WO2020109113A1

WO2020109113A1 - Container for consumer goods

Info

Publication number: WO2020109113A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/081975
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Collins
Original assignee: Jt International S.A.
Priority date: 2018-11-27
Filing date: 2019-11-20
Publication date: 2020-06-04
Also published as: EP3887282A1; TW202019675A; CN113165795A; EA202191447A1; KR20210094538A; CA3114553A1; JP2022507975A; US20210354906A1; PH12021550856A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) for consumer goods (5) comprising an outer housing (10) comprising a box portion (17) having a top opening closable by a lid portion (13), the box portion (17) comprising a front wall (12) and a back wall (16) connected to each other by a bottom wall (15) opposite the top opening and two side walls (14, 18), and the lid portion (13) comprising a front panel (13') connected to a back panel (13"") by a top wall (11) and opposite side panels (13'"), the lid portion (13) being hingedly attached to the box portion (17) at a hinge line between their respective back panel (13"") and back wall (16); and an inner frame (30) arranged within the outer housing (10) and comprising a front panel (32) and two side panels (34, 36), wherein the front panel (32) is glued to an inner surface of the front wall (12) of the box portion (17) of the outer housing (10) and the two side panels (34, 36) are glued to respective side walls (14, 18) of the box portion (17) of the outer housing (10); wherein the inner frame (30) comprises at least one horizontal cut (38) across part of the front panel (32) and part of one of the side panels (34), and at least a first (31), a second (33) and a third (35) folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut (38) to an upper edge of the inner frame (30) for defining at least one foldable portion (40) which can be folded to the inside of the container (1) for selectively limiting the space within the container (1); and the horizontal cut (38) being positioned, in un-folded condition of the inner frame (30) at or below an upper edge of the front wall (12) of the box portion (17). The present invention further relates to a corresponding inner frame (30).

Description

Container for consumer goods

1. Technical field

The present invention relates to a container for consumer goods and an inner frame for such a container. The container is particularly suitable for storing tobacco articles, like cigarettes.

2. Prior art

Fragile goods, like for instance cigarettes, are usually packaged and brought into market in small containers in order to protect the goods during transport. Such containers can be made of renewable raw material like paperboard and often comprise a plurality of components. Usually, a softer, odorless and unflavored inner liner directly stores the consumer goods, while a harder outer housing forms the container and protects the goods against environmental conditions and impacts from the outside. In some cases, the outer housing comprises a hinged lid for closing and opening of the container. The container additionally is wrapped in a transparent plastic foil for further protection and as integrity seal. Furthermore, containers for consumer goods additionally comprise an inner frame arranged within the outer housing for stiffening the container in the area of the access opening, particularly if the container comprises a hinged lid. In such case, the inner frame forms the inner counterpart to the hinged lid and serves to hold it in the closed position. To this end, the inner frame partially extends above the upper edge of the front panel of the outer housing. The inner frame is usually also made of paperboard and glued to the inside of the outer housing.

In some containers the inner frame serves for additional purposes. In document US 2016/0000144 Ai a hinge lid pack for cigarettes is shown, wherein the inner frame comprises a perforation line in a front panel, that is configured to allow at least one of the left or right side panels of the inner frame and a portion of the front panel of the inner frame to fold inward, creating an inner cavity between the inner frame and the outer housing of the hinge lid pack. This foldable portion of the inner frame allows for limiting the space within the pack if some cigarettes are already taken out of the pack and for holding a small object like a cigarette lighter. The foldable inner frame of the document US 2016/0000144 Ai, however, has the disadvantage that for folding- in the foldable portion a glue bond between the inner frame and the outer housing has to be broken or a different glue dot arrangement has to be used which, however, decreases the stability of the pack, particularly in folded condition.

Further containers with an inner frame that has an inwardly folded tabs for limiting the space within the container are known from the WO 2015/068003 Ai and US 5,158,644. However, in these containers the inwardly folded tabs are folded during manufacturing of the container and fixed in the folded state.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a container for consumer goods and a corresponding inner frame, that comprises a foldable portion of an inner frame, but has an improved construction in terms of stability, manufacturing and ease of use by the customer.

3. Summary of the invention

The above-mentioned problem is solved by a container for consumer goods according to claim 1 and a corresponding inner frame according to claim 14.

