Claims
- 1. A cigarette carton for packaging a first number of cigarette packs and of dimensions compatible with commercially available tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons and having hold-down guides for holding down the short and long lap flaps of a typical cigarette carton adjacent the exterior sides of the carton, each said cigarette pack having a pair of opposed long walls and a pair of opposed short walls, said cigarette carton having a first end and a second end and comprising:
- a first pair of first and second opposed exterior walls, each said first and second wall having a first edge adjacent said first end of said carton and a second edge adjacent said second end of said carton;
- a second pair of third and fourth opposed side walls adjoining and substantially perpendicular to said first pair of opposed exterior walls;
- a first extension panel extending from said first edge of said first wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said first extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said first wall and toward said second wall;
- a second extension panel extending from said first edge of said second wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said second extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said second wall and toward said first wall;
- a third extension panel extending from said distal edge of said first extension panel and having a free edge and
- a fourth extension panel extending from said distal edge of said second extension panel and having a free edge; wherein:
- at least one of said third and fourth extension panels has at least one tapered portion along the width of said free edge;
- the length of the shortest portion of said at least one tapered portion is sufficiently long to be tucked inside said carton and remain tucked inside said carton and sufficiently short along a sufficient width of said third and fourth extension panels so that said at least one one of said third and fourth extension panels is not snagged by a hold-down guide for a short lap flap;
- the shortest portion of said at least one tapered portion is adjacent one of said third and fourth side walls such that when said one of said third and fourth side walls is the first of said second pair of walls to approach said hold-down guide for a short lap flap and said at least one tapered portion is on the side of said tax-stamping machine at which said hold-down guide is positioned, the free edge of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is close enough to said hold-down guide for a short lap flap to be held down by said hold-down guide without being snagged, and said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is sufficiently held down once the longest portion of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels reaches said hold-down guide such that the longest portion of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is not snagged by said hold-down guide.
- 2. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein:
- said carton comprises first and second cigarette cartons joined together to form a dual carton dimensioned to contain said first number of cigarette packs;
- said first exterior wall comprises a wall of said first cigarette carton;
- said second exterior wall comprises a wall of said second cigarette carton;
- each of said third and fourth side walls comprises a first side wall from one of said two cigarette cartons and a second adjacent coplanar side wall from the other of said two cigarette cartons.
- 3. The cigarette carton of claim 2 wherein said two cigarette cartons are formed from separate blanks.
- 4. The cigarette carton of claim 2 wherein:
- said first cigarette carton has a fifth interior wall opposite said first exterior wall;
- said second cigarette carton has a sixth interior wall adjacent and coextensive with said fifth wall and between said fifth interior wall and said second exterior wall; and
- said first and second exterior walls remain readily visible while said fifth and sixth interior walls are not readily visible when said first and second cartons are joined to form a dual carton.
- 5. The cigarette carton of claim 4 wherein said first and second cartons are formed from the same blank and joined along a perforated line along said fifth and sixth interior walls at said first end of said carton.
- 6. The cigarette carton of claim 4 wherein said third extension panel is tucked into said carton between said fifth interior wall and said cigarette packs contained in said carton, and said fourth extension panel is tucked into said carton between said sixth interior wall and said cigarette packs contained in said carton.
- 7. The cigarette carton of claim 4 further including:
- a first bottom wall adjacent said second end of said carton and extending between said first and fifth walls; and
- a second bottom wall adjacent said second end of said carton and extending between said second and sixth walls; wherein:
- said first and second bottom walls are adjacent and substantially coplanar.
- 8. The cigarette carton of claim 7 further including carrier means bearing adhesive positioned across adjacent coplanar walls of said two cigarette cartons to join said cartons with said adhesive in operative contact with said last-mentioned walls.
- 9. The cigarette carton of claim 2 wherein when said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels are overlapped to close said carton, said free edge of the longest portion of said at least one tapered portion lies adjacent said first edge of the wall opposite the wall from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extends.
- 10. The cigarette carton of claim 9 wherein said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels are overlapped and releasably secured in said overlapped position to be transported to a distributor and plowed open by a tax-stamping machine.
