U.S. patent application number 12/127841 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-04 for self-lifting dispenser.
Invention is credited to TAHMING WU, XUANFEI WU, YUNFEI WU.
Application Number | 20080296184 12/127841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39392555 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080296184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; YUNFEI ; et al. |
December 4, 2008 |
SELF-LIFTING DISPENSER
Abstract
A self-lifting dispenser, including a pack(1) opened with
sliding method. A rigid thin wire(2) is threaded and moves up and
down through a channel(11) within the inner side of the wall of the
pack(1). The upper end of the wire(2) is mounted on the opening
device of the pack(1). The lower end of the wire(2) is the hook(21)
located at bottom of sliding open exit(15) of the pack(1). The
bottom of the pack(1) may be associated with a cavity(12) at corner
under the sliding open exit(15). Compared to current technology,
the lifting device could be extremely thin, pre-made and inserted
during the automatic cigarette packing process with slight
modification of existing packing line.
Inventors: |
WU; YUNFEI; (NINGBO, CN)
; WU; TAHMING; (SHANGHAI, CN) ; WU; XUANFEI;
(DALLAS, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Yunfei Wu
29 Crescent Woode Dr.
Dallas
GA
30157
US
|
Family ID: |
39392555 |
Appl. No.: |
12/127841 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/254 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 15/16 20130101;
A45C 11/34 20130101; B65D 85/1009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/254 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/10 20060101
B65D085/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2007 |
CN |
200720110493.X |
Claims
1. A self-lifting dispenser, including a pack(1) opened with
sliding method. A rigid thin wire(2) is threaded and moves up and
down through a channel(11) within the inner side of the wall of the
pack(1). The upper end of the wire(2) is mounted on the opening
device of the pack(1). The lower end of the wire(2) is the hook(21)
located at bottom of sliding open exit(15) of the pack(1). The
bottom of the pack(1) is also associated with a cavity(12) at
corner under the sliding open exit(15).
2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the hook (21) is a
rigid thin wire(2) as bending at the lower end of the wire to form
as one part.
3. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the rigid thin
wire(2) includes the wire with diameter less than 0.3
millimeter.
4. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the pulling device
for lifting is outer-box(1a): as being applied in the pack(1)
consisting of outer-box(1a) and inner-box(4). The inner-box(4)
slides in and out of the one-side-open outer-box(1a).
5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the pulling device
for lifting is the cover(3): as being applied in the pack(1)
consisting of a container(1b) and a slideable cover(3). The
cover(3) with side rails(35) slides inside the grooves(36) in the
compatible position of the container(1b).
6. The dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the cover(3)
extends at one end with a downward dimple(34). The dispenser is
semi locked as the dimple(34) kisses the nick(14) on top of the
short wall of the container(1b), as the pack is closed.
7. The dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the bumps are
arranged for fingers to grab the cover (3) easily.
8. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein, the shape of the
hook(21) is a circle or square, as applied in lifting pencil.
9. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the channel(11) is
formed by curve-cutting paperboard or plastic sheet, and pasted
together with two pieces of thin paper(1). In the channel(11), the
thin wire(2) threads through and freely moves up and down.
10. The dispenser as claimed in claim 2, the rigid thin wire is
made of stainless steel or copper or plastics.
11. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, the pack 1 is out wrapped
by high barrier transparent film when foil is not utilized.
12. The dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein, the restrainer is
an open, half bottomed paper container(63) to prevent cylindrical
articles from falling down. The paper container(63) contains
last-exit 2 to 5 cylindrical articles.
13. The dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the restrainer is
an open, half bottomed paper container(63) to prevent cylindrical
articles from falling down. The paper container(63) contains
last-exit 2 to 5 cylindrical articles.
14. The dispenser as claimed in claim 12, wherein, a small steel
sheet is glued to the paper container(62), combined with a small
magnet(61) mounted under the raised bottom(13) near the
cavity(12).
15. The dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the restraining
and positioning system is a cross shape stainless strip(64)
restricted by one-way bottom teeth(65), groove(66) and attracted by
a thin magnet(67) in the wall opposite to the strip(64).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the box packing technical field,
especially for automatically extracting packed goods, or
self-lifting dispenser, such as self-lifting cigarette box,
self-lifting candy stick box and self-lifting pencil box, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In traditional packaging of cigarette and candy stick, the
function of self-lifting is not available in the common commercial
packs. Smokers usually use two hands to fetch one cigarette. Now,
the sliding cigarette box has been on the market for years. But the
box can't automatically lift up cigarettes. The sliding box
consists of outer-box and inner-box. In order to smoke, one hand is
used to push the inner box out, while the other hand is used to
carry the cigarette. Thus the cigarette is touched by possible
dirty hands with germs, which may get into human's body. It is not
a hygienic way. Next, it is dangerous for drivers who must use two
hands to get cigarette to the mouth while driving.
[0003] For a long time, people have been trying to extract
cigarettes when opening the pack. Early in 1966, Frischer invented
a method to lift the cigarette by tearing strip positioned inside
the package and available from the outside.
[0004] In 1996, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,268) disclosed methods that
allow smokers to get one cigarette by one hand. The methods involve
forming the containers, loading the containers with cylindrical
articles and dispensing the article from the container. The
container includes a box and a telescope closure sleeve for
exposing a circular aperture in a side wall of the box. An inner
wall of the box provides a curved surface for aligning an
individual article so that it may be dispensed through the
aperture. A window in the sleeve permits the contents of the
container to be viewed though an opening in the box.
[0005] China Patent (Patent No. CN2437632) "Automatic Extracting
Cigarette Box" published in 2001 a new design of the box. In the
left side of the box, locates a cigarette holder, on the top of
which is the cover. On the right side of box, is a pusher. The
mentioned pusher is a pushing rod with springs. On the left again,
a hole is designed at bottom. Within the hole, a spring device is
assembled to lift the cigarette. The mentioned spring device
includes a level. The left end of the level is assembled with a
shooter. The right side of the level associated a pushing rod. The
shooter is just under the hole. The box cover has an open exit
aligned with the hole. The design has disadvantages of too many
parts, complicated structures, difficult to make and high cost of
production of course. Furthermore, another China patent (CN2688084)
"Automatic Extracting Cigarette Box" also needs sliding column of
cigarette size, many parts and complicated structure. Plus the
arrangement of cigarette can't use the space completely and the
pack size is increased. Due to the presence of sliding column, the
inner foil can't be lined inside. It is extremely difficult to
automatically packing the cigarette box with existing technologies.
Therefore it is very difficult to commercialize. The improvement of
the design is necessary.
[0006] The main objective of the innovation is to design a
self-lifting cigarette dispenser, which could be automatically
packed by existing packing machines with slight modification.
[0007] The other objectives include the design of self-lifting
cigarette gift boxes, self-lifting candy stick and short pencil
boxes.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] In order to solve the mentioned problems, an automatically
extracting cigarette box or self-lifting dispenser has to have the
advantage of a simplified structure, easy to make, low cost and
moderately small pack size.
[0009] The methods of solving the above problems are: The
self-lifting dispenser, including sliding opened containers,
consists of a channel within inner side of the wall of the pack. A
rigid thin wire is threaded and moves up and down through the
channel. The upper end of the wire is mounted on the opening device
of the pack. The lower end of the wire is the hook located at
bottom of sliding open exit of the pack. The bottom of the pack is
also associated with a cavity at corner under the sliding open
exit.
[0010] As improvement, the mentioned hook is optimized and bended
at the lower end of rigid thin wire such as stainless steel wire as
a whole part. The diameter of the rigid thin wire is selected as
equal or smaller than 0.3 millimeter.
[0011] As improvement, the mentioned pack is selected as
composition of inner-box and sliding outer-box. The mentioned wire
pulling device is the outer-box.
[0012] As improvement, the mentioned pack is selected as a
composition of open container and moving cover. The mentioned wire
pulling device is the sliding cover. The cover extends the pulling
end down with a dimple. The cover is semi-locked by the dimple
associated with the nick on the top of short wall of the container.
On the top of cover the bumps are for index fingers to grab the
cover easily in order to open and close.
[0013] As improvement, the mentioned pack may be applied to package
the short pencil. As for this application, the hook is as a circle
or square.
[0014] Compared to the existing technology, the invented dispenser
has a channel within the inner side of the wall, and the rigid thin
wire is threaded and moves up and down through the channel. The
upper end of the wire is mounted on the opening device of the pack.
The lower end of the wire is the hook located at bottom of sliding
open exit of the pack. The bottom of the container is also
associated with a cavity at corner under the sliding open exit. As
the pack opens, the cylindrical article on the hook is lifted up as
hook moves up. As the pack closes, the hook moves down to the
original position. By shaking the pack or with restrainers and
magnetic force the article is positioned on the hook before the
pack opens again. The advantage is that the invention could be
applied widely in packing various goods, such as cigarette, short
pencil and other cylindrical articles. In addition, the invented
lifting device is composed of the channel associated with moving
rigid thin wire. The cylindrical article is lifted as the wire
moves up. Not only the design is simplified and cost of manufacture
is reduced, but also thin wire and channel make the whole lifting
device extremely thin. The size of self-lifting cigarette pack
achieved almost the same size of regular cigarette box.
Furthermore, the optimized lifting device could be pre-made and
inserted during the packing process, and thus simplify the
modification of automatic cigarette packing machine in order to
produce the self-lifting cigarette packs in commercial
quantity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is perspective view of the invented dispenser
structure.
[0016] FIG. 2 is the layout of Drawing 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is the side sectional view of lifting device.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the separated lifting device and raised
bottom.
[0019] FIG. 5 is perspective view of the circle hook.
[0020] FIG. 6 is perspective view when the pack is closed (plastic
mold).
[0021] FIG. 7 is perspective view when cigarette is lifted in FIG.
6.
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates the semi-locker of the pack in FIG.
6.
[0023] FIG. 9 is perspective view of another type of the pack as
closed (metal).
[0024] FIG. 10 is perspective view when cigarette is lifted in FIG.
9.
[0025] FIG. 11 shows the slot allowing the rigid wire going
through.
[0026] FIG. 12 is the partially sectional view of connection of
wire and cover in FIG. 9.
[0027] FIG. 13 is the sectional view of the metal cover.
[0028] FIG. 14 is perspective view of pack with inner-box and
outer-box.
[0029] FIG. 15 is perspective view when cigarette is lifted as pack
opens in FIG. 14.
[0030] FIG. 16 shows up end of rigid wire mount on outer-box in
FIG. 14.
[0031] FIG. 17 is perspective view of lifting device pasted on the
inner-box in FIG. 14.
[0032] FIG. 18 is the layout of inner-box in FIG. 14.
[0033] FIG. 19 is perspective view of the pre-cut foil paper for
cigarette in FIG. 14.
[0034] FIG. 20 shows the tear off of the foil paper when the pack
just opens in FIG. 14.
[0035] FIG. 21 is perspective view of cigarette lifted after the
foil paper is torn off in FIG. 14.
[0036] FIG. 22 is perspective view of dispensing pencil.
[0037] FIG. 23 is perspective view of single row of 10 cigarette
pack in FIG. 14.
[0038] FIG. 24 is perspective view of restrainer with magnetic
force positioning system in FIG. 23.
[0039] FIG. 25 is perspective view of the article positioning
system in FIG. 7.
[0040] FIG. 26 is pictorial view of the cross positioning strip in
FIG. 25
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0041] The followings describe the embodiment in details with
reference to the above drawings.
[0042] As shown from FIG. 1 to FIG. 26, the self-lifting dispenser,
including sliding pack, the channel 11 is built within the inner
wall of the pack 1. A rigid thin wire 2 is threaded through the
channel 11 and moves up and down within the channel. The diameter
of the wire is equal or less than 0.3 mm. The upper end of the
rigid wire is mounted on the pulling device of the pack. The lower
end of the wire 2 is a bended hook 21 located at the bottom of
sliding open exit 15 of the pack 1. The bottom of the pack 1 may be
associated with a cavity 12 at corner under the sliding open exit
15. As the pack 1 opens, the cylindrical article on the hook 21 is
lifted by moving-up hook 21. As the pack 1 closes, the hook 21
moves down to the original position. By shaking the pack 1 or with
restrainers 63 and magnetic force the article is positioned on the
hook 21 before the pack 1 is opened.
[0043] As illustrated from FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, FIG. 20 and FIG. 21,
the pack 1 consists of outer-box 1a and inner-box 4. The inner-box
1a inserts into and slides in and out the outer-box 1a. The
mentioned pulling device is the outer-box 1a. In other words, the
rigid thin wire 2 and hook 21 are pulled up by the outer-box 1a. As
shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the pack 1 is composed of the container
1b and sliding cover 3. The cover 3 with side rails 35 slides
inside the grooves 36 in the compatible position of the container
1b. The mentioned pulling device is the cover 3, the cover 3
extends at one end with a downward dimple 34. The dispenser is
semi-locked as the dimple 34 kisses the nick 14 on top of the short
wall of the container 1b, as the pack is closed. The bumps are
arranged for finger to grab the cover 3 easily. As shown in FIG.
22, the hook shape is a circle or square when applied to pack the
short pencils.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, when short
cylindrical articles are packed, for example, single row of 10
regular cigarettes, the several cigarettes are put in a restrainer
63 to prevent cigarettes from falling down to a dead angle. The
restrainer 63 is paper box of top-open and bottom-partially-open
for the hook 21 to lift. A tiny steel sheet is pasted at bottom of
the restrainer 63 combined with a magnet mounted under the raised
bottom 13 near the cavity 12. A magnetic force is formed to push
the cigarettes onto the hook. When the pack is reused, several
articles are loaded again into the restrainer 63, which will move
back to the original position by tapping or shaking the pack.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, for the design in FIG. 7,
the restraining and positioning device is a cross shape strip 64.
The movement of the cross strip 64 is restricted by one-way bottom
teeth 65 and groove 66. Thus, the cylindrical article can only move
in one direction to the exit. The bottom teeth 65 may not be so
deep that when the pack is upside down the positioning strip may
separate from the teeth 65, and move to the original position for
reuse. The system may be more effective when the magnetic force
assists. The cross strip 64 is made of the stainless steel
attracted by a thin magnet 67 buried in (or mold in) the opposite
wall.
[0046] The followings describe the embodiment in more details with
reference to the related drawings.
[0047] As shown from FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the self-lifting dispenser
consists of pack, rigid thin wire 2 and its bended hook and channel
11. The channel is made of curve-cut paperboard or plastic sheet,
front paper and back paper. First, cut the mentioned sheet into two
pieces with smooth curves, paste with the back paper. Then bury the
thin wire 2 between the front and back paper when the front paper
is pasted with the sheets. The rigid thin wire and its hook 21 may
be formed to the final shape before or after the channel 11 is
made. As shown in FIG. 1, the channel is made together with the
bottom of the pack, which may be applied in the pack with metal and
sliding-box for self-lifting cigarette. For plastic container the
raised bottom may be in molded together with the plastic container.
FIG. 5 shows the rigid hook is in the circular shape. It is
suitable to lifting pencil as shown in FIG. 22.
[0048] As shown from FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in the case of the plastic
container of the self-lifting dispenser, the channel is stuck to
the inner wall of the container. The mounting end of hook wire is
connected with inside wall of the cover. When the cover opens, the
rigid hook moves up as the wire slides inside the channel, and
lifts the cigarette filter out of the container. When the pack
closes and the wire slides back inside the channel, the hook moves
back to original position. The closing and opening of the cover is
achieved by sliding of the side rail of the cover along the groove
located on the top wall of the container. The bumps are arranged on
the top of the cover for index finger to grab easily. The plastic
container may be molded together with properly raised bottom. As
shown in FIG. 8, in order to prevent the cover from sliding off
without attention, the end of the side wall of the cover is
equipped with a dimple 34 and related top of the short wall of the
container is made with nick 14. When the pack is closed and the
dimple sits inside the nick, the pack is semi-locked. The sliding
of the cover may be stopped as the hook is blocked by the front
paper. The limit of sliding range of the cover may also be set by
dimple on the side rail of the cover associated with a stop on the
groove of the container.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 13, in the case of the metal
container of the self-lifting dispenser, the channel is stuck to
the inner wall of the container. The mounting end of the hook wire
is connected to the cuff of the cover. When the cover opens, the
rigid hook moves up as the wire slides inside the channel, and
lifts the cigarette filter out of the container. When the pack
closes and the wire slides back inside the channel, the hook moves
back to original position. The closing and opening of the cover is
achieved by bend-in cuff of the cover sliding along bend-out cuff
of the container. The bumps are arranged also for index finger to
grab easily. A small cracking 32 is created on top of wall of the
container in order for the thin wire to go through. As shown in
FIG. 11, the upper end of the rigid wire may be clamped firmly by
the bended cuff. The sliding cover may be stopped as the hook is
blocked by the front paper. The sliding range may also be control
by downward bumps or dimple of the cover against the side wall of
the container below the cover.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, in the case of the inner-box
inserted inside the outer-box of self-lifting dispenser, the
channel is pasted to the inner wall of the inner-box. The mounting
end of the hook wire is connected to the side wall of outer-box.
When the inner-box is pushed out, the rigid hook moves up as the
wire slides inside the channel and lifts the cigarette filter out
of the inner-box. When the inner-box is closed inside the
outer-box, the hook moves back to the original position. The upper
end of the wire is mounted on the side wall of outer-box by a
simple transparent tape (FIG. 16). The layout of inner-box is
similar to the regular sliding box as shown in FIG. 18. On the left
top, a slot 41 like a rectangular hole is cut for the mounting end
of the wire to go through. With the slot the inner-box may be
formed as the traditional pack processing method. After the up side
piece 40 is folded and stuck together with down left side piece 42,
a crack is formed with the wire passing through.
[0051] The method of moisture proof may use traditional foil paper
or apply high barrier transparent film wrap such as glass coated
PET and sealable BOPP, or just use high barrier transparent and
sealable film.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 22, the dispenser may pack. The method is
the same as plastic dispenser for cigarette. The only modification
needed is to change the hook into a circle or square. The short
pencils are arranged in a single row. And the plastic container may
be transparent and combined with printed front and back paper. The
young consumers see the attractive printed pictures and monitor the
pencil position.
[0053] The advantage of the invented self-lifting dispenser is that
the new design of structure is simplified and optimized. The size
of pack is minimized by thin lifting device with very thin rigid
wire. The existing packing line may be applied with slight
modification to pack self-lifting paper sliding boxes. The
advantage further extends to easy making, low cost, hygiene,
convenience and wide application. Thus the design can have bright
commercial future.
[0054] In addition, the hook is made of stainless thin wire (but
not limited to). The diameter of stainless wire is less than 0.3
mm. The channel is composed of curve-cut paperboard or plastic
sheets pasted with thin front and back paper. The thickness of the
whole lifting device could be less than 0.5 mm. Furthermore, the
lifting device could be pre-made off-line with or without
inner-box, and inserted with foil wrap in currently available
packing process line without significant machine modification.
[0055] The mentioned inner-box has a slot on the side up board 40.
The slot 41 allows the mounting end of wire to pass through even
when the side board 40 is fold by packing machine and pasted with
side down board 42.
[0056] Under the hook, the cavity is created by the raised bottom
with a missing corner. The cylindrical article is positioned by the
weight and poise of consumers. For 20 (7+6+7) cigarettes pack,
position of the cigarette could be manipulated by shaking or
tapping the pack with open exit side downward. In the case of
single row of 10 cigarettes, restrainer and magnetic force may be
applied to keep the cigarette loaded on the hook. The mentioned
container may be made of transparent plastics in order for
consumers to monitor the positioning of the articles. Also the
front and back paper may be replaced by transparent film so that
kids would enjoy seeing the trick of the magic self-lifting pencil
or candy stick dispenser.
[0057] The mentioned cigarette pack, especially the style of
container with sliding cover, could be reused. For the first time
of loading cigarettes, the wrap of foil paper may be applied. The
packaging process is as follows: [0058] a. Style of container with
sliding cover: The lifting device is pasted against inner wall of
the container. The 20 cigarettes are wrapped by foil paper and
inserted into the container. Then just before the sliding cover
closes, the upper end of wire is mounted on the inside of cover
side wall. [0059] b. Style of sliding box: Basically similar to
existing machine packaging process, cigarettes are wrapped by foil
paper. The pre-made lifting device as in FIG. 1 is pasted with the
foil wrap. Then the inner box wraps the cigarette with the lifting
device and foil paper. The slot 41 allows the mounting end of wire
2 to reach out of the inner box. After inner box is wrapped, the
mounting end of the wire is connected with outer-box (by tape).
Finally the outer-box is wrapped. Here only two steps are added to
the existing packing machine. One step is to paste foil wrap with
lifting device. The other is to tape the mounting wire to the
outer-box.
[0060] The foil paper used should be pre-cut. Thus, when the pack
is opened for about one cigarette position, the part of foil paper
blocking the first cigarette is torn away. After the cover open to
the limited position, all pre-cut paper is torn away to make easy
for cigarette to come out.
[0061] As mentioned before, foil paper may be replaced by high
barrier glass coated transparent film wrapping at outside of the
pack before BOPP, or peelable transparent tape sealing the sliding
seams of container with sliding cover. In this scenario, the
lifting device as in FIG. 1 may be pasted with inner box first as
shown in FIG. 17. Then inner and outer boxes are made with both
tops open. 20 cigarette (7+6+7) are directly inserted into the
inner-box, and tops of the inner and outer boxes are folded and
sealed at last.
* * * * *