GB2115386A

GB2115386A - Pack for cigarettes or the like

Info

Publication number: GB2115386A
Application number: GB08204491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Floyd L Phillips
Original assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco GmbH
Current assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco GmbH
Priority date: 1982-02-16
Filing date: 1982-02-16
Publication date: 1983-09-07

Abstract

The pack for cigarettes or the like consists of an outer case (12) and a slidable container (2) having in opposed side walls (4) two recesses (6,7) which lie opposite one another and are of the same area, which recesses facilitate removal of the cigarettes (1). At the rear end of the slidable container (2) there is disposed a forwardly directed flap (12) which catches behind with a rearwardly turned over tongue at the forward end of the case (12) as a sliding limiter when the slidable container (2) is pushed forward from the case (12) through a through opening (15) in the rear end wall (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pack for cigarettes or the like The invention relates to a pack for cigarettes or the like consisting of an outer case in which is slidable a box-shaped slidable container which possesses in one half of a sidewall a recess which is open with respect to a removal opening in the upper end surface of the slidable container.

With such a known pack (German Utility Model 72 42 170) the recess consists of a deep vertical slit in only one sidewall of the slidable container whose overall upper end surface is open. A cigarette packet within the slidable container can be slid out from the slidable container upwardly with a finger inserted into the slit so that it extends partially above the edge of the open upper front surface of the slidable container. After that cigarettes are removed and then the cigarette packet is inserted into the slidable container and this is slid back into the outer case.

This procedure is complicated. The opening of the pack and the removal of cigarettes with only one hand is difficult because the cigarettes may not be gripped for removal through the one vertical slit in the sidewall of the slidable container. The outer case is, with this pack, open at both end faces so that the slidable container can be slid out from the case to both sides. This has the result that frequently inadvertantlythe end of the slidable container which does not possess an upright slit is slid out so that the slidable container must be slid back into the case and pushed out towards the other side. As a result of this, the handling is also prejudiced. Furthermore the user must always note next that the slidable container does not fall completely out of the case and become separated from this because measures for keeping these parts together are absent.The noted disadvantages also apply to another known pack for cigarettes or the like (German Offenlegungsschrift 28 49 786) in which the slidable container is completely closed right up to a small opening in the upper end face. The removal of cigarettes here takes place by tapping out from the limited removal opening, with the known disadvantage of tobacco loss and the undesirable loosening of the cigarettes filling. A grasping of cigarettes to draw them from the slidable container is not possible because they are not accessible from the side.

This invention is based on the object of so forming a pack of the indicated type that the cigarettes may be gripped well and withdrawn from the slidable container, that that half of the slidable container which is provided with the recess is always slid out from the case immediately and that an undesired separation of the slidable container and pack is prevented.

The task of simple removability of the cigarettes from the slidable container is solved in that a recess is arranged in each sidewall of the slidable container and that the two recesses lie aligned opposite one another.

The two recesses lying opposite one another permit the gripping of cigarettes in pairs between thumb and index finger of one hand and their withdrawal through the withdrawal opening, espe ciallythe opening situated above end surfaces of the slidable container. This is simple and can take place with the same hand which holds the pack, and the sliding out of the slidable container from the case is made possible.

The recesses are advantageously of approximately square cross-section whose forward edge is directed from bottom to top slantedly to the front.

Both recesses are of like area. The inclination of the one edge of the cut-out widens this towards the forward lateral end face of the slidable container and provides a suitable finger guide for the grasping of the cigarettes.

In advantageous development of the invention, the rear end face of the outer case is closed by an end wall having a through opening therein. In this way the case has only one open end face through which the slidable container can be moved and the end wall serves as a buffer against which the slid-in slidable container abuts. With this, on sliding together of the pack from its resulting end position, it is completely closed as a result of proper covering over of the upper end face of the slidable container.

Since the slidable container can only extend from the case in the direction of the forward end face of the case, its half provided with the recesses is located at all times at the opening side of the pack. A displacement of the slidable container in the opposite direction is prevented by the rear end face. The openability of the pack in only one direction increases the reliability of its closing on placing it in a pocket on the like. As a result of the through opening in the rear end face, the slidable container is displaceable forwardly by the finger. Advantageously, the through opening is arranged in the middle of the end face and extends essentially over its entire width. The height of the through opening can amount to about one third of the height of the pack.

A rearwardly directed flap provided on at least one sidewall of the slidable container and which catches on, as sliding limiter, a rearwardly turned over tongue of the outer case serves for securing the slidable container against complete sliding out from the case and separation therefrom. The turned over tongue is located at a long edge of the forward, open end face of the outer case, whereas the flap is limited by a U-shaped cut-out line in the sidewall of the slidable container, which ends at its rear end face. By this arrangement, the pushing of the slidable container is so limited that its recesses are free from the case, that it however remains partially inserted in the case and is secured against complete removal.This makes possible a simple opening of the pack by holding tight the case with forward end face directed downwards so that the slidable container automatically slides out from the case until the catching together of the flap and tongue.

If appropriate, a turned over tongue can be arranged at the two long edges of the forward open end face of the case to extend over approximately the entire height of the pack. In this way a certain freedom in the assembly of case and slidable container which can be advantageous for the packing machines is achieved.

In the drawing, there is shown schematically an explanatory example of the invention. It shows: Figure 1 a schematic view of an open pack, Figure 2 a slidable container and Figure 3 a case.

Cigarettes 1 are placed in two parallel rows in a slidable container 2 made of stiff paper or plastics material. The slidable container 2 is formed so as to be open at its upper end face and recesses 6 and 7 are disposed in its two sidewalls 4 and 5. Each recess 6,7 is open towards the open, upper end face 3 of the slidable container 2. It is formed essentially square with rounded corners and its forward edge 8 extends inclinedly forwardly from bottom to top so that a widening of the recesses 6, 7 occurs. The two small recesses 6 and 7 both lie in the forward half of the slidable container, are of equal area and are a short distance from the forward end wall of the slidable container.

At the rear end wall 10 of the slidable container 2 there adjoins a U-shaped cutting line 11 in the one side wall 4 which defines a flap 12. The flap 12 extends over a part of the height of the pack. It has rounded edges and is directed forwardly.

The pack is enveloped by an outer case 12 made of the same material as the slidable container 2. The case 12 is completely open at its forward end face 13, whilst its rear end face is closed by an end wall 14.

An essentially square through opening 15 whose width corresponds to the width of the end wall 14 is disposed approximately in the middle of the end wall 14. A rearwardly turned over tongue 16 which extends over the height of the case 12 and one of which catches together with the flap 12 on the slidable container 2 as sliding limiter is provided on the two long edges of the open end surface 13.

(Figure 1).

Claims

1. Pack for cigarettes or the like consisting of an outer case in which is displaceable a box-shaped slidable container which possesses a recess in one half of a side wall which is open towards a withdraw al opening in the upper end face of the slidable container, characterised in that a recess (6,7) is arranged in each side wall (4,5) of the slidable container (2) and that the two recesses (6,7) lie opposite one another.

2. Pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the recesses (6,7) are of approximately square section, their forward edge (8) extends forwardly inclinedly from bottom to top and that the two recesses (6,7) are of equal area.

3. Pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the rear end face of the outer case is closed by an end wall (14) having an opening therethrough.

4. Pack according to claim 3, characterised in that the through opening (15) is arranged in the middle of the end wall (14) and extends essentially over its entire width,

5. Pack according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the height of the through opening (15) is about 113 of the height of the pack.

6. Pack according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the slidable container (2) possesses on at least one side wall (4,5) a forwardly directed flap (12) which catches behind a rearwardlyturned over tongue (16) of the outer case (12) as sliding limiter.

7. Pack according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a turned over tongue (16) is disposed on at least one long edge of the forward, open end face (13) of the outer case and that the flap (12) is limited by a U-shaped cutting line (11) in the sidewall (4) of the slidable container (2) which ends at its rear end wall (10).

8. Pack according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that a turned over tongue (16) which extends over approximately the entire height of the pack is arranged at both long edges of the forward open end face (13) of the case (12).