US2868603A - Cigarette and match pack dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Jan. l3, 1959 w. R. WILKINSON CIGARETTE AND MATCH PACE DISPENSER Filed Aprivl 1, 1957 4. 6 5 zu 6 42 4 M., n! Mw 2 8 4 w: 4. 2V o ,43 0o 5 0 04 o 0 4R E, 3 AE 2 o wz l ze f 1w Aw A A w ,i 5. \7..//

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Uited States CIGARETTE AND MATCH PACK DISPENSER Walter R. Wilkinson, Syracuse, N. Y. Application April 1, 1957, Serial No. 650,027

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-42) This invention relates to cigarette and match pack dispensing magazines and more particularly to a magazine for readily accommodating cigarette packs of standard or king size.

In a magazine of the type referred to it has been proposed to provide a chute havingthe correct width and depth dimensions adapted to nicely accommodate either a standard size cigarette pack, or a king size pack. While the chute could be made adjustable so as to accommodate either size, such a construction with its adjustment is complicated, expensive and cumbersome in appearance.

The present invention is directed to a magazine adapted to hold the standard carton pack of cigarettes, that is, 10 packs of either king size or standard size, and in which provision is made in the magazine for a supply of book matches. A preferred arrangement is such as to provide a chute for a stack of standard size cigarette packs and chutes for two stacks of book match packs arranged on edge, or a chute for a stack of king size packs and a single chute for a stack of bookmatches disposed on edge. The magazine chutes are so arranged that by combining a match chute with a cigarette pack chute, of dimensions of standard packs, a single chute of the correct size to receive king size packs is provided. The change from one size cigarette pack to the other `is accomplished by a mere removal of a freely sliding par,- tition.

The above and other novel features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. lt is expressly understood that the drawings are employed for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits `of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a front elevational View of the magazine with a portion broken away to show the removable partition;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower portion with a partition removed to accommodate king size packs;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lower portion of the magazine with a cigarette and match box removed;

aperture 24 for suspending on the wall from a nail or the like. The magazine comprises side members 26 and 28 anda front member 30, which together with the back 20 provide a rectangular sectioned housing. The inside surface of the back member 20 and the inside surface of the front member 30 are provided with spaced grooves, as at 32 and 34 in the back member, and 36 and 38 in the front member. These grooves extend throughout the length of these members and are spaced a suthcient distance from -their respective adjacent side walls 26 and 28 so that when partition members 40 and 42 are positioned in the grooves there is provided between side member 26 and partition member 40 a vertical narrow chute 44 for book matches such as 46 arranged on edge, and a second narrow chute 48 adjacent side member 28 for book matches also disposed on edge, and a rectangular chute 50 between partitions 40 and 42, the dimensions of which are suitable to receive a stack of standard size cigarette packages.

The thickness of either one of the partitions 40 and 42 plus the width of either one of the book match chutes 44 or 48 is approximately'the diiference between the length of a standard size cigarette pack and aking size cigarette pack. By so dimensioning the parts, upon the removal of a partition, either 40 or 42., the chute 50 (see Figure 5) becomes enlarged as at 52 (see Figure 6) so as to accommodate king size cigarette packs. The magazine thus is capable of `providing storage space for a stack of l0 packs of cigarettes, king size as at 52 when a partition is removed as indicated in Figures 3 and 6 together With a single stack of book matches, or a stack of standard sizecigarette packs as at 50, and two stacks of book matches when both partitions are in place as is indicated in Figures l, 4 and 5.

The lower end of the side walls 26 and.28 and the lower end of the partition members 40 and 42, are cut away as at 54, 56, 58 and 60, and the forward panel or member 30 terminates at its lower end a distance above the end member 62 as is indicated at 64 to render the cigarette and match book packs accessible. The distance or opening height between the end member 62 and the lower end 64 of the front panel 30 is something less than the thickness of two packs of cigarettes, it being understood that the thickness of either king size or standard size is approximately the same. The distance or opening height, however, is vsomewhat greater than the width of a pack of book matches.

