Abstract:
A generally flat carton blank is arranged for assembly into a carton shape holding multiple cigarette packs. The carton blank has a defined periphery, and a generally flat promotional sheet overlies the carton blank within the outer periphery thereof. A portion of the promotional sheet is adhesively secured to the carton blank. In another embodiment a generally flat promotional sheet overlies the carton blank essentially within the outer periphery thereof. Both carton blank each with its associated promotional sheet may then be assembled and loaded with cigarette packs utilizing standard assembly machinery and standard procedures. Fold lines on the carton blank and the promotional sheet facilitate assembly of the carton blank into a carton shape with the promotional sheet inside the assembled carton. In one embodiment, the remaining portion of the promotional sheet is folded into the form of a packaging sleeve holding multiple cigarette packs for retail distribution upon removal of the sleeve and cigarette packs from the carton. In another embodiment of the present invention, the remaining portion of the promotional sheet simply comprises a planar carton insert for ultimate use by the consumer in obtaining rebates, merchandise and the like or when the promotional sheet is simply used for printed matter.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The present application is a division of application Ser. No. 11/019,577, filed Dec. 22, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, application Ser. No. 11/019,577 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/533,144 filed Dec. 30, 2003 and No. 60/573,803 filed May 24, 2004. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a cigarette carton for ten packs of cigarettes, and more particularly to a cigarette carton with an inside promotional sheet separable from the carton for use in marketing the cigarette packs. 
   Cigarette cartons containing ten packs of cigarettes are old in the art. Standardized procedures have been developed over the years for loading the packs in these cartons and for applying tax stamps to the individual packs before the carton is sealed. Current marketing practices include packaging sleeves that hold five, three and two packs where ten pack cartons are broken apart along predetermined lines of perforation into smaller five, three and two pack units. In these instances it is important that the standardized procedures in the industry be followed in the loading of cigarette packs in the carton and the subsequent application of tax stamps to the individual packs. Also, in many instances promotional inserts in sheet form may be incorporated into cigarette cartons for consumer use in learning more about the cigarette product, and obtaining rebates, merchandise and the like. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is a cigarette carton with a promotional sheet secured thereto for subsequent separation from the carton when marketing the cigarette packs within the carton. 
   Another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton with a promotional sheet in sleeve form secured thereto for subsequent separation from the carton where the sleeve is easily divided into smaller retail units holding multiple cigarette packs. 
   Still another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton with a promotional sheet secured thereto for subsequent separation from the carton where the sheet comprises a unitary coupon, advertisement or the like. 
   Another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton with a promotional sheet secured to the carton for package assembly with the carton, but which is easily separated from the carton for marketing of cigarette packs within the carton. 
   Another object of the present invention is a standard ten pack carton blank with a promotional sheet secured thereto within or substantially within the outline of the blank whereby the carton blank and associated promotional sheet may be assembled with standard assembly machinery using standard assembly procedures. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a generally flat carton blank is constructed and arranged for assembly into a carton shape holding multiple cigarette packs. The carton blank has a defined periphery in its flat condition, and an associated generally flat promotional sheet overlies the carton blank. The promotional sheet has an outer boundary within the periphery of the blank. The promotional sheet includes a flap portion and a remaining portion with the flap portion adhesively secured to the carton blank. In another embodiment, the promotional sheet has an outer boundary essentially within the periphery of the carton blank except for a narrow top closure flap. Fold lines on the carton blank and the promotional sheet facilitate assembly of the carton blank into a carton shape with the promotional sheet inside the assembled carton. Since the promotional sheet overlies and is within or substantially within the outline of the carton blank the two sheets may be assembled with standard assembly machinery using standard assembly procedures similar to those for standard ten pack cartons. 
