US2859865A - Cigarette retaining means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. H, 1958 5.1a. WILLIAMS CIGARETTE RETAINING MEANS Fild July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Fig. 5

Barb ey B. W/YII'ams INVENTOR.

BY arr/#4404 19m Nov. 111, 1958 B. B. WILLIAMS 2,859,865

CIGARETTE RETAINING MEANS Filed July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 2 F 6 F/g.3 u 28 g '26 as Q 32 a a f 24 v 28 I! l4 //6 Fly. 8

, Fig. 9

24 26 24 Fly. 4 7 I4 42 I j F Barney B. Williams INV.ENTOR.

I I i I I l Auarnq's United States Patent CIGARETTE RETAINlN G MEANS Barney B. Williams, Albany, Ga.

Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 670,033

7 Claims. (Cl. 20641) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in cigarette packages, and more specifically to a cigarette package which has disposed therein a member which both serves to retain the cigarettes in place and to protect such cigarettes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined retaining and protecting member for cigarettes, the member being of such configuration and size whereby it may be mounted in existing types of cigarettes and, while properly retaining the cigarettes in the package and protecting the cigarettes, will permit the ease of removal of a cigarette. Another object of this invention is to provide a cigarette package reinforcing member, the reinforcing member being in the form of a strip which is formed of rigid and resilient material, the strip being generally rectangular in outline and including a top which is bendable so as to facilitate the removal of a cigarette.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, the member being in the form of a generally rectangular outline strip and including a top having one end free, the top being provided with an upwardly projecting bulge intermediate the ends thereof, the bulge being depressible so as to cause upward flexing of the free end of the top and facilitate the removal of a cigarette from a package. 7

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details 7 of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package which has been opened, the cigarette package being provided with the combined retaining and protective member which is the subject of this invention, the member being shown in a flexed state to permit the removal of a cigarette;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the upper part of the cigarette package of Figure 1 along the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the cigarette package of Figure 1 with a majority thereof shown in section, the top of the member being shown in a flexed state;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of Figure 3 and shows further the arrangement of the combined retaining and protective member within the cigarette package; and 7 Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views showing the upper portion of the modified combined retaining and protective members and shows modified forms of bulges to facilitate the flexing of the tops thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated a cigarette package which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The

2,859,865 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 includes an inner container 12, an outer container 14,

and a cellophane wrapping 16. Disposed within the cigarette package 10 and reinforcing the containers 12 and 14 is the combined retaining and protective member which is the subject of this invention, the member being referred to in general by the reference numeral 18.

As is best shown in Figure 5, the combined retaining and protective member 18 includes a base 20 which has extending upwardly from opposite ends thereof and formed integrally therewith sides 22 and 24. Formed integrally with the upper end of the side 24 and extending in overlying relation with respect to the'base 20 is a top 26. The top 26 has the end thereof remote from the side wall 24 free and is provided with a depending flange 28. When the combined retaining and protective member 18 is disposed withinthe cigarette package 10, the flange 28 overlaps the upper end of the side 22, as is best shown in Figure 3.

It is also to be noted that theupper end of the side 22 is tapered as at 30.

In order to facilitate the upward flexing of that part of the top 26 remote from theside 24, the top 26 is provided with an upwardly projecting bulge 32 disposed intermediate the ends thereof. The bulge 32 is circular in outline and extends substantially all the way across the top 26. i a

As is best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the combined retaining and protective member 18 is generally rectangular in outline. Also, the member 18 is formed of a single elongated strip which is preferably formed from a relatively rigid and resilient material.

In Figuresl and 2, the cigarette package 10 is show in its normal open state whereby accessv to the cigarettes 34 disposedtherein may normally be had. However, the cigarettes 34 are protected by the combined retaining and protective member 18 and 'are' retained in place within the package 10 by means of the member 18.

When it is desired to remove cigarettes 34 from the package 10, one grasps the cigarette package 10 in the manner shown in Figure l with the forefinger engaging the bulge 32. The bulge 32, when depressed, results in the upward flexing of the free end of the top 26, as is best shown in Figure 2. At this time, access to certain of the cigarettes 34 is facilitated. When the bulge 32 is released, the top 26 will resume its normal position and thus again serve to protect and retain the cigarettes 34 within the package 10.

It is to be understood that the combined retaining and protective member 18 is of a size and shape so as to be readily insertable in existing cigarette packages. Thus, the use of the present invention does not require special packages or special equipment other than that necessary to place the member 18 within the package.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that the top 26 is provided with a modified form of bulge 36. The bulge 36 is generally rectangular in outline. Like the bulge 32, the bulge 36. extends substantially entirely across the top 26. f Referring now to Figure 7 in particular, it will be seen that the top 26 is provided with a modifiedform of bulge 38. The bulge 38 is similar to the bulge 36 in that it is square in outline. The bulge 38 functions the same as the bulge 32 in facilitating the bending or flexing of the top 26.

