Package including access opening with closure flap

Abstract

A package ( 110 ) for cigarettes comprises a box ( 112 ) comprising a front wall ( 114 ), a rear wall ( 116 ), a bottom wall ( 122 ), opposed side walls ( 118, 118′ ) and a top wall ( 120 ) having an opening ( 124 ) therein for accessing the cigarettes ( 146 ) in the package, in which the opening extends across the top wall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of the access opening is spaced apart from the rear edge ( 132 ) and the side edges of the top wall so that the top wall extends around the rear ( 126 ) and sides ( 128, 128′ ) of the opening. A closure flap ( 130 ) moveable between a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered extends from the rear wall of the package. A blank for such a pack is also disclosed.

1 . A package for consumer goods comprising a box, the box comprising:
 a front wall;   a rear wall opposed to the front wall;   a bottom wall;   opposed side walls;   a top wall having an opening therein for accessing the consumer goods in the package, the opening extends across the top wall from the front edge thereof and wherein the periphery of the access opening is spaced apart from the rear edge and the side edges of the top wall so that the top wall extends around the rear and sides of the opening; and   a flap hinged to the rear wall along the top edge of the rear wall moveable between a closed position in which the flap covers the opening and an open position in which the opening is uncovered.   
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the opening also extends part way down the front wall from the front edge of the top wall and in which the flap comprises a top flap portion that overlies the top wall when the flap is in the closed position and a front flap portion that at least partly overlies the front wall when the flap is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . A package according  claim 1  in which the opening extends over no more than 80 percent of the depth of the top wall from the front edge of the top wall towards the rear edge thereof. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the surface area of the opening in the top wall of the housing is no more than 70 percent of the top of the package. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the surface area of the opening is at least 5 percent of the surface area of the top of the package. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to  claim 1  formed of a single laminar blank. 
     
     
         7 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the flap can be received behind the front wall of the housing in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the flap includes a resealable adhesive on at least a portion of the inner surface thereof so that the closure flap can be resealably affixed to the front wall of the package in the closed position, or in which the flap can be received in a slit or cut out in the front wall of the package in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . A package according to  claim 1  in which the top wall comprises an upper top wall panel extending from the front wall of the housing and including an integral rear portion and side portions and a pair of lower top wall panels extending from the top edges of the side walls of the housing and underlying the side portions of the upper top wall panel. 
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 1  containing a bundle of smoking articles within the box. 
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1  comprising a package according to any preceding claim in an outer housing. 
     
     
         12 . A laminar blank for a package according to  claim 1 , the blank comprising:
 a box-defining portion including a front wall panel, a rear wall panel, first and second side wall panels and a top wall panel including an opening, in which the opening extends from the front edge of the top wall panel and in which the top wall panel extends around the back and sides of the opening; and   a flap hinged to the rear wall panel of the box-defining portion along the top edge of the rear wall panel.   
     
     
         13 . A blank according to  claim 12  comprising:
 a front wall panel; 
 an outer side wall panel extending from each of two opposed edges of the front wall panel; 
 a top wall panel extending from an edge of the front wall panel having an opening therein extending from the edge of the front wall panel; 
 a bottom wall panel extending from an edge of the front wall panel opposite the top wall panel; 
 a side wall tab extending from each of two opposed edges of the bottom wall panel; 
 a rear wall panel extending from an edge of the bottom wall panel opposite the front wall panel; 
 an inner side wall panel extending from each of two opposed edges of the rear wall panel; and 
 a closure flap panel extending from the edge of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel, 
 the panels and tabs being defined from each other by fold lines. 
 
     
     
         14 . A blank according to  claim 13  in which the closure flap panel comprises:
 a top wall closure panel extending from the panel edge of the rear wall panel opposite the bottom wall panel; and 
 a front wall closure panel extending from the edge of the top wall closure panel opposite the rear wall panel. 
 
     
     
         15 . A blank according to  claim 13  in which the front wall panel has an opening contiguous with the opening in the top wall panel.