U.S. patent application number 11/830382 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for cigarette pack with integral innerframe.
This patent application is currently assigned to Philip Morris USA Inc.. Invention is credited to John J. Fleenor, Xuan M. Pham, Barry S. Smith.
Application Number | 20080060954 11/830382 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39157633 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080060954 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pham; Xuan M. ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
CIGARETTE PACK WITH INTEGRAL INNERFRAME
Abstract
The invention may include a cigarette package for containing a
plurality of cigarettes, the cigarette package comprising a main
body portion and a lid portion. The body portion may include a
front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the
main body portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel
of the main body portion and spaced from the first side panel of
the main body portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and
second side panels of the main body portion and spaced from the
front panel of the main body portion, and a bottom panel adjacent
the front panel of the main body portion, the side panels of the
main body portion and the back panel of the main body portion. The
main body portion may have a first portion and a second portion,
with the second portion being compressed to a thickness that is
less than the first portion. The lid portion may include a front
panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the lid
portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the lid
portion and spaced from the first side panel of the lid portion, a
back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the lid
portion and spaced from the front panel of the lid portion, the
back panel of lid portion being integral with the back panel of the
main body portion; and a top panel adjacent the front panel of the
lid portion, first and second side panels of the lid portion and
back panel of the lid portion. The compressed portion may be
provided with "I"-shaped of V-shaped cuts to alleviate damage to
the pack material.
Inventors: |
Pham; Xuan M.; (Glen Allen,
VA) ; Smith; Barry S.; (Hopewell, VA) ;
Fleenor; John J.; (Midlothian, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP
1007 North Orange Street, P.O. Box 2207
Wilmington
DE
19899
US
|
Assignee: |
Philip Morris USA Inc.
Richmond
VA
|
Family ID: |
39157633 |
Appl. No.: |
11/830382 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60842774 |
Sep 7, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/273 ;
206/268; 229/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/10564
20200501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/273 ;
206/268; 229/131 |
International
Class: |
A24F 15/00 20060101
A24F015/00; B65D 5/00 20060101 B65D005/00; B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10 |
Claims
1. A cigarette pack comprising: a main body portion including a
front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the
main body portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel
of the main body portion and spaced from the first side panel of
the main body portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and
second side panels of the main body portion and spaced from the
front panel of the main body portion, and a bottom panel adjacent
the front panel of the main body portion, the side panels of the
main body portion and the back panel of the main body portion, and
wherein the main body portion has a first portion and a second
portion, said second portion being compressed; and a lid portion
including a front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front
panel of the lid portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front
panel of the lid portion and spaced from the first side panel of
the lid portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and second side
panels of the lid portion and spaced from the front panel of the
lid portion, the back panel of lid portion being integral with the
back panel of the main body portion and a top panel adjacent the
front panel of the lid portion, first and second side panels of the
lid portion and back panel of the lid portion.
2. The cigarette pack of claim 1, wherein said second portion of
the main body has a thinner cross-section than the first portion of
main body portion.
3. The cigarette pack of claim 2, wherein said second portion has
three distinct sections: a first compressed section on the front
panel of the main body portion, a second compressed section on the
first side panel of the main body portion, and a third compressed
section on the second side panel.
4. The cigarette pack of claim 3, wherein the second compressed
section and third compressed section have thicknesses smaller than
the first compressed section.
5. The cigarette pack of claim 4, wherein the first second and
third compressed sections have thicknesses in the range of
0.011-0.014 inches.
6. The cigarette pack of claim 3, further comprising a first
retention cut between the first and second compressed sections and
a second retention cut between the first and third compressed
portions, said first and second retention cuts for securing the lid
portion of the cigarette pack to the main body portion.
7. The cigarette pack of claim 3, further comprising a first radius
cut defined by a first cut between the first and second compressed
sections and a second radius cut defined by a first cut between the
first and third compressed sections.
8. The cigarette pack of claim 7, wherein the first radius cut has
a second cut formed between the second compressed section and the
first side panel in the first portion of the main body portion, the
first and second cuts of the first radius cut forming a "V"-shaped
cut; and wherein the second radius cut has a second cut between the
third compressed section and the second side panel in the first
portion of the main body portion, the first and second cuts of the
second radius cut forming a "V"-shaped cut.
9. The cigarette pack of claim 1, wherein said second portion of
the main body serves as an innerframe.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of provisional
application Ser. No. 60/842,774, filed Sep. 7, 2006, for all useful
purposes, and the specification and drawings thereof are included
herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to cigarette packs and more
particularly to a cigarette pack with an integral innerframe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hinged lid boxes are known in the art of cigarette
packaging. Hinged lid boxes have two components: a pack blank and
an innerframe. The pack blank provides a rigid support that
protects the cigarettes from being crushed or broken. A top portion
of the pack blank is designed to rotate backwards for access to the
cigarettes. The innerframe is provided in the top portion of the
pack to engage with the top portion. The innerframe secures the lid
so that it does not open inadvertently.
[0004] Currently, the pack blank and innerframe are constructed
separately and then glued or otherwise engaged to form a finished
product. One disadvantage of forming the two components separately
is that the increased number of processing steps and materials
increases costs. Another disadvantage is that the separate
production and attachment steps of the two components introduces
more opportunity for imperfections in the finished product,
including imperfections resulting from inexact machine cuts,
imperfect component positioning, and insufficient amounts of glue
between the components. These imperfections can decrease the
quality and consistency of the hinged lid box closure.
[0005] It is desired within the art to reduce pack imperfections
and improve the consistency of a hinged lid closure.
[0006] It is also desireable to reduce inventory of expensive
machine parts, innerframe material, and glue associated with
multiple component processing and gluing.
[0007] It is still further desirable to save costs by reducing the
amount of paperboard or cardboard, and glue used, as well as to
substantially reduce machine down time by eliminating the separate
innerframe set-up and associated jams.
[0008] The art also seeks an efficient way to insert a coupon
inside the cigarette hinged lid box on cigarette packers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention provides an improved cigarette pack with an
integral innerframe. By incorporating the innerframe with the pack
blank, the amount of paper board used is reduced by approximately
50%. Additionally, no glue is required between the innerframe and
pack blank because these components are constructed from the same
piece of material.
[0010] The invention will reduce machine down time for creating a
finished product because the machine downtime caused by the
production of a separate innerframe component is eliminated.
[0011] The invention may include a cigarette package for containing
a plurality of cigarettes, the cigarette package comprising a main
body portion and a lid portion. The body portion may include a
front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the
main body portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel
of the main body portion and spaced from the first side panel of
the main body portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and
second side panels of the main body portion and spaced from the
front panel of the main body portion, and a bottom panel adjacent
the front panel of the main body portion, the side panels of the
main body portion and the back panel of the main body portion. The
main body portion may have a first portion and a second portion,
with the second portion being compressed to a thickness that is
less than the first portion. The lid portion may include a front
panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the lid
portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the lid
portion and spaced from the first side panel of the lid portion, a
back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the lid
portion and spaced from the front panel of the lid portion, the
back panel of lid portion being integral with the back panel of the
main body portion, and a top panel adjacent the front panel of the
lid portion, first and second side panels of the lid portion and
back panel of the lid portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Novel features and advantages of the present invention in
addition to those mentioned above will be readily apparent to
persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the
following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar
parts and in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a hinged lid cigarette
box having an integral compressed innerframe of this invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a pattern layout of the hinged lid cigarette box
of FIG. 1 and
[0016] FIG. 2 wherein the stippled area is the integral compressed
innerframe;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a fragmental cross-sectional view in elevation
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a fragmental pattern view showing an "I" cut on
the fold line to prevent damage to the innerframe during folding;
and
[0019] FIG. 6 is a fragmental pattern view of a "V" cut on and
around the fold lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0021] According to one aspect of the preferred embodiment, as
shown in FIGS. 1-4, a cigarette pack blank and innerframe are
formed of a single component to be used for cigarette
packaging.
[0022] A cigarette pack blank 10 according to the invention, as
shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2, may comprise a main body
portion 12 with an integral compressed portion 13 that serves the
function of an innerframe, and a lid portion 14, which may be
attached to, or integral with, main body portion 12 along hinge
line 15. Main body portion 12, including the compressed portion 13,
and lid portion 14 may be formed of paperboard, paper, cardboard or
other suitable material for use in housing and protecting a
plurality of cigarettes.
[0023] Main body portion 12 may include a front panel 16, a first
side panel 18 adjacent the front panel, a second side panel 20
adjacent to the front panel and spaced from the first side panel
18, a back panel 22 adjacent to the two side panels 18, 20 and
spaced from front panel, and a bottom panel 24. Bottom panel 24 may
be adjacent to the front panel 16, side panels 18, 20 and back
panel 22 to collectively form an interior opening for accepting a
plurality of cigarettes. Lid portion 14 may comprise a front panel
26, a first side panel 28 adjacent front panel 26, a second side
panel 30 adjacent to front panel 26 and spaced from the first side
panel 28, a back panel 32 adjacent to side panels 28, 30 and spaced
from front panel 26, and a top panel 34 adjacent the front panel
26, side panels 28, 30 and back panel 32. Back panel 32 of lid
portion 14 may be integral with the back panel 22 of the main body
12. Lid retention tabs 35 may be used to secure lid portion 14 in
place when the lid portion 14 is in the closed position. Such
retention tabs are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,898,
where they are denoted by reference character 130 in FIG. 7
therein.
[0024] FIG. 3 more particularly shows the layout of cigarette pack
10 prior to the folding and gluing process that is used to create
the final product. Main body portion 12 may have a compressed
portion 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the compressed portion 13 may be
thinner in cross-section than the rest of main body portion 12,
which may be uncompressed or less compressed relative to compressed
portion 13. Compressed portion 13 may serve as the innerframe for
the cigarette pack and may have three distinct sections: a first
section 36 on front panel 16, a second section 38 on side panel 18,
and a third section 40 on side panel 20. The second compressed
section 38 and third compressed section 40 may have thicknesses
smaller than the first compressed section 36. The thickness of each
of the three sections is selected to give a flat and flush finished
pack along and sides of the pack after closing the lid. For
example, an appropriate thickness range for the compressed and
non-compressed sections is 0.011-0.014 inches.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, main body portion 12 and
compressed portion 13 may be formed from the same piece of
material. Compressed portion 13 and/or main body portion 12 may be
embossed, debossed, or formed by any other suitable technique for
creating a region of reduced thickness.
[0026] In FIG. 3, the compressed portion 13 is designated using
stippling. Also in FIG. 3, folded regions are illustrated by broken
lines. Solid lines, other than the solid lines at the boundary of
the compressed region 13, denote cuts that are made in the
cigarette pack material. The creation and use of such cuts and fold
lines to form a pack blank is generally conventional in the art as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,024.
[0027] Compressed portion 13 may be provided with "I"-shaped radius
cuts 42 or "V"-shaped radius cuts 44 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,
respectively. With a "V" shaped radius cut the bottom of the "V" is
a radius cut as opposed to a sharp angle cut. "I"-shaped radius
cuts 42 may be positioned along the fold line and boundary between
first compressed section 36 and second compressed section 38 and
between first compressed section 36 and third compressed section
40. "V"-shaped radius cuts 44 may have similar vertical cuts 44a
and may additionally have cuts 44b along the boundary between
second compressed section 38 and the non-, or less, compressed
portion of side panel 18 and along the boundary between third
compressed section 40 and the non-, or less, compressed portion of
side panel 20. Radius cuts 42 and 44 may prevent or alleviate any
damage to the package material during pack formation. These cuts
may also help to offset the fold line 46 between the first
compressed section 36 and second compressed section 38 and the fold
line 48 between front panel 36 and side panel 28. Also, retention
cuts 50 may be made as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to form the lid
retention tabs 35 of FIG. 1.
[0028] This unique integrated innerframe design may be utilized
with the existing innerframe section on a conventional cigarette
packer for coupon insertion operation.
[0029] If the coupon insert is not used, the present innerframe
cutting assembly and innerframe forming and positioning wheel can
be eliminated. By eliminating these assemblies there is no
inventory or restocking of expensive machine parts. Machine
efficiency is increased and downtime due to innerframe set-up and
jams is reduced. On the other hand, when coupons are inserted, the
current innerframe application station of the packing machine may
then be utilized for the coupon insertion.
[0030] The embodiments described above are further intended to
explain the best modes known of practicing the invention and to
enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such,
or other, embodiments and with the various modifications required
by the particular applications or uses of the invention.
Accordingly, the description is not intended to limit the invention
to the form disclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the
appended claims be construed to include alternative
embodiments.
* * * * *