least one of the tabs may be formed integrally with the inside wall of the hinged lid and/or the outside wall of the outer housing or inner frame, respectively.

At least one of the tabs may be punched out of the inside wall of the hinged lid and/ or the outside wall of the outer housing or inner frame, respectively. The tabs are preferably formed on at least one of a front and/ or side walls of the hinged lid and are formed one at least one of a front and/ or side walls of the outer housing or inner frame.

In one preferred embodiment, at least one of the tabs on the hinged hd and/or the outside wall of the outer housing or inner frame, is formed with a double fold structure to increase the thickness of the tab(s).

The locking mechanism may be configured to cause an audible sound when the locldng mechanism is engaged and/ or when the locldng mechanism is disengaged.

The pack may further comprise a lid-opening element configured to automatically pivot the hinged lid from the closed position to the open position when the inner casing is extended from its closed position to its open position relative to the outer housing. Such a lid-ope mg element may comprise a web connected between the hinged lid and a rear wall of the outer housing, and the web may be formed integrally with the outer housing. The web may be formed integrally with the hinged hd, and/ or the web may be adhered to the outer housing and/ or the hinged lid.

The biasing element is preferably configured to bias the inner pack member m a direction out of the outer housing into the open position. The biasing element may be configured to bias the inner pack member relative to the outer housing over the whole range of movement from the closed position to the open position oi alternatively, the biasing element may be configured to bias the inner pack member lelative to the outer housing over only part of the range of movement from the closed position to the open position.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the biasing element may be configured to bias the inner pack member in a direction into the outer housing into the closed position.

The pack may further comprise a releasable locking mechanism configured to hold the inner pack member m the open position. The locking mechanism may comprise one or more ratchet teeth engageable with one or more slots on the inner casing.

The locking mechanism may comprise one or more latch arms. The latch arms may be pivotable and the pack may include an actuator to pivot the latch arms.

The biasing element may comprise a spring member disposed within the outer housing between the outer housing and the inner pack member and may be adhered to the outer housing, and/ or may be adhered to the inner pack member.

The spring member may comprise a board of card folded into a concertina configuration, one end of the card spring abutting the outer housing and an opposite end of the card spring abutting the inner pack member. The caid spring may be formed integrally with the inner pack member, and/ or may be formed integrally with the outer housing. The card spring may be laminated on at least one side thereof, or on both sides thereof. The lamination material may be a plastic material and may be PET, EVA or polypropylene.

In packs of alternative embodiments of the invention , the spring element may be made of sponge material or made from an elastic material. The spring element may be an elongate elastic element which is elastically stretched as the inner pack member slides into the outer housing m the closed position, and the pack may comprise a plurality of elastic spring elements disposed between the outer housing and the inner casing.

In a furthei alternative embodiment of the invention, the spring member may be metallic and may be a coil spring. The spring member may be conical or volute m shape.

The spring member may also comprise a resilient stiip of material disposed in a bowed configuration within the outer housing and such a spring member may be made of plastic material, such as PET.

In a pack of a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the biasing element may comprise a resihent tab disposed within the outer housing between the outer housing and the inner pack member and the resihent tab may be formed integrally with the outer housing or with the inner pack member. Alternatively, the resilient tab may be adhered to the outer housing or the inner pack member. The resilient tab may also be formed into a loop configuration. The pack may comprise a pair of resihent tabs.

A pack of another preferred embodiment of the invention includes a locking mechanism configured to hold the inner pack member in the closed position within the outer housing, wherein the locking mechanism may comprise a first locking element on an inside wall of the outer housing and a second locking element on an outside wall of the inner pack member, the first and second locking elements configured to engage with each other when the inner pack member is m the closed position.

The second locking element may comprise a latch element projecting from said wall of the inner pack member and the first locking element may comprise a hp formed on said inside wall of the outer housing. The locking mechanism may be released by compressing side walls of the outer housing to deform said inside wall the outer housing such that the first locking element moves out of engagement with the second locking element.

The inner pack member may comprise a generally parallelepiped casing having an opening in an upper end thereof to provide access to smoking articles contained within the inner casing, and the pack may further comprise a hinged lid pivotable between a closed position in which it covers said opening and an open position in which it extends away from said opening.

The inner pack member may comprise a chassis member configured to receive a wrapped bundle of smoking articles thereon, and the chassis member may comprise a platform having a bottom wall and a rear wall extending perpendicularly from the bottom wall. The pack may further comprise a wrapped bundle of smoking articles received on the platform, wherein the wrapped bundle of smoking articles may be adhered to the bottom wall and/ or the top of the platform.

In a preferred embodiment, an end-stop mechanism is disposed between the outer housing and the inner pack member configured to limit the extent to which the inner pack member may extend out of the outer housing in the open position and/ or prevent removal of the inner pack member from the outer housing.

The end-stop mechanism may comprise a first projecting element on an inside wall of the outer housing and a second projecting element on an outside wall of the inner pack member, the first and second projecting elements positioned so that as the inner pack member is moved out of the outer housing from the closed position to the open position, the first projecting element abuts the second projecting element when the inner pack member reaches a predetermined maximum extended position and prevents further movement thereof in the opening direction relative to the outer housing. The first and/ or the second projecting element may comprises a tab. The first and/ or the second tab may be glued to the inside wall of the outer housing/ outside wall of the inner pack member, respectively. The first and/ or the second tab may be lesiliently biased away from the inside wall of the outer housing/ outside wall of the inner pack member, respectively.

The first and/or the second tab may be formed integrally with the inside wall of the outer housing/ outside wall of the inner pack member, respectively.

The outer housing may include a window m an outer wall thereof such that the inner pack member is visible within the outer housing through the window, and the window may be configured to enable a user to manually manipulate the inner pack member between the open and closed positions through the window.

The biasing element and a locking mechanism may be configured to hold the inner casing in the closed position, may be provided together in a single unit within the outer housing, and the single biasing element and locking mechanism unit may be configured such that pushing the inner pack member further into the outer housing once m the closed position unlocks the locking mechanism and allows the inner pack member to extend out of the outer housing into the open position under force of the biasing element, and subsequently pushing the inner pack member into the outer housing back to the closed position locks the locking mechanism and holds the inner pack member m the closed position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, m which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pack of a first embodiment of the invention in a closed position; Figure 2 shows the pack of Figure 1 m an open position with part of the outer housing cut-away for illustrative purposes;

Figure 3A shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pack of Figures 1 and 2 in a closed position along the line X-X m Figure 1;

Figure 3B shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pack of Figures 1 and 2 in an open position along the line X-X in Figure 1;

Figure 4A shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack of Figures 1 and 2 m a closed position along the line Y-Y m Figure 1;

Figuie 4B shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack of Figures 1 and 2 m an open position along the hne Y-Y m Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a pack of a modification of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6A shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of a pack of a second embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 6B shows a schematic cross-sectional front view f the pack the second embodiment of the invention in an open position;

Figure 7A shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of a pack of a third embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 7B shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack the third embodiment of the invention in an open position;

Figure 8A shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of a pack of a fourth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 8B shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack the fourth embodiment of the invention m an open position;

Figure 9 shows a side view of a pack of a fifth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figuie 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pack of Figure 9 in an open position;

Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the pack of Figures 9 and 10 m an open position;

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a pack of a sixth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the pack of Figure 12 in an open position; Figure 14 shows a schematic partial cross-sectional side view of a locking portion of the pack of Figures 12 and 13;

Figuie 15 shows a schematic plan view from above of the pack of Figures 12— 14 during an opening operation;

Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a pack of a seventh embodiment of the invention;

Figure 17 shows a perspective view of the pack of Figure 16 m an open position; Figure 18 shows a perspective view of a pack of a variation of the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 16 and 17, in a closed position; Figure 19 shows a perspective view of a pack of an eighth embodiment of the invention in an open position;

Figure 20 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view the pack of Figure 19 along the line Z-Z;

Figure 21 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a pack of a ninth embodiment of the invention, m a closed position;

Figure 22 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pack of Figure 21, m an open position;

Figure 23 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a pack of a tenth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 24 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the pack of Figure 23 in an open position;

Figure 25 shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of a pack of an eleventh embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 26 shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack of Figure 25 in an open position;

Figure 27 shows a perspective view of a pack of a twelfth embodiment of the invention m a closed position;

Figuie 28 shows a perspective view of the pack of Figure 27 in an open position; Figure 29 shows a perspective view of a pack of a thirteenth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 30 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view along the line W-W of the pack of Figure 29; Figure 31 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view along the line W-W of the pack of Figure 29 but in an open position;

Figure 32 shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of a pack of a fourteenth embodiment of the invention m a closed position;

Figure 33 shows a schematic cross-sectional front view of the pack the fourteenth embodiment of the invention m an open position;

Figure 34 shows a perspective view of a pack of a fifteenth embodiment of the invention in a closed position;

Figure 35 shows the pack of Figure 34 in an open position, with part of the outer housing cut-away to illustrate the interior thereof;

Figure 36 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the pack of Figures 34 and 35 m a closed position;

Figure 37 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the pack of Figures 34 and 35 in an open position;

Figure 38 shows a perspective view of a pack of a sixteenth embodiment of the invention in an open position;

Figure 39 a schematic cross-sectional view of the pack of Figure 38 in a closed position;

Figure 40 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the pack of Figures 38 and 39 in an open position; and

Figure 41 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a pack of a seventeenth embodiment of the invention m a closed position.

