U.S. patent number 3,583,625 [Application Number 04/770,743] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-08 for cigarette dispensing package.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Anthony J. Distefano, Domenick W. Distefano, Andre Gero. Invention is credited to Gabriel Gero.
United States Patent |
3,583,625 |
Gero |
June 8, 1971 |
CIGARETTE DISPENSING PACKAGE
Abstract
A cigarette dispensing package and blank therefore is disclosed,
which package includes an outer shell within which is pivotally
secured an inner shell. The inner shell is movable between a first
position completely within the shell, in which position the
cigarettes are thereby inaccessible, and a second position
partially out of the shell in which the cigarettes are thereby
accessible. Novel overcenter snap-lock means are provided to bias
the inner shell to either of its two positions. Additionally, an
opening tab means is removably secured to both the inner shell and
the outer shell to maintain the inner shell in its first,
inaccessible position when the cigarette package is unopened.
Inventors: |
Gero; Gabriel (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Gero; Andre (Brooklyn, NY)
Distefano; Anthony J. (Huntington Station, NY)
Distefano; Domenick W. (Ridgewood, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25089544 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/770,743 |
Filed: |
October 25, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/264; 206/273;
493/121; 206/266; 229/221; 493/184 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/721 (20130101); B65D 85/1036 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
85/08 (20060101); B65D 5/72 (20060101); B65D
85/10 (20060101); B65d 085/10 (); B65d
017/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/41D,41C,41H,41.2
;229/44,44CB,17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Summer; Leonard
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A package for cigarettes and the like, said package comprising:
an outer shell having a multiedge bottom surface and a plurality of
sidewalls upstanding therefrom, the number of sidewalls being at
least one less than the number of edges of said bottom surface such
that said outer shell includes an elongated opening therein; one of
said sidewalls constituting a rear wall oppositely disposed with
respect to said elongated opening, an inner shell pivotally
connected to said outer shell and movable between a first position
within said outer shell in which the interior of said inner shell
is inaccessible and a second position partially out of the confines
of said outer shell in which the interior of said inner shell is
accessible; and snap-lock means joining a rear wall of said inner
shell with said rear wall of said outer shell for firmly seating
said inner shell in said first and second positions, and for
precluding said inner shell from being withdrawn completely out of
the confines of said outer shell, said snap-lock means further
maintaining said inner shell rigid and for precluding said inner
shell from moving from either of its two positions
accidentally.
2. The package of claim 1 and further including stop means secured
to said snap-lock means for establishing the exact location of said
second position as said inner shell pivots between its first and
second positions.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein said snap-lock means comprises an
overcenter hinge arrangement in the form of a toggle which biases
said inner shell toward its first or second position depending on
the position of said inner shell with respect to said outer
shell.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein
said inner shell includes a front wall which closes said elongated
opening when said inner shell is in its first position, said front
wall of said inner shell being hingedly secured to the one edge of
said bottom surface of said outer shell which does not include a
sidewall upstanding therefrom.
5. The package of claim 4 wherein said rear wall substantially
abuts the rear wall of said outer shell when said inner shell is in
its first position; and
wherein said snap-lock means comprises a joining member hingedly
connected at opposite ends to the upper ends of the rear walls of
said inner and outer shell respectively, said joining member
passing overcenter with respect to a first imaginary diagonal
joining the upper end of the rear wall of said outer shell with
said one edge of said bottom surface whenever said inner shell is
moved between its first and second position.
6. The package of claim 5 wherein the length of said joining member
plus the length of a second imaginary diagonal joining the upper
end of the rear wall of said inner shell with the lower end of the
front wall thereof, is greater than the length of said first
imaginary diagonal whereby a naturally biased overcenter toggle
arrangement is formed which urges said inner shell toward its first
or second position when said joining member passes over said first
imaginary diagonal.
7. The package of claim 1 and further including opening tab means
removably secured to said outer shell for maintaining said inner
shell in its first position when said package is in its unopened
state.
8. The package of claim 1 and further including opening tab means
removably secured to both said inner and outer shells for
maintaining said inner shell in its first position when said
package is in its unopened state.
