Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~, ~,~,?
33~106
TWO SEPA~TE ~RTONS COMBINED ~S ~ SINGLE _NIT
Background of the Ir1vention
The present invention relates to cigarette cartons, and more
particularly to the connection of or more two separate cigarette
cartons to form a multiple carton.
Cigarette packs (which usually contain twenty cigarettes)
are generally rectangular in shape, having front and back long walls
connected by two short side walls. Cigarette cartons typically
contain two rows of five cigarette packs per row (each row arranged
so that the front long walls of the packs are in the same plane and
the back long walls are in a parallel plane spaced from the front
long walls) and are generally known to the art as ten-pack cartons.
Such cigarette cartons are generally filled with cigarette packs by
the manufacturer, temporarily closed (e.g., by folding the top flap
of the carton over the box and releasably securing the flap in the
closed position), and shipped to various distributors. The
distributors generally open the cartons to apply the tax stamp that
may be required by the jurisdiction in which they operate to the
ends of individual cigarette packs while still inside the cartons.
Such procedures are commonly automated, to reduce time, cost, and
labor, through the use of specially designed machines for applying
tax stamps. Tax-stamping machines have been developed to open the
cartons, apply the stamps, and finally seal the cartons for
distribution. Such machines are generally commercially available,
and are well known to the art. These machines have been developed
for standard ten-pack cigarette cartons. A typical tax-stamping
machine is model FUSON manufactured by ~eyercord of 365 East North
Avenue, Carol Stream, Illinois 60187.
Single row cigarette cartons which are dimensioned to
contain one row of five cigarette packs (each pack usually
containing twenty cigarettes, the packs arranged so that the front
long walls of the packs are in the same plane and the bacX long
walls are in a parallel plane spaced from the front long walls),
Sr~ ?~ "
i.e., f~ve~ ck carton~., ar~ al50 knnwtl to t~e Irt. H~r~cver,
althollgh machinery Ohlst~ for ~.mufacturlng such ~artons, iaehinery
~oes not e~i~t ~or :~ta~plnq the cigarett~ packs contairled ln ~uch
cartor.s. Con~equently, such single row carton~ mu3t either be
hdlld-~ta~ed (~5 i9 dnne currently) o~ would h~v~ to be ~ecured
together in pail~ in or~er to ba r~ through the ~xistent
t~Y-st~mpln~ equipment in ~hich double ro~ cartons are ~ta~ped. To
as~ure that the ta~ ~t~tl~p i9 proper~y regl~tered, the means Eor
~acur:ln~ the carton~ must he stran~ enouqh to ~ee~ ~he c~rton3
togather Y~ch ttlat they are not sh~ar~d apart by the vertical
roll~r~ of t~le t,lx-~tamp}ng m~chi~es which roll along the ~ortical
~alls o,~` th~ c~rton~ to transfer the cartons betileen the various
~tage8 oi the process.
If two sin~ ro~ cartons aro to be secured together, t~e
means fvr ~ol~re~ent must allo~ Eor later separation of the carton~,
if desired, ~y the ratailer or consumer. For marketing purpo~s~s,
once ~eparated, th~a two carton~ should ha~s little or no trace oi
the m~ans for secure~ent which would di~fl~ure the outward
appearance of the cartons.
It 1~ t~erefore desired to provlde ~or th~ capabillty oP
mimufacturing and distrlbuting ~rtons narrow~r than those p~oce~ed
by exlstent ta~-~t~ping ~achinery Common to distrlbutors, wlthout
reguiring customi~ed tax-stamping ~achinery or hand ~t~ping of the
~acks.
It i~ also deslred to pro~ e a means for securing together
two or ~ore narrc~ cartons to ~orm a dusl Dr multiple ~arton ~uch
that ~he tff~ narrow rcrtons do not.move relati~ to cne anothe~
while be~ng transferrPd throngh tax-stamping mach~ery de~lgned to
proCes~ cigar~tte cartons J~ring th~ dlme~sis~ns of the dual or
~ultip~e carton.
It io 4150 aeslred to pro~lde a meanB or making a clean
~epar~to~ bet~e~n the t~o or ~ore narsow cartons lf desir~d fo~
5ale as i~divldual caIton~ instead of as a dual or multipl~ carton
co~posed of t~o or more n~rro~ cartons.
Tns preSent invention provldes a multiple unit cig~rett~
j ear~on co~prisin~ at least two B~b-Ca~ton4, the ~u~tiple unit carton
being d~ensioned t~ pass throuqh a ~on~4tional toba~co ta~-3ta~p
a~r~lic~3tol~,, ad j~cent ~;u!-ca~tons bt~ing fr~ngibl~ oann~ct~d together
for p~s~age tl~ro~lgh a tobacco taY-5tZUqp ~pplicator ~Lnd sul~eqllent
6epa-ation, th~ fr~n~lblc ~onn~ctlDn c:oluprlsing It least one ~tick~r
adher~d accass at lea~t one palr of .~lalls, one wall of t~e pair
belnsa frum eacA sub-carton.
~ urther fe~tu~e~ of t!le In~ention, ttx natu~e, and varlou6
advanta3e~ will be morQ apparent fro~ the accoinpauyir~g dr;~wing~3 and
t~e ~ollo~ring dct~iled de~3cr~ptlon o~ the p~efarred e~Pb~loents
~herèin like ref~rencc oharactcr~ repreRent llke element6
throughout, and in ~hich:
~ IG. 1 is a plan ~le~ of an illustrative carton blan~ r
five-pack sub-o~rton In accord~nce 3~ith thl~ inYentio~;
FIG. 2 i~ an e~tploded l~ometric ~ie~ of t~o fi~J~e-pacX
~ub-cartonx, e~ch ron~tructe~ ~rom a blank slmilqr to that of FIG.
1, ct~nneoted tagether in accorda~ce with thls in~ention to form,
ance conn~ctod, a ten-pack carton, aY 111ustrated E~rior to ins~rtion
~nt~ tlle carton~,
FI~. 3 ls ,~n Iso~Detric ~iew oI~ tw ~ive-paok ~ub-cartons
befare tax-stamplng, connected s~ith at ~eaBt one carrier means
bearin~ adhe$i~re afflxed ~o the erternal sidas of the Sll~ lrton~ to
there~y ~:onnect the a~b-c~rtans ~n accorda~n~e ~ith t~is lnvention;
~ IG. 4 i6 aD enlarged partial side view in cros~ ses~tlon of
tw~ flve-pack sllb-earton~ connscted ~rith a~ illu~trative carrle~
~Reans bearing adhe3ive affl~ed between the internal sides of the
su~cartons, i.e., ~etween tlle ~ c~tons and not re~4ily ~isibl~;
FIG. 5 is an enlarge~ partial 61de ~rle~ in ~ro~6 ~ectlon of
t~o fl~e-pack su~-cartons connected ~ilth two illu6tratlve c~rrier
s~ear~ ~earin~ adhesiv~, aiilxed iu a sinila~ ~ashiun as ~hown in
~G. 4:
FIG. 6 is an i~o~etrlc view of tWo ~e-pack sub~carton6
after tax-stampi~$, connected ~ith at lea~t one carrler ~eans
~ear~ng adhe~lve
FIG. 7 is a ~otto~ plan vqe~ ot t~o fIve-pacX sob-cartan~
connected ~ith at leagt one carrier means ~earlng indici~ for price
coding,
FIG. B is a plan view of an illustrative carton blank for
forming two five-pack sub-cartons joined by a perforated line in
accordance with thls inven~ion;
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the final step in for~ing a
ten-pack carton from two five-pack sub-cartons constructed from the
blank of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is an e~ploded view similar to FIG. 2 but showing
sub-cartons constructed from the blank of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of an illustrative sub-carton blank
for a carton in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a two-pack sub-carton in
accordance with this invention;
FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a two-pack sub-carton joined
to an eigh~-pack carton in accordance with this invention;
FlG. 14 is an isometric view of a four-pack sub-carton
joined to a six-pack sub-carton in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 15 is a plan view of an illustrative conventional
carton blank for a cigarette carton which is typically passed
through automated cigarette carton processing equipment;
FIG. 16 is an isometric view of a carton formed from the
blank of FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is an isometric view of the carton-opening portion
of a tax-stamping machine;
! FIG. 18 is an isolated end view of hold-down guides of a
tax-stamping machine;
FIG. 19 is a top view of an open cigarette carton
! approaching hold-down guides;
FIG. 20 is an end view of an open typical cigarette carton
approaching hold-down guides;
FIG. 21 is an end view of an open cigarette carton having a
tuck-in flap on each side approaching hold-down guides;
FIG. 22 is a plan view of an illustrative sub-carton blank
for a five-pack sub-carton of a multiple unit carton in accordance
with this invention;
FIG. 23 is an isometric view of two five-pack sub-cartons
formed from the blank of FIG. 22, joined to form a dual carton, and
having their tuck-in flaps overlapped;
-- 4 --
r~I5~ 2~ is a plan view of an illustrative sub-carton blank
similar to that of FrG. 22, but having a modified tuck-in portion;
FIG. 25 is an isometric view of two five- pack sub-cartons
formed from the blank of FIG. 23, joined to form a dual carton, and
having their tuck-in flaps overlapped;
FIG. 26 is a plan view of an illustrative sub-carton blank
similar to that of FIG. 24, but having an additional tuck-in
portion;
FIG. 27 is an isometric view of two five- pack sub-cartons
formed from the blank of FIG. 26, joined to form a dual carton, and
having the tuck-in portions of the tuck-in flaps folded under the
top closure portion and the additional tuck-in portion tucked
between the exterior walls of the sub-cartons and the cigarette
packs in the cartons;
FIG. 28 is a plan view of an illustrative carton blank for
forming two five-pack sub-cartons joined by a perforated line, each
half similar to the blank of FIG. 22;
FIG. 29 is an isometric view of the final step in forming a
ten-pack carton from two five-pack sub-cartons constructed from the
blank of FIG. 28;
FIG. 30 is an isometric view of the dual carton of FIG. 23,
with its flaps open so that a tax stamp may be applied to the
exposed ends of the cigarette packs in the carton;
FIG. 31 is an isometric view of the dual carton of FIG. 25,
with its flaps open so that a tax stamp may be applied to the
exposed ends of the cigarette packs in the carton;
FIG. 32 is a partial side view of a carton having a tapered
tuck-in flap being held down by a hold-down guide for a short lap
flap;
FIG. 33 is an lsometric view of the dual carton of FIG. 27,
but in which only the tuck-in portion of one tuck-in flap is folded
under its adjoining top closure portion, and in which both flaps are
open so that a tax stamp may be applied to the exposed ends of the
cigarette packs in the carton; and
FIG. 34 is an isometric view of the dual carton of FIG. 23
after tax-stamping, and showing the tucking of the tuck-in flaps
into the carton.
