Innerframe and apparatus for producing an improved innerframe

An innerframe for insertion into a cigarette box for securely retaining a bundle of cigarettes within the cigarette box, the innerframe comprising:

• a front frame panel having a width sufficient to be accommodated within the cigarette box and having first and second sides;
• a first sideframe panel connected to the first side of the front frame panel and having a first free edge at a first distance from the first side, said first sideframe panel having an elongated biasing portion formed therein, the biasing portion including a second free edge opposing the first side at a second distance greater than the first distance and formed with an arcuate shape such that said second free edge aligns with the first free edge;
• and
• a second sideframe panel connected to the second side of the front frame panel and having a third free edge at the first distance from the second side, said second sideframe panel having an elongated biasing portion formed therein, the biasing portion including a fourth free edge opposing the third side at said second distance and formed with an arcuate shape such that said fourth free edge aligns with the third free edge;
• wherein a portion of the respective elongated biasing portions of said first and second sides engage at least a portion of the bundle of cigarettes to exert a force upon the bundle of cigarettes so as to secure the bundle of cigarettes in the cigarette box.

A blank forming an innerframe inserted in a cigarette box, comprising:

• a front panel portion defined by a pair of parallel first and second side score lines, and top and bottom front panel margins;
• a first outer side panel portion, substantially planar and rectangular in shape, connected to the front panel portion along the first side score line and having a first outer edge opposite said score line defining the width of the first outer side panel portion;
• a first elongated biasing portion having a substantially rectangular planar shape, wherein one side of the first biasing portion would extend beyond the first outer edge when planar, said first biasing portion being formed into a substantially arcuate shape wherein said one side of the first biasing portion aligns with the first outer edge;
• a second outer side panel portion, substantially planar and rectangular in shape connected to the front portion along the second side score line and having a second outer edge opposite said score line defining the width of the first outer side panel portion;
• and
• a second elongated biasing portion having a substantially rectangular planar shape wherein one side of the second biasing portion would extend beyond the second outer edge when planar, said second biasing portion being formed into a substantially arcuate shape when said one side of the second biasing portion aligns with the second outer edge.

A blank for forming an innerframe for insertion into a cigarette box for securely regaining a bundle of cigarettes within the cigarette box, comprising:

• a planar sheet of pliable material having a having an edge portion and having formed therein
• a first perforated line and a second perforated line, said first and second perforated lines being parallel to each other and forming a first, second, and third regions on said sheet, and
• a first, second, and third subregions within said first region, and a fourth, fifth, and sixth subregion within said third region, said subregions being formed by first and second parallel cuts in said first region, and third and fourth parallel cuts in said third region, each of said parallel cuts being perpendicular to said perforated lines;
• wherein each said subregion has a first end and a second end, said first end of each said subregion being defined by said perforated line, and said second end of said subregion being defined by said edge of said pliable material, the distance between said first and second ends of said second subregion is greater than that of said first and third subregions, and the distance between said first and second ends of said fifth subregion is greater than that of said fourth and sixth subregions.

A frame for insertion into a box container, the container having a bottom box panel a top lid box panel, opposing right and left side box panels and opposing front and back box panels, each panel having a length and a width, the frame for securely retaining a bundle of elongated members within the container, comprising:

• a front frame panel portion defined by a left side and a right side, and a top and bottom margin;
• a left side frame panel connected to said front frame panel along said left side of said front frame panel, said left side frame panel having a length and a width, the width being greater than said width of said left side box panel;
• and
• a right side frame panel connected to said front frame panel along said right side of said front frame panel, said right side frame panel having a length and a width, the width being greater than the width of said right side box panel;
• wherein the frame is erected and inserted into the box so that said front frame panel is contiguous with the front box panel, said left frame panel is contiguous with the left side box panel, and the right frame panel is contiguous with the right side box panel, and said left and right side frame panels are crimped in at least two regions to form first and second creases in each side frame panel so that each crease is parallel to an edge formed by the intersection of the respective side frame panels and the front frame panel.