US1480923A - Pocket package and container - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15 I924. 1,480,92

- J. 1'. wlLcox POCKET PACKAGE AND CONTAINER Fi-led March 7. 1921 2 Sheetsheet 2 -Jan'f15 1924. 1 1,480,923

J. T. WILCOX POCKET PACKAGE AND CONTAINER Filed March '2. i921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Qwumtoz fosjaivi. 745 5001, 351 711 5 mum/w,

of New Jersey,

packed Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

U N i E S T TES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH T. WILCOK, OF WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TIN DECORATING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

POCKET PACKAGE AND CONTAINER.

Application filed March 7, 1921. Serial No. 450,236.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it know that I,'JOSIAH T. WILoox, a citizen of the United States, and resident of lVestfield, in the county of Union and State have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket Packages and Containers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the packaging of tobacco, being particularly directed to improvements in small packages of comminuted tobacco and in the metal container therefor.

Tobacco of this type is now commonly in flat oblongmetal boxes adapted to be slipped into thepocket of the user, and provided with a hinged cover at one end; The tobacco, before being placed in the box, is usually encased in a wrapper of tough, relatively impervious paper to form what may be termed an inner package so proportioned that it may readily he slipped into the flat metal container. The wrap er of the inner package is so arranged t at 155 when the hinged cover of the container is opened. the end of the wrapper may readily be unfolded and the tobacco poured out. It will be apparent, however, that in pouring tobacco from such a package into a pipe,

:au considerable care mustbe exercised to prevent waste.

A. principal object of my invention is to provide a package from which tobacco may be more readily removed, particularly for filling a pipe therewith, without sacrificing the advantages in'man'ufacturing and handling which have made the present type of package popular.- in general I accomplish this object by forming a relatively large opening in one of the major side faces of the container, with a cover which-can readily be removed, exposing a large area of tobacco and permitting a pipe to be filled directly from the package.

Another importantobject of my invention is to provide a container having a large side opening and which may be readily and rapidly assembled about the inner package. In the preferred form I also arrange the container parts so as to compress the inner package slightly when the container is assembled, insuring a package of minimum size for a given quantity of tobacco; or conversely, increasing the amount of tobacco which may be packed in a package of fixed size. This compression is especially valuable in pocket size containers, where the size of the package is necessarily somewhat limited; and it also attains the further object of holding the paper wrapper securely in place and pressing the wrapper folds tightly together, thereby improving the effectiveness of the wrapper in protecting and preserving tobacco.

Furthermore, metal container the inner package must be sufiiciently small to slip into the container end without undue compression, to avoid tearing the paper when forced past the box edges. Anotherobject of my invention is to eliminate this restriction by altering the general arrangement of the container parts, and incidentally the method of packing the tobacco in the container.

In the preferred form disclosed, I have also improved the preservative efliciency of the packageby so arranging the metal container and the inner wrapper that no folds of the latter are located directly beneath the container opening; but obviously my broad invention is not restricted to this arrange ment.

My invention also includes an improved method of packing tobacco, in which the inner package is placed between two complementary halves of the metal container, the marginal portions of the halves being thereafter connected to each other to form the completed package,

Other objects and advantages of my in vention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package with the container cover open and the underlying wrapper torn away exposing the tobacco.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal median section of the package with cover closed and. wrapper intact,

Figure 3 is a the same,

Figure 4 is an assembly view taken from one endof the package, the container being shown in section, and

Figures 5 to 12 are views of the upper half of the container showing various modified forms of opening and cover therefor;

Figure 5 is a plan view and Figure 6 a longitudinal section of one form,

transverse median section of with the present type of equally applicable to containers of this kind in which the large side faces are approximately flat, and to those in which such faces are transversely curved toiproduce a package of reniform cross-section which may be comfortably carried in thehip pocket. In stead, however, of employing an opening at one end of the container 10, as is the general practice, I have provided a'dispensing opening 11 in one of the large side faces of the container, which will be herein referred to as the major-faces thereof. This opening 11 may vary substantially both in size and shape, so'long as it affords access to the tobacco over a substantial area; but it is desirable to employ an opening through which a pipe may be filled directly, as in the form illustrated.

Various types of cover for opening 11 may be employed, either sliding, hinged or entirely removable. One convenient construction is illustrated in Figures 1 to 1. This type of cover 12 is hinged to the container at one end by means of any suitable hinge connection 13, and is preferably held in closed position by a suitable latch which may consist of an inturned lip it on the cover 12 adapted to spring under the retaining edge 15 of opening 11. It is obviously desirable, though not necessary, to have the cover 12 spring at least part way open when the latch is released. The construction of'Figure 1 can readily be arranged to operate in this way by forming the cover 12' of somewhat resilient metal, and giving the cover a contour different from that of the box top,

so that the cover is distorted when it is latched in place. Upon pressing the container 10 adjacent edge 15, lip 14 may be released; and the cover will spring upward owing to its immediate return to itsnormal contour. This result is very readily obtained where a reniform container is used, as the cover need only be made approximately; fiat to produce the desired opening effect.

