Device for perforating packaged cigarettes
OwnerPierre M. Stevensinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for perforating packaged cigarettes comprising first and second housing members, one of which is movably received within the other, one of the housing members having a plurality of spaced pins or needles which are movable to perforate or pierce the cigarettes contained within a package. The device includes means for selectively raising and lowering the package of cigarettes so as to create perforations at different points along the lengths of the cigarettes. Optionally provided is a locking mechanism for preventing relative movement of the housing portions to prevent the needles from inadvertently protruding from a nested position, thereby increasing the safety of the device.
Claims30
A device for perforating packaged cigarettes, or the like, comprising:
- a first housing member at least partially defining a receiving area for a package of cigarettes, or the like;
- piercing means coupled to said first housing member and carrying a plurality of piercing needles, said piercing means being moveable relative to said first housing member to cause said piercing needles to pierce the cigarettes in the cigarette package;
- said first housing member comprising needle receiving openings through which said piercing needles pass for guiding said piercing needles during the piercing of said cigarettes;
- and
- locking means coupled to at least one of said first housing member and piercing means for locking said first housing member and piercing means relative to each other so that they are substantially immovable relative to each other, thereby preventing said piercing needles from passing through said needle openings.
A device for perforating packaged cigarettes, or the like, comprising:
- a first housing member at least partially defining a receiving area for a package of cigarettes, or the like;
- piercing means coupled to said first housing member and carrying a plurality of piercing needles, said piercing means being moveable relative to said first housing member to cause said piercing needles to pierce the cigarettes in the cigarette package;
- said first housing member comprising needle receiving openings through which said piercing needles pass for guiding said piercing needles during the piercing of said cigarettes;
- and
- means coupled to said first housing member for selectively raising a package of cigarettes in said receiving area.
A device for perfortating a package of a plurality of cigarettes, or the like, comprising:
- a first housing member at least partially defining a receiving area for a package of cigarettes, or the like;
- piercing means coupled to said first housing member and carrying a plurality of piercing needles, said piercing means being moveable relative to said first housing member to cause said piercing needles to pierce the cigarettes in the cigarette package;
- said first housing member comprising needle receiving openings through which said piercing needles pass for guiding said piercing needles during the piercing of said cigarettes;
- and
- at least some of said plurality of piercing needles have different lengths such that cigarettes are successively pierced during relative movement of said piercing means and first housing member at different relative positions of said piercing means and said first housing member, thereby facilitating piercing of said plurality of cigarettes at any given position of said piercing means relative to said first housing member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.