The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods, in particular, a secure sliding hinge lid container. A locking mechanism maintains the lid in a closed position until a user intends to access the consumer goods. Containers according to the invention find particular application as containers for aerosol generating articles or components of aerosol generating articles.

It is known to package consumer goods such as, for example, heat-not-burn aerosol generating articles or elongate smoking articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the articles and a lid connected to an upper portion of the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. Such hinge-lid packs are typically constructed from one-piece laminar cardboard blanks. In addition, heat-not-burn aerosol generating articles are also sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the articles and a lid connected to an upper portion of the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container.

The lid may take the form of a simple lid flap or a three-dimensional cup-shaped hinge lid. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack and expose an access opening in the box, through which the user may gain access to the consumer goods held within the box. An inner frame is often provided and fixed within the box. In use, the lid is pivoted about the hinge line to open the pack, to expose only an end portion of the smoking articles, and to gain access to the consumer goods held within the box.

It may be desirable to ensure that the lid remains in the closed position until a user intends to access the consumer goods. For example, it may be desirable to ensure that the lid remains in the closed position when the container is being transported. This may help to prevent the consumer goods from inadvertently falling out of the container. This may help to preserve one or more properties of the consumer goods, such as their freshness.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a container for consumer goods which is configured to provide a secured closure and to prevent the container from inadvertent opening. Further, it would be desirable to provide a laminar blank for forming one such improved container such that it makes the manufacturing process straightforward and cost-effective.

According to the present disclosure there is provided a container for consumer goods, the container comprising a box for housing consumer goods. The box comprises box periphery walls comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall and two opposite box side walls. A top face of the box is at least partially open to provide an access opening for accessing consumer goods. The container also comprises a lid configured to cover the top face of the box in a closed position and expose the top face in an open position. The lid comprises a lid back wall.

The container also comprises a first inner frame fixed to an inner surface of the box. The first inner frame extends above at least a portion of a top edge of the box and into the lid in the closed position. A second inner frame is slidably received in the box. The second inner frame is attached to or integrally formed with the lid back wall. The lid and the second inner frame move laterally with each other between the open position and the closed position of the lid. The first inner frame and the second inner frame each comprise one or more flaps. The one or more flaps of the first inner frame interlock with one or more flaps of the second inner frame to prevent the detachment of the lid from the box.

The container may be configured so that the pivoting of the lid around the hinge is only possible when the lid portion is in the open position. For example, the first inner frame may be configured to engage with the lid portion when the lid portion is in the closed position to prevent the lid portion from pivoting relative to the box portion. The first inner frame may be configured to continue to prevent such pivoting of the lid portion until the lid portion reaches the open position, when the lid portion is moved from the closed position to the open position.

The container also comprises a locking mechanism comprising a locking member provided in the second inner frame and a corresponding engagement member provided in the box. When the lid is in the closed position, the locking mechanism is configured to be transitionable between a locked state, in which the engagement member in the box engages with the locking member in the second inner frame to prevent the lid from being laterally movable from the closed position to the open position, and an unlocked state, in which the engagement member in the box is disengaged with the locking member in the second inner frame and the lid is able to laterally move from the closed position to the open position. The locking member is adapted to extend at least partially into the box periphery wall, when the locking mechanism is in the locked state. Preferably, the locking member is adapted to extend through the box periphery wall, when the locking mechanism is in the locked state. In a locked state of the container, the locking member engages with the corresponding engagement member to secure the lid in the closed position and prevent the lid from laterally sliding to the open position.

Advantageously, the locking mechanism provides a simple to use but effective locking feature to secure a lid closure and to prevent an accidental opening of the container. The locking mechanism may be easily incorporated into current container designs and manufacturing process, since little modifications to the existing packaging blanks are needed. Advantageously, the locking mechanism may be used to purposefully and selectively secure the lid and the box of the container together across an access opening and resist inadvertent opening.

The locking member may be configured to be deflectable in response to pressure so that the locking mechanism is transitionable between the locked state and unlocked state. The locking member may be formed of a resilient material, such as plastic. The locking member may be in the form of a protrusion. The engagement member in the box may be an aperture.

