Patent Publication Number: US-4836366-A

Title: Cigarette packs and boxes with attached matches

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The art of combining cigarette packs and matches is known to exist for a considerable time. The main objective in these inventions, as well as in the present invention, is to facilitate the availability of the matches near the cigarette box where they are needed. Most of these inventions involve complex or elaborate designs that render them being either costly to manufacture or impractical to use. In modern days, cost and practicality are the main important considerations for marketing and usefullness. Cigarette packing firms will not be willing to retool to produce a new package, if cost and practicality do not warrent that. Also to request a modified match-book with special features will not be welcome by the match-book industry. 
     The present invention utilizes the currently available two components: the cigarette pack (in its hard box or soft pack forms) and the ordinary and common match-book. Thus, this invention will be readily acceptable in the market place by the manufacturers and the users. In addition, this invention allows the removal and re-insertion of the match-book to the cigarette package, at will and without removing or destroying the paper strip. 
     This invention is also considered for its advertising potential. The strip which holds the pack and matches together can be overprinted with advertising material for different brands of products. The match-book may also be printed with the same advertisment. With millions of smokers accross the country and the world, this combination package has great market potential and improves the art of its field. This invention will also reduce the need for cigarette lighters, since each new package comes with its accompanying match-book. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1. Isometric for the hard-top cigarette box with the attached match-book. 
     FIG. 2. Isometric for the soft cigarette pack with the attached match-book. 
     FIG. 3. Detail for the paper strip/match-book assembly. 
    
    
     REFRENCES TO THE PRIOR ART 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
U.S. Pat. Documents     Class/Subclass                                    
______________________________________                                    
1,606,469                                                                 
        11/1926    Folz         206/94                                    
1,720,589                                                                 
         7/1929    Danab        206/94                                    
1,976,189                                                                 
        10/1934    Pauli        206/94                                    
2,323,342                                                                 
         7/1943    McManus et al                                          
                                206/94                                    
2,547,620                                                                 
         4/1951    Capano       206/94                                    
2,634,854                                                                 
         4/1953    Brandt et al 206/94                                    
2,802,566                                                                 
         8/1957    Winstanley, Jr                                         
                                206/94                                    
2,805,183                                                                 
         9/1957    Higgins      206/94                                    
2,975,890                                                                 
         3/1961    Block        206/94                                    
3,509,989                                                                 
         5/1970    Woll         206/94                                    
4,355,716                                                                 
        10/1982    Berrio de la Fe                                        
                                206/94                                    
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT 
     An ordinary match book 1 is combined with a cigarette hard-top cigarette box as shown in FIG. 1 (or with a soft pack as shown in FIG. 2) through a strip 3 made of paper or any other thin material. The strip of paper is placed between the match-book cover 6 and the match stems 7, as shown in FIG. 3. The strip 3 has at least one spot 4 of abraisive material--preferably in a geometric shape--on one of its surfaces, for use as a striking surface for the matches. This added abraisive surface is needed in conjunction with the ordinary match-book which has its striking surface on the back side. Thus one needs either to remove the match-book from the strip, or to modify the match-book to have the striking surface on the front side. The addding of the abraisive material spot alliviates the need to comply with either of the two suggested solutions, and adds the convenience of being able to strike the match and light a cigarette without the need for removing the match-book from the strip. 
     The paper strip may have its two ends 8 gummed together with the appropriate material, after being wrapped tightly around the cigarette box. 
     The match-book may be closed by tucking its cover into a slot 9, as shown in FIG. 3, or by closing it in the usual way which is to insert the top flap behind the front piece 10, where usually a staple 11 secures the attachment of the match-book cover to the matches themselves.