US2901097A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN 2,901,097

CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR. ELM/A R0 J. TAMA/PW BYMMM 4 T ram/E 7 Aug. 25, 1959 Y B. J. TAMARIN 2,901,097

CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 615M641?! J TAM/M7 A Tram 5X B. J. TAMARIN Aug. 25, 1959 CONTAINER Filed June 19, 1 958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 10,6 INVENTOR. BflA/AAD J. MMA/P/A/ BY ATTO/PA/EX Aug. 25, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. BAT 144,90 J. TAMAAl/V Aug. 25, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN 2,901,097

I CONTAINER Filed June. 19, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY jb fl MW Ar a/var United States Patent C) CONTAINER Bernard J. Tamarin, Whitemarsh, Pa.

Application June 19, 1958, Serial No. 743,127

8 Claims. (Cl. 20641.2)

This invention relates to packaging of small articles (as, for example, cigarettes), concerning especially provision of improved closure features in a portable container therefor derived from a unitary blank foldable into container form.

A well-known kind of package for cigarettes or the like is composed of relatively flexible sheet materials, such as cellophane, metal foil, and paper; this soft type of container presents a considerable likelihood of damage to the contents by crushing, especially when partly empty. On the other hand, existing containers made of paper or cardboard stiff enough to be considered moderately crush proof or hard are difficult to open and close and are unduly expensive to manufacture, ship, and store.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a substantially rigid case or container of customary pocket size, formed from a component one-piece blank of uniform thickness, with improved closure means. An object is improved construction and operation of a sliding end closure of a portable container. A particular object is construction of a simple cnlshproof package adapted to be formed and packed by conventional cigarette-packag ing machinery. Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams.

Fig. l is a plan of a foldable blank of this invention in sheet form before conversion into container or package form, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper part of th blank of Fig. l at a stage in enfolding about an inner wrapper in package form.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the top end portion of the forming container of Fig. 2 at the beginning of folding to form the top closure; Fig. 4 is a similar view -of the same portion of the container at an intermediate :stage in the formation of the top closure; Fig. 5 is a per- :spective of the closed top end of the container of the preceding views; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the top of .the container opened to reveal part of the contents; and Fig. 7 is a perspective of the same container with the closure slide in an intermediate or partly opened (or partly closed) position.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the upper part of a foldable blank of this invention modified somewhat from that of Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a perspective of the top portion of a container being formed from the blank of Fig. 8; Fig. 10a is a plan of the top of a container formed from the foldabl blank of Fig. 8 and shown with the closure slide in the fully open position; and Fig. 10b is a rear elevation of the top portion of the fully open container of Fig. 100:.

Fig. 11 is a plan of another modification of packaging blank according to this invention; Fig. 12 is a perspective of the blank of Fig. 11 being folded into container form; Fig. 13 is a perspective of the top portion of the forming container before formation of the top closure thereof; Fig. 14 is a plan of the forming container at aninter-mediate stage in formation of the top closure; Fig. 15 is a perspective of the top portion of the completed container shown fully open; and Fig 16 is a side elevation, partly cut away, of the fully open top portion of the container of the immediately preceding View.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a packaging blank having a generally rectangular body portion foldable into a container having two pairs of wall panels and having a dispensing opening in one end and a captive closure slide for the dispensing opening, with the slide being attached to a hinged portion of one of the wall panels adapted to swing outward from the body of the container upon movement of the closure slide to uncover the dispensing opening. This invention contemplates that either or both the closure slide and the hinged wall portion preferably will have attached thereto a plane member or strip adapted to underlie an adjacent wall panel when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and adapted to move out from under such adjacent Wall panel to maintain surface continuity between the edge thereof and the hinged wall portion when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the closure slide. In particular, this invention contemplates providing, for an end closure of rectangular plan in a cigarette package having a substantially crushproof outer shell, a captive closure slide extending substantially the width of the end and adapted to move lengthwise thereof to uncover a portion of the end, the slide being composed of two strips lapping and adhering to one another at one end of each, at least one of the strips being secured to a portion of the shell while remaining free to slide in the lengthwise direction, and at least one of the strips optionally having at least one portion thereof adapted to cooperate with a portion of the shell wall to limit the lengthwise travel of the slide.

Fig. 1 shows packaging blank 1 viewed in plan from the surface that is folded toward the inside in subsequent views. The generally rectangular body of the blank haswall panels 2 to 6, inclusive, defined byparallel fold lines 7 to 10, inclusive, extending transversely (vertically in this View) from one longitudinal edge of the blank toward the other on corresponding welts (indicated by double lines) produced by scoring of the opposite side of the blank to facilitate folding.Wide panels 2 and 4 are equal to one another in width, as arenarrow panels 3 and 5;lap panel 6 is narrower than the other narrow panels.

At the bottom edge of the blank,panel 2 has irregularly shaped (generally rectangular)flap 12 extending from it over essentially the entire width of the panel, with scoredfold line 16 separating flap and panel; the free long edge of the flap has generally rectangular indentation 5'0 in it. Panel 4 has somewhat largerrectangular flap 14 extending from it over the entire width of the panel, with scoredfold line 18 intervening; the short dimension of flap l4 closely approximates the width of one of the narrow panels in the pair.Panels 3 and 5 have at the bottom substantiallytrapezoidal tabs 13 and 15, respectively, joined to the body of the blank at their bases along aligned respective scoredfold lines 17 and 19 (slightly offset from scoredfold lines 16 and 18 for the flaps and from one another to compensate for the thickness of the blank when folded).

At the top edge of the blank,panels 3 and 5 have a substantially identical pair of tabs (one each) rectangular in outline and extending therefrom over substantially the panel width.Junction 29 oftab 25 with the top edge ofportion 5 ofpanel 5 is defined by a scored fold line or welt, while the corners oftab 23 near the ends ofwelts 7 and .8 round smoothly intoperforated junction 27 of that tab with the top edge of interveningpanel 3. The

Patented Aug. 25, 1959 smooth surface of fixedly attachedtab 25 is interrupted by several welts 3-1 extending transversely thereof near and parallel to its junction with the supporting panel. Minorouter portion 23 ofdetachable tab 23 is coated with adhesive (indicated by stippling), betweentop 37 andside edges 41, 45.

Supporting panel portion fortab 25 is joined tomajor portion 5 of that narrow wall panel by scored fold line orwelt 38, which extends the width of the panel parallel tojunction 22. Adjacent wide panel 4 is separated fromminor portion 5 of the narrow panel by interveningslit 39, which is aligned with welt 9. Slit 4t) crosses the adjacent narrow lap panel obliquely and paralleling miteredtop edge 32 of minor top portion 6', which is separated thereby from the rest of lap panel'6, and terminates at the end ofwelt 38.

Generallyrectangular flap 24 joined to the top of wide panel 4 extends fromfree edge portion 44 of the panel to the edge oftab 25, a distance approximating two-thirds the width of the wide panel, alongjunction welt 28. The width (vertical dimension) of the flap corresponds closely to the width (horizontal dimension) of each ofnarrow panels 3 and 5.Triangular notch 47 is centered in the edge of the flapadjacent tab 25.

Flap 22, whose width over most of its length closely approximates that of the other flap (and the narrow panels) extends from freetop edge 42 of supportingwide panel 2 for approximately two-thirds of the wide panel width alongjunction welt 26 at the top of that wide panel. The flap narrows at its outermost edge, as a result of a sloping of the edge closest to tab .23, andindentation 43 of the opposite edge.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective a closed end portion of inner wrapper 2'1 juxtaposed to blank 1 and partly enfolded by it. Side walls of the wrapper are coincident with narrow wall panel 5 (with portion 5) and (not visible)narrow wall panel 3 and wide wall panel 4 of the folded outer blank. The lap panel (with minor end'portion 6) of the blank is folded toward the inner wrapper.Wide panel 2 is partly folded toward the wrapper, and adhesively coated portion 2 (visible in Fig. 1) thereof is about to overliemajor portion 6 of the lap panel. The tabs and flaps remain aligned with their respective supporting wall panels in this view. Visible at one end of the inner wrapper is removableendportion 30 thereof, defined by broken lines (indicating a perforated or crush-cut boundary line) and including a triangular flap portion of the wrapper.

While in Fig. 2 the forming package appears lying on its side, in the succeeding sequential views of Figs. 3 to 7 it is shown upright. Like Fig. 2, Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, omit in the interest of clarity all showing of the bottom of the container being formed.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective the forming package of Fig. 2 with the sides of the inner wrapper completely cnfolded and the top tabs of the outer shell folded part of the way over the end.Tab 23 partly overlapstab 25 at the free extremities of the two tabs. The upstanding flaps are shown spread slightly apart at the top to facilitate entrance of the tabs between them. Fig. 4 shows both tabs folded down against thetop of the inner wrapper with the detachable tab partly overlying the other tab and with the flaps partly folded down over them. The upper surface offlap 22, which is folded down further, is in position to be contacted by adhesive lower surface 24' of triangularly notchedflap 24.

Fig. 5 shows the top completely closed, withflap 24 folded down against the underlying flap (and adherent thereto). The flaps .overlie the lapped .end portions (not visible) of the tabs, whilethe opposite ends of both tabs are still attached to the supporting wall panels. The perforated junction of the detachable tab must be broken before the closure member formed by the tabs can slide to uncover-the dispensing opening. This essential stepcan be performed mechanically at a relatively late stage in the .4 enfolding of the container itself--which customarily is accomplished by machine, rather than by handor it may be done manually.

Fig. 6 shows the slide formed by the tabs detached at the near edge of the top and slid back to uncover the dispensing opening in that end of the container. Pressure of the forefinger in non-slipping contact with the portion of the slide crossed by parallel score lines 31 (corresponding to the welts visible near the base oftab 25 in Fig. 1) permits the slide to be withdrawn readily enough. Withdrawal of the slide swings the hinged top portion of the attached narrow wall panel (not visible in this View) outward, revealing attachedtop portion 6 of the adjacent narrow lap panel, and brings the detached tab wholly underneath the overlying fiaps to reveal the dispensing opening, which is bounded by the top edge ofnarrow wall panel 3 andfree edge portions 42 and 44 ofwall panels 2 and 4 plus the near edge of the flaps.

The top of the inner wrapper is shown being opened in this view by removal ofend portion 30 thereof, as may be accomplished most simply by placing thumb and forefinger of the other hand on opposite sides of the previously mentioned flap portion, grasping it lightly but firmly, and pulling it off to reveal part of the contents (here, cigarettes 20). In the fully open container, after removal of the detachable part of the inner wrapper, the top ends of five cigarettes are fully exposed, the fixed top closure portion formed by the overlapping flaps just clearing the second one in each outer row of the conventional 767 arrangement. One or more of the cigarettes may be ejected readily by tapping the top of the package.

After manual removal of the desired cigarettes (or other contents) through the dispensing opening provided by withdrawal of the closure slide, the slide may be returned to its original position to close the end of the package. The package can be held, and the slide manipulated, by one hand, if desired, as suggested in Figs. 6 and 7. When the slide is in the fully closed position, hingedportion 5 of the narrow wall panel (visible in Fig. 7) returns to its original position of alignment with the rest of that wall panel. Complete closure is positive and secure, preventing accidental opening under ordinary conditions, especially until all the cigarettes are removed. Emptying of the package, which usually occurs after from about ten to twenty openings and closings when used for cigarettes, leaves it in good condition for subsequent use as a container for buttons, tacks, screws, or similar household articles.

Fig. 7 shows the slide in an intermediate position, between the fully open and fully closed positions. Such an intermediate position may be employed to hold one or more cigarettes partly ejected, as is convenient when offering them to someone else from a partly empty package. It is apparent that withdrawal of the closure slide to the fully or partly open position provides a protruding partial enclosure (open to the far side of the container). This enclosure is bounded by hingedportion 5 of the visible narrow wall panel, the visible part ofminor portion 6 of the lap panel, and the adjacent portion oftab 25, along with the narrow side wall of the inner wrapper (not visible here). If desired, a used cigarette may be snuffed out by inserting the burning end momentarily in this enclosure. Thus, this first illustrated embodiment of the invention also provides a ready means for eliminating the fire hazard attendant upon disposal of lighted cigarettes. The intermediate or partly closed position is most effective in excluding air from the burning end of the cigarette to extinguish it in this fashion.

The component materials of this package are readily available, and the invention permits reduction in the amounts required, reducing the cost accordingly. The blank used for the shell itself (Fig. 1) may be made most conveniently from relatively stilf paper, such as that used for tags or playing cards. A high quality of paper stock can be used advantageously because of the economy afforded by adequacy of a single thickness (without added rigid paper backing or interliner) in the present construction and by the minimum of waste (at most several percent) in the die-cutting of the blank. The suggested inner wrapper may be composed of thin paper, metal foil, or a combination of the two, as is customary. If desired, either or both inner wrapper and outer shell may be made from plastic sheet material-relatively thin and flexible for the former and relatively rigid but foldable for the latter. The entire container may be covered in conventional manner by transparent plastic, such as cellophane, for example. Unlike the hard shell of certain existing cigarette containers, the present one is free (in the closed position) from protrusions designed to aid manipulation of the closure slide; consequently, it is not subject to distortion, as are those others, by reason of the tight fit assumed by an outer cover of cellophane or the like.

Scoring and slitting of the blank to facilitate subsequent folding can be accomplished readily during (or after) a die'cutting of the blank outline, as can perforation of the junction of the detachable tab to the rest of the blank. Although for simplicity of the showing only single scoring of the fold lines has been indicated, double or multiple scoring is useful in producing more rounded folds, sharp edges being generally undesirable in a rigid package.

Cigarette manufacturers, who package their own product and have a tremendous investment in existing machinery, can produce the above described hard-shell container conveniently on existing soft-package machinery (notably the AMP 3-79 model made by American Machine and Foundry Company) with only very slight modification. The sequential views of the folding of the scored outer blank will suggest to anyone familiar with the industry the ready adaptation of the standard packaging machinery to it; the formation of the outer shell partakes of the sequence of steps normally employed in surrounding the usual foil wrapper with a soft paper label, as well as those involved in shaping and closing the inner wrapper itself.

The blank and the container made from it may be modified somewhat without departing from the present inventive concept. Among the permissible design variations are those illustrated in Figs. 8 to b, inclusive. Fig. 8 shows in plan the upper part of blank 61, including top tabs and flaps. Other unchanged (from Fig. 1) portions of the blank are omitted from this view in the interest of simplicity. Reference numerals remain the same except where they designate a modified feature of the blank.

Flaps 72 and 74 are unchanged fromprevious flaps 22 and 24 except at the indentations in their edges. The left edge offlap 72, whose lower edge adjoinswall panel 2 alongfold line 26, hastriangular indentation 83 in it. Somewhat similarly, the right edge offlap 74, whose lower edge adjoins wall panel 4 alongfold line 28, has in it a triangular indentation defined byoblique edge portions 84 and 85. In each instance the indentation extends substantially from corner to corner in the indented edge of the flap.

Tab 73 of blank 61 is similar totab 23 of the previous blank, being detachable alongperforated junction 27; however, the rectangular outline of this tab is interrupted byindentation 67 in outer edge 77.Tab 75 is fixedly attached along scored fold line orwelt 29 to topnarrow panel portion 55, which is appreciably smaller in vertical extent than was portion 5' of Fig. 1, corresponding to the length ofedge portion 85 of the nearby flap indentation. Attached to the left edge of otherwiserectangular tab 75, along junction welt. 89, istriangular portion 90,

which fits into the triangular indentation ofadjacent flap 74, being separated by slits fromedge portions 84 and S5 of the flap.

Topminor portion 66 of the lap panel, which is hinged to the major portion of the panel along scored fold line orwelt 38 and separated from the adjacent narrow wallpauel by slit 39 (as was somewhat larger portion 6' in the previous blank) is provided withear 60 extending from the top edge alongside that slit.

Fig. 9 shows in perspective the top of a cigarette container being formed from the blank of Fig. 8, already folded to form the sides of the container. The flaps are slightly spread apart from one another, and the tabs are shown folded down between the flaps,detachable tab 73 partly overlapping fixedly attachedtab 75. In this view, the triangular portion of the fixedly attached tab is out of sight, having been folded down to a position along the inside face of wide side wall 4 (not visible in this View). Completion of the top closure by a folding down offlap 72 and then flap 74 (plus adherence ofstrippled portion 74 on the under surface of the latter to the outer surface of the former) will be readily apparent by analogy with the corresponding procedure for the previous blank.

After completion of the container formation,tab 73 may be detached along its perforated junction line. Upon detachment of this tab the closure slide can be withdrawn to uncover the dispensing opening. As the slide is withdrawn, attachedmovable portion 66 of the lap panel slides out from behindwide wall panel 2, thereby maintaining surface continuity between the edge of that wide wall panel and the hinged wall portion. The fully open position is shown in plan in Fig. 10a and in rear elevation (top portion only) in Fig. 10b.

It is apparent from Fig. 10b that movement of the slide to the fully open position rotates hingedtop wall portion 55, along with the immediately adjacent portions of elements attached to (or part of) it, through nearly ninety degrees of are (aboutjunction line 38, shown previously). It is obvious from related views (e.g., Figs. 6 and 7) of the previous embodiment that the attached top portion of the lap panel rotates accordingly upon withdrawal of the slide. In this modified embodiment the originally vertical side edge of portion 66 (not visible in this view) becomes substantially horizontal, as the slide reaches the fully open position, and abuts the under side of inner flap 24 (also not visible) to act as a stop, preventing further withdrawal or overshooting of the slide.

In the fully open position, protrudingcar 60 on the movable portion of the lap panel becomes exposed at the top right corner of the front wall. Pressure of the ear against the edge of the overlying flaps tends to maintain the open position of the slide, preventing it from creeping or springing partly closed as it may tend to do (because of the elasticity of the material from which the outer shell is made) but readily permitting the slide to be closed by intentional manipulation. At the opposite limit of travel of the slide, i.e., in the fully closed position, the top edge ofnarrow wall panel 3 is contacted by the previously attached edge oftab 73.

Also exposed in Fig. 10b is most oftriangular portion 90 of the fixedly attached tab. Liketop panel portion 66 at the front, this triangular tab portion lies against the inside of one of the wide wall panels, providing additional friction to maintain the desired position of the slide, especially in the closed and partly open positions. Thus, in this modification, the protruding portion of the container in the fully open position of the slide is completely enclosed on all four exterior planes (top, side, front, and rear). This not only presents a neater, more finished appearance but also further improves the rigidity of the slide. Incidentally, the necessity (present in the previous embodiment) of removing or stripping out the mentioned triangular portion when it is severed from the rest of the blank is eliminated.

It will be apparent that each of the principal added features of the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10b i. may be used separately from the other. Also, they may be incorporated not only in the embodiment first illustrated and described above but also in the following.

Fig. 11 and the succeeding views illustrate another modification of packaging blank similarly useful according to this invention. This blank differs from those previously shown in that it is designed to fold end over end, i.e., about an axis oriented perpendicular to the vertical folding axis previously employed. One consequence of this variation is distribution of the tabs and flaps for the top closure along opposite edges of the blank. For simplicity of the showing, no adhesively coated areas are denoted in the views of this additional embodiment of this invention; appropriate provision for adhesive or other sealing means will be apparent to one skilled in the art, especially in the light of the above teaching.

Blank 101, shown in plan in Fig. 11, haswide wall panels 102 and 104 adjoining opposite edges of interveningbottom panel 114 along junctions denoted by scored fold lines orwelts 116 and 118, respectively. Each wide wall panel is flanked by a pair of narrow wall panels extending for the full length of the wide wall panel. Thus,wide wall panel 102 hasnarrow wall panels 103a and 105a adjoining it along respective scored fold lines orwelts 107 and 110, whilewide wall panel 104 has similar narrow wall panels adjoining it alongsimilar lines 108 and 109, respectively.Bottom panel 114 is flanked bybottom tabs 113 and 115 separated from it byrespective slits 145 and 146.

Narrow wall panel 103a is a simple rectangle bounded byshort edge 131, slit 132 opposite the short edge, andlong edge 137, in addition tojunction line 107 opposite the long edge. Narrow wall panel 10312 haslong edge 138opposite junction line 108 but is bounded at its top edge byperforated junction line 127, which separates it from detachablerectangular tab 123;bottom tab 113 adjoins this narrow wall panel along scored fold line orwelt 117. Narrow wall panel 105k haslong edge 139opposite junction line 109 and is bounded at the top byedge 133, which protrudes upward slightly in the center, and at the bottom bybottom tab 115, which adjoins the panel along scoredfold line 119.Narrow Wall panel 105a is bounded in part byslit 134, which separates it from the last mentioned bottom tab, and bylong edge 130, which extendsopposite junction line 110. Hingedportion 150 completes this narrow wall panel, being joined to the rest of the panel along scored fold line orwelt 148, which crosses fromlong edge 130 to the connection offold line 110 withslit 149 aligned with that fold line. Joined to the hinged portion along scoredfold line 129 is fixedly attachedrectangular tab 125.

Free edge 14-4 ofwide wall panel 104 extends fromfold line 108, at the left edge, for nearly one-third the Width of the panel to scored fold line orwelt 128 marking the junction of the wall panel withflap 122, which continues along the panel to foldline 109 at the opposite side edge thereof.Flap 122 is generally rectangular but hastriangular notch 147 centered in its right edge.Wide wall panel 102 hasfree edge 142 extending for about one-third its width fromfold line 107 at the left edge, to score-cl fold line orwelt 126 marking the junction offiap 124, which continues to foldline 110 at the opposite side edge of the panel.Flap 124, whose outer edge is parallel tojunction line 126, has an oblique edge at the left andindentation 143 in the opposite edge, further narrowing the parallel outer edge.

Fig. 12 shows the blank of Fig. 11 in perspective at an early stage of being folded into container form.Narrow wall panels 103!) and 10522 are folded inwardly (i.e., toward the viewer) along their respective junctions with supportingwide wall panel 104 so as to face one another perpendicular to that wide wall panel.Bottom tabs 113 and 115 are folded toward one another along their junctions with the respective supporting narrow wall panels at right angles to both of those narrow wall panels and the intervening wide wallpanel Bottom panel 114,wide wall panel 102, andnarrow wall panels 103a and a also are swung inwardly in a common plane perpendicular towide wall panel 104, with the bottom panel in contact with the undersides of the bottom tabs.

Fig. 13 shows a subsequent stage in the formation of this container, in whichwide wall panel 102 has been swung up into parallelism with the other wide wall panel, andnarrow Wall panels 103a and 105a have been folded back against the outer surface ofnarrow wall panels 103b and 105b, respectively. This places longfree edges 138 and 139 (visible in previous views) of the respective narrow wall panels of the inner pair at the inside of the front vertically extending edge formed by the folding of the outer pair alonglines 107 and 110, respectively. Freelong edges 137 and of the outer pair of narrow wall panels lie exposed at the rear vertically extending edge formed by the folding of the inner pair alonglines 108 and 109. The resulting open-ended pouch configuration can be closed, as shown in the subsequent views, by folding down the top tabs and flaps, which in this view are still aligned with their respective supporting wall panels.

Fig. 14 shows in plan the appearance of the top of the container with the tabs folded down to close it.Detachable tab 123 is partly overlapped by the free end portion of fixedly attachedtab 125, which adheres to the overlapped portion.Flaps 122 and 124 are shown folded back (apart) slightly to facilitate entrance of the tabs between them. Immediately after the stage represented in this view, flaps 124 and 122 are folded down in that order to adhere to one another and thereby complete the top closure, as may be visualized from the previous account and illustration of the form first shown.

Upon detachment ofdetachable tab 123 fromnarrow wall panel 103b, the slide composed oftabs 123 and 125 may be withdrawn from the closed position in like manner to withdrawal of the slide of the embodiment first disclosed above. Withdraw-a1 of the slide permits extraction of the contents (here, cigarettes 20) through the dispensing opening previously covered by the portion of originally attachedtab 123 not covered by the flaps when attached or in the closed position.

Fig. 15 shows the resulting open top of the container in perspective, and Fig. 16 is a corresponding view of the top portion of the wholly open container in side elevation. Part of the near wide wall panel is cut away in Fig. 16 to show the relative positions of interior elements of the container when the slide is withdrawn to open the dispensing opening completely. In this position, overlapped leading edge of the detachable tab (itself detached at its opposite end from, the side wall but now adherent to fixedly attached tab 125) abuts the side oftop edge 133 of narrow wall panel 105b, the eoaction of these elements providing a stop to inhibit overshooting of the slide in the opening direction. It is clear that the slide may he slid back to close the container, and the reclosed position is not illustrated.

As with the embodiments previously disclosed, the blank and container last described may be modified some what in design and construction without involving a departure from the present inventive concept. The location and shape of the tabs and flaps may be varied while maintaining the essential features of the characteristic closure arrangement. While machinery for forming this last blank into such a container necessarily will vary from that suitable for folding the blanks previously shown and described, suitable steps are apparent from the above teaching, and appropriate design of equipment to accomplish the desired result will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a container formed from a unitary packaging blank and having a pair of wide wall panels spaced oppo- 9' site and parallelto one another, a pair of narrow wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels, with a dispensing opening in one end and a captive closure slide for the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a hinged portion of one of the wall panels attached to the closure slide and adapted to swing outward from the body of the container, upon movement of the closure slide to uncover the dispensing opening, and a plane member attached to the hinged wall portion and adapted to underlie one of the adjacent wall panels when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and to move out from under that adjacent wall panel to maintain surface continuity between the edge of that adjacent wall panel and the hinged wall portion when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the closure slide.

2. In a container formed from a unitary packaging blank and having a pair of wide wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a pair of narrow wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels, with a dispensing opening in one end and a captive closure slide for the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a hinged portion of one of the wall panels attached to the closure slide and adapted to swing outward from the body of the container, upon movement of the closure slide to uncover the dispensing opening, and a plane member attached to the closure slide and adapted to underlie one of the adjacent wall panels when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and to move out from under that adjacent wall panel to maintain surface continuity between the edge of that adjacent wall panel and the hinged wall portion when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the closure slide.

3. In a container formed from a unitary packaging blank and having a pair of wide wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a pair of narrow wall panels spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels, with a dispensing opening in one end and a captive closure slide for the dispensing opening, the improvement comprising a hinged portion of one of the wall panels attached to the closure slide and adapted to swing outward from the body of the container, upon movement of the closure slide to uncover the dispensing opening, a first plane member attached to the hinged wall portion and adapted to underlie one of the adjacent wall panels when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and to move out from under that adjacent wall panel to maintain surface continuity between the edge of that adjacent wall panel and the hinged wall portion when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the closure slide, and a second plane member attached to the closure slide and adapted to underlie one of the adjacent wall panels when the dispensing opening is covered by the closure slide and to move out from under that adjacent wall panel to maintain surface continuity between the edge of that adjacent wall panel and the hinged wall portion when the dispensing opening is uncovered by the closure slide.

4. In a substantially crushproof container useful for packaging cigaretts, formed from a unitary folding blank and having a dispensing opening in a plane surface thereof and a closure slide movable along the surface to open or uncover the dispensing opening and to close or cover the opening, the improvement comprising a composite structure for the closure slide including two component strips connected to one another, one of the strips being adapted to cover the dispensing opening when the slide is in the closed position and the other strip having an exposed expanse thereof connected at one end to another portion of the container and adapted to be engaged manually to move the slide, and means integral with the closure slide and cooperable with an adjacent portion of the container along which the slide rides upon moving between the open and the closed positions, the cooperating portion of the container being located to intercept the means integral with the slide upon movement of the slide to the fully open position thereof, whereby the slide is inhibited from overshooting that position upon movement in the opening direction.

5. Foldable packaging blank adapted to form a substantially crush-proof container for packaging cigarettes, the container having a dispensing opening in a plane surface thereof and a closure slide movable along the surface to open or uncover the dispensing opening and to close or cover the opening, with a composite structure for the closure slide including two component strips connected to one another, one of the strips being adapted to cover the dispensing opening when the slide is in the closed position and the other strip having an exposed expanse thereof connected at one end to another portion of the container and adapted to be engaged manually to move the slide, the blank comprising a generally rectangular body portion including a pair of wide wall panels adapted to be spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a pair of narrow wall panels adapted to be spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to and joining the wide wall panels, and along an edge of the body portion a narrow lap panel adapted to be positioned parallel to the wide wall panels and to lap part of one of the wide wall panels and to be secured thereto over part of the extent of the lap panel, a tab detachably adjoined to an edge of one of the pair of narrow panels and adapted upon detachment therefrom to constitute the first of the component strips of the closure slide, a tab fixedly adjoined to an edge of the opposite narrow wall panel and adapted to constitute the second strip of the closure slide, the two tabs being adapted to be attached to one another at one end of each upon folding of the blank into container form, and a flap extending from an edge of one of the wide wall panels and adapted to overlie the attached end portions of the component strips of the closure slide and to remain clear of the dispensing opening and of at least a portion of the other end of the component strip constituted by the fixedly adjoined tab.

6. The article ofclaim 5 folded into container form, in which the portion of the narrow wall panel fixedly adjoining the second component strip of the closure slide is hinged to the rest of that narrow wall panel on a transverse fold line spaced from the end of the strip and extending the width of the panel and is adapted thereby to be swung out of the plane of that wall panel upon movement of the closure slide; the junction between that narrow wall panel and the wide wall panel spaced opposite the narrow lap panel is slit from the end adjacent the adjoining tab to one end of the transverse fold line, the portion of the lap panel intervening between the slit and the adjacent component strip of the closure slide being left unsecured to the lapping wide wall panel; and the narrow lap panel is divided by a slit extending across it and terminating at the confluence of the transverse line and the junction between the narrow wall panel and the lap panel, whereby movement of the closure slide from the closed to the open position is accompanied by a swinging outward of the hinged portion of the narrow wall panel and the intervening portion of the narrow lap panel from the body of the container.

7. Foldable packaging blank adapted to form a crushproof container for packaging cigarettes, the container having a dispensing opening in a plane surface thereof and a closure slide movable along the surface to open or uncover the dispensing opening and to close or cover the opening, with a composite structure for the closure slide including two component strips connected to one another, one of the strips being adapted to cover the dispensing opening when the slide is in the closed position and the other strip having an exposed expanse thereof connected at one end to another portion of the container and adapted to be engaged manually to move the slide, the blank comprising a generally rectangular body portion including a pair of Wide wall panels adapted to be spaced opposite and parallel to one another, a first pair of narrow wall panels flanking one of the wide wall panels and adapted to be spaced opposite and parallel to one another and perpendicular to the wide wall panels, a second pair of narrow wall panels flanking the other of the wide wall panels and respectively adapted to be spaced opposite and parallel to one another and to lap and be secured to the respective narrow wall panels of the first pair, a tab detachably adjoined to an edge of a narrow wall panel of the first pair and adapted upon detachment therefrom to constitute the first of the component strips of the closure slide, a tab fixedly adjoined to the edge of the narrow wall panel of the second pair spaced furthest from the junction of the detachable tab and adapted to constitute the second component strip of the closure slide, the two tabs being adapted to be attached to one another at one end of each upon folding of the blank into container form, and a flap extending from an edge of one of the wide wall panels and adapted to overlie the attached end portions of the component strips of the closure slide and to remain clear of the dispensing opening and of at least a portion of the other end of the component strip constituted by the fixedly adjoined tab.

8. The article ofclaim 7 folded into container form, in

which the narrow wall panel fixedly adjoining the second component strip of the closure slide is located along the exterior of the container; a portion of that panel is hinged to the rest of that panel on a transverse fold line spaced from the end of the strip and extending the width of that panel; and the junction between that narrow wall panel and the adjoining wide wall panel is slit from the end adjacent the tab to the transverse fold line, whereby the hinged portion of the narrow wall panel is adapted to swing outward from the body of the container upon movement of the closure slide from the closed to the open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,397 Lynch Nov. 21, 1899 1,007,390 Robinson Oct. 31, 1911 1,673,426 Tinsley June 12, 1928 1,874,318 Levhofl Aug. 30, 1932 1,951,274 Denman Mar. 13, 1934 2,254,608 Heyer Sept. 2, 1941 2,330,926 Rous Oct. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 634,802 Germany Sept. 3, 1936

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