US1974995A - Method and container for packaging tobacco - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 25, 1934. F. A. PRAHL 1,974,995

7 METHOD AND CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed Dec. 8. 1932 V XWMMMWE Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING TOBACCO Application December 8, 1932, Serial No. 646,344

1 Claim.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a method of packaging tobacco for storage and for sales purposes, and the package produced by said method.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of packaging tobacco whereby the tobacco is placed in cans which may be readily opened and closed for sales purposes, and whereby the filled cans may be retained under seal in vacuum until it is desired to display said cans for sale.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package for tobacco wherein a series of cans filled with tobacco for sales purposes may be grouped in a unit and hermetically sealed in a container under vacuum, which container may be easily opened to give access to said cans when it is desired to display the same for sales purposes.

In the drawing which shows by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section showing a container having therein a series of cans in which the tobacco is placed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the package, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section through the upper portion of one of the cans.

The invention has to do particularly with the method of packaging tobacco, such as smoking tobacco. The tobacco is placed in cans in which it is to be sold. These cans are provided with flat sides and rounded end portions so that the K cans may be readily slipped in a pocket, if desired. The can is also provided with'a re-closure cover, preferably hinged thereto, so that it may be readily opened and closed to give access to the tobacco therein. The cans are placed together in a unit with the flat sides in contact, and one or two units are then placed in a metal container which is shaped in cross section so as to contact with the fiat sides and the end portions of the cans. The corners of the container are preferably rounded to correspond with the rounded portion of the can which contacts therewith. The cans are provided with a double seam at the bottom end thereof, and with a bead adjacent the upper end which is of substantially the same diameter as the double seam, so that when the cans are placed together in the unit, the double seams and the heads will contact with each other.

This will prevent the rubbing of the sides, and

also maintain the cans in a relatively fixed posi-,

tion in the container for shipment and for handling during storage. Two units may be placed in a single container, one on top of the other, if desired. The container is then placed under vacuum and sealed so that the air with its oxygen content is removed from the container and also from the cans. The container is provided with score lines in one of its walls so that it may be readily opened when it is desired to gain access to the cans for displaying the same for sale.

The invention will be described in detail in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the package in the accompanying drawing. The

package consists of a series of cans 1. Each can has the bottom end thereof double-seamed to the body portion as indicated at 2. Each can also is provided with a bead 3 adjacent the upper end and above the bead is a hinge cover 4 of also the fiat side portion of the beads 3 in con- 30 tact. This will hold the cans spaced so that the decorated side walls thereof will not rub against each other. As shown in the drawing, there is a second series of cans of a similar character-placed on top of the first unit. The two units of cans are placed in a container consisting of a body portion 5 having a closing end 6 secured thereto by a double seam '7. The body wall is provided with score lines 8 and 9 forming a rip strip having an extending tongue 10 on which a key is placed for tearing away the rip strip to open the container. This container is so dimensioned that the side walls 11 and 12 contact with the ends of the cans, while the end Walls 13 and 14 contact with the sides of the cans. The contact is really between the seam at the bottom of the can and the walls of the container, and also between the bead at the top 'of the can and the walls of the container. This holds the unit from shifting in the container,

and likewise prevents any rubbing of the decorated faces of the cans. After the units have been placed in the container, the container is placed under vacuum, thus removing the air and its oxygen content from the container, and also from the cans, as the covermore or less loosely contacts therewith when closed. Thus the tobacco is freed from any contact with the oxygen of the air, which prevents deterioration of the tobacco. The container is sealed by attaching 2d the top end 15 thereto by a double seam 16. This completes the package. The package may be shipped and stored and the tobacco will be kept in perfect condition as long as thepackage is not broken. When the vendor desires to place on sale the cans containing the tobacco, it is necessary to only open such containers as are required to obtain the desired number of cans for display and sale. For example, when one container is opened, there are twelve cans which may be removed and placed on sale. All the rest of the supply is kept under vacuum in the container until it is desired to display the same. In this way, the tobacco is kept very fresh, and at the same time, the vendor has ample supply for sale to the customers.

My improved package consists of a unit made up of cans containing tobacco which are ready for display or sale, which unit is hermetically sealed in a container from which the oxygen has been excluded and the cans are so shaped and placed in the container that they may be readily handled for shipment or for storage. My improved method consists in the packing of the tobacco in'the cans in which it is to be sold and .the maintaining of the cans in unit packages which are sealed and from which the air has been removed so as to preserve the quality of the tobacco until the unit package is broken for displaying the cans for sale.

It is obvious that the shaping of the cans and the arrangement thereof in the package may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A storage and shipping package for tobacco comprising a rectangular metal container having a body portion provided with rounded corners and ends double seamed thereto whereby the container may be closed in vacuum, said container having score lines in the body thereof adjacent the upper double seam whereby the metal may be ruptured for opening the container, a series of sales cans having reclosure covers and containing tobacco, said cans being arranged in a unit within said container, each can having a flat side and a rounded end, a projecting double seam at the bottom and a projecting bead of similar dimensions adjacent the top, said cans being placed in the unit side by side with the double seems at the bottom and the beads adjacent the top in contact with each other, said unit being dimensioned so as to engage the end walls and side walls of the container whereby said cans fit snugly in said container and are held against shifting and rubbing one on the other.

FREDERICK A. PRAHL.

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