'If desired, I may employ a narrow bead 16 in the container 10 immediately adjacent the edge of cover 12 when closed, serving to reinforce-and stiffen the edge of the container about opening 11, and to:as'sure more accurate registration of the cover with the opening.

Said opening 11 is formed in what may be termed the upper major face 17 of container 10; and for convenience in packing I construct the container intwo sections, one including the top'major face 17, and the other the bottom major face 18. The sides and ends of the container are preferably-formed from integral marginal extensions of one or both of. said faces, the construction illusjunction, nor is it limited to direct connection between the edges of the upper and lower faces.

lVhile the two sections may be constructed and connected in differentways, I have disclosed a convenient and simple arrangement which is highly advantageous both from the standpoint of general utility and thatof facility in manufacturing. According to this type of construction, the upper and lower sections are each stamped out of a single sheet of metal and are provided with flanged margins which can be readily connected directly to each other, as by int-urning the margin of one section over that of the other to produce a permanent seam. This is shown best in Figures 3 and 1, in which the outwardly turned lip 22 on thesaid flange 19 of the upper face 17 rests on lip 20 similarly formed on the marginal flange 19 of the bottom 18, the edge 21 of the latter being thereafter inturned over lip22 on they upper section to form the seam. This ty e of section can readily be stamped in-a sing e operationby well known types of automatic;

machinery, and the parts can be seamed together by a single simple operation.

As heretofore indicated, one object .of my invention is to employ a wrapped inner package in my side opening container.. In

such package, of the well known type produced by standard machines in-almost universal use, the tobacco is enveloped in a single sheet 23 of relatively tough paper with its edges overlapping at one side of the package, indicated at 24 in Figures 2 and 3. The ends of the wrapper are folded over to form a tight closure, and are ordinarily counter sunk, as at 25, to maintain them in closed position while the inner package is being manipulated.

This inner wrapped package is placed between the container sections, which are closed over it until their edges are in position for engagement. They are then fixed in place, as by seaming the edges together, forming the completed package.

I prefer to locate the inner package in such position that the overlap 24 of the package wrapper is at the opposite side from opening 11, so that the wrapper will present beneath said opening a continuous, unbroken surface of the paper, insuring the most etlicient protection of the tobacco against dryness or undue moisture.

When the tobacco is desired for use, it is only necessary to open the cover 12 and tear away the portion of the wrapper 23 underly ing opening 11, or such part thereof as is necessary or desired. The user then gains access to the tobacco over a relatively large area, which not only increases the rapidity and ease with which the tobacco may be extracted, but also facilitates the introduction of a pipe bowl into the opening, so that the bowl may be loaded directly from the con tainer. This method of filling the pipe eliminates the scattering of tobacco incident to the employment of former packages, and makes it comparatively easy to dislodge tobacco which may have become caked or wedged in the container. After the wrapper is torn away the cover 12 will completely close opening 11 and provide as much protection to the tobacco as is necessary through the relatively short period during which the package is in active use.

WVhile I prefer to fill my improved container with an inner wrapped package of the type indicated, it will be apparent that such container may be filled with loose to bacco, and also that various other types of wrapper may be employed. Indeed, the

i wrapper 23 may not completely envelop the tobacco, as it performs a substantial part of its function in the package if it is of sufficient size to extend completely across the opening 11. With such a construction, it is conceivable that the wrapper might be pulled out through the opening 11 rather than torn away, though I prefer a package of the type illustrated, in which the wrapper substantially envelope the tobacco and must be torn to expose it at opening 11..

It will be evident that opening 11 may vary very substantially both in size and general contour, dependent upon convenience of manufacture, the production of an attractive package, and adaptation to tobacc designed for different uses, such as pipe smoking, cigarette rolling, chewing, snuff, or the like. The arrangement shown in Figure 1 has been found especially convenient, as the elongated opening facilitates greatly the filling of a pipe therefrom, or the removal of the tobacco between the thumb and forefinger in substantial quantities. Futhermore, it provides direct access to the greater portion of the tobacco. However, apertures of various sizes and shapes, together with covers of different types, are shown in Figures 5 to 12, which simply illustrate some of the various forms of opening and covers therefor which may be employed.

In Figure 5 an oval opening of somewhat less extent than that of Figure 1 is disclosed; but the cover 12 is pivoted at 26 to the upper container section 17; and where a head 16 is employed, as inthe form illustrated, cover 12 is constructed to spring upward when the latch is released, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, so that said cover may swing sidewise over the bead into the dotted line position of Figure 5.

