IL137530A

IL137530A - Integral cigarette and match box

Info

Publication number: IL137530A
Application number: IL13753000A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Nir Yakobov; Assaf Yakobov; Asher Shoshani Doron
Priority date: 2000-07-26
Filing date: 2000-07-26
Publication date: 2004-05-12
Also published as: AU2001228776A1; WO2002007544A1; IL137530A0

Description

nvm ^ ivi awN fiva Integral cigarette and match box Nir YAKOBOV Assaf YAKOBOV Asher SHOSHANI DORON C. 126746 INTEGRAL CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to designs of cigarette boxes integrally accommodating matches for lighting cigarettes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The integration of a cigarette box with a cheap disposable means for lighting cigarettes promises additional convenience for smokers. Designs of this kind are disclosed, for example, in the following patent publications: FR 2686228 and DE 29711507 add a compartment to a cigarette box to accommodate common wooden matches; DE 3208363 and DE 3344198 attach matches to the lateral or back walls of a cigarette box; US 4962850, FR 2354061 and DE 3613780 attach matches to the inside of the cigarette box lid; GB 2294683 adds a special flap to a cigarette box to hide a score of flat cardboard matches ; US 4887711 introduces a panel moving along the rear wall of the box with each opening of the lid to expose a group of flat matches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a cigarette box with a lid, sides and a bottom, and with edges binding outer surfaces of these 137530/2 - 2 - sides, lid and bottom. The box has a striking pad and a plurality of matches in the form of elongated flat strips with inflammable heads, the strips being detachably attached to each other in a row. Each strip has an outer surface exposed to the user, an inner surface hidden from the user, a free end from which the detachment of matches by tearing should start, and a non-free end attached to at least one of the outer surfaces. The heads are spaced from the free end and are located on the inner surface of the strip.

The free end is preferably adjacent to or overhanging one of the box edges for easier pick-up. The free end is also secured to the box surface but by a detachable tentative bonding applied with small offset from the edge. Preferably, the row of matches is attached to the box lid.

The row of matches may be manufactured from a separate carton blank and fixed to the cigarette box, or may be manufactured from a single carton blank together with the box. The striking pad may be attached to any free location of the box, preferably to the back side of the lid.

In one embodiment of the invention, the match heads are disposed along the non-free end of the row, allowing the smoker to use the match immediately after tearing it off, without fumbling it in his/her fingers. In another embodiment, the match strips are folded so that the match heads are located in a sheltered position between the upper portion of the strip and the lid's associated surface.

With the design of the present invention matches are easy to pick up as they are on the outer surface of the box, overall dimensions of the standard box may be preserved, decoration and other images on the box surface are not compromised, and cellophane or other wrappers are opened in the regular way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs, lb and lb are perspective views of two cigarette box lids with integral matches according to the present invention.

Figs. 2a to 2f present a number of sectional views for various versions of attaching matches to a cigarette box lid according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a single carton blank for cigarette box with matches according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Fig. la, a carton cigarette box 10 is presented, having a hinged lid 12 with a top 14, front 16, back 17 and lateral sides 18, edges 19 binding outer surfaces of these sides and a plurality of matches 22 with inflammable heads 24 detachably attached to each other in a row. The row has an outer surface 25 exposed to the user and an inner surface 26 hidden from the user, and the heads 24 of the matches are located on the inner surface 26.

The row of matches further has a free end 28, whereby the matches should be held by the user for their detachment by tearing, that is disposed adjacent to the edge 19a, and a non-free end 30 disposed adjacent the edge 19b, fixed to the lid by a strong bonding 34 or integral with the lid, as seen in Fig. 2a. Near free end 28, matches are also fixed to the lid 12 by tentative bonding 36.

The whole row of matches is preferably manufactured from one piece of carton with punched separation lines 38 between the matches and a similar separation line 40 at non-free end 30. The flanking edges 42 of the row of matches are also bonded to the hinged lid 12. A striking pad 20, shown in Fig. 2, is disposed at the back 17 of the lid.

In order to detach a match, the user should pick it by the end at the conveniently accessible free end 28 of the row, and should tear it off along separation lines 38 and 40 at non-free end 30. To ignite the match, its head should be struck at the striking pad 20, with the side of the match strip opposite the head being supported by a finger.

The above-described arrangement of matches on the outer surface of box lid 12 is especially advantageous because it gives easy access to matches immediately after tearing off the standard cellophane wrapper of the cigarette box's lid. Since the free end 28 of the matches is aligned with or overhanging one of the edges 19 of the lid 12, the easy picking of a match is provided, while match heads 24 are safely hidden before use.

Various arrangements of matches on the lid 12 are shown in Fig. lb and sectional views (a) to (f in Fig. 2, wherein separation line 40 between matches 22 and non-free end 30 is denoted by an arrow.

In Fig. 2a, the arrangement of Fig. la is shown in more detail with the row of matches being glued to the top side 14 only along the rear edge 19b.

Fig. 2b shows the row of matches glued to the whole top side 14 of the lid 12, in which case the necessary match length is achieved by means of a flap 44 folded inwards.

In Fig. 2c, the match head 24 is formed near the non-free end 30 of the row adjacent to the separation line 40. In this position, the head is very well sheltered, and the arrangement allows the user to use the match immediately after tearing it off.

In Fig. 2d to 2f, the free end 28 is oriented towards the back side 17 of the lid 12. This arrangement is especially suitable for manufacturing the whole box with matches from a single piece (Fig. 2e). The corresponding single carton blank 46 is shown in Fig. 3. Its geometry differs from that of a standard blank only by the extension containing matches 22.

To enhance the rigidity of a carton match, it may be composed of two plies coming together by folding after the match is detached from the row, as shown in Fig. 2f. In this case, heads 24 are formed in the middle of the match 22.

Preferably, the printed pattern (e.g. brand name or logo) appearing on the front and top sides of the box lid is reproduced on the overlapping surface of the match row in such a way that after a match is torn off, the appearance of the lid does not change.

The cigarette box of the present invention may have designs different from those disclosed above and shown in the accompanying drawings, within the scope of the claims.

Claims

- 6 - 137530/3 CLAIMS:

1. A cigarette box with a lid, sides and a bottom, and with edges binding outer surfaces of said sides, lid and bottom, said box having a striking pad and a plurality of matches in the form of elongated flat strips with inflammable heads, the strips being detachably attached to each other in a row, each strip having an outer surface exposed to the user, an inner surface hidden from the user, a free end from which the detachment of a match by tearing should start, and a non-free end attached to at least one said outer surfaces, said heads being spaced from said free end at least by a distance enabling tentative bonding of said free end to said box and being located on said inner surface of the strip.

2. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said lid has top, front and back long sides and lateral short sides, the non-free end of said row of matches being attached to the outer surface of at least one of the sides of the lid.

3. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, made of carton.

4. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said free end of the row is disposed adjacent to one of said edges or slightly overhanging this edge, in a manner suitable for detaching at least one of said matches.

5. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said strips are transversely folded forming an outer flap and an inner flap with a fold in-between, said heads residing on the inner flap, said fold being aligned with one of the edges and constituting said free end.

6. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said row of matches is extended to cover at least partially two adjacent sides of the box or of the lid, each match including a fold corresponding to the edge between said two sides.

7. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said row of matches is fabricated from a separate piece of material.

8. A cigarette box according to Claim 7, wherein said row of matches is attached to a standard cigarette box.

9. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said row of matches is formed from one integral blank together with the rest of the cigarette box.

10. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said heads are formed on said strips adjacent to said non-free end.

11. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein said heads are formed on said strips at about mid-length of the strip in a manner suitable to form a two-ply match by folding said strips after detachment.

12. A cigarette box according to Claim 1, wherein a printed pattern appears on that box surface where said row of matches is attached, and the same pattern is reproduced on the outer surface of said row in such a way that after a match is torn off, the appearance of the box does not change. For the Applicants, REINHOLD COHN AND PARTNERS J:\01267467\01267467 00011 SPC.doc/16/01/2001