US2327120A - Cigarette case - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 17, 1,943.

P. L. MCCOON CIGARETTE CASE Filed Nov. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l "5a/lb www Aug. 17, 1943.

P. l.. MccooN 2,327,120

CIGARETTE CASE Filed Nov. 12, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a cigare e case aof teamed Aug. 17, 1943 Paul-f1.. lvlclimn, Los f-Angeles,"y Calif., Y:assigner to 1 Y 'LTriexf Corporatiomaa corporation of California Y".Yapplicaea'November-12, iefialserial No; 365,205

' `i1 claims. (o1. 20s-41.2)

inisyinvention frei-fates to containers .or cases and relates more particularly to casesffcrfoiga?v rettes and the like. ,A A, general Yobject-i of Ythe -inventionfis "to Y.provide a Vpractical,` effective and inexpensive l cigarettecicctiliefmeans destinen obje Giearett@ case i* the :cigarette fclase. embodying a 'novel A ifeffjeetivelyg protects andseals removal. Y

garett case formed vwith onelendffully open y insertion or loading i of 'the :entire an; Original cisarcttegpackaec into the case :k :mc ely caterina thc-cnam group -.of cigarettes finto the icas@ while strippingvv fthe origin.alA package fsaidfend'cf the case beine Branded'withaccvcrficrchisme end-sealtiiczceseftdrcta1n,and protecttiic cigarettes miner eobicct ofutlie'finventicn fistoiprvide which -thfeiccvcr ieicctne @perline- 4M0- tidcivi sp ine loadeddcfzr -coupled with an ejector and fc -y meleascd .101' opening-1110 Il02H15@ the cinematic eieftcn cf iti-ic Cisa-fettes .cbiectfcf the invention-gist@ mrc, .1de a device ofthe character mentioned emi; dying-a novel coupling :between'tliefcase cen/ien nd ;;the ejector door ywhich is :liniriiured maiected when ,the cover is hinecdfbetwcen t openand closed 'positions for tlieloading oi the Ycase and which may Serve as airline-e tige cover.

@cigarette casccf the .character'refcrred Ltczen licdvne a novel ccntrol :or 'lock means for lthe tneginventionfis Yto prei/ide a Y nd ivlsicli is -operaloleit'o successivel-y .projectfor ej ect the cigarettes for lread-y,

y' no tlicr, chiesi ofthe V= i r1vmticin lis' to provide character referred -togrr' application Aof my invention, throughout whicndescription reference. is made to the ac companying drawings, in which:

.-Fis sa perspective View of thecase provided bythisgf'inventionwithboth the 'covernand the "ejection means door closed. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the case showing the door raised and a cigarettepartially:ejectedfrom the case. Y Fig. 3

jis a longitudinal detailed sectional view of tlue l0.

case in a reclininglrposition Withtljle cover open showinggthemanner irl-Which the case is loaded. Fig. ciis-,a v erticaludetailed sectional view of the case vinv the `closed condition illustrating the cigarettesinfbroken linesand showing the feeding mechanism retracted. Fig.r5 is an enlarged.

fragmentary'.horizontal detailed sectional Yvievv taken-as indicated bylinef-B on Fig. 4. Fig

enlarged; fiiagmentaryvertical sectionalY Viewtakensubstantially as indicated-by line G.E onjFiggAf. Figi -7V is an enlarged fragmentary vertical Asectional View illustrating the mounting oftneffeeding means. Fig is an elevation View 4of tiie releasing member of tne feeding mecha- :ontalqdegtailedsectional viewtaken Vs1ilostantially cover which prevents -openingiof the case when' the ejectcrdoor iseopen, therebypreyentnainjury to ,the ejecting mce'nanismf-andcmbodyine a ,lock means for ,the ,ejector `door `and ejector mechanism which lholds the same against voperation when the Acover is raised to reload thecase.

A furtneioicject ofthe inventionis to prolvide a cigarette case ofthe `character mentioned ,embedying an `irriprdved feeding mechanism -vlhic1ri ieeds or advancesfrtlie cigarettes to the vejector ejection thereby andgcontrolled b'yra latch means which serves to-fhold the ciganettev push#- i-ng or feedingelement retracted against the Wall of the case where `it does not 'interfere witiitne. free loading of the yentire originalgroup ef ciga..

rettes into ne case, which latch means isreadily released subsequent to the loading operation,

conditioning tion.

