Box and method for manufacturing a box

Abstract

A box (1) having: a group of loose products (2); a container (3) which has a parallelepiped shape, has an extraction opening (4), and houses the group of products (2); a tray (18) which is cup-shaped, is coupled to the container (3) and houses the group of products (2); and a casing (5) which has a parallelepiped shape and houses the container (3) in a sliding manner so as to allow the container (3) to move between a closed position, in which the container (3) is inserted inside the casing (5), and an open position, in which the container (3) is partially extracted from the casing (5) so as to at least partially expose the group of products (2). The tray (18) has a central tank (19), where the group of products (2) is arranged and which has: a lower wall (21 ), a front wall (22) and a rear wall (23) opposite each other, and two side walls (24) opposite each other. The front wall (22) of the tank (19) forms, with the lower wall (21 ) of the tank (19), a first obtuse angle (α) greater than 110° and preferably greater than 120°.

Description

[0001] BOX AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BOX

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000021049 filed on September 20, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] Technical Field

[0005] The present invention relates to a box with sliding opening for a group of loose products, in particular pouches, each containing a quantity of a loose product (i.e. a product that is not compact).

[0006] The present invention can be advantageously applied to a box of snus pouches (i.e. permeable pouches, each containing a prepackaged quantity of a loose, moist, nicotine-based product for oral use), to which the following discussion will make explicit reference without any loss of generality.

[0007] Alternatively, loose products can be understood as products of the food field such as candies, confections or tea bags, or products of the pharmaceutical filed.

[0008] Prior Art

[0009] Patent application WO2021079335A1 describes a box with a sliding opening for a group of snus pouches and comprising: a container having an upper extraction opening and housing the group of snus pouches, a tubular casing that houses the container in a sliding manner so as to allow the container to slide relative to the tubular casing to move with a linear movement between a closed position in which the container is inserted inside the tubular casing and an open position in which the container is partially extracted from the tubular casing so as to at least partially expose the extraction opening, and a closing label that is fixed in a resticking manner to the container so as to open and close the extraction opening and has an end integral with the tubular casing.

[0010] The container is longer than the tubular casing so that the user can grasp the front wall of the container when the container is in the closed position and then pull the container out of the tubular casing and towards the open position. However, this opening mode is not always so convenient and simple, especially when the user does not have excellent manual skills. Furthermore, gripping the snus pouches through the extraction opening is not always so easy and often forces inserting one's fingers inside the extraction opening, consequently touching not only the snus pouch to be withdrawn, but also (involuntarily and accidentally) the other snus pouches.

[0011] Patent application JP2015151153A describes a box for sweets provided with a container that supports the sweets and with a casing that houses the container in a sliding manner so as to allow the container to move through a front opening of the casing between a closed position in which the container is completely inserted inside the casing and an open position in which the container is partially extracted from the casing to at least partially expose the sweets.

[0012] Description of the Invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a box with sliding opening for a group of pouches, each containing a quantity of a loose product, which box is free from the aforementioned drawbacks and, at the same time, is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a box with sliding opening for a group of pouches, each containing a quantity of a loose product, is provided as claimed in the appended claims.

[0015] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

[0016] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting example embodiments thereof, wherein:

[0018] • Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an upper perspective view and a lower perspective view of a box with sliding opening, in a closed position and which is the subject matter of the present invention;

[0019] • Figure 3 is an upper perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of the box of Figures 1 and 2 in an open position;

[0020] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of the box of Figures 1 and 2; • Figure 5 is a perspective view of a container of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0021] • Figures 6 and 7 are respectively an upper and lower perspective view of a tray of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0022] • Figure 8 is a perspective view of a closing label and of a support sheet of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0023] • Figure 9 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture a casing of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0024] • Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture a container of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0025] • Figure 11 is a plan view of a variant of the blank of Figure 10;

[0026] • Figure 12 is a perspective view of a variant of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0027] • Figure 13 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture a casing of the box of Figure 12;

[0028] • Figure 14 is a perspective view of a further variant of the box of Figures 1 and 2;

[0029] • Figure 15 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture a casing of the box of Figure 14;

[0030] • Figure 16 is a plan view of a blank used to manufacture a container of the box of Figure 14; and

[0031] • Figures 17-22 are a series of perspective and schematic views illustrating the manufacturing of the box of Figures 1 and 2.

