Untitled record

March 31, 1964

Filed Aug. 27, 1962

R. GUYER

DISPENSING CARTON

3,127,083

Sheets-Sheet 1

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March 31, 1964

3,127,083

R. GUYER

DISPENSING CARTON

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ATTORNEY

March 31, 1964

3,127,083

R. GUYER

DISPENSING CARTON

Filed Aug, 27, 1962

Sheets-Sheet 3

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INVENTOR /^£7 Y/VOL D S Gc/7£R

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ATTORNEY

United States Patent Office 3,127,083

Patented Mar. 31, 1964

3,127,083 DISPENSING CARTON

Reynolds Guyer, White Bear Lake, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota

Filed Aug. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 219,649

Claims. (CI. 229—11)

This invention relates to an improvement in dispensing cartons and deals particularly with a carton useful for containing cigarettes and the like so that they can be readily removed.

Cigarettes are often difficult to remove from a cigarette package of usual type, particularly when the package is full. Numerous types of packages have been produced which are designed to simplify the removal of the cigarettes, but for various reasons these have not been generally used. For example, some packages have been arranged which facilitate the removal of the first cigarettes from the package, but difficulty is still found in removing the cigarettes from an almost empty package. It is an object of the present invention to provide a package from which all of the cigarettes may be readily removed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton including an outer sleeve, the ends of which are mainly open. A pair of package sections are supported in side-by-side relation within the outer sleeve, each section being slidable for a predetermined distance out of the outer sleeve. The inner sections are so arranged that as the sections are slid outwardly, the projecting end tilts toward the center of the package. The sections are provided with open outer sides, and means is provided to hold the cigarettes from tilting in unison with the slidable section. As a result, certain of the cigarettes are readily accessible for removal from the rest.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a dispensing carton of the type described which includes two generally similar sections which are slidably supported in an outer sleeve and which permit the cigarettes or other contents to be dispensed first from one side of the package and then from the other. Due to the fact that the cigarettes in the two sections may be separately wrapped, the cigarettes remain fresh for a longer period of time.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the closed carton showing the general construction thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing one of the slidable sections in dispensing position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the outer sleeve of the package showing the general construction thereof.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view horizontally through the sleeve, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4—4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view through the outer sleeve, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5—5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one section of the carton removed from the remainder of the package to show the general construction thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the other inner portion of the package.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view just inside one of the outer walls of the outer sleeve showing the relationship of the parts in closed position of the package.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, showing one of the sections in dispensing position.

FIGURE 10 is a vertical sectional view just inside of the opposite wall of the outer sleeve, the position of the section being indicated by the line 10—10 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10, but showing the other section of the carton in dispensing position.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the outer sleeve is formed.

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which one inner section is formed.

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the other inner section of the carton is formed.

In general, the package A includes three main elements, an outer sleeve which is indicated in general by the numeral 10, a first dispensing section which is indicated in general by the numeral 11, and a second dispensing section which is indicated in general by the numeral 12. The outer sleeve includes a side wall panel portion 13, an end wall panel 14, a side wall panel 15, an end wall panel 16, and a side wall panel portion 17, these panels being connected in series along parallel fold lines 19, 20, 21, and 22 respectively. The side wall panel portion 17 is foldably connected to a partition panel 23 along a fold line 24, and the partition panel 23 is in turn connected along a fold line 25 to a glue flap 26. The width of the various panels is obviously a matter of choice but as it is customary to package 20 cigarettes in a package, and as it is usual to package the twenty cigarettes in three rows with two of the rows containing seven cigarettes and the remaining row containing six cigarettes, the carton cannot well be centrally divided if it is to be used for this purpose. Accordingly, in the particular arrangement illustrated, the side wall panel 17 is approximately threefifths the width of the side wall panel 15 so as to position the partition panel 23 properly to divide the interior of the sleeve into two sections, one of which is of a size equal to three-fifths the total cross-sectional area, and the other of which equal to approximately two-fifths of the total area.