'Tiievarious 4objects and `features of my invention Willbe fully imderstoed r-oniit -e following detailed .description of a typical preferred form the feeding mechanism for '.o'peranisrarernoved'frcn'i the otherV parts. VVFig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal detailed :sec-

tonalvviewtakenas indicatedsby line 'l--Q -on Eig-,4. Fig.l0-is an enlarged vertical detailed seztional 'ivetv ofthe case showing. the ejecting means infan actuated condition andthe feeding means f etracted. ll is.y a fragmentary horie as indicated by line vl l-ii ron Fig. l0 and Fig. l? iis .agtragmentary perspective View of kone of theicliannel-'rnembers removed-from the The'cigarettecase ofthe present invention may bcrsaid jtozcompriseggenerally, a case body I0, 'a pivotedvor-'hinged cover vil Afor the-body I0, eject--V ing meansflsZ ,associatedwith theqcover l and feeding means 43 for feeding the Vcigarettes C toz-theejecting rneans l2.

' lhecase'rl0is ;provided to receive and contain thegogarettes Crand carries and houses the various other elements of the device.- In-tlie preierredstructureithe case body lisdesigned'and proportioned toxreceive the entire contents of an original package of cigarettes, for example, it mayzlzieiproportioned to receive twenty cigarettes infpa :pack orfgroupi as generally marketed in the original,paper containe1. VAs illustrated, the Case body |55) fmay bev a hollow rectangular structure oomprisingafbottom lll, side Walls I5 and what I willterm edge walls It.

In ,accordance With the inventionthecase body H) has an open upper end normallyclosed by the cover li. The case body I0 may be an integral or one-piece member formed of-a selected material. In practice y the vbody *lil may be constructed of one of the socalled plastic materials and it is preferred to formi-folie body l0 of transparent or partially transparentmaterial sothat the user mayV ascertain the number of cigarettes within the case. The case body I3 may be of any selectedgcolor and may be ornamented as desired. In the form of the invention illustrated the edge walls I6 of the body Iii are provided with ornamental trim or channel members I1 which serve to conceal, carry and house certain of the other elements to be later described. The channel shaped trim mem, bers I1 are partially recessed in central longitu; dinal grooves i8 in the external surfaces of thej walls i3, being arranged to have their edge flanges bearing in the grooves, see Fig. 5. Ears I9 pro- While their upper ends are spaced some distancev below the top of the case body.

The cover serves to normally close the upper end of the case to retain and protect the The channel members contents and is adapted to be opened to permit" the' loading of the case. The cover is preferably, though not necessarily, formed of sheet metal and is generally flat and parallel with the bottom i4 when in the closed position. Depend` ing flanges or wings 2| are provided on theopposite ends of the cover-| I and depending anges 22 extend along the longitudinal edgesof the cover. The edge walls I6 are indented or recessed at their upper parts to receive the wings 2| and the upper edges of the side walls |5arerrecessed to receive the flanges 22 so that these parts may lie substantially flush with the external surfaces of the case. The case cover is pressed or formed to have a raised longitudinal rib 23 which continues across its upper side and its wings 2| to complement or complete the channel members |1 of the body I3. In accordance with mediately adjacent the plane occupied'by one of thef body side wallsvIE. Thus, as best illustrated inFig's. l and-l1, horizontal hinge pins24 are" anchored in upper corner parts of the 'body |0 to have their axes in the vertical plane of a sidel pivotal movement between its vopen and closed When the cover II is closedthe en`V positions. gagement'of its wings 2| and flanges 22with the body walls serves to hold the cover against opening. When the cover i I is open, as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, it is completely clear of the upper end of the body I3 so thatthe case may be readily loaded. Y

In aceordance with the invention a discharge opening-'25 is provided in the cover tov permit the'ejection of the cigarettes C. The opening 25 is vsubstantially rectangular and is provided at one end of the cover I I. lThe opening 25'preferably has one longitudinal wall at an end edge or corner of the cover II and its opposite end walls are adjacent the longitudinal edge Vcorner'sof the cover. A central reduced extension or notch 26 is provided in the inner longitudinal sideof the opening 25. The opening 25 is proportioned to freely pass at least two cigarettes.