The locking mechanism may comprise two locking members separated by a lateral distance of at least about 5 centimetres, preferably at least about 7 centimetres and two corresponding engagement members. Preferably, the two locking members extend at least partially into the box side walls when the locking mechanism is in the locked state. More preferably, the two locking members extend through the box side walls when the locking mechanism is in the locked state.

The first inner frame and the second inner frame may each comprise two flaps for interlocking to prevent the detachment of the lid from the box. The two locking members may be provided on the two respective flaps of the second inner frame.

The locking member may be an integrated part of the second inner frame. The second inner frame may be formed of a resilient material, such as plastic.

The two locking members may be disposed in a line that is non-parallel to the box bottom wall. The two locking members may be disposed in a line that is parallel to the box bottom wall.

The container may comprise one of the lid or the box formed of a cardboard material.

The present invention is applicable to any suitable container for consumer goods that are desirably contained without accidental opening. It is known to package consumer goods such as, for example, alkaloid-containing consumer articles in containers formed from folded laminar blanks. For example, elongate smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, are commonly sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the alkaloid-containing consumer articles and a lid connected to the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. In addition, heat-not-burn aerosol generating articles are also sold in hinge-lid packs having a box for housing the alkaloid-containing consumer articles and a lid connected to an upper portion of the box about a hinge line extending across the back wall of the container. The box may comprise a box back wall, a box right side wall, a box front wall, and a box bottom wall. The lid side wall, the lid front wall and the lid back wall may be aligned with the box side wall, the box front wall and the box back wall when the lid is in the closed position. The terms "front," "back," "upper," "lower," "side," "top," "bottom," and other terms refer to the relative positions of portions of containers according to the invention and components of the container when the container is in an upright position and an access opening of the container is at the top of the container. When describing containers according to the present invention, these terms are used irrespective of the orientation of the container being described. The lid hinge that allows opening the lid of the container by a pivotal movement is located at the “back” of the container. Conversely, the “front” of the container refers to the side of the container opposite the “back” of the container.

The term “inner surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the assembled container that is facing towards the interior of the container, for example towards the consumer goods, when the container is in the closed position.

The term “outer surface” is used throughout the specification to refer to the surface of a component of the container that is facing towards the exterior of the container. For example, in one or more embodiments, the container comprises an inner frame that comprises an outer surface that is facing the outer box portion of the container and an inner surface that is facing the consumer goods held in the container.

The term “hinge line” or “hinge” refers to a line about which two elements may be pivoted relative to each other. A hinge line may be, for example, a fold line, a perforation line or score line in a wall or panel of the container, or between two walls of the container.

The term “panel” refers to a portion of the container formed from a single, continuous portion of material. A panel may depend along one or more fold lines form one or more other panels. The term “flap” refers to a panel that depends along only one fold line from only one other panel.

The term “wall” refers to a facet of the container, and a wall may be formed from a single panel or flap, or a wall may be formed from two or more abutting or overlapping panels or flaps.

The terms “height”, “width” and “depth” refer to the external dimensions of the container or a component of the container along three perpendicular axes, when the lid is in the closed position and viewing the container from the front side. For example, the “height” of the container refers to the vertical distance between the top and bottom of the container, the “width” of the container refers to the distance between opposed right and left sides of the container, and the “depth” of the container refers to the distance between the front and back of the container. The terms “internal height”, “internal width” and “internal depth” refer to corresponding dimensions inside the container or component. The difference between the external dimensions of the container and the internal dimensions of the container is determined by the thickness of the material, the number of layers and additional elements, like for example, the thickness of an adhesive. The term “compressed state” refers to an element’s state following “compression”. The term “compression” refers to is the application of balanced inward ("pushing") forces to different points on the element, that is, forces with no net sum or torque directed so as to reduce its size in one or more directions.

The term “relaxed state” refer to a state of equilibrium reached when no external forces are applied to an element.

The term “resilient” refers to the element’s ability to spring back or return to a shape after bending, stretching or being compressed, that is, without permanent deformation or rupture.

The term “lateral distance” refers to a distance along a horizontal line or axis, that is, a distance measured across a shortest lateral distance between two points.

The term “locked” refers to a state of elements being secured together. The term “unlocked” refers to a state of elements being unsecured or separable from each other.

