US2988261A - Collapsible cigarette package with cover - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATING 2,983,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGS INVENTOR. Jerome V. Keohng iff/M ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATING 2,988,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE wrm COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Jerome V. Kenhng ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATING 2,988,261

COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet "5 lo'a FIG. '4.

INVENTOR.. Jerome V. Keonng ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 J. v. KEATING COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Filed Oct. 24, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Jerome V Keuhng ATTORNEY lzy/ 2,988,261 COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH COVER Jerome V. Keating, 1515 Leverick St., Jackson Heights, N.Y.

Filed Oct. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 618,124 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-38) This invention relates to a collapsible cigarette package.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a collapsible cigarette package or bundle that has stiff front and rear panels and soft paper sides and when opened is provided with a collapsible cover that is adapted to extend over the top of the cigarette package to enclose the cigarettes and wherein this cover is permitted to be collapsed with the stiff panels as the rows of cigarettes are removed and wherein the cover is retained in its closed position by a tongue thereon that is extended into a stiffened front panel.

It is another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cigarette package that is collapsible to con sume less and less space as the rows of cigarettes are removed and yet have the appearance of and the stiffness and protection for the cigarettes that is afforded by the cardboard cigarette box with its attached cover.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a collapsible cigarette package in which stiffening elements that are used to cause the even collapse of the package serve to support the cover and have the slot through which the tongue of the cover is extended to retain the cover in its closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible cigarette package that has a cover which has foldable side portions to prevent the outflow of crumbs of tobacco as the cover is lifted and as the cigarette is removed.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a collapsible cigarette package, having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, durable, compact, of pleasing appearance, effective and efficient in use.

For other objects, and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a cigarette package constructed according to one form of the invention wherein the stiffened wrapper parts on the front panel overlie one another to provide an opening into which the tongue of the cover is extended to be held in its closed position,

FIG. 2 is a layout of the tinfoil inner wrapper used that has a tear away thread for removing immediately the folded top part of the foil,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tinfoil inner wrapper of FIG. 2 partially folded into shape,

FIG. 4 is a layout of the paper outer wrapper that has the top cover integrally formed thereon,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an already opened cigarette package with the cover partially lifted and the outer of the front panel broken away to show the opening into which the tongue is inserted, the transparent outer wrapper having been removed therefrom,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another form of the invention wherein the stiffened front panel has a slit in the front thereof to receive the tongue of the cover, the cover being made as cardboard extension and scored to permit its collapse with the panels as the rows of cigarettes are removed from thepackage,

FIG. 7 is a layout of the outer wrapper used in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with the cover attached thereto,

nite States Patent 0 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cigarette package constructed according to still another form of the invention including individual stiffening elements to one of which the cardboard cover extension is attached and to other of which a loop for receiving the tongue of the cover is attached,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal stiffening sleeve that has covers at the top thereof which have to be turned to provide access to the cigarettes so as to encourage systematic removal of one row of cigarettes at a time,

FIG. 10 is a perspective and collective view of the external stiffening elements with the cover and loop respectively attached thereto,

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the cigarette package taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsed package after the front row has been removed,

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the collapsed package where the cover on the internal stiffening sleeve has been removed to provide access to the next row of cigarettes,

FIG. 14 is a layout of an outer wrapper similar to the wrapper shown in FIG. 4 but With the wrapper provided with collapsible cover side portions and with one of the front panel parts being shorter than the other,

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cigarette package formed from the wrapper shown in FIG. 14 with the cover partially folded thereover and side portions being folded inwardly,

FIG. 16 is a layout of a wrapper similar to the wrapper shown in FIG. 7 but with the cardboard cover element provided with foldable cover side portions,

' FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cigarette package formed from the wrapper shown in FIG. 16 and with the cover tab partially extended into the front panel retaining slit,

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of a still further form of the invention having the foldable cover side portions wherein the package is made from stiff front and back pieces and a thin paper running around the sides and bottoms thereof and extended to provide the foldable cover side portions,

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary layout of one end of the paper side portion on the form of the invention shown in FIG. 18, showing the cover and the foldable cover sideportions,

FIG. 20 is a layout of a cigarette package formed of a. single wrapper member having stiffened front, back, loop and double layer side portions,

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the wrapper is folded to encompass the cigarettes,

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cigarette package finally formed of the wrapper shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 and with the cover tongue partially extended through the loop in the front of the package, and

FIG. 23 is a layout of a further form where a single layerside portion is provided at each side of the package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, 15 represents an inner wrapper formed of tinfoil and the usual paper liner. This inner wrapper has a bottom end portion 16 with two side flaps 17. and 18, and. front and rear portions 19 and 20 folded upwardly from the bottom end portion 16 and which respectively have side flaps 21, 22 and 23, 24 that overlie one another, the sides of the cigarettes and the side flaps 17 and 18 of the bottom end portion. Top flap portions 25 and 26 are thereafter folded in at the top in the usual manner to cover the upper ends of the cigarettes therewithin.

When these top flap portions of the inner wrapper are folded over the cigarettes, a tear string 27' secured to the back portion 20 of the inner wrapper 15 is enclosed within and around the top of the wrapper with a short end allowed to be exposed as best shown in FIG. 1. The cigarettes are indicated at 28. Instead of using the tear string to provide easy access to the cigarettes, the ends of the cigarettes at the top of the package may be covered with a detached piece of foil that can be easily pulled out and discarded. Also, in lieu of the pull string 27, a row of perforations can be provided all around the top of the tinfoil wrapper to facilitate the removal thereof.

In accordance with the invention, a flexible paper outer wrapper 30 is cut and folded to provide a cover 31 with a tongue 32 thereon and an opening in the front of the package into which the tongue can be extended. This paper wrapper 30has a stiffened back portion 34 upon which side portions 35 and 36 are folded and to the upper end of which the cover 31 is folded along line 31 thereof. On the side portion 35 is an inner front portion 37 that folds across the front of the package and over or under which a shorter front portion 38 on the side portion '36 is folded to provide for the opening 33 therebetween. By having the portion 38 shorter than the portion 37 the opening 33 is made more accessible and the end of the tongue is more easily inserted into the opening. The tongue 32 is tapered and rearwardly of the forward fold line in a continuation of the tapered edges of the tongue the cover 31 is cut away slightly at 39 and 40. The back 34 and front portions 37 and 38 are provided with a stiffening coating, of cardboard, plastic or other stiifening material adhered to the paper so as to protect the cigarettes when the sides have been collapsed for fewer than the usual three rows of cigarettes. With the first row of cigarettes removed therefrom the sides of the cover diverging with the tongue can be allowed to enter deeper into the opening 33. The cover is an extension of the pliable paper at the back of the package. If desired the tongue can be reinforced with cardboard or other stiffening material. The stiff front portions 37 and 38 overlie one another and by being stiff they tend to clamp the tongue and thereby hold the cover in its closed position over the cigarettes.

Depending respectively from the portions 34, 35, .36 and 38 of the paper wrapper are portions 41, 42, 43 and 44 which can be folded upon one another in the usual manner over the bottom 16 of the inner Wrapper to further close the bottom of the package. The front portions 37 and 38 are glued to each other slightly along their opposite sides as indicated at 45 and 46, FIGS. 1 and 5.

A thin transparent outer wrapper 47 is wrapped about the entire package in the usual manner and over the cover to further maintain the cover in its closed position within the package.

As shown in FIG. 5, there is provided a collapsible central stiffening sleeve 48. This stiffening sleeve is made of heavier sheet material than the wrapper 30 and confines the cigarettes to rows. Also the sleeve inhibits the removal of the cigarettes from the package one row at a time beginning preferably with the front row, then the back row.

.In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein a paper outer wrapper 50 has a cover 51 secured thereto that is formed of cardboard or the like and stiffer than the unstiffened paper wrapper material. The cover 51 has a tongue 52 that is inserted into a slot 53 in the wrapper 50 to hold the cover closed over the cigarettes. The wrapper 50 has a stiff back portion or panel 54 to which the cardboard tongue 51 is attached by gluing as indicated at 55 to the upper end of the back portion and on either the inner or outer face thereof. Side portions 56, 57 are foldably secured to the back portion 54. A tab extension 58 is provided on the side portion 56 so as to secure the side to front portion 59 when the wrapper is placed over the cigarettes. The front portion 59 has the slot 53 spaced downwardly from its upper edge and into which the tongue 52 of the 4 cover 51 is extended when the cover is in the closed position. Thefront portion 59 is glued to the tab extension 58 as indicated at 60, FIG. 6. Depending from the portions 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are the respective foldable bottom portions 61, 62,63, 64 and 65 which are folded as indicated and in the usual manner as shown along dash fold lines to enclose the bottom of the package. The cover 51 is scored at intervals or spaces the width of a cigarette apart as indicated by dotted parallel lines 66 in order to permit the cover to be folded over the top of the package and over the separate rows of the cigarettes as the rows are removed one at a time and to fit the package as it is reduced in thickness. The tongue 52 has tapered sides 67 and 68 to facilitate the extension of the tongue into the slot 53 when the rows of cigarettes have been reduced from the original number. The back and front portions 54 and 59 are stiffened by a sprayed stiffening coating or otherwise applied stiffening layer as indicated by the stippling while the flexible paper wrapper side portions 56 and 57 are allowed to collapse. The tongue is held in place in the slot 53 by the stiffened front.

Referring now particularly to the third form of the invention as shown in FIGS. 8 to 13, cigarettes 28 are enclosed within the tinfoil inner wrapper 15 the same as with the other forms of the invention. Placed in the front and in the rear of a package, indicated generally at 70, are respectively front and rear stiffening cards 71 and 72 in much the same manner as disclosed in the United States Patent 2,904,169 by this inventor for a Cigarette Package. These stiffening elements are formed of thick heavy paper, cardboard or other suitable rigid or stiif material and extend over the full areas of the front and back of the package. A top cover 73 is an extension of cardboard 72 secured to the inner face of the back stifiening element by a hinge strip '74 and an adhesive 75. If desired, the extension may be integrally formed on the stiffening element 72. This cover is scored or weakened along parallel lines at 7 6 to allow the cover to be hinged and collapsed upon itself as the package is reduced in thickness and upon the rows of cigarettes 28 being used. The cover 73 has a tongue 77 which is adapted to be extended through a loop 78 that may be fastened to the inner face of the front stiffening card 71 by adhesive areas 79 and 80. The tongue 77 has diverging side edges 81 and 82 adapted to enter more deeply into the strap or loop 78 when the package has been collapsed to the last row as shown in FIG. 13.

In order to stilfen the package further and to cause the rows to be systematically removed from the open package a stiffening sleeve 83 is disposed about the inner row of cigarettes. This sleeve is made of cardboard or other rigid material and has its side 84 and 85 centrally scored so as to permit its front and rear panel portions 86 and 87 to be collapsed upon each other when the middle row of cigarettes has been removed therefrom and to thereby permit the collapse of the package upon the last row.

The ends 84 and 85 may be merely narrow flexible paper strips connecting the two front and rear panel portions together. The sides of the sleeve 83 are preferably adhered to the foil wrapper. Running along the upper edge of the front panel portion 86 is a flap 88 which will be extended at right angles over the middle row of cigarettes lying in the sleeve 83. Another flap 89 runs along the upper edge of the rear panel portion 87 and can extend over the rear row of cigarettes. An outer paper wrapper 90 is provided about the cardboards 71 and 72 and a thin transparent cover wrapper 91 is provided over the outer wrapper in the usual manner. After the first row has been used the flap 88 can be turned forwardly over the front panel portion of the sleeve 83 and tucked inwardly as shown in FIG. 13 or it can be torn away. Access is thereby had to the second row of cigarettes lying within the sleeve 83 and the package can then be collapsed in the manner as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The front side of the-package is collapsed so" that the package will have only the thickness of two cigarette rows. The rear flap 89' can be lifted and turned into the sleeve 83 after the second or middle row of cigarettes has been used from the sleeve. The sleeve 83 will then be further collapsed so that the package will have the thickness of a single row of cigarettes. If desired, the rear row of cigarettes may be used prior to the middle row by turning its flap 89 back over the flap 88 of the middle row.

Full protection will accordingly be given to the cigarettes like with a cardboard box but at the same time the package is allowed to be collapsed so. as to consumeless and less space as the cigarettes are used. The cover 73 is scored along the lines 76, FIGS. 8 and 10, and will be folded along these lines one at atime as the rows of cigarettes are removed from the package and after each row has been removed it may be pressed deeper into the package.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 14 and 15, there isshown a further form of the invention, whereina wrapper 100 is formed of a single sheet of flexible material and comprises a back or rear portion 101, collapsible side portions 102 and 103- extending from the respective opposite sides thereof, a front portion 104 on the side portion 103 and a partial underlying front portion 105 on the side portion 102. These portions 101, 104 and 105 are provided with a stiffening coating or layer so as to protect the cigarettes and prevent breakage while permitting at the same time the-package to be collapsed. Depending respectively from the portions 101, 102, 103 and 104 are respectively foldable bottom flap portions 106, 107, 108 and 109 that when folded inwardly provide the bottom of the package. Extending upwardly from the back is a tongue cover portion 110 and to the sides of which and to the respective upper ends of the side portions 102 and 103 are respectively connected foldable side portions 111 and 112. These side portions are creased to automatically fold inwardly as the tongue 110 is inserted with increasing depth between the front portion 104 and the partial portion 105 as illustrated best in FIG. 15. The side portions respectively automatically fold along diagonal fold lines 111' and 112'. The upper edge of the partial portion 105 is cut away lower than the upper edge of the portion 104 so as to facilitate the insertion of the end of the tongue cover portion 110 between the portions 104 and 105.

In FIGS. 16 and 17, there is shown a still further form of the invention utilizing the foldable cover side portions. A paper wrapper 120 has a back panel portion 121 and respectively connected to the opposite sides thereof are foldable side portions 122 and 123. To the foldable side portion 123, there is connected a front panel portion 124 having a horizontal slit 125. The side portion 122 has an extension 126 by which the wrapper is adhered to the front panel portion 124. Depending from the portions 121, 122, 123, 124 and 126 is a foldable bottom portion indicated generally at 127. The back panel portion 121 and the front panel portion 124 are provided with stiffening material to protect the cigarettes as the package is collapsed. In this form of the invetnion, the foldable side portions 130 and 131 are provided on a cardboard tongue 128 which is adhered by its lower portion 129 to the back panel portion 121 and side portions 122 and 123. The foldable side portions 130 and 131 :are respectively foldable along diagonal lines 130 and 131 and fold inwardly in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 17. This tongue 128 and the side portions are weakened by parallel score lines 132 which are spaced the thickness of the cigarette apart from one another so that as the package collapses the tongue can be folded over the remaining row of cigarettes and extended further through the slit 125. The foldable side portions will be folded inwardly over the upper ends of the cigarette. While the stiffness of the back panel portion 121 and the front panel portion 124 will serve to hold the tongue within the slit 125. It is found that the tongue can be further held within slit 125 by parallel raised ribs 113 on the inner side of the tongue spaced from one another the width of a cigarette and adapted to cooperate with the edges of slit 125.

In FIGS. 18 and 19, there is shown a still further form of the invention in which the foldable side portions on the tongue are employed. Stiff cards and 141 are connected together by a flexible paper strip 142 that extends across the bottom and up the two sides of the package as shown in the above-mentioned copending application. This strip has side portions 143 and 144 with extension lips 145 and 146 that respectively secure the strip to the side edges of the front and rear cardboards 140 and 141. The upper ends of the side portions 143 and 144 are respectively provided with foldable side portions 147 and 148. These side portions respectively have foldable attaching lips 149 and 150 which serve for the attachment of a tongue 151 to the flexible paper strip 142. This tongue is also connected to the stiff back 141 by adhesive. The front card is provided with a slit 153 into which the tongue is inserted and which will be held therein due to the stiffness of the cardboard. The tongue 151 is bent to enter slit 153. The tongue is connected to the back piece 141 as shown at 154.

It will be seen that the foldable cones side portions with all of these forms of the invention are extended as the cover is lifted so that crumbs of tobacco will not easily be dropped from the sides of package.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, there is shown a further form of an outer wrapper which is provided with an unfolded bottom to make for an easy collapsing of the package at the bottom thereof as the rows of cigarettes are used. This package comprises an outer wrapper indicated generally at which has a stiff back panel portion 161, a flexible bottom portion 162 and a stiff front panel portion 163.

The stiff back and front panel portions 161 and 163 are provided with a stiffening coating or layer to render them rigid and collapsible upon the cigarette rows. The back panel portion 161 has side flaps 164 and 165 adapted to unite with bottom flaps 166 and 167 of the flexible bottom portion 162 and with side flaps 168i and 169 of the front panel portion 163. These flaps are extended over the sides of the inner wrapper and cigarettes as indicated in phantom lines 170 in FIG. 21. The flaps may be secured to one another by an adhesive or in any suitable manner.

The back panel portion 161 is provided with a cover 171 having a tongue 172 that is stiffened at its end at 173 so that it can be easily inserted under a stiffened strip 174 adhered at its opposite ends as indicated at 175 to the inner face of the front portion 163.

In FIG. 23, it will be seen that there is a slightly different form of wrapper from that shown. in FIG. 20 in which the flaps 164 and 165 on the back panel portion 161 are dispensed with. In order to have the package sufficiently weakened on its sides so as to permit the collapse of the package on the cigarettes only flaps 168' and 169' on the front panel portion 163 are used. In order to adhere these flaps to the back portion 161, extensions 176 and 177 are respectively provided.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a cigarette package which has stiff front and back panel portions to provide protection for the cigarettes yet permit the panel portions to be collapsed onto remaining rows of cigarettes and wherein a cover is attached to the back panel portion and adapted to be extended over the cigarettes and by which the cover is held in place over the cigarettes by a tongue attached thereto and adapted to be extended into a slit, slot or strip provided on the front panel portion. In all forms of the invention the sides are formed of unstiffened flexible paper material so that they may be easily collapsed.

Also it will be noted that there has been provided with the package internal stiffening means to maintain the alignment of the cigarettes in rows.

It should be further apparent that this cigarette package combines the advantages of both primary forms of packaging, namely, the bundle or package, and the box, and at the same time eliminates the need for constant bulk of the box form. Also, it will be seen that a cigarette package has been provided which is crush-proof at all times and yet automatically thins itself as the cigarettes are used.

While various changes may be made in the detail construotion, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible cigarette package adapted to contain rows of cigarettes comprising a collapsible wrapper formed of a single sheet of flexible material and having front, rear and side portions, said front and rear portions having stifiening means extending over their full areas while the side portions are left flexible to permit the collapse of the package and of the stiifened front and rear portions from front to rear as the different rows of cigarettes are removed, a cover extending upwardly from the rear portions of the package and adapted to be collapsed with the side portions of the cigarette package as the rows of cigarettes are removed, said wrapper having inwardly foldable bottom flap portions to close off the bottom of the package, said cover having .a tongue extending from the front edge of the cover and insertable into the front portion of the wrapper, said wrapper further having a second front portion underlying the front stiff portion and secured thereto along their side edges and forming an opening into which the tongue on the cover can be releasably inserted, one of said front portions of the wrapper being cut away along its upper edge in order to facilitate the insertion of the tongue into the opening between the two front portions of the wrapper.

2. A collapsible cigarette package as defined in claim 1, and foldable side portions connected between the cover and the flexible side portions of the wrapper and adapted to be automatically folded outwardly and inwardly as the cover is opened and closed and to keep the crumbs of the tobacco from sliding from the package and from under the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 149,889 Smith Apr. 21, 1874 1,122,513 Lewis Dec.'29, 1914 2,096,102 Gordon Oct. 19, 1937 2,109,100 Brophy Feb. 22, 1938 2,333,416 Ducey Nov. 2, 1943 2,445,001 Pence July 13, 1948 2,617,576 Bergstein Nov. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,276 Germany of 1883

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