Referring now to Figure 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated still another modified form of bulge 40. The top wall 26 is provided with a triangular outline bulge 40. The bulge 40 extends substantially entirely across the top 26 and facilitates the flexing of the top 26.

In Figure 9 there is illustrated a final modified form of outlines of bulges may be .used,; although thelbulges illus trated and described are found to be-the most lefiecti've ones. t a

The foregoing 'is cqnsidered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. ;F urther,,rsi nce numerous modifications and changes will ,readilybccurt'o ,th'se' skilled in the arh'it is not ,desired.,to,'limit the invention to the exact cpnstructionand operation ,shownand [described and aceordingly all suitable .modifications and equivalents maybe resorted tofallingwithin the scope :of he i t n sas aimfia 7 What is claimedas newis as follows:

'1. A retaining and protective.membertfor cigarette packages, said member being in the formof an elongated strip formed of arelatively rigid and resilienttmaterial, said strip being generally rectangular in outline and including a base and upstanding sides integrallyt connected to said base at opposite ends thereof, ,atopintegrally connectedto one of said Sides ,atthe-upperend thereof, the opposite end of said top terminating adjacent the .upper end of the other :of said sides, said topincluding-an upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulge extending substantially-entirely acrosssaid top whereby, when said bulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardly away from said other side.

2. A retaining and protective member vfor cigarette packages, said member being in the form of an elongated strip formed of arelatively rigid and resilient material,- said strip being generally rectangular in outline and including a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to said base at opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected to one of said sides at the upper end thereof, the oppositeend of said top terminating adjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said top includingan upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulge extending substantially entirely across said ,top whereby, when said bulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardly away from said other side, said bulge being generally circular in outline. 3. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said member being in the form of anelongated strip formed of a relatively rigid and resilient material, said strip being generally rectangular in outline and 'including a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to said base at opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected to one of said sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of said top terminating adjacent ,the .upper end of the other of said sides, said .top includingan upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulge extending substantially entirely across .said top whereby, when said bulge -is depressed, saidopposite end ofssaid top bows upwardly away from said otherside, said bulge being semi-circular in outline. I 7

4. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said member being in'the form of anelqngated strip formed of a relatively rigid and resilient material, said strip being generally rectangular in outline an'd'in eluding a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to said base at opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected to one of said sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of said top terminating adjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said top including an upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulgeextending substantially entirely-across said top whereby, when said bulge is depressed, said opposite end of said top bows upwardly away from saidother side, said bulge being circular in outline.

5. A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said member beingin=the form of an elongated strip formed of a relatively rigid and resilient material, said strip being generally rectangular in outline and including a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to said base at opposite ends .thereof, atop integrally connected to one of said sides at the .nppenendthereof, the opposite end of said top terminating adjacent the upper end of the other of said sides, said top including an upwardly directed bulge intermediate the ends thereof, said bulge extending substantially entirely across :said top whereby, when saidbulge is depressed,-said,opposite end of said top bows upwardly away from said other side, said qb ulge being rectangular in outline.

6. A ;retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said-memberbeing inztheformof an elongated strip formed of a relatively rigid and resilient material, saidgstrip being generally rectangular in outline and inllldfligafibflsefand;upstanding sides integrally connected saidj bascza't opposite ends thereof, a top integrally connected tooneof said sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite .end of said top terminating adjacent the upper end of the other .of said sides, said top including an supwardly directed bulge intermediate the "ends thereof, said bulge extending substantially entirely across-said top whereby,'when said bulge is depressed, saidopposite end ofsaid top bows upwardly away from said other side, said bulge being square in outline.

7.,A retaining and protective member for cigarette packages, said member being in the form of an elongated stripform'ed of a relatively rigid and resilient mat er'al, said strip being generallyrectangular in outline-and11n eluding a base and upstanding sides integrally connected to said base at opposite endsthereof, a topintegrallycori: nectd'to one or said sides at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of said terminating adjaeent'jt hie uppefiend ofthe other. of sa'idsides, said top inclnding' an upwardly directed bulge finterm diate the ends there of, -s'aid1bulge extending snbstantially entirely across id top 'wliereby, when said'bulge is dtipressed saidoppo te end of said top bows upwardly away from said other side, said bulge being triangular in outline.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS L ta

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