The term “scoring line” is used to describe a line formed by partially cutting into the material of the blank. A scoring line may be formed by removing material from the blank (in which case the scoring line forms a groove or trough in the blank). As an alternative, a scoring line may be formed without removing any material from the blank, typically involving a partial sideways displacement and compression of material, caused by a knife with a non-zero thickness penetrating the material. The depth of the scoring line will be less than the thickness of the blank.

The term “creasing line” is used to describe a line formed by displacing a portion of the material vertical to the plane of the blank, forming a groove or trough in the blank. The displacement may involve compression and typically involves the use of a compression tool, such as a roller. Alternatively, or in addition, the material in the creasing line may be displaced so as to at least partially protrude from the opposite side of the blank. Generally, no material is removed when a creasing line is formed.

According to the present disclosure there is provided a container for consumer goods comprising a box, a lid, a first inner frame, a second inner frame, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism facilitates maintaining the box and lid together in a closed state until the locking mechanism is manipulated by a user to unlock the locking mechanism to access to the consumer goods housed within the box. The container may contain alkaloid-containing goods, such as, nicotine-containing aerosol-generating articles.

The box of the container is configured to house consumer goods. The box comprises box periphery walls comprising a box front wall, a box back wall, a box bottom wall, and two opposite box side walls (for example, left and right). A top face of the box is at least partially open to provide an access opening for accessing consumer goods. The lid is configured to cover the top face of the box in a closed position and to expose the top face in an open position. The lid comprises a lid front wall, a lid back wall, a lid top wall, and two opposite lid side walls.

The first inner frame of the container is fixed to an inner surface of the box. The first inner frame extends above the box and into the lid in the closed position. The first inner frame may comprise a front panel and one or more flaps. Preferably, the one or more flaps comprises a pair of opposing side flaps extending from opposing side edges of the front panel. The opposing side flaps may each comprise a side wall portion and a back wall portion configured to correspond with and extend along the respective box side walls and the box back wall of the box. The first inner frame may be sized and shaped to be disposed against an inner surface of the box and to be fixedly maintained by the box. The first inner frame may be adhered or otherwise attached to the inner surface of the box. The first inner frame may extend above at least a portion of a top edge of the box along the access opening such that the first inner frame may extend within the lid when in a closed state. An outer surface of the first inner frame faces outwardly from the interior of the container such that it will come in contact with the inner surface of the lid when the lid is in a closed position.

The second inner frame of the container is slidably received in the box. The second inner frame is attached to or integrally formed with the lid back wall. The lid and the second inner frame move laterally with each other between the open position and the closed position of the lid. The second inner frame may comprise a back panel, a top panel, and one or more flaps. The top panel may be configured to correspond with the lid back wall and may be attached to the lid back wall. Preferably, the one or more flaps comprises a pair of opposing side flaps extending from opposing side edges of the back panel. The back panel and opposing side flaps of the second inner frame may correspond with the box back wall and two opposing side walls of the box such that the second inner frame may be slidably disposed within the box for lateral movement in response to movement of the lid when the container is in an unlocked state. The one or more flaps of the first inner frame may interlock with the one or more flaps of the second inner frame to prevent the detachment of the lid from the box when unlocked and opened.

The locking mechanism comprises a locking member provided in the second inner frame and a corresponding engagement member provided in the box. When the lid is in a closed position, the locking mechanism is configured to be transitionable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state, the engagement member in the box engages with the locking member in the second inner frame to prevent the lid from being laterally movable from the closed position to the open position. And, in the unlocked state, the engagement member in the box is disengaged with the locking member in the second inner frame and the lid is able to laterally move from the closed position to the open position. The locking member is adapted to extend at least partially into the box periphery wall when the locking mechanism is in the locked state. Preferably, the locking member is adapted to extend through the box periphery wall when the locking mechanism is in the locked state.

The locking member is adapted to be engageable with the engagement member in order to maintain the box and the lid together in a locked state in which the interior of the container is closed and inaccessible to a user. The locking member is configured to be manipulated by a user to disengage the locking member from engagement member in order to unlock the locking mechanism. Upon unlocking, the lid with the second inner frame may be laterally moved to an open position for enabling pivoting movement of the lid. The pivoting of the lid can help to improve access to the interior goods housed in the box. The locking member may be depressed and deflected inwardly away from the engagement member to disengage the locking member from the engagement member to release the second inner frame from the box. When unlocked, the second inner frame is ready to be laterally moved upward away from the box bottom. The lid may lateral move to an open position until the outer flaps of the first and second inner frames interlock to prevent further movement and detachment of the lid from the box. When in the open position, access to the interior of the box is provided through the access opening in the box.