By so spacing the lower edge 64 of the front member 30 and the deck 62, one is able to remove a pack of cigarettes, one pack at a time and also to remove a book match pack, one pack at a time. It will be understood that the internal dimensions between the front and back walls and side walls and partitions are such as to permit cigarette packs toslide freely downward to displace `eachpack as removed from the entrance opening at the bottom of the magazine, and likewise the chutes 44 and 48 for the book matches are of suflicientv dimension so as to permit the free movement of such books when stacked one above the other so that upon removal of each pack the remaining packs will gravitate to place a new pack in position for access and removal. At the same time the cross sectional dimensions of the chutes 44 and 48 are such as to assure alignment of match packs in proper stacking relation. An inspection slot 70 may be provided `to show when the supply of packs is getting low.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a magazine for cigarette and match packs is provided which may be readily converted to accommodate one size of cigarette pack or the other by merely sliding a partition into place, or removing the same. This feature renders the magazine useful, no matter if the user changes brand, or purchases the same as a gift for one whose brand is unknown. Preferably the magazine will be made from wood panels of 1%6 to M1" thickness. If desired, the magazine can be made with a single slide partition, and provision for a stack ,of king s'izercigarettes without a stack of match books, when the partition is removed, or 4a stack of Astandard size cigarette packs anda stack of match books with the partition in place. While Wood has been `referred to as a material affording pleasing appearance, plastics and other materials may be employed.

In the specification and claims, Vthe reference to standard and king size cigarette `packs are to such packs as are presently on the market `each of .which have a thickness of about 15/16 and a width of about 2%"-, theV height or length .of the ,standard pack being about 213716 whereas the height or length of vthe king size pack being about 3%6". Further, reference to the book y,match pack refers to such packs as have a height lnot -greater than, and generally somewhat less than, the -width .of the cigarette pack, or about 1%", and a maximum thickness of less than 3/3", and a width appreciably less than the thickness of two packs of cigarettes, or about 11/2". Thus when a partition is removed, whose thickness is about 9/16" or lt'f, the width of .the cigarette pack chute is increased approximately a half inch to accommodate the large size, at the expense of a stack of book match packs.

While Va single embodiment of the invention -has been illustrated and described, it `is to Vbe understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. As various vchanges in the construction and arrangement maybe made lwithout departing from ,the spirit of the invention, as will height less than the thickness of two cigarette packs,

and greater than the width kof a book match pack, for the removal of a lowermost cigarette pack or an "edgewise disposed match pack from said housing, one :at a time, said 4side panels being of a depth to substantially correspond to the width of a lpack yof cigarettes, and y said back and front panels each having vertical grooves on their inside faces adjacent to and kequally spaced from said side walls, an-d removable partitions slidably disposed in said grooves and extending to the bottom member, said grooves being so spaced from said side walls that either of `said partitions when in position reduces the width of said housing by the approximate difference between the height of standard and king size packs of cigarettes, and said partitions, when in place, being spaced from their respective adjacent side walls a distance substantially the thickness of a book match pack, and being spaced from one another the height of a standard size cigarette pack, whereby to provide a single chute for a stack of standard cigarette packs disposed flat with their longest dimensions extending parallel with the plane of the back panel, and two chutes for two stacks of book match packs stacked ,edgewise, or a single chute for a stack of king size cigarettes disposed iiat with their longest ldimension extending parallel with ythe plane of the back panel, Vand a single book match stack upon the removal of one of said partitions.

2. A magazine for cigarette and book match packs stacked at, and edgewise respectively, comprising a rectangular section vertically extending housing comprising front and back panels and connecting vside ,panels, said housing being open 4at Vthe top, `and having a transverse bottom member at the -lower end, .said ,housing being open at the front adjacent said bottom member a height less than the thickness of Vtwo cigarette packs, and greater than -the width `of ,a book match pack, for the removal of a lowermost Acigarette 4pack or an edgewise disposed match .pack from Asaid housing, one at a time, said side panels being .of -a depth to substantially correspond ,to the width of a pack of cigarettes, and said back and front panels each -having at least one vertical groove directly on their inside ,faces opposite one another and uniformly `spaced from ione of said side walls', and a removable partition slidably disposed in said groove and extending from `the open top to the bottom member, said grooves being so spaced from said one side wall that said Vpartition when in position reduces the width of said housing by the lapproximate diierence between the height yof standard and king size packs of cigarettes, and said partition, when in place, being spaced from the-adjacent side wall a .distance substantially the thickness sof a book match pack, whereby to provide a single chute for a stack of standard cigarette packs disposed iat with their longest dimension extending parallel with the plane of the back panel, and a chute for a stack of book match .packs stacked edgewise, or a chute for a stack of king size cigarettes `disposed flat with their longest Vdimension extending parallel with the plane of the back panel upon the removal of said partition- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,145 Taylor Feb. 7, .1893 727,260 Baldwin a May 5, 1903 743,182 Meyer Nov. 3, 1903 2,041,089 Rowe May '19, 1936 2,267,144 Steiner Dec. 23, 1941 2.373,014 Compton et al. n Avr. 3. 1945

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