Detailed Description

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4B, a pack 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown and comprises an outer housing 2 and an inner casing 3 telescopically received withm the outer housing 2 and having a hinged lid 4. A spring element 5 is provided withm the outer housing 2 and is configured to bias the inner casing 3 in an opening direction out of the outei housing 2. (The gaps between the outer housing 2 and inner casing 3 are exaggerated m Figures 3A— 4B for clearer depiction of the internal features of the pack 1 and do not represent the actual dimensions of the pack). The outer housing comprises a front wall 6, side walls 7, 8 a rear wall 9 and a bottom wall 10 and is open at its top end. The inner casing comprises a front wall 1, side walls 12, 13, a rear wall 14 and a bottom wall 15 and has an opening 16 in its top end for access to and removal of smoking articles (not shown) contained within the inner casing 3. The hinged lid 4 is formed integrally with the inner casing 3 at the rear wall 14 of the inner casing 3 at a folded hinge line 17.

The hinged lid 4 comprises a front wall 18, side walls 19, 20 and a top wall 22. The front wall 18 includes an inner flap 23 which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the front wall 18, the fold line forming the lower edge 24 of the lid front wall 18. The inner flap 23 is shorter than the height of the lid front wall 18 and so stops short of the lid top wall 22 on the inside of the lid, forming a stepped lip 25 on the inside of the lid front wall 18. Although not shown, the inner flap 23 may include a cut-out/recessed portion forming the stepped lip on the inside of the lid front wall.

The front wall 6 of the outer housing 2 includes a locking tab 26 formed integrally therewith and which is folded down to extend downwards and reslliently away from the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2, the fold line forming the upper edge 27 of the front wall 6 of the outer casing 2.

The spring element 5 comprises a section of card repeatedly folded into a pleated or 'concertina' configuration. A first end 28 of the spring element 5 abuts the inside face of the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and a second, opposite end 29 of the spring element 5 abuts the outside face of the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3.

The pack includes an end-stop mechanism which prevents the inner casing 3 from sliding fully out of the outer housing 2 and limits the extent to which the inner casing 3 can slide out of the outer housing 2 to a predetermined maximum extended position. The end-stop mechanism comprises a first pair of stop tabs 30, one tab on each inside face of the side walls 7, 8 of the outer housing 2 and, a

corresponding second pair of stop tabs 31, one tab on each outside face of the side walls 12, 13 of the inner casing 3. The first pair of stop tabs 30 are located proximate the upper end of the outer housing 2 and the second pair of stop tabs 31 are located proximate the bottom end of the inner casing 3.

Operation of the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention will now be described. The pack 1 is initially in the closed position as shown m Figure 1. As can be seen from Figure 3A, m this position, the spring element 5 is compressed between the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3. In this position, the hd 4 is closed and covers the access opening 16 m the inner casing 3. Furthermore, the lid 4 is held closed by the locking tab 26 engaging with and catching on the stepped lip 25 on the inside front wall 18 of the lid 4. As the locking tab 26 is resiliency urged away from the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2, it locates itself against the stepped hp 25 of the lid 4 as the lid 4 is hinged closed against the locking tab 26 and deflects the locking tab 26 inwards towards the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2. The locking mechanism thereby holds the pack 1 m the closed position against the biasing force of the spring element 5.

When a user wishes to remove a smoking article from the pack 1, the hinged hd 4 is pivoted open, thereby disengaging the locking tab 26 from the stepped p 25 of the lid 4. The inner casing 3 is then free to move m the opening direction shown by arrow 'A' m Figure 2 and telescopically slides out of the outer housing 2 under the biasing force of the spring element 5 as the spring element 5 is allowed to expand from its compressed state. The inner casing 3 is free to continue to extend out of the outer housing 2 until the stop tabs 31 on the inner casing 3 abut the stop tabs 30 on the outer housing 2, as shown in Figure 4B. The innei casing 3 is thereby held in the predetermined fully extended open position relative to the outer housing 2. The user may then remove a smoking article from within the inner casing through the access opening 16.

To close the pack 1, the reverse of the above process is performed. The inner casing 3 is pushed into the outer housing 2 m the closure direction shown by arrow 'B' in Figure 2 against the biasing force of the spring element 5, and the spring element 5 is thereby compressed between the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3. Once the inner casing 3 is m the fully retracted position within the outer housing 2, the lid 4 is pivoted closed until the locking tab 26 engages the stepped lip 25 m the lid 4 and the pack 1 is thereby retained m the closed position again.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1— 4B and described above, the stop tabs 30 on the outer housing 2 are formed integrally with the side walls 7,8 of the outer housing 2 and are folded over into the inside of the outer housing 2, the fold lines foimmg the upper edges of the side walls 7,8 respectively. However, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the stop tabs 30/31 on the outer housing 2 and/ or inner casing 3 may instead be separate elements bonded to the inside of the outer casing. In such an (un-illustrated) embodiment, the first pair of stop tabs 30 are intended to be glued against the inside walls 7, 8 of the outer housing 2 and the stop tabs 31 on the outside of the inner casing 3 are intended to resiliently extend away from the side walls 12, 13 of the inner casing 3, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 1— 4B. This ensures that the stop tabs 31 on the inner casing 3 engage and do not ride over the stop tabs 30 on the outer housing 2. However, the stop tabs 30 on the outer housing 2 may alternatively not be glued to the side walls 7, 8 of the outer housing 2 and instead may resiliently extend away from the side walls 7, 8 of the outer housing 2, and the stop tabs 31 on the inner casing 3 may be glued to the side walls 12, 13 of the inner casing 3. The advantage of having one set of stop tabs resiliently extending away from their respective side wall and the other set of stop tabs glued down against their respective side wall, is that the inner casing 3 is more likely to be stable at its predetermined fully extended position as both first stop tabs 30 will engage their respective second stop tabs 31 at the same position. More particularly, if neither stop tabs were glued to their respective side wall, then it is possible that the first and second stop tabs on one side of the pack would engage and prevent movement of the inner casing 3 relative to the outer housing 2 when their remote ends met and abutted one another, whilst the remote ends of the first and second stop tabs on the opposite side of the pack may ride over one another and then only engage to prevent movement of the inner casing 3 relative to the outer housing 2 when each remote end located in the 'V of the fold of the other stop tab. This would result in the stop tabs on each side of the pack preventing further movement of the inner casing 3 relative to the outer housing 2 at a different distance of extension of the inner casing 3 out of the outer housing 2. This would result in the inner casing 3 extending at an angle out of the outer housing 2 and introducing lateral play between the inner casing 3 and the outer housing 2.

Despite the above, an embodiment in which neither pair of stop tabs 30,31 are glued down against their respective side walls is intended to fall within the scope of the invention because in such an (un-illustrated) embodiment, both pairs of stop tabs are resiliently biased away from their respective side walls and against the side wall of the other of the outer housing 2/mner casing 3, which provides the advantage that it is much less likely that the stop tabs on either side of the pack ride over one another as the inner casing 3 is extended out of the outer housing 2 and thereby fail to stop the inner casing 3 at the predetermined fully extended position.