The container may comprise any number of locking mechanisms and a corresponding number of engagement members. Preferably, the container comprises two locking members and corresponding engagement members, with one of the two disposed on each of the opposing sides (for example, left and right sides) of the container. The locking mechanism may comprise the two locking members separated by a lateral distance of at least about 5 centimetres, preferably at least about 7 centimetres and two corresponding engagement members. The two locking members may be disposed in a line that is non-parallel to the box bottom wall. The two locking member may be disposed in a line that is parallel to the box bottom wall. The locking member or members may be deflectable in response to pressure so that the locking mechanism is transitionable between the locked state and the unlocked state. Preferably pressure may be applied simultaneously to both of the pair of locking members with a user’s hand extending across the front or back wall of the box to apply inward pressure on each of the locking members to move the locking members inwardly through the engagement members until disengaged from the engagement members.

The locking member of the locking mechanism may be in the form of a protrusion. Preferably, the locking member comprises a cut portion that operates like a spring. The locking member is biased to extend, or protrude, at least partially within or through the engagement member when the locking member and the engagement member are aligned. The locking member may be defined by two generally parallel side edges, a projecting end, and a connecting end. Preferably, the projecting end is a terminal end. Preferably, a projecting portion adjacent to the projecting end is bent at an angle from a main portion that extends from the connecting end to the projection portion. Preferably, when the main portion is parallel to the side flap of the second inner frame and, the projecting portion extends on a plane extending at an outward angle away from the back panel and the side flap of the second inner frame. The locking member may be an integrated element of the second inner frame. Alternatively, the locking member may be disposed on the second inner frame. Preferably, a locking member is provided on each of the one or more flaps of the second inner frame. Preferably, a pair of opposing side flaps each comprise one of two locking members.

The box may comprise the engagement member of the locking mechanism in the box periphery walls. The engagement member may be formed as an aperture. Preferably, the box comprises two engagement members. Preferably, the engagement members are disposed at the box side walls adjacent to the box back wall and may also be disposed at the box back wall.

When assembled, the locking member is extendable at least partially within the engagement member in the box. The engagement member may be a slotted opening, having a width and length corresponding to the portion of the locking member that is extendable into the engagement member. Preferably, the projection portion of the locking member extends at least partially into the engagement member when aligned. The projection portion of the locking member may extend through the engagement member. In some embodiments, the locking member does not extend beyond the outer surface of the box periphery wall. In some embodiments, the locking member is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the box periphery wall when engaging with the engagement member.

In some embodiments, the locking member may extend from an inner surface of the box to exterior of an outer surface of the box periphery wall through the engagement member. The locking member may extend fully through the engagement member when the container is in the locked state. Preferably, the locking member extends a distance less than about 3 millimetre beyond the outer surface of the box periphery wall. Preferably, the locking member extends a distance less than about 2 millimetre beyond the outer surface of the box periphery wall. Preferably, the locking member extends a distance less than about 1 millimetre beyond the outer surface of the box periphery wall. Limiting the distance that the locking member extends beyond the outer surface of the box periphery wall can advantageously minimize the occurrence of wrinkles on an outer pack wrapper, since the container is typically overwrapped by a transparent plastic film wrapper.

The locking member may be manipulated by the user, such as by applying an inward force onto the locking member to push the locking member inwardly in order to disengage the locking member from the engagement member and transition the locking mechanism from the locked state to the unlocked state.

The engagement member may be any shape and size suitable to allow the locking member to extend at least partially within or through the engagement member. The locking member may be biased to extend fully through and beyond, or outside of, a plane of the panel on which the locking member is disposed such that the locking member will come in contact with the box and extend outwardly through the engagement member of the box when aligned, thus, maintaining the lid in a closed position or state with respect to the box. The locking member may be biased to extend outward from the plane of the panels of the second inner frame. The locking member may be shaped as a generally rectangular or triangular shaped protrusion or any other suitable shape. The engagement member may be an aperture having a width or a thickness that is less than a width or thickness of the locking mechanism in an unbiased, or relaxed, state when extended through the box at the engagement member.

