US1225092A - Cigar-case. - Google Patents

Description

G. M. WILLIAMS.

CIGAR CASE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2.1916.

L fifiwa Patented May 8, 1917.

8 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. M. WILLIAMS.

CIGAR CASE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2.191s.

Patented May 8, 1917.

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@own 1 a may be loaded UNKTEE TATE PATENT @lthliQlll.

GEORGE M. VJILLIAMS, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO 1. LORILLARD COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIGAR-CASE.

Application filed November 2, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonsn M. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in cases, and has particular application to a pocket case adapted especially for use as a container for little cigars and the like.

In the present instance it is my purpose to provide a case of this character wherein a holder embodying a receiving section and a retaining section is employed. The receiving section is adapted to lie flat during the packing, of the cigars, so that the latter in such holder flatwise and with great rapidity and uniformity, instead of being loaded or inserted endwise with the resulting loss of time, as is necessitated by ordinary cases of this general class. Furthermore my holder is intended to be inclosed within an outer case formed of a pair of hinged covers, so that when the case is open the holder will assume a position at an angle to the covers constituting the case, and will thereby enable an individual cigar to be conveniently removed from the holder without disturbing or disarranging any of the other cigars.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, no container of this type has been provided for the particular purpose of holding little cigars,

which unlike cigarettes, are not uniform in size and shape but vary in dimensions and contour.

As is well known, machine-made cigarettes are usually manufactured on the continuous-rod principle, the cigarettes of the required length being made by cutting the cigarette rod at predetermined points. Cigars, however, are made individually instead of in the form of a continuous rod, and in many instances vary in shape, some being noticeably tapered, and some being nearly cylindrical. Such individually manufac tured cigars also frequently differ one from another in density and thickness. The re sult is that cigarette containers or cases for holding cigarettes in spaced'relation, with which I am acquainted, are not well adapted for holding little cigars, due principally to the fact that the individual pockets or Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1917.

Serial No. 129,180.

compartments in which the cigarettes are placed are uniform in size, and are therefore not suitable for retaining articles which vary in size and conformation.

Furthermore, owing to the inherent characteristics of the filler and wrapper of cigars, both being of tobacco, such articles are much more liable to breakage than cigarettes, the relatively tough flexible paper wrapper of the latter tending to preserve the same against injury.

Therefore, I propose to provide a container or case for such little cigars which will support the latter in spaced relation for convenient removal of the individual cigars without danger of disarranging or breaking other cigars in the container or case, the holder constituting a part of my invention being so constructed as to properly receive and support the individual cigars in spaced relation, irrespective of the fact that such cigars may differ slightly in shape and size.

Another object is the provision of a container or case of this character, wherein the cigars may be readily loaded flatwise in the holder without incurring the delay and the risk of breakage incident to inserting the articles endwise one at a time in the well known forms of holders.

Furthermore, my invention also embraces means for positively retaining the individual cigars in the holder against accidental displacement.

I also propose to provide a holder which will embody the desired features of simplicity, compactness, neatness and convenience, and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively low cost.

With the above recited objects, and others of a similar nature in view, my invention consists in the construction, com ination and arrangements of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of case embodying my invention, the retaining section of the holder being shown in open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder loaded with cigars, with the retaining wall in open position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but showing the "etaining wall closed and secured to hold the individual cigars in individual pockets.

Fig. 4c is a vertical sectional. view taken through a closed case embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective complete case in its open in use.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive show perspective views of another form of my invention, these views illustrating different positions of various parts of the holder before the packaging of the cigars is completed.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through a closed case of the form shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

Fig. 10 is a such case in its use.

In the present instance, I have shown and described a case adapted especially for use as a container for little cigars, but it would of course be understood that it is not limited in this particular application to this purpose, as if desired it may also be adapted as a container for cigarettes and kindred articles.

It will further be understood that the case may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, card-board or box-board, composition board or a combination of various suitable materials, including leather, fabric or the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail and particularly to the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the letter A indicates the case covering as an entirety, while the holder is designated by the letter B.

The case covering A comprises a pair of dished cover members, 11, each having a flanged marginal edge, '2, and the contiguous longitudinal marginal edges of the two cover members or sections are connected by a strip of flexible material 3, constituting a hinge. In the present instance, both the holder and the case cover therefor are preferably formed of relatively stiff material, such as cardboard, box-board or the like.

view showing the position, as when open position, as when in Preferably formed integral with a sheet 4;, which as will be seen constitutes a stiffening and lining sheet for the cover to which it is attached, is a wall 5 preferably stiffened by the longitudinal beads 5 Pasted or otherwise secured to the inner face of this wall 5 is a corrugated strip 6, the grooves or corrugations 6 of which are intended to receit e the cigars as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be understood of course that theribs 7 formed between the corrugations or grooves will hold the cigars in spaced relation or-out of contact one with the other. Each end of this corrugated strip 6 is adapted to be bent at right angles to the main portion of the strip to form the end walls 8 of the holder. This holder further includes a retaining wall 9 of substantially the same dimensions as the receiver wall 5, and this retaining perspective view showing.

wall is cut or slotted to form a series of spaced tongues 10 which are intended to be bent or sprung inward to bear against the cigars lying within the grooves of the corrugated strip when this retaining wall 9 is in its assembled or cooperating position as shown in Fig. 3. This retaining wall which is also made of card-board is preferably formed with longitudinal extending beads 9 to stiffen or strengthen the wall. Each of the end Walls 8 of the holder preferably has formed integral with the receiving wall an elongated flap 11, and these flaps are adapted to be folded over and inward against the outer face of the retaining wall 9 in such manner that the free edges of the flaps meet substantially at the central transverse line of the holder, and such meeting ends'are intended to be joined by means of a suitable paster or label shown at 11 It will be noted the flaps 11 when so folded occupy substantially the space between the parallel beads 9 and cover and seal the cigar engaging tongues 10.

This retaining wall 9 is preferably formed integral with the board sheet 12 which is pasted to and covers the inner face of the other section of the case member and forms a lining and reinforcement therefor in the same manner that the board sheet 4 forms a lining for the opposite cover member. Of course when the retaining wall 9 is formed integral with the sheet 12, or both are made from a single blank, such blank is scored as at 13 to form a hinge for the retaining wall.

In loading this case the latter is opened and the wall 5 carrying the corrugated strip is moved to lie. fiat against the sheet 4 and within the confines of the cover section to. which this sheet 4 is attached. The op erator may now take a number of cigars in hand and drop or place the same flatwise within the grooves or corrugations 6*. The retaining wall 9 is then folded up into sub stantial parallelism with the receiving wall and the flaps 11 are folded inward and adhesively secured to the outer face of this, retaining wall as shown in 3, and are then secured together by the label or paster 11, it being understood that walls 5 and 9 are not secured together in advance of loadmg.

The case containing the cigars is now ready for the market and it will be noted that as the inwardly bent tongues bear against the cigars they will hold the same in proper upright position and against accidental disengagement in proper spaced relation.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 10'inclusive, the holder B is constructed as follows:

The board sheet 4" which is pasted to the inner face of one of the cover sections of the case has formed integral therewith a corrugated wall 5 having vertical corrugations or grooves 6 separated by the beads 7, this corrugated wall being intended to receive the cigars and hold the same in spaced relation.

One end of this corrugated wall 5 is in the nature of a flap 8, to which is hingedly connected the retaining wall 9 of the holder.

In this form of the invention one of the ends of the wall 9 is pasted to the flap 8 in such manner as to form a flexible or hinged connection, and this wall 9 which is of substantially the same dimensions as the wall 5, is cut or slotted to form a series of spaced tongues 10, these tongues being bent or bowed inward to overlie and bear against the cigars lying within the grooves of the corrugated wall 5 when the retaining wall 9 is closed and fastened as shown in Fig. 8.

The free end 11 of this retaining wall 9 is in the nature of a wing or flap having a keeper slot 12 formed therein which is adapted to receive the locking tongue 18 at one end of the corrugated wall 5, when the holder is assembled to retain the cigars therein, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

It will be noted by reference to said Figs. 8 and 10 that the flap 8 with the attached end of the wall 9, forms one of the end walls of the holder, while the wing or flap 11 forms the opposite end wall of the holder, the latter thus being of substantially rectangular or box-like form.

When the clamping or retaining wall 9 is in this closed position, the locking tongue 13 is passed through the slot 12 and the angular end 13 of this tongue bent over against the outer face of the wall 9, as shown in Fig. 8. This angular bent over end of the tongue is provided with an adhesive as shown at 14, and likewise the outer face of the wall 9, with the exception of the inwardly bowed tongues thereof, is covered or coated with the adhesive.

The numeral 15 designates a board sheet which is adhesively secured to and covers the inner face of the other section of the case cover, and forms a lining therefor, just as the board sheet 1 forms a lining for the opposite cover member. This board sheet 15 has formed integral therein, a wing 16 of substantially the same dimensions as the wall 9, and this wing 16 is adapted to be folded up against and pasted over the outer face of this wall 9 by means of the adhesive 14, as is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

The result will be that the outer faces of the tongues 10 will be covered and concealed from view, but such tongues will project inwardly in position to bear against the cigars held within the container.

Any suitable fastening device, such as that formed by the latch 17 and the keeper plate 17' may be attached to the flanges of the cover sections to hold the case locked in this closed position.

The manner of employing this form of the invention will be readily apparent. When it is desired to fill or load the case, in the first instance as at the factory, it is only necessary for the operator to open the case out flat and then drop from the hand the desired number of cigars into the grooves or corrugations of the wall 5. This may be practically done in one movement, as the operator can take a handful of the cigars, stretching or passing the hand over lengthwise of the holder and drop the cigars into the grooves, and then with the palm of the hand straighten, roll or position any of the cigars which may not drop properly into the grooves. After the cigars have been so placed, the wall 10 may then be closed and fastened by means of the tongue 13 or other suitable fastener. The wing 16 is then pasted up against the outer face of the wall 9, so that it will appear as shown in Fig. 10.

Either form of this case may be made very cheaply of cardboard, boxboard or other material so that it may be discarded by the user after the cigars originally or ini tially contained therein have been removed.

Furthermore, each case owing to its peculiar construction is relatively thin and fiat and may therefore be carried about in the pocket without distending or bulging the latter, the case presenting as it does a neat, attractive appearance will appeal to the purchaser, especially as when open for use it will present the cigars in convenient position to be removed, and will also protect such cigars against accidental breakage.

While I have herein shown and described. certain particular embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as modifications and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A case of the class described comprising a pair of cover sections, and a holder inclosed thereby, said holder including a member for receiving and holding the individual cigars in spaced relation, said member being adapted to be positioned to lie substantially flat within one of the cover sections to enable the cigars to be packed flatwise therein, and a retaining member positionable to expose the receiving member throughout its inner face during such packing operation and adapted to be permanently united with the cigar receiving member after the cigars have been packed.

2. A case of the class described compris ing a pair of cover sections, and a holder adapted to be inclosed thereby, said holder including a member having grooves therein for the reception of lndlvidual cigars, said sections to enable the cigars to be packed flatwlse in such member, and a retainlng member adapted to' be permanently unlted with the grooved member after the cigars have been packed in the latter.

3. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged dished cover sections, and a holder adapted to be inclosed thereby, said holder including a hinged member having grooves therein for the reception "of individual cigars, said grooved member being adapted to be positioned to lie flat within the adjacent cover section to enable the cigars to be packed flatwise in the grooves, and a hinged retaining member positionable to expose the receiving member throughout its inner face during such packing operation and adapted to be permanently united with the grooved member to retain the cigars within the holder, said retaining member having means adapted to bear against and maintain the cigars in the grooves of the grooved member.

4. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged cover sections, a sheet lying at the inner face of one of said cover sections, a holder including a cigarreceiving member movably connected with said sheet and adapted to be positioned to lieflat against the sheet to enable the cigars to be packed fiatwise within such receiving member, and a hinged retaining member positionable to expose the receiving member throughout its inner face during such packing operation and adapted to be permanently united with the cigar-receiving member after the cigars have been packed in the latter.

5. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged covers, a sheet fastened to the inner face of each cover, a cigar receiving wall hingedly connected with one of said sheets and adapted to have cigars packed flatwise therein and a member hingedly connected with the other sheet and positionable to expose the receiving wall throughout its inner face during such packing operation, adapted to be united in assembled relation with the cigar-receiving wall after the cigars have been packed.

6. A case of the class described comprising a pair of hinged cover sections, a sheet pasted to the inner face of each cover section, a grooved wall section formed integral with and hingedly united to one of said sheets and adapted to be positioned to lie flat against said sheet in the packing of the cigars, and a retaining wall formed integral with and hingedly united to the other sheet and positionable to expose the grooved wall section throughout its inner'grooved face during such packing operation and adapted to be permanently connected with the grooved wall after the cigars have been packed.

7. A case of the class described comprismg a pair of hinged cover sections, a corrugated cigar-recelvlng Wall hingedly con nected thereto and having a pair of end' 'walls and inwardly extending flaps connected with the end walls, and a hingedwalls having a series of cigar-receiving grooves formed therein and in which the cigars may be packed flatwise, the other of said side walls being positionable to expose the grooved wall throughout the length of the grooves and having a series of tongues adaptedto aline with thegrooves when the side walls are united in substantial parallelism after the cigars have been packed.

9. In a case of'the class described, a holder comprising a hinged wall provided with cigar-receiving grooves, end walls cooperating with said hinged wall, a hinged retaining wall being positionable to expose the grooved wall throughout the length of the grooves and adapted to be moved into parallelism with the first mentioned Wall after the cigars have been packed in the grooves, andflaps adapted to be folded inwardly over the outer face of the retaining wall and to be permanently united with the latter.

10. In a case of the class described a holder comprising a hinged wall provided with cigar-receiving grooves, end walls 00- operating with. the hinged wall, a hinged retaining wall being positionable to expose the grooved wall throughout the length of the grooves and adapted to be moved into parallelism with the first mentioned wall after the cigars have been packed in the grooves of the latter, said retaining wall having a series of individual tongues adapted to bear against the cigars lying in the grooves, and flaps connected with the end walls and adapted to be folded inward against the outer face of the retaining wall to overlie the tongues, and means for uniting the meeting ends of the flaps.

11. In a container of the character described, a case of the leaf section type, and a holder secured to the caseand positioned therein to be housed thereby when the case is closed, said holder comprising opposing receiving and retaining Walls adapted to combinedly produce a receptacle for positioning the cigars individually and for individually maintaining the cigars in such positions, said Walls being positionable to Wholly expose the receiving face of the receiving well during loading of the holder to permit flatwise positioning of the cigars,

10 and relatively movable to place said Walls in receptacle-forming position after loading is completed, and means for permanently securing the Walls in such latter position, whereby the cigars may be collectively introduced fiatWise While removal of positioned cigars Will be limited to cigar movements in an endwise direction.

In testimony whereof afiiX signature.

GEORGE M. WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C.

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