US3214009A

US3214009A - Cigar packaging or the like

Info

Publication number: US3214009A
Application number: US358225A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard J Tamarin
Original assignee: PULL PACKAGING Inc
Current assignee: PULL PACKAGING Inc
Priority date: 1964-04-08
Filing date: 1964-04-08
Publication date: 1965-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-26

Description

Oct. 26, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN 3,214,009

CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE Filed April 8, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 X H 20 z/ z; I) I r 22 zz W/Z I INVENTOR.

BFAA/A/PD 721M414 BYNG W w t L) Z2584 A mm,

Oct. 26, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1964 INVENTOR. Eff/V4190 J. TAM/IP/IV M flat/L1- LJ :2.-

Oct. 26, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN 3,214,009

CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE Filed April 8, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 we we #15 INVENTOR. EFF/{44 99 PUMP/Al Oct. 26, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8, 1964 azz w l, im ZMM W mJflA 0 My Ma 5 l ev B a a v 2 f 0 6 3 2 4/ a a Q 3 p 2% a a Oct. 26, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 8, 1964 3 a 3) \JW #2.. g y; I RH m [7 2 7 M 5 a n h M 7 Fa y m M M r w; 43W rd 0 W Q W 0 r 2 05- AN m J m 7 M 4 4 W United States Patent 3,214,009 CIGAR PACKAGING OR THE LIKE Bernard J. Tarnarin, Whitemarsh, Pa., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pull-Packaging, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 358,225 22 Claims. (Cl. 20641.2)

This invention relates to pack-aging of cigars or the like and concerns especially a dispensing package and blanks therefor.

A conventional type of cigar package contains several cigars arranged in a row side by side in a relatively stiff boXlike container having a covering end flap openable to permit removal of the contents. Such a container is usually rectangular on the sides and ends (i.e. parallelepipedal) and has such an end flap joined to one wide side wall, folded across the end surface, and tucked at its free end inside along the opposite wide side wall. Such containers have numerous disadvantages, including loss of rigidity and exposure or even spillage of the contents when open and difiiculty of reclosing and insufficient rigidity even when reclosed.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a dispensing cigar package or the like.

Another object is provision of such a package characterized by improved rigidity when open and when reclosed and by secure reclosing after repeated opening.

Yet another object is provision of such a package in which the dispensing feature facilitates removal of a cigar therefrom and inhibits replacement of a cigar therein.

A further object is provision of a folding packaging blank adapted to form such a package.

Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams, which illustrate various embodiments of the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from above and to the right of center, of a package of this invention, shown closed;

FIG. 2 is a similar perspective View of the same package, shown open and during the dispensing of a cigar therefrom;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same package, shown closed as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same package, shown open as in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown open as in FIGS. 2 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a flat view of a first embodiment of packaging blank, which is adapted to form a package such as is shown in the preceding views;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation "of the cigar package of FIG. 7, here partly broken away to reveal the interior and shown "open, with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a flat view of a second embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of a cigar package, here partly broken away to reveal the interior and shown open, with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 11 is a flat view of a third embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation "of the package of FIG. 12, here partly broken away to reveal the interior and shown open, with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

ice

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the package of the immediately preceding views; and

FIGS. 15a, 15b, and are detailed sectional views of the package corner of FIG. 14, taken at XVa-XVm XVb-XVb, and XVcXVc, respectively, thereon.

FIG. 16 is a flat view of the upper portion of a fourth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 17 is a front elevation of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation of the package of FIG. 17, here shown open and with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation of the upper right corner, partly in section and enlarged, of the package of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a flat view of the upper portion of a fifth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention; and

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the upper right corner, partly in section and enlarged, of a package formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a flat view of a sixth embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a cigar package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a similar perspective view of the package of FIG. 23,, here shown open and with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 25 is a plan View of the same package, shown closed as in FIG 23;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the same package, shown open as in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown closed as in FIGS. 23 and 25;

FIG. 28 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown open as in FIGS. 24 and 26; and

FIG. 29 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown open, corresponding to the rear elevation shown in the immediately preceding view;

FIG. 30 is a flat view of a seventh embodiment of packaging blank according to this invention;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a package, shown closed, formed from the packaging blank of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a similar perspective view of the same package, shown open and with a cigar being dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 33 is a plan view of the same package, shown closed as in FIG. 31;

FIG. 34 is a plan view of the same package, shown open as in FIG. 32;

FIG. 35 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown closed as in FIGS. 31 and 33;

FIG. 36 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown open as in FIGS. 32 and 34; and

FIG. 37 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the same package, shown open, corresponding to the front elevation shown in the immediately preceding view.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a portable package for cigars or other cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, by means of an end closure comprising a plurality of separately hinged portions swingably openable together to dispense one of the articles. More particularly, the end closure is openable by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article, the package having an opening in a side wall thereof adjacent .that article to enable the articles to be manipulated into such contact with the end closure to open it. The invention also comprehends pack- 3 aging blanks for providing such features when folded into package form.

