U.S. patent number 3,828,923 [Application Number 05/312,822] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-13 for composite slideable dispensing carton.
This patent grant is currently assigned to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Invention is credited to Floyd L. Phillips, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,828,923 |
Phillips, Jr. |
August 13, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
COMPOSITE SLIDEABLE DISPENSING CARTON
Abstract
A composite dispensing carton is provided which includes an
outer member closed at the bottom and open at the top, and an inner
member mounted within the outer member for movement between
extended and retracted positions relative to the outer member. The
inner member is affixed to the outer member so as to restrict
movement of the inner member to a predetermined extended position.
The inner member is provided with a cover for closing the top of
the outer member when said inner member is in said retracted
position.
Inventors: |
Phillips, Jr.; Floyd L.
(Winston-Salem, NC) |
Assignee: |
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
(Winston-Salem, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
23213165 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/312,822 |
Filed: |
December 7, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/254; 206/273;
229/149; 229/125.125; 229/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
5/38 (20130101); B65D 5/6688 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
5/00 (20060101); B65D 5/66 (20060101); B65D
5/38 (20060101); B65D 5/64 (20060101); B65d
005/38 (); B65d 085/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/41R,41C,41D,41H,41.2R,41.2B,45.11,45.12,45.15
;229/7R,11,17R,20,44CB ;312/12 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Price; William I.
Assistant Examiner: Lipman; Steven E.
Claims
I claim:
1. A composite dispensing carton comprising an outer sleeve member
and an inner member mounted within said outer member for sliding
movement between extended and retracted positions; said outer
member including front and back panels, side panels interconnecting
same, and closure flaps foldably connected to said panels, said
closure flaps overlapping one another to form a bottom for said
outer member, one of said closure flaps being exposed to the
interior of said outer member and being provided with an inwardly
extending foldable tab; said inner member including a base panel
engaging the interior surface of said outer member back panel, side
flanges connected to opposite sides of said base panel and engaging
the interior surfaces of said outer member side panels, an end
flange disposed intermediate of and separated from said side
flanges and foldably connected to said base panel, said end flange
being connected to the tab of said outer member whereby the
extended position of said inner member relative to said outer
member is limited by the connection between said end flange and
said tab; and cover means connected to said base panel and disposed
opposite said end flange for closing the end of said inner member
and the upper end of the outer member when said inner member is in
the retracted position.
2. The composite dispensing carton of claim 1 wherein the tab is
sandwiched between the closure flap to which it is foldably
connected and the end flange when said inner member is in said
retracted position.
3. The composite dispensing carton of claim 2 wherein said end
flange assumes a substantially transverse position relative to said
base panel when said inner member is in said retracted position,
and said end flange assumes an oblique position relative to said
base panel when said inner member is in said extended position.
4. The composite dispensing carton of claim 3 wherein said outer
sleeve member is formed from a first blank of foldable sheet
material, and said inner member is formed from a second blank of
foldable sheet material.
5. The composite dispensing carton of claim 1 wherein said cover
means includes a cover panel foldably connected to said base panel
and foldable gusset flaps interconnecting peripheral portions of
said cover panel with adjacent peripheral portions of said side
flanges; each gusset flap being foldable inwardly and subtending
said cover panel when the latter is closing the end of said inner
member.
6. The composite dispensing carton of claim 1 wherein said cover
means includes a cover panel having a first edge foldably connected
to said base panel and a tuck flap foldably connected to a second
edge of said cover panel, said first and second edges being
opposite one another, said tuck flap engaging the interior surface
of said outer member front panel when said cover means is in
initial closing relation with respect to the upper end of said
outer sleeve member.
7. The composite dispensing carton of claim 6 wherein said tuck
flap is provided with a struckout tongue, and said outer member
front panel is provided with a slot, said tongue interlockingly
engaging said slot when said cover means is in a reclosing relation
with respect to the upper end of said outer member.
8. The composite dispensing carton of claim 1 wherein the base
panel of said inner member is in substantially coincident relation
with the back panel of said outer member when said inner member is
in said retracted position.
9. The composite dispensing carton of claim 1 wherein the closure
flaps of said outer member include major flaps foldably connected
to the lower edges of said front and back panels, and minor flaps
foldably connected to the lower edges of the side panels; said
major flaps being secured in overlapping relation and said foldable
tab being connected to the innermost of the overlapping major
flaps.
10. The composite dispensing carton of claim 9 wherein the
innermost major flap has one side thereof foldably connected to the
lower edge of the back panel of said outer member and the foldable
tab is connected to the opposite side of said innermost major flap,
said tab being disposed adjacent the interior surface of the front
panel of said outer member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various composite dispensing cartons for cigarettes or the like
have heretofore been provided; however, because of certain
structural features they are beset with one or more of the
following shortcomings: (a) the carton was of complex and costly
construction; (b) the carton was not suitable for high speed
filling; (c) the carton was awkward to manually open and could not
be readily reclosed; (d) the carton did not provide adequate
protection for the accommodated product; and (e) the carton was of
bulky and fragile design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a composite
dispensing carton which avoids the aforenoted shortcomings of the
prior constructions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple,
compact and inexpensive carton which is attractive in appearance
and may be readily manually opened and reclosed.
Further and additional objects will appear from the description,
accompanying drawing and appended claims.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a composite
dispensing carton is provided which includes an outer sleeve member
having a closed bottom and an open top, and an inner member mounted
within said outer sleeve member for movement between extended and
retracted positions. The lower end wall of the inner member is
fixedly secured to a foldable tab carried by a lower end closure
flap of the outer member, and thus, limits the extent to which the
inner member can be extended relative to the outer member. The
upper end of the inner member is provided with cover means which
effects closing of the inner and outer members when the inner
member is in a retracted position.
DESCRIPTION
For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference
should be made to the drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of one form of the improved carton
shown in its initial closed condition.
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the carton in open
condition and the inner member fully extended relative to the outer
member.
FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the carton in a reclosed
condition.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the blank for forming the outer member
of the carton of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the blank for forming the inner member
of the carton of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of the
lower portion of the carton of FIG. 1 and showing the inner member
in the retracted position and the contents of the carton in phantom
lines.
FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 6, but showing the inner member in the
extended position.
Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and
2, one form of the improved dispensing carton 10 is shown which is
particularly suitable for accommodating cigarettes, cigars or the
like. The carton 10 is of composite construction and includes an
outer sleeve member 11 and an inner tray member 12 which is mounted
within member 11 for manual movement between retracted and extended
positions A and B, respectively, see FIGS. 1 and 2. Outer member 11
is preferably formed from a blank I of foldable sheet material
(e.g., paperboard), see FIG. 4 and inner member 12 is likewise
formed from a blank II of similar foldable sheet material, see FIG.
5.
Outer member 11 is of sleeve-like configuration and includes a
front panel 13, back panel 14, side panels 15 and 16, and closure
flaps 17, 18, 20 and 21, the latter cooperating to form a closed
bottom when the outer member is set up. As seen in FIG. 4, a glue
flap 22 may be provided which will adhere to the interior surface
of back panel 14 in conventional manner so as to retain the sleeve
member in set up condition. The closure flaps are connected to the
lower edges of the front, back, and side panels by segments of a
foldline 23, see FIG. 4. Closure flaps 17 and 18 which are
connected respectively to the front and back panels 13 and 14 of
the illustrated carton are hereinafter sometimes referred to as
major flaps, and the remaining closure flaps 20 and 21 connected
respectively to the side panels 15 and 16 are sometimes referred to
as minor flaps. Whether there are major amd minor closure flaps
will depend upon the configuration of the outer sleeve member. It
will be noted in FIG. 4, that major flap 18 has foldably connected
to the outer edge thereof a tab 24, the function of which will be
described more fully hereinafter.
In setting up sleeve member 11, it is important that the closure
flap 18, to which the tab 24 is connected, be the innermost of the
overlapping flaps so that tab 24 will extend into the interior of
the sleeve member, see FIGS. 6 and 7. Minor flaps 20 and 21 in the
illustrated embodiment function as dust flaps and are subtended by
the major flaps which are adhesively secured to one another, so as
to form a sealed end closure.
The upper edge of the front panel 13 is recessed at 25 so as to
facilitate initial opening of the carton. In addition to the
recessed edge portion, a transversely extending slot 26 is formed
in the front panel 13 adjacent to, but beneath the upper edge
thereof.
The exposed surface of the outer member 11 may, if desired, be
pre-printed and treated so as to become moisture-resistant. The
blank I may be readily formed on conventional high speed scoring,
slotting and slitting equipment, and may be set up by automatic
means.
The inner member 12, in the illustrated carton, is of tray-like
configuration and includes a base panel 27 which closely simulates
the configuration of the back panel 14. The base panel 27 is in
sliding engagement with the interior surface of back panel 14 and
glue flap 22. Foldably connected to opposite elongated edges of
base panel 27 are side flanges 28 and 30 which are in sliding
engagement with the interior surfaces of the side panels 15 and 16,
respectively, of the outer member. An end flange 31 is connected by
foldline 32 to the lower edge of the base panel 27 of member 12.
When the members 11 and 12 are assembled, the underside of flange
31, adjacent the outer edge thereof, is adhesively secured to the
tab 24 carried by the major closure flap 18, see FIGS. 6 and 7.
When inner member 12 is in its retracted position A, end flange 31
is disposed substantially transversely of the base panel 27 and the
side flanges 28 and 30. As seen in FIG. 6, when member 12 is in its
retracted position, the tab 24 is sandwiched between the end flange
31 of the inner member and the major closure flap 18 of the outer
member.
Foldably connected to the upper edge of base panel 27 is a cover
panel 33, the configuration of which closely simulates that of end
flange 31. Foldably connected to the outer edge of the cover panel
is a tuck flap 34. When the cover panel is in its initial closed
position, as seen in FIG. 1, the tuck flap 34 is disposed behind
the front panel 13 of the outer member and may be lightly secured
thereto by adhesive, if desired. When the carton is to be initially
opened, a slight amount of inwardly directed manual force is
applied to the portion 34a of the tuck flap, which is exposed
within the recessed upper edge portion 25 of the front panel 13,
see FIG. 1, thereby causing the flap 34 to be freed from the front
panel interior surface.
Tuck flap 34 is provided with a struckout tonque 34b which is
adapted to interlock with slot 26 when the cover panel and tuck
flap are in a reclosed position, as seen in FIG. 3. To lock or
unlock the tongue from the slot 26 requires the tongue and the
lower portion of the flap beneath the tongue to be manually folded
outwardly.
The opposite lateral ends of cover panel 33 are connected to the
adjacent ends of the side flanges 28 and 30 by a pair of foldable
qusset flaps 35 and 36, respectively. Each flap is of like
configuration and includes a pair of substantially circular sector
shaped sections 35a and b and 36a and b. The sections comprising
each pair are connected by a common foldline 35c or 36c. The inner
end of each foldline terminates at an upper corner of the base
panel, see FIG. 5. The opposite sides of sections 35a and 36a are
foldably connected to the upper edges of side flanges 28 and 30,
respectively. The remaining sections 35b and 36b, in turn, are
foldably connected to opposite lateral ends of cover panel 33. The
arrangement of the foldlines connecting the pairs of sections to
the cover panel and side flanges is such that when the cover panel
33 is moved to its closed position, see FIG. 1, the sections of
each pair will fold inwardly and subtend the undersurface of the
cover panel. Thus, each folded gusset flap 35 and 36 functions as a
dust flap when the carton is initially closed or reclosed. Because
of the inherent fight-back of the blank material to folding, the
folded gusset flaps urge the cover panel to assume an open
position, and thus, a positive interlocking between the struckout
tongue 34b and the slot 26 is maintained.
While the inner member 12 is shown and described as a tray-like
member, it is not intended to limit the claimed invention thereto.
Rather than having an open side opposite the base panel, said side
could be closed so as to form a sleeve-like unit.
In FIGS. 6 and 7 the illustrated carton is shown accommodating a
plurality of cigarettes C, indicated by phantom lines. The
cigarettes are fully enclosed within the carton when the inner
member assumes the retracted position A and the cover panel 33 is
in its initial closed or reclosed position. When, however, the
inner member assumes its extended position B, causing the end
flange 31 to be obliquely disposed, the accommodated cigarettes
will be raised a graduated amount so that the upper ends thereof
will project upwardly beyond the open top of the outer member 11.
While the cigarettes are in their upwardly projecting positions,
individual cigarettes may be readily removed manually from the
carton without disturbing those remaining in the carton.
In filling the improved carton, one suggested procedure may be as
follows: (a) a predetermined number of cigarettes arranged in
stacked relation are positioned on the base panel 27; (b) the side
and end flanges and the cover panel are folded upright so as to
retain the stack of cigarettes in registration on the base panel;
(c) the tuck flap 34 is folded over the top of the stack; (d) the
outer member with both ends open is set up to form a sleeve; (e)
the folded cover panel, gusset flaps and tuck flap of the loaded
tray member are inserted into the sleeve member through the open
bottom end thereof until the exposed surface of the cover panel is
flush with the open top of the outer member; and (f) adhesive is
applied to tab 24 and the underside of major flap 18 and then the
closure flaps and tab are folded relative to one so as to close the
bottom of the outer sleeve and at the same time have the tab 24
become adhesively affixed to the underside of end flange 31. The
foregoing procedural steps may be accomplished by conventional high
speed automatic packaging equipment. Other procedures, however, may
obviously be employed, if desired, in filling and setting up the
improved carton.
Thus, it will be seen that an improved dispensing carton has been
provided which is highly suitable for accommodating cigarettes or
the like, and is of simple, compact, sturdy and inexpensive
construction. The improved carton may be readily formed, set up and
loaded by conventional high speed equipment. The improved carton
permits one or more cigarettes to be readily removed at one time
without requiring abrupt manual manipulation of the package.
* * * * *