[0032] Preferred Embodiments Of The Invention

[0033] In Figures 1 , 2 and 3, the number 1 indicates, as a whole, a box with sliding opening for a group of snus pouches 2 (illustrated in Figures 17 and 18), each of which contains a quantity of snus therein, i.e. of a loose and preferably moist, tobacco and / or nicotine-based product for oral use. That is, the box 1 comprises a group of snus pouches 2 housed in the box 1 .

[0034] A loose product is a product that does not have a defined shape, that is, a product without a shape thereof and that therefore adapts to the shape of the container containing it. A loose product can be liquid or gelatinous or granular. In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the snus is a loose product (i.e. without a defined shape) of granular type.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the snus pouches 2 have in plan a rectangular shape, but according to other embodiments the snus pouch 2 could have in plan different and more or less regular shapes, for example a circular shape, a triangular shape, a heart shape, a polygonal shape.

[0036] The box 1 comprises a (rigid) container 3 which has a parallelepiped shape, has a front extraction opening 4, and houses the group of products 2, and a (tubular) casing 5 which has a parallelepiped shape, comprises a front opening 15 and houses the container 3 in a sliding manner so as to allow the container 3 to move between the front opening 15 between a closed position, in which the container 3 is inserted inside the casing 5 so as to prevent the extraction opening 4 from being accessed, and an open position, in which the container 3 is partially extracted from the casing 5 so as to at least partially expose the group of products 2.

[0037] In other words, the casing 5 houses the container 3 in a sliding manner so as to allow the container 3 to slide relative to the casing 5 to move with a linear movement (i.e. along a rectilinear sliding direction D) between a closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) in which the container 3 is (completely or almost completely) inserted inside the casing 5 and an open position (illustrated in Figure 3) in which the container 3 is partially extracted from the casing 5 so as to at least partially expose the extraction opening 4 (and therefore allow gripping the snus pouches 2 through the extraction opening 4).

[0038] According to an embodiment, the box 1 , and in particular the container 3, comprises a closing label 6 which is fixed, in a re-sticking manner, to the container 3 so as to open and close the extraction opening 4 several times and has an end 7 integral (visible in Figures 4 and 8) with the casing 5. The closing label 6 is fixed by means of non-drying re-sticking glue, which is applied to the inner surface of the closing label 6 (i.e. the surface of the closing label 6 facing the container 3) and is arranged all around the extraction opening 4 so as to allow the closing label 6 to be partially separated several times (i.e. upon each opening of the box 1 ) and then fixed again. According to a preferred embodiment, the closing label 6 has the end 7 (visible in Figures 4 and 8) lacking the re-sticking glue and is permanently and non- detachably glued to an inner surface of the casing 5 so as to move the closing label 6 by exploiting the movement of the lid 3 relative to the casing 5. Preferably, the end 7 of the closing label 6 is folded 180° (i.e. it is folded in a "U"-shape) against the remaining part of the closing label 6.

[0039] According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the closing label 6 is not present.

[0040] According to what is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the container 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprises an upper wall 8 (through which the through extraction opening 4 is obtained) and a lower wall 9 parallel to and opposite each other (and parallel to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5), a front wall 10 and a rear wall 11 parallel to and opposite each other (and perpendicular to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5), and two side walls 12 parallel to and opposite each other (and parallel to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5). Two front transverse edges having a rounded shape (in particular a quarter circle) are defined between the front wall 10 and the side walls 12 of the container 3; similarly, two rear transverse edges having a rounded shape (in particular a quarter circle) are defined between the rear wall 11 and the side walls 12 of the container 3.

