Slide and shell container having dual hinge lids

Abstract

A slide and shell container for consumer goods includes an outer shell and an inner slide for housing the consumer goods, the inner slide including a box, a first hinge lid and a second hinge lid, substantially opposed to the first hinge. The inner slide is slidable within the outer shell between a first open slide position and a second open slide position. In the first open slide position, the first hinge lid projects outwardly from the outer shell through a first open end thereof such that the first hinge lid is moveable to an open position and in the second open position, the second hinge lid projects outwardly from the outer shell through a second open end thereof such that the second hinge lid is moveable to an open position.

1 . A slide and shell container for consumer goods comprising:
 an outer shell having a first open end and a second open end; and   an inner slide for housing consumer goods, the inner slide including a box, a first hinge lid connected to the box about a first hinge line and a second hinge lid, substantially opposed to the first hinge lid and connected to the box about a second hinge line, wherein the inner slide is slidable within the outer shell between a first open slide position and a second open slide position,   wherein in the first open slide position, the first hinge lid projects outwardly from the outer shell through the first open end thereof such that the first hinge lid is moveable to an open position and wherein in the second open position, the second hinge lid projects outwardly from the outer shell through the second open end thereof such that the second hinge lid is moveable to an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner slide is slidable within the outer shell between the first open slide position and the second open slide position through an intermediate slide position in which the first hinge lid and the second hinge lid are each retained in a closed position by the outer shell. 
     
     
         3 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner slide includes a first compartment accessible through the first hinge lid and a second compartment accessible through the second hinge lid, wherein in the first open slide position the first compartment is accessible and the second compartment is inaccessible while in the second open slide position the second compartment is accessible and the first compartment is inaccessible. 
     
     
         4 . The slide and shell container of  claim 3 , wherein in the intermediate slide position both the first compartment and the second compartment are inaccessible. 
     
     
         5 . The slide and shell container of  claim 3 , wherein the first compartment and the second compartment of the inner slide are separated by an integral partition. 
     
     
         6 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , further including retention means for preventing removal of the inner slide from the outer shell. 
     
     
         7 . The slide and shell container of  claim 6 , wherein the retention means prevent movement of the inner slide beyond the first open slide position and the second open slide position. 
     
     
         8 . The slide and shell container of  claim 7 , wherein the retention means includes at least one retention flap provided on the inner slide which is capable of engaging with the outer sleeve to prevent movement of the inner slide beyond the first open slide position and the second open slide position. 
     
     
         9 . The slide and shell container of  claim 3 , wherein the first compartment of the inner slide includes a plurality of consumer goods and the second compartment of the inner slide is a waste compartment. 
     
     
         10 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the hinge lids includes a front wall. 
     
     
         11 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner slide is formed of a single laminar blank. 
     
     
         12 . The slide and shell container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner slide houses a plurality of smoking articles.