The locking member has a relaxed state when the box is in the closed position or when the lid is in the open position and a compressed state when the lid is in a transitionable position, for example, a position between the open position and the closed position. The locking member is resiliently moveable between the compressed state and the relaxed state. The locking member may have shape memory so that the locking member returns to its non-compressed or relaxed state once the lid is in the closed position.

The locking member may be manipulated with appropriate pressure inwardly through or away from the engagement member to permit disengagement. The locking member has a size sufficient to withstand and prevent inadvertent opening of the container. The walls or panels onto which the locking member is disposed are flexible enough to move inwardly upon pressure exerted by a user to manipulate the box locking member through or away from the lid engagement member.

Transition of the lid to a closed position laterally moves the second inner frame downward into the box and compresses the locking member against the interior of the box until the lid is fully closed whereupon the locking member is aligned with the engagement member and the locking member returns to the uncompressed state, extending at least partially within or through the engagement member. The locking mechanism may maintain the container in the locked state with the lid extended over the access opening of the box in the closed position. In the locked state, the locking member engages with the corresponding engagement member to prevent the lid from being laterally movable with respect to the box from the closed position to the open position. In an unlocked state, the locking member is disengaged with the engagement member and the lid is able to be laterally moved with respect to the box from the closed position to the open position. The locking mechanism is configured to be transitionable between the locked state and the unlocked state when the lid is in the closed position. The locking member is configured to extend at least partially within or through the box periphery wall at the engagement member when the locking mechanism is in the locked state.

The container comprising the box, the lid, the first inner frame, the second inner frame, and the locking mechanism may be formed from any suitable materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. The cardboard may have a weight of between about 100 grams per square meter and about 350 grams per square meter.

Preferably, the box and the lid are formed from a single laminar blank. Preferably, the engagement member is a cut portion of the box forming an aperture. Preferably the first inner frame is formed of a single laminar blank. Preferably, the second inner frame is formed of a single laminar blank. Preferably, the locking member is a cut portion of the second inner frame that operates like a spring.

The second inner frame comprises at least a top panel depending along a first fold line from a back panel. One or more flaps depending along at least a second fold line from the back panel. When two flaps are included, the two flaps depend along the second fold line and a third fold line along opposing sides of the back panel. A first and second cut portion provides a locking member on each of the two flaps.

The first inner frame comprises a front panel and one or more flaps depending along a fold line from the front panel. When two flaps are included, the two flaps depend along a first fold line and a second fold line along opposing sides of the front panel substantially parallel to the second and third fold lines of the second inner frame. The two flaps comprise a back wall portion depending along a fourth fold line and a fifth fold line from a side wall portion of the flaps, respectively. The back wall portions of the flaps lie parallel with an interior surface of a box back wall. The side wall portions of the flaps lie parallel with the flaps of the second inner frame and the box side walls of the box.

The box and lid laminar comprises a box front wall depending from a box bottom wall along a first fold line and first and second side walls depending from the box front wall. A box back wall depends from the box bottom wall along a second fold line and mating first and second side walls depend from the box back wall. A lid back wall depends from the box back wall along a hinge line. A lid top wall depends from the lid back wall and a lid front wall depends from the lid top wall. First and second opposing lid side walls may depend the lid back, top, and side walls. An engagement member on the box may be cut into the side panel along the fold lines. Containers according to the invention may be in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with right-angled longitudinal and right-angled transverse edges. Alternatively, the container may include one or more rounded longitudinal edges, rounded transverse edges, bevelled longitudinal edges, or bevelled transverse edges, or combinations thereof.

Where the container includes one or more rounded edges, preferably the blanks forming the container (box and lid) include three, four, five, six, or seven scoring lines or creasing lines to form each rounded edge in the assembled container. The scoring lines or creasing lines may be either on the inside of the container or on the outside of the container. Preferably, the scoring lines or creasing lines are spaced from each other by between about 0.3 mm and about 4 mm.

