US1419375A - Cigarette box - Google Patents

Description

G. F. HALL.

CIGARETTE BOX.

'APPLICATION FILED 1AN.21. 1919.

Patented June 13, 1922.

an... Q 9' \v 7 v a w r i w l t slit lly h it re ll CIGARETTE BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 11922.

Application filed January 27, 1919 Serial No. 73,437.

To all whom it may concern.

lie it known that l, Gnonon FREDERIO llALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cigarette Boxes, of which the tollowing is specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

invention relates to a type of box which may be carried in the pocket and which is adapted to so enclose a single layer oi cigarettes that they are slidingly removable in seriated order through an opening of fixed in the top of or in a wall of the box.

The object Of my invention is the production of a pocket size box in which cigarettes may be paclred and vended and which may be scaled to meet the Government requirements for original packages and from which, after the seal is broken, the cigarettes may be slidingly removed, one at a time in seriated order through an opening in a wall of the. box, without separating the box or opening a cover or flap or otherwise exposing the interior and the contents oi the box each time a cigarette is removed; a box from which each cigarette may be removed by finger pressure without the finger coming in contact with the cigarette during the process of removal; a box enclosing a single layer of cigarettes, in which each. is so po sitioned and held that one or more cigarettes may be slidingly removed therefrom, through an outlet in a wall of the box. without releasing any of the remaining cigarettes or causing them to change position; a. box in which each cigarette shielded. and protected from damage that might otherwise result from the method of removal; a box of the character described provided with external indication of the spacing and the posi tions of the contained cigarettes; abox of the character described. provided with a match holding receptacle; to produce a box of minimum dimensions for a given content and to that end in some cases, employing thin flexible material for some of the walls, resulting in a flexible package requiring enclosure within a protective easing sufiieiently rigid to cause it to retain its shape and the combi nation to function properly. Ihese results are accomplished by certain novel features and devices which are hereinafter described an illustrated in the drawings and finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is an isometric view of the front oi the box.

2 is an isometric View of the back of the box; match receptacle is shown in this view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical. cross section through the box from front to heel: showing details of certain construction and equipment; inewhat similar cross sections'disclosing other slightly different construction are shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10.

%lis an isometric view oi the box from e back, with portions or the enclosing walls broken away to more fully show the interior fittings.

F 5 is an isometric view, from the front, Oil a protective casing which is adapted to receive, through its open top, the combined box and match receptacle shown in Figs. l and 2. i

Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the top of the box snowing devices for meeting Grovernmcnt requirements relative to temporarily closing and sealing the opening through which. the cigarettes issue from the original package or box and Fig. 7 is a similar out opposite View showing a combined closure strip and tobacco stop reducing the length of the opening in the top or the box; a cigarette is shown issuing from the box with one of its ends in advance of the other.

Fig. 11 an isometric view of the upper portion or the front of an alternative type of box showing an outlet at the top or the front wall of the box.

Fig. is an isometric view the front oi a portion oi one type of re-en'liorced film adapted to overlie and close the finger slot.

As seen in the drawings my improved cigarette box is constructed of rectangular age with. the front wall 1, the rear wall 2, 1 le walls 3 and at and bottom 5; the top 6 left partly open as shown in 1, 2, i, 6. and i, or may be fully open, to be finally closed by a detachably secured and sealed insert as shown in Fig. 6. In 11 the top is closed and the outlet opening is at the top of the trout wall; the enclosing walls are to be constructed oi. paper or cardboard or a comlgiination at both, nossibly re-en forced, to secure rigioity but may be of less rig construction when used with the outer protective casing shown in Fig. 5. The enclosing walls are secured together in any of the approved methods of light box construction and overlaid with paper, stickers, etc. The front wall 1 is slotted and cut through Vertically '7 and this slot is in some cases left entirely open and in others overlaid with a pellicular film 8 having defined spacing intervals and fracture determinating means 9, upon its surface, corresponding with the spacing of the enclosed cigarettes; this film is adapted to be separated into parts, and removed in sections oi? predetermined size, one section being detached by the finger in the act of removing each cigarette. When a match holding receptacle 11 is combined with the lJOX it will be attached to the rear wall, either secured upon its outer surface or the rear wall 2 will have a recess or slot cut through it as shown in Fig. 10 to receive the match container 11 which is pasted or otherwise secured to the lining of the box 12; being thus recessed into the back wall oi? the box the total thickness oi? the combined device is somewhat reduced. The match container 11 is shown as an envelope with a flap and tuck and with a scratch 13 mounted thereon and is adapted to hold a single layer of matches arranged for endwise removal.

The film 8 with its indicated spacings 9 overlies and seals the entire area of the slot 7 and completes the continuity of the front wall; it is preferably secured along its edges to the interior face of the front wall 1 although it may be adapted for mounting on the outer face of said wall. The spacing and fracture determining means shown at 9 are for the purpose of establishing the lines of fracture for each film section and are so spaced that a film section is always opposite one of the contained cigarettes. Each of these film sections, when detached by the finger, becomes a shield for the protection of a cigarette; the film may also be made up of thin paper or other puncturable material, overlaying the linger slot, to which tabs would be applied on either side; these tabs would be of such size and shape and so placed as to leave a margin of the film showing all around each 0]": them and thus establish the size and spacings of the detachable film sections and fix the boundaries of tracture around each section, confining the separation of the film to the marginal area surrounding each tab; the tabs, each located opposite a cigarette, would also act as shields to protect the cigarettes from damage when the finger nail was used to separate and detach a film section preliminary to removing a cigarette. Such film construction is indicated in Fig. 12 in which the unbroken film sheet 8 is shown with the tabs 32, the margin of the film sheet establishing the spacing intervals. In Figs. 3, 4; and 8 the s aacing of film sections and. the lines of fracture 9 are indicated. Attached to the inner face of the lihn, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, and projecting inwardly are the shaped unitary cigarette holding and protectingmeans 1 1:, one for each cigarette 15, secured to the back oil? the film between the spacing intervals 9; these unitary holding means straddle but do not surround a cigarette. The cigarettes 15 are placed in these holders and in the box before the latter is fully assembled, secured together and sealed; the completed device is so adapted and arranged that the finger or thumb may be inserted through the slot 7 to contact with the film 8 to break the film, within a predetermined area, and detach a section together with a holder or holders and to guide the cigarette or cigarettes, the detached film section and the holder or holders outwardly through the outlet; one. cigarette or more can be removed at one time but they will always issue slidingly through the outlet in seriated order; the remaining cigarettes will hold their positions and the un broken portion of the film and the shields will protect them and also serve to indicate how many cigarettes remain in the box. When the film 8 is omitted or is on the outside tace of the front wall, the holders and shields attach to the said wall or to the underside of the film. The cross section and shape of the cigarette holding and protecting means may be varied, as shown in other cross sections, but the preferred form is one adapted to completely shield, overlie and protect that part of a cigarette which is opposite the slotted opening 7 of the front wall, and would otherwise be exposed, even when the film 8 is used, to injury from the finger nail in disengaging and guiding the cigarette outwardly. Various forms of protective shields may be used and ways employed for releasably holding or securing cigarattes within. a box so that they can be removed seriatim, in the manner described, without disturbing the remaining cigarettes or causing them to change position; although such shielding and holding devices are preferably made with their length approximating the width 01? the slot, they may be shorter or longer and variously attached; cigarettes shielded by film sections are shown. in cross section in 8 with the film 8 between them and the slot 7. Fig. 9 shows another holding device 17 of angular cross section which is securable to the inner face 01" the back wall or the box with an inwardly extending leg arranged to fie): at the oint and to be bent back against the boX as each cigarette is removed; another type of holding means 18, similar in all respects, except cross section, to the holder 1 1- shown in Fig. 3, is shown in Fig. 10.

Figs. 6 and 7 show the construction of the top of the box through which the cigarettes issue; in these figures the opening is less in length than a cigarette and the closer 19 is adapted to cause the cigarette, when. forced outwardly, to issue with one end in advance of the other so that it may be more conveniently grasped. by the fingers; the closer 19 also "Functions to re tain within the box, when the device is carried in the pocket, with the closer downward, such loose tobacco flakes as may come from the enclosed cigarettes.

Fig. 6 shows the end of the box, fitted with a removable insert or cover 20, having the tab 21, adapted for closing and sealing the opening in the box to meet Government requirements for original packages; one end thereoi is inserted beneath the inner edge of the closer 19 and the insert 20 is secured in place by the seal or sticker 22 which attaches to the insert and the walls of the box. This seal will be a revenue stamp which must be broken to remove the temporary cover and the contents of the box. The cover is intended solely for the protection of the contents of the box and is to be removed and discarded immediately the seal is broken. It is removable through finger pressure exerted in "forcing outwardly the initial cigarette.

Fig. 5 shows a protective outer casing 28 adapted to receive a completed box like that shownv in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinbetore described. Such a box may be used without such a casing if rigidly constructed but if light weight flexible material is used a casing would be necessary. These casings may be of leather, metal or any other suitable material more or less rigidly con structed and made with front, rear and side walls, a bottom and an entirely open top through which the cigarette box will be slidingly inserted. The front wall will be slotted, as shown at 24, said slotbeing located opposite the slot 7 in the front wall of the box and the rear wall will be downwardly recessed .as shown at 25 to receive the match receptacle. The dimensions of the casing are such that the box, inserted through the open top end, will be posit-ionally held within the casing, the finger slots of box and casing registering with each other; the projecting match receptacle enters or is opposite the recess in the rear wall of the casing and opens outwardly of said wall.

In Fig. 11 is shown an isometric view of the upper portion of the "front of another type of box; this box has all the features of the box hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the cross sections hereinbefore referred to, except that the outlet opening is placed inand at the upper edge of the front wall, above and crosswise of the finger slot, and the top of the box 31 is rounded to assist the delivery of the cigarette through the outlet 30. Such a slot could be provided with a closer and an insert and be sealed in the manner shown in Fig. 6.

The principal features of my device are found. in the combination of a onepiece container, having neither permanent cover nor flap, which is adapted to enclose and releasably hold cigarettes laid parallel to each other in a single layer, with each cigarette positioned by a displaceable and unitary holding means having an inwardly project ing leg.or part so extending as to hold a cigarette in place when the cigarette and its holding means next adjoining and nearer to the outlet of the box is removed, the

assembly adapted in such manner that the finger may be inserted through a slot in a wall of the container to release a cigarette and slidingly guide it, and similarly all. or the cigarettes in seriated order, outwardly through an opening of fixed dimensions in a wall of the container, without releasing the remaining cigarettes or causing them to change position. Details may be various, the holding means and the shielding means may be any one of a variety of forms or shapes and films and. other hereinbetore mentioned details may or may not always be used together, but any combination of container, holding means or other elements that will so enclose a single layer of parallel cigarettes that each is releasably positioned within the container and all are removable theretrom seriatim through an opening in a wall thereof one at a time and by means of finger pressure applied through a finger slot to displace and slidingly guide them outwardly of the container is within the scope of my invention.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent:-

1. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance oi the ciga rettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise ol the box, a film covering and secured about said slot, fracture determining means spacing said film into sections of predetermined size conforming in one dimension with the dimensional unit of lateral spacing of the laid cigarettes, the spaced sections equalling in number the contained cigarettes and each film section adapted to be detached, displaced and brought into contact with a cigarette through finger pressure applied by way of the slot in removing the sections one at a time slidingly and in seriated order, each with an accompanying cigarette, outwardly of said box through said outlet.

2. In a cigarette box the combination of: a

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container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length. of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a film covering and secured about said slot, fracture determining means .spacing said film into sections of pie-determined size conforming in one dimension with the di mensional unit of lateral spacing of the laid cigarettes, the spaced sections equalling in number the contained cigarettes, each of said film sections pliably re-enforced within its boundaries and each re-entlorced film section adapted to be detached, displaced and brought bendingly into contact with a cigarette through finger pressure applied by way of the slot in removing the sections one at a time slidingly and in seriated order, each with an accompanying cigarette, outwardly of said box through said outlet.

3. in a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to onclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a shield for each of the ciga rettes, each overlying a part of a cigarette crossing the finger slot and adapted to be displaced and brought into straddling contact with a cigarette through finger pressure applied by way of the slot in removing the shields one at a time slidingly and in seriated order, each with an accompanying cigarette, outwardly of thebox through said outlet.

4;. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a positioning means, having an in wardly extending leg, displaceably located for each of the cigarettes, each positioning a cigarette within the layer and establishing its relation to adjacent cigarettes and adapten to be displaced through finger pressure applied by way of the slot in removing the cigarettes one at a time slidingly and in seriated order outwardly of the boX through said outlet.

5. in a cigarette box the combinatioiii of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and. from side to side the length of a cigarette, zulapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other andto the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger'slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a film covering and secured about said slot, fracture determining means spacing said film into sections of pro-determined size conforming in one dimension with the dimensional unit of spacing of the laid cigarettes, the spaced sections equalling in number the contained cigarettes, a shield beneath each film section overlying a part of a cigarette crossing the finger slot, said film sections adapted to be detached and with the shields displaced and the shields brought into straddling contact with the cigarettes through finger pressure applied. by way of the slot in. removing said film sections, shields and cigarett s, one of each collectively and together slidingly and in seriated order, outwardly of the box through said outlet.

6. in a cigarette be): the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted. to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of he box, a film covering and secured about said slot, fracture determining means spacing said film into sections of predetermined size conforming in one dimension'with the dimensional unit of lateral spacing of the laid cigarettes, the spaced sections equalling in number the contained. cigarettes, a positioning means, with an inwardly exteitiding leg, r'lisplaccably located for each of the cigarettes, each positioning a cigarette within the layer and establishing its relation to ad jacent ciga1.'ett'.. each film section adapted to be detached and with a means displaced lv through. finger pressure applied byway of the slot in removing the cigarettes one a time slidingly and in seriated order outwardly of the box through said outlet.

7. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laidv parallel to each. other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a film covering and secured about said slot,

fracture determining means spacing said film into sections of pre-determined size conforming in one dimension with the dimensional unit of lateral spacing of the laid cigarettes, the spaced sections equalling in number the contained cigarettes, a combined shielding and positioning means beneath each film section overlying a part of a cigarette crossing the finger slot said film sections adapted to be detached and with the combined means simultaneously displaced and the means brought into straddling contact with the ci arettes through finger pressure applied by way of the slot in removing said film sections, means and cigarettes, one of each collectively and together slidingly and in 'ted order, outwardly of the box through said outlet.

8. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes in seriated order, said outlet having width approximating the least diameter of a cigarette and direction of length paralleling the direction of length of the laid cigarettes, a closure strip at one end determining the length of said outlet and serving to retain loose tobacco within the box, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, the cigarettes removable through finger pressure slidingly applied by way of the slot to guide them one at a time in seriated. order on wardly of said box, each cigarette issuing through said outlet with one of its ends in advance of the other.

9. In a cigarette box the combination of container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximah ing the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated-order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box,'a recess in the back wall positioned toward the outlet end of the box, a match receptacle '"ithin and filling said, recess and opening outwardly of said back wall, the cigarettes removable through linger pressure applied by way of the slot to displace and guide them one at a time slidingly and in seriated order outwardly of the box through said outlet and the matches removable through said opening in the receptacle.

10. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, said outlet having width approximating the least diameter of a cigarette and direction of length paralleling the direction of length of the laid cigarettes, a closure strip at one end determining the length of said outlet and serving to retain loose tobacco within the box and to cause a cigarette to issue from said outlet *ith one of its ends in advance of the other, an insert closing the outlet, said insert detachably secured to the box through the free insertion of one of its ends beneath said closure strip and attaching it elsewhere by easily fracturable means, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, the cigarettes removable through finger pressure applied by way of the slot to displace and guide them one at a time slidingly and in seriated order outwardly of the box through said outlet and said insert displaceable through finger pressure exerted in the displacement of the cigarette next adjacent to said outlet.

11. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having flexible enclosing walls, its internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet at one end of the box adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, said box sealed except at said finger slot and outlet, a protective casing adapted to receive said box slidingly through an open end and to partially enclose said box, the walls of said casing opposite like walls of said box, its front wall having a finger slot registering with the finger slot of the box and its open end paralleling the outlet of the box.

12. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having flexible enclosing walls, its'internal dimensions from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the length of a cigarette, adapted to enclose a single layer of cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an outlet at one end of the box adapted for deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, a match receptacle opening outwardly of the back wall of the box, a protective casing adapted to receive said box slidingly through an open end and to partially enclose said box, the walls of said casing opposite like walls of said box, a finger slot in the front wall registering with the finger slot of the box, a recess in and through its back wall extending downwardly "from its open end to admit said match receptacle, and its open end paralleling the outlet of the box.

13. In a cigarette box the combination of a container having enclosing Walls, its internal dimensions "from front to back approximating the diameter of and from side to side the lei'igth of a cigarette, retaining a single layer 01 cigarettes laid parallel to each other and to the ends of the box, an open outlet adapted for the deliverance of the cigarettes slidingly in seriated order, said outlet having Width approximating the diameter of a cigarette and direction of length paralleling the direction of length of the laid cigarettes, a finger slot in the front wall extending endwise of the box, said box sealed except at said slot and outlet, means adapted to displaceably position each cigarette Within the layer and box, the cigarettes removable through finger pressure applied by Way of the slot in displacing and guiding them one at a time slidingly in seriated order outwardly of the box through said outlet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses. Providence, Rhode Island, January 23, 1919..

GEORGE FREDERIC HALL.

Witnesses:

EDGAR L. BOWEN, MADELEINE E. STONE.

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