-- 5 --
2~ $; ,~1.
FIG. 35 shows another ~mhodlmell~ of a ca~ton according to
the lnvention;
FIG. 36 shows another embodiment of a dual carton according
to the invention with the lids of the constituent cartons partly
opened;
FIG. 37 shows the embodiment of FIG. 36 with the lids
closed;
FIG. 38 shows another embodiment of a dual carton according
to the invention; and
FIG. 39 shows a preferred carrier for use in cartons
according to the inven-tion.
Detailed Description of the Invention
As shown in FIG. 1, blank 100, used for forming a sub-carton
adapted to hold one row of five cigarette packs, i.e., a five-pack
sub-carton, has a plurality of fold lines represented by broken
lines. ~lank 100 is preferably formed from a substantiaily rigid
material such as paperboard. Each relatively large panel 10 and 12
of blank 100 is substantially five times the width of a long wall of
a cigarette pack to be enclosed therein. As used herein, a standard
cigarette pack is defined as any pack commonly used for holding a
predetermined number of cigarettes, and generally having front and
back long walls connected by two short side walls. When blank 100
is folded along respective fold lines lOa and 12a, panel 10 becomes
the front wall of the sub-carton and panel 12 becomes the rear wall.
Joining panels 10 and 12 is a bottom panel 14, which forms the
bottom wall of the sub-carton when the blank is folded into a
sub-carton. Panel 16, having substantially the same dimensions as
bottom panel 14, extends from rear panel 12.
After walls 10 and 12 are assembled, panel 16 is folded
along fold line 16a over the top of the sub-carton to extend between
walls 10 and 12 of the sub-carton. Extension panel 18 joins panel
16 along a fold line 18a. Additional fold lines similar to fold
lines lOa, 12a, 16a and 18a, are shown as broken lines located on
blank 100 and on blank 200 (FIG. 8), but are not individually
laheled.
Panels i6 ~ncl 18 together form a top and tuck-in flap 17.
When the sub-carton is formed and is ready for consumer purchase,
extension panel 18 preferably lies substantially parallel to front
wall 10, 2referably inside the sub-carton, and panel 16 is folded
over the top of the sub-carton towards front wall 10. Side panels
20a and 20b are folded one over the other to form a side wall 20 of
the sub-carton. Side panels 22a and 22b are folded in a similar
fashion to form side wall 22. The "a" panel is preferably folded
over the "b" panel. Tabs 24 and 26 are preferably folded
perpendicular to panel 14 before the side panels are folded and will
eventually lie substantially parallel to side walls 20 and 22,
respectively. The distance between panels 10 and 12 of the
completed sub-carton is substantially the same as the distance
between the front and back long walls of the enclosed cigarette
packs.
FIG. 2 shows two five-pack sub-cartons 30, 32 connected
along their front walls 10, hereinafter referred to as interior
walls 11, and prepared for insertion of a bundle 34 of ten cigarette
packs 36. Rear walls 12 remain visible after connection of
sub-cartons 30, 32, and are hereinafter referred to as exterior
walls 13. Because the "a" panels of blank 100 are preferably folded
over the "b" panels (panels 20a, 22a, 20b, and 22b shown in FIG. 1),
the free edge of each of the "a" panels of the side walls faces
inwardly, i.e., the free edges lie adjacent the interior walls 11,
when sub-cartons 30, 32 are joined. In this configuration, the free
edges of the "a" panels are not readily accessible and thus are
relatively safe from being accidentally lifted from their place
adjacent the ''b n panels.
Packs 36 are preferably arranged in two rows of five packs
per row with the short walls of adjacent packs facing each other and
the long walls of the packs arranged in parallel planes such that
the front walls of each row are in a first single plane and the rear
walls of each row are in a second single plane spaced from and
parallel to the first single plane. Furthermore, it is desirable
to place packs 36 in their respective sub-cartons such that their
front walls (defined by the orientation of printed matter on the
exterior surface of the walls) face interior walls 11 of sub-cartons
2S ~
30, 32. Flaps 17, which are formed from panels 16 and 18 of each
blank 100 which forms sub-cartons 30, 32, are shown opened in FIG. 2
such that the interiors of sub-cartons 30, 32 are readily accessible
~or insertion of bwldle 34.
~ s shown in FIG. 8, sub-cartons 30, 32 may be formed from a
single blank 200. each half of blank 200 resembles blank 100, with
like reference characters representing like elements, and broken
lines representing fold lines. The substantially identical halves
of blank 200 are connected by frangible means 31, i.e., a line of
weakness such as a perforated line. Each half is individually
folded to form a separate individual sub~carton. Once each
sub-carton 30, 32 is formed, the blank is folded along line 31, as
shown in FIG. 9, so that panels 10 lie against one another, facing
each other as interior walls 11. The completed combined cartons may
be seen in FIG. 10, which is similar to FIG. 2 (with like reference
characters representing like elements) except that the sub-cartons
are joined along a perforated line formed in the blank which forms
both the carton.
Illustrative carrier means bearing adhesive, hereinafter
referred to as stickers 40, 42, and 43, are shown in FIG. 3. The
carrier means of stickers 40, 42, and 43 are preferably mylar or
paper, and bear either a permanent adhesive (any known permanent
adhesive) or a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive. Releasable,
pressure-sensitive adhesive is herein defined as any adhesive known
to the art which, preferably, is clear, has no taste or odor, and
does not cause fiber pull of the carrier means or leave a tacky
residue once the surfaces joined by the adhesive are separated
(e.g., any adhesive known to the art which provides a strong bond
between surfaces but once the surfaces are pulled apart, the bonds
of the adhesive are broken and the adhesive is no longer tacky).
The adhesive must be sufficiently strong to hold the sub-cartons
firmly in place relative to one another and resist such shearing
force which would reasonably be applied through a difference in
forces applied by vertical rollers of tax-stamping machines which
roll along exterior walls 13 of the cartons during the tax-stamping
process.