It is also intended within the scope of the invention that both pairs of stop tabs 30/31 may be glued down against the outer housing side walls 7, 8 and inner casing side walls 12, 13 respectively. Such an embodiment would solely rely on the close fitting of the inner casing 3 within the outer housing 2 to ensure the stop tabs 30, 31 abut each other to prevent the inner casing 3 from being completely removed from the outer housing 2.

Although the above-described embodiment includes stop tabs of the end-stop mechanism on the side walls of the pack they could equally be formed on the front and/ or rear walls of the pack in stead of or as well as the side walls, within the scope of the invention.

It is intended within the scope of the invention that locking tab 26 on the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2 does not necessarily need to be formed as a folded tab extending from the top edge 27 of the front wall. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the locking tab 26 may be spaced from the top edge 27 of the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2 and may, for example, be punched out from the front wall 6 of the outer housing 2. Such an embodiment is shown in Figure 5 which is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Figure 3B, but with the alternative punched out locking tab 26' as described above, the remaining like features retaining the same reference numerals. It is further intended within the scope of the invention that the portion of the lid 4 which engages with the locking tab 26 on the outer housing 2 does not necessarily need to be the remote edge of the inner flap 23 defining the stepped hp 25. Instead, for example, the inner flap 23 may include a cut-out portion or recess (not shown) defining an abutment edge to engage with the locking tab 26 on the outer housing 2, which may be spaced from the remote edges of the inner flap 23.

The spring element 5 is shown as a separate element from the inner casing 3 and outer housing 2. It is preferred that at least one end 28, 29 of the spring element 5 is glued to the adjacent bottom wall 10, 15 of the outer housing 2/inner casing 3, respectively. Alternatively, it is intended within the scope of the invention that both the first end 28 of the spring element 5 may be glued to the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and the second end 29 of the spring element 5 may be glued to the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3. In such an embodiment, the spring element would pievent the inner casing 3 from being fully removed from the outer housing 2 and so the end-stop mechanism may be omitted and the spring element to simplify pack construction, leduce material and weight, and thereby reduce costs. Alternatively, the end-stop mechanism may still be included as well in order to define a definite end-stop to the inner casing 3 sliding out of the outer housing 2, and to prevent strain on the spring element 5 should the inner casing be overextended out of the outer housing 2.

Although the spring element 5 is shown and described above as a separate element to the inner casing 3 and the outer housing 2, it is intended within the scope of the invention that it may be formed integrally with the outer housing 2 or integrally with the inner casing 3 as part of a single blank of card that is folded to make the unitary spring element 5 and inner casing 3 or unitary spring element 5 and outer housing 2. Such an embodiment would provide the advantage that the separate manufacturing steps of spring element construction and insertion into the outer housing 2 would be eliminated, making the process simpler, quicker, using less matei al and thereby more economical. Yet further, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the inner casing 3, outer housing 2 and the spring element 5 may all be formed from a single blank of card as a unitary integral component, appropriately folded and constructed to produce the pack shown in Figures 1— 4B.

The spring element 5 of the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention is intended to be laminated with a plastic material, such as PET, EVA or

polypropylene, on both sides thereof. This provides the card of the spring element 5 with increased resilience and resistance to losing biasing strength over extended periods of storage in the compressed state. A lamination material thickness of around 100 microns has been found to be effective, but other lamination

thicknesses are intended within the scope of the invention. However, the invention is not hmited to such an embodiment and instead, the spring element may be laminated on only one side thereof or not laminated at all. One side or no lamination spring elements could still provide sufficient biasing force to push the inner casing 3 out of the outer housing 2, but would also involve less material and a less complex, and therefore more cost-effective, manufacturing process. The board may be multi-directional grain board which it has been found provides effective resilience as a spring element, although other types of card boards are possible within the scope of the invention.

The locking tab 26 and the corresponding stepped lip 25 on the hd 4 are provided on the front face of the outer housing 2 and inside front wall 18 of the hd 4 respectively, m the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention described above. However, it is intended within the scope of the invention that one or more locking tabs may be provided on the side walls 7,8 of the outer housing 2, and the lid 4 may include corresponding inner flaps on the inside of the side walls 19, 20 thereof which, as with the inner flap 23 on the front wall described above, would provide a stepped lip, or include a cut-out or recess to engage and catch the side locking tabs on the outer housing 2 to hold the lid 4 shut and the pack 1 in the closed position. Such side locking tabs and hd stepped lips may be formed on one or both sides of the pack, and may be provided instead of the locking tab 26 and stepped lip 25 on the front walls of the outer housing 2 and hd 4, or may be in addition to the locking tab 26 and stepped lip 25 on the front walls of the outer housing 2 and lid 4. Furthermore, although the embodiments described above include an outwardly extending locking tab on the outer housing 2 and the glued- down stepped lip on the lid 4, the features may be reversed and the lid 4 may include a resilient outwardly-extending locking tab and the outer housing 2 may include a stepped hp or a recess to receive the locking tab.

A pack 41 of a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 6A and 6B and is similar to the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention shown m Figuies 1—5, and like features retain the same reference numerals. The only difference between the pack 41 of the second embodiment of the invention and that of the first embodiment of the invention is the card spring element 5 is omitted and replaced with an alternative biasing member 45 which comprises a block of compressible resihent foam material. Operation of the pack 41 is the same as that described above with reference to the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention and so will not be repeated. However, the biasing force urging the inner casing 3 into the open position is instead provided by the resistance of the resilient foam block 45 when it is compressed between the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3. The resilient foam biasing member 45 is shown m its compressed state m Figure 6A and m its expanded state m Figure 6B.

A pack 51 of a third embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 7A and 7B and is similar to the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1— 5, and like features retain the same reference numerals, the only difference being the card spring element 5 is omitted and replaced with an alternative biasing means which comprises a pair of resilient elastic elongate members 55, one provided on each side of the pack 51. A first elastic member 55 is attached between proximate an upper end of one side wall 8 of the outer housing 2 and proximate a lower end of the corresponding side wall 12 of the inner casing 3. A second elastic member 55 is attached between proximate an upper end of the other side wall 7 of the outer housing 2 and proximate a lower end of the corresponding side wall 13 of the inner casing 3. Therefore, as the inner casing 3 is slid into the outer housing in the closing direction shown by arrow 'B' m Figure 2, the two elastic members 55 are stretched, biasing the inner casing 3 m the opposite, opening direction. The pack is shown in the closed position in Figure 7A.

Conversely, when the pack 51 is moved to the open position, shown in Figure 7B, the two elastic members 55 are allowed to contract and bias the inner casing 3 into the open position in the direction of arrow 'A' as shown in Figure 2.

A pack 61 of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 8A and 8B and is similar to the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1—7, and like features retain the same reference numerals. The only difference between the pack 61 of the fourth embodiment of the invention and that of the first embodiment of the invention is the spiing element 5 is omitted and replaced with an alternative biasing member 65 which comprises a resilient strip, preferably of a plastic such as PET. The strip is longer than the width of the pack and so is arched within the outer housing 2 when the pack is m the open position (see Figure 8B). When the pack is closed, the inner casing 3 deflects the resilient strip 65 downwards. Operation of the pack 61 is the same as that described above with reference to the pack 1 of the first embodiment of the invention and so will not be repeated. However, the biasing force urging the inner casing 3 into the open position is instead provided by the resistance of the resilient strip 65 when it is deformed between the bottom wall 10 of the outer housing 2 and the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3. The resilient strip biasing member 65 is shown in its compressed state m Figure 8A. Although the pack 61 is shown with the resilient strip biasing member 65 m contact with the bottom wall 15 of the inner casing 3 in both the fully open and fully closed positions (therefore serving to bias the inner casing 3 in a direction out of the outer housing 2 over the entire range of movement between those extreme positions), it is intended within the scope of the invention that the resilient biasing strip 65 may be configured to only provide a biasing force on the inner casing over part of the range of sliding movement, from the fully closed to a partially open position, the inner casing 3 being free from a biasing force over rest of the range of movement. This apphes equally to all embodiments of the invention described herein. In addition to the biasing means of the packs 1, 41, 51, 61 of the first to fourth embodiments of the invention described above, further types of biasing means are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. For example, a metallic biasing element could be provided, for example, a metallic spring such as a coil spring or leaf spring. Furthermore, the PET strip shown in Figures 8A and 8B could, instead of being a straight rectangular strip, instead be a folded on itself to create a concertina configuration as shown in Figures 2— 4B, or repeatedly folded m an alternative configuration to form a square or rectangular pillar-shaped biasing element. Such folded biasing elements would preferably have one or both ends thereof bonded to the outer housing 2/inner casing 3 respectively.

A fifth embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 9— 11 and comprises a pack 71 having an outer housing 72, an inner casing 73, and a hinged lid 74 attached to the inner casing 73. As with the embodiments described previously, the outer housing 72 and inner casing 73 are both generally parallelepiped and the inner casing 73 is telescopically received within the outer housing 72. Also, a spring element 75 is provided between the outer housing 72 and inner casing 73 and is configured to bias the inner casing 73 in a direction out of the outer housing. The spring element 75 is shown as a folded card element as with the first embodiment of the invention, although it may take the form of, and/ or have any feature of the various alternative spring elements described above.

The hinged lid 74 is attached to the inner casing 73 on its top face and is moveable to close an oblique opening 76 in part of the top end of the inner casing 73. The corresponding side wall of the outer housing 72 includes a resilient locking tab 77 extending downwardly and outward therefiom. The inside of the hinged hd 74 includes a flap (not shown) which defines a step. In use, the pack is closed by pushing the inner casing 73 into the outer housing 72 against the biasing force of the spring 75 and closing the hinged lid 74 so that the locking tab 77 engages on the step on the inside of the hinged hd 74 and holds the pack closed, as shown in Figure 11. To open the pack, the lid 74 is hinged open (see arrow C in Figure 11), releasing the step on the lid 74 from the locking tab 77 and allowing the inner casing to be pushed from the outer housing 72 by the spring element 75 (see arrow D in Figure 11), as shown in Figures 10 and 11. In the open position, the opening 76 in the inner casing 73 is exposed to allow access to the cigarettes S contained therein. Although not shown m Figures 9— 11, the pack of the fifth embodiment of the invention may include any of the end-stop mechanisms shown and described previously to prevent the inner casing 73 from being fully removable from the outer housing 72. A sixth embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 12— 15 and is a pack 81 comprising an outer housing 82 and an inner casing 83. A hinged lid 84 is connected to the inner casing 83. As with the embodiments described previously, the outer housing 82 and inner casing 83 aie both generally parallelepiped and the inner casing 83 is telescopically received withm the outei housing 82, although m the sixth embodiment of the invention, the inner casing 83 is entirely received within the outei housing 82 m the closed position (see Figure 12). A spring element 85 is provided between the outer housing 82 and inner casing 83 and is configured to bias the inner casing 83 in a direction out of the outer housing 82. The spring element 85 is shown as a folded card element as with the first embodiment of the invention, although it may take the form of, and/ or have any feature of the various alternative spring elements described above.

The rear wall 86 of the inner casing 83 is formed with a protruding latch 87 (see Figuie 14). The rear wall 88 of the outer housing 82 is folded over at its top edge and the inward flap 89 forms a step which engages the latch 87 in the closed position of the pack 81 to hold the inner casing 83 withm the outer housing 82. In use, the pack is closed by pushing the inner casing 83 into the outer housing 82 against the biasing force of the spring 85 and closing the hinged lid 84 so that the latch 87 engages on the step on the mside of the outer housing 82 and holds the pack closed, as shown in Figure 14. To open the pack, the user squeezes the narrow side walls of the pack (see arrows E m Figuie 15) which causes the rear wall 88 of the outer housing 82 to bow outwards, as shown m Figure 15, which causes the step on the mside of the rear wall 88 of the outer housing 82 to disengage from the latch 87 and allows the inner casing 83 to extend out of the outer housing 82 under the biasing force of the spring 85. The lid 84 can then be hinged open to allow access to the cigarettes contained within the inner casing 83. Although not shown in Figures 12— 15, the pack of the sixth embodiment of the invention may include any of the end-stop mechanisms shown and described previously to prevent the inner casing 83 from being fully removable from the outer housing 82. The outer housing 82 is shown with side walls parallel to each other and parallel to the side walls of the inner casing 83. However, an un-illustrated variation of the pack intended to fall within the scope of the invention, may include side walls that taper slightly outwaids from the front to the rear of the pack. This configuration would provide additional tolerance space between the outer housing 82 and the inner casing 83 so that when the pack is squeezed m the direction of arrows E, the side walls of the outer housing 82 can deflect inwards, allowing the rear wall 88 of the outer housing 82 to bow outwards more before the side walls of the outer housing 82 contact the side walls of the inner casing 83.

Although the sixth embodiment of the invention is shown with the latch 87 on the inner casing and step on the inside wall 88 of the outer housing 82 to lock the pack 81 m the closed position, alternative locking means are intended within the scope of the invention. For example, between the inner casing 83 and outer housing 82 could be a 'push-push' locking mechanism, whereby a user pushes the inner casing into the outer housing and the 'push-push' locking mechanism engages to lock the pack m the closed position with the inner casing 83 received within the outer housing 82. Then, to open the pack 81, the user would again push the inner casing 83 inwards further into the outer housing 82 which would cause the 'push-push' locking mechanism to disengage and allow the inner casing to extend out of the outer housing 82 under the force of the spring 85. In such an embodiment, the width of the spring 85 may need to be reduced to make room for the 'push-push' locking mechanism within the outer housing 82. In a further alternative variation, the

'push-push' locking mechanism could additionally include a biasing means as one integral unit disposed in the outer housing 82 and, preferably, adhered thereto and to the inner casing 83, thereby removing the need for the separate spring member 85.

A seventh embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 16 and 17 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises a pack 91 comprising an outer housing 92 and an inner casing 93 teles copically received within the outer housing 92 and having a hinged lid 94. A spring element 95 as per the first embodiment of the invention is provided within the outer housing 92 to bias the inner casing 93 m an opening direction out of the outer housing 92. The hinged lid 94 is formed integrally with the inner casing 93 at the rear wall of the inner casing 93 at a folded hinge line, and the inside of the lid 94 includes an inner flap 96 which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the lid front wall and stops short of the lid top wall forming a stepped lip 97 on the inside of the lid front wall. The seventh embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment primarily m that an inner frame portion 99 is provided on the inside of the outer housing 92 adjacent the front and side walls thereof. The front wall of the inner frame 99 includes a locking tab 100 formed integrally therewith and which is folded down to extend downwards and resiliently away from the front wall of the inner frame 99. This is in contrast to the packs shown in Figures 1— 15 where the locking tabs are formed on the outer housings.

Operation of the pack 91 of the seventh embodiment of the invention is the same as that of the first embodiment of the invention except that, when the lid 94 is closed, it is held closed by the locking tab 100 on the inner frame engaging with and catching on the stepped hp 97 on the inside front wall of the lid 94.

The pack 91 of the seventh embodiment of the invention is shown including a spring element as per the first embodiment of the invention, although may include any alternative configuration of spring element described herein. Also, although not shown, the pack 91 of the seventh embodiment of the invention preferably includes an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 93 from being removed completely from the outer housing 92. One advantage of the pack 91 of the seventh embodiment of the invention is that the front and side walls of the lid 94 sit more flush with the front and side walls of the outer housing 92 since the front and side walls of the inner casing 93 are spaced from the outer housing 92 by the inner frame 99, and so, in the closed position, the lid 94 abuts the inner frame 99 above the front and side walls of the outer housing 92 instead of overlapping the front and side walls of the outer housing 92. This is advantageous duiing the wrapping stage of manufacture of the packs of smoking articles because welded seams of the pack wrappers are much more effectively produced on a continuous flat surface of a pack, whereas a disjointed or improperly sealed wrapper may result if a seam is welded on a pack face which includes a step or surface undulation.

One variation 91' of the pack 91 of the seventh embodiment of the invention is shown in a closed position Figure 18, m which like features retain the same reference numerals. The variant pack 9 differs in that the lid 94, inner casing 93, outer housing 92 and inner frame 99 are configured such that, m a closed position, the lower edge of the lid 101 does not abut the upper edge 102 of the outer housing 92 but instead is spaced therefrom the expose a portion 99' of the inner frame 99. One advantage of this pack configuration is that is permits a greater tolerance in the manufacture of the pack blanks to produce a properly functioning pack. This is because the exact dimensions of the locldng tab 97 and inner flap 96 creating the stepped hp 97 on the inside of the lid 94 do not need to be precisely accurate for the bottom edge of the lid to abut the upper edge of the outer housing 92 front wall in the closed position. Instead, any vaiiance within these pack dimensions will result in a slightly larger or slightly smaller visible portion 99' of the inner frame 99 when the pack is in the closed position, which has no negative consequence to the operation of the pack nor would it be discernable by a consumer. Another advantage of this pack variant 91' is that graphics or indicia may be printed on the visible portion 99' of the inner frame 99. Yet further, the gap between the lower front edge of the lid and the upper front edge of the outer housing provides a finger hold which allows the user to more securely grasp the lid 94 m an opening operation to unlock the stepped hp 97 from the locking tab 100. The inner frame 99/99' of each variant of the packs 91/91' of the seventh embodiment of the invention is intended within the scope of the invention to possibly be a separate item bonded to the inside wall of the outer housing 92, or may alternatively be formed integrally therewith as part of a single blank of card.

A pack 111 of an eighth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 19 and 20 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 112 and an inner casing 113 teles copically received within the outer housing 112 and having a hinged hd 114. A spring element 115 is provided as per the first embodiment of the invention, within the outer housing 112 to bias the inner casing 113 m an opening direction out of the outer housing 112. The inside of the hinged lid 114 includes an inner flap which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the hd front wall and stops short of the hd top wall forming a stepped hp on the inside of the lid front wall. The front wall of the outer housing 112 includes a locking tab formed integrally therewith and is folded down to extend downwards and resiliently away from the front wall of the outer housing and engages with the stepped lip of the lid 14 in a closed position of the pack to hold the pack closed, as described previously.

The eighth embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment primarily in the configuration of the hinged hd 114 with respect to the inner casing 113. This configuration is shown in detail in the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 20. The hinged lid 114 is formed integrally with the inner casing 113 at the rear wall thereof but is configured with a 'Z'-fold formation m which the rear wall 116 of the inner casing 113 is folded back on itself at a first fold line 117 which forms the top edge of the rear wall 116 of the inner casing 113. The rear wall is the folded back on itself again at a second fold hne 118 which forms the hinge line of the lid 114 and, together with the first fold hne 117, forms the 'Z'-fold formation between the rear wall 116 of the inner casing 113 and the hd 114.

One advantage of the pack 111 of the eighth embodiment of the invention is that the rear wall 119 of the lid 114 sits more flush with the rear wall of the outer housing 112 since the 'Z'-fold on the rear wall of the lid 114 offsets the rear wall 118 of the hd 114 outwards with respect to the rear wall 115 of the inner casing 113, to compensate for the fact the inner casing 113 is disposed inside the outer housing 112 and the space between the inner casing 113 and outer housing 112 which allows for relative movement therebetween. This is advantageous during the wrapping stage of manufacture of the packs of smoking articles because welded seams of the pack wrappers are much more effectively produced on a continuous flat surface of a pack, whereas a disjointed or improperly sealed wrapper may result if a seam is welded on a pack face which includes a step oi surface undulation. The

configuration of the eighth embodiment of the invention also has the advantage of providing a definite stop at the closure position where the second fold line 118 abuts the upper edge of the rear wall of the outer housing 112. Yet further, the 'Ζ'- fold of the pack 111 of the eighth embodiment of the invention results in the hinge hne of the hd 114 being lower than in other embodiments of the invention, resulting in a larger rear wall of the hd, and thereby providing the lid 114 with increased structural strength.

The pack 111 of the eighth embodiment of the invention may include any

alternative configuration of spring element described herein. Also, although not shown, the pack 111 preferably includes an end-stop mechanism of any

configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 113 from being removed completely from the outer housing 112. Yet further, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the 'Z'-fold feature of the eighth embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in combination with any of the other embodiments of the pack described herein.

A pack 121 of an ninth embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 21 and 22 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 122 and an inner casing 123 teles copically received within the outer housing 122 and having a hinged hd 124. A spring element 125 is provided as per the first embodiment of the invention, within the outer housing 122 to bias the inner casing 123 m an opening direction out of the outer housing 112. The inside of the hinged lid 124 includes an inner flap 126 which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the lid front wall 127 and stops short of the hd top wall forming a stepped lip 128 on the inside of the lid front wall 127. The front wall of the outer housing 112 includes a locking tab 129 formed integrally therewith and which is folded down to extend downwards and resiliently away from the front wall of the outer housing 122 and engages with the stepped lip 128 of the lid 124 in a closed position of the pack to hold the pack 121 closed, as described previously.

The ninth embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment primarily in the configuration of the inner flap 126 of the hinged lid 124 and the locking tab 129. This configuration is shown in detail in the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 22. The inner flap 126 is formed with a double fold configuration comprising a first fold 130a and then folded back on itself m a second fold 130b which forms the stepped hp 128 with a double card thickness from the inside of the lid front wall 127. Similarly, the locking tab 129 is formed with a double fold configuration comprising a first fold 131a and then folded back on itself in a second fold 131b which forms the locking tab 129 a double card thickness.

One advantage of the pack 121 of the ninth embodiment of the invention is that the Hd 124 is held closed with improved strength and security, as the double card thickness stepped hp 128 and locking tab 129 make a more secure engagement with each other, reducing the chance of accidental opening of the pack by the user, such as in a pocket oi bag. Furthermore, the audible closure 'click' of the pack 121 of the ninth embodiment of the invention is louder than with single-fold locking tabs, improving the audible signal to a user that the pack is secured in the closed position.

The pack 121 of the ninth embodiment of the invention is may include any alternative configuration of spring element described herein. Also, although not shown, the pack 121 preferably includes an end-stop mechanism of any

configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 123 from being removed completely from the outer housing 122. Yet further, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the double-fold hd inner flap 126 and locking tab 129 feature of the ninth embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in combination with any of the other embodiments of the pack described herein. Yet further, as well as the inner flap 126 and locking tab 129 both being of double fold construction as described above, only one of the inner flap 126 and locking tab 129 may so formed within the scope of the invention.

A pack 141 of a tenth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 23 and 24 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 142 and an inner casing 143 telescopically received within the outer housing 142 and having a hinged lid 144. A spring element 145 is piovided as per the first embodiment of the invention, within the outer housing 142 to bias the inner casing 143 in an opening direction out of the outer housing 142. The inside of the hinged hd 144 includes an inner flap 144a which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the hd front wall and stops short of the lid top wall forming a stepped p 144b on the inside of the lid front wall. The front wall of the outer housing 142 includes a locking tab 146 which is folded down to extend downwards and resiliently away from the front wall of the outer housing 142 and engages with the stepped lip 144b of the hd 144 m a closed position of the pack to hold the pack closed, as described previously.

One difference of the tenth embodiment of the invention over the first embodiment is that the rear wall 148 of the outer housing 142 includes a connecting web portion 147 which extends upwards adjacent the rear wall 149 of the hinged hd 144 and includes a tab portion 147a which is adhered to the top wall 150 of the hinged hd 144. In the closed position (see Figure 23), the connecting web 147 lies flat against the rear wall 149 of the hinged lid 144. However, when a user opens the pack and disengages the stepped lip 144b of the lid 144 from the locking tab 146, and the spring 145 urges the inner casing 143 out of the outer housing 142, the connecting web 147 prevents the lid 144 from freely moving away from the outer casing 142 and restricts its movement such that as the inner casing 143 slides out of the outer- housing 142, the hd 144 is caused to pivot open (see Figure 24). Since the inner casing 143 is biased out of the outer housing 142 by the force of the spring element 145 once the hd 144 is unlocked, the lid 144 is thereby automatically pivoted open by the connecting web 147 without the user having to manually manipulate the lid 144 to pivot it into the open position. The pack 141 of the tenth embodiment of the invention may include any alternative configuration of spring element described herein. Also, although not shown, the pack 141 preferably includes an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 143 from being removed completely from the outer housing 142. Yet further, it is intended within the scope of the invention that the auto-open lid feature including the connecting web 147 of the tenth

embodiment of the invention may be incorporated m combination with any of the other embodiments of the pack described herein. Although the connecting web 147 may be formed integrally with the rear wall 148 of the outei housing 142 as shown m Figures 23 and 24, it may alternatively be a separate element bonded to the lid 144 and to the outer housing 142, or may be foimed integrally with the hd 144 and bonded to the outer housing 142, within the scope of the invention. The term 'web' used herein refers to a connecting portion of material bridging between the hd 144 and the outer housing 142 and may be a planar tab/panel, or a plurality of connecting tabs within the scope of the invention. Such 'web' may the made of the same material as the outer housing 142 and/or the hd 144, for example card, or may be of any other different suitable material within the scope of the invention. A pack 151 of an eleventh embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 25 and 26 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 152 and an inner casing 153 telescopically received within the outer housing 152 and having a hinged hd 154. The inside of the hinged lid 154 includes an inner flap (not shown) which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the hd front wall forming a stepped Up which engages with a locking tab on the front wall of the outer housing 152 to hold the pack closed, as described previously.

