US2415117A

US2415117A - Cigarette package

Info

Publication number: US2415117A
Application number: US467676A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard J Tamarin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-12-03
Filing date: 1942-12-03
Publication date: 1947-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1964-02-04

Description

Feb. 4, v1947. a. .1. TAMARIN CIGARETTE PACKAGE" Filed Dec} 3, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. azT'arnarcn Feb. 4, 1947. TAMARlN r 2,415,117

CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed D80. 3, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl ney F I. INVENTOR.

jg ermrimnzarc'n a. J. TAMARIN CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Doc. 3, 1942 Feb. 4, 1947.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z 9 J an u V Feb. 1947- B. J. TAMARIN CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 3, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb." 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIGARETTE PACKAGE Bernard J. Tainarin, Flourtown, Pa. Application December 3, 1942, Serial No. 467,676 is Claims. (01. zoo-11.2)

The present invention relates to the packaging of articles, particularly the packaging of cigarettes, and has for its primary object the provision of a cigarette package having means capable of being manipulated to facilitate the opening of the package and Withdrawing of cigarettes therefrom.

It is also a most important object of the invention to provide a cigarette package wherein a flexible strip is associated with the package-forming material and with at least one of the cigarettes enclosed within the package so that, upon exerting an initial pull on said strip, a part of the package-forming material will be displaced to form a. restricted opening through which at least one of the cigarettes will be ejected through the continued pulling action on the strip, thus permitting the opening of the package, and removal of the cigarettes without danger of destroying the general good appearance of the package or of mutilating the cigarettes being withdrawn.-

Another important object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined package opening and cigarette ejecting element which may be incorporated in the types of cigarette packages now commonly used in the trade so that the invention may be readily utilized without necessitating material changes in established and generally standardized methods of soft shell packaging of cigarettes.

According to the present general practice in the art, the popular type of soft shell cigarette package consists of twenty cigarettes wrapped in package-forming sheet material shaped in the form of a shell into which are introduced the twenty cigarettes arranged in three paralleling rows. Such packages are made in socalled automatic cigarette packaging machines which automatically operate, among other things,-

to shape the package-forming sheet material into the package shell, gather the twenty cigarettes according to definite methods in three paralleling rows, introduce the gathered cigarettes into the pre-shaped'package shell, close the package by folding portions of the package-forming material into tucks and overlapping flaps, and finally complete and seal the package by applying the usual Government revenue stamp transversely over said folded flaps.

Upon being ejected from the packaging machine per se, the complete cigarette package passes through a final stage which wraps and seals the package in a sheet of transparent material (usually Cellophane) for the purpose ofimproving the appearance of the package and, moreover,

(usually paper) other outer row, and seven cigarettes in the intermediate row, whereas in accordance with another method of packaging, the machine operates to provide seven cigarettes in each of the two outer rows and six cigarettes in the intermediate row. The invention may be used equally well with both of these methods and, for clarity and convenience herein, the package resulting from the first mentioned method of packagin will be referred to as the 7-7-6 type of cigarette package, whereas the package resulting from the second mentioned method of packaging will-be referred to as the -7-6-7 type of cigarette package.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation, may be more readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have, in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out a-possible embodiment of the invention. 1

In these drawings:

Figures 1 through 6 are perspectives illustrating the successive steps inproducing a cigarette package in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a top plan of a 7-6-7 type of cigarette package; 7

Figure 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic detail of a package top showing the relation of the tuck, flaps, and stamp;

Figures 9 through 14 inclusive are perspectives respectively illustrating the successive steps in the operation of one form of the invention as applied to the cigarette package;

Figure 15 is a perspective showing the appearance of the open package;

Figure 16 is a face elevation of a package-forming blank slightly modified in accordance with this invention;

Figure 17 is a perspective of a cigarette package embodying the blank illustrated in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a top plan of a 7-7-6 typeof cigarette package;

Figure 19- is a detail of a package top showing the tuck constructed in accordance with a form of the invention particularly adaptable to the 7-7-6 type of cigarette package;