   In one of many preferred embodiments of the present invention, the carton blank and the promotional sheet are integral along a fold line. The carton blank has a top closure flap and a flap portion of the promotional sheet is adhesively secured to the closure flap of the carton blank. A line of separation between the flap portion and the remaining portion of the promotional sheet enables separation of the remaining portion of the promotional sheet when the formed carton is opened and the contents thereof are removed. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the remaining portion of the promotional sheet includes fold lines for assembly into a promotional packaging sleeve having a bottom wall with opposed side walls extending upwardly therefrom. In another embodiment, the packaging sleeve has a top wall in addition to the bottom and opposed side walls. Multiple cigarette packs are positioned within the packaging sleeve inside the carton. In one embodiment of the present invention, the remaining portion of the promotional sheet includes score lines of separation so that the packaging sleeve formed therefrom with the cigarette packs therein may be separated along these score lines into smaller retail units of cigarette packs. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the remaining portion of the promotional sheet may simply comprise a planar carton insert with the insert and multiple cigarette packs within the carton. The insert may be used by the consumer after the formed carton is opened and such use may include obtaining rebates, merchandise and the like or simply learning more about the cigarette product. 
   In one embodiment of the present invention, the promotional packaging sleeve is simultaneously separated from the carton when the carton is opened by folding back the top closure flaps of the carton. In one specific embodiment of the present invention, the formed carton with the promotional sleeve and cigarette packs therein is temporarily closed before final sealing of the carton. The carton is subsequently opened for the purpose of applying tax stamps to the cigarette packs therein. Separating the promotional packaging sleeve from the carton occurs along a line of separation between the glue flap and the remaining portion of the promotional sheet, and the actual separation is produced by bending forces applied to the line of separation when the carton is temporarily opened for the application of the tax stamps to the individual cigarette packs. 
   Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for producing a carton of cigarettes comprising the steps of providing a generally flat carton blank with an integral flat promotional sheet and adhesively securing a portion of the promotional sheet to the carton blank. The carton blank is folded into a carton shape while simultaneously folding the promotional sheet into the shape of an interior packaging sleeve. The packaging sleeve is filled with multiple cigarette packs, and the carton is sealed closed with the packaging sleeve and cigarette packs therein. Ultimately the carton is opened and the promotional packaging sleeve with the cigarette packs therein is removed for retail distribution. 
   Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, an alternate method is provided for producing a carton of cigarettes comprising the steps of providing a generally flat carton blank with an integral flat promotional sheet. The carton blank is folded into a carton shape while simultaneously folding the inside promotional sheet into the shape of an interior packaging sleeve. The packaging sleeve is filled with multiple cigarette packs and sealed closed along opposed tab closure flaps with the cigarette packs therein. Ultimately the carton is separated from the promotional packaging sleeve and the sleeve with the cigarette packs therein is removed for retail distribution. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Novel features and advantages of the present invention in addition to those noted above will be become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a ten pack cigarette carton blank and an integral promotional sheet, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the cigarette carton blank with the promotional sheet of  FIG. 1  folded over the blank and adhesively secured thereto, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an assembled cigarette carton with the promotional sheet in sleeve form inside the carton before removal of the sleeve and the cigarette packs therein; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through an assembled cigarette carton with the promotional sheet in sleeve form and cigarette packs therein before the carton is temporarily opened for application of tax stamps to the individual cigarette packs and before the closure flaps of the carton are glued in place; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , but illustrating temporarily opening the assembled carton for applying tax stamps to the cigarette packs therein; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  with the carton temporarily opened for application of tax stamps to the individual cigarette packs and with the promotional sheet in sleeve form broken away from the carton along a perforated line of separation by action of the carton flap being bent open; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of an assembled cigarette carton after opening thereof with the promotional sheet in sleeve form removed from the carton and holding packs of cigarettes for subsequent separation of the sleeve into two-five pack retail units; 
