Cigarette dispensing package

Abstract

A package for cigarettes or other like articles comprising an outer shell with an inner shell mounted therein for swinging movement relative to the outer shell. The inner shell housing cigarettes or other articles and being movable from a position completely enclosed within the outer shell to an angular position relative to the outer shell whereby a portion of the top of the inner shell is exposed laterally of the outer shell to permit cigarettes or other articles to be extracted therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to containers for use in housing and dispensing cigarettes or like articles. More particularly, this invention relates to a type of cigarette package normally referred to in the industry as a hard pack, being comprised of a more rigid material than the typical soft cup cigarette package.

Specifically, the package of this invention is comprised of an inner and outer shell with the inner shell being swingable relative to the outer shell to expose a portion of the top of the inner shell laterally of the outer shell so that cigarettes may be extracted from the exposed portion. The inner shell is swingable back to a position within the outer shell so that the cigarettes are fully protected.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The packaging of cigarettes and like articles poses numerous problems to the tobacco industry. It is desirable of course, to provide a package that facilitates use by the consumer while at the same time provides protection for the cigarettes during processing, shipment and as being utilized by the consumer.

Cigarette packages are carried by consumers in pockets, purses, rolled in socks, shirts and other clothing articles. Often the packages are subjected to abuse particularly during periods of heavy exertion by the user. In such instances, physical abuse is combined with increased moisture content to cause deterioration of the cigarettes.

Maximum protection is attained for cigarettes or like products by the use of a hard type pack as opposed to the typical soft pack characterized by a combination of a metal foil-paper laminate and a paper label. The hard pack cigarettes from being mashed or bent as well as providing increased protection against moisture.

Hard packs, however, have met with varying degrees of limited success. Perhaps the most successful form of hard type pack has been the well known flip-top box.

One reason for the limited success of the hard pack is decreased accessibility to the cigarettes. The structure of most hard packs makes it difficult for the consumer to extract cigarettes using only one hand. Often the consumer must hold the pack with one hand and remove a top or other lid like structure to gain access to the cigarettes. This poses problems in numerous situations where only one hand is or should be available--that most readily apparent being the driving of a vehicle.

Where hard packs have been provided with are operable with one hand, other difficulties have been encountered. For instance, such packages can be complicated and expensive to manufacture or they provide only limited protection to the cigarettes.

Some hard packs subject the cigarettes to abrasive action during the opening and closing movements. In such instances the cigarettes become damaged by loosened ends or some tobacco, particularly fines, are shaken from the cigarettes and ultimately find their way into pockets, purses or other places where the cigarette package is housed to provide a nuisance.

It is also important that such hard packs not be subject accidental opening which could expose the cigarettes to damage. In addition, the package should be easily retained in an open position while a cigarette is being extracted. Unless this latter feature is achieved, the consumer will be caused to fumble about with the package during one handed opening operations. Thus, it is critical that the package remain either closed and open until pressure is deliberately applied for the purpose of reversing its position.

While various attempts have been made in the prior art to alleviate the difficulties previously discussed, the packages developed have been deficient in several respects. For instance, most recently a U.S. patent, issued to Gero No. 3,749,234, disclosing a cigarette package having an inner and outer shell-- the inner shell being rotatable laterally of the outer shell to expose a portion of the top of the inner shell from which cigarettes may be extracted. This package is manufactured from a relatively complicated blank folded and adhered in numerous places to provide not only the shells but a "snap-lock" device which limits the outward swinging movement of the inner shell.

In the Gero patent, the inner shell does not fully house the cigarettes. When the package is in a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a portion of the cigarettes is exposed above the upper edge of the inner shell. In addition, as the inner shell is rotated to its open position, the cigarettes, as seen in FIG. 3, pivot on the bottom panel of the outer shell. This pivoting movement causes the ends of the cigarettes to loosen, which effects burning and causes tobacco fines and other particles of tobacco to be displaced from the tobacco column. Tobacco in the form of fines or strands which become loosened in packages of this nature are ultimately leaked into pockets, purses and other places resulting in a nuisance for the consumer.