-- 8 --
2~
';tlckers 40 ar~ applied ~cro~3s side walls ~0. 22 to ~aintain
sl~e ~alls ~0, 2~ in ~he aamc plarle ~nd ad1ac~nt onQ dnother~
F,lther or both of stic~er~ 4~ ~ay o~l:lonally haYe ~I fr~ngib'~ mean~
41, i.~., a ~ine of weakne5~3 su~h as a perlnratAd line, preferably
~ositione~ subst.lr~tially parallel to the lin~ defin~d by t~.
interseoLil-~n or t~Le ~tlcker ~d t~.o plane whioh ~ten~ls between an(l
o~t 'rom interior wall~ 11 (l.e., po61tlon~d betwr~en the two
6~lb-aartons) to ~acllitate a cle~ ~oparatlon o~ the ewo
sub cart on~; .
~ ;ticker 42 i~ slnlilarly aPplied acro~s bottom walls 14 to
likes~ise ~aintair bottam wall~ 11 in the saae plan~ and adjacent on~
dnother. Stic3ser 42 mAr al60 ha~e a ~ranyl~ eans Inot sho~)
sln7ilar to f~angible means 41.
Stickers 43 .Ire applied partlally acros~i sld~ wall~ 2~, 22
and partially aoros~ bottolD walls 14 to maintain .~ide walls 2~1, 22
an~ bottom walls 14 in tll~ir respective planes and ad~a~ent one
another. Sither or hoth of st1c~ers 43 m~y optionally ha~e a
perforated li~o, preferably posltioned s~6t~n~1alIy parallel to ~he
lina ~efinPd by the intersectian of the st~cker and the plane ~h1~h
ext~nds betwee~ ~nd out fro~ interior walls 11.
~ la~s 17 ar~ Ahc~n in ~'IG. 3 as be~ng lapped o~ar ona
another in preparation to ba shipped to a dist~ihutor an~ later
Dpaned, or, altern~tivel~ po3itlon ior di~tribution to
individual ~holesaler~ or retailers for su~sequent dlstributios~ to
conæu~er6. If de~ired, panel 1~ of onc of flap6 17 mdy be fold~d ilt
and relea~ably secured ~n~er the p~nel 16 fro~ which it ex~ends to
form a short top ~lap ~hich ls ~ecured un~er the othe~. un~olded
flap 17.
One of sticker3 4~, 42, or 43 may optlo~Rlly bear prlcin~
ind~cia suoh a~ ~nl~er~al Price Co~e ~U.P.C.) or o~her pricin~ bar
code, 9UC~ as shown on sticker 4~a ln FI~. 7. ~f such Indicla ar~
included, the stic~er ~earing suc~ indlcia may be used in
co~bi21ation With ~ny ~r all of the dis~lo3ed sticker~. Sticker 42a
ls plaoed along and ~cro~s the ~ottol walls 1~ cf s~b-~artons 30,
_ ~ ~
32, ~lith the lines of the pricing bar ~ode being positioned
substantially parallel to the adjacenl: edges of the walls 14 across
which sticker 42a is placed. Preferably, frangible means 41 are
included on sticker 42a positioned substantially parallel to the
line defined by the intersection of the sticker and the plane
between interior walls 11, and therefvre substantially parallel to
the lines of the bar code as well.
Similar pricing indicia (not shown) may be printed on the
outer surface of the interior walls 11 of the sub-cartons, such that
the indicia are not visible when the sub-cartons 30, 32 are joined
to form a dual carton. The readily visible indicia on sticker 42a
are preferably coded for sale of the combined ten-pack dual carton
and are rendered unreadable by automatic scanning equipment upon
tearing sticker 42a to separate the ~wo five-pack sub-cartons 30,
32. The pricing indicia on interior walls 11 are preferably coded
for sale of the individual five-pack sub-cartons, and can be scanned
only after separating the dual carton into individual sub-cartons.
Carrier means bearing adhesive, hereinafter referred to as
stickers 50, 52, are shown in cross section in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Sticker 50 has a single carrier means 54, preferably mylar or paper,
with permanent adhesive 56 (any known permanent adhesive) applied to
both sides of carrier means 54. Permanent adhesive 56 is preferably
only applied to one half of each side of carrier means 54, at
opposite ends of carrier means 54, such that at each point along the
length of carrier means 54 there is adhesive on only cne side of
carrier means 54. Hence, when sticker 50 is positioned between
sub-cartons 30, 32, one half of sticker 50 adheres to interior wall
ll of sub-carton 30 while the o~her half of sticker 50 adheres to
interior wall 11 of sub-carton 32. The sub-cartons are separated by
tearing carrier means 54 along the line where the adhesive halves
meet. Carrier means 54 preferably has a frangible means 51, i.e., a
line of weakness such as a perforated line, to facilitate such
separation of sub-cartons 30, 32. Interior walls 11 may be securely
fastened to one another by one or more sticker means 50 during the
tax stamping process, but may be later separated from one another
without much difficulty and without leaving behind any unsightly
residue or frayed carrier means edges.
- 10 -
Stlcker 52 lS co~prised of two carrier means 5~, 54,
preferably mylar or oaper, set between interior walls ll, ll of
sub-cartons 30, 32. The side of each carrier means 5~1 in~ediately
facing an interior ~all ll carries permanent adhesive S6 (such as
described above). The side of each carrier means 5~ immediately
facing an adjacent carrier means 54 carries releasable
pressure-sensitive adhesive 58 (such as described above). Hence,
both carrier means 54 are securely held onto their respectivP
interior walls ll by permanent adhesive 56 and are also securely
connected to each other by pressure-sensitive adhesive 58 while
undergoing the mechanized tax-stamping process. IE separation of
the two sub-cartons 30, 32 is desired, carrier means 54 may be
pulled apart along tack/non-tack releasable adhesive 58. Adhesive
58 is selected such that when the sub-cartons 30, 32 are separated,
the surface of carrier means 54 leaves no tacky residue. One or
more sticker means 52 may be provided between interior walls ll to
connect sub-cartons 30, 32.
Once connected sub-cartons 30, 32 have lmdergone the
mechanized tax-stamping process, the cartons are ready for shipment
to a local retailer or wholesaler. As shown in FIG. 6, flaps 17
(which were open during the mechanical tax stamping process to
provide access to packs 36 contained in sub-cartons 30, 32 for tax
stamp application by distributorsl may now, optionally, be tucked
into the individual sub-cartons, and the sub-cartons held together
by a sticker across their top walls. Alternatively, the flaps can
be lapped over each other, similar to lapping shown in FIG. 3, and
secured flat across the tops of the sub-cartons 30, 32.
Although each sticker is described as individually used, any
combination of stickers may be used to achieve the desired secure
connection between the two five-pack sub-cartons 30, 32.
Accordingly, stickers 50 and 52 may be used to connect interior
walls ll, while stickers 40, 42 and 43 may be used for additional
external connection of the cartons. Other combinations of stickers
40, 42, 43, 50, and 52 are also acceptable. Additionally, a
transparent band of material, such as common in the art, may be
wrapped around the sub-cartons to further secure them together.
Alth~ gh adheslYes 56 ~nd S~ are descrlbed ~s bcln~
pe~manenL ~n~ rele~sablP., re~p~ctl~ely, lt will ~ appreciated .hat
ad~ ve 5~ may alternati~ely be a rele!a~able adha.sive and a~h~si~e
S8 may aItesnatively be a ~r,~ar.ent adh~ive, both types nf adhe~ e
~el~g kn~wn to t~e art.
Alt~ou~ flaps 1'J, dc~ignod to be tuclted Into ~ub-cartons
30, 32, are Nhown, it ~ill b& apprecl~tsd t~at ~ny approprlate ~lap
~y be llsed, s~ch a~ a llap ~ith panel 16 witho~t extenrion I8,
1ntQnded to be ~apped ot~rer the top o~ the ~t~-carton, but no~ tucked
partially inside the sub-carton.
~ lthou~h extenslon panel 18 is ~escr1bed as t~c~ed Inside
the æub-csrton, e~te~sion ~anel L~ may altennati~ely b~ se~ured to
tbe outsido ~f the su~-carton.
Althougll sub-cartons 30, 32 are d~scxibed as each
d.imensloned to hold ~lle row of fi~e clgarette packs, they may be
len~thcne~ or shurtened to hold more or ~ewer thsn fiYe packs.
Purthermore, It will ~ app~eciated that those concepts may be
applied to the conneetion of cartons oE other conf1~uraticns ~or
whlch dlstributors cow~nly heYe ta~-~ta~Dpin~ machin~ry.