       FIG. 7A  is a bottom plan view of the promotional sleeve of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an assembled promotional sheet in sleeve form holding packs of cigarettes after separation from the carton with the promotional sheet perforated for separation into three-three pack retail units and a single cigarette pack; 
       FIG. 8A  is a bottom plan view of the promotional sleeve of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a cigarette carton blank and another embodiment of an integral promotional sheet, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the cigarette carton blank with the promotional sheet of  FIG. 9  folded over the blank and glued thereto, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an assembled carton and promotional sheet of  FIG. 10  being opened with the promotional sheet simultaneously separated from the carton, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating placement of cigarette packs into the carton blank and the inside promotional sheet; 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the arrangement shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a view similar to  FIG. 12  with the carton blank partially folded into a carton shape and the cigarette packs inside; 
       FIG. 15  is a top plan view of another embodiment of a ten pack cigarette carton blank and an integral promotional sheet, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the cigarette carton blank with the promotional sheet of  FIG. 15  folded over the blank, according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view through an assembled cigarette carton of  FIGS. 15 and 16  with the promotional sheet in sleeve form and cigarette packs therein before the opposed closure flaps of the promotional sheet are glued together; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an assembled cigarette carton of  FIGS. 15 and 16  with the promotional sheet in sleeve form inside the carton before the opposed closure flaps of the promotional sheet are glued together; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 18 , but illustrating the opposed closure flaps of the promotional sheet secured together; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 19  showing the other side of the outer carton; 
       FIG. 21  is an exploded perspective view of an assembled cigarette carton of  FIGS. 15 and 16  after opening thereof with the promotional sheet in sleeve form inside the carton; and 
       FIG. 22  is an exploded perspective view similar to  FIG. 21  with the promotional sheet in sleeve form being removed from the open carton. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring in more particularity to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a ten pack cigarette carton blank  10  for assembly into a traditional carton shape holding ten cigarette packs of five rows with two cigarette packs in each row. A promotional sheet/carton insert portion  12  is integrally associated with the carton blank  10 , and the promotional sheet has a flap portion  14  integral with the carton blank along fold line  15  as shown in  FIG. 1  and explained more fully below. 
   Fundamentally, the carton blank  10  comprises a bottom wall  16  with a front side wall  18  and a back side wall  20 . An outer top wall  22  is adjacent the back side wall  20  and an inner top wall  24  is adjacent front side wall  18 . The ends of the carton blank  10  comprise bottom end wall flaps  26  adjacent the ends of bottom wall  16 . Additionally, inner end walls  28  are adjacent the ends of the back side wall  20  while outer end walls  30  are adjacent the ends of the front side wall  18 . Fold lines  32  are provided between the wall panels of the carton blank to facilitate folding the blank into a traditional carton shape, such as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Flap portion  14  of the promotional sheet  12  is secured by adhesive  34  to the outer top wall  22  of the carton blank  10  after the promotional sheet is folded along fold line  15  over the carton blank. Basically, the promotional sheet  12  has an outer boundary or periphery  36  that lies within the boundary or periphery of the carton blank  10 . This enables assembly of the carton blank and promotional sheet  12  to be folded into carton shape utilizing standard assembly machinery and standard procedures.  FIG. 2  shows the promotional sheet  12  folded over and secured to the carton blank by adhesive  34 . The fold line  15  insures that the sheet and blank are properly positioned relative to one another. Alternatively, the sheet and blank may comprise separate pieces, but proper alignment then requires more precise handling. 
   The promotional sheet  12  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a remaining portion  38  in addition to the flap portion  14 . Such remaining portion comprises a bottom wall  40  and upwardly extending side walls  42 ,  44 . Fold lines  46  extend between the bottom wall  40  and the upstanding side walls  42 ,  44  to facilitate formation of the promotional sheet into the form of a sleeve having a U-shaped cross section. The fold lines  42 ,  44  overlay the fold lines  32  adjacent the bottom wall  16  of the carton blank  10 . Accordingly, when the carton blank is assembled into the form of a carton the promotional sheet is simultaneously folded into the form of a packaging sleeve. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a perforated line of separation  48  extends between the flap portion  14  of the promotional sheet  12  and the remaining portion  38  of the sheet. The line of separation enables the remaining packaging sleeve portion of the promotional sheet to be separated from the flap  14  and the outer top wall  22  of the carton blank  10  to which flap  14  is secured by adhesive  34 . The mechanics of such removal is explained more fully below. 
