Cigarette carton with modified tuck-in flap

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.

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.