Abstract:
A lift mechanism for use with a “hard pack” of cigarettes wherein the “hard pack” of cigarettes consists of a housing having four side walls and a bottom wall, a prismatic lid hingeably secured to one of the upper ends of the side walls and a quantity of cigarettes encapsulated in a tear open foil wrap, the lift mechanism positioned within the foil wrap, the lift mechanism having a horizontal planar leg positioned between the foil wrap bottom wall and the cigarettes encapsulated in the foil wrap, the lift mechanism defining a planar surface beneath the cigarettes and at least one vertical surface, the vertical surface secured to a cord, the cord extending upwardly and being secured to the upper inner surface of the prismatic lid such that opening the prismatic lid tensions the cord and raises the lift member elevating a portion of the cigarettes.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application 60/540,549, filed Jan. 30, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a cigarette pack and particularly, a “hard pack” of cigarettes having a hingeable top, and more particularly, to an elevational mechamism within the cigarette pack cooperable with the hingeable top to elevate cigarettes from the pack to facilitate the removal of a cigarette. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Cigarettes are normally packaged in a quantity of 20 per pack. There are two main types of cigarette packs utilized on the market. The first, the “soft pack” requires the user to remove the wrapping and the to tear or unfold the foil layer from the top of the pack to gain access to the cigarettes. The second type of pack is commonly referred to ad the “hard pack” which is normally fabricated of a cardboard more rigid than the “soft pack” and is usually formed with a hingeable top so as to enclose the cigarettes when not in use. Cigarettes in a “hard pack” are also encapsulated in foil wrap within the “hard pack” necessitating a tear or unfolding to gain access. 
   With the “soft pack” package, the user can remove the foil from the upper end of the package and tap the upper end of the pack against his hand in order to cause a cigarette to be slidably dislodged from the pack so that it may be grasped by the fingers. This procedure is difficult to do with a “hard pack” because of the hingeable lid. 
   Once the first several number of cigarettes have been removed from the pack, subsequent cigarettes are more easily removed because there is now a vacant space or void between the cigarettes as a result of the removal of the initial cigarettes. 
   Applicant&#39;s invention relates to a lifting mechanism cooperable and mounted in the “hard pack” box which will automatically lift cigarettes upwardly whenever the hinged lid is open, which is particularly advantageous when the pack is first opened. Applicant&#39;s lifting mechanism has two advantages, first, it makes the upper end of initial cigarettes from the pack more accessible for a more facile removal from the box. Secondly, with the cigarettes in a lifted or elevated position, the user can remove or offer a single cigarette without having his fingers or the other persons contacting other cigarettes which will remain within the “hard pack” and thus achieve a greater degree of hygiene. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide for a novel cigarette pack which will elevate the cigarettes within the pack whenever the hinged top is pivoted so as to allow more facile access to the cigarettes. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel cigarette pack which will automatically lift or elevate the cigarettes within the pack whenever the hinged lid is pivoted and allow access to a cigarette without having to contact other cigarettes which may remain in the package. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel cigarette pack having a lifting mechanism of low cost and which is easily installed in the cigarette pack without increasing the cost of the packaging. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel cigarette pack wherein the lifting mechanism in cooperation with the package lid on the cigarette pack lifts a portion quantity of cigarettes within the package each time the hingeable lid is pivoted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A lift mechanism for use with a “hard pack” of cigarettes wherein the “hard pack” of cigarettes consists of a housing having four side walls and a bottom wall, a prismatic lid hingeably secured to one of the upper ends of the side walls and a quantity of cigarettes encapsulated in a tear open foil wrap, the lift means consisting of a lift member positioned within the foil wrap, the lift member having a horizontal planar leg positioned between the foil wrap bottom wall and the cigarettes encapsulated in the foil wrap, at least one planar vertical leg positioned between the foil wrap rear wall and the cigarettes abutting thereto, the lift member defining a planar surface beneath the cigarettes and, at least one vertical surface juxtaposed the tubular sides of the cigarettes, the vertical surface having secured thereto a cord, the cord extending upwardly and being secured to the upper inner surface of the prismatic lid such that opening the pack by pivoting the prismatic lid tensions the cord and raises the lift member upwardly elevating a portion of the cigarettes. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a “hard pack” cigarette pack of the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled cigarette pack in open orientation of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a “hard pack” cigarette pack of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the prismatic hingeable lid of the cigarette pack of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of the lower portion of the cigarette pack of  FIG. 3  illustrating the lifting mechanism; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective cutaway view of the lower portion of the cigarette pack illustrating a second embodiment of the lifting mechanism; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective cutaway view of the lifting mechanism of the present invention in operation with a pack of cigarettes. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of a typical “hard Pack” cigarette pack  10  of the prior art. The “hard pack” cigarette pack is formed with an outer housing  12  defined by a front wall  14 , rear wall  16 , and joined by two side walls  18  and  20 , and a bottom wall  22 . The rear wall  16  of housing  12  terminates with a unitary prismatic hinged lid  24  defined by a seam  23 , top wall  26 , trapezoidal side walls  28  and  30 , a front wall  32  and a rear wall  34 . When the prismatic hinged lid  24  is in a closed position, the prismatic hinged lid  24  and outer housing  12  define the cigarette pack  10 . Inserted within the cigarette pack  10  is a sleeve member  36  defined by a front wall  38 , and side walls  40  and  42 , the sleeve member  36  slidably insertable into the outer housing  12  with the sleeve members front wall  38  and side walls  40  and  42  juxtaposed the inner surface of the front  14  and side walls  18  and  20  of the outer housing  12 . The front wall  38  and sidewalls  40  and  42  extend above the upper edges of front wall  14  and side walls  18  and  20  of outer housing  12 . The front wall  38  of the sleeve member  36  is stepped downwardly from both side walls  40  and  42  to form a U-shaped gap  44  to permit access to the cigarettes or smoking articles enclosed therein. 
   A folded foil wrap  50  encapsulating the cigarettes is insertable within the sleeve member  36 , the foil wrap  50  being defined by a front wall  52 , a rear wall  54 , two side walls  56  and  58 , a bottom wall  60  and a folded top wall  62 . The rear wall  54  of the foil wrap is typically adhesed to the inner surface of rear wall  16  of the outer housing  12 . 
   When the top wall  62  of the foil wrap  50  is unfolded, a portion of the front wall  52  which forms the folded top wall  62  can be pulled upwardly and the upper portion of the front wall  52  can be separated from the lower portion of the front wall  52  by means of a perforation  64  running horizontally along the front wall  52 . When this upper portion of the front wall  52  is removed, the user has access to the cigarettes  51  packed within the foil wrap  50  by means of the U-shaped gap  44  formed in the front wall  38  of the sleeve member  36  (See  FIG. 2 ). Typically the filter ends of the cigarettes are exposed at this point, the cigarettes being packed within the foil wrap  50 , insertable within the sleeve member  36  and outer housing  12  in three rows, normally including a row of seven cigarettes, a second row of seven cigarettes and third row of six cigarettes, the third row being proximate the rear wall  16  of the outer housing  12 . 
   In this configuration ( FIG. 2 ) when the cigarette pack  10  is initially opened, the cigarettes are tightly packed within the foil wrap  50 , sleeve member  36  and outer housing  12 . The tubular sidewalls of the cigarettes are in abutting contact with adjacent cigarettes and those cigarettes about the periphery are in abutting contact with the foil wrap, sleeve member and outer housing  12 . In order to remove a cigarette, often times requires the contact with several adjacent cigarettes through U-shaped gap  44  to remove the first cigarette. This presents an unhygienic situation, particularly if the user is offering a cigarette to a friend or the user is removing a cigarette for his own use and then intends to offer a cigarette to a friend. It also presents a problem in removing the first cigarette or cigarettes from the pack without damaging them. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a “hard pack” of cigarettes of the present invention incorporating Applicant&#39;s lift mechanism.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the prismatic hingeable cover of the cigarette pack of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a cutaway view of the lower portion of the cigarette pack of  FIG. 3  illustrating the lifting mechanism, and  FIG. 6  illustrates a second embodiment of the lifting mechanism.  FIG. 7  illustrates the lifting mechanism in operation. 
