Patent Publication Number: US-2007095682-A1

Title: Cigarette carton having a tuckable end flap closure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a reclosable cigarette carton, and more particularly to a cigarette carton having a tuckable end flap closure.  
      In many instances, cigarette packs are sold in cartons normally containing ten packs in two rows with five packs in each row. One common way of gaining access to the packs within the carton is to break the glue seal at the top of the carton and then remove the packs from the carton at the top. However, many carton customers prefer to open the carton from one end and then use the carton to store the remaining packs after removal of one or more individual packs. Currently cartons do not have end closure structure that enables reclosure of the opened end of the carton, and as a result thereof the end flaps of the carton simply remain open.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is a standard cigarette carton having a reclosable end whereby individual cigarette packs may be removed from the carton and the carton releasably closed to store the remaining packs therein.  
      Another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton having an insertion tongue or tuck tab on an outside end closure panel of the carton and a tongue slit or receiving cut on a cooperating end closure flap in order to releasably close the carton at one end thereof.  
      Still another object of the present invention is a cigarette carton of added convenience for the consumer and which provides the perception of improved freshness of the cigarette packs within the carton by providing a reclosable end structure.  
      In accordance with the present invention, a cigarette carton comprises front and rear panels with interconnecting top and bottom panels, and opposite end closures. At least one of the end closures includes an end panel with an insertion tongue or tuck tab and a cooperating end flap with a tongue retaining slit or receiving cut therein for releasably retaining the tongue or tab of the end panel. This structural relationship enables the carton to be opened at one end thereof and then releasably reclosed.  
      Preferably, the carton of the present invention is dimensioned to contain ten cigarette packs in two back-to-back rows with five packs in each row. 
    
    
     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 reclosable cigarette carton, according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the relcosable cigarette carton shown in  FIG. 1 , the front elevational view being identical;  
       FIG. 3  is a left end elevational view of the reclosable carton shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of the reclosable carton shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 5  is a layout of a blank for making the reclosable cigarette carton of  FIGS. 1-4 , according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring in more particularity to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a cigarette carton  10  dimensioned to package ten cigarette packs  12  in two rows with five packs in each row. A blank layout for the carton  10  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The carton is fabricated from paper board and the like which is customary in the industry. The specifics of the carton  10  include a front panel  14  and a rear panel  16  with interconnecting top and bottom panels  18 ,  20  respectively. An inside top flap  22  is secured along the rear panel  16 .  
      The left end of the carton  10  includes an inside bottom flap  24  which extends from bottom panel  20  and an inside end flap  26  which extends from the front panel  14 . The left end of the carton further includes a left end panel  28  which extends from the rear panel  16 .  
      The other end of the carton  10  includes an inside right end flap  30  which extends from the front panel and a right end panel  32  which extends from the rear panel  16 . The right end panel  32  includes an insertion tongue or tuck tab  34  while the inside right end flap  30  includes a tongue retaining slit or receiving cut  36  for retaining the tongue or tab  34 , as explained more fully below.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the carton  10  is assembled by initially folding along longitudinal lines  40  and then positioning the top panel  18  over the inside top flap  22  while securing the panel  18  to inside top flap  22  with adhesive. The left end of the carton is closed by folding along transverse lines  42  and initially folding the end tab  24  followed by the end flap  26  and the left end panel  28 . Adhesive is utilized to secure the left end panel  28  to the inside flap  26 , as is well known in the industry.  
      Turning now to the right end of the carton  10 , the right end panel  32  and the inside right end flap  30  are folded along transverse lines  44  with the inside right end flap  30  folded first and the right end panel  32  positioned over the right end flap and secured thereto with adhesive. Several glue joints (not shown) may be used to secure the right end panel  32  to the inside flap  30 .  
      In actual use, the carton is initially opened by separating the glue joints that secure the right end panel  32  to the inside right end flap  30 . An individual pack of cigarettes  12  or several packs may then be removed from the carton and the right end reclosed after such removal. Reclosure is accomplished by positioning the insertion tongue or tab  34  on the right end panel into the tongue receiving slit or cut  36  on the inside right end flap.