   The front side wall  18  of the carton blank  10  includes a removal flap  50  for separation from the remaining portion of the front side wall along a perforated line of separation  52 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , insertion of a finger into an opening  54  in front side wall  18  enables upward movement of the finger to release flap  50  from the remainder of the front side wall  18  along the perforated line  52 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the carton blank  10  is assembled into the form of a standard carton and the inside promotional sheet  12  is formed into a U-shaped packaging sleeve  58  into which cigarette packs  60  are inserted. The inner top wall  24  of the carton blank is inwardly folded while the outer top wall  22  is inwardly folded over the inner top wall to thereby form the top of the carton. The carton is not secured in its closed position, but instead the top walls  22 ,  24  loosely form the top of the carton, and this position is best shown in  FIG. 4 . Subsequently, at a downstream location, the carton is temporarily opened by folding the outer top wall  22  with the flap  14  of the promotional sheet  12  glued thereto against the back side wall  20  of the blank  10 . The inner top wall  24  is similarly folded against the outside of the front side wall  18 . Such positioning is shown best in  FIG. 5 . It is significant that the flap portion  14  of the promotional sheet  12  is separated from the remaining portion  38  of the promotional sheet by the bending forces applied to the line of separation  48  when the outer top wall  22  of the blank  10  and flap portion  14  of the promotional sheet  12  are moved to their fully opened positions shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Normally cigarette cartons are temporarily opened for the application of tax stamps to the individual packs  60  within the carton. Such an arrangement is shown in  FIG. 6  where folding plows  70 ,  72  function to fold the top walls of the carton against the side walls. This enables tax stamp machinery  74  to apply required tax stamps to the individual packs  60  within the carton. In the case of the present invention, this folding action also produces the necessary bending forces to break the line of separation  48  and thereby separate the packaging sleeve  58  of the promotional sheet  12  from the glue flap portion  14 . Following the application of the tax stamps, the inner and outer top walls of the carton blank  10  are closed and the outer top wall  22  and flap  14  are secured to the inner top wall  24  by adhesive  76 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the removal of the promotional packaging sleeve  58  from the carton formed from blank  10 . Upward force applied to the flap  50  of the front side wall  18  breaks the line of separation  52  which separates the flap  50  from the front side wall  18 . Continued upward movement of the flap  50  to the position shown in  FIG. 7  removes the inner top wall  24  connected to the flap  50  as well as the outer top wall  22  secured to the inner top wall  24  via flap  14  by adhesive  76 . When the flap  50  is in the open position as shown in  FIG. 7 , the promotional packaging sleeve  58  with cigarette packs  60  therein may be removed from the carton since the sleeve has already been separated from the glue flap  14  along the line of separation  48 . Such separation was the result of the bending forces applied to flap portion  14  when the carton was opened for application of the tax stamps to the cigarette packs  60 . 
   The promotional sheet shown in sleeve form  58  in  FIG. 7  includes lines of separation  78  for separating the sleeve and the cigarette packs into two five pack retail units. Such lines of separation are also shown in  FIG. 7A . As explained more fully below, appropriately positioned adhesive in the form of glue dots applied to the inside surfaces of the promotional sheet function to hold the cigarette packs and promotional sheet together as a unit. 
     FIGS. 8 and 8A  show a modified promotional packaging sleeve where lines of separation  80  are provided for separating the sleeve into smaller retail units comprising three packages of three cigarette packs each and a single pack. 
     FIG. 9  shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention where a promotional sheet  12 A comprises a glue flap  14 A and a remaining portion  38 A in the form of a planar carton insert. Instead of a perforated line of separation between the glue flap  14 A and the planar carton insert, these portions may be separated by a fold line  82  or a line of perforations that does not separate upon application of bending forces. The carton blank  10 A also shown in  FIG. 9  is similar to the blank shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and similar reference characters are used to identify similar parts. The only major difference is that the blank  10 A of  FIG. 9  does not include a flap on front wall  18 A. The carton blank  10 A is integral with promotional sheet  12 A along fold line  15 A. 
     FIG. 10  shows the carton blank  10 A with the promotional sheet  12 A folded along line  15 A and overlying the blank. Flap portion  14 A of the promotional sheet is secured to the outer top wall  22  of blank  10 A by adhesive  34 . 