   In order to incorporate the lifting mechanism operation of Applicant&#39;s invention, certain minor modifications must be made to the cigarette pack  10  of the prior art. It will be noted in  FIG. 1  that the actual cavity in which the foil wrap  50  and encapsulated cigarettes are slidably received is defined by the front  30  and side walls  40  and  42  of the sleeve member  36  and the rear wall  16  of the outer housing  12 . The side walls  40  and  42  of the sleeve member extend upwardly above the side walls  18  and  20  of the outer housing  12  so that the upper edges of side walls  40  and  42  of sleeve member  36  are juxtaposed the top  26  of the prismatic lid  24  when closed. In the preferred embodiment of Applicant&#39;s invention, sleeve member  36  would have a rear wall  39  secured to said side walls  40  and  42  of sleeve member  36 , the rear wall  39  of the sleeve member  36  extending to a height equal to the height of the side walls  40  and  42  of the sleeve member  36 . The rear wall  39  of the sleeve member  36  and the height thereof define a fulcrum point for the operation of Applicant&#39;s lift mechanism, which can be enhanced by a notch  37 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  there is a perspective view of Applicant&#39;s prismatic hingeable lid and  FIG. 5  illustrates a cutaway view of the lower portion of the cigarette pack of the present invention as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Applicant&#39;s lift mechanism provides for a plate member  70  defined by a horizontal member  72  and a vertical members  74  and  75 . The plate member  70  is positioned within foil wrap  50  adjacent the bottom wall  60  of the foil wrap  50  with the horizontal member  72  juxtaposed the bottom wall  60  and the vertical members  74  and  75  juxtaposed the rear wall  54  and front wall  52  of the foil wrap  50 . The plate member  70  has secured thereto a string, cord, or other flexible communication member  76  preferably secured to horizontal member  72  but alternatively secured to rear vertical member  74 . The string or cord extends upwardly juxtaposed the rear wall  54  of the foil wrap  50 , through a slit  78  in that portion of the foil wrap  50  which is foldable to define the top wall  62  of the foil wrap  50 , extends over rear wall  39  of sleeve member  36 , and is secured at its opposing end to the inner surface of the top wall  26  of the prismatic hinge lid  24 . To insure its security to the inner surface of the top wall  26  of the prismatic hingeable lid  24 , the opposing end of cord  76  is overlaid with a securing member  79  which is secured to this inner surface by adhesive or other similar means. 
   Plate member  70  may be fabricated of a thin, yet rigid material, such as aluminum blade or plastic. The cigarettes  51  are positioned within the foil wrap  50  once plate member  70  has been positioned as detailed herein. 
   In the course of manufacturing the cigarette pack  10  the outer housing  12  and sleeve member  36  would be assembled, the foil wrap  50  would be positioned and the cigarettes  51  encapsulated by the foil wrap  50  with the foil wrap  50  top wall  62  folded to encapsulate the cigarettes. The prismatic hingeable lid  24  would then be positioned in a closed position and the entire pack of cigarettes would be encapsulated in cellophane wrap for sale. 
   In operation, (See  FIG. 7 ) the user would remove the outer cellophane wrap and open the prismatic hinged lid  24  to remove the tearable foil. In pivoting the hinged lid  24 , the cord  76  running over notch  37  would become taut and would raise plate member  70  adjacent the bottom wall of the foil wrap  50 , thus lifting that portion of the quantity of cigarettes within the pack  10  whose bottom ends rested on the horizontal member  72  of plate member  70  upwardly a few millimeters to facilitate the user in grasping a single cigarette  51  for removal. The folded foil wrap  50  which forms the top wall  62  of the foil wrap enclosure is not sealed so it does not exert any significant force on the top of the cigarettes being lifted. 
   When the prismatic hingeable lid  12  is closed, plate member  70  returns to its original position with horizontal member  72  being juxtaposed the bottom wall  60  of the foil wrap. 
   The lift mechanism serves its purpose of elevating a portion of the quantity of cigarettes within the pack each time the prismatic hingeable lid is opened. It will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that once a portion of the cigarettes  51  have been removed from the cigarette pack  10 , voids exist between the remaining cigarettes  51  which were originally tightly packed within the cigarette pack  10 . Therefore, while the lift mechanism may continue to perform the desired function, the ability to remove a single cigarette from the package after a portion have been removed, does not require the operation of the lift mechanism. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a second embodiment of lift mechanism in which plate member  70  includes only one vertical member  74  juxtaposed rear wall  54  of foil wrap  50  yet operates in the same fashion as the first embodiment.  FIG. 6  also illustrates the alternative positioning of cord  76  on rear vertical wall  74 . 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.