Preferably the above mentioned problems are solved by a container for consumer goods comprising an outer housing comprising a box portion having a top opening closable by a lid portion, the box portion comprising a front wall and a back wall connected to each other by a bottom wall opposite the top opening and two side walls, and the lid portion comprising a front panel connected to a back panel by a top wall and opposite side panels, the lid portion being hingedly attached to the box portion at a hinge line between their respective back panel and back wall and an inner frame arranged within the outer housing and comprising a front panel and two side panels, wherein the front panel is glued to an inner surface of the front wall of the box portion of the outer housing and the two side panels are glued to respective side walls of the box portion of the outer housing; wherein the inner frame comprises at least one horizontal cut across part of the front panel and part of one of the side panels, and at least a first, a second and a third folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut to an upper edge of the inner frame for defining at least one foldable portion, which can be folded to the inside of the container for selectively limiting the space within the container and the horizontal cut being positioned, in un-folded condition of the inner frame at or below an upper edge of the front wall of the box portion.

Due to the provision of a horizontal cut across part of the front panel and part of one of the side panels a foldable portion of the inner frame is generated, that can be folded to the inside of the container without breaking any glue bond and which does

simultaneously maintain the mechanical stability of the container in this area. The horizontal cut allows that only the foldable portion above the horizontal cut is folded to the inside of the container, but a portion of the inner frame below the horizontal cut remains in original position and stiffens the outer housing. This allows further, that the remaining portion below the horizontal cut can be glued to the outer housing and maintains this glue connection after folding. Thus, the overall stability of the container is maintained even if a foldable portion is provided that can selectively limit the space within the container, when a number of consumer goods, like cigarettes, have been already removed from the container or that can provide an inner cavity between the inner frame and the outer housing for holding a small object. This cavity is particularly useful to hold a small object that can be used together with the consumer goods, like a cigarette lighter. In another, non-limiting example, the consumer goods are tobacco articles, or tobacco-substitute articles, and the cavity is used to hold a device for heating the tobacco articles, or tobacco-substitute articles, to generate an aerosol from them through heating. Thus, the container is particularly useful as packaging for so called “heat-not-burn” tobacco and tobacco substitute products.

The horizontal cut is arranged at or below the upper edge of the front panel of the outer housing in open position. Thus, the horizontal cut is invisible when the foldable portion is still un-folded. Thus, the appearance of the inner frame can be the same as if no foldable portion is provided.

Preferably, the first folding line is a first vertical crease or perforated line at a first end of the at least one horizontal cut in the front panel. The first vertical crease or perforated line defines the first folding line between the foldable portion and the remaining portion of the front panel of the inner frame. Thus, the foldable portion can be folded to the inside in an easy and geometrically defined manner, what provides a pleasant appearance of the container in the folded condition. Preferably, the first vertical crease or perforated line is arranged above the horizontal cut. Preferably, the first vertical crease or perforated line extends from the first end of the horizontal cut towards an upper edge of the front panel of the inner frame.

Preferably, the second folding line is a second vertical crease or perforated line at a second end of the at least one horizontal cut. The second vertical crease or perforated line defines the second folding line between the foldable portion and the remaining portion of the side panel of the inner frame. This further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the container. Preferably, the second vertical crease or perforated line is arranged above the horizontal cut. Preferably, the second vertical crease or perforated line extends from the second end of the horizontal cut towards an upper edge of a side panel of the inner frame.

Preferably, the third folding line is a third vertical crease or perforated line above the at least one horizontal cut between the front panel and the side panel of the inner frame. This further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the container. The third vertical crease or perforated line is preferably arranged parallel to and in-between the first and second vertical crease or perforated line.

By the first, second and third vertical crease or perforated line and the horizontal cut the foldable portion is well-defined and can fold along the first, second and third vertical crease or perforated line to the inside of the container in a predetermined manner. This ensures that the foldable portion folds always the same way and stays in the folded position over the time-of use of the container for protecting the consumer goods from damages. Additionally, this ensures a pleasant appearance to the consumer.