A frictional engagement between the cigarettes and the package may also occur at the top panel of the Gero package. Similar damage to that discussed above would result where plain end cigarettes are housed in the package. In regard to filter cigarettes, such abrasion of the filter can damage the filter effecting its filtering capabilities and producing a filter end condition annoying to the consumer.

An earlier patent issued to Benjamin, U.S. Pat. No. 3,052,398, provided a more desirable inner shell that more fully protected the cigarettes. While the Benjamin package avoids certain of the damage to the cigarettes inherent in the Gero patent, it has other undesirable features. For example, no means is provided in the Benjamin package for limiting the rotational movement of the inner shell relative to the other shell. In addition, the only way of grasping the inner shell and removing it from the outer shell is along the same edge of the inner shell that would be exposed. This, along with the failure to include a means for limiting the rotation of the shell produces a package which is difficult to open and close using a single hand.

Moreover, it is not apparent that the inner shell of Benjamin would stay within the outer shell during periods of non use. The inner shell, for instance, is cut away along its back portion and provides no frictional contact with the under surface of the top panel to inhibit rotation.

Other package structures having an inner shell swingable relative to an outer shell were considered during preparation of this application, specifically, U.S. Pat. Nos. 356,244, 1,735,325, 1,992,373, 3,037,678, and 3,583,625. In addition, the following patents disclosing packages having swingable lid-type structures were also considered, U.S. design patent Nos. 136,319 and 174,305 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,240,563, 1,919,100, 2,265,828, 2,956,722, 2,958,418, 3,207,416 and 3,265,282.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved hard type package for housing and dispensing cigarettes or like articles that alleviate the aforementioned difficulties in the art.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a new and improved package that is constructed in a simple and efficient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a package that will open and close with ease utilizing only one hand to facilitate the extraction of cigarettes during driving and other situations where the other hand is or should be occupied.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a package wherein the cigarettes are fully protected from damage during normal use.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a package which is easily opened and closed but wherein the opening and closing of the package does not itself result in any damage to the cigarettes or produce tobacco fines which can annoy the consumer.

An additional object of this invention is to provide such a package which will not open or close without an exertion of pressure on the inner shell for movement, either to or from the open position.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a blank for forming the package or components of the package comprised of simple rectilinear parts, fold, score and cut lines which is easily and inexpensively stamped and assembled to provide the desired package.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein a package is disclosed for cigarettes or other like articles comprising an outer shell having opposed front and rear wall panels and top and bottom panels connecting said wall panels thereby defining a shell having a pair of opposed open sides, the bottom panel having first and second portions.

An inner shell is also disclosed containing the cigarettes or other articles and positioned within the outer shell. The inner shell has opposed front and rear wall panels and side panels connecting said wall panels. At least a portion of at least one of the side panels extends between the first portion of the bottom panel and the top panel of the outer shell. The inner shell is connected to the first portion of the bottom panel of the outer shell.

Hinge means on the bottom panel of the outer shell connect the first and second portions to provide swinging movement of the first portion relative to the second. In this manner the inner shell is rotatable to and from a first position within the outer shell and a second position angularly disposed relative to the outer shell such that a portion of the top of the inner shell is exposed laterally of the outer shell to provide access to the cigarettes.

At least a portion of the top edge of the inner shell is movable into a sliding engagement with the under surface of the top panel of the outer shell upon rotation of the inner shell to the second position. This frictional engagement limits the opening and closing of the package except by pressure applied to the inner shell while holding the outer shell against movement.

An abutment means is provided on the under surface of the top panel of the outer shell for engagement with the top edge of the inner shell to limit the rotation of the inner shell when it has reached its second position.

In addition, and also to achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a blank is provided which is easily stamped and assembled to form the outer shell of the package for housing and dispensing cigarettes or like articles as described above. In addition, a second blank is provided wherein said inner and outer shells above described can be formed from a single blank and easily stamped and assembled into a complete package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements shown and described. The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification illustrate two embodiments of the invention and together with the description of the invention serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette package of this invention with the inner shell positioned within the outer shell.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette package of FIG. 1 showing the inner shell rotated to an open position exposing the contents of the inner shell. The outline of the portion of the inner shell within the outer shell is designated by dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the package of FIG. 1 showing the various components of the cigarette package separated in line projection.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 1 illustrating the inner shell positioned within the outer shell.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4 also illustrating the inner shell positioned within the outer shell.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 2 showing the inner shell in an open position.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming the outer shell of the cigarette package of FIGS. 1 through 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming the inner shell of the package of FIGS. 1 through 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of the package of FIGS. 1 through 6 wherein the inner and outer shells are integrally formed from a single piece of material.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the package of FIG. 9 showing the inner shell rotated to an open position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the components of the package of FIG. 9 with the inner shell rotated to an open position, the outer shell top panels separated and the paper-foil laminate liner partially illustrated and projected upwardly.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12--12 of FIG. 9 showing the inner shell positioned within the outer shell.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13--13 of FIG. 12 showing the inner shell positioned within the outer shell.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14--14 of FIG. 10 showing the inner shell rotated to its open position.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a blank for forming the package of FIGS. 9 through 14.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a package 10 is illustrated and comprised of an outer shell 12, an inner shell 14, a liner 16 and a closure member 18. The outer shell 12 houses inner shell 14 in such a manner that shell 14 is rotatable from a first position as illustrated in FIG. 1, within the confines of outer shell 12, to a second position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, where a portion of inner shell 14 is exposed laterally of outer shell 12.

In accordance with the invention, the liner 16 is comprised of a paper foil laminate of 0.00025 inch aluminum foil and 28 or 30 pound paper. Liner 16 is comprised of front and rear wall panels 17 and 19, side panels 21, bottom panel 23 and top panel 25 to provide a protective enclosure for the cigarettes or other articles housed within package 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the closure member 18 is comprised of a sheet of material preferably paper having opposed end portions 27 secured to the front and rear wall panels 17 and 19 of the liner 16 and a center portion 29 extending across a portion of the top panel 25. preferably the end portions 27 are adhered to the wall panels 17 and 19 by a suitable adhesive.

The center portion 29 of the closure member 18 includes an edge 31 defining a tearing guide so that a portion of the top panel 25 may be neatly torn away to obtain access to the cigarettes or other articles housed in package 10. In order to obtain an even tear of the paper-foil laminate it is important that the end portions 27 of the closure member 18 be secured to the liner 16 rather than the inner shell 14. This is particularly critical when the liner 16 and the housed cigarettes are recessed below the top edge of the inner shells as in the prefered embodiment of this invention.

The package 10 also includes a label of 50 to 60 pound paper, a transparent overwrap and a tear tape. These conventional components are not illustrated.

In accordance with the invention, outer shell 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, is comprised of a pair of opposed front and rear wall panels 20 and 22 respectively with a top panel 24 and a bottom panel 26 connecting wall panels 20 and 22. The panels of shell 12 therefore define a pair of opposed open sides and a through passageway or interior chamber, for housing inner shell 14.

In the illustrated embodiment, top panel 24 is comprised of members 28 and 30 which are integrally formed with rear and front wall panels 22 and 20 respectively. Member 28 is disposed in overlying relation to member 30 and adhered thereto to form top panel 24. It is anticipated that top panel 24 could be formed in other ways and in fact could be integral with both the front and rear wall panels 20 and 22.

As illustrated, bottom panel 26 is integral with front and rear panels 20 and 22 and is divided into a first portion 32 and a second portion 34. The second portion 34 is integral with front and rear wall panels 20 and 22 and is connected to first portion 32 by a hinge means illustrated herein as a score line 36.

The first portion 32 is free to swing relative to second portion 34 from a position in planar alignment with portion 34 through an arc downwardly from the plane of portion 34. The inner shell 14 is connected to first portion 32, the score line 36 thus permitting the swinging movement of inner shell 14 to an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and back to its closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that score line 36 is provided at a point over half way across the length of bottom panel 26. Thus, portion 32 is greater in length than second portion 34. By placing score line 36 beyond the center point of bottom panel 26 in a direction away from the side of outer shell 12 through which inner shell 14 moves to its open position, allows inner shell 14 and outer shell 12 to be snuggly fitted in a vertical direction yet permits the rotation of the inner shell to its open position. The snug fit assists in retaining the inner shell in its closed position. This feature also permits inner shell 14 to be constructed to the full height of the cigarettes providing for protection of the cigarettes.

The positioning of the score line 36 also provides for a sliding engagement of a portion of the top edge of inner shell 14 with the under surface of top panel 24 of outer shell 12. This sliding engagement, not only acts against accidental opening of the package, but also provides assistance in retaining the inner shell 14 in its open position when cigarettes are being extracted. In effect, the frictional engagement of these surfaces is such that a positive force must be provided to either open the package or close the package.

The positioning of score line 36 is critical to operation of the package 10. Movement of score line 36 nearer the open side of the outer shell 12 through which the inner shell 14 rotates causes increased frictional engagement between the under surface of top panel 24 and inner shell 14. This frictional engagement increases to a point that rotation of the inner shell is prevented unless the heights of inner shell 14 and outer shell 12 are varied to or from a space at the top of the outer shell. This, however, reduces the snug fit which serves not only to protect the product but to retain the package in the closed position. Movement of the score line away from the aforestated open side of the outer shell 12 reduces the frictional engagement and detracts from the ability of the package to be retained in either an open or closed position until positive pressure is applied to reverse that position.

It has been found than an operable package can be provided where the first portion 32 extends over a range of about 50 percent to about 75 percent of the length of the bottom panel 26. However, for best results the first portion 32 should extend over a range of about 55 percent to about 60 percent of the length of the bottom panel 26. In this latter range, it has been found that exceptional results are obtained over prior art packages in that sufficient frictional engagement is attained that the inner shell 14 will not move until pressure is exerted to reverse the condition of the package 10 from open or closed positions. The desired frictional engagement is achieved within the stated preferred range without deforming the components of the package 10, for damaging the contents of package 10.

In accordance with the invention, an abutment means is provided on the under surface 38 of top panel 24 for limiting the swinging movement of the inner shell 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the abutment means is defined by an abutment surface 40 on tab member 42. Tab member 42 is integrally formed with member 30 of top panel 24 by being cut from member 30 and folded out of the plane of member 30 into an adjacent lower plane and adhered to the under surface of member 30.

It is anticipated that various means may be employed to provide such an abutment surface 40. For instance, in FIG. 10 a modification is illustrated which will be described later herein.

In accordance with the invention, inner shell 14 is comprised of opposed front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 respectively and side panels 48 and 50 connecting said wall panels 44 and 46. In addition, inner shell 14 includes a bottom panel 52. The shell 14 therefore defines a structure closed on all sides except one. The top edges 54 of the front and rear panels 44 and 46 and the side panels 48 and 50 define an opening through which an inner liner 16 is received, as best illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment side wall 48 is comprised of a pair of members 56 and 58 positioned adjacent one another and adhered together along the length of side wall 48. The members 56 and 58 are integral with rear and front panels 46 and 44 respectively. In the preferred embodiment, side panel 50 is integral with the front and rear side panels 44 and 46 respectively and is therefore of a single thickness.

In the preferred embodiment, bottom panel 52 of inner shell 14 is formed by members 59 and 60 which are integral extensions of front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 respectively. The members 59 and 60 are bent into a plane normal to that of front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 and are adhered together to form bottom panel 52. In addition, side panels 48 and 50 are secured to bottom panel 52 by tabs 62 nd 64 adhered to the upper surface of member 59 of bottom panel 52.

It is, of course, anticipated that the inner shell may be formed by other structures and other assemblies however, the package illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 constitutes the preferred embodiment of this invention.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 and side panels 48 and 50 of inner shell 14, when positioned within outer shell 12 extend from the upper surface of bottom panel 26 of outer shell 14 substantially to the under surface of the top panel 24 of outer shell 12 to provide a snuggly fitting inner and outer shell combination. In this manner, when inner shell 14 is rotated to its opened position, the upper edge 54 of side panel 50 of inner shell 14 slidingly engages the under surface of top panel 24 of outer shell 12 until it abuts surface 40. A positive exertion of force on inner shell 14, while holding the outer shell 12, is required to overcome this frictional engagement to close the package. This feature facilitates the removal of cigarettes with one hand by not allowing relative movement between the inner and outer shells during the cigarette removal operation.

In addition, inner shell 14 is designed of such dimensions that it covers the full length of the cigarettes which are housed therein. In this manner the cigarettes themselves are not subjected to any frictional engagement during the movement of the inner shell 14 and are therefore not damaged prior to use by the consumer.

The inner shell 14 and outer shell 12 are assembled in closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with inner shell 14 housed within outer shell 12. The dimensions of shells 12 and 14 are such to permit a snug fit between the respective front wall panels 20 and 44 and rear panels 22 and 46. This snug fit assists in holding the package in a closed position until a positive force is exerted to open the package.

The shells 12 and 14 are joined by adhering the overlying portion of bottom panel 52 of inner shell 14 to first portion 32 of bottom panel 26 of outer shell 12. In this manner, a force exerted on side panel 50 of inner shell 14 causes the first portion 32 of the outer shell to swing downwardly out of the plane of bottom panel 26. The inner shell 14, being adhered to the first portion 32, is rotated to its exposed open position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

While in the preferred embodiment of this invention the inner shell 14, is adhered to first portion 32, it may be possible to connect first portion 32 and inner shell 14 by other means. For instance, in FIGS. 9 through 14, a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the first portion of the bottom panel of the outer shell is integrally formed with the inner shell 14.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, blanks 70 and 80 are illustrated for forming inner shell 14 and outer shell 12. It should be noted that these blanks contain elements formed by simple rectilinear configurations. It is in this manner that blanks are provided which are easily stamped, and perhaps more importantly, are easily folded and assembled into shells 12 and 14.

In accordance with the invention, a blank 70 is illustrated in FIG. 7 for forming outer shell 12. In order to facilitate an understanding of the structure of the blank and its relation to outer shell 12, the same numerals will be utilized to designate various components. The blank 70 is comprised of front and rear wall panels 20 and 22, bottom panel 26 and top panel 28. As previously described, top panel 24 is comprised of a pair of members 28 and 30 adhered together in shell 12 to form top panel 24. As illustrated, members 28 and 30 are integrally formed with rear and front wall panels 22 and 20 respectively and connected by fold lines 74 and 72.

The bottom panel 26, as previously discussed, is comprised of first and second portions 32 and 34 respectively connected by a hinge 36, illustrated herein as a score line 76. The second portion 34 of bottom panel 26 is connected to front and rear wall panels 20 and 22 by fold lines 75 and 77 respectively.

The blank 70 is slotted on each side of the first portion 32 to ensure that the first portion 32 is free to move in and out of the plane of the bottom panel 26. While the slotting facilitates this movement, it is not considered necessary to the invention. Rather, it is only necessary the blank be cut in these locations in order to provide for separate swinging movement of the first portion 32 relative to the second portion 34 and the front and rear wall panels 20 and 22.

As previously discussed, a tab member 42 is provided on member 30 in order to define the abutment surface 40. The tab member 42 is cut from member 30 by three cut lines 73 and is connected thereto by fold line 78. In this manner the tab member 42 may be folded into contacting relation with the under surface of member 30 and adhered thereto. While there are other ways of defining the abutment surface 40, it should be recognized that the use of tab 42 provides a rotation limiting means formed from an element of the blank which is simple and rectilinear in nature.

Referring to FIG. 8, a blank 80 is provided in accordance with this invention for forming an inner shell 14. Again it should be noted that the blank 80 is comprised of simple rectilinear line configurations and is easily folded and assembled into the inner shell 14.

The blank 80 is comprised of front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 connected by a side panel 50. The side panel 50 is integral with wall panels 44 and 46 and connected thereto by a pair of parallel spaced fold lines 82 and 84. Side panel 48 is provided by a pair of members 56 and 58 integral with wall panels 46 and 44 respectively and connected thereto by fold lines 88 and 86 respectively. The members 56 and 58 are foldable into contracting relation and adhered together as illustrated in FIG. 2 to provide side panel 48 of the inner shell 14.

The bottom panel 52 of the inner shell 14 is comprised of a pair of members 59 and 60 integrally formed with the front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 connected thereto by fold lines 90 and 92 respectively. In addition, tab members 62 are provided at the base of each of the side panels 50 and 48 and connected by fold lines 94 and 96 respectively. As best illustrated in FIG. 3, tab members 62 are folded along lines 94 and 96 and placed in overlying relation to member 59 and secured by adhesive.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 15 and designated as package 110. In this embodiment of the invention, the inner and outer shells are formed from a single blank--the blank is illustrated in FIG. 15. In addition, a modified member for defining the abutment surface 40 is provided as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 14.

For the sake of comparison and clarity, the same numerals are utilized in relation to FIGS. 9 through 15 as were utilized in FIGS. 1 through 8.

In accordance with this invention, and as illustrated and discussed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 8, the outer shell 12 is comprised of front and rear wall panels 20 and 22, a top panel 24 and a bottom panel 26. The top panel 24 is formed in the same manner as illustrated and discussed previously by the placement of a member 28 in overlying relation to member 30 and adhering of the members together. The top panel 24 differs from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8 in regard to the formation of the abutment surface 40.

Referring to FIG. 10 the abutment surface 40 is formed by a tab member 100 which is folded out of the plane of member 30 and adhered to the under surface of member 30. The positioning of tab 100 on the under surface of the member 30 is best illustrated in FIG. 12.

The inner shell 14 of FIGS. 9 through 15, like that of FIGS. 1 through 8, is comprised of front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 and side paanels 48 and 50. A basic difference, however, between this package 110 and package 10 of FIGS. 1 through 8 is that the inner shell 14 has no separate bottom panel but instead utilizes the bottom panel 26 of the outer shell 12 to cover its lower side.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the first portion 32 of the bottom panel 26 of the outer shell 12 is integral with side panel 48 of the inner shell 14, being connected by a fold line 102. In contrast to package 10, the side panel of package 110 is of a single thickness, whereas side panel 50 is comprised of a double thickness being made up of members 104 and 106 in the same manner as members 56 and 58 of package 10.

Package 110 operates identically to package 10 in that pressure exerted on side panel 50 of the inner shell 14 causes the inner shell to rotate about hinge 36, swinging first portion 32 of bottom panel 26 downwardly and moving a portion of the top of inner shell 14 laterally of outer shell 12 to expose the contents of inner shell 14, as best seen in FIG. 10.

As in package 10, the top edge of side panel 50 engages abutment surface 40 to limit the rotation of inner shell 14 relative to outer shell 12. It is also noted that the top edge of side panel 50, slidingly engages the under surface of member 30 of top panel 24 to provide frictional resistence against movement. This frictional engagement serves to retain inner shell 14 both in its open and closed positions as previously discussed.

Referring to FIG. 15, a blank 120 is illustrated for forming package 110. As may be seen, blank 120 is a single piece of material. Like blanks 70 and 80 all elements are rectilinear providing for easy formation of the blank and assembly into the desired package.

The blank 120 is comprised of an inner shell portion 14 and an outer shell portion 12. The outer shell portion 12 is comprised of front and rear wall panels 20 and 22 respectively connected by bottom panel 26. The botton panel 26 is integral with wall panels 20 and 22 and connected thereto by fold lines 122 and 124. At the opposite side of wall panels 20 and 22, members 28 and 30 are provided and connected thereto by fold lines 124 and 126 respectively.

As previously discussed, surface 40 is defined by tab member 100 connected to member 30 by fold line 130.

In this embodiment, the bottom panel 26 of the blank 120 is divided into a first portion 32 and a second portion 34, these portions being connected by hinge means in the form of a score line 132. Cut lines 134 and 136 are provided between first portion 32 and side panels 20 and 22.

The inner shell 14 is connected to outer shell portion 12 of blank 120 by means of a fold line 102. Specifically, fold line 102 connects first portion 32 of bottom panel 26 and side panel 48 of inner shell 14. The side panel 48 is connected to front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 of the inner shell 14 by fold lines 138 and 140. The opposite sides of front and rear wall panels 44 and 46 are connected by fold lines 142 and 144 respectively to members 104 and 106 which combine to provide the side panel 50.

The blank 120 may be assembled by folding the inner shell along fold lines 138, 140, 142 and 144 and adhering together members 104 and 106 in overlapping relation. Inner shell 14 may then be folded on fold line 102 and the outer shell 12 folded on fold lines 122 and 124 to wrap shell 12 about inner shell 14. Members 28 and 30 can then be folded into overlapping relation and adhered together to complete assembly of outer shell 12 and about inner shell 14.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations could be made in the packages and blanks of this invention without departure from the basic concepts of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A package for cigarettes or other articles comprising:

a. an outer shell having opposed front and rear wall panels and top and bottom panels connecting said wall panels, said panels defining a pair of opposed open sides, said bottom panel having first and second portions;

b. an inner shell containing said cigarettes or other articles, said inner shell being positioned within said outer shell, said inner shell having oppposed front and rear wall panels and side panels connecting said wall panels, at least a portion of at least one of said panels extending substantially between the second portion of said bottom panel and said top panel and having an edge engageable in sliding contect with the under surface of the top panel of said outer shell upon rotation of said inner shell relative to the outer shell, said inner shell being connected to the first portion of the bottom panel of said outer shell;

c. hinge means on the bottom panel of said outer shell connecting said first and second portions of the bottom panel of said outer shell to permit swinging movement of said first portion relative to the second portion whereby the inner shell is rotatable to and from a first position within said outer shell, and a second position angularly disposed relative to said outer shell wherein a portion of the top of the inner shell is exposed lateraly of said outer shell so that articles may be removed therefrom;

d. abutment means on the under surface of said top panel for engagement with the portion of the inner shell which extends between the second portion of the bottom panel and the top panel of said outer shell to limit the rotation of the inner shell.

2. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner shell has first and second side panels and said first side panel extends substantially between said second portion of the bottom panel of said outer shell and the top panel of said outer shell and upon swinging movement of said inner shell is in sliding engagement with the under surface of the top panel and engages said abutment means to limit rotation of the inner shell.

3. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein the panels comprising the inner shell extend substantially between the top and bottom panels of said outer shell whereby the full length of the cigarettes are housed within said inner shell.

4. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said abutment means for limiting the rotational movement of said inner shell includes an abutment surface on the under surface of the top panel of the outer shell engageable with a portion of said inner shell upon rotation of said inner shell.

5. A package as recited in claim 4 wherein said abutment surface is formed by a member integral with said top panel and connected to said top panel by a fold line.

6. A package as recited in claim 5 wherein said top panel is comprised of a pair of layers adhered together and said member is integral with the lower of said layers having been cut therefrom and folded out of the plane of said lower layer into an adjacent lower plane and adhered to the under surface of said lower layer.

7. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner shell includes a bottom panel a portion of which directly overlies the first portion of the bottom panel of said shell and is adhered thereto.

8. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein one side panel of the inner shell is integral with the first portion of the bottom panel of said outer shell and is connected thereto by a fold line extending in a direction between said front and rear wall panels of the outer shell.

9. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said second portion of said bottom panel of the outer shell is formed integrally with said front and rear walls of said outer shell and said first portion is separate from said front and rear walls of said outer shell and said first portion is separate from said front and rear wall panels being connected to said outer shell only by said hinge means.

10. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said hinge means is comprised of a score line extending across said bottom panel of the outer shell said score line separating said first and second portions of said bottom panel.

11. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said first portion of the bottom panel of said outer shell extends over a range of about 55 percent to about 60 percent of the length of said bottom panel.

12. A package as recited in claim 1 wherein said first portion of the bottom panel of said outer shell extends over a range of about 50 percent to about 75 percent of the length of said bottom panel.

13. A package as recited in claim 1 further includes a liner for enclosing cigarettes and like articles and a closure member, said liner having front, back and side wall panels and top and bottom panels and being received within the inner shell, said closure member being comprised of a sheet having opposed end portions secured to the front and back wall panels of said liner, said sheet extending across a portion of said top panel and having an edge defining a tearing guide whereby a portion of the top panel may be neatly torn away to obtain access to the cigarettes or other housed articles.

14. A blank for forming the outer shell of a package for cigarettes or other articles comprising:

a. a front wall panel;

b. a rear wall panel;

c. a bottom panel having a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being integral with said front and rear wall panels and connected thereto by a pair of fold lines, said first portion being separate from said front and rear wall panels but connected to said second portion by a score line extending in a direction transversely of said fold lines;

d. a pair of top panels integral with said front and rear wall panels respectively at the opposite side of said wall panels from said bottom panel, one of said top panels having means thereon for defining an abutment surface.

15. A blank as recited in claim 14 wherein said means for defining an abutment surface is comprised of a tab integral with said top panel and connected by a fold line whereby said tab may be folded across the under surface of the panel to form an abutment surface.

16. A blank as recited in claim 15 wherein said tab forming said abutment surface is cut from said top panel said tab being connected to said panel by a fold line whereby said tab can be folded into a plane adjacent the plane of said top panel and adhered thereto.

17. A one piece blank for forming a package for cigarettes or other articles said blank comprising:

a. an outer shell front wall panel;

b. an outer shell rear wall panel;

c. a bottom panel between said front and rear wall panel, said bottom panel being comprised of first and second portions, said secod portion being connected to said wall panels by fold lines, said first and second portions being connected by a score line extending across said panel transversely of said fold lines;

d. a pair of top panels connected to the respective edges of said front and rear wall panels opposite said bottom panel by respective fold lines, at least one of said panels having means thereon defining an abutment surface;

e. a first inner shell side panel connected to the edge of the first portion of said bottom panel opposite said score line;

f. inner shell front and rear wall panels said front and rear wall panels disposed on opposite sides of said first inner shell side panel, said inner shell wall panels being connected to said first inner shell side panel by respective fold lines;

g. a pair of second inner shell side panels connected by respective fold lines to the sides of said shell front and rear panels opposite said first side panel.

18. A blank as recited in claim 17 wherein said means for defining an abutment surface is comprised of a tab integral with said top panel and connected thereto by a fold line whereby said tab may be folded across the under surface of the top panel to form an abutment surface.

19. A blank as recited in claim 18 wherein the tab forming said abutment surface is cut from the top panel, said tab being connected to said panel by a fold line and being foldable into a plane adjacent the plane of said panel.