[0041] According to what is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the casing 5 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and comprises an upper wall 13 and a lower wall 14 parallel to and opposite each other (and parallel to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5), a front opening 15 (through which the container 3 can slide and which replaces a front wall) and a rear wall 16 parallel to and opposite each other (and perpendicular to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5), and two side walls 17 parallel and opposite each other (and parallel to the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5). In other words, the container 3 engages the front opening 15 of the casing 5 to move between the closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) and the open position (illustrated in Figure 3). Two rear transverse edges having a rounded shape (in particular a quarter circle) are defined between the rear wall 16 and the side walls 17 of the casing 5.

[0042] According to what is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the box 1 comprises a tray 18 which is cup-shaped, is coupled to the container 3 (i.e. is inserted inside the container 3) and houses the group of snus pouches 2; i.e. the group of snus pouches 2 is inside the tray 18 which is inserted into the container 3 through the extraction opening 4 of the container 3. In other words, the group of snus pouches 2 is inside the tray 18 and in turn the tray 18 is inside the container 3. Therefore, the group of snus pouches 2 is not in direct contact with the walls of the container 3 since the tray 18 is interposed between the group of snus pouches 2 and the container 3. The tray 18 comprises a (central, containment) tank 19 in which the group of snus pouches 2 is arranged and a flat edge 20 (rectangular in shape) which surrounds the tank 19 on all sides and is rested (preferably glued) on the upper wall 8 of the container 3 around the extraction opening 4.

[0043] The tank 19 of the tray 18 comprises a lower wall 21 facing and parallel to the lower wall 9 of the container 3, a front wall 22 and a rear wall 23 opposite each other and facing the front wall 10 and the rear wall 11 of the container 3, respectively, and two side walls 24 opposite each other and facing and parallel to the side walls 12 of the container 3. The front wall 22 of the tank 19 of the tray 18 forms an obtuse angle a (i.e. greater than 90°) with the lower wall 21 , while the rear wall 23 of the tank 19 of the tray 18 forms an obtuse angle [3 with the lower wall 21 that is less than the angle a; i.e. the front wall 22 has a greater inclination relative to the lower wall 21 of the rear wall 23. According to a preferred embodiment, the angle a ranges from 120° to 160° (or ranges from 130° to 150°) and preferably is 140°, while the angle [3 ranges from 90° to 110° and preferably is 95°; more in general, the angle a is greater than 110° and preferably greater than 120°.

[0044] According to a different embodiment not illustrated, the two walls 22 and 23 of the tank 19 have the same inclination relative to the lower wall 21 (i.e. the two angles a and [3 are equal); in this embodiment, the two angles a and [3 range from 90° to 110° and preferably are 95°.

[0045] The closing label 6 is fixed (with the interposition of a support sheet 25) to the flat edge 20 of the tray 18. In other words, according to a preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the closing label 6 is not directly rested (glued) on the edge 20 of the tray 18, but the support sheet 25 is provided which has a through hole (which reproduces a partial upper shape of the tank 19) and is interposed between the closing label 6 and the edge 20 of the tray 18; in other words, the support sheet 25 has a lower surface glued to the edge 20 of the tray 18 and an upper surface on which the closing label 6 rests in a re-sticking manner. Therefore, the re-sticking glue of the closing label 6 is not coupled to the edge 20 of the tray 18 (which consists of a paper-based material that is poorly suited to re-sticking) but is coupled to the support sheet 25 (which consists of a material designed to facilitate re-sticking).

[0046] According to what is illustrated in Figure 2, the casing 5 has a push opening 26 that extends centrally in both the rear wall 16 and in the lower wall 14 of the casing 5; preferably, the push opening 26 extends over the entire rear wall 16 of the casing 5 (i.e., it crosses the entire rear wall 16 from one edge to the other, reaching up to a small piece of the upper wall 13) and extends over only part of the lower wall 14 of the casing 5 (in particular over about half of the lower wall 14). In use, the user grasps the outer casing 5 with one hand and with a finger of the same hand or with a finger of the other hand pushes on the rear wall 11 of the container 3 through the push opening 26 of the casing 5 to push the container 3 partially out of the casing 5. Preferably, the two opposite ends of the push opening 26 have a rounded shape.