Figures 20 through 26 are perspectives respectively illustrating the successive steps in the onin the moisture 3 eration of that form of the invention adaptable to the 7-7-6 type of cigarette package;

Figure 27 is aside elevation of a cigarette with the combined package opening and cigarette ejecting element associated therewith;

Figures 28 and 29 are perspectives of a further modified form of the invention and its mode of operation. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the package shown is of conventional structure and it consists of a package shell I enclosing the cigarettes 2 arranged in rows disposed in parallel relationship, that is, two outer rows A and B respectively and an intermediate-row C. The package shell I is formed in the usual manner from a blank of package-forming material conrelating the shell I shaped from the blank of package-forming material that a part thereof extends 'beyond the normal upper extremities of the cigarettes 2, as more clearly shown in Figure 3. This extended part is then folded to cover said extremities of the cigarettes by tucking the opposite side portions inwardly. against the extremities of the cigarette to form a pair of tucks 4 and provide a, pair of flaps 5' respectively extending from the rear portion to the front portion of the package, which flaps are then folded in wardly in overlapping relation over the tucks.

Arranged about the outer side of the package is an outer cover 6 preferably consisting of paper disposed to extend adjacent to, but not beyond,

the package top and usually having printed thereon the brand name or trade-mark. descriptive advertising, and similar data. The usual Government revenue stamp 1 is afllxed transversely of the overlapping flaps 5 thus sealing the same. A transparent wrapper 8, usually in the form of a sheet of Cellophane, is wrapped and sealed by means of adhesive all around the package. A tearing tape 9 may be associated with the Cellophane wrapper in the ordinary well known manner to facilitate the opening of that portion iii of the wrapper located over the top of the package for opening the latter in the manner more clearly shown in Figures 9 and 20.

The package construction thu far described is that of the ordinary cigarette package now in common use and this general construction is present in each of the several forms of the invention disclosed herein.

In accordance with the invention, a flexible strip I l, preferably made of Cellophane, is affixed by means of a suitable adhesive to at least one of the cigarettes, preferably, although not necessarily, to the outermost side of the cigarette 2c at one of the end of the intermediate row C.

' By providing a wider strip, as shown in Figure 2,

it is possible to affix such a strip to two cigarettes, that is, the cigarette in at one end of the row A and the cigarette 2b at one end of the row B in the 7-6-7 type of package. In the 7-7-6 type of cigarette package, such a strip will be aflixed to the cigarette 2a at one end of row A and the cigarette 20 at one end of the row C.

In practice. and as illustrated in Figure 1, the

' strip ll may-be, and preferably is, attached to the cigarette or, cigarettes in the course of operation of the cigarette packaging machine at the stage of transference of the grouped cigarettes from the cigarette'gatherlng means into the preshaped shell. Thus the strip ll, being associated with the cigarette or cigarettes, is introduced into the package shell I with the: cigarettes; as illustrated in Figure 2, so that said strip extends in parallel relation to the adjacent tuck forming portion of the package, as shown in-Flgure 3. In this manner, upon formation of the tucks as illustrated in Figure 4, a section of the strip becomes located between .the upper extremities of the cigarettes and the under side of the associated tuck, whereas upon folding of the flaps as indicated in Figure 5, the remaining section of the strip becomes located between the upper .side of the said tuck and the under side of the overlapping fiaps, the free end of the strip being exposed at the corresponding side portion of the package. The Government revenue stamp I then act to effectively retain the package tuck 4, iiaps 5, and strip I l in assembled relation, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Because of this construction, it will be understood that'when a pull is exerted on the strip, the package is opened in the manner to be specifled more fully hereinafter to form an'opening through which the cigarette 2a or the cigarettes lines I! at a point in close proximity to that one of the tucks 4 with whichthe strip is associated. It is particularly to be noted that the weakened lines or slits I! start at the edge l4 of the flaps 5 and extend diagonally with respect to the adjacent edge of'the stamp 1 to the edges l5 of the package top so as to terminate, as indicatedby the reference character It (Fig. 6), at the edge portions of the stamp intersecting the fold lines of the tuck 4 and adjacent to the leading edge I! of said tuck 4 (Fig. 4).