- 11. The cigarette carton of claim 9 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having at least one tapered portion includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 12. The cigarette carton of claim 2 further including carrier means bearing adhesive positioned across adjacent coplanar walls of said first and second cigarette cartons with said adhesive in operative contact with said last-mentioned walls to join said cartons.
- 13. The cigarette carton of claim 2 wherein said at least one tapered portion of at least one of said third and fourth extension panels comprises a single tapered portion having a short end adjacent one of said third and fourth walls and a long end adjacent the other of said third and fourth walls.
- 14. The cigarette carton of claim 13 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having at a single tapered portion includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 15. The cigarette carton of claim 2 wherein said at least one tapered portion of at least one of said third and fourth extension panels comprises two tapered portions forming a substantially pointed long section proximal the center of said at least one extension panel.
- 16. The cigarette carton of claim 15 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth exterior panels having two tapered portions includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 17. The cigarette carton of claim 15 further including an additional extension portion extending from said substantially pointed long section of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels, wherein said additional extension portion may be tucked between said wall of said carton from which said at least one extension panel extends and between cigarette packs contained in said carton when said at least one of said third and fourth extension panel is folded under the extension panel from which said at least one extension panel extends.
- 18. The cigarette carton of claim i wherein the width of each said first and second exterior wall is at least as wide as a second number of times the width of the long wall of a cigarette pack to be contained in said carton and the width of each said third and fourth side wall is at least as wide as a third number of times the width of the short wall of a cigarette pack to be contained in said carton such that said first number of cigarette packs equal to the product of said second number of times the width of the long wall of a cigarette pack and the third number of times the width of the short wall of a cigarette pack can be positioned inside said carton.
- 19. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein the shortest portion of said at least one tapered extension panel is approximately one-quarter the length of said first or second extension panels.
- 20. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein the length of the longest portion of at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is substantially the same length as said first or second extension panel.
- 21. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having a tapered portion includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 22. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein when said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels are overlapped to close said carton, said free edge of the longest portion of said at least one tapered portion lies adjacent said first edge of the wall opposite the wall from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extend.
- 23. The cigarette carton of claim 22 wherein said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels are overlapped and releasably secured to close said first end of said carton so that said carton may be transported to a distributor and plowed open by a tax-stamping machine.
- 24. The cigarette carton of claim 22 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having a tapered portion includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 25. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein said at least one tapered portion of at least one of said third and fourth extension panels comprises a single tapered portion having a short end adjacent one of said third and fourth walls and a long end adjacent the other of said third and fourth walls.
- 26. The cigarette carton of claim 25 wherein the shortest portion of said tapered extension panel is approximately one-quarter the length of said first or second extension panels.
- 27. The cigarette carton of claim 25 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having a single tapered portion includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 28. The cigarette carton of claim 27 wherein the short end of said third extension panel is adjacent one of said third and fourth walls and the short end of said fourth extension panel is adjacent the other of said third and fourth walls.
- 29. The cigarette carton of claim 27 wherein the short end of said third extension panel and the short end of said fourth extension panel are adjacent the same one of said third and fourth walls.
- 30. The cigarette carton of claim 1 wherein said at least one tapered portion of at least one of said third and fourth extension panels comprises two tapered portions forming a substantially pointed long section proximal the center of said at least one extension panel.
- 31. The cigarette carton of claim 30 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having two tapered portions includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 32. The cigarette carton of claim 30 further including an additional extension portion extending from said substantially pointed long section of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having two tapered portions, wherein said additional extension portion may be tucked between said wall of said carton from which said at least one extension panel extends and between cigarette packs contained in said carton when said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is folded under said extension panel from which said at least one extension panel extends.
- 33. The cigarette carton of claim 32 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having two tapered portions includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 34. The cigarette carton of claim 33 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having an additional extension panel includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 35. The cigarette carton of claim 32 wherein:
- said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is folded beneath said extension panel from which it extends; and
- said additional extension panel extending from said folded extension panel is tucked between said wall from which said at least one extension panel extends and cigarette packs contained within said carton.
- 36. The cigarette carton of claim 35 wherein the other of said third and fourth extension panels is positioned substantially coplanar to said extension panel from which it extends and above said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels, such that said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels resemble lap flaps.
- 37. The cigarette carton of claim 36 wherein said lapped extension panels are secured to one another to temporarily close said carton.
- 38. The cigarette carton of claim 35 wherein said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having two tapered portions and an additional extension portion, and folded beneath the extension panel from which it extends includes both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 39. The cigarette carton of claim 38 further including a carrier means bearing adhesive positioned across said first and second extension panels to temporarily close said carton.
- 40. The cigarette carton of claim 39 wherein said carrier means includes a line of weakness positioned substantially parallel to said distal edges of said first and second extension panels.
- 41. The cigarette carton of claim 40 wherein said line of weakness comprises a perforated line.
- 42. The cigarette carton of claim 32 wherein said additional extension panel is joined to said one of said third and fourth extension panels along a line of weakness.
- 43. The cigarette carton of claim 42 wherein said line of weakness comprises a perforated line.
- 44. A method for passing a cigarette carton through a tax-stamping machine having a hold-down guide for a short lap flap, wherein said cigarette carton has a first end and a second end and comprises a first pair of opposed first and second exterior walls each having a first edge adjacent said first end and a second edge adjacent said second end; a second pair of opposed third and fourth side walls adjoining and substantially perpendicular to said first pair of opposed walls; a first extension panel extending from said first edge of said first wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said first extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said first wall and toward said second wall; a second extension panel extending from said first edge of said second wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said second extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said second wall and toward said first wall; a third extension panel extending from said distal edge of said first extension panel; and a fourth extension panel extending from said distal edge of said second extension panel; said method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one of said third and fourth extension panels with at least one tapered portion adjacent one of said third and fourth side walls;
- positioning said carton with said first and second exterior walls substantially parallel to the path of travel through said tax-stamping machine and with said one of said third and fourth walls leading first into said tax-stamping machine so that the shortest portion of said tapered portion is first to approach and be held down by said hold-down guide for a short lap flap; wherein:
- said shortest portion of said tapered portion is sufficiently short and extends along a sufficient width of said panel such that said at least one extension panel is not snagged by said hold-down guide when said carton is passed through said tax-stamping machine.
- 45. The method of claim 44 further including the step of leaving said hold-down guide for a short lap flap in a position required for conventional cigarette cartons having a long and short lap flap, which carton is typically passed through said tax-stamping machine.
- 46. The method of claim 44 further including the steps of:
- overlapping the flaps formed by said first, second, third, and fourth extension panels;
- temporarily securing said flaps to close said first end of said carton;
- passing said carton through said tax-stamping machine;
- opening said first end of said carton by inserting a plow beneath said flaps to separate said flaps;
- folding said flaps so that said flaps are adjacent the exterior of said carton and substantially parallel to said first and second walls; and
- passing said carton through a pair of hold-down guides positioned to hold down the short and long lap flaps of a conventional cigarette carton typically passed through said tax-stamping machine;
- wherein said at least one tapered portion is sufficiently held down by said hold-down guides such that the longer portion of said at least one tapered portion is not snagged by said hold-down guide.
- 47. The method of claim 46 further including the steps of:
- applying a tax stamp to the end of each cigarette pack contained in said carton;
- tucking said flaps into said cartons by folding said first and second extension panels substantially perpendicular to said first and second walls, and said third and fourth extension panels into said cartons and substantially perpendicular to said first and second extension panels.
- 48. The method of claim 47 wherein:
- said tucking step is accomplished by tucking the longest portion of said at least one tapered portion into said carton first so that the shorter portion follows in; and
- the shortest portion of said at least one tapered portion is sufficiently long to remain tucked inside said carton.
- 49. The method of claim 44 wherein said carton comprises two cartons and said method further includes the step of joining said two cartons to form a dual carton of dimensions compatible with commercially available tax-stamping machinery.
- 50. The method of claim 44 wherein said step of providing at least one of said third and fourth extension panels with at least one tapered portion includes the step of providing both said third and fourth extension panels with at least one tapered portion, the shortest portion of each said tapered portion adjacent one of said third and fourth walls.
- 51. The method of claim 50 wherein said step of providing at least one tapered portion includes the step of providing two tapered portions to at least one of said third and fourth extension panels such that said two tapered portions form a substantially pointed section proximal the center of said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels.
- 52. The method of claim 51 wherein said step of providing two tapered portions includes the step of providing two tapered portions to both said third and fourth extension panels.
- 53. The method of claim 51 further including the step of providing an additional extension panel extending from said substantially pointed section which may be tucked between said wall from which said extension panel extends and said cigarette packs contained in said carton when said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels is folded beneath the extension panel from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extends.
- 54. A method for passing a cigarette carton through a tax-stamping machine having a hold-down guide for a short lap flap, wherein said cigarette carton has a first end and a second end and comprises a first pair of opposed first and second exterior walls each having a first edge adjacent said first end and a second edge adjacent said second end; a second pair of opposed third and fourth side walls adjoining and substantially perpendicular to said first pair of opposed walls; a first extension panel extending from said first edge of said first wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said first extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said first wall and toward said second wall; a second extension panel extending from said first edge of said second wall and having a distal edge which lies substantially half way between said first and second walls when said second extension panel is folded substantially perpendicular to said second wall and toward said first wall; a third extension panel extending from said distal edge of said first extension panel; and a fourth extension panel extending from said distal edge of said second extension panel; said method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one of said third and fourth extension panels with an additional extension panel proximal the center of said panel;
- folding said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels below the extension panel from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extends; and
- tucking said additional extension panel between the wall from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extends and between cigarette packs contained in said carton;
- whereby said folding step causes said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels and the extension panel from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels extends to have substantially the same dimension as the short lap flap of a conventional cigarette carton which is typically passed through said tax-stamping machine, so that said hold-down guide for a short lap flap does not need to be adjusted for said carton.
- 55. The method of claim 54 further including the steps of:
- providing both said third and fourth extension panels with an additional extension panel;
- folding both said third and fourth extension panels below said first and second extension panels, respectively;
- tucking said additional extension panel of said third extension panel between cigarette packs contained within said carton and between said first wall; and
- tucking said additional extension panel of said fourth extension panel between cigarette packs contained within said carton and between said second wall;
- whereby said first and third extension panels and said second and fourth extension panels have substantially the same dimensions as the short lap flap of a conventional cigarette carton so that none of said extension panels will be snagged by said hold-down guide.
- 56. The method of claim 55 further including the step of providing a carrier means bearing adhesive across said first and second extension panels with said adhesive in operative contact with said last-mentioned extension panels to thereby close said carton.
- 57. The method of claim 54 further including the steps of:
- positioning said carton with said first and second exterior walls substantially parallel to the path of travel through said tax-stamping machine and with said folded extension panels on the side of said hold-down guide for a short lap flap such that said folded extension panels are held down by said hold-down guide.
- 58. The method of claim 57 further including the steps of:
- folding said folded extension panels substantially perpendicular to said first and second walls;
- folding the other of said third and fourth extension panels over the extension panel from which said at least one of said third and fourth extension panels having an additional extension panel extends;
- temporarily securing the overlapped extension panels together to thereby close said first end of said carton;
- opening said first end of said carton by inserting a plow beneath said extension panels to separate said extension panels;
- folding said extension panels so that said extension panels are adjacent the exterior of said carton and substantially parallel to said first and second walls; and
- passing said carton through a pair of hold-down guides positioned to hold down the short and long lap flaps of a conventional cigarette carton typically passed through said tax-stamping machine;
- wherein said extension panel having said additional extension panel is sufficiently held down by said hold-down guide for a short flap such that said extension panels of said carton are not snagged by said hold-down guides.
- 59. The method of claim 58 further including the steps of:
- applying a tax stamp to the end of each cigarette pack contained in said carton;
- unfolding said folded extension panels;
- folding said first and second extension panels substantially perpendicular to said first and second walls; and
- folding said third and fourth extension panels into said cartons and substantially perpendicular to said first and second extension panels.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending, commonly-assigned United States patent application Ser. No. 07/774,529, filed Oct. 8, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,106 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (30)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
358560 |
Oct 1931 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
774529 |
Oct 1991 |
|