   Following assembly of the carton blank  10 A into the shape of a carton, the carton is simply loaded with cigarette packs  60  and the outer top wall  22  and associated glue flap  14 A are secured to the inner top wall  24  by adhesive  76  after application of tax stamps to the packs to thereby seal the carton closed. Opening of the carton  10 A is best shown in  FIG. 11  where the top walls  22 ,  24  of the carton are simply removed together with the glue flap  14 A of the promotional sheet. The contents of the carton comprising the cigarette packs  60  and the planar carton insert  38 A are then easily removed from the carton. 
     FIGS. 12-14  diagrammatically illustrate filling and forming the carton blank  10 ,  10 A and promotional sheet  12 ,  12 A. In this regard, the carton blank with promotion sheet secured thereto is transported to a pack filling and carton forming station  100 . Adhesive in the form of glue dots  102  are appropriately positioned on the outside of the promotional sheet depending upon the desired packaging of the cigarette packs. For example, if a standard ten pack retail unit is desired glue dots  102  are applied to the bottom wall  40  and side walls  42 ,  44  of sheet  12  in order to secure all ten packs in place. 
   Cigarette packs  60  are positioned as a block of ten packs and a pusher mechanism  104  then pushes the block of ten packs against the bottom wall  40  of the promotional sheet. Continued movement of the pusher mechanism forces the carton blank and promotional sheet into a former  106  to thereby fold the walls into a carton shape. Subsequently, end flaps  26 ,  28 ,  30  of the carton blank are glued closed and the top flaps are folded over for later opening when tax stamps are applied to the packs. 
   Preferably, the promotional sheet/carton insert portion  12  and the outer carton blank portion  10  are integrally formed or cut from a single sheet of stock board material, which portions  10 ,  12  are then folded into a superposing relation along the fold line  15 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Preferably, the stock board material is that which is typically used in forming cigarette cartons, although other known packaging materials could be used. 
   Typically, stock board material has a finished side and a less finished or unfinished side, the finished side being the preferred side for printing and/or presentation to a customer. Preferably, the surface of the promotional sheet/carton insert portion  12  that is presented to the customer upon removal of the insert structure from the remainder or outer portion of the carton comprises the finished side of the stock board material. In such case, the exterior or viewable surface of the outer carton blank portion comprises the less finished side of the stock board material. Decorative printing can be minimized on the exterior viewable surface of the outer carton blank portion so as to avoid waste. The outer carton blank portion enhances protection of the printed promotional sheet/carton insert during shipping, stocking and handling of product. 
   In the alternative, the promotional sheet/carton insert and the exterior carton blank portion could be formed separately and possibly of different materials and joined together in a superposed relation as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     FIG. 15  shows another ten pack cigarette carton blank  110  for assembly into a carton shape holding ten cigarette packs of five rows with two cigarette packs in each row. A promotional sheet/carton insert portion  112  is integrally associated with the carton blank  110 , and the promotional sheet has a top first closure flap portion  114  integral with the carton blank along fold line  115  as shown in  FIG. 15  and explained more fully below. 
   Fundamentally, the carton blank  110  comprises a bottom wall  116  with a front side wall  118  and a back side wall  120 . A top wall  122  is adjacent the back side wall  120 . The ends of the carton blank  110  comprise bottom end wall flaps  126  adjacent the ends of bottom wall  116 . Additionally, inner end walls  128  are adjacent the ends of the front side wall  118  while outer end walls  130  are adjacent the ends of the back side wall  120 . Fold lines  132  are provided between the wall panels of the carton blank to facilitate folding the blank into a traditional carton shape, such as shown in  FIGS. 17-20 . 
   The promotional sheet  112  is folded along fold line  115  over the carton blank, as shown in  FIG. 16 . Basically, the promotional sheet  112  has an outer boundary or periphery  136  that lies within the boundary or periphery of the carton blank  110 , except for a relatively narrow second closure flap portion  138  of the promotional sheet. This enables assembly of the carton blank and promotional sheet  112  to be folded into carton shape utilizing standard assembly machinery and standard procedures for ten pack cigarette cartons. The fold line  115  insures that the sheet and blank are properly positioned relative to one another. Alternatively, the sheet and blank may comprise separate pieces, but proper alignment then requires more precise handling. 