Instead of two weakened lines or slits l2, it is possible also to provide but one, as indicated at Ila in Figure 16, by'folding the blank i8 of package-forming material in the manner indicated by lines I9, 20, 2|, and 22 for the formation of the package shell la (Figure 1'1) so that the edges .23 and 24 of said blank become located in diashown in Figures 16 and I! define separable sections 5" in the flaps 5.

From the foregoing description of the two forms of the invention referred to, it will be understood that when the portion III of the- Cellophane wrapper 8 is removed by means of the tearing strip 9 (Figure 9) to expose the top of the package (Figure 10) the extended part of the strip Il may be grasped and pulled (Figure 11). As represented in Figure 12, the pulling of the strip ii causes the associated tuck 4 and the sections 5' of the'fiaps 5 to be lifted due to the provision of the weakened-line or slits I2 or because of the weakened line or slit I21: and overlapping

edges

23 and 24 forming an opening for the free ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes affixed to the strip ll Whereas the two forms of packages thus far described are applicable to both 7-6-7 and 7-7-6 types of cigarette packages, another form of the invention (that shown in Figures 18 through 26) is particularly adaptable for the 7-7-6 type. In this type of package, the cigarette 20 at the end of row C is located directly beneath that portion of the overlying tuck 4 which extends beneath the overlapping flaps 5. With such an arrangement therefore, slitted, perforated, scored, or like weakened lines l2b may be provided in said tuck, such lines extending from the corners 25 of the package to the leading edge ll of the tuck. Therefore, when the portion ID of the Cellophane wrapper 8 is torn away by means of the tearing strip 9 (Figure 20) to expose the topof the package (Figure 21) the extended part of the strip ll may be rasped and pulled (Figure 22). As represented in Figure 23, the pulling of the strip I I causes the tuck 4 to be lifted due to the provision of the weakened lines or slits l2a, allowing the free ejection of the cigarette 2c aflixed to the strip (Figure 24). Subsequently the lifted tuck may be torn away from the package thus leaving a neat substantially triangular opening defined by the folded edges 21 and 28 of the flaps and top edge 29 of the adjoining package side through which opening the cigarettes may substantially be extracted.

The cigarette ejected from th package by means of the strip ll, of course, will have the strip ll adhering thereto, as shown in Figure 27. It will be understood that the strip may be removed from the cigarette so that the same may be smoked. v

If it is found desirable to break the sealing stamp 8 simultaneously with the opening of the package in the manner shown and described in my copending application Serial Number 275,855, filed May 26, 1939, for the purpose specified therein, this may be accomplished by merely extending the free end 30 of the strip to pass underneath the stamp in the manner shown in Figure 28 so that by pulling said free end, the strip will tear the stamp, as illustrated in Figure 29.

Obviously modifications may be made in the embodiments of the invention herein shown and described without departing from the gist of the invention. Therefore, any modifications coming within the scope of the subjoined claims are to be considered within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

i 1. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with front, rear, and opposite side portions enclosing a, plurality of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair of tucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks; a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top; certain of the portions of said blank. folded to form the package top having weakened lines; and a flexible strip adhesively attached to one or more cigarettes adjoining the side portion of the package shell and associated with the flap and tuckforming portions of'the blank and extending outwardly thereof whereby the extended portion of the strip may be pulled to lift the last mentionedportions of the blank, thus providing an opening for the ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes adhering to the strip through continued pull on the latter.

2. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with front, rear, and opposite side portions enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair of tucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from thefront and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks; a sealing. stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top; certain of the portions of said blank folded to form the package top having slits; and a flexible strip adhesively attached to one or more cigarettes adjoining the side portion of the package shell and associated with the flap .and tuckforming portions of the blank and extending outwardly thereof whereby the extended portion of the strip may be pulled to lift the last mentioned portions of the blank, thus providing an opening for the ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes adi'ie liging to the strip through continued pull on the a er.

3. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with front, rear, and opposite side portions enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair oftucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks; a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top; certain of the portions of said blank folded to form the package top having slits; and a flexible strip adhesively associated with one or more cigarettes adjoining the side portion of the package shell and associated with the flap and. tuck-forming portions of the blank and extending outwardly thereof whereby the extended portion of the strip may be pulled to lift the last mentioned portions of the blank, thus providing an opening for the ejection-of the cigarette or cigarettes associated with the strip through continued pull on the latter.

7 4. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with-front, rear, and opposite side portions enclosing a plurality of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair of tucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks, and including a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top, said flaps having weakened lines starting at the edges of the flaps, extending to the edges of the package top, and disposed adjacent to the tuck at one side portion of the package shell to terminate at that edge portion of the stamp adjacent the leading edge of the tuck at said side portion of the package shell; and a flexible strip adhesively attached to one or more cigarettes adjoining said side portion of the package shell and extending along the underside around the leading edge and over the upper side of the mentioned tuck and beneath the sections of the flaps overlapping said tuck whereby the exposed portion of the strip maybe pulled to lift the tuck together with said sections of the flaps from the weakened lines to said side portion of the package shell, thus providing an opening for the ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes adhering to the strip through continued pull of the latter.

5. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with front, rear. and opposite side portions enclosing a plurality, of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair of tucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks. and including a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top, said flaps having slits starting at the edges of the flaps, extending to the edges of the package top, and disposed adjacent to the tuck at one side portion of the package shell to terminate at that edge portion of'the stamp adjacent the leading edge of the tuck at said side portion of the package shell; and a flexible strip adhesively attached to one or more cigarettes adjoining said side portion of the package shell and extending along the underside around the leading edge and over the upper side of the mentioned tuck and beneath the sections of the flaps overlapping said tuck whereby the exposed portion of the strip may be pulled to lift the tuck together with said sections of the flaps from the weakened lines to said side portion of the package shell,

thus providing an opening for the ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes adhering to the strip through continued pull of the latter.

6. A cigarette package comprising: a blank of package-forming material shaped into a shell provided with front, rear, and opposite side portions enclosing a plurality 'of cigarettes, said blank being folded to form a top consisting of a pair of tucks extending partway across the top of the package from the opposite side'portions thereof, and a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with the tucks, and including a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the package top, said flaps having weakened lines starting at the edges of the flaps, extending to the edges of the package top, and disposed adjacent to the tuck at one sideportion of the package shell to terminate at that edge portion of the stamp adjacent the leading edge of the tuck at said side portion of the package shell; and a flexible strip connected with one or more cigarettes adjoining said side portion of the package shell and extending along the underside around the leading edge and over the upper side of the mentioned tuck and beneath the sections of the flaps overlapping said tuck whereby the exposed portion of the strip may be pulled to lift the tuck together with said sections of the flaps from the weakened lines to said side portion of the package shell, thus providing a substantially square opening defined by said edge of the stamp and adjoining front, rear, and side portions of the package shell for the ejection of the cigarette or cigarettes adhering to the strip through continued pull of the latter.

'7. In a cigarette package having front, rear, and opposite side portions, the combination of a. top portion comprising: a pair of tucks extending partway across the top portion from the side portions thereof a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with said tucks; a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the top portion, each of said flaps having a slit associated with one of said tucks and disposed contiguous to one edge of said stamp; and a flexible strip connected with one or more ci arettes and folded under and over the tuck associated with said slits and under the flaps, whereby an end of the strip may be pulled to lift the tuck and portions of said flaps defined by said slits to provide an opening for the ejection of the cigarettes.