9. The package of claim 8 wherein said opening tab is a generally
elongated planar member having one end thereof removably secured to
the upper end of the front wall of said inner shell; said tab
further including outstanding flap portions which are removably
secured to the oppositely disposed sidewalls of said outer
shell.
10. A package for cigarettes and the like, said package comprising:
an outer shell having a multiedged bottom surface and a plurality
of sidewalls upstanding therefrom, the number of sidewalls being at
least one less than the number of edges of said bottom surface such
that said outer shell includes an elongated opening therein; and
inner shell pivotally connected at a lower corner edge to said
outer shell and movable between a first position within said outer
shell in which the interior of said inner shell is inaccessible and
a second position partially out of the confines of said outer shell
in which the interior of said inner shell is accessible; and
opening tab means removably attached by means of severable
perforations in at least two places along the edge portions formed
by said elongated opening in said outer shell for maintaining said
inner shell in its first position when said package is in its
unopened state, said opening tab means when removed providing
finger notches on oppositely disposed sidewalls of said outer shell
for providing manual access to said inner shell.
11. The package of claim 10 wherein said opening tab means are
removably secured to both said inner and outer shells.
12. The package of claim 10 wherein said outer shell includes a
rear wall oppositely disposed from said elongated opening;
said inner shell includes a front wall which closes said elongated
opening when said inner shell is in its first position, said front
wall of said inner shell being hingedly secured to the one edge of
said bottom surface of said outer shell which does not include a
sidewall upstanding therefrom; and
wherein said opening tab is a generally elongated planar member
having one end thereof removably secured to the upper end of the
front wall of said inner shell, said tab further including
outstanding flap portions which are removably secured to the
oppositely disposed sidewalls of said outer shell.
13. The package of claim 5 wherein said outer shell includes a top
surface located in a plane parallel to said bottom surface; and
wherein the upper end of the rear wall of said inner shell is
situated beneath the upper end of the rear wall of said outer
shell; and
further including a stop member hingedly secured to said joining
member but lying in the same plane as a sidewall of said inner
shell, said stop member engaging said top surface to define said
second position.
14. A blank for forming a package for cigarettes and the like, said
blank comprising:
an outer shell rear wall panel having a pair of parallel
longitudinal side edges and a pair of parallel end edges;
a pair of outer shell sidewall panels hingedly connected to
respective ones of said pair of longitudinal edges of said outer
shell rear wall panel;
a snap-lock panel having two pairs of oppositely disposed parallel
edges, one edge thereof hingedly secured to one of said end edges
of said outer shell rear wall panel;
an inner shell rear wall panel hingedly secured to the edge of said
snap-lock panel which is opposite said one edge thereof;
a partial inner shell sidewall panel hingedly secured to one
longitudinal edge of said inner shell rear wall panel;
a complete inner shell sidewall panel hingedly secured to the
opposite longitudinal edge of said inner shell rear wall panel;
an inner shell front wall panel hingedly secured along one
longitudinal edge thereof to the opposite longitudinal edge of said
complete inner shell sidewall panel;
a second partial inner shell sidewall panel hingedly secured to the
opposite longitudinal edge of said inner shell front wall panel;
and
a triangular panel hingedly secured to one edge of said other pair
of oppositely disposed parallel edges of said snap-lock panel to
serve as a stop member for said inner shell in the open
position.
15. The blank of claim 14 wherein said inner shell front wall panel
includes first and second parallel end edges; and
further including an elongated opening tab having a pair of
longitudinal side edges and a pair of oppositely disposed end
edges, one of said longitudinal edges of said tab being removably
joined to one of said pair of outer shell sidewall panels along a
portion of its length, and one of said end edges of said tab being
removably joined to one of said end edges of said inner shell front
wall panel.
16. The blank of claim 15 wherein said tab is provided with a
second oppositely disposed finger-grasping flap hingedly joined to
the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, which second flap is
adheringly but removably secured to the other of said pair of outer
shell sidewall panels when said blank is folded to form said
package.
17. A blank for forming a package for cigarettes and the like, said
blank comprising:
an outer shell bottom surface having first and second longitudinal
edges;
first and second outer shell sidewall panels each having a pair of
oppositely disposed longitudinal edges and a pair of oppositely
disposed parallel end edges, one end edge of each of said walls
hingedly joined to one of said longitudinal edges of said bottom
surface respectively;
an outer shell rear wall panel having a longitudinal edge thereof
hingedly joined to one of said longitudinal edges of one of said
outer shell sidewall panels, said outer rear wall panel having a
pair of end edges;
a snap-lock panel having one edge hingedly joined to one of said
pair of end edges of said outer shell rear wall panel, and
snap-lock panel having a second edge parallel to said one edge
thereof;
an inner shell rear wall panel having one end edge thereof hingedly
secured to said second edge of said snap-lock panel and having
first and second longitudinal edges;
a partial inner shell sidewall panel hingedly secured to said first
longitudinal edge of said inner shell rear wall panel;
a complete inner shell sidewall having a first and second
longitudinal edge, said first longitudinal edge thereof hingedly
joined to said second longitudinal edge of said inner shell rear
wall panel;
an inner shell front wall panel having a pair of end edges and
first and second longitudinal edges, said first longitudinal edge
thereof hingedly secured to said second longitudinal edge of said
complete inner shell sidewall panel; and
a second partial inner shell sidewall panel hingedly secured to the
second longitudinal edge of said inner shell front wall panel.
18. The blank of claim 17 and further including an elongated
opening tab having one end edge thereof removably secured to one of
said end edges of said inner shell front wall panel, and having one
longitudinal edge removably secured to the other of said
longitudinal edges of said one of said outer shell sidewall panels.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to packaging, and more
particularly is concerned with a novel package or container for
cigarettes and the like and to a novel blank useful in the
construction of such a container.
As is well known to those skilled in the art, the removal of
cigarettes from a package presents certain difficulties in that the
cigarettes are not conveniently exposed nor is access provided for
convenient manual removal. While there have been proposed packaging
structures attempting to overcome these difficulties, such prior
packages have not found general acceptance for many reasons,
including the complexity of the structure and cost.
For example, attempts have been made to construct dispensing
packages for cigarettes and the like which include an outer shell
or container within which is pivotally mounted an inner container
or shell movable between an inaccessible position completely within
the outer shell and an accessible exposed position whereby
cigarettes can be removed therefrom. In addition to the complexity
of the structure and the cost thereof, there have been two major
problems associated with this type of outer shell, inner shell
construction which have prevented this type of cigarette dispensing
package from becoming popularly accepted by manufacturers and
consumers.
Specifically, to the present time, nobody has devised a simple
method for maintaining the movable inner shell in the particular
position, either in or out, as may be desired. Where tight
frictional arrangements have been provided between the inner and
outer shells, the cigarette dispensing package becomes difficult to
use in the many situations where a consumer wishes quick and easy
access to the cigarettes. On the other hand, a very free sliding
arrangement between the inner and outer shells produced the very
undesirable result of frequent, accidental openings.
A second problem inherent in a cigarette dispensing package
employing an inner shell, outer shell construction, involves the
adequate provision of an opening system which will positively
retain the inner shell in its inaccessible position when the
cigarette package is in its unopened state and which will permit
the easy removal of the inner shell by the consumer when he wishes
to open the package of cigarettes.
Finally, both of the above-described problems are compounded by the
fact that in the manufacture of such an inner shell, outer shell
package, it is commercially expedient and, in fact, economically
justifiable only if such an inner shell, outer shell construction
can be manufactured from a single planar starting blank which can
be operated on by existing packaging machinery. Thus, to the
present time, there has not been devised a single planar blank,
compatible with existing machinery, which, in addition to defining
a package having an outer shell within which is pivotally secured
an inner shell (when properly assembled), also includes means for
maintaining the inner shell in either of its two operative
positions, and further include means for establishing a simple
removable opening arrangement which will seal the inner shell in
its closed position when the cigarette package is unopened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a dispensing package for
cigarettes and the like, and includes an outer shell within which
there is pivotally mounted an inner shell. The inner shell is
movable between a first inaccessible position, completely within
the outer shell, and a second position, partially out of the outer
shell, whereby the contents thereof are accessible. It further
includes a simple snap-lock arrangement for firmly maintaining the
inner shell in either of its two operative positions. As will be
discussed hereinafter, this snap-lock arrangement is preferably of
overcenter toggle-type construction and does not interfere in any
manner with the consumer's ability to rapidly move the inner shell
between its inaccessible and accessible positions, nor does it
interfere with the contents of the package.
Furthermore, and as will be shown in greater detail, the present
invention also includes a novel opening tab arrangement which in
its initial state integrally joins the inner shell to the outer
shell of the dispenser and thereby positively maintains the inner
shell sealed in its inaccessible position when the cigarette
package has not yet been opened.
Finally, the present invention provides a one-piece starting blank
which is adaptable to existing machinery and which, in addition to
defining the properly oriented inner shell, outer shell
construction when assembled, also includes a snap-lock provision
and the aforementioned opening tab as integral portions
thereof.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
dispenser for cigarettes and the like which includes an outer shell
within which is pivotally secured an inner shell movable between
inaccessible and accessible positions, and which further includes
snap-lock means for positively locating the inner shell in either
of its two positions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
dispenser for cigarettes and the like which includes novel opening
tab means removably secured to both the inner and outer shell
thereof so as to sealingly maintain the inner shell in its
inaccessible position when the package is unopened.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a
dispenser for cigarettes and the like wherein the aforementioned
snap-lock means includes an overcenter, naturally biased, toggle
arrangement.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel
one-piece blank, adaptable to existing commercial machinery, which
blank facilitates the construction of a dispenser for cigarettes
and the like having an outer shell within which is pivotally
secured an inner shell movable between inaccessible and accessible
positions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a
blank which includes the aforementioned snap-lock means as an
integral portion thereof.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such
a blank which includes the aforementioned removable opening tab
means as an integral portion thereof.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention and a further understanding thereof may be had by
referring to the following specification and drawings, in
which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank constructed in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention in its
closed condition and further indicating the manner in which an
opening tab thereof can be easily removed;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser of the present
invention with the inner shell thereof in its accessible
position;
FIG. 4--10 are plan and perspective views showing the sequence of
operations for converting the blank of FIG. 1 to the dispensing
package of FIGS. 2 and 3;
FIG. 11 is a side view of the cigarette dispensing package of the
present invention in its open or accessible condition;
FIG. 12 is a view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a side view of a cigarette dispensing package of the
present invention in its closed or inaccessible position;
FIG. 15 is a view taken along the line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a view taken along the line 16-16 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 17 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the blank of
FIG. 1;
FIGS. 18--20 illustrate the steps of operation utilized to convert
the blank of FIG. 17 to a finished cigarette dispensing
package;
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a cigarette dispensing package
resulting from the blank shown in FIG. 17;
FIG. 22 is a plan view of an alternating embodiment of the blank of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the dispenser formed from the
blank of FIG. 22 in its closed condition and indicating the manner
in which the opening tab thereof is removable; and
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 23 with the
inner shell thereof in its accessible position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a starting
blank 10 which, when properly set up, will result in the container
12 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, the container 12 is, as suggested
in FIG. 3, a dispenser for cigarettes; it will be understood,
however, that if desired, other articles could be stored and
dispensed thereby.
The dispenser 12 of the present invention is of the type which
includes an outer shell 14 within which is pivotally secured a
cigarette retaining inner shell 16. The inner shell 16 is movable
between a first position completely within the outer shell 14 (FIG.
2) through a second position partially out of the outer shell 14
(FIG. 3) in which position the cigarettes 18 are thereby
accessible.
Before proceeding to a detailed description of the manner in which
the blank 10 of FIG. 1 is operated on to produce the dispenser 12,
it might initially be pointed out that FIG. 2 also illustrates a
novel opening arrangement broadly designated 20 (to be described in
greater detail hereinafter), which sealingly maintains the inner
shell 16 in its closed position of FIG. 2, but which arrangement is
easily removable when the consumer wishes to open the package.
With specific reference to FIG. 1, the various portions of the
blank 10 will now be described, it being initially noted that
broken lines indicate folds or creases whereas solid lines define
the actual outline of the various panels. The blank 10 includes an
elongated outer shell rear wall panel 22 along the opposite
longitudinal edges 24 and 26 of which are secured elongated, outer
shell sidewall panels 28 and 30. The lower edge 32 of panel 22 is
provided with an outer shell rear wall bottom tab 33, while the
lower edges 34 and 36 of the sidewall panels 28, 30 are provided
with outer shell sidewall bottom panels 38 and 40,
respectively.
To the upper edge 42 of the rear wall panel 22 is hingedly secured
a hinge panel 44 the purpose of which will be described in greater
detail. The upper edges 46 and 48 of the outer shell sidewall
panels 28 and 30, respectively, each have hingedly connected
thereto the outer shell top panels 50 and 52, respectively.
A second edge 54 of the hinge panel 44 has hingedly connected
thereto an inner shell rear wall panel 56, while a third edge 58 of
the hinge panel 44 has hingedly secured thereto a triangular stop
panel 60, the purpose of which will be further described.
Along one longitudinal edge 62 of the inner shell rear wall panel
56 is a partial inner shell sidewall panel 64. Along the opposite
longitudinal edge 66 of the inner shell rear wall panel 56 is a
full inner shell sidewall panel 68.
The opposite longitudinal edge 70 of the full inner shell sidewall
panel 68 has hingedly connected thereto an inner shell front wall
panel 72 whose opposite longitudinal edge 74 has hingedly secured
thereto a second partial inner shell sidewall panel 76. One edge 78
of the inner shell front wall panel 72 has an inner shell bottom
tab 80 hingedly secured thereto, while the opposite edge 82 of the
inner shell front wall panel 72 has hingedly connected thereto, by
means of two small hinge surfaces 84, an elongated opening tab 86
which is an optional feature forms part of the opening arrangement
20 of FIG. 2.
The opposite edge 88 of the opening tab 86 has hingedly secured
thereto a grasping tab 90 while the two longitudinal edges 92 and
94 thereof are hingedly provided with a pair of earlike outstanding
tabs 96 and 98, respectively. The tab 98 is perforatedly joined to
the outer shell sidewall panel 28 along the perforated line 100.
Additionally, and for purposes to be further described, the outer
shell sidewall panel 30 is provided with a perforated notched
portion 102.
Referring to FIGS. 4--10, the steps necessary to convert the blank
10 of FIG. 1 to the finished dispenser 12 of FIG. 2 and 3 will now
be described in detail. In FIG. 4, the inner shell subblank
(including the first partial sidewall panel 64, the rear wall panel
56, the full sidewall 68, the front wall panel 72, and the second
sidewall panel 76) has been swung about a pivotal axis including
the edge 42 of the outer shell rear wall panel 22 and the two small
hinge areas 84, such that the inner shell subblank overlays the
outer shell subblank which includes the outer shell rear wall panel
22 and the outer shell side panels 28 and 30. At this time, and as
suggested by the dotted showing in FIG. 4, the upper surfaces (as
viewed in FIG. 4) of the following portions of the blank are
provided with a suitable adhesive substance: the sidewall top panel
52; the sidewall bottom panel 38; the perforated notch section 102;
end portions 104 of the bottom panel 40; and a longitudinal end
portion 106 of the inner shell partial side panel 64. Figure 5 is a
view looking at the rear of the blank as situated in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 6, three folds have been performed on the blank of FIGS. 4
and 5. Thus, edge 74 which joins the inner shell partial sidewall
panel 76 to the inner shell front wall panel 72 has been folded to
establish a 90.degree. angle between these two members. Similarly,
that portion of the longitudinal edge 92 of the opening tab 86
which joins the earlike tab 96 thereto has been folded such that
the earlike tab 96 overlies the inner shell partial sidewall panel
76. Finally, the longitudinal edge 24 which joins the outer shell
sidewall panel 28 to the outer shell rear wall panel 22 has been
transversely folded which further brings about the folding of the
edge 66 which joins the inner shell full sidewall panel 68 to the
inner shell rear wall panel 56, and additionally the folding of the
edge 58 which joins the stop member 60 to the hinge panel 44.
In FIG. 7, the partial inner shell sidewall panel 64 has been
folded along the longitudinal edge 62 thereof such that the
adhesive undersurface portion 106 is brought into intimate contact
with the second partial sidewall 76 to completely establish the
inner shell which was broadly designated 16 in FIGS. 2 and 3.
In FIG. 8, the outer shell sidewall panel 30 has been completely
swung about its longitudinally hinged edge 26 until the adhesive
undersurface of the perforated notch area 102 is brought into
intimate contact with the outer surface of the outstanding ear 96
extending from the opening tab 86.
In FIG. 9, the top and bottom of the dispenser are formed.
Specifically, the tab 80 hingedly secured to the inner shell front
wall panel 72, and the tab 33 hingedly secured to the outer shell
rear wall panel 22, are folded inwardly 90.degree.. Next the bottom
flap 40 is folded along the longitudinal edge 36 such that the
adhesively coated end portions 104 thereof come into sealing
engagement with the undersurfaces of the flaps 80 and 33. Finally,
the fully coated bottom flap 38 is brought up into intimate sealing
contact with the undersurface of the bottom flap 40 such that the
bottom is complete. At this point, the cigarettes or other articles
can be conveniently inserted through the open top of the
package.
Finally, the top flap 50 of FIG. 8 is folded along the edge 46
followed by the folding of the top flap 52 such that its adhesive
undersurface thereof sealingly engages the upper surface of the
flap 50. The package is now complete.
FIG. 10 shows the cigarette dispenser 12 with the opening tab 86
thereof removed and is primarily intended to indicate the manner in
which the stop panel 60 defines the limits of travel of the inner
shell 16 between its closed and open positions. Thus, in the open
position of FIG. 10, one edge 108 will abut the undersurface of the
top 50, 52 and prevent the inner shell 16 from being pulled out any
further. Similarly, when the inner shell 16 has reached its closed
position, a second surface 110 of the stop member 60 will abut the
full inner shell sidewall panel 68 (See FIG. 7) to accurately
locate the inner shell 16 in its closed position with the front
wall panel 72 thereof perfectly closing the elongated aperture 112
which the three-sided outer shell construction necessarily
defines.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the manner in which the opening tab 86
functions to seal the dispenser and yet is easily removable
therefrom, will now be described.
Initially, it is to be appreciated that by virtue of the
outstanding tabs 96, 98 and the small hinged surfaces 84, the
opening tab 86 is, before the package is opened, integrally joined
with the inner shell 16 and the outer shell 14. This arrangement
prevents the inner shell 16 from accidentally moving to its
accessible position of FIG. 3 before the package is open. To open
the package, the user simply grasps the tab 90 and rotates the
opening tab 86 about the pivotal axis defined by the small hinge
surfaces 84. Initial rotation will rip the tabs 96 and 98 from the
adhesive undersurface 102 of the outer shell sidewall surface 30
and from the perforated outline 100 on the outer shell sidewall
panel 28. At this point, the opening tab 86 is now free of the
outer shell 14. A slight continual tug on the opening tab 86 will
then break the hinges 84 so that the opening tab can be discarded.
Preferably, the width of the hinges 84 are chosen such that the
consumer must first actually pull the inner shell to its accessible
position of FIG. 3 before the hinges break. In this manner, one
smooth easy action which begins with grasping the tab 90 (See FIG.
9) accomplishes the dual result of completely removing the opening
tab from its joining relationship with respect to the inner and
outer shells, and also pulls the inner shell out to an accessible
cigarette obtaining position.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 14, there is illustrated the manner in
which the snap-lock arrangement of the instant invention including
the snap-lock panel 44 thereof functions to biasingly maintain the
inner shell 16 in either of its in or out positions. In FIG. 11, it
is seen how the hinge panel 44 interconnects the upper end of the
inner shell rear wall 56 with the upper end of the outer shell rear
wall 22. It is to be observed, also, that the length of the hinge
panel 44 plus the length of an imaginary diagonal 112 of the inner
shell 16, is greater than the length of an imaginary diagonal 114
of the outer shell 14.
It can be appreciated therefore, that the imaginary diagonal 112,
(actually the rigid inner shell 16), and the hinge panel 44 define
an overcenter toggle mechanism (overcenter with respect to the
imaginary diagonal 114) which will urge the inner shell 16 to
either of its two positions depending upon which side of the
diagonal line 114 the toggle happens to lie. Thus, if the consumer
should begin to urge the inner shell 16 toward its closed position,
once the toggle defined by the panel 44 and the imaginary line 112
passes over the diagonal 114, a natural biasing force is inherently
developed to snap the inner shell 16 to its fully closed position.
The same type of force is generated once the inner shell is pulled
out sufficiently from its closed position that the toggle 44--112
passes over the diagonal 114.
Referring now to FIGS. 17--21, there is illustrated an alternative
embodiment of the blank and cigarette dispenser manufactured
therefrom. The blank 116 of FIG. 17 differs from the blank 10 of
FIG. 1 in one primary respect which is perhaps best illustrated in
FIGS. 19 and 20. In FIGS. 6 and 7, it is seen that the outer shell
sidewall panel 28 and 30 are "wrapped longitudinally around" the
inner shell 16. This is to be contrasted with the construction
illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20 wherein the outer shell sidewall
panels 28a and 30a are "wrapped laterally around" the inner shell
16a by means of folding edges 118 and 120, which edges are provided
along the outer shell bottom panel 122. This is to be contrasted
with the outer shell folding process of FIGS. 6 and 7 which took
place along the longitudinal edges 24 and 26 of the outer shell
rear wall panel 22.
A second primary difference between the blank 116 and the blank 10
is that the blank 116 is provided with an additional opening tab
section 86b which, as illustrated in FIG. 19, is provided with
adhesive such that it is adhesively joined with the outer surface
of the first opening tab 86a (see FIG. 20). This doubled wall
construction for the opening tab results in a rigid structure. With
these two exceptions, the embodiment of FIGS. 17--21 is essentially
the same as the dispenser described with respect to FIGS. 1--16,
and accordingly letter subscripts have been utilized to identify
corresponding elements. Similarly, in FIG. 18, the dotted showing
represents those surfaces of the blank 116 which are provided with
adhesive surfaces, and FIGS. 19, 20 and 31 provide a simple
step-by-step showing illustrating the manner in which the blank 116
is transformed into completed dispenser 12a of FIG. 21.
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by FIGS.
22 through 24. The blank 10c is substantially the same as blank 10
illustrated in FIG. 1. The only difference existing between the two
blanks resides in the formation of the opening tab 86c. The opening
tab 86c may be termed a short opening tab. As best seen in FIG. 23,
the tab 86c is centrally disposed with respect to the completed
cigarette dispenser 12c and is secured to the outer shell 14c only
by means of the tabs 96c and 98c. It is specifically to be noted
that, in the present embodiment, there is no connection of the
opening tab 86c with the front wall panel 72c.
As can be appreciated from the various long and short opening tabs
of FIGS. 1 and 22 that the length of the tab can be of any size,
for example, even the full length of panel 28 or 28a; and if
desired, the opening tab or panel section can also be made without
the outstanding tabs 96, 98. In such cases, however, the user would
simply pull out the inner shell from the outer shell without having
to tear away any removable tab or panel section. The opening tab or
panel section in such cases would reinforce panel 72, 72a by virtue
of it being in a back-to-back position about the edge line 82 with
respect to panel 72, 72a, and same may be glued or otherwise
adhered to panel 72, 72a when assembled.
Although the present invention has been described in some detail by
way of illustration, it is understood that certain changes and
modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *