US1897702A - Cigarette case - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1933.

w. LEWNES CIGARETTE CASE Filed Jan. 24, 1950 Sheets-Sheet Inventor VZ I LL/AM ZEl V/VESf w; LEWNES CIGARETTE CASE Feb. 14, 1933.

Filed Jan.

24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W4 L b'ML El/V/VEJ. Qzmaa A t iorney Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM LEWNES, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BROOKLYN, NEW YORK PATENT OFFICE Porn CHIGURACOS, or

CIGARETTE CASE Application filed January 24, 1930. Serial No. 423,146.

This invention relates to improvements in smokers articles and has particular reference to a cigarette case.

The primary object of the invention resides in a cigarette case in which a supply of cigarettes may be kept for convenient carrying in the pocket of a user, and which in cludes means for maintaining the cigarettes in a bunched condition against one end wall of the case, and means by which several of the cigarettes may be shifted so as to project beyond the top of the casing after the closure member or which facilitates easy removal of the cigarettes therefrom. 7

Another object is to provide a cigarette case having a slide or ejector member mounted on the inside of one of the end walls of the case, and means exteriorly operated for causing the cigarettes to be moved toward the ejector into the path of outward movement thereof, so that the entire contents of the case may be singularly ejected.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cigarette case showing the closure member in an open position.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the closure member in a closed position, but with the auxiliary door open.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view with parts broken away in section and showing the manner in which the cigarettes are ejected from the casing.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view showing the auxiliary door in closed position.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 3. V

Figure 6 is a sectional perspective view taken through the casing and looking toward the ejector member.

Referring to the drawings by reference door has been opened characters, the numeral 10 designates my improved cigarette casing in its entirety and which includes a rectangular shaped casing 11, open at its top, while hingedly mounted on one of the side walls at the open top is a cover or closure member 12, the'same constituting a section 13 to which a door 14 is hingedly connected as at 15 and which hinge is disposed at right angles to the hinge of the cover proper 12. A spring 16 serves to normally swing the door 14- to an open position with respect to the section 13, which section is held closed by a resilient lip 17 engageable with a recess 18 in one of the side walls of the casing 11. The door 14 is held in a closed position by a resilient catch 19 provided on one of the end walls of the'casing 11 and which is engageable with an inwardly extending flange or lug 20 provided on the door 14:. A-push button" 21 is provided on the catch member 19 whereby inward pushing thereon will cause the catch member to release the lug 20 and allow the spring 16 to swing the door 14 to an open position. From the description thus far, it will be seen that when the door proper 12 is swung open to the position shown in Figure 1, asupply of cigarettes may be inserted through the open top of the casing, whereupon the cover proper or closure member 12 is moved to a closed position shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. When the section 13 is closed, as shown in Figure 2, access may be had to the cigarettes within the casing through the opening provided when the door 14 is released, and moved to an open position.

Mounted within the casing 11 in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof, 1s a false bottom 22, which terminates short of the end wall 23, for a purpose to be presently explained. Slidably mounted within the casing 11 against the end wall 23 is an ejector member 24 which is substantially L-shaped in side elevation as shown in Figure 3 and' which includes an elongated flat portion 25 and a right angularly disposed platform 26 which is of a length approximating the width of the casing 11. A headed stud 27 extends from the portion 25 of the ejector member adjacent the top thereof and extends exteriorly of the casing through a vertical elongated slot 28 provided in the end wall 23, whereby the finger of an operator may be placed upon the head of the stud and the ejector member 2a moved toward and away from the open end of the casing. When the ejector member is at the limit of its inward movement, the platform 26 is disposed on an even plane or slightly below the false bottom 22 as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 3 for the purpose of receiving the cigarettes to be ejected.

For the purpose of moving the cigarettes contained within the casing 11 toward the ejector member, I provide a follower device 29 which includes a contractile spring 30 bridging opposite side walls of the casing 11, the terminal ends of the spring 30 extending through horizontal slots 31 provided in the opposed side walls of the casing and to which buttons or discs 32 are connected, and which discs are disposed exteriorly of the walls of the casing for engagement therewith. The spring 30 places a tension upon the button 32 so as to cause them to tightly engage the side walls of the casing for the purpose of holding the follower member 29 in a position of adjustment.

When filling the casing 11 with cigarettes, the follower member 29 is manually moved to a position adjacent the end walls of the casingopposite the end wall 23, and after the cigarettes have been inserted, the follower member is moved in a. direction toward the wall 23 to cause the cigarettes to be bunched thereagainst, whereupon certain of the cigarettes will seat upon the platform 26 of the ejector member. Assuming that the cigarettesare so seated, the operator in order to dispense'or eject the same, presses the button 21 to release the spring door 14: which automatically swings to an open position after which the thumb or finger of thehand is placed upon the headed stud 27 andthe ejector member 2 slid in a direction toward the open end'of the casing. By this operation, acigarette so seated upon the platform 26 will be moved outward through the opening left by theopendoor 14., whereupon a user may withdraw the cigarettes from the casing without necessitating reaching therein.

In the drawings I have illustrated the casing of a width sufficient to permit three cigarettes to seat upon the platform 26 at one time. and of course this number will be ejected on each operation and if all are not removed, theymay be returned to the casing bymoving the ejector member to its normal inward position. After one or more cigarettes have been removed, the operator proceeds to move the follower member 29 in the direction toward the end wall 23, thus causing the platform 26 to again be filled with cigarettes to be dispensed onthe next ejecting operation.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that l have provided a cigarette case in which cigarettes may be kept in good condition and a predetermined number ejected for removal, and which obviates the usual practice of reaching into the package and fingering the tips of the cigarettes in order to facilitate removal. The article is simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and easy and positive of operation.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is 1. A. device for holding cigarettes comprising a casing including a bottom wall, end walls, side walls, and a top wall hingedly carried by one of the side walls, said top wall includinga main cover section having the hinges connected therewith and a swinging section hingedly carried by the main section and forming thereof, the swinging section forming an outlet for the delivery of cigarettes from the easing, and means carried by the side walls of the casing for bunching the cigarettes in the casing and for urging the same toward one end wall of the casing adjacent to the hinge section, said means embodying a transversely extending coil spring having a terminal slidably carried by the side wall of the casing, and buttons mounted cxteriorly of the side wall secured to the ends of the spring.

2. A device for holding and dispensing cigarettes comprising a casing including a bottom wall, opposed endwalls, and opposed side walls, the top wall having an outlet opening therein adjacent one of the end walls, said opposed side walls having transversely disposed alined slots therein, a: tensioned coil spring extending transversely through said casing with the ends projecting exteriorly thereof through said slots, and manipulating elements carried by opposite ends of said coil spring and which are normally drawn into tight frictional contact with the exterior sides of said side wallsby the tension thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified. y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

lVILLIAM LEWNES.

a substantial continuation

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