US2267407A - Cigarette case - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, 1941. R. E. LOWRY CIGARETTE CASE Filed April 26, 1941 I INVENTOR. A7077? :5". A OW/Py, BY 03 J33 Array/w Patented Dec. 23, 1941 Ta has PATENT OFFICE "2367,40? o IGAnErr'rn CASE iinitifnii dwryirort Washin ton, n. r. ."A pplicatiomApril' 26, 194.1, Serial No. 390,515 (elites-4 1) cola'ims.

' This invention relates to 1 cigarette cases, and in particular to a cigarette case that is capable 'offholding cigarettes' of' 'two d'ifierent' lengths, V

[The conventional fiat cigarettecases ofthe past were' adaptable "-for holding cigarettes of the standardf'size having retaining mea'nsto hold the cigarettes when placedparallel to each other in the case' The size of'the case corresponde'd'to theflength of standard size cigarettes and such cases could n'ot "be used to 7 hold "the --s -ca1led King size cigarettes which have recently come on the market and which are about one-third longer than the ordinary cigarette.

"My invention comprises broadly a cigarette case that is adaptablefor holding cigarettes in either a longitudinal or transverse position, that is to sa the cigarettes whenplaced side 'by side may be aligned"in an east-west direction in 'the case 'or in a ncrth south' direction. This 'is accomplished by incorporating ina "single case retaining meansthat will retain cigarettes placed either lengthwise or crosswise therein. "The'cigarette holding compartment is of such "a size that it corresponds approximately inlength tothe' length of cigarettes to be containedthereinfand its width L also corresponds to the le'ngth ofsuch cigarettes so that if it'is to beused for'holding cigarettes of a single length ine'ither a longitudinal or transverseposition; the compartment is square in shape. I 1

If the case is tobe adaptable for holdi'ng cigarettes oftwo diiferentlengths such as King size and standardsize cigarettes, the cigarette holding compartmentofthe' case is of such a size that it accdnirhbdatesasuitable num berof King size cigarettes "when placed lengthwisein the compartment, or alternatively suitable for holding a plurality of standard siz'ecig'arettes parallel to one another when placed crosswise therein, that is t'o say, the'leng'th of the compartment corresponds to the length ofthe"KingsiZe cigarettes and the Width corresponds'to the length of "the's tandard size cigarettes;

In a preferred mddification, the case is jcapable of holding either and/ or both standard and King size cigarettes-indie same'case. This is the type in which two cig arette compartments are hinged together so that w en closed the cigarettes'are entirely enclosedand protected, and when open the cigarettes are available for'withdrawal. .King size cigarettes can be held in one compartment runningin alongitudinal direction and the standard "size cigarettes, running in a transverse position, "can be placed in the other.

When thBTGaSG'iS closeditxis obvious thatthe two size cigarettes are arranged crosswiseto each other. This is of material advantage and is also possible in a dual square case adaptable for holding only a single length cigarette described above, for when the case is full, the cigarettes are less likely to be crushed than in the conventional type Where the cigarettes run in the same direction. This is especially true when the exterior of the case is made of some yieldable material such as fabric or leatherwhich is susceptible to pressureor jars from the outside tendingtofcrush'the cigarettes, since the crisscross position of the-cigarettes contained therein is rigid and capable of withstanding such treatinent. g V

My'invention is not limited to any particular stynor flat cigarette case, nor to the, materials of construction. Thus, for example, the exterior mayibe oflleatheniabric, enamelled metal, molded'resinous material, light weight wood, or similar .material, and any suitable covering means rnaybejprovide'd such as hinged type covers, slide, roll-back covers, 'andthelike. The particular structural details, while forming an integral part of the invention, are not critical and. this is an important advantage since in the fabrication of theprcducts 0f theipresent invention it is not necessary to make extensive alterations to cigarette cases now being .manufactured, but the standard patterns and forms of cases can in most instances be used. 1

g The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an open planview of a cigarette case holding long or King size cigarettes; ;Fig. ,2 is'an open plan view of the same case "shown in-Fig. 1 but holding standard'size cigarettes;

Fig. 3 is across section of the case shown in Fig. 1 taken alongthe line 3'-3' but differs in that the case is closed;

means positioned on the lid to hold the lid when the case is closed.

The casein Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as employing a resilient material such as an elastic band stretched diagonally across the case to hold the cigarettes either longitudinally as shown in Fig. 1 or transversely as shown in Fig. 2. This represents a preferred modification of retaining the cigarettes because although the band is secured at both ends, it is sufficiently flexible so that the cigarettes may be inserted beneath it and extracted for use without danger of bending or otherwise damaging the cigarettes.

Instead of an elastic band which is yieldable at all points, the diagonal band may be of a nonresilient material itself, but attached to each corner by means of a spring which renders it extensible.

A second modification shown in Fig. illustrates a cigarette case comprising a receptacle la for holding cigarettes and a lid or cover 2a hinged together at 3a. A metal band 4a extends diagonally across the cigarette receptacle la between diagonally opposite corners, being hinged to one of said corners by means of a spring actuated hinge. A spring latch 7a coacts with a fastening means positioned on the lid to hold the lid when the case is closed. In this modification the cigarette retaining means 4a hinged at one of the diagonal corners by means of a spring actuated hinge is normally held in a position overlying and contacting all the cigarettes in the receptacle regardless of whether they are in a crosswise or lengthwise position. The spring actuated hinge also permits the retaining member 4a to be raised in a vertical direction when it is desired to remove cigarettes from the receptacle and said spring should be sufiiciently strong to hold the cigarettes in place when the retaining member is in its normally horizontal position. It is of course immaterial to which corner the metal band is hinged as long as it extends in -a substantially diagonal direction across the case so that a part thereof overlies each cigarette in the case. I

A further modification illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises a cigarette case having a receptacle lb for holding cigarettes and a lid or cover 2b hinged together at 3b. A spring latch 11) coacts with fastening means positioned on the lid to hold the lid when the case is closed. The cigarette retaining means in this modification comprises two metal or nonresilient members 417, one of which is hinged preferably by a spring means at one corner of the receptacle lb and extends in a diagonal direction across the case about half the distance to the opposite corner. The second member is similarly hinged at the opposite diagonal corner and extends in the same general direction a sufiicient distance to substantially meet the first described retaining member whereby the two members traverse the diagonal distance of the case. In this modification either of the bands may be raised independently of the other band to remove cigarettes from one half of the receptacle, the cigarettes in the other half being securely held by the other member.

The manner of attaching the retaining means illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 to the diagonal corner or corners is not broadly limited to the use of the spring actuated member shown, permitting vertical movement of the retaining means, and any other suitable fastening means may be employed. For example, the member may be made of a material capable of being flexed such as a steel band or flat spring rigidly fastened to the diagonal corner or corners and which retaining member can be raised vertically because of the flexibility of the material employed, but which will resume its normal position overlying and contacting the cigarettes when the upward force is released.

The diagonal retaining member or band may be made of a material flexible at all points, so that it can be raised a sufiicient distance to permit the withdrawal of one cigarette at a time, the remainder of the cigarettes underlying the non-flexed portion being securely held in the receptacle. In other words, the fulcrum instead of being localized at only one end point at the corner of the receptacle, is a series of points along the band, and thus even when the retaining means is displaced for removing a cigarette, the remaining cigarettes are held firmly in place and there is less tendency toward spilling.

Similarly the retaining member or members of Figs. 5 and 6 may be pivotally connected to the diagonal corner or corners in such a manner that the retaining member or members may be moved in a horizontal direction to facilitate the withdrawal of cigarettes. The diagonal retaining member or bands pivotally connected to the diagonal corner or corners overlies and contacts all the cigarettes in the compartment in essentially the same manner as those specifically illustrated and at the same time possesses at least one advantageous operating feature. For example when the retaining member 4a of Fig. 5 is pivotally connected to the corner, the band can be moved horizontally to the left far enough to permit removal of one cigarette and the remaining cigarettes will still be held in position. This operation may be repeated until all the cigarettes have been removed. When the cigarettes lie in the opposite direction the retaining member can be moved horizontally to the right and the same result achieved.

Any of the cigarette cases described and shown in the drawing can be of the dual container type, that is, instead of a single container with a lid, two cigarette holding compartments are hinged together so that when closed the cigarettes are completely protected and when opened flat, cigarettes are available on both sides. This dual type is capable of holding a larger quantity than the single type, and moreover, when used in conjunction with the present invention, one side may be used for holding King size cigarettes and standard size cigarettes may be placed in the other. Although this dual type is not illustrated in the drawing, it should be understood that the invention broadly includes such dual-container cases and is not limited to the exact details as set forth above.

The invention also includes dual cases in which one receptacle is adaptable for holding cigarettes in accordance with the present invention and in which the other receptacle is suitable for holding other articles such as for example cosmetics, coins, keys, or other small articles.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my copending application Serial No. 335,684, filed May 17, 1940.

What I claim is:

1. A cigarette case adaptable for holding cigarettes which comprises a case having at least one compartment capable of holding cigarettes when placed in either a longitudinal or transverse position, said compartment having linear means for retaining the cigarettes in place, said means extending diagonally from one corner of said compartment to the opposite diagonal corner and being secured to at least one of the corners, whereby said retaining means may serve to hold cigarettes in place whether the cigarettes are disposed longitudinally with respect to the case or transversely thereof.

2. A cigarette case adaptable for holding cigarettes of different lengths which comprises a case having at least one compartment capable of holding cigarettes of one length transversely or cigarettes of a greater length longitudinally, said compartment having linear means for retaining the cigarettes in place, said means extending diagonally from one corner of said compartment to-the opposite diagonal corner and being secured to at least one of the corners, whereby said retaining means may serve to hold cigarettes in place whether the cigarettes are disposed longitudinally with respect to the case or transversely thereof.

3. A cigarette case adaptable for holding cigarettes of different lengths which comprises a case having two hinged members, at least one of said members being a compartment capable of holding ciragettes of one length transversely or cigarettes of a greater length longitudinally, said compartment having a retaining strap extending diagonally from one corner of said compartment to the other for retaining the cigarettes when in either longitudinal or transverse position.

4. A cigarette case according to claim 3 in which the cigarette retaining means is an extensible band.

5. A cigarette case adaptable for holding cigarettes of different lengths which comprises a case having two hinged members, at least one of said members being a compartment capable of holding cigarettes of one length transversely or cigarettes of a greater length longitudinally, a one-piece linear retainer for holding the cigarettes in place, said retainer being hingedly secured to the cigarette compartment at one corner thereof and extending diagonally across the case to a point near the opposite diagonal corner of the cigarette compartment, whereby said retainer may serve to hold cigarettes in place whether such cigarettes are disposed longitudinally with respect to the case or transversely thereof.

6. A cigarette case adaptable for holding cigarettes of difierent lengths which comprises a case having two hinged members, at least one of said members being a compartment capable of holding cigarettes of one length transversely or cigarettes of a greater length longitudinally, retaining means for holding the cigarettes in place comprising two linear members, one being hingedly secured to the cigarette compartment at one corner thereof and extending diagonally across the case about half the distance to the opposite corner, the other linear member being hingedly secured to the cigarette compartment at the opposite diagonal corner and extending diagonally in the same general direction a sufficient distance so that the two members coact to substantially traverse the diagonal distance of the case and may serve to hold cigarettes in place whether the cigarettes are disposed longitudinally with respect to the case or transversely thereof.

RUTH E. LCWRY.

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