The opening 11 of Figure 7 is rectangular in form, and is provided with a cover 12 slidably mounted in guide slots 27 which may be formed integral with the upper section 17 at the sides of opening 11. For convenience, cover 12 may have a depression 28 therein which forms a stop butting against the front and rear edges of opening 11 and an upturned rear edge 29 providing a finger grip.

In Figure 9 the opening 11 is arcuate, and cover 12 is pivotally mounted at 30 beneath the upper section 17 of the container, the curved outer edge 31 resting on and being guided by an inwardly projecting lip 32 at the edge of opening 11. A curled finger grip 33 may also be employed, serving likewise as a stop abutting against the ends of opening 11.

The variation disclosed in Figures 11 and 12 employs a generally oblong opening 11, the outer portion 3 1 of which preferably extends down into an end flange 19 of the upper section 17. The cover 12 hinged to the container at 35, is provided with a lip 36 adapted to extend over and to close the spout portion 3a of opening 11, and to engage a suitable retaining portion of the container, depression 37 being providedin the form disclosed for that purpose. For convenience in opening this type of cover, the forward end thereof may be normally bent upward when not retained in flat position by engagement of lip 36 with the depression 37. With this construction a moderate pressure on the middle of the cover 12 will release said lip from the depression and permit the cover to spring into the position shown in Figure 12, when it may be readily swung back to expose the package contents.

Obviously numerous other types. of latch may be employed with this last described arrangement, which is particularly advantageous in that it provides a depressed portion 34 from which the tobacco may readily be poured. This is convenient when only a small quantity of tobacco is left, and the spout effect of depression 34 will be accentuated when a wrapper 23 is employed about the tobacco, as the edges of the wrapper 1 torn away adjacent said depression will serve to guide tobacco in the general manner of a spout.

hile other variations both in the type of cover and in the size and shape of the opening may obviously be used, I prefer to employ an opening of less extent than the upper face 17 of the container, so that the inner package will to a certain extent be confined therein, and will not have a tendency to slip out or interfere with the extraction of the tobacco. lhis construction furthermore prevents most efl'ectually the substitution of or tampering with the tobacco in the container; and this feature is not found in the present type or package,

While I have disclosed the preferred form of my invention, and indicated a number of modifications thereof, it will be apparent that a great many other changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit otmy invention. Certain of these have been indicated in the course of the preceding description, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art 1 claim:

1. A pocket size metal container for tobacco, comprised of upper and lower sections each formed from a single sheet 01". metal and each including a major side of the container, one of the sections having a dispensing opening in said major side, a resilient cover attached thereto at one side of the opening, latch means for holding the cover in closed position, said cover being so formed that it will spring open upon release of the latch, and means permanently connecting the edges of the sections to form a shallow container entirely closed except for said opening.

2. A pocket size metal container tobacco, comprised of upper and lower sec tions each formed from a single sheet of metal and each including a major side of the container, one of the sections having a dispensing opening in said majorside, a resilient cover for said opening movably mounted on the container, latch means for holding the cover in position, said cover being so formed that it will spring open upon release of the latch, one of the sections having marginal extensions forming at least a portion of the minor sides and ends of the container, and means for connecting the margins of said sections to form a container completely closed except at said openings.

3. A pocket size metal container for tobacco, including a shallow body portion completely closed except for a dispensing opening in a major side of the container of less extent than said side, a resilient cover for said opening movably mounted on the container, latch means for holdingthe cover in position, the meeting surfaces of said cover and container varying in contour so that the cover is distorted upon closing and will spring open upon release of said latcn.

l. A pocket size metal container for tohacco, comprised of upper and lower sections each formed from a single sheet of metal and each including a major side of the container, the upper section having in said major side a dispensing opening of less extent than said side, a cover for said opening attached to and movable with respect to the upper section, the margins of each or said sections being extended to form portions ot the minor sides and ends of said containenlhe edges of the sections being permanently connected by a seam to form a shallow container completely closed except at said opening.

5. A tobacco package comprising a quantity of comminuted tobacco enclosed in an inner wrapper of flexible sheet material constituting an inner package of moderate thickness in relation to its length and breadth, the inner package being enclosed and compressed between two shallow dished and relatively long andwide halves of a sheet metal container, the container halresbeing permanently secured together by a crimped seam extending about the narrow edges of the container, one container wall being provided with an opening admitting the insertion of a pipe bowl for filling the same after the inner wrapper beneath the opening has been torn away, and a movable closure for the opening.

6. A pocket-size metal tobacco container comprising two complementary dished shallow and relatively long and wide container halves of sheet metal, said halves being permanently secured together by a crimped seam extending about the narrow edges of the container, one container wall being provided with an opening admitting the insertion or" a pipe bowl for filling the same, and a movable closure for the opening.

Signed at the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, this 3rd day of March, A.

JOSIAH T. l/VILCOX.

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