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, package 10 of this in vention, with part of the vertical extent thereof omitted as indicated by phantom lines, the height of the package being determined by the length of the cigars or other cylindrical articles contained therein. As shown, the package has rectangular sides and ends. The thickness of the package depends upon the diameter of the articles, which are arranged, preferably in a single row, side by side, and the package width depends upon the number of the articles as well as their diameter. In the instance of cigars there is little or no standardization in length or diameter, so package dimensions vary greatly, but the present invention is applicable, irrespective of dimensions, to any such portable package. The bottom (not shown) may be of any suitable construction.

Front wall 12 of package 10 is relatively wide and adjoins pair of narrow walls 11 (hidden except at its top edge) and 13. The front wall has opening 2 therein, which is shown as generally rectangular, centrally located from side to side nearer the top than the bottom and with its top edge parallel to the top of the package. Parts of several cigars are visible through the opening. It will be understood that the opening normally will be sealed, as by a surrounding sheath (or, alternatively, a covering window) of preferably transparent or translucent laminar material (not shown) until the package reaches the consumer, whereupon the seal will be removed to facilitate dispensing of the contents.

The top of package 10, shown (closed) in perspective in FIG. 1 and in plan in FIG. 3, is in the form of a flap joined to the back wall (hidden in this view) and divided in half by slit 20 crossing the top transversely parallel to the narrow edges formed by the top edges of

narrow side walls

11 and 13. The right half of the top is made up of minor portion 21 bordering the slit and adjoining major portion 23, respectively, with welt or score line 22 therebetween parallel to the slit and providing a hinging location for minor portion 21 onto major portion 23. The left half of the top is a mirror image of the right half and has minor portion 21 hinged to major portion 23' at welt or score line 22. Adjacent minor portions 21 and 21' together go to make up an openable closure in the top end of the package, as shown in other views.

FIG. 2 shows package in perspective much as in FIG. 1 with two hands superimposed, the right hand holding the package and the left hand sliding cigar 20 upward, thereby opening that end closure by swinging

minor portions

21, 21 of the top upward about their respective lines 22, 22' (the latter of which is hidden in this view). FIGS. 4 and 5 show the package so open, in plan and rear elevation, respectively. Revealed as part of the open end closure are

parts

31, 31 which are perpendicular to adjoining minor

top portions

21, 21 and which rest in the closed position inside along the concealed surface of front wall 12. The free edges of these perpendicular parts are straight for a short distance adjacent the adjoining flap portions and perpendicular thereto (and, therefore, mutually contiguous in the closed position) and then angle away from the perpendicular and from one another.

Elongated opening 4 in rear wall 14 permits cigar 5 to be contacted by one or more fingers (not shown) on that side, as well as by the thumb on the opposite side to facilitate raising of the cigar into forcible contact with the overlying end closure to open it and thereby dispense the cigar. Either one or both of openings 2 and 4 in the respective front and rear walls may be provided, as desired. One opening width preferably is great enough to enable another cigar in the row to be manipulated into position to be dispensed if tapping the package on the side or shaking it does not sufiice to do so.

Once the end of the cigar protrudes through the dispensing opening provided by upward swinging of the end closure, it may be gripped and extracted completely from the package; a protruding cigar or one that has been fully extracted cannot be resinserted readily, as the angled sides of the open closure tend to grip it upon any attempt to force it back into the package, thereby providing a desirable one-way valvelike feature. It will be understood that each cigar may have an individual jacket (not shown) of cellophane, which may be removed as usual, with or without the customary cigar-encircling band (also not shown), to ready an extracted cigar for smoking. The closure then may be swung back to the closed position. It will be noted that the pair of hinge lines for the openable closure portions are preferably located somewhat more than one cigar diameter but not much more than about two cigar diameters apart so as to facilitate the opening of the closure by the forcible contact of a cigar therewith and to funnel the cigar out despite misalignment thereof inside the package, as when one or more cigars have been removed. Of course, the package top remains relatively rigid even when the end closure is open because the major portion (flanking the open closure) of the top end remains closed, although if desired it can be designed for optional opening to permit removal of the entire contents at once. For maximum economy it is preferable to form the package from a unitary (i.e., one-piece) folding blank, which may be composed of suitably stiff paper or of foldable plastic or other semirigid laminar material. If desired, the slits defining the openable closure may be left partially imperforate, to be ruptured upon the first opening thereof.

In the embodiments of blank and package described below, similar parts or features are identified, wherever practicable, by similar reference numerals differing by multiples of a hundred from one another and from numerals for corresponding features of the package already described and illustrated. In this way primary attention is focused upon variation in features, and those once described by reference to another embodiment require little or no further description to render them and the illustration thereby thoroughly understood. For example, narrow side wall 13 having been mentioned above, it will be clear that

numerals

113, 213, 313, etc. refer to corresponding narrow side walls of different embodiments of packages (or to the wall panels of the packaging blanks before being folded into package fonn). Shaded areas indicate location of adhesive, and closely spaced double lines indicate welting or scoring (which may in some instances include perforation or intermittent slitting) of the blanks to facilitate folding, as in the instance of the hinge feature already mentioned.

FIG. 6 shows packaging blank lying flat just as die-cut or otherwise formed in conventional manner. The visible surface is chiefly that adapted to be exposed as the outside surface of a package formed by folding the blank along the indicated welts or score lines. Five Wall panels are separated thereby from one another and from top and bottom flaps, as shown. Pair of

wide wall panels

112 and 114 adjoin opposite side edges of narrow wall panel 113, and similar narrow wall panel adjoins the opposite side edge of wide wall panel 114, and slightly narrower lap panel 111 (shaded for adhesive) adjoins the opposite side edge of wide wall panel 112. Broad rectangular (nearly square) opening 102 and narrow rectangular (elongated vertically) opening 104 are present in respective

wide wall panels

112 and 114, being centered from side to side thereof and nearer the top than the bottom edge (part of the vertical extent of the blank being broken away to conserve space of illustration).

Adjoining the bottom edge of wide wall panel 112 of packaging blank 100 is rectangular inner bottom flap 116. Adjoining the bottom edge of wide wall panel 114 is slightly smaller rectangular outer bottom flap 118, which is shaded for adhesive. Adjoining the top edge of the latter wide wall panel is a tuck flap, which has a generally rectangular configuration with rounded corners at the free outer edge thereof and a generally triangular indentation midway of that edge. The outer or tuck part of the flap is generally similar in size to the adjoining (or package top) part, which itself is divided into hinged minor portions 121, 121' separated by slit 120 from one an other and by slit 139 (which forms with slit 120 an inverted T configuration) from the adjoining wall panel. These hinged portions are flanked by major portions 123, 123' with welts or score

lines

122, 122 intervening. The outer or tuck part of the flap is similarly subdivided and is hinged to the adjoining part parallel to the hinging of the latter to the adjoining wide wall panel. Oblique (and slightly curved) edges 136, 136 bound two sides of the previously mentioned indentation and terminate in an extension of slit 120 to separate tuck flap portions 131, 131', hinged to respective

minor closure portions

121, 121. Besides that hinging, the extension of slit 120, and edges 136, 136', these parts are bounded by the free outer edge and by oblique (and curved) slits 132, 132'. The rest of the tuck flap is made up of

corner portions

133, 133 bordering slits 132, 132 and hinged to major top portions 123, 123'.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show package 110, formed by folding blank 11M), in front elevation with the internal portions of the tuck flap shown in broken lines. In the former of these views the package is completely closed, whereas in the latter the end closure (similar to that of previous package as shown open in FIGS. 2 and 5) is open, and cigar 5 is being dispensed through the opening so provided in the top end of the package. Upon opening,

minor portions

131, 131 of the tucked free end of the top flap, being free along slit 130, partially overlap one another and swing partly out from behind front side wall 112,

as adjoined minor

top portions

121, 121 pivot about their hinge lines 122, 122'. Part of the lower portion of the package is cut away in FIG. 8 to reveal the interior and show the raised lower end of cigar 5. It will be understood that appreciable force of contact is required for the end of the cigar to open the end closure, the two portions of which protrude in what may be considered a prismatic configuration (open at the rear in this instance). When the closure is reclosed, as by being tapped from the outside (and aided by the hinge resiliency), the perpendicular tuck parts that slide along inside the front wall return to a common plane as the straight parts of edges 136, 136' resume their initial mutually contiguous relationship, establishing a stable rest position. Whether the end closure is open or closed, tucked portions 133, 133' of the tuck flap are retained frictionally against the inner surface of wall 112 while inner and outer bottom flaps 116 and 118 (FIG. 6) are secured adhesively to one another.

FIG. 9 shows packaging blank 200, which is another embodiment, also in the flat. It differs from previous blank 1% by having opening 202 in wide wall panel 212 somewhat shorter in vertical extent than opening 102 in corresponding wide wall panel 112. In addition, the free edge of the flap is made up of bridging portion 239, which is hinged along its

end portions

233, 233 to major

top portions

223, 223 of the flap and which outlines tuck

portions

231, 231 and triangular gap 238 formed therebetween. The edges of portions 231, 231' adjacent that part of the bridging portion bounding one side of the triangular gap are separated therefrom by

slits

237, 237, which intersect the outer ends of

respective slits

232, 232 so as to permit them to fold down with respect to adjoining minor top closure portions 221, 221'.

When this blank is folded into package form (as was the previous blank) by spacing the wide wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and spacing the narrow wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the Wide wall panels with one narrow panel overlapping and secured adhesively to the lap panel, the top flap may be folded similarly down across the top and the free end of the top flap be tucked inside along the inner surface of the front wall. Because of bridging portion 239 the tucked portion of the flap is retained more securely in place by frictional contact with the adjacent front side wall despite opening of the top end closure. Resulting package 210 is shown open in front elevation in FIG. 10,. with a cigar being dispensed therefrom. Of course, if it is desired to open the entire tucked flap, as to remove the entire contents at once rather than to dispense the cigars one by one through the openable top end closure, that can still be done in conventional manner. The bottom closure (not shown) can be as shown in the previous embodiment or can consist of a simple tuck flap.

FIG. 11 shows packaging blank 300, which is another embodiment, also in the flat. Whereas in the blanks previously illustrated the surface shown was chiefly that to be folded to the outside of a package formed from the blank, the surface shown in this view is chiefly that to be fold-ed to the inside of the package. In addition, this blank differs by having a tuck type of bottom flap, by interchange of the adhesive lap panel (although indicated by stippling the adhesive location is on the far or outer face thereof) and the cooperating narrow wall panel, and by slight redesign of the top flap (

corner portions

333 and 333 being somewhat more rounded, and

oblique slits

332 and 332 separating them from portions 131, 131' being straight rather than curved). It also differs in its provision of a flap-locking feature. Pair of short slits 340, 340' extend from the left and right side edges of the flap along part of the junction between major tuck portions 333, 333' and major top portions 323, 323' of the flap and curve slightly at their inward ends to terminate a short way within the latter. Pair of small

indented flaps

341, 343 adjoining the top edges of respective

narrow wall panels

311, 313 cooperate with the slits to provide the locking.

At the bottom of wide wall panel 314 there is an adjoining tuck flap similarly provided but without an openable closure feature as at the top edge of the other wide wall panel. Between outer tuck portion 354 and adjoining intermediate portion 352 the welt or score line is interrupted at its opposite ends by pair of slits 350, 350' similar to

slits

340, 340 in the top flap. Pair of indented fiaps 351, 353 are provided at the bottom edges of

narrow panels

311, 313, like

indented fiaps

341, 343 at the top.

When this blank is folded into package form (as were the previous blanks) by spacing the wide wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and spacing the narrow wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the Wide wall panel with one narrow panel overlapping and secured adhesively to the lap panel, the top flap may be folded down across the top and the free end of the top flap tucked inside along the inner surface of the front wall. In like manner the bottom flap may be folded and tucked in to form the bottom closure. Resulting package 310 is shown in front elevation in FIGS. 12 and 13, being completely closed in the former and open to dispense a cigar in the latter view.

In formation of package 310, short slit 340, for example, will open enough to admit the unindented portion of the side edge of indented flap 343, thereby locking the major tucked portion of the top flap at that corner in place, as shown in FIG. 14. FIGS. 15a, 15b, and are sections taken vertically toward the rear, vertically toward the middle, and horizontally downward on that locked corner of the package of FIG. 14 as indicated thereon. The other corners of the package will be similar in appearance and are not illustrated. Of course, if it is desired to open either entire tucked flap, as to remove the entire contents at once rather than to dispense the cigars one by one through the openable top end closure, the lock can be released by disengaging the edges of the indented flaps from the slits by pressing inward.