The lnYentloTI is n~t limited to re~tan~ular cartons and
packs, hut includas all configurations which a~e avallable to
consumers. CigaIette car~ons inc~uae cartons with ~indotl~, cartons
with rounded edge~, a~d other conflguratlons ~nich ar~ designed tn
be Passed thro~gh t~x-stamping equipment. Cigaret~e pac~ include
such packs as ~al packs, packs with rou~de~ edgas, and other
non-rectangular shape~.
~ ultipla &artons accor~ing to the lnvention may illclude more
than two s~b-c~rtons. FI~S. ll to 14 ~h~w such a carton.
Blan~ llOO, shown ln ~. 1l, i5 ~1 illustrat~ve blank ~or
fo~ming su~-oarton~ in accordance with this invent~on. Blank LlOQ
i8 prei'erahl~ fr~rJT~ ro~ a su~stantiillly ~tiff material such as
car~boar~ or paperh~ard, and ha~ a front panel lOl~, a rear panel
- 12 ~
Zt ~-"~
1012, and a bottom panel 101~1, which are each folded along fold
lines, shown as broken lines not individually labeled, to form a
sub-carton. Outer top extension paneL 1016, and an inner extension
panel 1018 are folded over the top of the completed sub-carton, with
panel 1016 above panel 1018, to form a top wall. Preferably panel
1016 extends the entire distance between panels 1010 and 1012 when
blank 1100 is folded into a sub-carton, while panel 1018 preferably
extends only half this distance. Dust flaps 1024 and 1026 are
folded preferably perpendicular to bottom wall 1014. Panels 1020a
and 1022a are then folded adjacent dust flaps 1024 and 1026,
respectively, and substantially perpendicular to panel 1012.
Preferably dust flaps 1024 and 1026 include cut edges 1025 and 1027,
respectively, and panels 1020a and 1022a include cut edges 1021 and
1023, respectively. When included, edge 1021 aligns with edge 1025
and ed~e 1023 aligns with edge 1027 so that panel 1020a lies in the
same plane as dust flap 1024, and panel 1022a lies in the same plane
as dust flap 1026. Panels 1020b and 1022b are folded over panels
1020a and 1022a, respectively, to complete side wall 1020, formed by
panels 1020a and 1020b, and side wall 1022, formed by panels 1022a
and 1022b. Although width 5A of panels 1010 and 1012 of blank 1100
is preferably equal to five times dimension A, the width of the long
wall of a cigarette pack to be contained in the sub-carton formed by
blank 1100, the width of panels 1010 and 1012 can be any multiple of
dimension A. Preferably the dimension of side walls 1020 and 1022
is twice that of the short side wall of a cigarette pack to be
contained in the sub-carton formed by blank 1100, but may be any
multiple of this dimension, as well.
Two-pack sub-carton 1032, formed by a blank similar to blank
1100, but with front and rear panels of width A, is shown in FIG.
12. Sub-carton 1032 has a front wall 1101 from which inner
extension panel 1181 extends; a rear wall 1121 from which outer
extension panel 1161 extends; side walls 1201 and 1221; and bottom
wall 1141. Side walls 1201 and 1221 are preferably formed of panels
similar to panels 1020a, 1020b, 1022a, and 1022b. Preferably panel
1161 is the same dimension as wall 1141, extending the entire
distance between walls 1101 and 1121, while panel 1181 referably
only extends approximately half this distance. Sub-carton 1032 is
Z ~ ~b~, ' r . ~
dimensioned to contain two cigarette packs lC36, arranged in
sub-carton 1032 with their long walls parallel to front wall 1101
and rear wall 1121, and their side walls parallel to side walls 1201
and 1221.
In FIG. 13, -two sub-cartons, 1032 and 1038, are connected
along side wall 1221 of two-pack carton 1032, and side wall 1204 of
eight-pack carton 1038, to form a ten-pack carton. Sub-carton 1038
is similar to sub-carton 1032, having a front wall 1104, a rear wall
1124, a top wall 1164 (formed from two extension panels similar to
panels 1161 and 1181), a bottom wall 1144, and side walls 1204 and
1224 (each formed from side panels similar to panels 1020a, 1020b,
1022a, and 1022b). However, the dimension of panels 104 and 124
of sub-carton 1038 is 4A, as opposed to A, the dimension of panels
1101 and 1121 of sub-carton 1032. Sub-carton 1038 is thus
dimensioned to contain eight cigarette packs arranged in two rows of
four packs per row (i.e., four columns of two packs each). As
shown, sub-cartons 1032 and 1038 are joined by a carrier means
bearing adhesive, hereinafter referred to as sticker 1050, which is
described in greater detail below.
Panels 1161 and 1164 extend from rear walls 1121 and 1124,
respectively, of sub-cartons 1032 and 1038, and preferably extend
the entire distance between walls 1101, 1121, llQ4, and 1124.
Sub-cartons 1032 and 1038 are shown joined along side wall 1221 of
sub-carton 1032 and side wall 1204 of sub-carton 1038 such that
front walls 1101 and 1104 are coplanar, and rear walls 1121 and 1124
are coplanar. Hence, panels 1161 and 1164 extend from the same side
of the combined sub-carton. Panel 1181, and the corresponding
panel extending from front wall 1104 of sub-carton 1038, are
preferably shorter than panels 1161 and 1164, such that the top
extension panel configurations of sub-cartons 1032 and 1038 resemble
the top extension panel configuration of a typical cigarette carton.
In this configuration, the tax- stamping machine through which the
multiple carton is passed can easily open the top extension panels
of the multiple carton to apply the required tax stamp to cigarette
packs contained within the carton.
.i
2~
A multiple carton similar to the ca}ton of FIG. 13 is shown
in FIG. 14, made up of a four-pack sub-carton 1034 and a six-pack
sub-carton 1036. Each sub-carton has front walls 1102 and 1103;
rear wa~ls 1122 and 1123; side walls 1202, 1222, 1203, and 1223,
formed from side panels similar to panels 1020a, 1020b, 1022a, and
1022b; bottom walls 11~2 and 1143; and top walls 1162 and 1163,
formed from extension panels similar to panels 1016 and 1018.
Sub-cartons 1034 and 1036 thus resemble one another, except the
dimension of panels 1102 and 1122 is 2A, twice the width of a long
wall of a cigarette pack, while the dimension of panels 1103 and
1123 is 3A, three times the width of a long wall of a cigarette
pack. Sub-carton 1034 thus is dimensioned to contain four cigarette
packs while sub-carton 1036 is dimensioned to contain six cigarette
packs, the packs arranged with their long walls parallel the front
and rear walls of the sub-cartons and their side walls abutting one
another and parallel to the side walls of the sub-cartons.
Sub-cartons 1034 and 1036 are shown joined by at least one
carrier means bearing adhesive, hereinafter referred to as sticker
1040, positioned across adjacent coplanar walls. The carrier means
of sticker 1040 is preferably mylar or paper, and bears either a
permanent adhesive (any known permanent adhesive) or a releasable
pressure-sensitive adhesive. Releasable, pressure- sensitive
adhesive is herein defined as any adhesive known in the art which
has no taste or odor, and does not cause fiber pull of the carrier
means or leave a tacky residue once the surfaces joined by the
adhesive are separated ~e.g., any known adhesive which provides a
strong bond between surfaces but once the surfaces are pulled apart,
the bonds of the adhesive are broken and the adhesive is no longer
tacky). The adhesive must be sufficiently strong to hold the
cartons firmly in place relative to one another and resist such
shearing force which would reasonably be applied through a
difference in forces applied by vertical rollers of tax-stamping
machines which roll along the front and rear walls of the cartons
during the tax- stamping process. The carrier means of sticker 1040
preferably includes a line of weakness such as perforated line 1041,
which is preferably positioned along the plane of abutment of the
two sub-cartons to facilitate separation of the two cartons.
2 ~
~ lthough cartons 1032 and 1038 are shown in FIG. 13 as
joined by stlcker 1050, sticker lQ~0 may be used in combination with
sticker 1050 or only sticker 10~10 may be used to join cartons 1032
and 103~. Likewise, although sub-cartons 1034 and 1036 are shown in
FIG. 14 as joined by sticker lQ40, sticker 1050 may be used in
combination wi-th sticker 1040 or only sticker 1050 may be used to
join sub-cartons 103~ and 1036. Moreover, any desired number of
stickers 1040 or 1050 may be used to join any of the sub-cartons to
each other, and either or both embodiments of sticker 1050 may be
used. Additionally, a transparent band of material such as common
in the art, may be wrapped around the cartons to further secure them
together walls 1101, 1121, 1104, and 1124. Although adhesives 1056
and 1058 are described as being permanent and releasable,
respectively, it will be appreciated that adhesive 1056 may
alternatively be a releasable adhesive and adhesive 1058 may
alternatively be a permanent adhesive, both adhesives being known in
the art.