' The ejecting means f2 is operable at the will of the user to Vproject the cigarettes C through the-Opening 25 singly or in pairs. The means yI2 includes adoor 21 for the opening 25.` The door 21 conforms to the opening 25 to fully occupy 01 close the same and has a tongue 28 occupying the notch 23. When the door 21 is closed its upper surface may lie flush with the surface of the coverlI and it is preferred to provide a central rib 29 on the door to complete the rib 23. Down turned lugs 3B are provided on the cover` I I at the vopposite sides of the notch 26 and down turned ears3| on the tongue 28 lie against or adjacent these lugs. A pivot pin 32 passes through hori Zonta] openings in the lugs and ears 3| to support thedoor 21 for `pivotal movement. A torsional opening 33 surrounds the pin 32 and has one end anchored to the cover I I and one end bearing upwardly against the door 21. The spring 33 is operable to swing the door 21 vfrom its closed position to its open, substantially verticalposition. v

Latch means is provided to hold the door 21 closed and to retain Athe ejecting mechanisml I2 in its idle retracted condition. The latch means comprises a latch 34 arranged at the inner side of the wing 2| which is at the discharge opening 25, see Fig. 10. -The latch 34 may be riveted or otherwise xed to the wing 2| Aand extends-upwardly to have its upper end adjacent the'opening 25. The upper end of the latch 34 is shaped or bent to form a catch 35. The intermediate portion of thelatch 34 is shaped or bent to have an outwardly projecting-button part 36 which is received in an opening 31in the wing 2|. An inwardly projecting detent or hook 38.is formed on the outer edge Aof the door 21. The hook 33 may be as shown or there may be an opening formed in the door 21 instead of the hook. The catch 35 is cooperable with the opening or hook 38 to hold the door 21 closed. The resiliency of 'the latch 34 'normally retains thecatch 35 in engagement with the opening or-hook 38. By merely pressing inwardly on the part 36 the latch 34 isexed to free the catch '35 from the opening or hook 38, lthus freeing the door 21 foropening. When the door 21 is recl'osed the opening or hook 38 again cooperates with the catch 35 to hold the door shutfi o f I vThefejector means I2 further includesa shiftableejector 33. The ejector 39 is a hat strip or strap ridingron the internal surface of vthe wall I3 belowlthe `opening 25. The means for guiding and retaining the ejectorSB comprises lugs or ears 43 projecting from the inner side of thel ejector 39 and extending through a vertical slot- 4| in the body wall I3. The outer parts of the ears 4U are turned back or laterally to ride on the bottom wall of the recess i3. This structure is illustrated in Fig. 5. Theguiding ears 40 are spaced verticallyalong the ejector 33. The ejector 39 is guided by the ears 43 to lie flat against the wall Iii.` An outwardlyfor laterally turned lifting foot :i2 is provided on the lower end of the ejector 39. VThe foot 42 may be curved or concave. Agroove 43 is formed in the case bottom I4 to receivethe foot 42 when the ejector is in its down position. When the ejector 33 is in its fully retracted position its upper end is spaced some distance below the opening 25.

The invention provides a novel coupling or connection between the door 21 and the ejector 39. This connection includes a depending lug 44 on the under side of the door 21. The lug 44 is at one side edge or end of the door 21 and is received in a notch 45 in the aligned case side wall I5 when the door is closed. A laterally or inwardly projecting iiange 4,6 is provided on the ejector 39 in substantially verticalalignment with the lugv M. A link 41 extends Vbetween the lug downwardly and outwardly'to have `its major material, such as spring brass of .O96 orf-.O07 .of an inchthick, so that it conforms to the cigarettes C for a substantial .part of itslength. yIt

will be observed that the torsional spring 'H aids the inherent resiliency of the blade Si in Amaintaining the blade in pressure contact with the cigarettes C. The-blade 6'!Y is mounted on the body wall I E5 adjacent the under side of the housing 5I and the blade is. bent or shapedvs'o that it is stopped or limited by the housing El' when the supply of cigarettes C is reduced to only two or three. rIhe shape or curvature of the blade 6'! is such that the lower part of the blade cannot dig into oriinjure the cigarettes C when the bladeis stopped or limited bythe housing-5l., as just described. 1 The last cigarettes C are readily ejected without further movement ofV the A blade E1 which 'might wedge or pinch them against the ejector 39.

The feed means I3 further includes'means. for

latching or retaining the blade '51 ina. retracted position against or adjacent .the wall'of the case I0 when a new supply of cigarettes is to be loaded in the case. This means includes or provides an opening 'I2 in the adjacent Wall I5 of the. body I. A U or V slot iscut in the'blade Gland the material denel by the slo-t is curled or rolled v Fig. l0 of theV drawings where it lies `substantially iiush against the adj acent body wall I6. The portion of the retracted blade 'l'above the detent part 'I3 bows inwardly. to a sufcient extent to guide the cigarettes C past the opening in the blade at the detentpart 'I3 so that the cigarettes Vdo not foul or catchiin the opening whenloaded inthe case.