Preferably, the box and lid are forms of a cardboard material. Preferably, the locking member is formed of a resilient material, such as plastic, that operates like a spring. Preferably, the second inner frame is formed of a resilient material, such as plastic. Preferably, the locking member is an integrated part of the second inner frame. The plastic element may be described as a thermoplastic or a thermoset polymer.

Thermoplastic polymers include acrylate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, nylon, polylactic acid, polybenzimidazole, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, polyoxymethylene, polyetherether ketone, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, or polytetrafluoroethylene, but it is not limited thereto.

Thermoset polymers include polyester, polyurethane, polyurea, rubber, melamine, epoxy, silicone, or vinyl ester, but it is not limited thereto.

The consumer goods within the container may be wrapped in an inner liner. The inner liner and consumer goods together form an inner package. Prior to first opening, the filled container may be wrapped in an outer wrapper.

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

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

A carton may contain multiple containers as described herein. Referring now to the drawings, in which some aspects of the present invention are illustrated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a container including expanded views of a locking member in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming a second inner frame of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming a first inner frame of the container of

FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming a box and lid of the container of FIG.

1.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a container 10. The container 10 comprises a box 20, a lid 30, a first inner frame 40, a second inner frame 50, and a locking mechanism 60. The locking mechanism 60 facilitates maintaining the box 20 and the lid 30 together in a closed state until the locking mechanism 60 is manipulated by a user to unlock the locking mechanism 60 and open the container 10 to access to the consumer goods housed within the box 20. The container 10 may contain alkaloid-containing goods, such as nicotine-containing articles.

The box 20 comprises box periphery walls comprising a box back wall 22 extending between a box left side wall 27 and a box right side wall 28. The box bottom wall 23 is orthogonal to the box left side wall 27 and the box right side wall 28 and extends between the box left side wall 27 and box right side wall 28. The box left side wall 27 and the box right side wall 28 are orthogonal to a box front wall 24 disposed opposite the box back wall 22.

The box 20 is arranged and configured to receive consumer goods. The consumer goods may have a longitudinal length that is generally orthogonal with the hinge line. Preferably, the consumer goods are elongated articles such as nicotine-containing articles, aerosol-generating articles, for example, where the longitudinal length or axis is generally orthogonal with the hinge line. The consumer goods may be extracted from an access opening defined at a top face of the box 20.

The lid 30 comprises a lid top wall 36 extending between a lid front wall 34 and a lid back wall 32 and between a lid right side wall 38 and lid left side wall 37. The lid right side wall 38 and left side wall 37 are orthogonal to the lid top wall 36 and extend between the lid front wall 34 and the lid back wall 32. The lid 30 is configured to be movably extended over the access opening of the box 30. The first inner frame 40 of the container 10 may comprise a front panel 44 and a pair of opposing side flaps 43 extending from opposing side edges of the front panel 44. The opposing side flaps 43 may each comprise a side wall portion 45, respectively, and a back wall portion 42, respectively, configured to correspond with and extend along the respective box side walls 27, 28 and the box back wall 22 of the box 20. The first inner frame 40 may be sized and shaped to be disposed against an inner surface of the box 20 and to be fixedly maintained by the box 20. The first inner frame 40 may be adhered or otherwise attached to the inner surface of the box 20. When assembled, the first inner frame 40 may extend above at least a portion of a top edge of the box 20 along the access opening such that the first inner frame 40 may extend within the lid 30 when in a closed state. An outer surface of the first inner frame 40 faces outwardly from the interior of the container such that it will come in contact with the inner surface of the lid 30 when the lid 30 is in a closed position.

The second inner frame 50 of the container 10 is configured to be slidably received in the box 20. The second inner frame 50 is configured to be attached to the lid back wall 32. The lid 30 and the second inner frame 50 are jointly movable together between the open position and the closed position of the lid 30.

The second inner frame 50 may comprise a back panel 52, a top panel 56, and a pair of flaps 53. The top panel 56 may be configured to correspond with the lid back wall 32 and may be attached to the lid back wall 32. Preferably, the one or more flaps 53 comprises a pair of opposing side flaps 53 extending from opposing side edges of the back panel 52. The back panel 52 and opposing side flaps 53 may correspond with the box back wall 22 and two opposing box side walls 27, 28 and such that the second inner frame 50 may be slidably disposed within the box 20 for lateral movement in conjunction with lateral and pivotable movement of the lid 30 when the container 10 is in an unlocked state. When assembled, the flaps 43 of the first inner frame 40 may interlock with the flaps 53 of the second inner frame 50 to prevent the detachment of the lid 30 from the box 20 when second inner frame 50 and lid 30 are laterally moved to open the box 20.