The eleventh embodiment of the invention differs from the first embodiment primarily m the configuration of the spring element 155 which acts to bias the inner casing 153 in an opening direction out of the outer housing 152. The spring element 155 comprises a pair of looped tabs 157 formed integrally with the outer housing 152 and each extending inwards from the base thereof, being curved back on themselves to form a resilient loop, and including a fixing tab 158 glued to the inside of the outer housing 152.

In use, the looped tabs 157 are deformed into a compressed state (see Figure 25) upon closure of the pack and exert a biasing force m the opening direction of the pack which forces the stepped hp of the lid 154 into engagement with the locking tab on the outer housing 152 and acts to secure the closuie of the pack 151. Upon release of the lid 154 from the locking tab, the looped tabs 157 resiliently return to their un-deformed state (see Figure 26), thereby pushing the inner casing 153 out of the outer housing 152. It will be appreciated that due to the dimensions of the looped tabs 157, they only provide biasing force over an initial opening

distance/final closing distance of the inner casing 153, after which the inner casing 153 can freely slide m and out of the outer housing 152. The pack 151 of the eleventh embodiment of the invention may include an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 153 from being removed completely from the outer housing 152. Although the looped tabs 157 are described as being formed integrally with the outer housing 152, they may alternatively be separate elements glued into a looped configuration on the inside of the outer housing 152. Furthermore, the looped tabs 157 may alternatively be formed integrally with the inner casing 153 instead of the outer housing 152, or may be separate elements glued into a looped configuration on the outside of the inner casing 153. In the case wheie the looped tabs are separate elements, they may be of a different mateiial than that of the outer housing 152/inner casing 153, such as plastic material such as PET.

A pack 161 of a twelfth embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 27 and 28 and is similar to the first embodiment of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 162 and an inner casing 163 telescopically received within the outer housing 162 and having a hinged hd 164. The inside of the hinged lid 164 includes an inner flap (not shown) which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the hd front wall forming a stepped hp which engages with a locking tab (not shown) on the front wall of the outer housing 162 to hold the pack closed, as described previously.

One difference of the twelfth embodiment of the invention over the first embodiment is that the rear wall 166 of the outer housing 162 includes a cut-out 167 allowing access to the inner casing 163. This cut-out 167 can act as a finger or thumb access hole to allow a user to manipulate the inner casing 163 into or out of the outer housing 162 and enables a single handed operation of the pack 161. The cut-out 167 may be shaped/ sized so that the spring element 165 within the pack is visible through the cut-out 167 when the pack is m the open position (see Figure

28). Alternatively, the spring element 165 may not be visible during any position of the inner casing 163 within the outer housing 162.

As an alternative variation of the twelfth embodiment of the invention, the pack 161 may include an alternative spring means configured to provide a contraction force rather than an expansion force, so that the inner casing 163 is biased in a direction into the outer housing 162 instead of out of the outer housing 162. In such an alternative embodiment, the user could either pull on the lid 164 or could use the cut-out 167 as a finger/thumb hole to manipulate the inner casing 163 into an open position out of the outer housing 162 against the contracting biasing force of the spring element 165. After a cigarette had been removed, the inner casing 163 would automatically be withdrawn into the outer housing 162 under the biasing force of the spring. Such an embodiment of the invention would preferably still include a locking tab on the outer housing to engage with a stepped lip on the lid of the inner casing 163 to hold the lid m the closed position. However, this locking featuie would not be essential. Furthermore, such a variation of pack with the alternative, contracting spring means, could also include an automatic lid operating feature as described above in connection with the tenth embodiment of the invention. However, it will be appreciated that in such a situation, the mechanism would automatically close the lid as the inner casing 163 is withdrawn into the outer housing 162 under the contracting force of the alternative spring means, rather than operating to automatically open the lid as in the tenth embodiment of the invention. The pack 161 of the twelfth embodiment of the invention may include an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 163 from being removed completely from the outer housing 162. The pack 161 may also include any spring element or biasing means described herein. Furthermore, any of the alternative packs described herein may also include a cut-out as described above. Although the cut-out 167 is described as being formed in the rear wall 166 of the outer housing 162, it may equally be formed m the one or both side walls, and/ or the front wall of the pack.

A thirteenth embodiment of the invention is shown m Figures 29— 31 and is a pack 171 comprising an outer housing 172 and an inner chassis 173 in the form of an 'L'- shaped platform. The outer housing 172 is similar in configuration to the outer housing 82 of the sixth embodiment of the invention. The chassis 173 is

telescopically received within the outer housing 172 with a horizontal bottom wall 176a lower-most in the outer housing 172 and a rear wall 176b extending

perpendicularly from the rear edge of the bottom wall 176a. The chassis 173 is entirely received within the outer housing 172 m the closed position (see Figures 29 and 30). A spring element 175 is provided within the outer housing 172, between the bottom wall of the outer housing 172 and the bottom wall 176a of the chassis 173, and is configured to bias the chassis 173 in a direction out of the outer housing 172. The spring element 175 is shown as a folded card element as with the first embodiment of the invention, although it may take the form of, and/or have any feature of the various alternative spring elements described above. The chassis 173 is configured to support a bundle of cigarettes 174 on the bottom wall 176a thereof and against the rear wall 176b thereof. The bundle 174 may be a soft pack of cigarettes or a paper or plastic wrapped bundle of cigarettes. The bundle 174 may be adhered to the chassis 173.

The rear wall 176b of the chassis 173 is formed with a protruding latch 177. The rear wall 178 of the outer housing 172 is folded over at its top edge and the inward flap 179 forms a step which engages the latch 177 in the closed position of the pack 171 (see Figure 30) to hold the chassis 173 and cigarette bundle 174 thereon within the outer housing 172. In use, the pack is closed by pushing the chassis 173 and cigarette bundle 174 into the outer housing 172 against the biasing force of the spring 175 so that the latch 177 engages on the step on the inside of the outer housing 172 and holds the chassis in the retracted, closed position, as shown m Figures 29 and 30. To open the pack, the user squeezes the narrow side walls of the pack (see arrows F m Figure 29) which causes the rear wall 178 of the outer housing 172 to bow outwards (as per the sixth embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 15) which causes the step on the inside of the rear wall 178 of the outer housing 172 to disengage from the latch 177 and allows the chassis 173 to extend out of the outer housing 172 under the biasing force of the spring 175. A resealable adhesive flap or other access opening (not shown) on the wrapped cigarette bundle 174 may then be opened to allow a user access to the cigarettes therein. The closure procedure is the reverse of the opening procedure described above, although the latch 177 automatically rides over the inward flap 179 of the outer housing 172 and engages therewith without the need to squeeze the sides of the outer housing 172 to bow the rear wall 178 thereof to close the pack 171.

The pack of the thirteenth embodiment of the invention includes an end-stop mechanism to prevent the chassis 173 from being fully removed from the outer housing 172. This comprises a resilient tab 180 on the rear wall 176b of the chassis 173 which is biased outwards against the inside of the rear wall 178 of the outer housing 172 and which engages the inwardly folded flap 179 of the outer housing 172 at the fully extended position of the chassis 173 out of the outer housing 172 (see Figure 31). The resilient tab 180 may be formed integrally with the chassis 173 or may be a separate element adhered thereto.

As with the sixth embodiment of the invention, the outer housing 172 is shown with side walls parallel to each other. However, the pack may alternatively include side walls that taper slightly outwards from the front to the rear of the pack to provide additional tolerance space between the outer housing 172 and the chassis 173 so that when the pack is squeezed in the direction of arrows F, the side walls of the outer housing 172 can deflect inwards, allowing the rear wall 178 of the outer housing 172 to bow outwards more before the side walls of the outer housing 172 contact the sides of the chassis 173. As mentioned above with regard to the sixth embodiment of the invention, alternative locking means may be provided within the scope of the invention such as a 'push-push' or other mechanical locking mechanism, possibly with a biasing means as one integral unit, as described above.

