Improvements in Boxes or Packages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Boxes or Packages.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a com-
munication to me from The Drummond Tobacco Company, of 400 S. Fourth
Street, St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, in the United States of America), and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The present invention relates to that class of individual packages or boxes in
which goods and merchandise, such as cigarettes, confectionery and the like, are
retailed.
The object of the present improvements is to provide a simple and efficient
construction of such individual boxes or packages whereby a very ready and
convenient access is gained to the contents thereof and in which such contents are
held in proper separated condition until used.
The object is attained by the construction and arrangement of parts illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the present improved package in a
closed condition.
Fig. II is a perspective view of the same in an open condition and adapted to
hold cigarettes.
Fig. III is a longitudinal section of the same.
Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several views.
As represented in the drawings, the box or package will consist, as usual, of a
main body portion 1 and a cover or cap portion 2 hinged or otherwise attached
thereto, as usual in the present class of packages, and which cover, when made in
the form of a cap enclosing the body portion, will be formed with thumb gaps 3
for convenience in opening the package. In either case it is preferable to make
the cover of an inherently rigid nature so that it will form a support for the
flexible body portion when the box or package is in a closed condition.
In the present improvement the body portion 1 will be made flexible or yielding
at or about its midlength in any usual or suitable manner and in accordance with
the nature of the material from which the package or box is constructed, the
purpose being to form a hinge or joint 4 in the body portion at the aforementioned
point so that one portion or half of the body portion can be bent at an angle to
the other portion in the operation of opening the package or box in gaining access
to the contents of the same.
Each of such portions or halves of the box body 1 will be provided with a series
of receiving pockets or receptacles 5 that are arranged in parallel relation with
the hinge or flexible joint 4 and with their mouths facing towards such joint as
shown.
In use the cigarettes or other articles will be inserted endwise into said pockets,
so as to be held by their ends, the arrangement of the pockets being such that the
ends of each alternate cigarette of the series will be held in the pockets at one end
of the box, while the ends of the remaining cigarettes will be held by the pockets
at the other end of the box, so that when the box or package body is bent upon
its joint 4 the cigarettes will be conveniently presented in a separated relation as
shown in Fig. II.
The holding pockets or compartments 5 will be of any usual and suitable
formation. In the construction illustrated in the drawings corrugated strips 6

page_text: secured to the interior of the box or package are employed to form such series of
receiving pockets and, as shown, each corrugated strip or partition 6 forms the
series of holding pockets 5 for the ends of the cigarettes or other articles and,
alternate thereto, a series of open topped pockets 5¹ in which rest the free ends of
the cigarettes held by the opposite series of pockets when the box or package is
closed.
The two series of holding pockets 5 are arranged with relation to each other 50
that the holding pockets at one side or end of the box will be in line with
the open topped pockets 51 at the opposite side or end of the box and vice versa.
In use the pocket may be of a size to receive but a single or individual cigarette
or other article, or a single row, or made large enough, as well as subdivided, so as
to hold two or more articles in a row surmounting the first.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A box or package provided with a flexible joint at or near its midlength and
a series of holding pockets in the interior of the box that have a parallel arrange-
ment at each side of the flexible joint, such pockets having an alternate relation to
each other, substantially as set forth.
2. A box or package provided with a flexible joint at or near its midlength and
a series of holding pockets 5 and an alternate series of open topped pockets 5',
such pockets having a parallel arrangement at each side of the flexible joint,
substantially as set forth.
3. A box or package provided with a flexible joint at or near its midlength and
a series of holding pockets 5 and an alternate series of open topped pockets 5',
such pockets having a parallel arrangement at each side of the flexible joint
and arranged with relation to each other substantially as set forth.
4. A box or package having a length approximating that of the contained
articles and provided with a flexible joint at or near its midlength and a series of
holding pockets in the interior of the box that have parallel arrangement at each
side of the flexible joint, such pockets being formed by corrugated strips secured to
the interior of the box, said pockets having an alternate relation, substantially as
set forth.
5. A box or package made flexible between its ends, means whereby a portion
of the contained articles is held by an end at one side of the point of flexure,
and means whereby the other portion of such articles is held by an end at the
opposite side of such flexure, the arrangement being such that the free ends of
the articles will cross such points of flexure and will project in a crossed
relation from the package on a Hexure of the same, substantially as set forth.
6. A box or package made flexible between its ends, rigid cover hinged
thereto and affording stiffness to the package when closed, means whereby a
portion of the contained articles is held by an end at one side of the point of
flexure, aud means whereby the other portion of such articles is held by an end
at the opposite side of such flexure, the arrangement being such that the free ends
of the articles will cross such point of flexure and will project in a crossed relation
from the package on a flexure of the same, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of January 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.