The locking mechanism 60 (see, for example, Inset A) comprises a locking member 64 provided in the second inner frame 50 and a corresponding engagement member 62 provided in the box 20. When the lid 30 is in a closed position, the locking mechanism 60 is configured to be transitionable between a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state, the engagement member 62 in the box 20 engages with the locking member 64 in the second inner frame 50 to prevent the lid 30 from being laterally movable from the closed position to the open position. In the unlocked state, the locking member 64 in the second inner frame 50 is disengaged from the engagement member 62 in the box 20 the lid 30 is able to laterally move from the closed position to the open position. The locking member 64 is adapted to extend at least partially within or through the box periphery wall when the locking mechanism 60 is in the locked state.

Inset A of FIG. 1 shows a backside view of the locking mechanism 60 in an assembled and locked state. Inset B of FIG. 1 shows a locking member 64 of the locking mechanism 60 in a compressed state (1), and an uncompressed state (2). As shown in Inset A, the locking member 64 is adapted to be engageable with and mate with the engagement member 62. In the locked state, the box 20 and the lid 30 are maintained securely together with the interior of the container 10 closed and inaccessible to a user. The locking member 64 is configured to be manipulated by a user to disengage the locking member 64 from the engagement member 62 in order to unlock the locking mechanism 60. The locking member 64 may be manipulated by the user, such as by applying an inward force, onto the locking member 64 to push the locking member 64 inwardly in order to disengage the locking member 64 from the engagement member 62 and transition the locking member 64 from the uncompressed state (2) to the compressed state (1) shown in Inset B. The locking member 64 may be depressed and deflected away from the engagement member 62, to disengage the locking member 64 from the engagement member 62 to release the lid 30 from the box 20 across the access opening. The interior of the container may remain secured and inaccessible while the locking member 64 is engaged within the engagement member 62 and until the user suitably manipulates the locking member 64 to disengage the locking member 64 from the engagement member 62 to unlock the locking mechanism 60.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming the second inner frame 50 of the container. The second inner frame 50 comprises at least a top panel 56 depending along a first fold line from a back panel 52. Two opposing side flaps 53 each depend along fold lines along opposing sides of the back panel 52. A first and second cut portion provides a locking member 64 on each of the two flaps 53.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming the first inner frame 40 of the container 10. The first inner frame 40 comprises a front panel 44 and two opposing flaps 43 depending along fold lines along opposing sides of the front panel 44 and substantially parallel to the fold lines of the second inner frame 50. The two flaps 43 each comprise a back wall portion 42 depending along fold lines from a side wall portion 45 of the flaps 43. The back wall portions 42 of the flaps 43 are to extend parallel with and to be attached to an interior surface of a box back wall 22 of the box 20 when assembled. The side wall portions 45 of the flaps 43 are to extend parallel with the flaps 53 of the second inner frame 50 and the box side walls 27, 28 of the box 20. The flaps 53 of the second inner frame 50 are to extend between the side wall portion 45 of the first inner frame 40 and the box side walls 27, 28. FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of a blank for forming the box 20 and the lid 30 of the container 10. The box and lid laminar comprises a box front wall 24 depending from a box bottom wall 23 along a first fold line and box side walls 27, 28 depending from the box front wall 24. A box back wall 22 depends from the box bottom wall 23 along a second fold line and mating box side walls 27, 28 depend from the box back wall 22. The lid back wall 32 depends from the box back wall 22 along a separation line 76. The lid 30 may be later detached from the box 20 at the separation line 76. The lid top wall 36 depends from the lid back wall 32 and the lid front wall 34 depends from the lid top wall 36. First and second opposing lid side walls 37, 38 may depend the lid back, top, and side walls. Engagement members 62 may be cut into the box side panels 27, 28 along the fold lines and may overlap at the respective side panel when folded and assembled.

The exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting. Other embodiments consistent with the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art.