Preferably, the inner frame comprises at the horizontal cut one or more breakable connections between the foldable portion and the non-foldable portions of the inner frame. Such breakable connections separate the horizontal cut into two sections and facilitates the manufacturing of the container since it limits movement of the foldable portion with respect to the non-foldable remaining portion of the inner frame during manufacturing. Further, the breakable connection improves the stability of the container before the foldable portion is folded to the inside. Preferably, the inner frame comprises a first glue portion at the front panel below the horizontal cut and /or the inner frame comprises a second glue portion at the side panel below the horizontal cut. Such glue portions improve the stability of the container particularly in the area of the foldable portion. Preferably, the container further comprises an inner liner for storing consumer goods, wherein the inner liner is arranged within the outer housing and within the inner frame and the inner liner comprises a removable portion defining an access opening through which consumer goods can be taken out; and wherein the inner liner comprises at least one L-shaped perforation for separating the removable portion from the remainder of the inner liner. The inner liner, which is preferably a thin foil or sheet of metallized paper protects the quality of the consumer goods, for example the cigarettes. When the container is opened, the consumer removes the removable portion of the inner liner to obtain access to the goods. Due to the L-shaped perforation of the inner liner the removable portion is defined such that it is large enough that the inner liner does not come into contact with the foldable portion in folded condition. Thus, the inner liner is not visibly fouled when the foldable portion is folded to the inside. This guarantees that the lid of the container can be closed without any problems and ensures a pleasant appearance of the overall container. Preferably, the perforation comprises a horizontal portion that extends along the front wall, side wall and the back wall of the container. Thus, the removable portion comprises a part of the front panel of the folded inner liner and a part of the side panel of the inner liner. By providing an inner liner with a removable portion that uncovers the front, a side and a rear comer of the bundle of cigarettes further eases extraction of the first cigarettes as it can be picked from the rear comer where the inner frame is not in the way of consumer’s fingers and the cigarettes are looser than in the front, central portion, where the inner frame cutout is normally provided. Preferably, the perforation comprises a vertical portion that extends along the back wall of the container. Thus, the removable portion additionally comprises a part of the back panel of the folded inner liner. Preferably, the inner liner is wrapped in a loop around vertically arranged consumer goods, wherein the wrapping axis is vertically arranged and the inner liner is closed at the top and the bottom of the inner liner. Thus, wrapping of the inner liner around the set of consumer goods is facilitated. This wrapping arrangement does further facilitate removal of the removable portion of the inner liner since, by the L-shaped perforation the front, one side, part of the rear and the corresponding top wall portions can be removed in one step and in one-piece.

Preferably, the inner frame further comprises a second horizontal cut extending across part of the front panel and part of the other one of the side panels, for defining a second foldable portion which can be folded to the inside of the container for selectively limiting the space within the container. The second horizontal cut defines an additional second foldable portion, that can be preferably arranged at the other end of the container. This second foldable portion allows the consumer to further limit the space within the container if further goods have been removed. This protects the remaining goods from damage in the container when it is moved. Further, the second foldable portion can be used by the consumer as an alternative to the first foldable portion.

Thus, the second foldable portion provides for a flexible use of the container. Due to the second horizontal cut extending across part of the front panel and part of the other one of the side panels again stability of the container is maintained.

Preferably, the inner frame at the front panel comprises a fourth vertical crease or perforated line at a first end of the second horizontal cut. The fourth vertical crease or perforated line defines a folding line between the second foldable portion and the remaining portion of the font panel of the inner frame. This improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the container and serves for a pleasant appearance of the folded portion in folded condition.

Preferably, the inner frame at the side panel comprises a fifth vertical crease or perforated line at a second end of the second horizontal cut. The fifth vertical crease or perforated line defines a folding line between the foldable portion and the remaining portion of the side panel of the inner frame. This further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the container and further serves for a pleasant appearance of the folded portion in folded condition.

Preferably, the inner frame between the front panel and the side panel comprises a sixth vertical crease or perforated line above the at least one horizontal cut. This further improves the possibility to fold the foldable portion to the inside of the container and further serves for a pleasant appearance of the folded portion in folded condition.

Preferably, the inner frame comprises a third glue portion at the front panel below the second horizontal cut; and /or the inner frame comprises a fourth glue portion at the side panel below the second horizontal cut. By the third and fourth glue portions the inner frame is glued to the inside of the outer housing. This improves stability of the container in the area of the second foldable portion.

Preferably, the outer housing comprises a box portion and a hinged lid portion for closing the container, wherein the lid portion is pivotable between an open and a closed position. By a hinged lid portion the container can be opened and securely closed by the consumer for a plurality of times. This protects the consumer goods, particularly cigarettes, within the container.

The above-mentioned problems are also solved by an inner frame for a container for consumer goods, wherein the inner frame comprises at least one horizontal cut across part of the front panel and part of one of the side panels and at least a first, a second and a third folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut to an upper edge of the inner frame, for defining at least one foldable portion which can be folded to the inside of the container for selectively limiting the space within the container. For such an inner frame the same advantageous effects are given as for the container according to the invention as described above. Particularly, the inner frame ensures stability of the container even if the possibility is given to fold a foldable portion of the inner frame to the inside of the container. Preferably, the first folding line is a first vertical crease or perforated line at a first end of the at least one horizontal cut in the front panel, the second folding line is a second vertical crease or perforated line at a second end of the at least one horizontal cut at the side panel of the inner frame, and the third vertical folding line is a third crease or perforated line above the at least one horizontal cut and between the front panel and the side panel the of the inner frame.

4. Short description of the drawings

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed by reference to the accompanying figures, in which shows:

Fig. 1: a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of an open container, when the foldable portion of the inner frame is still in un-folded condition; Fig. 2: a three-dimensional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, when the foldable

portion of the inner frame is in folded condition;

Fig. 3: a two-dimensional view of a blank of the outer housing of the container of Fig.

1;

Fig. 4: a two-dimensional view of a blank of the inner frame of the container of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5: a two-dimensional view of a blank of an inner liner of the container of Fig. 1 and indications of positions of consumer goods with respect to the inner liner;

Fig. 6A - C: three-dimensional views of a wrapping process of consumer goods into an inner liner of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6D: a three-dimensional view of consumer goods wrapped into an inner liner of Fig. 5, indicating the removable portion of the inner liner; and

Fig. 7: a two-dimensional view of a further embodiment of an inner frame with two foldable portions. 5. Description of preferred embodiments

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are described with respect to the figures. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a container 1 for consumer goods 5, for example cigarettes 5. Other consumer goods 5 may for example be tobacco products or tobacco substitute products, which can be heated for providing vapor but no smoke, e.g. so called“heat-not-burn” consumer goods. The size of the container 1 comprises a height of about 70 to 120 mm and a width of about 40 to 72 mm and a thickness of about 16 to 25.5 mm. The container 1 has a generally cuboid shape. The container 1 comprises an outer housing 10 with a box portion 17 and a hinged lid portion 13 for opening and closing the container 1, an inner frame 30 with a foldable portion 40 and an inner liner 20 wrapped around the consumer goods 5. Usually the container 1 is additionally wrapped in a plastic foil (not shown) as integrity seal and for further protection.

The foldable portion 40 of the inner frame 30 can be folded by the consumer to the inside of the container 1 for selectively reducing the space within the container 1 when already a number of consumer goods 5 have been removed. This reduction of space helps protecting the consumer goods 5 as they are constrained in their movement within the container. Further, the foldable portion 40, when folded to the inside, provides an inner cavity 6 between the inner frame 30 and the outer housing 10, which can be used for holding a small object, like a cigarette lighter, a tobacco product heating device or a tobacco substitute product heating device, within the container 1. Since the exemplary cigarette lighter is separated from the cigarettes 5 by the foldable portion 40 of the inner frame, the risk of damaging the cigarettes 5 by movements of the cigarette lighter is reduced.

The foldable portion 40 is defined at its lower end by at least one horizontal cut 38. Therefore, the foldable portion 40 when folded has a pleasant appearance to the consumer. Further, a remaining, un-folded portion of the inner frame below the foldable portion 40 provides an increased stability of the container 1 at the area of the foldable portion 40, even when it is folded to the inside. It is preferred that the horizontal cut 38 is positioned below the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the outer housing 1, so that the consumer cannot see the horizontal cut 38 in un-folded condition. However, the horizontal cut 38 is positioned closely adjacent to the upper edge of the front wall 12 of the outer housing 1 such that there is as much as possible surface of the inner frame 30 below the horizontal cut 38 that remains glued to the outer housing 1, for improving stability of this comer of the container 1.

The outer housing 10 is preferably made of a stronger paper sheet, paperboard or cardboard, in order to provide a stable structure to the container 1 and to mechanically protect the consumer goods 5 inside. The lid portion 13 is hingedly attached to the box portion 17 at the back side of the container 1 and can be brought manually from a closed position into an open position, as shown in Fig. 1. Thereby, the hinge of the lid portion 13 is made of a fold of the paper or paperboard of the outer housing 10 and can be easily manufactured. In the closed position the consumer goods 5 are fully protected inside the container 1, wherein in the open position access to the consumer goods 5 is given and for example a cigarette can be taken out from the container 1.

Fig. 3 shows the two-dimensional blank of the outer housing 10 after cutting and creasing prior to folding and gluing. The lines 19 within the contour line represent crease lines that facilitate folding of the blank into a three-dimensional outer housing 10. The blank of the outer housing comprises areas for the front wall 12, the bottom wall 15, the back wall 16 and side walls 14, 18 that define the box portion 17 of the outer housing 10. The top wall 11 and the front panel 13’ form together with the areas 13”, 13’” and 13”” the lid portion 13 of the outer housing.

Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of a two-dimensional blank of the inner frame 30 after cutting, creasing and perforating and prior to folding and gluing. The lines 19 within the contour line represent crease lines that facilitate folding of the blank into a three- dimensional inner frame 30. The cut-out tabs 45 extend from the inner frame 30 for holding the lid area 13 in closed position. Fig. 1 and 2 show only one centrally arranged tab 45. The at least one horizontal cut 38 defines the foldable portion 40 of the inner frame 30. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the inner frame 30 only comprises one foldable portion 40. However, in other embodiments, as shown in Fig. 7, the inner frame 30 can comprise two foldable portions 40, 50. The inner frame 30 is arranged within the outer housing 10 generally for stiffening the container 1 in the area of the lid portion 13 and for holding the lid portion 13 in closed position. The inner frame comprises a front panel 32 and two side panels 34, 36 and is preferably made of stronger paper sheet or paperboard and glued to the inside of the outer housing 10. The inner frame 30 and the outer housing 10 may be made of the same material.

The inner frame 30 further comprises at the front panel 32 a first vertical crease or perforated line 31 at a first end of the horizontal cut 38. In the preferred embodiment the first vertical crease or perforated line 31 is provided as a perforated line 31 that begins at the left end of the horizontal cut 38 and extends vertically to the upper edge of the inner frame 30 at the left end 44 of the foldable portion 40. The inner frame 30 further comprises at the side panel 34 a second vertical crease or perforated line 33 at a second end of the horizontal cut 38. In the preferred

embodiment the second vertical crease or perforated line 33 is provided as a crease line 33 that begins at the lower end of the inner frame 30, extends vertically to the right end of the horizontal cut 38 and further extends vertically to the upper edge of the inner frame 30 at the right end 47 of the foldable portion 40.

The inner frame 30 further comprises between the front panel 32 and the side panel 34 a third vertical crease or perforated line 35 at a second end of the horizontal cut 38. In the preferred embodiment the third vertical crease or perforated line 35 is provided as a perforated line 35 that extends vertically from the horizontal cut 38 to the upper edge of the foldable portion 40. The third vertical crease or perforated line 35 is arranged in- between the first and second vertical crease or perforated lines 31, 33. Preferably it is additionally arranged in parallel to the first and second vertical crease or perforated lines 31, 33. The crease or perforated lines 31, 33 and 35 facilitate folding the foldable portion 40 and ensure a defined shape of the foldable portion 40 after folding.

When folded to the inside of the container 1 preferably a side portion 46 of the foldable portion 40 is adjacent and parallel to the back wall 16 of the container 1 and the front portion 48 of the foldable portion 40 is arranged in parallel and distanced to the side wall 14 of the container 1.

The inner frame 30 is glued to the inside of the outer housing 10 at glue areas 41, 42, 43. The glue area 43 is located below the side portion 46 of the foldable portion 40 and thus below the horizontal cut 38. The glue area 42 extends below the front portion 48 to the foldable portion 40 and thus below the horizontal cut 38. Thereby, the glue areas 43 and 42 of the inner frame 30 provide rigidity of the upper edge of the outer housing 10 even when the foldable portion 40 is folded to the inside. Preferably, the inner frame 30 in the area of the glue area 42 comprises a downward extension 37 that maximizes the glue area 42 and ensures that the inner frame 30 can be stamped without loss from an endless sheet material band.

The foldable portion 40 can comprise at the horizontal cut 38 one or more breakable connections 39 between the foldable portion 40 and the non-foldable portions of the inner frame 30. The breakable connection 39 breaks easily when the consumer folds the foldable portion 40 to the inside. It is preferably provided, by separating the horizontal cut 38 into two portions, leaving breakable connection 39 simply uncut. The breakable connection 39 preferably has a length below 2 mm, preferably below 1 mm to be easily breakable but to provide enough stability for the inner frame 30 during manufacturing. As shown in Fig 4, the breakable connection 39 is arranged where third vertical crease or perforated line 35 intersects with horizontal cut 38.

Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of inner frame 30 which comprises two foldable portions 40, 50. The second foldable portion 50 basically corresponds to the first foldable portion 40 and comprises a horizontal cut 58 and first 51, second 53 and third 55 vertical crease or perforated lines. The horizontal cut 58 is separated by a breakable portion 59 into two sections. For improving the stability of container 1 in the area of the second foldable portion 50 a glue area 41’ is arranged below the second horizontal cut 58. In addition, a glue area 42’ extends below the below the second horizontal cut 58 as well as below the first horizontal cut 38.

Fig. 5 shows a two-dimensional view of a blank of an inner liner 20 having an L-shaped perforation 24 that defines a removable portion 22. The L-shaped perforation 24 comprises a horizontal portion 26 that starts at the left side edge of the inner liner 20 and extends horizontally into an area that will extend along the front wall 12, side wall 14 and back wall 16 of the finally produced container 1. The horizontal portion 26 merges by a curved shape into a vertical portion 28 that extends along the back wall 16 of the finally produced container 1. The vertical portion 28 ends at the upper edge of the inner liner 20. Fig. 5 shows the position and size of the L-shaped perforation in respect to the position of the consumer goods 5 wrapped within the inner liner 20.

The Figures 6A - C show a preferred wrapping process of the inner liner 20 around the consumer goods 5. In a first step as shown in Fig. 6A the inner liner 20 is wrapped in a loop around a wrapping axis W that is parallel to a vertical axis V of the inner liner 20. The consumer goods 5 are also arranged in parallel to the wrapping axis W.

After the inner liner 20 is fully wrapped around the consumer goods 5 it forms a closed loop, having an overlap 23 on one side wall 27 as shown in Fig. 6B.

In a further packing step, as shown in Fig. 6C the inner liner loop 20 is finally closed by folds 25 at the top 28 and at the bottom 29 thereof. This package of inner liner 20 and consumer goods is then wrapped within an assembly of inner frame 30 and outer housing 10.

Fig. 6D shows the opening of the inner liner 20 when the consumer pulls the removable portion 22 away from the remainder of the inner liner 20. Outer housing 10 and an inner frame 20 are not shown in Fig. 6D for better visibility of the inner liner 20.

List of reference signs:

I container

5 consumer goods, cigarettes

6 cavity

10 outer housing

II top wall

12 front wall

13 lid portion

13’-13”” areas of lid portion 14 side wall

16 back wall

17 box portion

18 side wall

19 crease lines

20 inner liner

21 top of inner liner loop

22 removable portion of inner liner

23 overlap

24 L-shaped perforation

25 folds

26 horizontal portion of L-shaped perforation

27 side wall of inner liner

28 vertical portion of L-shaped perforation 29 bottom of inner liner loop

30 inner frame

31 first vertical crease or perforated line

32 front panel of inner frame

33 second vertical crease or perforated line 34 right side panel of inner frame

35 third vertical crease or perforated line

36 left side panel of inner frame

37 downward extension

38 horizontal cut

39 breakable connection

40 first foldable portion

41, 41’ third glue area

42; 42’ first glue area

43 second glue area

44 left end of foldable portion

45 tabs

46 side portion

47 right end of foldable portion

48 front portion of foldable portion 50 second foldable portion

51 first vertical crease or perforated line

53 second vertical crease or perforated line

55 third vertical crease or perforated line 58 horizontal cut

59 breakable connection

V vertical axis

W wrapping axis of inner liner

Claims

Claims l. A container (l) for consumer goods (5) comprising: a. an outer housing (10) comprising a box portion (17) having a top opening closable by a lid portion (13), the box portion (17) comprising a front wall (12) and a back wall (16) connected to each other by a bottom wall (15) opposite the top opening and two side walls (14, 18), and the lid portion (13) comprising a front panel (13’) connected to a back panel (13””) by a top wall (11) and opposite side panels (13’”), the lid portion (13) being hingedly attached to the box portion (17) at a hinge line between their respective back panel (13””) and back wall (16); and b. an inner frame (30) arranged within the outer housing (10) and comprising a front panel (32) and two side panels (34, 36), wherein the front panel (32) is glued to an inner surface of the front wall (12) of the box portion (17) of the outer housing (10) and the two side panels (34, 36) are glued to respective side walls (14, i8)of the box portion (17) of the outer housing (10); wherein c. the inner frame (30) comprises at least one horizontal cut (38) across part of the front panel (32) and part of one of the side panels (34), and at least a first (31), a second (33) and a third (35) folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut (38) to an upper edge of the inner frame (30) for defining at least one foldable portion (40) which can be folded to the inside of the container (1) for selectively limiting the space within the container (1); and d. the horizontal cut (38) being positioned, in un-folded condition of the inner frame (30) at or below an upper edge of the front wall (12) of the box portion (17).

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first folding line is a first vertical crease or perforated line (31) at a first end of the at least one horizontal cut (38) in the front panel (32) of the inner frame (30).

3 The container according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the second folding line is a second vertical crease or perforated line (33) at a second end of the at least one horizontal cut (38) at the side panel (32) of the inner frame (30).

4. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the third vertical folding line is a third crease or perforated line (35) above the at least one horizontal cut (38) and between the front panel (32) and the side panel (34) of the inner frame (30).

5. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein inner frame (30) comprises at the horizontal cut (38) one or more breakable connections (39) between the foldable portion (40) and the non-foldable portions of the inner frame (30).

6. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the inner frame (30) comprises a first glue portion (42) at the front panel (32) below the horizontal cut (38) and /or the inner frame (30) comprises a second glue portion (44) at the side panel (34) below the horizontal cut (38).

7. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 6, further comprising an inner liner (20) for storing consumer goods (5), wherein the inner liner (20) is arranged within the outer housing (10) and within the inner frame (30) and the inner liner (20) comprises a removable portion (22) defining an access opening (24) through which consumer goods (5) can be taken out; and wherein the inner liner (20) comprises at least one L-shaped perforation (24) for separating the removable portion (22) from the remainder of the inner liner (20).

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the perforation (24) comprises a horizontal portion (26) that extends along the front wall (12), side wall (14) and the back wall (16) of the container (1).

9. The container according to one of the claims 7 or 8, wherein the perforation (24) comprises a vertical portion (28) that extends along the back wall (16) of the container (1).

10. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the inner liner (20) is wrapped in a loop around vertically arranged consumer goods (5), wherein the wrapping axis (W) is vertically arranged and the inner liner (20) is closed at the top (21) and the bottom (29) of the inner liner (20).

11. The container according to one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the inner frame (30) further comprises a second horizontal cut (58) extending across part of the front panel (32) and part of the other one of the side panels (36), for defining a second foldable portion (50) which can be folded to the inside of the container (1) for selectively limiting the space within the container (1).

12. The container according to claim 11, wherein the inner frame (30) at the front panel (32) comprise a fourth vertical crease or perforated line (51) at a first end of the second horizontal cut (58).

13. The container according to one of the claims 9 or 12, wherein the inner frame (30) at the side panel (36) comprise a fifth vertical crease or perforated line (53) at a second end of the second horizontal cut (58).

14. Inner frame (30) for a container (1) for consumer goods (5), wherein the inner frame (30) comprises at least one horizontal cut (38) across part of the front panel (32) and part of one of the side panels (34, 36) and at least a first (31), a second (33) and a third (35) folding lines extending vertically and parallel to each other from the at least one horizontal cut (38) to an upper edge of the inner frame (30), for defining at least one foldable portion (40) which can be folded to the inside of the container (1) for selectively limiting the space within the container

(1).

15· The inner frame (30) according to claim 14, wherein: a. the first folding line is a first vertical crease or perforated line (31) at a first end of the at least one horizontal cut (38) in the front panel (32); b. the second folding line is a second vertical crease or perforated line (33) at a second end of the at least one horizontal cut (38) at the side panel (32) of the inner frame (30); and c. the third vertical folding line is a third crease or perforated line (35) above the at least one horizontal cut (38) and between the front panel (32) and the side panel (34) the of the inner frame (30).