[0047] Thanks to the presence of the push opening 26, the casing 5 has the same longitudinal dimension, i.e. measured along the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5, of the container 3 and therefore, when the container 3 is in the closed position (illustrated in Figures 1 and 2), the front wall 10 of the container 3 does not exit from the casing 5 and the container 3 is entirely (completely) contained inside the casing 5.

[0048] Such a variant embodiment allows opening the box 1 even with just one hand.

[0049] According to a preferred but non-binding embodiment clearly visible in Figure 4, the box 1 comprises a locking system that limits the maximum extraction of the container 3 from the casing 5, i.e. it blocks the extraction stroke of the container 3 from the casing 5, establishing a maximum opening position. The locking system comprises a pair of locking tabs 27 carried by the container 3 and a corresponding pair of locking tabs 28 carried by the casing 5.

[0050] In particular, a locking tab 28 is connected to the front edge of each side wall 17 of the casing 5, such tab protrudes towards the inside of the casing 5 and is adapted, during the extraction of the container 3, to couple with a corresponding locking tab 27 of the container s so as to limit the extraction stroke of the container 3 and prevent the complete exit of the container 3 from the casing 5. Each side wall 12 of the container 3 carries a respective cut-out locking tab 27, which projects towards the outside of the container 3.

[0051] According to what is illustrated in Figure 9, the casing 5 is manufactured by folding a flat blank 29 consisting of cardboard or rigid paperboard and having a substantially elongated rectangular shape. The blank 29 comprises two preweakened transverse folding lines 30 and a plurality of pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines 31 defining, between the two transverse folding lines 30, a side wall 17, the upper wall 13, the other side wall 17, the lower wall 14, and a connecting tab 32 which is folded by 90° relative to the lower wall 14 and is glued to an inner surface of a side wall 17.

[0052] The blank 29 comprises a reinforcing tab 33 which is connected to the lower wall 14 along a transverse folding line 30 and is folded by 180° so as to be glued to the inner surface of the lower wall 14 and thus stiffen the lower wall 14 at the front opening 15. The blank 29 comprises a reinforcing tab 34 which is connected to the upper wall 13 along a transverse folding line 30 and is folded by 180° so as to be glued to the inner surface of the upper wall 13 and thus stiffen the upper wall 13 at the front opening 15. The blank 29 comprises the two locking tabs 28, each connected to a respective side wall 17 along a transverse folding line 30 and is folded by 180° to be rested (but not glued) on the inner surface of the side wall 17.

[0053] The blank 29 comprises the rear wall 16 which is divided in two halves by the presence of the push opening 26 and is connected to the upper wall 13 along a transverse folding line 30 on the opposite side of the reinforcing tab 34. The blank 29 comprises a connecting tab 35 that is divided in two halves by the presence of push opening 26, is connected to the lower wall 14 along a transverse folding line 30 on the opposite side of the reinforcing tab 33, and is folded by 90° relative to the lower wall 14 to be glued to an inner surface of the rear wall 16. The blank 29 comprises two connecting tabs 36, each connected to a respective side wall 17 along a transverse folding line 30 on the opposite side of a corresponding locking tab 28, and is folded by 90° relative to the side wall 17 so as to be glued to an inner surface of the rear wall 16.

[0054] Each side wall 17 near the corresponding connecting tab 36 has a plurality of transverse folding lines 30 arranged close to one another so as to allow the side wall 12 to assume a rounded fold and thus define a rounded rear transverse edge. In particular, the side walls 12 at the rounded transverse edges (i.e. at the plurality of transverse folding lines 38) have a greater transverse width equal to twice a thickness of the blank 37.

[0055] According to what is illustrated in Figure 10, the container 3 is manufactured by folding a blank 37 consisting of cardboard or rigid paperboard and having a substantially elongated rectangular shape. The blank 37 comprises two preweakened transverse folding lines 38 and a plurality of pre-weakened longitudinal folding lines 39 defining, between the two transverse folding lines 38, a side wall 12, the upper wall 8 having the extraction opening 4, the other side wall 12, the lower wall 9, and a connecting tab 40 which is folded by 90° relative to the lower wall 9 and is glued to an inner surface of a side wall 12.

[0056] The blank 37 comprises the front wall 11 which is connected to the upper wall 8 along a transverse folding line 38 and a connecting tab 41 which is connected to the lower wall 9 along a transverse folding line 38 and is folded 90° relative to the lower wall 9 to be glued to an inner surface of the front wall 11. Similarly, the blank 37 comprises the rear wall 10 which is connected to the upper wall 8 along a transverse folding line 38 on the opposite side of the rear wall 11 and a connecting tab 42 which is connected to the lower wall 9 along a transverse folding line 38 on the opposite side of the connecting tab 41 and is folded by 90° relative to the lower wall 9 to be glued to an inner surface of the rear wall 10.

[0057] The blank 37 comprises four connecting tabs 43, each connected to a respective side wall 12 along a transverse folding line 38 and is folded by 90° relative to the side wall 12 to be glued to an inner surface of the front wall 11 or the rear wall 10.

[0058] Each side wall 12 near the corresponding connecting tab 43 has a plurality of transverse folding lines 38 arranged close to one another so as to allow the side wall 12 to assume a rounded fold and thus define a rounded transverse edge.

[0059] Figure 11 illustrates a variant of the blank 37 illustrated in Figure 10, in which the side walls 12 at the rounded transverse edges (i.e. at the plurality of transverse folding lines 38) have a greater transverse width (i.e. a greater dimension measured transversely, i.e. parallel to the transverse folding lines 38) so that the ends of each side wall 12 rest on the rounded edges of the upper wall 8 and the lower wall 9 when the rounded transverse edges are folded; thanks to this expedient, the folding of the rounded transverse edges is more precise, i.e. it more precisely follows a perfectly circular shape, since, during the folding, the side walls 12 are not free but rest on the rounded edges of the upper wall 8 and the lower wall 9 which therefore give the side walls 12 a perfectly rounded shape.

[0060] Figure 12 illustrates a variant of the box 1 , in which the transverse edges of the container 3 and the casing 5 are rounded, but the push opening 26 is not present. The function of the push opening 26 is replaced by a longitudinal shortening, i.e. along the sliding direction D of the container 3 relative to the casing 5, of the casing 5, which leaves uncovered a front portion of the container 3 also in the closed position (illustrated in Figure 12); consequently, a user can grasp with his / her fingers the front portion of the container 3 which exits from the casing 5 also in the closed position (illustrated in Figure 12) and therefore can pull the container 3 out of the casing 5. Figure 13 illustrates the blank 29 used to manufacture the casing 5 of the box 1 of Figure 12. The blank 37 used to manufacture the container 3 of the box 1 of Figure 12 is identical to the blank 37 illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 .

[0061] Figure 14 illustrates a variant of the box 1 , in which the transverse edges of the container 3 and the casing 5 are straight and the push opening 26 is present. Figure 15 illustrates the blank 29 used to manufacture the casing 5 of the box 1 of Figure 14. Figure 16 illustrates the blank 37 used to manufacture the container 3 of the box 1 of Figure 14.

[0062] With reference to Figures 17-22, the method for manufacturing a box 1 is described below.

[0063] Initially and as illustrated in Figure 17, the group of snus pouches 2 is inserted into the tank 19 of the tray 18.

[0064] Subsequently and as illustrated in Figure 17, the closing label 6 is glued to the edge 20 of the tray 18 with the interposition of the support sheet 25.

[0065] At the same time or subsequently, a blank 37 is folded to form the container 3; once the container 3 is formed and as illustrated in Figure 19, the upper wall 8 of the container 3 is provided with some points of glue 44 intended to glue the edge 20 of the tray 18 and the lower wall 9 of the container 3 is provided with some points of glue 45 intended to glue the lower wall 21 of the tank 19 of the tray 18. At this point, the tray 18 is coupled from above to the container 3, inserting the tank 19 through the extraction opening 4 (so as to rest the lower wall 21 of the tank 19 on the lower wall 9 of the container 3 to which it is glued by the effect of the glue 45); in this operation, the edge 20 of the tray 18 rests on the upper wall 8 of the container 3 to which it is glued by the effect of the glue 44.

[0066] In accordance with a variant embodiment, the lower wall 21 of the tank 19 could not rest on the lower wall 9 of the container 3, i.e. the lower wall 21 of the tank 19 could be spaced from the lower wall 9 of the container 3; in such embodiment the glue 45 would not be provided and the tray 18 would be inserted into the container 3, carrying the edge 20 of the tray 18 to rest on the upper wall 8 of the container 3.

[0067] In accordance with a further variant embodiment, the tray 18 could not be glued to the container. In particular, the tray 18 and the container 3 could be mutually shaped so as to couple by interlocking; for example, the tray 18 could be coupled by interference to the container 3.

[0068] Subsequently and as illustrated in Figures 20, 21 and 22, a blank 29 is folded to form the casing 5 having the front opening 15 through which the container 3 coupled to the tray 18 is inserted. Before inserting the container 3 coupled to the tray 18 into the casing 5 and as illustrated in Figure 22, the end 7 of the closing label 6 is provided with some points of glue 46 intended to glue the end 7 to an inner surface of the upper wall 13 of the casing 5.

[0069] Before inserting the container 3 coupled to the tray 18 into the casing 5 and as illustrated in Figure 22, the locking tabs 28 of the casing 5 are folded by 90° so as to be arranged at the front opening 15 of the casing 5 and then folded by a further 90° against the side walls 17 of the casing 5 from the inlet of the container 3 coupled to the tray 18.

[0070] According to a possible embodiment, the blank 29 is initially folded in a tube-like manner, i.e. to assume a flattened tubular shape (illustrated in Figure 20), overlapping and gluing the connecting tab 32 to an inner surface of the corresponding side wall 17; subsequently, the flattened tubular-shaped blank 29 is erected (by rotating the two opposite side walls 17 by 90° relative to the upper and lower walls 13 and 14 as illustrated in Figures 21 and 22) and is then filled by inserting the container 3 coupled to the tray 18 longitudinally (i.e. along the sliding direction D).

[0071] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the pouches 2 contain respective quantities of snus; alternatively, the pouches 2 contain respective quantities of a loose product different from snus (for example tea or other mixtures of powdered herbs for infusions or for other uses). In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the box 1 contains a group of pouches 2; alternatively, the box 1 comprises a group of loose products which can also be different from the pouches.

[0072] The embodiments described herein can be combined with one another.

[0073] The box 1 described in the foregoing has numerous advantages.

[0074] Firstly, the box 1 described above guarantees an easy, intuitive and comfortable opening (even when the user does not have excellent manual skills) thanks to the presence of the push opening 26 (obviously in the embodiments in which the push opening 26 is present).

[0075] Furthermore, in the box 1 described above, the gripping of a snus pouch 2 is particularly simple and fast because the particular inclination and size of the front wall 22 of the tank 19 of the tray 18 tends to make the snus pouches 2 (possibly facilitated by some small jolt applied to the box 1 ) slide towards the extraction opening 4, closer to the extraction opening 4, putting them in an entirely convenient position to be grasped individually; therefore the user can very simply grasp only the snus pouch 2 he / she wants to take without (involuntarily and accidentally) also touching the other snus pouches 2. In particular (possibly facilitated by some small jolt applied to the box 1 ), some snus pouches 2 rest on the front wall 22 of the tank 19 of the tray 18 arranged in an optimal position to be easily grasped by the user. Consequently, in the box 1 described above, to extract a snus pouch 2, the user can only touch the snus pouch 2 to be extracted without running the risk of accidentally touching the other snus pouches 2. Obviously, this advantage is present in embodiments in which the front wall 22 of the tank 19 of the tray 18 has an increased inclination (and therefore an increased dimension).

[0076] Finally, the box 1 described above is simple and cost-effective to manufacture also because it can be easily automated.

[0077] LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS OF THE FIGURES

[0078] 1 box

[0079] 2 snus pouch

[0080] 3 container extraction opening

[0081] 5 casing

[0082] 6 closing label

[0083] 7 end

[0084] 8 upper wall

[0085] 9 lower wall

[0086] 10 front wall

[0087] 11 rear wall

[0088] 12 side walls

[0089] 13 upper wall

[0090] 14 lower wall

[0091] 15 front opening

[0092] 16 rear wall

[0093] 17 side walls

[0094] 18 tray

[0095] 19 tank

[0096] 20 end

[0097] 21 lower wall

[0098] 22 front wall

[0099] 23 rear wall

[0100] 24 side walls

[0101] 25 support sheet

[0102] 26 push opening 27 locking tab

[0103] 28 locking tab

[0104] 29 blank

[0105] 30 transverse folding lines

[0106] 31 longitudinal folding lines

[0107] 32 connecting tab

[0108] 33 reinforcing tab

[0109] 34 reinforcing tab

[0110] 35 connecting tab

[0111] 36 connecting tab

[0112] 37 blank

[0113] 38 transverse folding lines

[0114] 39 longitudinal folding lines

[0115] 40 connecting tab

[0116] 41 connecting tab

[0117] 42 connecting tab

[0118] 43 connecting tab

[0119] 44 glue

[0120] 45 glue

[0121] 46 glue

[0122] D sliding direction

Claims

1 ) A box (1 ) comprising: a group of loose products (2), in particular pouches (2), preferably each containing a quantity of snus; a container (3), which has a parallelepiped shape, has an extraction opening (4) and houses the group of products (2); a tray (18), which is cup-shaped, is at least partially inserted in the extraction opening (4) of the container (3) and houses the group of products (2); and a casing (5), which has a parallelepiped shape, comprises a front opening (15) and houses the container (3) in a sliding manner so as to allow the container (3) to move between a closed position, in which the container (3) is inserted inside the casing (5) so as to prevent the extraction opening (4) from being accessed, and an open position, in which the container (3) is partially extracted from the casing (5) so as to at least partially expose the group of products (2); wherein the tray (18) comprises a tank (19), where the group of products (2) is arranged and which has: a lower wall (21 ), a front wall (22) and a rear wall (23) opposite each other and two side walls (24) opposite each other; the box (1 ) is characterized in that the front wall (22) of the tank (19) of the tray (18) forms, with the lower wall (21 ) of the tank (19) of the tray (18), a first obtuse angle (a) greater than 110° and preferably greater than 120°.2) The box (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle (a) is greater than 130° and preferably is 140°.3) The box (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first angle (a) ranges from 120° to 160° and preferably ranges from 130° to 150°.4) The box (1) according to one of the claims from 1 to 3, wherein the rear wall (23) of the tank (19) forms, with the lower wall (21 ) of the tank (19), a second obtuse angle (|3), which is smaller than the first angle (a).5) The box (1 ) according to one of the claims from 1 to 4, wherein: the container (3) comprises: an upper wall (8), through which the extraction through opening (4) is obtained, and a lower wall (9), which are parallel to andopposite each other, a front wall (10) and a rear wall (11 ), which are parallel to and opposite each other, and two side walls (12), which are parallel to and opposite each other; the tray (18) is housed in the container (3) so that the lower wall (21 ) of the tank(19) faces the lower wall (9) of the container (3), the front wall (22) and the rear wall (23) of the tank (19) face the front wall (10) and the rear wall (11 ) of the container (3), respectively, and the side walls (24) of the tank (19) face the side walls (12) of the container (3).6) The box (1 ) according to claim 5, wherein the tray (18) comprises a flat edge(20), which surrounds the tank (19), preferably on all sides, and is arranged so as to rest against, preferably be fixed to, the upper wall (8) of the container (3).7) The box (1 ) according to claim 6 and comprising a closing label (6), which is fixed, in a re-sticking manner, to the edge (20) of the tray (18) so as to open and close the tank (19) of the tray (18); wherein, preferably, the closing label (6) has an end integral with the casing (5).8) The box (1 ) according to claim 7 and comprising a support sheet (25), which has a through hole and is interposed between the closing label (6) and the edge (20) of the tray (18).9) The box (1 ) according to claim 8, wherein the support sheet (25) has a lower surface glued to the edge (20) of the tray (18) and an upper surface, against which the closing label (6) rests in a re-sticking manner.10) The box (1 ) according to one of the claims from 1 to 9, wherein a rear wall (16) of the casing (5) has a push-through opening (26), through which it is possible to press on a rear wall (11 ) of the container (3).11) The box (1 ) according to one of the claims from 1 to 10 and comprising a locking system, which limits the maximum extraction of the container (3) from the casing (5) and comprises a pair of first locking tabs (27) carried by the container (3) and a pair of second locking tabs (28) carried by the casing (5) so that, during the sliding of the container (3) relative to the casing (5), each first locking tab (27) gets coupled to a corresponding second locking tab (28).12) A method for manufacturing a box (1 ) comprising the steps of: providing a group of loose products (2), in particular pouches (2), preferably eachcontaining a quantity of snus; inserting the group of products (2) into a tank (19) of a tray (18); wherein the tank (19) has a lower wall (21 ), a front wall (22), which forms, with the lower wall (21 ), a first obtuse angle (a) greater than 110° and preferably greater than 120°, and a rear wall (23) opposite each other and two side walls (24) opposite each other; folding a first blank (37) to form a container (3), which has a parallelepiped shape and has an extraction opening (4); inserting the tray (18) into the container (3) through the extraction opening (4), preferably until an edge (20) of the tray (18) rests against, in particular is fixed to, an upper wall (8) of the container (3); folding a second blank (29) to form a casing (5), which has a parallelepiped shape, comprises a front opening (15) and is intended to house the container (3) in a sliding manner so as to allow the container (3) to move through the front opening (15) between a closed position, in which the container (3) is inserted inside the casing (5) so as to prevent the group of products (2) contained in the tank (19) of the tray (18) from being accessed, and an open position, in which the container (3) is partially extracted from the casing (5) so as to allow access to the group of products (2) contained in the tank (19) of the tray (18); and inserting the container (3) into the casing (5).13) The manufacturing method according to claim 12 and comprising the steps of: gluing a closing label (6) to the edge (20) of the tray (18), preferably with the interposition of a support sheet (25), before inserting the tray (18) into the container (3); preferably applying a glue (46) to an end (7) of the closing label (6), before inserting the container (3) coupled to the tray (18) into the casing (5), and gluing, by means of the glue (46), the end (7) of the closing label (6) to an inner surface of an upper wall (13) of the casing (5), when the container (3) coupled to the tray (18) is inserted into the casing (5).14) The manufacturing method according to claim 12 or 13 and comprising the steps of:initially folding the second blank (29) in a tube-like manner to give the second blank (29) a flattened tubular shape by overlapping and gluing a connecting tab (32) to an inner surface of a corresponding side wall (17); and subsequently erecting the second blank (29) with a flattened tubular shape by having two opposite side walls (17) rotate relative to the upper and lower walls(13, 14) by 90°.

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