Instead of relying upon frictional engagement, with or Without the truck lock feature, to secure closed the part of the flap not opened while the end closure for dispensing a single cigar is opened, adhesive may be employed. This either eliminates the alternative of readily dispensing the entire contents at once, in favor of single-file or one-byone dispensing, or if desired the opposite end closure could be of flap type suited to dispensing the entire contents at once. FIGS. 16 and 20

show packaging blanks

400 and 500, respectively, which are embodiments utilizing such adhesive securing of the part of the top end flap to which the openable end closure is hinged.

Blank 400 shown in FIG. 16 differs in configuration from blank 100 of FIG. 6 only in omission of the major tuck portions at the free end of the flap and in addition of a pair of small adhesive top flaps 442, 442' at the top edge of wide wall panel 412. Thus, adhesive fiap 442 adjoining the right part of the top edge of wide wall panel 412 is adapted to underlie and be secured to major top portion 423 to which is hinged the openable end closure comprising minor top portion 421 and adjoining tuck portion 431, which lies along the inside of wide wall panel 412 in resulting package 410 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 19 is an enlarged detail view of the top right front corner of package 410, partly sectioned away to show the overlapping and adhering flap portions (423 and 443). While the adjacent openable portion (421) shown only fragmentarily in this view is shown closed, it will be apparent that upon opening thereof no displacement of the portion to which it is hinged can occur.

Blank 500 shown in FIG. 20 differs in configuration from blank 400 by having a pair of small

adhesive flaps

541, 543 adjoining the top edge of respective

narrow wall panels

411, 413 and by interchange of the functions of

wall panels

411 and 415 to render the latter the adhesive lap panel, which is covered by the former. FIG. 21 shows the top right front corner of package 510, which is formed by folding blank 500 and securing the adhesive top flap portions as indicated. In external appearance package 510 looks like package 410 already shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 and thus is not separately illustrated.

Whereas in the blanks already described the top end closure is open to the rear (when in the open position) an all-around enclosed configuration has the advantages of neater appearance and greater rigidity, and examples of such structures are illustrated in the next embodiments.

FIG. 22 shows blank 600, which differs in configuration from blank 100 of FIG. 6 in having narrow slot 602 centered (from side to side) in the upper part of wall panel 612 with wide, nearly square slot 604 located in wide wall panel 614, similarly near the top edge, and by having straight (instead of curved) oblique slits 532, 532' extending from the free edge and across the tuck portion of the flap to terminate at one end of welts or score lines 622, 622'. The latter, upon which minor openable portions 621, 621', which are separated by central transverse slit 620, are hinged, extend diagonally to join one another at the junction of their opposite ends to the hinged junction of the top flap to wide wall panel 614.

Package 610 formed from blank 600 by folding and securing it is shown in perspective in FIGS. 23 and 24, in plan in FIGS. 25 and 26, and in rear elevation in FIGS. 27 and 28 with the end closure closed and then 1 opened, respectively, in these pairs of otherwise like views.

FIG. 29 also shows the package open but in front elevation corresponding to the rear view shown in FIG. 28; in this embodiment either wide wall may be considered the front, so the above reversal of designation (and corresponding interchange of large and small openings in the wide side walls) is arbitrary. In the closed position this package resembles those previously illustrated and described above, with the hardly noticeable difference that the openable closure outlined on the top end surface is triangular instead of rectangular; in the open position the closure is tetrahedral rather than prismatic in configuration, and becomes rounded somewhat on its enclosing faces.

As the closure in the top of package 610 opens, parts 631, 631' hinged to minor top portions 621, 621' slide upward out from behind wide wall 612 (here considered the rear wall) to form one face, while minor top portions 621, 621' form the other two faces, and the package surface thereunder (concealed from view) the fourth surface of the tetrahedron, as will be apparent. Of course, as in the previous prismatic configuration, the solid geometric figure is only approximated, especially in the initially opening position, and then is itself opened to permt the cigar to emerge. Of course, by orienting the hinge lines obliquely but without intersection at one end thereof, one could produce a useful intermediate form of openable closure. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 22 to 29 is also more useful where the cigars (or other cylindrical articles) are contained in two rows instead of only one, as the proportioning of the enclosure with the opposite ends of the hinge lines spaced apart about two diameters (of the contained articles) is conducive to the dispensing of articles from the one row only. Of course, the top flap portions adjoining the openable closure in this embodiment may be secured by adhesive, tuck lock, or other means in this embodiment as in the other embodiments.