8. In a cigarette package having front, rear, and opposite side portions, the combination of a top portion comprising: a pair of tucks extending partway across the top portion from the side portions thereof; a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with said tucks; a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the top portion, each of said flaps having a weakened line associated with one of said tucks and disposed contiguous to one edge of said stamp; and a flexible strip connected with one or more cigarettes and folded under and over the tuck associated with said weakened lines and under the flaps, whereby an end of the strip may be pulled to lift the tuck andportions of said flaps defined by said weakened lines to provide an opening for the ejection of the cigarettes. a

9. In a cigarette package having front, rear, and opposite side portions, the combination of a top portion comprising: a pair of tucks extending partway across the top portion from the side portions thereof; a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with said tucks; a sealing stamp disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the top portion, each of said flaps having a slittraversing the same under the stamp and along a line contiguous to one edge of the stamp; and a flexible strip connected with one or more cigarettes and folded under and over one of said tucks and under the flaps, whereby an end of the strip may be pulled to lift the tuck: and portions of said flaps defined by said slits to provide an opening for the ejection of the cigarettes.

10. In a cigarette package having front, rear, and opposite side portions, the combination of a top portion comprising: a pair of tucks extending partway across the top portion from the side portions thereof; a pair of flaps extending inwardly from the front and rear portions of the package in overlapping relation with respect to each other and with said tucks; a sealing stamp.

disposed transversely of the flaps to seal the top portion, each of said flaps having a weakened line traversing the same under the stamp and along a line contiguous to one edge of the stamp;. and a flexible strip connected with one or more cigarettes and folded under and over one of said tucks and under the flaps, whereby an end of the strip may be pulled to lift th tuck and portions of said 9 flaps defined by said weakened lines to provide an opening for the ejection of the cigarettes.

11. A package shell comprising front, back and side members, one of said side members having an extension folded down along a. fold line and across an end of the shell to form a tuck, said front and back members having extensions folded down along fold lines and across said end of the shell and forming flaps at least partially overlying said tuck, means for securing said flaps in folded down position, said flaps including sections overlying said tuck only and movable independently of said tuck and readily detachable from and unfoldable relatively to the remainder of said flaps along separation lines extending from the inner edges of said flaps to and terminating at the fold line between said flaps and said front and back members, said lines of separation being adjacent to said securing means and permitting the unfolding of said sections without releasing the remainder of said flaps from said securing means, and pull-tab means extending above and below said tuck and between said tuck and the said flap sections overlying said tuck for pulling on the inner portion of said tuck to turn it along its fold line and detach said separable sections and turn them along their fold lines to form a spout-like member on said shell.

12. A package shell enclosing cigarettes and comprising front, back and side members, one of said side members having an extension folded down along a fold line and across an end of the shell to form a tuck, said frontand back members having extensions folded down along fold lines and across said end of the shell and forming flaps at least partially overlying said tuck, means for securing said flaps in folded down osition, said flaps including sections overlying said tuck only and movable independently of said tuck and readily detachable from and unfoldable relatively to the remainder of said flaps along separation lines extendlngfrom the inner edges of said flaps to and terminating at the fold line between said flaps and said front and back members, said lines of separation being adjacent to said securing means and permitting the unfolding of said sections without releasing the remainder of said flaps from said securing means, and a. pull strip adhesively attached to the side of a cigarette aforesaid between the ends thereof and extending below and above said tuck and between said tuck and said flap sections overlying said tuck for pulling on the inner portion of said tuck to turn it along its fold line and detach said separable sections and turn them along their fold lines to form a spout-lik member on said shell and moving said last .named cigarette longitudinally by continued pulling on said strip after the unfolding of said tuck and flap sections.

13. A package shell comprising front, back and side members, one of said side members having an extension folded down across an end of said shell and forming a tuck and said front and back members having extensions folded down over said end of said shell, a sealing member overlying said front and back members and the folded down extensions thereof and having an edge spaced from the side member last named, said front and back member extensions having flap sections overlying said tuck and secured thereto along edges only thereof, said flap sections being readily separable and unfoldable from the remainder of said front and back member extensions without unfolding the latter and along separation lines consisting of slits crossing one another diagonally beneath said sealing member and extending from said front and back members inwardly and to an increasing extent under said sealing member without being substantially constrained thereby, the outer ends of said separation lines terminating at the said edge of the sealing member and at the fold lines between said front and back members and their extensions, and a pull strip forming a loop around said tuck and extending between said tuck and said overlying flap sections.

BERNARD J. TAMARIN;

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: