Multi-pack hinged lid cigarette carton with open bottom

Details Multi-pack hinged lid cigarette carton with open bottom Multi-pack hinged lid cigarette carton with open bottom

1998-01-09

2001-05-15

Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)

Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes

Paperboard box

With closure for an access opening

C229S103200, C229S103300, C229S184000, C206S434000, C206S309000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230966

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to cigarette cartons, and more particularly to a multi-pack hinged lid cigarette carton with an open bottom for ease in removing and repackaging the cigarette packs in the carton.
In the past, cigarettes have been sold in packs containing 20 cigarettes. These 20-cigarette packs have been packaged in cartons containing ten-packs, and more recently in five-packs holding five packs stacked in a lateral configuration, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,213, granted Sep. 1, 1992.
Revenue and tariff regulations require the application of revenue stamps on each individual cigarette pack, particularly shortly before the pack is sold to the ultimate consumer. As a consequence of this procedure, the revenue stamps cannot be applied during the initial packaging operation. Instead the retailer must open the carton, affix the revenue stamps to the individual cigarette packs and subsequently reclose the carton.
In other instances, the cigarette carton may include access openings therein adjacent each of the individual cigarette packs, and the revenue stamps are applied to the packs through these access openings. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,037 and 5,351,820, granted Sep. 15, 1992, and Oct. 4, 1994, respectively, describe such access openings for the application of revenue stamps without removing the cigarette packs from the carton.
Revenue stamps are generally applied to individual cigarette packs after the initial packaging thereof in five- or ten-pack cartons. These stamps cannot be applied beforehand because the applicable revenue depends on the location of final sale. Hence, it becomes necessary to remove the cigarette packs from the carton in order to apply the revenue stamp. Alternatively, the cigarette carton may include features which enable revenue stamps to be applied to the individual packs without removal thereof from the carton such as access openings in the carton and similar features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette carton with a generally open bottom wall which retains the individual cigarette packs in the carton but which enables easy removal of the cigarette packs as well as reassembly of the packs in the carton through the bottom wall.
In accordance with the present invention, a cigarette carton comprises opposite front and rear walls, opposing side walls, a top portion and a bottom portion. The bottom portion comprises a plurality of closure flaps connected to at least several of the front, rear and side walls. A horizontal hinge line is positioned between each flap and the carton wall to which it is connected. Each flap has a fully open position where it is located inside the carton directly against the carton wall to which it is connected. This position enables insertion and removal of the cigarette packs from the carton. Additionally, each flap has a closed position where it is positioned at an angle slightly inside the carton to thereby retain the carton contents.
Preferably the carton has four corners. At least some of the adjacent closure flaps of the bottom portion of the container are connected together by extended integral hinge lines for movement of the flaps between their fully open position and their closed position. The bottom portion also includes an anchor flap positioned within the carton directly against one of the carbon walls and connected to one of the closure flaps.
Preferably the closure flaps are connected to the front, rear and one of the side walls. Moreover, the flaps of the front and rear walls preferably are connected to the flaps of one of the side walls via the extended integral hinge lines.
The bottom portion of the carton has a central opening therein when the closure flaps are in their closed position. Also, the top portion of the carton may comprise a hinged lid cover integrally hinged to the rear wall of the carton along a generally horizontal axis for movement between open and closed positions.


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