A pack 181 of a fourteenth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 32 and 33 and is similar to the first, and also eleventh, embodiments of the invention described above, and comprises an outer housing 182 and an inner casing 183 telescopically received within the outer housing 182 and having a hinged lid 184. The inside of the hinged Hd 184 includes an inner flap (not shown) which is folded onto and glued to the inside of the lid front wall forming a stepped hp which engages with a locking tab on the front wall of the outer housing 182 to hold the pack closed, as described previously.

The fourteenth embodiment of the invention differs from the first and eleventh embodiments primarily m the configuration of the spring elements 185 which act to bias the inner casing 183 in an opening direction out of the outer housing 182. The spring elements 185 comprises a pair of spiung tabs 185 formed integrally with the side walls of the outer housing 182 and each extending inwards therefrom. Each sprung tab 185 comprises a first tab portion 186 connected to the respective side wall of the outer housing 182 and lying adjacent the bottom wall of the outer housing 182, and a second tab portion 187 connected to the first tab portion 186 and folded back on themselves to extend resiliently upwards (see Figure 33). The first tab portions 186 may or may not be adhered to the bottom wall of the outer housing 182.

In use, the sprung tabs 185 are deformed into a compressed state (see Figure 32) upon closure of the pack are compressed between the bottom wall of the inner casing 183 and the bottom wall of the outer housing 182. In this position, the spiung tabs 185 exert a biasing force in the opening direction of the pack which forces the stepped hp of the hd 184 into engagement with the locking tab on the outer housing and acts to secure the closure of the pack 181. Upon release of the lid 184 from the locking tab, the sprung tabs 185 resiliently return to their un- deformed state (see Figure 33), thereby pushing the inner casing 183 out of the outer housing 182. It will be appreciated that due to the dimensions of the sprung tabs 185, they only provide biasing force over an initial opening distance/final closing distance of the inner casing 183, after which the inner casing 183 can freely slide in and out of the outer housing 182.

The pack 181 of the fourteenth embodiment of the invention may include an end- stop mechanism of any configuration described herein, to prevent the inner casing 183 from being removed completely from the outer housing 182. Although the sprung tabs 185 are described as being formed integrally with the outer housing 182, they may alternatively be separate elements glued onto the inside of the outer housing 182. Furthermore, the sprung tabs 185 may alternatively be formed integrally with the inner casing 183 instead of the outer housing 182, or may be separate elements glued to the outside of the inner casing 183. In the case where the sprung tabs are separate elements, they may be of a different material than that of the outer housing 182/inner casing 183, such as plastic material such as PET.

Referring now to Figures 34 to 37, a pack 191 of a fifteenth embodiment of the invention is shown and comprises an outer housing 192 and an inner casing 193 telescopically received within the outer housing 192 and having a hinged lid 194. A spring element 195 is provided within the outer housing 192 to bias the inner casing 193 in an opening direction out of the outer housing 192. The outer housing comprises a front wall 1 6, side walls 197, 198 a rear wall 199 and a bottom wall 200 and is open at its top end. The inner casing 193 comprises a front wall 201, side walls 202, 203, a rear wall 204 and a bottom wall 205 and a top wall 206. The hinged lid 194 is shaped corresponding to a corner access aperture 207 formed in the inner casing 193 in the top wall 206, front and rear walls 201, 204 and one side wall 202, for removal of smoking articles (not shown) contained within the inner casing 193. The hinged lid 194 is configured to cover the access aperture 207 when in a closed position and comprises a top wall 209, a front wall 210, a rear wall 211 and a side wall 212. The lid 194 is formed integrally with the inner casing 193 and is hinged to the inner casing 193 at a hinge line 208 between the inner casing side wall 202 and the lower edge of the lid side wall 212 at the lower edge of the access aperture 207. The spring element 195 comprises a conical coil spring having a first (wide) end 213 abutting the inside face of the bottom wall 200 of the outer housing 192 and a second (narrow) end 214 abutting the outside face of the bottom wall 205 of the inner casing 193. The pack may include an end-stop mechanism (not shown) to prevent the inner casing 193 extending out of the outer housing 192 beyond a predetermined extension distance, and such mechanism may be as described in any preceding embodiment, and so, for the sake of brevity, a detailed description thereof will not be repeated here.

Operation of the pack 191 of the fifteenth embodiment of the invention will now be described. The pack 191 is initially m the closed position as shown m Figures 34 and 36 and the spring element 195 is compressed between the bottom wall 200 of the outer housing 192 and the bottom wall 205 of the inner casing 193. In this position, the inner casing 193 is substantially fully received within the outer housing 192 and the lid 194 is closed and covers the access aperture 207. The lid 194 is prevented from pivoting open as the side wall 212 of the lid 194 abuts the side wall 197 of the outer housing 192. The inner casing 193 is held m the closed position by a locking mechanism (not shown) such as a protruding latch on the inner casing 193 engaging with an inwardly-folded flap on the inside of the outer housing. Such mechanism can be as shown in Figures 14 and 15 and described above with respect to the sixth embodiment of the invention, and so these features are not shown in Figures 34 to 37 and a detailed description will not be repeated. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may comprise tooth and slot mechanism described in reference to the sixteenth embodiment of the invention hereafter, with the ratchet teeth reversed m orientation. Yet further, the locking mechanism may comprise latch arms and actuator button of the seventeenth embodiment of the invention described hereafter, again, with the teeth reversed m orientation. The locking mechanism thereby holds the pack 191 in the closed position against the biasing force of the spring element 195.

When a user wishes to remove a smoking article from the pack 191, the user squeezes the sides of the outer housing 192 as shown by arrows F in Figure 34, to release the locking mechanism. The inner casing 193 is then free to telescopically slide out of the outer housing 192 under the biasing force of the spring element 195 until prevented from extending further by the end stop mechanism. The hinged lid 195 can then be pivoted open to open the access aperture 107.

To close the pack 191, a user pushes down on the top wall 206 of the inner casing 193 to retiact it into the outer housing 192 against the biasing force of the spring element 195. The spring element 195 is thereby compressed between the bottom wall 200 of the outer housing 192 and the bottom wall 205 of the inner casing 193. It can be seen from Figure 36 that, due to the conical or volute shape of the spring, when compressed, it lies completely flat and so takes up a very small space within the outer housing 192, specifically, only a height corresponding to the diameter of the wire or coil material of the spring. This has a particular advantage of maximising the size and volume of inner casing 193 that can be used m the outer housing, and correspondingly, making the overall pack 191 most space efficient and of a minimum size to contain smoking articles of a specific or pre-determmed length.

As the inner casing 193 is retracted into the closed position, if the lid 194 is still pivoted open, the side wall 209 of the lid 194 will contact the upper edge of the side wall 197 of the outer housing 192, and will be automatically pivoted into the fully closed position as the inner casing 193 is moved further into the outer housing 192.

It is intended within the scope of the invention that the pack 191 may additionally include an auto-lid open mechanism as described previously with respect to the tenth embodiment of the invention shown m Figures 23 and 24. For example, the pack 191 could include a web extending between the lid 194 and the side wall 197 of the outer housing 192 to automatically pull the lid 194 into the open position as the inner casing 193 moves out of the outer housing 192. An advantage of the fifteenth embodiment of the invention is that the portion of the pack which the user pushes to close the pack (the top wall 206) is always exposed on the outside of the pack and never covered by a lid or other feature. This means that the user can fully close the pack with one finger in a simple pushing motion, making closure of the pack a simple, one-handed operation.

A variation of the fifteenth embodiment of the invention described above is also intended to fall with the scope of the invention, in which the pack 191 includes a 'push-push' spring/locking mechanism as described m more detail previously.

Specifically, the pack 191 may be configured such that when a user fist pushes the top wall 206 downwards, when the pack 191 is in the closed position, the

mechanism releases and allows the inner casing 193 to extend out of the outer housing 192. Then, when the user closes the pack 191 by pushing down on the top wall 206, the mechanism engages to hold the pack m the retracted closed position, and the process can then be repeated. Such mechanism could comprise a locking mechanism in combination with the spring means 195 described above, or may include a combined locking/biasing unit to replace the spring 195.

