Cigarette pack with partly removable innerframe
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorDonald H. Evers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A box-like cigarette pack has an innerframe which initially extends upward into what is normally a cutout in the front of the innerframe. This extension may then continue over the top of the cigarettes in the pack. The innerframe is weakened along the line which normally defines the cutout. When the consumer first opens the pack, he or she can remove the innerframe extension by tearing or separating along this line of weakening. Thereafter, the pack is like a normal pack. Additional information can be printed on the removable portion or portions of the innerframe. If provided, the portion which initially extends over the cigarette tops is a convenient size for use as a coupon or the like.
Claims18
A cigarette pack comprising:
- a substantially box shaped substantially stiff outer member having four vertical walls and a bottom wall, each of said walls having an inner face on the inside of the outer member and an outer face on the outside of the outer member, wherein said walls include an outer member front wall having a first vertical edge along the left side of the outer face thereof, a second vertical edge along the right side of the outer face thereof, a first top edge along the top thereof, and a first horizontal bottom edge along the bottom thereof;
- a rear wall substantially parallel to and spaced from said outer member front wall, said rear wall having a third vertical edge along the left side of the inner face thereof, a fourth vertical edge along the right side of the inner face thereof, and a second horizontal bottom edge;
- an outer member first side wall extending between said first and third vertical edges;
- an outer member second side wall extending between said second and fourth vertical edges;
- and a bottom wall extending between said first and second horizontal bottom edges, the height of said outer member front wall from said bottom wall to said first top edge being substantially less than the height of a cigarette;
- an innerframe member of substantially the same stiffness as said outer member, said innerframe member positioned partly inside at least an upper portion of said outer member and having an innerframe front wall positioned adjacent said outer member front wall and having an inner face and an outer face wherein said outer face of said innerframe front wall is placed against said inner face of said outer member front wall, said innerframe front wall including a fifth vertical edge along the left side of the outer face thereof, a sixth vertical edge along the right side of the outer face thereof, a second top edge along the top thereof, and a third bottom edge along the bottom thereof, said third bottom edge being below said first top edge, and said innerframe front wall extending up from inside said outer member front wall so that said second top edge is above said first top edge;
- an innerframe first side wall extending from said fifth vertical edge toward said rear wall at least partly inside said outer member first side wall;
- and an innerframe second side wall extending from said sixth vertical edge toward said rear wall at least partly inside said outer member second side wall;
- said innerframe front wall being weakened along a line which is located below said second top edge so that, when said pack is opened, the portion of said innerframe front wall above said line can be easily torn out of the pack for complete removal from the pack, said portion of said innerframe front wall above said line being free from attachment to any part of said pack other than to the remainder of said innerframe member via said line;
- and
- a lid member which fits over the portion of said innerframe member projecting above said outer member and which closes said pack when said lid member is closed;
- wherein said innerframe member is free from attachment to said lid member yet interferes with said lid member during opening and closing of said lid member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.