The fold lines 24 and 25 connecting the partition panel 23 to the side wall panel portion 17 and glue flap 26 extend downwardly from the top of the blank about onethird of the total height of the side wall, and a pair of L-shaped cut lines 27 and 29 extend from the lower ends of these fold lines 24 and 25 to the lower end of the blank. These L-shaped cut lines 27 and 29 extend inwardly from the respective fold lines 24 and 25 so that the lower portion 3® of the partition panel 23 is somewhat narrower than the upper portion of the partition panel and so that the side edges of the lower portion of the partition panel terminate in spaced parallel relation to the carton side walls when the blank has been glued together. The lower portion 30 is preferably divided into two sections of equal length by a transverse fold line 31, the lower extremity 32 of the partition panel being folded into face contact with the portion of the partition panel above the fold line 31 so that the lower portion of the partition wall is of double thickness and so that after folding the lower end of the partition panel will be rounded rather than a sharp cut edge.

Only the central portions of the side wall panels extend the full height of the carton, the lower edge of the side wall panel portion 13 being connected along a fold line 33 to a bottom closing flap 34, and the bottom of the central portion of the side wall panel 15 being connected along a fold line 35 which is aligned with the fold line 33 to a bottom closing flap 34. The end wall panels 14 and 16 are materially shorter in height than the side elements 13, 15, and 17 and terminate substantially above the level of the fold lines 33 and 35 so as to provide access to the inner slidable sections as may best be seen

3,127,083 in FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. The lower corners of the side wall panel 15 are notched out as indicated at 36, and in a similar manner, the lower corners of the side wall portions 13 and 17 which adjoin the fold lines 19 and 22 respectively are notched out as indicated at 37 and 39. As a result, when the sleeve has been connected in tubular form, the lower sides of the sleeve are entirely cut away as indicated in the drawings. In forming the sleeve, the lower end 32 of the partition wall 23 is folded to lie in face contact with the portion of this partition wall above the fold line 31, the glue flap 26 is adhered to the inner surface of the side wall 15, and the side wall portion 13 is adhered in overlapping relation with the side wall portion 17. When thus formed, the blank may be opened up to form the cross sectional shape illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

The narrower of the two slidable inner compartments is indicated in general at 12 in FIGURE 13 of the drawings. The blank 12 includes a bottom panel 40 foldably connected along parallel fold lines 41 and 42 to side wall panels 43 and 44 respectively. The upper edges of the side wall panels 43 and 44 are foldably connected along fold lines 45 and 46 respectively to top closing flaps 47 and 49. An outer end wall 50 is foldably connected to an edge of the bottom panel 40 which is at right angles to the fold lines 41 and 42, and corner flaps 51 and 52 are foldably connected to the outer end wall panel 50 along extensions of the fold lines 41 and 42.

An inner end wall 53 is foldably connected to the remaining edge of the rectangular bottom panel 40 along a fold line 54, and the inner end wall 53 is provided with corner flaps 55 and 56 which are foldably connected thereto along extensions of the fold lines 41 and 42.

The side wall 43 tapers in width from its juncture with the bottom wall 40 along the fold line 41 to a point of least width 57, the side wall 43 also tapering in width from the top fold line 45 to the point 57 along the angular cut line 59. An angular cut line 60 which includes a small offset 61 extends from the narrowest point 57 to an end of the fold line 41. The narrowest point 57 is near the upper end of the side wall 43 and in the arrangement illustrated is located about one-fourth of the height of the side wall from the upper fold line 45.

The opposite side wall 44 also tapers in width from the fold line 42 connecting the side wall to the bottom wall 40 to the point of least width 62. The one edge of the side wall 44 is cut along the angular cut line 63 from an end of the top fold line 46 to the point of least width 62, and a cut line 64 angles from the point of least width 62 to the corresponding end of the bottom fold line 42. The cut line 64 is interrupted by a hook shaped projection 65 which extends beyond the width of the bottom wall 40 and top flaps 47 and 49, the hook shaped projection 65 defines a V-shaped notch 66 between this projection and the upper portion of the cut line 64.

In the formation of the slidable section 12, the top flaps 47 and 49 are adhered in face contact to form a rectangular tubular construction. The corner flaps 51 and 52 of the outer end wall 50 are folded into face contact with the inner surface of the side walls 43 and 44 respectively, and are adhered in this position. The corner flaps 55 and 56 of the inner end wall 53 are also folded between the side walls 43 and 44 and are adhered in this position. The completely assembled section is perhaps best illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. In actual practice, a group of cigarettes B, which are preferably wrapped in a generally rectangular block with foil, are inserted between the top and bottom of the section 12 at some stage of the assembly thereof. Usually the cigarettes are inserted after the sections 11 and 12 have been assembled into the outer sleeve 10, and before the top flaps 47 and 49 are adhered together, but this is a matter of choice. For the purpose of explanation, it may be stated that in the drawings, the foil wrapper has been omitted in order that the actual location of the cigarettes within the package may be more readily noted.

Section 11 of the carton is virtually identical with the section 12 except for the proportions of the section 11 being somewhat wider. Section 11 includes a bottom panel 69 which is foldably connected along parallel fold lines 70 and 71 to side wall portions 72 and 73, respectively. The side walls 72 and 73 are connected along parallel fold lines 74 and 75 to top panels 76 and 77. These top panels 76 and 77 are adhered in overlapping relation to provide a rectangular sleeve.

An outer end wall 79 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 69 along a fold line 80 which is at right angles to the fold lines 70 and 71. Corner flaps 81 and 82 are foldably connected to the end walls 79 along parallel fold lines which are extensions of the fold lines 70 and 71.

The fourth edge of the bottom panel 69 is foldably connected along a fold line 83 to the inner end wall 84. The wall 84 is foldably connected along extensions of the fold lines 70 and 71 to corner flaps 85 and 86.

The side wall 72 varies in width to a point of least width §9 located about three-quarters of the distance from the fold line 70 to the fold line 74. This point 84 is connected to the end of the fold line 74 by an angular cut line 90 and is connected to an end of the fold line 70 by an angular cut line 91 including an offset 92. In the same way, the side wall 73 is tapered in width and includes a point of least width 93 which is also about threequarters of the distance between fold lines 71 and the fold line 75. The point of least width 93 is connected to the upper end of the side wall along an angular cut line 94, and to the end of the fold line 71 connecting the side wall to the bottom panel by an angular cut line 95. A hook-shaped projection 96 extends from the angular cut line 95 to a point slightly beyond the edges of the bottom panel 69 and top panel 77.

FIGURE 6 of the drawings illustrates the wider section 11 in set up form, and unfilled so that the interior of the section can be seen. Obviously, a generally rectangular package of cigarettes is inserted into the section at some time during the assembly thereof. The top panel 76 and 77 are adhered in overlapping relation to form a rectangular tube. The corner flaps 81 and 82 are adhered to the inner surfaces of the side walls 72 and 73, and corner flaps 85 and 86 are adhered to the inner surfaces of these same side walls 72 and 73 to form a tray-shaped lower end. The end wall 79 is of sufficient length to extend into the outer sleeve.

The two sections 11 and 12 are assembled into the outer sleeve in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 10 of the drawings with the side wall 44 of the section 12 which bears the hook-shaped projection 60 on a plane with the side 72 of the section 11 which does not bear the hook-shaped projection. Similarly as indicated in FIGURE 8, the side 73 of section 11 which bears the hook-shaped projection 96 is on the plane with the opposite side wall 43 of section 12. When in this position, the hook-shaped projections 65 and 96 of the two sections extend between the dividers 30, 32 extending down from the partition wall 23 and the adjoining side walls of the outer sleeve. When it is desired to remove cigarettes from section 12, the upper end of this section is pushed upwardly as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 11, this action causing the hook-shaped projection to engage the lower edge of the partition wall 23 at the upper end of the L-shaped slots 27 and 29. Further upward movement causes the generally rectangular section 12 to tilt in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 11, the partition wall 23 engaging in the V-shaped notch 66 between the projection 65 and the remainder of the side wall 44. At the same time, the cigarettes B contained within section 12 are prevented from tilting with the section by the partition wall 23. Thus the upper ends of at least some of the cigarettes B are exposed and can be readily removed. The carton is closed by merely pushing downwardly on the top of this section.

The cigarettes C contained within the larger section 12

3,127,083 are similarly dispensed. As the section 11 is pushed upwardly, the hook shaped projection 96 engages the lower edge of the partition wall 23 above the L-shaped slots 27 or 29, causing the rectangular section 11 to tilt inwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings, exposing certain of the cigarettes C so that they may be easily removed. The carton is closed by merely pushing downwardly on the top of the section 11.

Thus it will be seen that a novel dispensing package is produced which moves the contents of the package into position where they can be readily taken from the package. While the package is particularly adapted for use in the dispensing of cigarettes, it is obvious that other articles of a somewhat similar nature can be similarly packaged and dispensed. In such a case the two sections would normally be of the same size, and the partition would be in the center of the carton rather than offset from the center as in the design illustrated.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in dispensing cartons, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.