US1552177A - Package - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1925. 1,552,177

W B. PRESCOTT PACKAGE Fil ad April 14. 1924 Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. PRESCOTT, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO LAWRENCE RICHMOND AND ONE-THIRD TO THOMAS A. JENCKES, JR., BOTH OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

PACKAGE.

Application filed April 14, 1924. Serial No. 706,497..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that VVIILIAM B. Pnnsoo'r'r a citizen in the United States, residing at 259 Benefit Street, Providence, of the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to packages, especially to frangible packages for holding frangible tubular articles such as cigars, cigarettes, cartridges, and comprises the combination, with such a package of means dis- I posed underneath one wall of said package parallel to the tubular articles as they are packed to protect the tubular articles contained therein on fracture of said wall.

I have shown and illustated my invention as employed in connection with the packaging of cigarettes, but it is obvious that it may be employed for the packaging of other articles or products.

Cigarettes have been packaged for sale in various types of containers. My invention is peculiarly adapted for pouch like wrappers, commonly adapted to -hold twenty cigarettes, the common type of package for the more inexpensive American cigarettes. This type of package normally comprises a plurality of layers of frangible material completely enveloping the cigarettes. These layers often comprise a layer of protecting paper contiguous to the cigarettes, a layer of tin-foil over this, a layer of paper over this usually containing the printing matter and a layer of glazed or otherwise moistureproofed paper on the outside. These layers are usually wrapped around the cigarettes in package like fashion, having the upper end of the package folded over, and normally sealed by the revenue stamp. A package of this type forms a most desirable package for cigarettes as it is neat, compact, inexpensive and being flexible in its entirety more or less automatically conforms to keep the cigarettes in compact relation even when opened.

Said pouch like packages are usually opened by tearing the revenue stamp and tearing open the folds at the upper end. I am aware that tabs have been provided in the upper end of such a package to open only a portion of said end. I

If one wall of such a package be split in of such a pouch like packa 'e, the package 1 after once being opened wil normally tend to spring back to its original configuration, and the cigarettes will not fall out. Due to the fact that the cigarettes are unable to move longitudinally, it is obvious that the cigarettes will be retained nearer their packaged position than hitherto, and will keep in a more perfect condition until the last cigarette is removed.

The disadvantage of fracturing one wall of such a package in the manner aforesaid is that one cigarette or similar article, is usually ruined by the use of the knife or fingernail employed to fracture the wall. To prevent this and to embody the advantages of such a method of opening as hitherto explained into a commercial package, I insert, as explained, means underneath one wall parallel to the cigarettes as they are packaged to protect the cigarettes on the fracture of said wall.

These and such other objects of my invention that may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of one embodiment thereof such as the ciga- .rette package shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a'cigarette package made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing said package after it has been opened.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1. h

' Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a protecting strip having a V-shaped groove. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a protectin strip having a semi-circular groove.

11 the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 10 generally indicates a cigarette package made in accordance with my invention. The package 10 generally is of a common type now on the market, so I will not explain in detail how it is wrapped and folded. Said package 10 has its walls 11 constructed of a frangible, flexible material. For purposes of explanation, I will call the walls on the sides of the cigarettes the top wall 13 and bottom wall 14, and the side walls 15 and 16 respectively. The end walls are shown at 17 and 18. I am employing this description contrary to the. general usage of such a package to more readily explain the function of my invention.

The cigarettes 20 are first bound together as illustrated in Fig. 3. A layer of light protecting paper 21 'is first enveloped around them, a layer of strong paper 22 containing the printed matter is next folded around, and an outer layer of glazed or otherwise moisture-proofed paper 23 is compactly enclosed around the whole. These layers of paper are normally folded over and sealed as shown at the end wall 17.

When it is desired to fracture a wall in accordance with my invention, any wall parallel to the plane in which the cigarettes are packed may be fractured. Either the top wall 13 or the bottom wall 14 in the type of package shownare preferably fractured along their medial line.

As explained, my invention comprises, the provision v in a (package of this description of means dispose underneath one wall thereof parallel to the tubular cigarettes as they are packed to protect the cigarettes on fracture of said wall. As shown said means referably comprises a comparatively stiffer ayer 24 of protecting material attached to theinner side 25 of the top wall 13 near its medial line. Said layer 24 preferably com prises, a card-board strip having a groove 26 extending along one edge thereof. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 this groove 26 is preferably V-shaped so as to more conveniently receive a knife blade or finger nail therein. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the groove 26 is semi-circular. The upper surface 27 of said cardboard strip 24 may be conveniently pasted to the inner side 25 of the u per wall 13 near its medial line. This may' conveniently attached before the end 17 of the package is folded over and closed. When the strip '24 is placed in .position and the cigarettes inserted in said package, the groove 26 may normally project between certain of cigarettes as shown in Fig. 3. A demarkation, such as the line '30 may be printed on the exterior of the top wall 13 along its medial line thereof immediately above the groove 26, to denote where to fracture the wall 13.

The operation of my invention is obvious from the above description. When it is desired to open the package 10 the medial line of the top wall 13 is fractured by a finger nail or knifeblade along the line 30. The package 10 may then be gently pulled over tothe position shown in Fig. 2, to permit the withdrawal of the cigarettes individually as needed, the end walls 17 and 18 normally splitting about half way down as shown in Fig. 2. As explained, due to the inherent resiliency of the cigarettes, and the flexibility of the layers of material of which said walls 11 are composed the package even after having been opened will tend to spring back to its original position. As the'cigarettes are only removed from their original packed position as needed, and are compactly and resiliently contained in their original position by the flexible walls 11 of the package 10, it is obvious that each cigarette will keep in almost perfect condition until the last cigarette is withdrawn.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A package having walls composed of a plurality of layers of frangible flexible paper, frangible tubular articles disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other compactly contained therein and a comparatively stiffer layer of protective material attached to the inner side of one wall thereof having an edge parallel and adjacent to one of said articles to protect said articles on fracture of said wall from without.

2. A package having walls composed of a plurality of layers of frangible flexible paper, cigarettes disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other compactly contained therein, a comparatively stifi'er layer of protective; material attached to the inner side of one wall thereof having an edge parallel and adjacent to one of said cigarettes to protect said cigarettes on fracture of said wall from without;

3. A package having frangible, flexible walls and frangible tubular articles panked in substantially parallel relation to each other within, and a comparatively stiffer layer of protective material attached to the inner side of one wall thereof having a groove extending along onev edge thereof parallel to said articles to protect said articles on fracture of said wall from witihout.

4. A package having frangible, flexible walls and cigarettes packed in substantially parallel relation to each other within and a comparatively stiffer layer of protective material attached to the inner side of one wall thereof having a groove extending along one edge thereof parallel to said cigarettes to protect said cigarettes on fracture of said wall from without.

5. A package having walls composed of a plurality of layers of frangible, flexible paper, frangible tubular articles disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other compactly contained therein and a strip of cardboard attached to the inner side of one wall thereof parallel to said articles having a groove extending along one edge thereof fitting between certain of said articles.

6. A package having walls composed of a plurality of layers of flexible, frangible paper, cigarettes disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other compactly contained therein, and a layer of cardboard attached to the inner side of one wall thereof parallel to said cigarettes having a groove extending along one edge thereof fitting be;

wall thereof parallel tosaid articles having a groove extending along one edge thereof fitting between certain of said articles and a demarkation on the outside of said package over said groove.

8. A package having walls composed of a plurality of layers of frangible, flexible paper, cigarettes disposed in substantially parallel relation to each other contained therein and a strip of cardboard attached to the inner side of one wall thereof parallel to said cigarettes having a groove extending along one edge'thereot' fitting between certain of said cigarettes and a demarkation on the outside of said package over said groove.

In testimony whereof heafi'ixes his signature.

WILLIAM B. PRESCOTT.

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