Packaging blank 700 shown in FIG. 30 differs in configuration from the blanks previously shown by substitution of two winglike closure flaps adjoining the respective narrow side wall panels for the previous single flap adjoining one of the wide wall panels, and by having small adhesive top flaps adjoining one of the wide wall panels next to the closure flaps. Each combination of adjacent adhesive and closure flaps is essentially a mirror image of the other combination flap structure. Thus, small adhesive flaps 746, 746' are

adjacent portions

723, 723 but separated therefrom by

slits

747, 747, respectively.

Openable closure portions

721, 721 are hinged to portions 723, 723' along welts or score lines 722, 722', which are parallel to the top edge of the blank. Each closure portion has hinged to it on opposite sides two parts adapted to fold perpendicular thereto and slide inside along the opposite side wall:

parts

731, 731 on

closure portions

721, 721, respectively, being adapted to fold down along front wide wall 712, and

parts

726, 726 on the respective portions adjacent respective adhesive flaps 746, 746' (but spaced therefrom by slits 748, 748) being adapted to fold down along rear wide wall 714. Of course, when that happens, adhesive flap 746 adheres to the under surface of portion 723 of the top and adhesive flap 746' to portion 723, thereby preventing the entire top of the package from opening when openable closure 721, 721' (separated by slit 721) when in package form) opens to dispense a cigar.

Package 710 formed from blank 700 is shown in perspective in FIGS. 31 and 32, in plan in FIGS. 33 and 34, and in front elevation in FIGS. 35 and 36, with the top end closure closed and open, respectively, and also open in rear elevation in FIG. 37. As top closure portions 721 and 721' swing upward and open, each pair of adjacent perpendicular parts hinged thereon become overlapped and slide upward into view from behind the adjacent wide wall. The resulting prismatic configuration is thus completed by perpendicular end surfaces so comprised, sloping surfaces formed by opening portions 721, 721' on opposite sides and joining the perpendicular ends, and the underlying plane of the top surface of the package, through which the cigars are dispensed one by one. Of course, the prismatic configuration is distorted by the complete opening of the closure, but a prolongation of the planar surfaces mentioned would recomplete that configuration.

While several embodiments of packaging blank and package of this invention have been illustrated and described, some having certain advantages over others, as indicated, other modifications having some of the same advantages and possibly other benefits as well may be employed with similar convenience and results. Parts may be altered in size, shape, or number, subdivided or multiplied, or modified in composition while remaining within the purview of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a container formed from a unitary folding blank and having an end closure comprising a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged foldably along spaced parallel lines flanking them and crossing from side to side with respect to the row, the portions being swingably openable together along and between the hinge lines by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article.

2. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall, an end closure swingably openable in prismatic form along a pair of spaced hinge lines crossing essentially the entire exposed portion of the flap substantially perpendicular to its junction to the side wall.

3. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall, an end closure swingably openable in tetrahedral form along a pair of spaced hinge lines crossing the flap at similar but opposite angles to its junction to the side wall.

4. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall, an end closure having a pair of closure portions swingably openable and reclosable along a pair of hinge lines on the flap, the hinge lines being spaced apart the width of from one to two of the cylindrical articles and crossing the flap substantially perpendicular to that side wall, each openable closure portion having a part thereof slidable along the inside surface of a side wall upon opening, the flap having thereon means cooperating with an adjacent part of the package to inhibit the rest of the flap from opening upon complete opening of the end closure.

5. In a portable package of rectangular plan for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall, an end closure having a pair of closure portions swingably openable and reclosable along a pair of hinge lines on the flap, the hinge lines crossing the flap obliquely to intersect at one end of each and being spaced apart the width of about two of the cylindrical articles intermediate the opposite ends of the hinge lines, each openable closure portion having a part thereof slidable along the inside surface of ,a side wall upon opening.

6. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a pair of flaps joined to opposing side walls, an openable end closure comprising a pair of openable flap portions, one on each of the flaps, each openable flap portion being swingably openable along a hinge line crossing the flap substantially parallel tothe side walls to which the two flaps are joined, the pair of hinge lines being spaced the width of at least one of the cylindrical articles from one another, the flap portions each having a pair of side parts thereof spaced opposite and parallel to one another and essentially perpendicular to the rest of the hinged flap portion and slidable along the inside surface of each of a pair of adjacent walls upon opening.

7. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall and tucked at its free end inside an opposing side wall, an end closure including a pair of flap portions swingably openable together along respective hinge lines across the flap end surface and spaced the width of from one to two of the cylindrical articles apart, each swingable portion having a part thereof perpendicular to the flap end surface and slidable along inside the opposite side wall, the free end of the flap terminating in an unbroken bridging piece extending alongside the latter parts of the swingable flap portions.

8. In a portable package for cylindrical article arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall and tucked at its free end inside an opposing side wall, an end closure including a pair of flap portions swingably operable together along respective hinge lines across the flap end surface and spaced the width of from one to two of the cylindrical articles apart, each swingable portion having a part thereof perpendicular to the flap end surface and slidable along inside the opposite side wall, the free edge of the perpendicular part of the respective swingable portions angling in opposite directions over most of their extent and being contiguous in the closed position only in the vicinity of the adjacent flap portions but overlapping during the opening of the end closure.

9. In a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, covered at one end by a flap joined to a side wall and tucked at its free end inside an opposing side wall, an end closure including a pair of flap portions swingably openable together along respective hinge lines across the flap end surface and spaced the width of from one to two of the cylindrical articles apart, each swingable portion having a part thereof perpendicular to the fiap end surface and slidable along inside the opposite side wall, the free edge of the perpendicular part of the respective swingable portions being perpendicular to the adjacent surface of the flap portion thereof for a short distance and then oblique thereto, whereby when the end closure is closed the respective perpendicular edges of the perpendicular parts of the respective swingable portions are mutually contiguous, tending to hold the closure closed in the absence of forcible contact of an end of one of the articles with the closure from the inside to open it.

10. In a folding blank for a portable package for cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, an end flap hinged to a side wall and having its free end adapted to be tucked inside along the opposite side wall after covering the end when folded into package form, including a swingably mounted end closure comprising a pair of fiap portions, each hinged to the rest of the flap substantially perpendicular to the hinging of that flap to the side wall and including a part of the free end of the flap, being openable when in package form by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside to dispense that article.

11. Packaging blank having a pair of wide wall panels and a pair of narrow wall panels and a lap panel, foldable into package form to space the wide wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and space the narrow wall panels opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the wide wall panels and to overlap the lap panel by an edge portion of one of the other wall panels and including bottom flap means adapted to close one end of the package so formed, the top flap means being adapted to close the other end thereof, one of the flap means comprising a flap joined to a wide side wall and having its free edge adapted to be tucked inside along the opposite wide side wall after covering the end, part of that flap comprising an end closure having a pair of flap portions adjacent to one another hinged to the rest of the flap along lines extending from the junction of the flap with the wide side wall to the tuckable free edge of the flap and swingably openable independently thereof to dispense one of the articles, and including means for securing the rest of the flap in closed position during opening of the end closure when in package form.

12. In a flap of a packaging blank adapted to fold into package form, the flap being adapted to cover an end surface of the package and to tuck inside along a side wall thereof, an openable closure comprising part of the flap hinged to the rest of the flap along two separate lines thereon across the end-covering portion thereof and slit therebetween across both the end-covering and tuckable portions to be openable by swinging along the hinge lines.

13. In a flap of a packaging blank adapted to fold into package form to cover an end surface of the package with the flap joined to a side Wall thereof, an end closure swingably openable in prismatic form along a pair of spaced hinge lines crossing essentially the entire end-covering portion of the flap substantially perpendicular to its junction to the side wall.

14,. In a flap of a packaging blank adapted to fold into package form to cover an end surface of the package with the flap joined to a side wall thereof, an end closure swingably openable in tetrahedral form along a pair of spaced hinge lines crossing the flap at similar but opposite angles to its junction to the side Wall.

15. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a container formed from a unitary folding blank, a plurality of similar cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a single row only, side walls of the container lying adjacent thereto on opposite sides and ends of the row, and ends of the container lying adjacent opposite ends of the articles, the container having an integrally formed end closure including a plurality of separately hinged portions adjacent one another and swingably openable to dispense one of the articles from a location intermediate the ends of the row.

16. In a previously unopened portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a container of rectangular plan formed from a folding blank, a plurality of like cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a single row only, the container including a top end closure including a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged apart from one another along lines extending over substantially the entire width of the top and swingably openable together by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles located intermediate the ends of the row against the closure from the inside to dispense that article.

17. In a portable package of cylindrical articles, a plurality of such articles arranged side by side in a single row, a surrounding container of rectangular plan having a top end closure including a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged apart from one another along lines extending over substantially the entire width of the top and swingably openable together by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles located intermediate the ends of the row against the closure from the inside to dispense that article, the container having an unobstructed opening therein adjacent a side of that article to enable the article to be manipulated into such contact with the top closure to open it.

18. In a portable package of cylindrical articles, a plurality of like cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a single row only, a container of rectangular plan enclosing the articles as a group and having a top end closure including a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged apart from one another along lines extending over substantially the entire width of the top and swingably openable together by forcible contact of the end of one of the articles located intermediate the ends of the row against the closure from the inside to dispense that article, the container having openings in opposite side walls thereof adjacent that article to enable the article to be manipulated by direct manual contact therewith into such contact with the top closure to open it.

19. In a portable package of cylindrical articles, a plurality of like cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a container of rectangular plan enclosing the articles as a group, the articles being covered thereby at each end, the top end surface of the container being covered, for its entire width over a minor portion thereof spaced from both narrow edges of the top, by a closure swingably openable to uncover all of the end of only a single one of the articles and thereby permit that single article aligned with the opening so formed to slide lengthwise therethrough.

20. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a single row only of cylindrical articles so arranged, a container of rectangular plan enclosing the articles as a group, the articles being covered thereby at each end, the top end surface of the container being covered in minor part by a cover flap joined to a wide side wall, a top closure including a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged apart from one another along lines extending over substantially the entire width of the top and swingably openable together on opposite sides of a widthwise extending bisector of the flap. the maximum distance of each of the hinge lines from the bisector being at least one-half and at most one diameter of one of the cylindrical articles.

21. In a portable package of cylindrical articles arranged side by side in a row, a single row only of articles so arranged, a container of rectangular plan, the contained articles being covered at the top end by a flap integral with the container, the flap being joined to a wide side wall and tucked inside along the opposite wide side wall of the container after covering the end thereof, part of the flap comprising a closure hinged to the rest of the flap and swingably openable independently thereof to uncover the entire end of only a single one of the articles located intermediate the ends of the row, the closure including a pair of adjacent closure portions hinged apart from one another along lines extending substantially from one long edge of the top to the opposite long edge thereof, each of the openable closure portions including a tuck portion adjoining the openable part of the flap and effective to rigidify and guide it during opening and closing of the end closure.

22. The package of claim 21 wherein the container is formed from a unitary folding blank.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 580,080 4/97 Borlinghaus 206-412 1,220,496 3/17 Carr 221250 1,443,279 1/23 Schindler 229l7 1,995,556 3/35 Z-ayas 221250 2,202,280 5/40 Wilson 229l7 3,057,533 10/62 Silver 229l7 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,553 6/54 Italy.

0 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

Claims

21. IN A PORTABLE PACKAGE OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE IN A ROW, A SINGLE ROW ONLY OF ARTICLES SO ARRANGED, A CONTAINER OF RECTANGULAR PLAN, THE CONTAINED ARTICLES BEING COVERED AT THE TOP END BY A FLAP INTEGRAL WITH THE CONTAINER, THE FLAP BEING JOINED TO A WIDE SIDE WALL AND TUCKED INSIDE ALONG THE OPPOSITE WIDE SIDE WALL OF THE CONTAINER AFTER COVERING THE END THEREOF, PART OF THE FLAP COMPRISING A CLOSURE HINGED TO THE REST OF THE FLAP AND SWINGABLY OPENABLE INDEPENDENTLY THEREOF TO UNCOVER THE ENTIRE END OF ONLY A SINGLE ONE OF THE ARCTICLES LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE ROWS, THE CLOSURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF ADJACENT CLOSURE PORTIONS HINGED APART FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG LINES EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY FROM ONE LONG EDGE OF THE TOP TO THE OPPOSITE LONG EDGE THEREOF, EACH OF THE OPENABLE CLOSURE PORTIONS INCLUDING A TUCK PORTION ADJOINING THE OPENABLE PART OF THE FLAP AND EFFECTIVE TO RIGIDIFY AND GUIDE IT DURING OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE END CLOSURE.