Hinge lid container with audible indication of closing

Abstract

A hinge lid container ( 10 ) for consumer goods comprises: a box ( 12 ) comprising a box front wall ( 16 ) having a cut out portion ( 30 ) therein; an inner frame ( 34 ) mounted within the box ( 12 ) and comprising a frame front wall ( 36 ), wherein a portion of the frame front wall is exposed through the cut out portion ( 30 ) in the box front wall ( 16 ); a spacer element ( 40 ) arranged between the box ( 12 ) and the inner frame ( 34 ) and providing separation between the box front wall ( 16 ) and the frame front wall ( 36 ); and a hinge lid ( 14 ) connected to the box. The hinge lid ( 14 ) is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and comprises a lid flap ( 32 ) hingedly connected to the lid front wall ( 16 a ) and folded inwardly towards the inner surface of the lid front wall.

1 . A hinge lid container for consumer goods comprising:
 a box comprising a box front wall having a cut out portion therein;   an inner frame mounted within the box and comprising a frame front wall, wherein a portion of the frame front wall is exposed through the cut out portion in the box front wall;   a spacer element arranged between the box and the inner frame and providing separation between the box front wall and the frame front wall; and   a hinge lid connected to the box along a hinge line and pivotable about the hinge line between a closed position and an open position, wherein the hinge lid comprises a lid front wall and a lid flap hingedly connected to the lid front wall and folded inwardly towards the inner surface of the lid front wall   wherein when the hinge lid is in the closed position the lid front wall overlies the cut out portion in the box front wall and wherein during pivotal movement of the hinge lid from the open position to the closed position, at least a part of the lid flap slides along the box front wall and into the cut out portion in the box front wall.   
     
     
         2 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein in the closed position of the hinge lid at least a part of the lid flap engages with an edge of the cut out portion to lock the hinge lid in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 2  wherein as the hinge lid is moved from the closed position to the open position the lid flap is released from engagement with the edge of the cut out portion. 
     
     
         4 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein the spacer element comprises a spacer panel connected to the box front wall along a hinge line extending across an edge of the box front wall. 
     
     
         5 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 4  wherein the spacer panel is connected to the frame front wall and wherein the spacer panel and the box front wall are connected along the hinge line only. 
     
     
         6 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 4  wherein the spacer panel comprises a cut out portion and wherein the cut out portion in the spacer panel substantially coincides with the cut out portion in the box front wall. 
     
     
         7 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid flap comprises a first lid flap portion and a second lid flap portion, wherein the first lid flap portion extends beyond the second lid flap portion such that during the pivotal movement of the hinge lid towards the closed position the first lid flap portion slides into the cut out portion before the second lid flap portion, thereby generating two successive sounds. 
     
     
         8 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein the box front wall comprises a first cut out portion and a second cut out portion vertically offset from the first cut out portion and wherein the hinge lid comprises a first lid flap portion and a second lid flap portion, wherein the first lid flap portion slides into the first cut out portion at a different time to when the second lid flap portion slides into the second cut out portion, thereby generating two successive sounds. 
     
     
         9 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 8  wherein the first lid flap portion extends beyond the second lid flap portion and wherein the first cut out portion is provided above the second cut out portion. 
     
     
         10 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein in the closed position of the hinge lid the lid flap lies between the box front wall and the frame front wall. 
     
     
         11 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  wherein the lid flap is attached to the inner surface of the lid front wall and wherein the lid flap comprises a cut line forming a retention tab connected to the lid flap along a hinge line and projecting away from the lid flap, wherein during pivotal movement of the hinge lid towards the closed position the retention tab slides along the box front wall and into the cut out portion in the box front wall. 
     
     
         12 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1  containing a plurality of smoking articles. 
     
     
         13 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 1 , wherein the lid flap generates a sound when the container is closed or the lid flap generates a sound when the container is opened or the lid flap generates a sound when the container is closed and when the container is opened 
     
     
         14 . A method of creating a sound with a hinge lid container, comprising the steps of providing a hinge lid container comprising a lid with a lid flap and a box front wall with a front wall cut out, wherein the cut out comprises a cut out bottom wall;
 providing a spacer panel between the front wall cut out and the cut out bottom wall; and   closing the container such that the lid flap slides into the cut out, thereby generating a sound when the lid flap strikes the cut out bottom wall.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of
 opening the container such that the lid flap comes into an interlocking position with the edge of the front wall cut out before the lid is fully opened and wherein the lid flap generates a second sound when the lid flap is released from the interlocking position when further opening the lid.   
     
     
         16 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 5  wherein the spacer panel comprises a cut out portion and wherein the cut out portion in the spacer panel substantially coincides with the cut out portion in the box front wall. 
     
     
         17 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 2  wherein the spacer element comprises a spacer panel connected to the box front wall along a hinge line extending across an edge of the box front wall. 
     
     
         18 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 17  wherein the spacer panel is connected to the frame front wall and wherein the spacer panel and the box front wall are connected along the hinge line only. 
     
     
         19 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 3  wherein the spacer element comprises a spacer panel connected to the box front wall along a hinge line extending across an edge of the box front wall. 
     
     
         20 . A hinge lid container according to  claim 19  wherein the spacer panel is connected to the frame front wall and wherein the spacer panel and the box front wall are connected along the hinge line only.