Means is provided for releasing the detent part 'I3 from the opening 12 to free the blade 61 for operation.` This means includes a releasing member 'M arranged within the channel member I1 .to extend across the outer side ofthe opening 12.

' The lower part of the releasing member T4 has lugs projecting from its opposite edges and these lugs are Vreceived in notches 'l5 in the side flanges of the trim or 'channel mem# berA Il. see Figs. 8 and 9, or engaged in notches in the body well i6. v The engagement of the lugs 15 in the notches i6 retains the member 'I4 in position and permits liimted pivotal movement of the member. The inner side of the releasing member 'I4 engages with the detent part 13. 'The member 'M is bent or shaped to havean outwardly projecting button H received in an opening 18 in the body wall IS. The user may press on the button 11 to cause the member 'l to free the detent part 13 from the opening '12.

It is believed that the operation of the improved cigarette case of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing Adetailed description. AssumingI thatthe cover I I and the door 21 are closed and that it is desired to load the case the user merely swings the cover II to .the open position. During this operation the ejecting means I2 remains unactuated land the lug M merely swings or pivots in the eye (i9. The cover II swings back to expose the entire end lof the case body i9. l This allows the entire group of cigarettes C contained in an original paper` package P to be entered Vin the case body I.

1return the eXtra cigarette.

Prior to the insertion of the cigarettes C, the user may insert his 'fingers in the case and press the blade 6'! back to latch the detent part 'I3 in the opening 'l2 to hold the blade 61 retracted and out of thepath of the cigarettes to be loaded in the case. With the cover II open and the blade E1 retracted the entire group vof cigarettes C may be easily loaded in the case body I0 as a single unit or group in the order 'or packed relation they had in the original package. Fig. 3 illustrates how this is done. The inside dimensions ofthe case body I are such that the case is adapted to hold the cigarettes C in the closely packed relation they bore in the original package.v Transferring the cigarettes C from theV original package to the case does not change the positions of the cigarettes C. The case body lil is vvery little larger than the original cigarette package P and the ejecting mechanism, etc. is made to occupy a minimum amount of space so that the cigarettes are not crowded or crushed in the case. With the cigarettes() loaded in the case body I0 the cover i I may be closed. The case Ais then in condition for use. f Y' When itis desiredto obtain a cigarette C the user merely pushes on the part 36. This releases Athe catch from the hook 38 and the spring 33 swings the door 2'1 open and moves the ejector 39 upwardly. Theejector raises or ejects one or 'two cigarettes so that they project'through the opening 25 to be readily withdrawn. If onlyon cigarette desired and two cigarettes have been ejected thev user merely closes the door 21 to When the door 21 is closed the hook 38 engages the catch 3S to latch the door. When three or four cigarettes Y lhave been withdrawn from the case the user may press on the part I'I to free the blade 61. The blade @i presses against the group of cigarettes VvC to urge the Acigarettes against the ejector 39 `and vthus feeds the cigarettes to the ejecting means I2. The blade 61 remains eifective until vthe supply of cigarettes is exhausted.

` Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specic details herein set forth, but Wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

. Having described my invention, I clairn:

' l. A cigarette case comprising a case body having a rilling opening, a cover for the opening hingedly connected to the body to be moved between open and closed positions and having a movable portion, means operated by the movable portion -for ejecting cigarettes from the case body, and lock operated by the movable portion for locking the cover closed during said ejection of the-cigarettes.

A case of the character described comprising a case body havinfr a lling opening, a cover for the opening lhinged to :the body,` the cover having a discharge opening, a door for the discharge opening, ejector means in the body for ejecting objects through :the discharge opening. an operative connection between the door and ejector for causing simultaneous opening of the door and operationof the ejector, said connection permitting opening of the cover when the door is closed, and a lock for the cover connected with the door so'that the cover is locked. closed when the door is open. i Y

3. A cigarette case comprising arcase body for containing the cigarettes and having a lling' opening through which the cigarettes may be passed into Vthe case, a pivoted .cover for the iilling opening having a discharge opening, a hinged door for the discharge opening, an ejector in the case for ejectingthe cigarettes through discharge opening, an operating member connected with the ejector, and a universal connection between the member and door whereby opening of the door is accompanied by operationl of the ejector, said connection being located to provide for relative pivotal movement between the door and member about the pivotal axis of the cover when the cover is opened and closed,

A cigarette case comprising a case body for containing the cigarettes and having a filling opening through which the cigarettes may be passed into the case, a pivoted cover for the filling opening having a discharge opening, a hinged door for the discharge opening, a spring means for opening the door, releasable latch means for latching the door closed, an ejector in the case for ejecting the cigarettes through the discharge opening, an operating member connected with the ejector, and a universal connection between the member and door whereby opening of the door is accompanied by operation of the ejector, said connection being located to provide for relative pivotal movement between the door andrmember about the pivotal axis of the cover when the cover is opened and closed.