   The promotional sheet  112  shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16  comprises a bottom wall  140  and upwardly extending side walls  142 ,  144 . Fold lines  46  extend between the bottom wall  140  and the upstanding side walls  142 ,  144  to facilitate formation of the promotional sheet into the form of a sleeve having a U-shaped cross section. The fold lines  146  overlay the fold lines  132  adjacent the bottom wall  116  of the carton blank  110 . Accordingly, when the carton blank is assembled into the form of a carton the promotional sheet is simultaneously folded into the form of a packaging sleeve. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , fold line  115  is also a line of separation between the promotional sheet  112  and the carton  110 . The line of separation enables the packaging sleeve portion to be separated from the outer top wall  122  of the carton, as explained more fully below. 
   The front side wall  118  of the carton blank  110  includes a removal flap  150  for separation from the remaining portion of the front side wall along a perforated line of separation  152 . As shown in  FIG. 20 , insertion of a finger into an opening  154  in front side wall  18  enables upward movement of the finger to release flap  150  from the remainder of the front side wall  118  along the perforated line  152 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 17 ,  18  and  19 , the carton blank  110  is assembled into the form of a standard carton and the inside promotional sheet  112  is formed into a U-shaped packaging sleeve  158  into which cigarette packs  60  are inserted. The top wall  122  of the carton blank is inwardly folded to thereby form the top of the carton. The carton is not secured in its closed position, but instead the top wall  122  loosely forms the top of the carton. Subsequently, at a downstream location, the carton is temporarily opened by folding the top wall  122  with the closure flap  114  of the promotional sheet  112  adjacent thereto against the front side wall  118  of the blank  110 . 
   Normally cigarette cartons are temporarily opened for the application of tax stamps to the individual packs  60  within the carton. This enables tax stamp machinery (such as shown in  FIG. 6 ) to apply required tax stamps to the individual packs  60  within the carton. Following the application of the tax stamps, the narrow top closure flap  138  is inwardly folded and the opposite top closure flap  14  also is inwardly folded over flap  138 , and flaps are secured together by adhesive  162 , as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 . 
     FIGS. 21 and 22  illustrate the removal of the promotional packaging sleeve  158  from the carton formed from blank  110 . Upward force applied to the flap  150  of the front side wall  18  breaks the line of separation  152  which separates the flap  150  from the front side wall  18 . Continued upward movement of the flap  150  to the position shown in  FIG. 21  removes the top wall  122  of the carton which is connected to the flap  50 . Ultimately, the flap  150  and the top wall  122  of the carton are separated from the remaining portions of the carton by tearing along the line of separation  15 . The promotional packaging sleeve  158  with cigarette packs  60  therein then may be removed from the carton. 
   The promotional sheet shown in sleeve form  158  in  FIG. 21  includes lines of separation  178  for separating the sleeve and the cigarette packs into five two pack retail units. However, other lines of separation may also be used so as to form the cigarette packs into two five pack retail units or three three pack units and a single unit, for example. 
   Preferably, the promotional sheet/carton insert portion  12  and the outer carton blank portion  10  are integrally formed or cut from a single sheet of stock board material, which portions  110 ,  112  are then folded into a superposing relation along the fold line  115 , as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Preferably, the stock board material is that which is typically used in forming cigarette cartons, although other known packaging materials could be used such as described above. 
   In the alternative, the promotional sheet/carton insert and the exterior carton blank portion could be formed separately and possibly of different materials and joined together in a superposed relation as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
   Formation and loading of cigarette packs  60  into carton  110  and promotional sheet  112  may be similar to the descriptions above in connection with  FIGS. 12-14 . Also, glue dot may be used to releasable secure the packs  60  in place. 
   It should be understood that the above detailed description while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention are given by way of illustration only since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.