Although "b" panels 1020b and 1022b are dimensioned so that
the "b" panels are to be folded over na" panels 1020a and 1022a to
form side walls, the "a" panels may be dimensioned to be folded over
the n b" panels, instead.
Although only the connections of a two-pack sub-carton with
an eight-pack sub-carton and a four-pack sub-carton with a six-pack
sub-carton are shown, any other combinations of sub-cartons is
within the scope of this invention. Moreover, the dimension of the
multiple carton formed by the connection of sub-cartons is not
limited to that of a ten-pack carton, but may be of any desired
dimension for containing any convenient number of cigarette packs.
In order to facilitate the passage of multiple cartons of
the invention through tax stamping apparatus, the shape of the lid
flaps may be modified. FIGS. 15 to 20 show a conventional cartons
and a conventional tax stamping machine.
j Blank 5100, shown in FIG. 15, is typical of blanks used forconventional cigarette cartons. Blank 5100 is preferably formed
from a substantially rigid material such as paperboard or cardboard,
' and has a plurality of fold lines represented as broken lines (not
individually labeled) along which the panels are folded to form the
~ ?~
carton Panels 110 and 112 Eorm, respectively, the front and rear
walls of the carton, and each are preferably approximately five
times the width of a long wall of a cigarette pack to be enclosed in
the completed carton. These panels each extend from, and are
subsequently joined along bottom pane] 114, which is preferably the
same width as the front and rear panels. Preferably, the length of
bottom panel 114 is at least as long as either one or two times the
width of the short wall of a cigarette pack to be enclosed in the
completed carton. Hence, the carton formed from blank 5100 is
dimensioned to contain either five cigarette packs or ten cigarette
packs arranged in rows of five packs per row, the packs arranged
with their short walls abutting one another. As used herein, a
cigarette pack is defined as any pack commonly used for holding a
predetermined number of cigarettes, and generally having front and
back long walls connected by two short side walls. Extension panels
116 and 118, extending from panels 112 and 110, respectively, form a
pair of lap flaps for closing the formed carton. Panel 116 is
preferably the same dimension as bottom panel 114 and is to be
folded over panel 118, which may be any desired dimension which
provides sufficient surface area for joining panels 116 and 118.
Dust flaps 124 and 126 are folded preferably perpendicular to bottom
wall 114. Side panels 120b and 122b are then folded adjacent dust
flaps 124 and 126, respectively, and substantially perpendicular to
panel 110. Side panels 120a and 122a are folded over side panels
120b and 122b, respectively, to complete side wall 120, $ormed by
side panels 120a and 120b, and side wall 122, formed by side panels
122a and 122b.
Completed carton 150, formed from blank 5100, is shown in
FIG. 16, filled with cigarette packs 36. Flaps 116 and 118 are
shown open, exposing packs 36 so that a tax stamp may be applied to
the ends of the packs. Because flap 118 is shorter than flap 116,
and preferably approximately one half the length of flap 116, the
orientation of the carton is important when it is passed through a
tax-stamping machine. Thus, if the hold-down guide for the shorter
flap is on the right side of the conveyor path, side wall 122 must
be the leading side of the carton into the machine.
The carton operling portion 600 of a typical tax-stamping
machine is shown in FIG. 17. ~ cigarette carton such as carton 150,
having lap flap 116 folded over and temporarily secured to lap fLap
118 with releasa~le adhesive, is opened for tax-stamping as
follows. Cigarette carton 150 travels along path 610 lengthwise,
i.e., with long walls 110 and 112 of carton 150 substantially
parallel to path 610. ~alls 110 and 112 of carton 150 are squeezed
together by pinch rollers (not shown) similar to pinch rollers 644
and 646 to cause lapped flaps 116 and 118, temporarily secured
together, to bow upwards. Plow 620 ca~ then be inserted between the
flaps and the cigarette packs in carton 150 to plow open the lapped
flaps. The bottom portion of the plow widens to bend the flap
substantially perpendicular to walls 110 and 112 of the carton, and
the carton is then passed under contoured portion 622 which further
bends the flaps toward walls 110 and 112. After leaving contoured
portion 622, lap flaps 116 and 118 may not be completely flat
against walls 110 and 112, as would be desirable. Hold-down
guides, described in greater detail below, further fold lap flaps
116 and 118 so that they lie substantially parallel to and flat
against walls 110 and 112. Lap flaps 116 and 118 are substantially
flat against walls 110 and 112 when carton 150 passes between pinch
rollers 644 and 646, housed in housings 640 and 642, which further
flatten the lap flaps against the walls. Thus, lap flaps 116 and
118 will not obstruct the cigarette packs in carton 150 when carton
150 is passed through the tax-stamping portion of the tax-stamping
machine. To maintain lap flaps 116 and 118 in this position, carton
150 is guided between walls such as walls 626 and 628.
An end view of hold-down guides 630 and 632 is shown in FIG.
18, as seen from path 610, approaching the hold-down guides. Each
hold-down guide 630 and 632 is substantially L-shaped, having an
upper hori~ontal portion 631, 633, and a lower vertical portion 635,
637. Hold-do~l guides 630 and 632 are positioned at angle to path
610, so that the space between hold-down guides 630 and 632 narrows
as carton 150 passes through the guides. The ends of lap flaps 116
and 118 encounter and are pushed down by hori~ontal portions 631 and
633 to be substantially flat against walls 110 and 112.
- 18 -
~"?~
An overhead view oE carton 153 approaching hold-down guides
630 and 632 is shown in rIG. 19. Lap flaps 116 and 118 are shown,
in exaggeration, as not completely flat agains-t walls 110 and 112.
Thus, although the width of carton 150 is substantially the same as
distance D between hold-down guides 630 and 632, lap flaps 116 and
118 extend the apparent width of carton 150 beyond distance D. The
protruding ends of ]ap flaps 116 and 118 encounter hold-down guides
630 and 632 and are progressively pushed closer to walls 110 and 112
as hold-down guides 630 and 632 become closer to each other
downstream of path 610.
The paperboard from which carton 150 is formed has "memory",
such that when lap flaps 116 and 118 are folded, they tend to fold
back to a position substantially parallel to walls 110 and 112,
i.e., the position in which they are when the carton is still an
unfolded blank. As shown in FIG. 20, because lap flap 116 is longer
than lap flap 118, horizontal portion 631 is positioned lower than
horizontal portion 633. The bottom edge of lap flap 116 barely
extends below the bottom edge of horizontal portion 631, and the
bottom edge of lap flap 118 barely extends below the bottom edge of
horizontal portion 633. Thus, any portion of either lap flap 116 or
118 which resists being folded will be held down by hori~ontal
portions 631 and 633, respectively.
When five-pack sub-cartons formed from a blank slmilar to
blank 100 are used to form a dual carton according to the invention,
front walls 110 are positioned adjacent and coextensive with one
another and flaps 118 must be folded down between walls 110, so
that they are not in the way of the tax-stamper. Preferably,
five-pack su~-cartons having tuck-in flaps which may be overlapped
to temporarily close the cartons are used instead. Tuck-in flaps of
five-pack sub-cartons typically have a top closure panel which is
approximately the same size as short lap flap 118 of a ten-pack
carton, and an additional tuck-in portion, which is tucked into the
carton to close the carton. Such cartons also allow for opening and
reclosing of the carton by the consumer.
When five-pack sub-cartons with tuck-in flaps are secured
together to form a dual carton, the tuck-in flaps are preferably
positioned so that they are along the exterior of the dual carton in
- 19 -
2 ~
substantially the same positions as lap flaps 116 and 118, and may
be overlapped to close the carton. The tuck-in portion of the
tuck-in flaps of each of the joined sub-cartons is preferably the
same dimension as the top closure panel so that each tuck-in flap
will extend across the entire top of the ten-pack carton. Such
tuck-in flaps may be plowed open by plow 620 as lap flaps 116 and
118 are plowed open. However, as shown in FIG. 21, tuck-in flap 17
consequently is longer than short lap flap 118 of a typical ten-pack
carton, and tuck-in portion 18 extends below hori~ontal portion 633
of hold-down guide 632. ~he "memory" of tuck-in portion 18
typically prevents tuck-in portion 18 from being held down with the
remainder of tuck-in flap 17, and tuck- in portion 18 is thus easily
snagged by vertical portion 637 of hold-down guide 632. Blanks 200,
300, 400, and 500 of FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25, respectively, provide
tuck-in flaps having tapered tuck-in portions so that the shortest
part of the tapered tuck-in portion is properly held down by
hold-down guide 632 and does not have sufficient "memory" to extend
beyond the plane of tuck-in flap 17 and be snagged. Once the longer
portion of the tapered tuck-in portion reaches the hold-down guide,
the entire flap is already adequately held down so that the longer
portion also remains substantially flat against the walls of the
carton and is not snagged.
Each of blanks 200, 300, 400, and 500 of FIGS. 22, 24, 26,
and 28 have a front panel 10, and a rear panel 12 which are
substantially the same as panels 110 and 112 of blank 5100. Bottom
panel 14 is preferably the same width as panels 10 and 12, and
sufficiently longer than the width of the short wall of a cigarette
pack, so that the sub-carton formed from blank 200 is dimensioned to
contain one row of five cigarette packs. Dust flaps 24 and 26,
which correspond to dust flaps 124 and 126 of blank 100, are folded
preferably perpendicular to bottom wall 14. Side panels 20b and 22b
are then folded adjacent dust flaps 24 and 26, respectively, and
substantially perpendicular to panel 10. Side panels 20a and 22a
are folded over side panels 20b and 22b, respectively, to complete
side wall 20, formed by side panels 20a and 20b, and side wall 22,
formed by side panels 22a and 22b. The width of each of side walls
20 and 22 is the same as the length of bottom wall 14. Each half of
- 20 -
~ ~ ~i 2 r ~
blank 500 is substantially identical to blank 200. The halves of
blank 500 which each fGrm a separate fi~e-pack sub-carton are joined
along a line of weakness such as perforated line 31.
Instead of having lap flaps, the sub-cartons formed from
blanks 200, 300, ~00, and 500 have a tuck- in flap composed of a top
closure panel ~6 and a tuck- in panel 18, having an end 19 adjacent
wall 20, and an end 21 adjacent wall 22. Top closure panel 16 is
substantially rectangular and the same dimension for each of blanks
200, 300, 400, and 500. Tuck-in panel 18 of each of blanks 200,
300, 400, and 500 is tapered.
Tuck-in panel 2018 of blanks 200 and 500 has a single taper
along the entire width of panel 2018. The length of end l9a is
preferably short enough so that the hold-down guide which usually
holds down the shorter lap flap of a cigarette carton does not snag
the remaining longer section of tuck-in flap 17a, formed by top
closure panel 16 and tuck-in panel 2018, when side wall 20 is the
first side wall to approach the tax-stamping machine and end 19a is
on the side of a hold-down guide for a short lap flap. Furthermore,
the length of end l9a also is preferably long enough so that it will
remain tucked inside the sub-carton to close the it, when desired.
A length which satisfies both such requirements is approximately
one-quarter the length of top closure panel 16. The length of end
21a is preferably the same as the length of top closure panel 16.
Sub-cartons 30 and 32 which form the dual cartons of FIGS.
23, 25, 27, 29, 30 and 31, are joined so that the tuck-in flaps 17
extend from walls which remain visible after the sub-cartons are
joined, i.e., walls 12, hereinafter referred to as exterior walls
13. Because "a" panels 20a and 22a are preferably folded over "b"
panels 20b and 22b, the free edges of each of the "a" panels of
the side walls faces inwardly, i.e., the free edges lie adjacent
walls 10, hereinafter referred to as interior walls 11, when
sub-cartons 30, 32 are joined. In this configuration, the free
edges of the "a" panels are not readily accessible and thus are
relatively safe from being accidentally lifted from their place
adjacent the "b" panels.
As shown in FIG. 23, when two blanks 200 are folded into
sub-cartons 30 and 32 and joined to form dual carton 50, tuck-in
flaps 17a may be overlapped to temporarily seal the dual carton.
8ecause end 21a of tuck-in panel 2018 is substantially the same
length as top closure panel 16, the longest end 21a of tuck-in flaps
17a of sub-cartons 30 and 32 will extend across the entire top of
dual carton 50. Tuck-in flaps 17a of the dual carton formed by
blank 500, may similarly be overlapped. The final stages of folding
blank 500 into a dual carton are shown in FIG. 29. The sub-cartons
are joined by carrier means bearing adhesive such as labels 40,
applied across adjacent coplanar side walls, label 42, applied
across the bottom walls, and label 43, applied across the corners of
sub-cartons 30 and 32, or other labels. Tuck-in flaps 17a may be
joined by releasable adhesive or by a label similar to the above-
mentioned labels. Any of the above-mentioned labels may optionally
bear pricing indicia such as Universal Product Code (U.P.C.) indicia
for the automatic pricing of the dual carton. The indicia are
preferably positioned such that they are rendered unreadable by
automatic scanning equipment upon separating the sub-cartons.
Preferably, if pricing indicia are included, only one label bearing
pricing indicia is used.
Tuck-in panel 2019 of blank 300 shown in FIG. 24 has two
tapers along the width of panel 2019. The tapers join at pointed
central section 23b preferably proximal the center of panel 2019.
The length of ends l9b and 21b of panel 2019 which are adjacent the
side walls of the sub-carton formed from blank 300 is preferably
short enough so that the hold-down guide which usually holds down
the shorter lap flap of a cigarette carton does not snag tuck-in
panel 2019. Furthermore, the length of ends l9b and 21b of panel
2019 also is preferably long enough so that tuck-in flap 17b will
remain tucked inside the sub-carton, when desired. A length which
satisfies both such requirements is approximately one-quarter the
length of top closure panel 16. The length of the pointed central
portion 23b of tuck-in panel 2019 is preferably the same as the
length of top closure panel 16.
?,,_~
As shown in ~IG. 25, ~han ~wo ~ nks 300 ar~ folded ~eO
su~-carton~ 30 and 32 ~i jo~ d to ~or-~ dua1 cart~n 52, tuck~
flaps 17b ~ay be overl~pped to t~nporarily s~1 tho d~a1 carton.
BaCAuse central portion 23b of tuck-in portion ~019 i8 SUbRtalltially
th~ ~ lQn~h as top c10~ure pan~ , csntra1 portion 23b of
tuck-ln ilap~ 17b of s~b-~rton6 30 ~1 3~ wil~ e"ctend acro88 th~
~tire top of dual c.~rt 52. ~e sub-cArtons may be ~olnsd by
l~>e1s 40, 4~, n51d 43, such a~ th~e sho~m in FIG. 26. Tu~o in
l'laps 17a may ~ joinad by rol~asable adhe~ive or bs~ a 1abeI s~milar
to the.above-lGent~on~ label~.
Th~ tucl~ lap ~7c o~ blank 4ûO sh~ in FIG. 26 is
Fub6tantially tho sa~e as that o~ blank 30~, except for an
addltional tuck-in sxt~ncl C20 extend~ng fro~ c~tral portion 23b
of tuck-in pdnel 2Dl9. ~uck~ esten~lon ~0~0 may be joine~ tv
tuck-in panel 2019 alony perforatad 1 nn Z5 to fdcilitate ~at~r
r~ al. as ~hown ln ~IG. 27, ~ken t~o ~1anks 4ûO are folded into
sub-ca~ton~ 3D and 32 and joined to for~l du~1 carton 54, tu~-in
extensi~n 2020 ~ay b~ tucl;ed bet?een exterior wall 13, and the
eigarette pa~ ~hic~ arg contained 13- tbe co~pleted cBrt~n. Such
tuc~c.ng l~ ac~omp1is~ed ~ foldin~ tuc1E-in flaps 17c of eaxton~ 30
an~ 32 ~uch that tuck-in pan~l 2~19 is p~sitloned bQne4th top
closure pan~1 16, so t~ae e2~tens~ 020 i~ ~dja~ent the top o~
~xterior wall 13. eacb tuck-in flap 17c ~hus re6e~ribles the short
lap flap of ~ standard oi~are~te ca~on, ~ at ~elther ~uc)~
flap lte ~ long po,rtlon ~ch may be snagged hy the ho1d-da~
f,~uide for t~ hortar 1*~ ~lap. 6ub-cartons 30 and 32 are
prefera~ly ~o~cd by la~ 40, ~2, ~nd 4?~ SUdl a~ those B~m in
F1~. a3. n2cl~-in ~lap~ 17O are te~pora~ily 3Oined to clo~e du~
ca~ton 5~ by applyin~ a lobol 8L~i1ar to ths al~-~tioned 1a~el~
~,t fslxxr~) a~ro~ the t~ps uf the flaps.
A~ sbo~m ln f~G5. 30, 31, ~nd 33, ~h~ t~lC~- in naps o~ dual
carton~ 50, ~2, al~d 5~ r~ 1e co~entio~1 lap f1a~s of
clg~rett~ carton at t~ e~ f th'~ carton ~bich l~ad4 into t~
stamping rdchln~, after th~ plow of the tax-~tamping machi~e h~s
op~nffd the lapped ~ oth~ e t~pora~y 4eal~ tuck~ ln flap~.
~hu~, once the flapa are ~o~ded ~ ~tially par~11e1 to e~ter~or
wa11s 13, th~ tapergd portio~ ~ncountc~ing h~d~ ul~ ~32 is
-- ~3 -
held down so th~t th~ lon~er portion of tne3;-in portio~l 20~9 w~
suffici~ntly held 1~ aln8t esterioL ~all 13. As sh~n in ~
32, ~ori~ant~l portiorl ~33 holds do~ thQ s~ort section of t~red
tuck~in ~ortion 2019, ~w if the short ~ction ~e~c d short lap fl~p,
so that once th~ l~ng~r porti~n passe~ through ho}d-dohm suide 63Z,
the tuc~t-in portion will be ~lat against exterior ~ll 13 ~nd will
not bc 6n~ d agalnst verti~al portion 6~7.
~ ual carton ~05~ of FlG. 30, for~ed from ~l~nks sllch as
blank 200 or blan~; 500, i8 ~ho~n aftQ~ previously ov~rl~pped tuc~-in
f?apc 17a have been plowed open to apply a tax staop to ehe end~ of
cigarette packs 36 in tb~ ~t~n. Carto4 205~ laay be used in ~
tax-~tampin~ oachine in ~ich the hold-do~n ~uide for the shorter
lap flap of a conv~ti~nal carto~ is o~ right cide of the
machine. In ~uch ~ mac~lne, th~g shor~c flap of the corventio~a1
~arton ~Ist lead in~o th~ machine OD t~e rigbt sid~. Du~1 carton
2050 enters a ta~ ta~pinq ~achine with a:u initially sho~t Il~p or~
the ~ight sid~ o~ carton. ~he f}ap ls sl~ort for a 6u~ nt
width of tuck-in panel 2018 ~o that once tuck-in panol 2018 be~D~es
wider, tuck-in f~ap 174 will have be~n h~l~ down long enou~h ~r the
l~>nge~ portlon to remai~ fulded do~ adjacent e~terior wall 13 a~d
con~equently ha ~naq~d by ~ hold-doKn guld~. Blanks 200 and 500
w~.~ld ha~e ~ be a1tered ~ thH cartons formed from th~se blanks are
to be pa68ed thrcugh a maehine in which th~ hold-~o~n gui~e for the
shwrter lap fl~p is on the le~t side. Ascordingly, end 19~ ~f
tuck-ln pan2l 201~ ~ould have t~ be tha lon~r end and end 21a of
tuck-in p~nel 201~ would ha~e to b~ the shurter en~. If desired,
su~-cartons 30 an~l 32 of ~arton 2D50 may ~e fon~d ~ro~ blank~ which
would allow for ~hort eud ~9a o~ bo~ tuck-in ~Hl~ 201~ to be
~o~it~Dned at ~h~ a end of carton Z05~, aad lon~ end 21a o$ bot~
tuck-iD p~nel~ 20la to be po8le~ t the other end of carton
2050,
~ al careon 2052 ~or~ed frwl bla~ as blank 300, i~
~hown in FIG. 31 after pr~viDu~1y o-r~12ppoa ~a~ 17b h~e ~
plowed open to a~ply a ~ax 6ta~p to the end~ of cigarette packs 36.
C~rtc3~ 2052 way ~ u~ed i~ a tox-sta~epinq ~ ne with tho ~ol~n
gllido ~or the s~wrter lap flap either on ~e ~lgh~ Or~ the l~ft ~
Either end ~f the d~1 carton 2052 ~n~ti~lly present~ a sh~r~ filap
- 24 -
2~ ~ ~?'~ 3L
on ~oth sides of the cfl~ton. ~otl3 flaF~ ar~ short f~r a sufficien~
wldth of tuch~in pane~. 2019 xo that ancc tllc)c-in panal ~Olg b~come~;
wider, tuc1~ fl~p 17b h~ ave been h.~ld dawn long ~nollgh ~or the
lonye~ portiorl to r~main fnld~d dol~n adjacent ext~trio~ u~ll 13 and
not ~ve ~w~y fro~ e~Yterior waI1 13 and co~e~uQntly be sn~gged by a
bol~-d~ n guide.
Althol~gh carton 2052 may be pref~rab1~ to c~rton 2050
hec~us~ not orie~ tion ~eci~ic, cart~ 2052 ~low~ less time
~or flaps 17b to b~ h~ld do~n to clear th~ llold-down guide with~ut
8nagging th~ lonqe~ porti~n of flap. 'ruck-in fl~s 17a ~iden more
gradually thaJI tuck-in ilap8 17~ and t~e wlder ~l~p trailg into the
~achlne at th~ end, OIIc~ th~ flap~ ara ~l~o~t ccrtainly held do~sn
~e11 enough so that s~agglng ~rill not occ~r. }lo~e~e~, c~ton 2û52
D~y ~till be preferal~le, ~esth~ti~al1y, bec~use o~ it~ y~n~try.
Flaps 17c of carton 2054 ~P}G. 33) may be folded to n~o~t
clo8e1y rese~le a conventional cigare'cte carton ha~ing lap f1a~?s.
As s~n in ~IG~ 33, one f1aP, hQro tuck-in fl~p 17~ ~f su~carton
32, ~ay ~o~ded ~lcll that tuck in ~tension ~020 i~ positioned
betwe~ ext~ior ~all 13 and cigar~tte p~c~s 36. 'rhe ~olded flap
thus ha~ ~ubs~anti~lly ~he sa~e ~imcncion a8 the shorter lap flap of
a conYentional c~rtwl havi~g 1~p f1aps. ~i8 flap ~nay lat~r be
w~oided and t~uked into ~carton 32. Tuck-ln flap l'~c o~
~carton 30 ma~ additio~aliy or alter~ative1y be fold~ uch that
tuck~n exteq~ion 2020 16 po~ltion~d ~th~ cteri~r ~all 1~ and
cigarette pdcl~s 36.
After a t~x stan~ en appli~d ~ the e~d8 of each o~
eigarette packs 3~, tuc~-in flap~ ~7a, 17b, and 17c ~aay be foldsd
into thelr re~p~ctiv~ s~-cal:ton~ to seal the~ tribution to
ccnsu~lers, n~ sl~ in FIG. 34. Pr~f4ra~1y, a ~ha~ eans ~or
tucking t~ 1a~ into the s~careons i~ nd the ~ gest part
o~ the flsp i~ tucl~ ir8t, the shorter part ~ollowing. A label
sioi1ar to label qO ~ay }?e ;;~laced o~ar the tbp cloeurc par~ of
adjacent 4~cart~s 30 and 32 to fur~ber join the sub-carto~s~ or
the sub-cartons ~ay be ~eparated by sa~aring a~y 1abe13 whlch wer~
~ppli~d to ad~acent coplanE~r wal1~ of tho dual ear~ons ~o io~n tbe
su~carto~ls for t~-stampi~g.
J
- ~5 -
2 ~ r~ r~
Fl~ 5 ~h~s an ~lubodiment i~ w:hich t~o s~b-~arton~ are
joinQd tog~ er t~ form a dual carton by a stic~r ~hich do~6 not
adhe~e to an ~xtQrnal surface of cit~er sub-carton.
Two Rub-c~rton~ 30 and 32 ae po!sitioue~d for atta~b~ent d~
du~ ~ca~t~ it. Folded ~ub-cart~ bl~nks 30 and 32 should
prefer~ly bc ;dentical. Fold~d ~ub-c~.~ton6 32 ha9 been rutat~l
180~1~th rcsE~ct. to su~-c~rton 2' ~ that fr~t wall 10' ahuts
~ont ~All 10. I'op flap~ 4, ~' hav~ beeA ~oldc~ back away fr~ the
tops o~ thc fi~c cigar~tte pack~ ln t:h~ s~carton~.
In con~tructing th~ d~al cartoz~ iEr~m folde~ blanks, the side
pan~l~ 20b and 22b of sach sub-cartor~ blan} ~u~t first be folded
ayainst the ~ide w~ th~ two cigaretee packs at the ends o~
ea~ lx5 pack ~r~up. ThQn, a slip-lock in~srt 26 with two ~u~d
~urface~ is plac~d o~er and adhered ta ~ide pa~el~ ~Ob and Z2b at
~ach end Df th~ dual hal~-cartcn ~it. In otb~r words, at one end,
Rn insert is place~ ov~r and adhered to side pan~1 20h and side
~an~l 22b' whi1e, at th~ ot~er ~nd, an insert is placed oYer and
adhe~ed to side panel 22b ~nd pan~l 20b'. The ~lip-lock ins~rt will
adhrre to the ~ide flaps ~r ~irtu~ of the tac~y surfaces o~ t~e
insert.
~ hQn, ~t ~ach end of th~ d~al carton, ~id~ panels 20a aQd
22a ar~ fo1ded ~gaingt the 61des of thR IxS pac~ units, rele~sably
adhered ~o th~ ~lip-lo~k inserts by the releasahla adh~sive ~nd
Fermanently adhered by oth~r neaus to ~ide pa~ol~ 2~b and 22b and to
botto~ tabs 24 ~nd 2~. Thi6 perDanent ~dhering of side panels 20A
and 22a at ~ach end o~ ~he dual ~ub-carton unit tJ ~ide panels 20b
and 22b and to boff:o3 tah3 2~ and 26 i8 t~pically done with
permanen~ glue ~ut ~a~ be acco~lished with any otbHr XnuNn ~eanA,
in~ludin~ tape or otber p~rma~ent adh~8i~e5. How w~r, th~ p~r~anent
adhe~lve ~st be pla~d abwe and be1ow tbe ~lip-lock insert ~o that
tb~ adhe~ive g}u~ side panels 20a and 22a only to tho sid~
~otto~ flap6 but not to tbe sli~-lo~k insert 250. Th4 ~lip-lo~
insert 260 rEnaln~ fir~1y tn Fo~it~on by ~irtuo of it4 ow~ tachy
~urfaoes. Adhering of the ~lip-lw~ in8~rts 260 to the side ~alls by
~ean~ ~ther than the ta~ky sur~aces of the slip-lo~k inserts will
undesirflbl~ prevent the slip-loc~ insert~ frv~ belng ~bseque~tlY
d~tacb~d.
- 2~ -
2~ ~_n~
On thh re~ulLiug c~p1~ted duaL carton, one gu~d ~lip-lock
insert rests ~etNee~l and adher~s ~o the ~ide panels ~kis~g up ~he
~ide s/all at e~c~ end o~ eacb s~carton. The ~c~y adh~ive on
both sides of tbe in6ert~ 6~Ye~ the pU~pOS~8 o ~ecurlng ~hQ
slip-loc~ in~ert~ to the to sub-ca~rtolls and of thece~y ~QCuring thc
two ~c~rt~ls one to .~notber to Eor~ a dual carton -- i.e., a Eull
cartol~ ~;t~cture~
l~hen t~ c~rt:on6, edch containing fiY~ 20 ci~arette paclcx ln
a Ix5 pack side-~ sidA con~ rat1~, a~e ~;ecuely adhered and
paired together in this f~shion, a full carton containin~ ten
citlarette packF~ in the ~;t~ndard 2x5 pack carton ~onfigurat:ion is
for~ed. These t~ carton~ may then be tax-st~ped tog~ther ~s
single Zx5 pack ~mit in existil~g taX-StA~ing ~aohines. Afte~ tax
sta~in~, dt thc retail le~ cons~er has tb~ optlon of
purchasing the t~o su~c~to~l~ as a Iull t~n-pack c~rt~n of
clgarettes or ~ sep~atinS~ the two s~carta~s by pulling th~
ap~ chasing only on~3 flvo-~ac~ ~ub-car~oc.
l~o ~ub c~rtons ~ay b~ joined to~eth~r to fonD a ~ual carton
aecordirlg to the l~q~tion ~y jolnlng their lid ~l~ps toyether, as
shown in YIGS. 36 ~nd 37, in whi~ the s~c~;t~ ha~e }~p lids,
the ~o~r flap 3019 of ~hich ~t~s ~rc~s t~e uppar edge o~ the
Lnt~rior s/~ll ll oi t~e ~cartons uh1ch are ~upe~po~ed in the ~u~l
cart~N~. The lo~es flaps ar~ ~oined ~y a sticlter in the fortn of
adhesIye tape 30$0, Nhioh ha8 a pcrforat~on 3051 ~lo~g it~ cellter
line to faciliti~te s~paration of th~ s~-cart~ ;. Upper lld ilapg
3018 ~106e t~ w~-carton~; the t~ 3050 ~dy carry adhe~i~e on both
f~ces to wbi~h the up~r flaps 3018 adhere. A ~tick~r 4Z ~not ~own
in ~I~. 36 and 37) i~ prefor~ly adhe~d acro~ ~tto~ wall~ of
tS~e ~ub cartan~. ln tht~ ~a~, th~ du~ cartG~ ~ay be ~ stamped
follo~, before the lnner lld fl~p~ 341~ ~re tap~d together.
Befor~ tax-sea~ping, th~e ~Mer lid naps 3018 are ~oldeâ
between tb~ ~o~ carton4 60 that t~e top~ of th~ c~gsrett6 ~ac~6
aT~ Sw~structed ~or taY-~taqpl~. Aft~ tax-~ta~pin~, the
sul~-csrto~ are pi~ot~d alwlg the sticker Yhich joi~s t~, 80 that
~laps 3û18 ~ay he remo~e~ f~ ~etw~ t~ ~uperposed i~te~ior walls
11, an~2 folded o~er ~ Op8 of t~e ~ cartons to be adhered
together ~ tape 30$0.
~ a7-
cartor~ ay b-3 ~oined ~ er to for~ a dual carton
accordinq ~ t:he lnvel~tion at th~ upper reSr;on6 o~ the ~uS~e~pos-?a
wall6, ilt addition to ~tickar~ 42 a~o~ he top, ~iddle or bot~
wall6. ~he ~tperpac~d 7~all~ may b~ jui~l~ hy a&e~ivu c~r double
side~ adh~siva t~pe ~r stic~tcr~, or by ~a strip o~ sir~la sided
a~he~ive tape adhured to the llpp~r sar~ of the lnterior faceu o
the wall~.
ln a profer~e~ ~botli~ent o~ ch a dual carton sh~n ln
Pi~. 38, the su~c~rton~ ana 3~ ~re ~oin~d ~y areas of adhQsi~e
4050 along the lnterio~ wall ~ one ~ ca~ton 30. The lid fl~p 17
nf tbe oth~r ~Cdrt~Xn 32 i6 aah~r~d to t~ lid f~ f the ~Ir~t
BUb carton 30 by ar~as of adhe~ive 4050', aligned ~ith the area3 of
adh~lvo ~050 in ~lff sup~pos~d wall6. ~Ibon th~ sub-~arto~s 30, ~2
have b~en ~parated, th~ a~Sh~sive 4050 re~n8 oll the inte~ior ~all
11 of th~ first ~carton 30 a~ ay be used to ~eal that
~ub carto~l. Likesilse, the adheslvo gD50' re~in~ o~ lid flap 17 of
th~ other ~ carton 32 and say ~o used to soal that sub-carton.
The stic~er~ used to 30~n sub cartons to form ~u~tlple
cartoJ3s as to tbo is~v~ntion may be recta~gular in sbape, or l-ay be
o~ any other de~ired ~hape ~uch a~ ci~cular, triangul~ or ~quare.
Advantogeou~l~J ho~o~r, tbey ar~ ~arrower ~ th~ center than at
their ~nds, as ~hoon in iIG. 39. Sticl~er 44 bas a cuta~ay 45,
narrowing the ~Dtr~l reyi~n6~ The n~ 3N regia~l of the ~tic1~r
overlis~ th~ gap ~etw~en adjacent cub~cartQ~I~. The sticke~s may b~
cf any deaired sl~e; th~y ~ or~ally b~ slnal~er t~an th~ wall~ to
Nhich they are ~
- 2~ -