5. A cigarette case comprising a case body for containing the cigarettes and having a iilling `opening through which the vcigarettes may be passed into thev case, a pivoted cover for the filling opening having a discharge opening, a hinged door for the discharge opening, an ejector in the case for ejecting the cigarettes through discharge opening, an operating member connected with the ejector, a'universal pivotal connection between theV member and the door whereby opening of the door is Yaccompanied by operation of the ejector, said connection being located to provide for relative pivotal movement between the member and door about the pivotal axis of the cover when the cover is raised with the door in the closed Position, and a lock for the cover connected with the door so that the cover is locked closed when the door is' open.

6. A cigarette case comprising a case body for r containing the cigarettes and having a filling Y opening through which the cigarettes may be passed into the case, a pivoted cover for the filling opening having a'discharge opening, a hinged door for the discharge opening, an ejector in the case for ejecting the cigarettes through the discharge opening, an operating member connected with the ejector, a pivotal connection between the member and the door whereby opening of the door is accompanied by operation of the ejector, said connection providing for relative pivotal movement betewen the member and door about the pivotal axis of the cover when the cover is raised with the door in the closed position, and lock means operable upon opening of the door for locking the cover against opening, the lock means comprising a movable lock part carried by vthe cover for locking with the body, and cam means on the door for operating the lock part.

7. A case of the character described comprising a case body having a iilling opening, a cover for the opening hinged to the body, the cover havobjects through the discharge opening, an oping a ldischarge opening, a door for the discharge opening, ejector `means in thebody for ejecting erative ccnnection'between the doorjand ejector for causing simultaneous opening of the door and operation of the ejector, said. connection permitting opening of the cover when the door `is Vthe lock part retracted, and cam means on the door for moving the lock part into locking engagement with the Vbody when the `door is opened.

8. A cigarette case comprising a case body for containing the cigarettes and having a iilling opening through which the cigarettes may be passed into the case, a cover for the lling opening adapted to be moved to an open position clear of the-lling opening, the cover having a discharge opening, an ejector at one wall of the body for ejecting the cigarettes through the discharge opening, a leaf springmounted at the opposite wall'of the body for feeding the cigarettes to the ejector, and means for-latching the leaf spring in adjacent relation'to said opposite wall when the cigarettes are to be loaded in the body including a liXed shoulder in the body and a projection on the spring for latching with'the shoulder.

9. in a cigarette case, a body for containing the cigarettes and having a filling opening, ejecting means in the body for ejecting the cigarettes therefrom, a blade tending to move toward-the ejecting means to feed the cigarettes thereto, and releasable means for holding the blade retracted when the cigarettes are to be loaded into ,the case body, the last named means including a shoulder on the body, a part on the blade for releasabiy latching with the shoulder, and a manually operable member on the case for disengaging `Said part from the shoulder.

10. In a cigarette case, a body for containingVV the cigarettes and having a filling opening, ejecting means in the body for ejecting the cigarettes therefrom, a curved spring blade tending to move towardthe ejecting means to feed the cigarettes thereto, and reieasable-means for holding the blade Vretracted when the cigarettes are to be loaded into the case body, the body having anY opening, a trim member on the exterior of the body covering said opening in the wall of the body and having a window, and a releasing mem--v ber in the trim member manually accessible through the window to release said part from the opening in the body wall. Y

l1. In a cigarette oase, a body for receiving and hoiding the cigarettes, ejecting -means in theV body for ejecting the cigarettes therefrom, a substantailiy semi-circular thin iiexible spring blade having one end achored in the body to have itsA intermediate portion flattened through contact with the cigarettes and urgingthe cigarettes laterally toward the ejecting means while maintaining the cigarettes upright and an auxiliary torsional spring acting on the blade adjacent its anchored end to assist the blade in feeding the cigarettes to the ejecting means.

PAUL L. MCCOON.

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