A pack 221 according to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 38 to 40, and is similar to the pack of the variation of the twelfth

embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 27 and 28, in that it comprises an inner casing 223 telescopically received m an outer housing 222 and having a hinged lid 224 with an inner flap 226 folded onto and glued to the inside of the lid front wall foimmg a stepped lip which engages with a locking tab 227 on the front wall of the outer housing 221 to hold the lid closed. Also, the pack 221 includes a biasing means 225 configured to piovide a contraction force rather than an expansion force, so that the inner casing 223 is biased m a direction into the outer housing 222 instead of out of the outer housing 222. The pack 221 further includes a latch mechanism configured to hold the pack m the extended open position against the force of the biasing means 225. The latch mechanism comprises a protruding tooth 228 on opposite inside walls of the outer housing 222 and a slot 229 in corresponding opposite walls of the inner casing. Each piotruding tooth 228 includes an upwardly sloping ramp and a flat upper face to form a ratchet tooth shape. The pack 221 also includes an actuator 230 to release the latch mechanism and allow the inner casing 223 to be retracted back into the outer housing 222 under the force of the biasing means 225. The actuator 230 comprises an indented push button on each side wall of the outer housing 222 on which the piotruding teeth 228 are formed.

In use, the user could open the lid 224 and pull the inner casing 223 out of the outer housing 222 against the force of the biasing means 225, or alternatively, the outer housing 222 may include a cut-out as shown m Figures 27 and 28 to act as a fmger/thumb hole to manipulate the inner casing 223 into an open position out of the outer housing 222.

Once in the open position, the protruding teeth 228 would locate m the slots 229 with the upper flat face abutting the upper edge of each slot 229, and thereby lock the inner casing 223 in the extended open position. The lid 224 can be pivoted open to access contents of the inner casing 223.

To close the pack 221, the user would press the actuators buttons 230 inwards, as shown by arrows G m Figures 38 and 40, which would deflect the side walls of the inner casing 223 to disengage the slots 229 from the protruding teeth 228 and allow the mnei casing 223 to retract into the outer housing 222 under the force of the biasing means 225. The lid 224 can then be pivoted closed and locked in the closed position by engagement of the inner flap 226 with the locking tab 227, although as described pieviously, it will be appreciated that the locking feature of the hd 224 is not essential. The pack 221 could include an automatic lid operating feature as described above in connection with the tenth embodiment of the invention and the mechanism would automatically close the lid 224 as the inner casing 223 is withdrawn into the outer housing 222. The pack 221 may include an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described previously, to prevent the inner casing 223 from being removed completely from the outer housing 222.

A pack 241 according to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 41, and is similar to the pack of the sixteenth embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 37 to 40, in that it comprises an inner casing 243 telescopically received in an outer housing 242 and having a hinged lid 244, and a biasing means 225 is disposed m within the outer housing 242 configured to provide a contraction force to bias the inner casing 243 in a direction into the outer housing 242.

One difference between the pack 241 of the seventeenth embodiment of the invention and the pack 221 of the sixteenth embodiment of the invention, however, is the configuration of a latch mechanism to hold the pack m the extended open position against the force of the biasing means 245. In the seventeenth

embodiment of the invention, the latch mechanism comprises a pair of generally 'L'-shaped latch arms 246 within the outer housing 242, each latch arm 246 having a protruding pivot foot 247 projecting from the apex of the 'L' shape of each arm 264, and a protruding tooth 248 on a distal end of one leg of the ^£ L' shape. Each latch arm is disposed within the outer housing 242 as shown in Figure 41 with each pivot foot 246 positioned in opposite bottom corners of the outer housing 242, and the legs with the teeth 248 adjacent the side walls of the outer housing located between the outer housing 242 and the inner casing 243. Each protruding tooth 248 includes an upwardly sloping ramp and a flat upper face to form a ratchet tooth shape.

The inner casing 243 includes a pair of slots 249 m side walls thereof. The outer housing 242 further includes an actuator 250 in the form of a push button which extends through a hole 251 in the bottom wall of the outer housing, and upon which rests the ends of the legs of the latch arms 246 which do not have the teeth 248. In use, the user pulls the inner casing 243 out of the outer housing 242 against the force of the biasing means 245 (either using the lid 244 or with a finger/ thumb hole in the outer housing (not shown) as described previously) to manipulate the inner casing 243 into an open position out of the outer housing 242.

Once m the open position, the protruding teeth 248 would locate in the slots 249 with the upper flat face abutting the upper edge of each slot 249, and thereby lock the inner casing 243 in the extended open position. The lid 244 can be pivoted open to access contents of the inner casing 243.

To close the pack 241, the user would press the actuator button 250 upwards, as shown by arrow H m Figure 41, which would pivot the latch arms 246 about the pivot feet 247 against the resilience of the side walls of the outer housing 242 and thereby move the legs of the latch arms 246 with the teeth 248, outwards, as shown by arrows I m Figure 41. This would deflect the side walls of the outer housing 242 sufficiently for the teeth 248 to disengage from the slots 249 and allow the inner casing 243 to retract into the outer housing 242 under the foice of the biasing means 245. The lid 244 can then be pivoted closed and may then, in one embodiment, be locked m the closed position by engagement of an appropriate locking means (not shown) between the lid 244 and the outer housing 242, such as those described previously. The pack 241 could include an automatic lid operating feature as described above m connection with the tenth embodiment of the invention and the mechanism would automatically close the hd 244 as the inner casing 243 is withdrawn into the outer housing 242.

The pack 241 may include an end-stop mechanism of any configuration described previously, to prevent the inner casing 243 from being removed completely from the outer housing 242. It will be appreciated that the latch arms, having one leg thereof between the side walls of the outer housing 242 and inner casing 243, are resiliently held in position and against the actuator button 250. Also, the legs of the latch arms 246 proximate the actuator button 250 may include a cut-out poition (not shown) to accommodate the biasing means 245 without the biasing means acting on the latch arms 246. Again, the configuration of biasing means 245 shown in Figure 41 (i.e. being conical) is advantageous as it can compress to a very small space when the pack 241 is m the closed position, with the advantages as described previously.

The various embodiments of the invention described above may include alternative configurations of spring/biasing means to bias the inner casing into/ out of the outer housing other than those shown and described above. One such un- illustrated example is a lever spring, comprising two arms resiliently pivotally connected with one arm against the bottom wall of the inner casing and the other arm against the bottom wall of the outer housing, and configured to exert a biasing force between the two.

The embodiments of pack described above having spring/biasing means to pull the inner casing into the outer housing may have any type of spring means described herein, for example, folded card spring, laminated card, metal spring, plastic spring, lever arm spring, and/or conical or volute springs. One advantage in such configurations is that the spring/biasing means is in its relaxed state for the majority of the time, and is only stressed/under strain during the brief periods when the pack is open. Therefore, this avoids 'creep' in certain materials, such as card springs, and other such material behaviour in which extended periods of being under strain can weaken the biasing force they are then able to exert when needed to be used.

It is intended that a pack including any combination of non-mutually exclusive features described herein is intended to fall within the scope of the invention.

The packs shown m the Figures, in particular the schematic views, are intended to clearly illustrate the inventive concepts of the packs of the invention, and do not necessarily represent the actual intended pack dimensions or relative proportions, for example, of height/width/depth.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior packs and packaging. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/ or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed principles. It should be understood that they are not representative of all claimed inventions. As such, certain aspects of the disclosure have not been discussed herein. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the

invention or that further un-described alternate embodiments may be available for a portion is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate

embodiments. It will be appreciated that many of those un-described

embodiments incorporate the same principles of the invention and others are equivalent. Thus, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be

utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. As such, all examples, implementations, and/or embodiments are deemed to be non-limitmg throughout this disclosure. Also, no inference should be drawn regarding those embodiments discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than it is as such for purposes of reducing space and repetition. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. Some of the

disclosed features, elements, implementation, etc., may be mutually

contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present m a single

embodiment. Similarly, some features are applicable to one aspect of the disclosure, and inapplicable to others. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed. Applicant reserves all rights in those presently unclaimed inventions including the right to claim such inventions, file additional applications, continuations, continuations m part, divisions, and/ or the like thereof. As such, it should be understood that advantages,

embodiments, examples, function, features, structural, and/ or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as

defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims.