US3037678A - Folded rigid cigarette package with hinged side flap - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1962 P. B. CARUSO FOLDED RIGID CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH HINGED SIDE FLAP Filed Jan. 29, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arm/way P. B. CARUSO FOLDED RIGID CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH HINGED SIDE FLAP Filed Jan. 29, 1958 June 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A as 119.10

1NVENT0R. PA UL B. CAM/50 A roR/vfy 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 5, '1962 P. B. CARUSO EOLDED RIGID CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH HINGED SIDE FLAI? Filed Jan. 29, 1958 United States Patent O I 3,037,678 l FOLDED RIGlD CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH HINGED SIDE FLAP Paul B. Caruso, 32--25 88th St., Jackson Heights, N.Y. Filed Jan. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 711,970 2 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to cigarette packages and is particularly directed to a folded container made of thin fairly rigid paper, ythe cross-sectional form and contour of the package being substantially the same as that of the conventional type of soft paper cigarette package. It is primarily directed to a cigarette package iitted with a hinged side liap which is so constructed as to facilitate lstarting the package and removing the lirst end line of cigarettes therefrom.

In packages of this type, the cigarettes are supported vertically in three rows, the cigarettes being located vertically in such a manner that they are usually removed from the top of the package, when all or a portion of the top of the package is either detached or hinged.

This application represents an improvement on my copending application for U.S. patent filed in the U.S. Patent Oice on the 29th day of April, 1957, Serial Number 655,724, directed to a Folded Rigid Cigarette Package Fitted With Lifting Insert and now U.S. Patent No. 2,928,571.

In the conventional type of soft paper cigarette package, which is formed by wrapping several layers of paper of various textures around several row-s of vertically supported cigarettes, the package usually collapses after a portion of the cigarettes are removed therefrom, it usually being necessary to tear off a portion of the top of the package in order to remove one or more cigarettes therefrom when the package is started.

While various types of relatively rigid paper and cardboard cigarette packages are available, they are usually much larger and much more expensive to produce than the conventional type of soft paper package. These packages are therefore usually larger and clumsier to handle than the conventional type of soft paper cigarette package,

In the usual cigarette package, whether made of soft paper, or thin relatively rigid paper, or cardboard, a tinfoil, or other type of metal foil liner is` usually inserted between the cigarettes and the interior of the package to protect the cigarettes supported within the package.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a cigarette package made of thin relatively rigid paper, thev cigarettes being located and supported in .the conventional manner, the rigid paper outer wrapper being lined with a tinfoil. or other type of metal foil protective coating, which is permanently attached tov the rigid paper outer wrapper, the outer relatively rigid wrapper being formed by folding a precut development or blank around the cigarettes, intoV a form and size substantially the same as the conventional soft paper package, and to further provide a hinged or pivoted side flap, which exposes a portion of the end line ofcigar'ettes in the package when the hinged side apfis opened, thereby facilitating the removal of the iir'st one or two end lines of cigarettes' from the package, when the hinged side flap is opened, or angularly displaced, relative to the fixed section of the side wall.

Another feature of the invention is that a hinged or pivoted side ap is provided, the side flap extending over a portion of one side of the package, and beirigso located and constructed as to facilitate the removal of one or more end lines of cigarettes froml the package when theV package is opened, without disturbing the balance of the cigarettes withinthe package.

Another feature ofi the invention isthat the hinged side 3,@31578 gPatented June 5, 1962 ice flap has a front and rear flap integraltherewith, the front and rear iiaps each having a stop formed thereon which limits the angular movement of the hinged side flap when it is opened. 4

Another feature of this invention is that the entire package, including the hinged side iiap, is made of a single sheet of ythin relatively rigid paper which may be lined with tin foil, or a similar material, the entire package being lso constructed that it may be wrapped around the cigarettes which are supported in three rows, in a ver-tical position, in the conventional manner, the entire development being lined with tinfoil, or other suitable material, so that the cigarettes within the package are protected from exposure to the elements when the package is closed. Y

Another feature of the construction isy that the hinged side flap is pivotally attached to a portion of oneside wall, which is mounted in its normal position relative to the cigarettes within the package, so that the lower portion of the cigarettes is rigidly and accurately supported even after the hinged side ap is opened, the opening of the .hinged side flap facilitating the removal of one or more end lines of cigarettes from the package without disturbing the balance of the cigarettes within the package.

Another feature of the construction is that the front and rear flaps which are attached to the hinged side flap, are so constructed and located relative to the cigarettes within the package that the front and rear cigarettes in the end lines of cigarettes within the package are supported in substantially 4their original position relative to the front and rear walls of the package, after the hinged side flap is opened, thus allowing the upper portion of the end lines of cigarettes to move outward, and in' that manner facilitating gripping and removal of one or more end lines of cigarettes froni the package.

A feature of a modified construction of applicants cigarette package is' that it is fitted with a tinfoil liner which is formed in sections, one section of the tinfoil liner being so constructed that it can readily be renioved from the balance of the liner, or the portion which is retained with the package, the removable por- .tion of the tin foil liner having a ilap integral therewith, which facilitates opening theV hinged side ap, in order to remove one `or more end lines of cigarettes from the package.

Another feature of the construction is that the hinged side flap at the top of the package may be restored to its normal position after several end lines of cigarettes are removed from the package.

This also applies to the two end lines of cigarettes, which are supported by the hinged side iiap, the front andrear cigarettes being supported by the front and rear walls integral with the hinged side flap,

Another feature of the invention is that the'hinged iiap is so constructed that the front and rear cigarettes inv the end lines; within the package are held in their normal position relative to the front and rear rows of cigarettes, provision also being made for limiting the angular movement of the hinged side flap so that it cannot be opened beyond a predetermined angular position.

Another feature of the construction is that provision is made in the hinged side ap and the front and rear flaps integralV therewith, for limiting the angular movement of the hinged side flap, toward the interior of the package, so that it cannotbe moved inward beyond the surface of the fixed portion of the side wall of the package, even after a portion of the cigarettes are removed from the section of the package locatedadjacent the hinged side iiap.

A primary yfeature of the invention is that the outer dimensions of the thin rigid paper type of outer wrapper are substantially the same as those of the soft paper type 3 of package used for the same number and size of cigarettes.

A feature of one modification of the invention is that the inner tinfoil liner is formed in two sections, which are separated along substantially vertical lines, one section remaining within the package after the hinged side flap is opened, the other section being readily removable from the package after the hinged side fiap is opened, means being provided in conjunction with the removable tinfoil section to facilitate opening the hinged side flap.

A primary feature of the invention is that the outer dimensions of the thin rigid paper type of outer wrapper are substantially the same as those of the conventional soft paper type of package used for the same number and size of cigarettes. This enables the package to be packed in substantially the conventional size and type of carton.

A major feature of various modifications of applicants construction, is that each modification is made of a single relatively simple blank formed of a continuous sheet of thin relatively rigid paper, the paper being lined with a tinfoil inner surface, or other type of protective coating or lining.

Another feature of the construction is that the slits and folds in the blank of which the outer wrapper is made are relatively simple, and arranged in such a manner as to economize on paper in cutting out the blank, and also to enable the conventional type of folding and wrapping machine to be used with only relatively minor modifications.

The accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of my invention, and several modifications thereof, together with the description of their construction and the method of blanking, fitting, operation and utilization thereof, will serve to clarify further objects and advantages of my invention.

In the drawings:

yFIGURE 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of the cigarette package, made of a relatively rigid paper, which is tinfoil lined, the outer wrapper of the package being formed of a blank shown in FIGURE 2., showing the cigarettes in place within the package, and the hinged side flap, in its normal position at one side of the package, also showing the hinged side flap opened to the angular limit of its movement in dot-dash lines, the stop at the top of the front and rear walls of the hinged ap, engaging the upper edge of the package, the section being taken on the line 1 1, FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank used in forming the outer wrapper of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES l and 3, showing the relation between the front and rear panels, also the method of connecting the hinged side fiap, and the front and rear walls integral therewith, with the bottom panel of the package.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-section through the cigarette package shown in FIGURE l, showing the relation between the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap to the front and rear panels of the package, also the position of the cigarettes, relative to the hinged side flap. The section being taken on the line 3 3, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES l and 3, showing the hinged side ap and the fixed section of the side panel to which it is hinged.

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational View of a modification of the cigarette package shown in FIGURE 1, which utilizes the modified tinfoil lined rigid paper blank shown in FIGURE 6, with a portion of the front panel of the outer wrapper cut away to show the front wall section of the hinged side flap, and the position of the hinged side flap relative to the cigarettes within the package, also showing the hinged side flap moved outward to its extreme angular position, in dot-dash lines, the sloping edge at the upper edge of the front and rear wall sections of the hinged side ap engaging the upper panels of the package, with a transparent cellophane outer wrapper fitted laround the exterior of the rigid paper outer wrapper of the package.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the tinfoil lined blank used in forming the rigid paper wrapper of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, showing the method of aligning the front, rear and bottom panels, also the construction of the hinged side fiap and the front and rear walls connected therewith, also the pair of small auxiliary side fiaps used to limit the movement of the hinged side flap toward the interior of the package.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section through the cigarette package shown in FIGURE 5, showing the relation between the front and rear panels and the fixed portion of the side panels, also the auxiliary side fiaps provided to limit the angular movement of the hinged side iiap toward the cigarettes, and the fixed section of the side panel which supports it, relative to the interior of the package, as well as a transparent cellophane protective wrapper wrapped around the outer surface of the rigid paper outer wrapper, the section being taken on the line 7 7, FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the cigarette package shown in FIGURE 7, showing the hinged side flap, the fixed section of the side panel which supports the hinged side fiap, and the two auxiliary side flaps located at the bottom of the package for limiting the angular movement of the xed side panel section and the hinged side flap toward the interior of the package.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-section through the tinfoil lined rigid paper used in forming the blanks shown in FIG- URES 2 and 6 and the packages made therefrom, taken on the line 9 9, FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical section through the tinfoil liner, used in conjunction with the package shown in FIGURE l2, showing the tinfoil liner formed in two sections, with a tiap integral with the removable righthand section, to facilitate opening the hinged side flap of the package, the section being taken on the line 10' 10, FIG- URE l1.

FIGURE 1l is a partial bottom plan view and partial cross-section through the tinfoil liner shown in FIGURE 10, showing the overlapping front and rear walls of the two tinfoil liner sections, and the flap integral with the removable righthand section of the liner, the section being taken on the line Il ll, FIGURE l0.

FIGURE 12 is a vertical section, similar to FIGURE 1, through a modification of the cigarette package shown in FIGURE 1, in which the outer wrapper is made of plain relatively rigid paper, the tinfoil liner, shown in FIG- URES 10 and 11, being inserted inside the outer paper wrapper, also showing the hinged side flap at one side of the package, and the upper side fiap integral with the removable section of the tinfoil liner folded over the side panel of the hinged side flap, also showing the hinged side fiap moved to the open position to the angular limit of its movement, in dot-dash lines, the stop at the upper end of the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap engaging the upper edge of the package, the removable righthand section of the tinfoil liner being shown in the process of removal thereof from the package.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of another modification of the blank used in forming a modification of the outer wrapper of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES l and 2, the construction of the hinged side flap being substantially the same as that in the blank shown in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 14 is a vertical section, similar to FIGURE 1, through another modification of the cigarette package shown in FIGURE l, the package being folded from another type of blank, such as that shown in FIGURE 15, the hinged side flap having a double side panel, with a short flap binding the two sections of the side panel, also showing the hinged side ap, and the auxiliary side panel co-ordinated therewith, opened to the angular limit of its movement in dot-dash lines, the stops at the top of the front and rear w-alls of the hinged side flap engaging the upper edge of the package in the same manner as that ishown in FIGURE 1, the section being taken on the line lll- 14, FIGURE 16.

FIGURE is a plan view, similar to FIGURE 2, of the blank used in forming the rnodiied outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURE 14, the front, rear and side walls of the hinged side flap being in substantial `alignment with `and forming continuations of the mating front, rear and side panel of the outer wrapper of the package.

FIGURE 16 is a cross-section, similar to FIGURE 3, through the modified package shown in FIGURE 14, showing the relation of the front and rear walls and the hinged side panel section of the hinged side flap to the corresponding front and rear panels of the outer wrapper of the package, also the position of the cigarettes in the package relative to the hinged side flap, the section being taken on the line 16--16, FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 17 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 4, of the modified cigarette package show-n in FIG- URES 14 and 16, showing the double-side-walled hinged side flap and the mating -xed section of the side wall of the package to which it is hinged, the view being taken on the line 17--17, FIGURE 14.

It will be understood that the following description of the construction and the method of assembly, fitting and utilization of the Folded Ci-garette Package Fitted With Hinged Side Flap, is intended as explanatory of the invention and not restrictive thereof.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the various views, except where otherwise indicated.

One embodiment of the package shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 has the same form, contour and cross-section as the conventional type of soft paper cigarette package. The package is used for a total of twenty cigarettes located vertically within the package, so that they can be withdrawn through the upper end of the package, or through the upper end adjacent one side ot the package in a manner hereinafter described, the cigarettes being located in three rows, including two rows having seven cigarettes each and a central row which is staggered relative to the front and rear rows and therefore has only six cigarettes,` although this arrangement may be varied to suit the requirements of a particular package.

The outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURES i1, 3 and 4 is folded from a continuous blank 14, made of thin relatively lrigid paper, as shown in FIGURE 2, the inner surface of the wrapped material being coated with tin foil, or a similar material, to protect the cigarettes in the interior of the package.

The outer wrapper consists of a front and a rear panel 15 and 16, of substantially rectangular contour, the height of the interior of the front and rear panels being slightly greater than that of the cigarettes located within the package, with the length thereof slightly greater than the length of a row of seven cigarettes, as shown in FIG- URE 3.

A pair of over-lapping side panels 17, 18 is located at one side of the package, the side panels being integral with the adjacent edge of the mating front and rear panels.

The edge of each of the front and rear panels 15, 16 opposite the edge attached to the fixed side panels 17, 1S, is cut out, along a sloping line 2.0, the upper edge of the cutout being of arcuate contour 21, to enable a user to simultaneously grip the front and rear walls Z2, 23, of a hinged side flap 24, which is located at one side of the package.

Below the hinged `side flap, a relatively xed side wall section 25, integral with the bottom wall 26 of the outer wrapper of the package and substantially perpendicular thereto, is located, the fixed side wall section having a pair of auxiliary front and rear panels 27, 28, kwhich are of 6 substantially the same height as the ixed side wall section 2S, integral therewith the auxiliary front and rear panels being operative to limit the angular movement of the hinged side ap 24 toward the cigarettes, in a manner hereinafter described in greater detail.

The hinged side flap 24, which is located above and in substantial vertical alignment with the fixed side panel section 25 and the auxiliary front and rear panels 27 `and 2.8, comprises a side panel 36, which is integral with the fixed side panel section 25 and hinged relative thereto, and a pair of front and rear walls 22, 23, which are integral with the side panel 30 thereof, and substantially perpendicular thereto.

The front and rear walls 22, 23 of the hinged side flap, which are of substantially rectangular contour, of a length slightly shorter than the length of the `front `and rear panels, each has a portion of the upper end thereof cutout 32, below a line extending angularly downward from a point in substantial alignment with the upper edge of the side wall to a relatively short sloping upper edge 33, 33a located at the open end of each of the front and rear walls, the sloping upper edge S3, 33a of each of the front and rear walls serving as a stop to limit the angular movement of the hinged side flap when it is moved from the closed position shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, in which the side panel 30 of the hinged side flap is in alignment with the fixed `side wall section 25, to the angular open position shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE 1, at which point the sloping upper edges 33, 33a of the front and rear walls engage the inner surface of the overlapping upper panels 34, 35 of the outer wrapper of the package to limit the angular position of the hinged side tlap in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a gap being formed between the side wall Sil of the hinged side Hap, and the corresponding side edge of the upper panels 34, 35, to enable one or more cigarette 36, 36a, forming the end line of cigarettes within the package, to be angularly positioned substantially as shown in dot-dash lines, FIGURE 1, thus enabling the operator to readily grip the upper end of one of the cigarettes 36, 36a, thereby facilitating the starting of the package, or the removal of the end line or lines of cigarettes therefrom, and in that manner facilitating the progressive removal of the other cigarettes from the package in substantially the same manner as the end line 36, 36a of cigarettes is. removed, thereby loosening the other cigarettes in the package and facilitating the progressive removal thereof, through the gap between the side panel of the hinged opening side flap 24, and the adjacent edge of the upper panels 34, 35 of the outer wrapper of the package.

A relatively short auxiliary upper flap 37, integral with one of the fixed side panels 17, 18 is located under the overlapping upper panels 34, 35, land glued or otherwise attached to one of the upper panels 34, 35 to support the side panels 17, I8, in the assembled position, shown in FIGURE 1.

Similarly, a relatively short auxiliary side flap 38, integral with the bottom panel, is located adjacent the fixed side panels 17, 18, and attached thereto, by gluing or other suitable attaching means.

The blank 14 used to form the outer wrapper of the assembled package shown in FIGURE 1, is formed of relatively thin rigid paper 39, as shown in section in FIGURE 9, a thin coating of tin foil or other metal foil `being attached or otherwise applied to the inner surface of the thin paper 39. v

The blank 14 shown in FIGURE 2, comprises a pair of front and rear panels 15, 16 of substantially rectangular contour, the front and rear panels being aligned with, and integral with the bottom panel 26 shown in FIGURE 2.

An upper panel 34, 35 -is integral with each of the front and rear panels, the upper panels being located at the outer end of the 4front or rear panel, and separated therefrom by a fold line as shown in FIGURE 2.

The fixed side panels 17, 18 are each integral with one edge of the front or rear panel 15, 16, the side panels 17, 18 being separated from the front and rear panels by fold lines located between the panels.

The short auxiliary side flap 38 is integral with the bottom panel 26 and located between the xed side panels 17, 13, the auxiliary side flap 38 being separated from the adjacent edge of the bottom panel by a fold line.

Similarly, the auxiliary upper flap 37 is integral with one edge of one of the xed side panels 17, 18, the auxiliary upper flap 37 being separated from the side panel 17 by a fold line.

The hinged side panel 30 and the fixed section of the side panel shown in FIGURE 1, are located adjacent the front, rear and bottom panels 15, 16 and 26 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The cutouts at one edge of each of the front and rear . panels 15, 16 are shown in FIGURE 2, each cutout consisting of a sloping line 2t), 20a, which starts at the juncture between the bottom panel 26 and the front or rear panel 1S, 16, and slopes toward the outer edge of the front or rear panel, which is integral with the side panel, the upper end of each cutout, which is located adjacent the upper edge of each front and rear panel being of arcuate contour 21, 21a, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The sloping line 20, a also forms a separator between one edge of each xed auxiliary front and rear pane1 27, 28 and the adjacent front and rear pane1 15, 16.

The fixed side panel section 25 which is integral with the bottom panel 26 of the outer wrapper of the package, and the side panel 30 of the hinged side tlap is located between the bottom pane1 26 and the side panel 30 of the hinged side flap, the iixed side panel section being separated from the adjoining panels by fold lines, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The front and rear walls 22, 23 of the hinged side ilap are integral with the side panel 30 of the hinged side flap, the front and rear walls extending outward therefrom and being separated from the side pane1 by fold lines.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a narrow slit 42, 42a is cut between the front and rear walls 22, 23 of the hinged side flap and the auxiliary front and rear panels 27, 28 thereof, thus positively separating the front and rear walls of the hinged side ap from the xed auxiliary front and rear panels 27, 28.

The upper edge of each of the front and rear walls 22, 23 of the hinged side flap is sloped in substantially the manner shown in FIGURE 1, the sloping upper edge 33, 33a of each of the front and rear walls being located substantially as shown in FIGURE 1.

When the blank shown in FIGURE 2 is folded along the various fold lines and separator lines shown in FIG- URE 2, the outer Wrapper assumes the cross-sectional contour shown in FIGURE l, the various flaps and panels assuming the respective positions shown in FIGURE 1, the overlapping side panels 17, 18 and the top panels 34, 35 being glued to one another in the relative positions shown in FIGURE l.

In a modification of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, using a blank shown in FIGURE `6, the cross-sectional contour of the outer wrapper of the package is substantially the same as that shown in FIG- URE 1.

The number of cigarettes iatted within the package, and their location relative to the front and rear walls of the outer wrapper of the package, is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

In the cigarette package shown in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8, the outer wrapper which is made of a thin relatively rigid paper, and folded from a continuous blank 44 shown in FIGURE 6, the various panels forming the outer wrapper of the package being either cut out in the manner shown in the drawings, or folded along horizontal and vertical fold lines, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The paper forming the outer wrapper shown in FIG- URES 5, 6 and 7 is substantially the same as that shown 8 in FIGURES 1 and 2, the thin relatively rigid paper 39 of which the outer wrapper of the package is made being lined with tin foil 45, as shown in FIGURE 9, the tin foil covering the inner surface of the entire outer wrapper, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 9.

The outer wrapper shown in FIGURES 5, 7 and 8 includes a front and a rear panel 46, 47, the form, size and contour of which is substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

A pair of overlapping side panels 48, 49 is located at one side of the package in the same manner as that shown in FIGURE 1, the `form and contour of the side panels being substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, Where the cigarettes in the package are of the same size as those shown in FIGURE 3. The side panels are integral with one edge of the front and rear panels 46, 47 in the same manner as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The edge of each of the front and rear panels, opposite the edge integral with the iixed side panels, is cut out along a sloping line 50, the upper edge of the cut out being of arcuate contour S1 in the same manner as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, for essentially the same purpose.

The hinged side ap shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 is similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, except that the bottom edge 53 of the front and rear walls 54, 55 thereof is closer to the bottom of the package, the ixed auxiliary side panels shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 being eliminated.

Below the hinged side flap, a relatively txed side wall section 56 is located, the side wall section, the width of which is substantially they same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 being somewhat lower than that shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, to provide a larger hinged side ap, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The xed side wall section 56, is integral with the bottom pane1 57 of the outer wrapper of the package and substantially perpendicular thereto, in the same manner `as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The hinged side ap, the side pane1 58 of which is located above and in substantial vertical alignment with the xed side wall section 56, comprises a side panel 58, which is integral with the fixed side wall section and separated therefrom by a fold line 59, which serves as a hinge, and a pair of `front and rear walls 54, 55, which are integral with the side panel and located in the same position relative to the fixed side wall section as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The length of the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, is substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the front and rear walls 54, 55 being slightly higher, as the distance Ibetween the fold line 59 and the top of the package is greater. The cutouts 60 at the upper end of the front and rear Walls 54 and 55 are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES l and e2, the sloping upper edge 61, located at the outer edge of the front and rear walls 54, 55 shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, being similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, although the angle between `the sloping upper edge 61 of the front and rear walls, -and the bottom edge 53 of the front and rear walls is somewhat less than that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, due to the greater height of the side panel 58 and consequently the smaller angle of movement of the hinged side flap from the closed position shown in FIGURE 5, to the hinged open position shown in dot-dash lines, FIGURE 5.

In conjunction with the fixed side wall section 56 and the hinged side flap shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, a pair of auxiliary reinforcing side aps 62, 63 is formed integral with one edge of the front and rear panels, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the auxiliary s ide flaps being folded into a position in which they abut the xed section 56 of the side pane1, when the hinged side ap is moved into the normal closed position, shown in FIGURE 5. The width of the auxiliary side - tiaps 62, 63, shown in FIGURES and 6, is equal to approximately one-half the width of the lixed side wall section 56, so that in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 8, the inner edges of the two auxiliary side fliaps 62, 63 abut one another, or clear one another by a short distance, as shown in FIGURE 8.

The height of the auxiliary side flaps 62, 63 is substantially equal to the height of the xed `side wall section 56, the auxiliary side flaps being attached to the iixed side wall section 56 and serving as reinforcements therefor, to prevent movement of the tixed side wall section 56 toward the cigarettes fitted within `the package, beyond the vertical position shown in FIGURE 5, when the hinged side flap is moved to the closed position, shown in FIG- URE 5.

The two auxiliary side flaps which are attached to the iixed side wall section 56, reinforce the tixed side Wall section 56 and retain it in its normal vertical position, when the hinged side liap is moved from the closed position shown in FIGURE 5, to the angularly located open position, shown by dot-dash lines, in FIGURE 5, thus enabling one of the end lines 36 of cigarettes to be moved to the angular position shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE zl, in order to facilitate the removal of one of the end lines of cigarettes from the package in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURE 1.

The contour of the cutouts 60 in the front and rear walls of the hinged side ap is substantially the same as those shown in FIGURE l, the cutouts being located below a sloping line extending from the sloping upper ledge 61 of the front and rear walls of the hinged side iap to the junction between the upper edge of the front and rear walls, and the side panel 58 of the hinged side iiap.

As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, a supplementary side tlap 64 is formed integral With one end of the bottom panel 57 of the outer wrapper of the package, the supplementary side flap being folded into a position ad-i jacent the fixed side panels 48, 49 in the folded position shown in FIGURE 5.

Similarly, an auxiliary upper liap 65 is integral with one side panel 49 and extends outward therefrom in the blank shown in FIGURE 6, the auxiliary upper ilap being Afolded under one of the upper panels 66, 66a of the package in the folded position shown in FIGURE 5.

Around the outer wrapper shown in FIGURE 5, a cellophane sealing wrapper formed of a thin sheet of cellophane, or other transparent plastic material is wrapped, to seal the outer Wrapper and protect the cigarettes within the package from the atmosphere.

The cellophane outer wrapper, which is formed of a single sheet of transparent plastic material, consists of a front and a rear panel 67, 68 located adjacent the front and rear panels 46, 47 of the outer wrapper, a pair of side panels 69, 70, which are integral with the front and rear cellophane panels 67, 68, the side panels being located outside the iixed side panels 48, 49, at one side of the outer wrapper of the package, and the iixed side Wall section 56, as well as the side panel of the hinged side ilap located at the opposite side of the outer wrapper of `the package.

A pair of overlapping folded cellophane upper flaps 7l, 71a is located adacent the upper panel 66 of the outer wrapper of the package, and a pair of overlapping lower iiaps 72, 72a located adacent the bottom panel 57 of the outer wrapper of the package, one iiap of each pair of upper and lower cellophane tiaps being glued or otherwise attached to the other flap of each pair in order to seal the cellophane wrapper around the package.

The blank 44 used to form the outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURE 5, is similar to that shown in FIGURE 2, the blank being formed of thin substant-ially rigid paper, the inner surface of which is coated 10 with tin foil 45 or other type of metal foil, as shown in FIGURE 9.

The blank shown in FIGURE 6, comprises a front and a rear panel 46, 47 which are aligned with and integral with the bottom panel 57.

An upper panel 66, 66a is integral with each front and rear panel in substantially the same manner asl those shown in FIGURE 2, the panels being separated from one another by fold lines as shown in FIGURE 6.

The iixed side panels 48, 49 are integral with one edge of the front and rear panels, in the `same relative position as those shown in FIGURE 2.

The auxiliary side panel 64 which is integr-al with one edge of the bottom panel 57 and sepanated therefrom by a fold line, is located between and in substantial alignment with the fixed side panels 48, 49, the auxiliary side panel being separated from the fixed side panels 48, 49 in the blank shown in FIGURE 6, by =a pair of slits '73, 73a.

Similarly, Athe auxiliary upper tiap 65 is integral ywith the upper end of one xed side panel 49, the auxiliary upper iiap being in substantial alignment with the adjacent upper panel 66a, and separated therefrom in the blank 44 by a slit 74, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The contour of `the front and rear walls 54, 5*5 of the hinged side iiap is substantially the same as those shown in FIGURE 2.

An additional pair of auxiliary side flaps 62, 63 is integral with the front and rear panels 46, 47 of the outer Wrapper, as shown in FIGURE 6, the fold lines which separate the auxiliary side flaps 62, 63, from the front and rear panels coinciding substantially with the adjacent side of the front and rear panels, below the sloping line 58 for-ming the lower part of the cutout in the front land rear panels.

The fixed section 56 of the right-hand side panel, and the movable side panel 58 integral therewith, 1are located in substantial alignment with one edge of the bottom panel `5'7, the side panels being separated from the bottom panel and from one another by fold lines as shown in FIG- URE 6.

The front and rear walls of the hinged side flap, shown in the blank, FIGURE 6, are integral with the movable section 58 of the side panel and extend outward therefrom, substantially perpendicularly thereto, the folded front and rear walls S4, 55, of the hinged side flap being separated from the side panel thereof by a pair of fold lines which coincide with the front Iand rear edges of the side panel.

A pair of auxiliary side iiaps 62, 63 is formed integral with the lower end of the front and rear panels 46, 47 on opposite sides of the fixed panel section 56. The auxiliary side iiaps are separated from the front and rear panels 46, 47 by ya pair of fold lines, which are in alignment with the end of the bottom panel, also with the start of the sloping line 50, which forms part of the cutout in the front and rear panels 46, 47. The auxiliary `side flaps are separated from the iixed side panel section by a pair `of slits 7S, 75a, as shown in FIGURE 6, a gap 76, '76a being formed between the edge of each ` auxiliary side flap 62, 63 and the bottom edge of the 'adjacent front and rear wall 54, 55 of the hinged side flap, -so that when the front and rear walls assume the position shown in FIGURE 5, the auxiliary side flaps 62, 63 may be folded around the xed side panel section 56, the width of the auxiliary side flaps 62, 63 being substantially equal .to one-half the width of the iixed side Wall section 56, as shown in the assembled position, shown in FIGURE 8.

The package shown in FIGURES l0, ll and l2, is similar to that shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, except the blank shown in FIGURE 2, which is used for the outer wrapper in this package, instead of being made of thin rigid paper, and coated with tin foil, or other metal foil, as shown in FIGURE 9, is formed of plain thin relatively rigid paper, a separate tin foil liner, such as that shown in FIGURES l0 and ll, being inserted into the outer 1 l wrapper in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 12,

The tin foil liner shown in FIGURES l and ll, is formed in two sections, including fixed section 79 which is inserted into the outer wrapper, between the cigarettes and the outer wrapper, in the position shown in FIGURE l2, and a removable section 80, such `as that shown at the right-hand side, FIGURE l2, the removable section 89 or a major portion thereof being readily removable from the outer wrapper, thus freeing the end lines 36, 36a of cigarettes in the package, when the hinged side flap 24 is angularly moved to the extreme open position, shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE l2.

The fixed section 79 of the tin foil liner comprises a fixed side panel 81, which is located -adjacent the inner surface of the fixed lside panel 17 of the outer wrapper and a pair of front and rear panels 82, 83, the overall height of which is substantially equal to the height of the cigarettes in the package, the length of the front and rear tin foil panels being considerably less than the length of the front and rear panels 46, 47 of the outer wrapper, to provide room at one side of the package for the removable tin foil section 80.

A pair of overlapping upper flaps 84, 84a is integral with the upper edge of the front and rear panels 82, 83, the upper flaps 84, 84a overlapping one Ianother as shown in FIGURES l1 and 12, each upper flap being somewhat shorter in length than the length of the front and rear panels 15, 16 of the outer wrapper.

The length of the overlapping upper flaps 84, 84a, is substantially equal to the length of the front and rear tin foil panels 82, 83, as shown in FIGURE l0, so that in the folded position, the left-hand edge of the upper flaps 84, 84a, is in alignment with the inner surface of the fixed side panels 17, 18 of the outer wrapper.

The bottom flaps 85, 85a of the fixed section of the tin foil liner, are integral with the lower end of the front and rear tin foil panels 82, 83, the bottom flaps 85, 85a overlapping one another in substantially the same manner and in the same relative positions as the upper flaps 84, 84a shown in FIGURE 11.

The length of the overlapping bottom flaps 85, 85a is substantially the same as that of the overlapping upper flaps 84, 84a, the right-hand edge of the bottom flaps being in substantial alignment with the corresponding edge of the front and rear panels 82, 83, of the fixed section of the tin foil liner.

The removable section 80 of the tin foil liner, which is shown in FIGURES and 11, comprises a fixed side panel 86, which is parallel to the side panel 81 and located adjacent the inner surface of the fixed side panel section of the outer wrapper, and a pair of front and rear panels 87, 88, the overall height of which is substantially equal to that of the front and rear panels 82, 83 of the fixed tin foil liner section, the length of the front and rear panels 87, 88 being considerably less than that of the front and rear panels 82, 83 of the fixed section, the front panels 82, 87 and the rear panels 83, 88 of the fixed and removable sections 79, 80 of the Atin foil liner overlapping one another in the assembled position shown in FIGURES l0, 11 and 12.

A pair of overlapping bottom flaps 89, 89a, is located at the bottom of the removable section of the tin foil liner, the bottom flaps 89, 89a being integral with the lower end of the front and rear panels in the same manner as those of the fixed section of the liner. The length of the bottom flaps 89, 89a is shorter than that of the front and rear panels 87, 88 of the liner section, the bottom flaps extending from the right-hand edge of the bottom flaps 85, 85a of the fixed section of the tin foil liner to the side panel 86 of the removable section.

The projection beyond the upper end of the front, rear and side panels 87, 88 and 86 of the removable section of the tin foil liner is folded into an upper side flap 90, which extends outward beyond the fixed side panel 86 of the removable section, in the free position shown in FIG- l2 URE l0, the upper side iiap 9G being formed of two or more thicknesses of tin foil sheet.

In this closed position, the upper side flap is folded into a position in which it engages the outer surface of the side panel 30, of the hinged side flap, as shown in FIGURE 12.

Before moving the hinged side flap 24 of the outer Wrapper to the angular open position shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE 12, the upper tin foil side ap is moved outward to a position substantially perpendicular to the side panel 30 of the hinged side flap of the outer wrapper, to enable the user to grip the tin foil side flap 90, thereby enabling him to move the hinged side flap of the outer wrapper from the closed position shown in FIGURE l2, to the angularly open position, shown by dot-dash lines, in FIGURE l2, thereby enabling the upper portion of the removable tin foil liner section to be moved to the angular position shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE l2, thus enabling the removable section of the tin foil liner, or the front, rear and side panels 87, 88 `and 86 thereof to be removed from the outer wrapper iand in that manner enabling the end line 36, 36a of cigarettes to be moved to the angular position shown in FIGURE l, thereby facilitating the starting of the package, and removing the end line 36, 36a of cigarettes from the package.

The tin foil liner sections shown in FIGURES 10 and l1, are inserted into an outer wrapper, which is similar to that shown in FIGURE l, except that the outer wrapper is made of plain thin relatively rigid paper, the tin foil liner sections 79 and 80 being inserted into the interior of the outer wrapper of the package in the assembled position shown in FIGURE 12.

The outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURE 12 is substantially the same as that shown in FIGUR l and 2, and hereinbefore described, except for the elimination of the tin foil coating from the material of which the outer wrapper is made.

The front and rear panels 15, 16 and the overlapping fixed side panels 17, 18 of the outer wrapper are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The cutouts in the front and rear panels provided to facilitate gripping the hinged side fiap 24 are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The fixed side panel section 25, which is located below and integral with the movable side panel section 30 of the hinged side flap is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the hinged side panel section 30 being hinged about the junction line, or hinge 91 which separates the fixed side panel section from the hinged side panel section 30 of the hinged side flap.

When the outer wrapper of the package is closed, with the hinged side flap located in the position shown in FIG- URE 12, the upper tin foil side flap is folded into a position in which it `abuts the side panel section 30 of the hinged side ap 24.

The user lifts the upper tin foil side iiap to a position substantially perpendicular to the side panel 30 of the hinged side ap, as shown in dot-dash lines, FIGURE l2, after which the hinged side flap of the outer wrapper may be moved to the langularly open position shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE l2, the removable section 80 of the tin foil liner following the hinged side flap to the angular position, shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE 12. After the hinged side flap reaches this position, the upper side flap 90 of the removable tin foil section and the front and rear panels 87, 88 as well as the side panel 86 of the removable tin foil liner section 80 may be detached from the bottom aps 89, 89a of the removable tin foil liner section, and completely removed from the package.

With the hinged side flap 24 of the outer wrapper in the angular position, shown in FIGURE l2, the end line of cigarettes 36, 36a may be moved to an angular position, such as that shown in FIGURE 1, thereby facilitating the starting of the package and the removal of the 13 end line of cigarettes, shown in dot-dash lines, FIGURE 1, from the package. p A

In all other respects, the construction and the method of folding and utilization of the outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURE 12, is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE l3` shows a modification of the blank shown in FIGURE 2. This blank is similar in all respects to that shown in FIGURE 2, except for the position of the side panels, which support the hinged side liap, and the location of the hinged side flap 92 relative to the balance of the blank.

When the blank shown in FIGURE 13 is folded around the cigarettes in a package, the outer wrapper assumes a position substantially the .same as that shown in FIG- URE l', the hinged side flap 921, when opened, Kassuming an angular position which is substantially the same as that shown by dot-dash lines in FIGURE l.

The blank shown in FIGURE 13, which may be formed of fthin relatively rigid paper, such as that shown in section in FIGURE 9*, or of plain paper, with a separate tin foil liner, such `as that shown in FIGURES l0, 11 and 12, fitted thereto, is formed of a single sheet of thin relatively rigid paper.

The front and rear panels 93, 9'4- are integral with and located on opposite sides of fixed side panel 95, the front and rear panels being separated from the fixed side panel by fold lines.

The overlapping upper panels 96, 97 and the overlapping lower panels 9S, 99, are integral with the upper ends of the front and rear panels 93, 94.

An auxiliary upper iiap 101 is integral with the upper edge of the fixed side panel 95, a similar auxiliary lower flap 1112 being integral with the lower edge of the fixed side panel 95.

In the folded position similar to that shown in FIG- URE l, the auxiliary upper and lower flaps 101, 102 lfold under the overlapping upper panels 96, 97 and the overlapping lower panels 98, 99 of the outer wrapper, respectively.

The short fixed side panel section 104, which supports the hinged opening side tap in substantially the same manner as that shown in FIGURE l, is integral with and aligned with one of the overlapping bottom panels 99 and extends outward therefrom.

The hinged side panel 105 of the hinged side iiap, which is integral with and Valigned with the fixed side panel section extends outward beyond the xed side panel section 104 ,and is separated therefrom -by a fold line.

A pair of relatively low auxiliary front and rear panels 107, 108 is integral with the fixed side panel section 104 and located substantially perpendicularly thereto, one of the fixed auxiliary front iand rear panels being separated from the rear panel 94 of the outer wrapper by a slit 199, which represents la continuation of the cutout which forms the sloping edge 110, of the rear panel in substantially the same manner as the cutouts shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The front and rear walls 111, 112 of the hinged side flap are integral with the side panel 1415 of the hinged side flap and substantially `perpendicular thereto, the yfront and rear walls 111, 112. being of substantially the same length as, and therefore continuations of the `auxiliary front and rear panels 107, 108 in the blank shown in FIGURE 13. The front and rear Wallis of the hinged side flap 92 are separated from the auxiliary front and rear panels by a pair of slits 114, 114a.

The cut outs at the upper end of the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES l and 2, the sloping upper edge 115, 116 of each of the front and rear walls 111, 112 being located in the same relative position as those shown in FIGURES l and 2, the sloping upper edges 115, 116 being operative to engage the overlapping upper panels 96, 97 of the outer wrapper to limit the angular movement of the hinged side flap, when the outer wrapper is folded into a position such as that shown in FIG- URE l, in substantially the same manner as the front and rear walls of thehinged side flap shown in FIG- Unai.

FIGURES 14, l5 and 16 show another modification of the cigarette package shown in FIGURES l and 2.

This package, the outer wrapper of which is folded from a blank such as that shown in FIGURE 15, is also made of thin relatively rigid paper, one surface of the various panels of which may be coatedl with tinfoil, as shown in FIGURE 9, or plain as shown in FIGURE 12.

The front and rear panels 119, of the outer wrapper the height and length of which are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, `are integral with the lower section 121a of an auxiliary side panel 121, which is used in conjunction with a modification of the hinged side iiap in a manner hereinafter described in greater detail.

A pair of overlapping upper panels 122, 122a is formed integral with the upper end of the front and rear panels 119, 121i, and a similar pair of overlapping bottom panels 123, 123m integral with the lower end of the front and rear panels 119, 120, the length of the upper and lower panels -being substantially equal to the length of the front and rear panels, the width of the upper and lower panels being `substantially equal to the width ofthe auxiliary side panel 121.

A fixed side panel section 124i, the width of which is substantially equal to that of the auxiliary side panel, and located opposite the auxiliary side panel 121 in the folded position, shown in FIGURE 14, is integral with one side of the front panel 119 of the outer wrapper, the height of the fixed side panel 124, which is separated from the front panel 119 by a fold line being substantially equal to the height of the front and rear panels 119, 120.

A narrow side iap 125, which is integral with the outer edge of the rear panel 12) and separated therefrom by a fold line, is folded into a position in engagement with the inner surface of the fixed side pane-l, substantially perpendicularly to the front and rear panels 119, 12?, and glued or otherwise attached to the xed side panel in the folded position shown in FIGURE 14.

The upper Iand lower edges of the side flap 125 are angularly cut away or charnfered 126, 126e to facilitate assembly with `the fixed side panel 124.

The fixed side panel 124 has a pair of narrow auxiliary upper and lower fiaps 127, 12'7a integral with the upper and lower edges thereof, and separated therefrom by fold lines. The auxiliary upper and lower flaps, the width of which is substantially equal to that of the fixed side panel 124, are folded into a position substantially perpendicular to that of the fixed side panel, the auxiliary flaps being attached to the overlapping upper and lower panels 122, 122a and 123, 123a by gluing or other suitable attaching means. The outer edges of the auxiliary iiaps 127, 127:1 are cut away or chamfered 128, 129 in substantially the same manner as the auxilairy side flap 125.

The number of cigarettes in the package and the arrangement thereof are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described.

The hinged side flap 131 which is folded into a posi- -tion in engagement with the inner surface of the auxiliary side panel 121 is similar to the hinged side flap shown in FIGURES l and 2.

The hinged side tiap -is supported by a relatively low fixed side panel section 132, which is integral with and of substantially the same size as the fixed lower section 121a of the auxiliary side panel 121, the fixed side panel section 132 and the fixed lower section 121a of the auxiliary side panel 121 are separated from one another by a fold line which is located in substantial alignment with the bottom of the outer wrapper.

The hinged side fiap proper comprises a hinged side panel section 133, which is integral with and in substantial alignment with the fixed side panel section 132, and separated therefrom by a hinge line 134, as shown in FIGURES 14 and l5, the hinged side flap having a front and a rear wall 135, 136 integral therewith and substantially perpendicular to the hinged side panel section 133.

In the folded position shown in FIGURE 14, the front and rear walls 135, 136 of the hinged side fiap are located inside and in engagement with the inner surface of the front and rear panels 119, 120 of the outer wrapper, respectively.

An auxiliary upper tab 138, the width of which is substantially equal to the width of the auxiliary side panel, is integral with the upper end of the auxiliary side panel 121 and separated therefrom by a fold line, which is in substantial alignment with the upper edge of the front and rear panels 119, 120.

In the folded position, shown in FIGURE 14, the auxiliary upper table 138 is folded over the upper edge of the hinged side panel into a position in engagement with the inner surface of the hinged side panel section 133.

The edges of the front and rear panels 119 and 120 which adjoin the auxiliary side panel 121 are each cut out along a sloping line 140, the upper edge of each cutout being of arcuate contour 141, to facilitate gripping the front and rear walls of the hinged side iiap 131, when it is located in the closed position, shown in FIGURE 14.

The front and rear walls 135, 136 of the hinged side fiap are of substantially the same length as those shown in FIGURE l, The upper end of each of the front and rear walls is cut out, each cutout being located below a sloping line extending from the upper edge of the front and rear panels to a sloping upper edge 142e which is located adjacent the outer edge of each front and rear wall 135, 136.

The angle of the slope of the sloping upper edge 142 of the front and rear walls 135, 136 relative to the bottom of the front and rear panels 119, 120, is substantially the same as that shown in FIGURE 1, so that the hinged side iiap may be angularly displaced to the open position shown by dot-dash lines in FIGURE 14.

The essential difference between the hinged side flap 131 shown in FIGURE 14, and that shown in FIGURES l and 2, is that the upper hinged side panel section 133 engages the inner surface of the upper section 121 of the auxiliary side panel, the auxiliary upper iiap 138 at the upper end of the auxiliary side panel being folded into a position, such as that shown in FIGURE 14, thus causing the upper hinged side panel section 133, to be angularly displaced to the open angular position, substantially as that shown by dot-dash lines, FIGURE 14, when the upper section V121 of the auxiliary side panel is moved angularly outward by the user.

FIGURE 15 shows the blank used in forming the outer wrapper of the package shown in FIGURES 14 and 16. The blank is formed of a single sheet of thin substantially, rigid paper or a similar material, which is either plain, and has a separate tin foil liner inserted therein, or in which the one surface of each section of the paper is coated with a tinfoil coating in the manner shown in FIGURE 9.

The front and rear panels 119, 120 of the blank are formed integral with and extend outward from the auxiliary side panel 121, the lower fixed section 121e of which is integral with the front and rear panels 119, 1Z0, and separated from the front and rear panels by fold lines, the upper hinged section 121 of the auxiliary side panel being separated from the front and rear panels by the cutouts 140, 140e located at one edge of the front and rear panels.

The overlapping upper panels 122, 122a, and the overlapping lower panels 123, 123e are integral with the upper and lower ends of the front and rear panels 119, 120 respectively.

A fixed side panel 124 is integral with one edge of the front panel 119 and separated therefrom by a fold line, which is located at one edge of the front panel 119.

A pair of short upper and lower liaps 127, 127a are integral with the upper and lower edges of the fixed side panel respectively, the edges of each of the upper and lower flaps being angularly cut out or charnfered 123, 129, as shown in FIGURE 15.

A narrow side flap 125 is integral with the free edge of the rear panel, the side flap being separated from the rear panel 120 by a fold line. The upper and lower edges of the side flap are chamfered or cut away at an angle in a manner similar to the upper and lower flaps 127, 127e.

The hinged section of the auxiliary side panel, which is integral with the fixed section 121e thereof, is located in substantial alignment with the fixed section of the auxiliary side panel and separated therefrom by a hinge or fold line 143.

An auxiliary upper side flap 138, which is utilized as a means of gripping the hinged side panel section 133 of the hinged side flap 131, is integral with the upper end of the hinged section 121 of the auxiliary side panel, and separated therefrom by a fold line. The two edges of the upper side flap 131 are chamfered or angularly cut away in substantially the same manner as the upper and lower fiaps 127, 127e.

The fixed side panel section 132, which supports the hinged side panel, is integral with and aligned with the auxiliary side panel 121, the fixed side panel section 132 being integral wtih the lower section 121e of the auxiliary side panel and separated therefrom by a fold line, which is located in substantial alignment with the bottom of the front and rear panels.

The hinged section of the side panel, which supports the hinged side fiap is aligned with the fixed side panel section and integral therewith, the two side panel sections being separated from one another by a hinge or fold line 134, which serves as a hinge line for the hinged side flap.

The front and rear walls 135, 136 of the hinged side iiap 131 are integral with the edge of the hinged side panel, and separated therefrom by fold lines. The front and rear walls of the hinged side flap are somewhat shorter than the front and rear panels 119, 129, or the lower panels 123, 123e which they adjoin.

The front and rear walls 135, 136 of the hinged side flap 131 are separated from the bottom panels 123, 12311 of the outer wrapper by a pair of narrow slits 146, 146:1, which run along the edge of the bottom panels 123, 12311, a similar pair of slits 147, 14711, which are substantially perpendicular to the slits 146, 146o being provided at the edges of the fixed section 132 of the side panel to separate the side panel from the bottom panels 123, 123g.

'Ihe cutouts 148, 14811 in the front and rear walls of the hinged side fiap 131 are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURES l and 14, the angle of the sloping outer edge 142, 142a of each front or rear wall relative to the bottom of the front and rear panels, being substantially as shown in FIGURE 14.

The cutouts 140, 141 at one side of the front and rear panels 119, 120 which are located betwen the front and rear panels 119, 120 which are located between the front and rear panels 119, 120 and the upper section of the auxiliary side panel are substantially the same as those shown in FIGURE 14.

The blank may be made of plain thin semi-rigid paper or paper the individual panels or groups of panels, of which are coated with tinfoil, in a manner similar to those shown in FIGURES 12 and 1.

The package shown in FIGURE 14 may be made of tin foil coated semi-rigid paper, or a tinfoil liner similar to that shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 may be inserted inside the outer wrapper, between the cigarettes and the outer wrapper.

The number, `arrangement and location of the cigarettes in the package shown in FIGURES 14 and 16 is substantially the sarne as those shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, and the end line of cigarettes being removed from the filled package when `the hinged side flap 131 is moved to the open angular position shown by dot-dash Ilines in FIG- URE 14, in the same manner as those shown in FIG- URE 1.

The blanks shown in FIGURES 2, 6, 13 and l5 are all formed of a single thin sheet of semi-rigid paper, or a similar sheet material.

The height `of the packages shown in FIGURES 1, and 14 may be varied to accommodate varying lengths of cigarettes.

The construction of the hinged side flap may be varied `to some extent from those shown in FIGURES 1 and 14, to conform tothe construction of the balance of the outer wrapper of the package.

The hinge line 134 of the hinged side flap may be located at the point indicated in FIGURE 14, or lowered to -a point similar to that shown in FIGURE 5, the location depending upon the length of `the cigarettes in the the package, and the angle through which the end line o-f cigarettes is moved to facilitate removing them from the package, when the hinged side flap is opened.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that my present invention is not limited to the specific details described above and shown in the drawings, and that various modifications are possible in carrying out the features of the invention and the construction, operation method of folding and utilization thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A cigarette package of substantially rectangular cross-section operative to enclose a plurality of vertically supported cigarettes located in a plurality of longitudinal rows, comprising an inner metal foil liner, including a relatively fixed section and a removable section located adjacent the fixed section, folded around the interior of the package, and an outer wrapper formed of thin relatively rigid sheet material wrapped around the inner liner, the outer wrapper comprising 1a front and rear panel adjacent the front and rear surfaces `of the package, a first relatively fixed side panel located adjacent `one edge of the front and rear panels, an upper panel located adjacent the upper edge of the front and rear panels, substantially perpendicularly to the fixed side panel, a lower panel located adjacent the lower edge of the front and rear panels, substantially parallel to the upper panel, a second short relatively fixed side panel section, and a hinged side ap integral with Ithe second fixed side panel section and hinged thereto, the hinged side flap including a side panel located in substantial alignment with the second fixed side panel section and hinged relative thereto, and a front and rear wall integral with the opposite edges of the side panel of the hinged side flap, the fixed second side panel section being located between lthe bottom of the package and the bottom of the side panel of the hinged side flap, relatively low auxiliary front and rear panels integral with the fixed second side panel section and substantially perpendicular thereto, `the side panel being substantially parallel to the ver-tical axis of the package in the closed position, the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap being located in engagement with the inner surfaces of the front and rear panels of the outer wrapper, the auxiliary front and rear panels being located between the bottom of the package and the bottom of the front and rear walls of the hinged side flap, the auxiliary front and rear panels being adapted to limit the angular movement of the hinged side flap toward the interior of the package, thereby to retain the side panel of the hinged side ap in a position substantially parallel to the rst fixed side panel, the removable section of the inner liner being located at the side of the package adjacent the inner surface of the side panel of the hinged side flap, the removable seetion of the inner liner including a side panel 1ocated adjacent the side panel of the hinged side ap, and a pair of front and rear panels, located adjacent the front and rear walls of the hinged side ap, the length of the front and rear panels of the inner liner being considerably shorter than the front and rear panels of the outer wrapper, the fixed section of the inner liner having a front and a frear panel longer than the mating front and rear panels of the removable section thereof, the removable section of the inner liner having means formed thereon adapted to engage the side panel of the hinged side flap to facilitate angularly moving the hinged side ap about the pivot joint with the second fixed side panel section, the removable section of the inner liner being removable from the package after the hinged side flap is angularly displaced about the hinged junction thereof.

2. A cigarette package as in claim l, in which the front `and rear walls of the hinged side flap of the outer wrapper each has an angularly positioned upper edge located at the end of the front and rear wall opposite the end integral with the side panel thereof, the angularly positioned upper edges being operative to engage the inner surfaces of 4the upper panels of the outer wrapper to limit the outward angular movement of the hinged side flap relative to the front and rear panels, the inward angular movement being limited by the auxiliary front and rear panels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,394,591 Weis Oct. 25, 1921 2,049,680 Adams Aug. 4, 1936 2,202,280 Wilson May 28, 1940 2,361,733 Metzger Nov. 25, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,759/35 Australia Dec. 3, 1935

Images