US1587178A - Case for cigarettes and matches in original packages - Google Patents

Description

June 1,1926. v 1,587,178

J. E. PETERSQN CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND MATCHES IN ORIGINAL PACKAGES Filed Sept. 28", 1925 Patented June l,

UNITED sraras new PATENT oFFicE.

JOSEPH E. PETERSON, or ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

Application filed September The present invention has for its object to produce a simple and novel case in which a package of cigarettes and a box of matches or other lighting means may be housed and carried about in ones pocket, the cigarettes and the matches or lighting means being conveniently removable for use when the case is open.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a case in the form of a shallow box having a lid, the box being of a width approximately equal to the width of an ordinary package of cigarettes, but considerably longer than such a package, so as to'leave room within the same beyond the end of the cigarette package for a box of matches. The body and the cover member of the case are preferably hinged together to per- I mit them to be swung relatively to each other in order to open and shut the case. The body of the case is provided with suitable means for holding a package of cigarettes in one end, and the cover memberis provided with means for holding the box of matches or other lighting means in the opposite end. Therefore, when the case is opened, the lighting means is swung out of the body of the case so as to leave a space into which the cigarettes may be withdrawn from the package. Where the lighting means consists of a box of safety matches, the side of the cover, at the long free edge,

preferably so shaped that the inner member of the match box may be withdrawn laterally, while the surrounding shell remains clamped in place.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter he pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with. the accompanying drawing, wherein V Figure l is a plan view of one of my improved devices opened, showing cigarettes in an original package and a match box,

some of the cigarettes being partially withdrawn from the package and the match 28, 1925. Serial No. 58,966.

box being open; Fig. 2 is a view partly ,in side elevation and partly in section of the case closed; Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately, on thebroken line 33 of Fig; 1, the match box and the cigarettes are so proportioned that the depth or thickness of the case is slightly greater than the thickness of an ordinary package of popular cigarettes having a flexible wrapper or container, ,a width slightly greater than the width of such package, and a length somewhat greater than the length or height of the package plus the width of an ordinary box of safety matches.

E In one end of the box member is arranged a suitable device for holding a package of cigarettes in place. In the arrangement being omitted; and Fig. i is a detail of the shown, thereis welded or otherwise fastened 7 into thebox member an inverted U-shape l yoke 4 extending transversely of the box; the distance between the cross member of the yoke and the bottom of the box being substantially the same as the thickness of a package of cigarettes. \Vhen placed in the case, one end' of the container A is torn away and the package is slipped underneaththe yoke as shown in Fig. l, ith the closed end of the package abutting against or at least iyingnear the end of the box. Beyond the open end of the packageis a comparativelylong space 5 that permits the cigarettes B tobe withdrawn from the package without removing the lat- .ter from the case.

In that portion of the cover that overlies the space 5 when the case is closed is a suitable holding means for a box C of safety matches. In the arrangement shown, the longitudinal free side wall of the cover is cut away, as indicated at 6, for a distance slightly greater than the width of the match box, or at least somewhat greater than the width of the tray D of the box. l lxtcnding transversely across the cover on the inner side, at opposite ends of the open ing are walls 7 and 8, preferably of spring metal. When a match box is laid transversely of the cover and pressed into place between these walls, it is firmly gripped between the latter, so that the case may be opened and closed without permitting the matches to drop out. lVhen the case is closed, the cigarettes being all pushed down into their original container, the box of matches lies in the space 5 just beyond the end of the package of cigarettes. The walls 7 and 8 may conveniently be in the form of wings at the sides of a long flap 9 formed out of material of the cover and integral with the cover, the flap being bent inwardly througli the opening 6 so as to lie parallel with the flat top wall of the cover. In Fig. 1 the wings 7 and 8 are shown in dotted lines in their flattened condition, lying in the plane of the flap 9, before being bent at right angles to the latter.

In order that the opening 6 may be closed when the case is closed, I provide the free long side wall of the box with an upward projection 10 that fits into the opening 6 when the cover is closed.

Any suitable form of catch may be provided for locking the cover in its closed position. -In the arrangement shown, there is on the inner side of the free long side wall of the box a. spring plate 11, riveted or welded at one end to the said wall, as indicated at 12. The free end of the plate has an car 13 projecting upwardly beyond the top of the box, the ear being provided at its upper end with a hole 14. The free end of the plate also has a stud or button 15 extending outwardly through a hole in the side wall of the box, to be engaged by the thumb or finger of the user for the purpose of pressing the free end of the plate inwardly. The cover has on the inner side of its free long side wall a pin 16 in position to ride down past the outer side of the ear 13 when the case is closed, pressing the spring plate back until the pin comes opposite the hole 14; whereupon the plate springs outwardly so as to engage the pin or projection in the opening and lock the cover.

Instead of a box of matches, my invention contemplates the use of any kind of a lighting means, although I prefer to arrange the case to contain matches as these, as well as the package of cigarettes, are everywhere available.

It will be seen that my improved case permits a smoker always to have cigarettes and matches associated with each other, so that it is unnecessary to hunt around for a match in order to light a cigarette. Furthermore, neither the matches nor the cigarettes need be removed from their original containers in which they are purchased and, in fact, nothing need be done to either the matches or the cigarettes, except that the end of the cigarette package must be torn open. Consequently the user simply places a box of safety matches in the cover and a package of cigarettes, opened at the end, in the box portion of the case. By dividing the depth of the case equally between the box portion and the cover, the package of cigarettes will project above the top of the box and the box of matches will project above the sides of the cover when the case is opened, making it very easy for cigarettes and matches to be removed. As a matter of fact, the upper layer of cigarettes lies wholly above the box and can be drawn out lengthwise without touching any portion of the case. After the upper layer is removed, the remaining cigarettes are loose enough so that they may readily be lifted up out of the box after being partially withdrawn from the package. Access to the matches is obtained by simply pushing the tray outwardly through the opening 6 inside of the cover, there being room at the inner end of the match box, above the hinge in the case, for engagement of a finger with the inner end of the tray, because the box is of much greater depth or thickness than the cover.

lVhile I have illustrated and described with particularity only a single preferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the exact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim 1. A pocket case divided longitudinally into two halves to form a body member and a cover member, means for securing cigarettes in an original package in one end of one of said members, means for securing a match box transversely of the other end of the other member, the latter member having an opening in its side wall to permit the tray of a match box to be withdrawn through the same, said case having a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the package of cigarettes and a length at least as great as the combined length of such package and the width of the match box, the member to which the package of cigarettes is fastened having on one side wall a projection to close the opening in the side wall of the other member when the case is closed.

2. A pocket case divided longitudinally into two halves to form a body member and a cover member, means for securing cigallli i'ettes in an original package in one end of thickness of a package of cigarettes and a said case means for securing a match 00X length at least as great as the combined transversely oi the other end of said case, length of such package and the Width of the said case having an opening in its side Wall match box. I

to permit the tray of a match box to be In testimony whereof, I sign this specifiwithdrawn through the same, said case havcation.

ing a depth approximately equal to the JOSEPH E. PETERSON.

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