US5201413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual cigarette carton with separable or divisible label containing universal product code
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc
•
Filing: 1991-11-15
•
Granted: 1993-04-13
•
Expires: 2011-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A dual cigarette carton formed from two substantially identical single cigarette cartons. A label bearing indicia encoded for the automatic pricing of the dual carton is placed across adjacent coplanar walls of the two single cartons. The indicia are positioned such that they are rendered unreadable by automatic equipment when the two single cartons are separated for individual sale. Each single carton further includes indicia encoded for the automatic pricing of a single carton, the indicia being positioned such that they are not readily visible when the single cartons are connected to form a dual carton.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. DeBlasio
- 👤 Susan J. A. Douglas
- 👤 Johnny L. Miller
- 👤 Xuan M. Pham
- 👤 Robert E. Talley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:26
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D85/00; B65D85/07; B65D85/08; B65D85/10; B65D85/1072; B65D5/00; B65D5/42; B65D5/54; B65D5/5495; B65D2203/00; B65D2203/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 64
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A dual cigarette carton of dimensions compatible with tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons, said dual cigarette carton comprising: a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four substantially vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second substantially rectangular exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; a second carton substantially identical to said first carton, said first and second cartons positioned adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; and a label, bearing indicia encoded for the pricing of the dual carton formed from said first and second cartons, positioned across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons; said indicia positioned such that the indicia are rendered unreadable by automatic scanning equipment upon separating said first and second cartons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A dual cigarette carton of dimensions compatible with tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons, said dual cigarette carton comprising: a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four substantially vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second substantially rectangular exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; a second carton substantially identical to said first carton, said first and second cartons positioned adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; and a label, bearing indicia encoded for the pricing of the dual carton formed from said first and second cartons, positioned across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons; said indicia positioned such that the indicia are rendered unreadable by automatic scanning equipment upon separating said first and second cartons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein said indicia borne on said label are bar code lines printed substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of the walls across which said label is positioned such that said indicia are rendered incomplete and hence unreadable by automatic scanning equipment when said first and second cartons are separated from one another for individual sale.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 2 wherein said label has a line of weakness positioned above and substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of the walls across which said label is positioned.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 3 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein said label is a substantially flat substrate bearing adhesive, said substrate being positioned above and across said adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls with the adhesive bearing surface in operative contact with said adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 5 wherein said label has a line of weakness positioned above and substantially parallel to the adjacent edges of the walls across which the label is positioned to facilitate separation of said first and second cartons and consequently render said indicia thereon unreadable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 6 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 5 wherein said adhesive is releasable adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 8 wherein said substrate further includes a grip tab at one end thereof to facilitate removal of said label, so that said indicia thereon cannot be read.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 9 wherein said grip tab does not bear adhesive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 8 wherein said substrate further includes a lift-up corner to facilitate removal of said label so that said indicia thereon cannot be read.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 11 wherein said lift-up corner does not bear adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein said label is an integral part of said dual carton, said indicia being printed directly on a portion of said dual carton that bridges across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 13 wherein said two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls are said top walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 14 wherein said two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls are formed from the same blank wherein said label is the sole portion of said blank joining said last mentioned two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 15 wherein said label has a line of weakness positioned to facilitate separation of said first and second cartons and consequently render said indicia thereon unreadable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 16 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein at least one exterior rear wall of said first and second cartons has a first extension along the top edge thereof, said first extension having a distal edge and being folded substantially perpendicular to said exterior rear wall and extending outwards said interior front walls of said dual carton, thereby forming said exterior top wall of at least one of said first and second cartons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 18 wherein said first extension further includes a second extension along said distal edge of said first extension, said second extension being folded to be substantially parallel said interior front wall when said first extension is folded substantially perpendicular to said exterior wall to extend across the top of said dual carton.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 18 wherein said at least one exterior rear wall of said first and second cartons includes said exterior rear wall of both of said first and second cartons.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 18 wherein said extension extends across the tops of both of said first and second cartons to form the top wall of both said first and second cartons when said first and second cartons are positioned adjacent one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 21 wherein said label is printed on said top wall of both said first and second cartons such that it bridges across both cartons.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
38 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 22 wherein said label is the sole portion of said extension joining the top wall of said first carton and the top wall of said second carton formed from said extension.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 23 wherein said label has a line of weakness positioned to facilitate separation of said first and second cartons and consequently render said indicia thereon unreadable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 24 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second cartons are formed from separate substantially identical first and second halves of a single blank.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 26 wherein said single blank has a line of weakness along said interior front walls dividing said single blank into said separate substantially identical first and second halves.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 27 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 26 wherein each of said exterior rear walls of said first and second cartons has a first extension along the top edge thereof, each said first extension having a distal edge and being folded substantially perpendicular to its respective exterior rear wall and extending towards its respective interior front wall, thereby forming said exterior top walls of said first and second cartons.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 29 wherein at least one of said first extensions further includes a second extension along said distal edge of said first extension, said second extension being folded to be substantially parallel to said interior front wall when said first extension is folded perpendicular to the exterior wall from which it extends.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
85 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 26 wherein said single blank further includes an extension formed of two substantially identical panels, said extension located along the width of a free edge of one of said exterior rear wall, said extension being folded perpendicular to said one of said exterior rear walls and extending across the tops of both of said first and second cartons towards the other of said exterior rear walls to form said exterior top walls of said first and second cartons.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 31 wherein said label is printed directly on said extension such that said label bridges across said two substantially identical panels.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 32 wherein said extension further includes cuts between said two substantially identical panels but not across said label which bridges said panels, such that the two panels are connected solely along said label.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
47 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 33 wherein said label further includes a line of weakness joining said cuts and positioned substantially above said adjacent interior walls of said carton to facilitate separation of said first and second cartons and subsequently render said indicia thereon unreadable.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 34 wherein said line of weakness is a perforated line.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second cartons are formed from separate substantially identical blanks.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
71 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 1 further including indicia encoded for pricing of one of said first and second cartons positioned on each of said first and second cartons such that said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons are not accessible for automatic scanning when said indicia encoded for the pricing of the dual carton are still readable by automatic scanning equipment.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 37 wherein said indicia encoded for the pricing of one said first and second cartons are positioned on the interior walls of said first and second cartons.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 37 wherein said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons are positioned on each of a pair of adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
94 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 39 wherein said label is a substantially flat substrate bearing releasable adhesive, positioned across said pair of adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls with the adhesive-bearing surface in operative contact with said pair of walls, said label being positioned such that said label covers said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons so that only the indicia which are encoded for the pricing of the dual carton are readable by automatic scanning equipment when said label is positioned across said pair of walls.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 40 wherein said substrate further includes a grip tab at one end thereof to facilitate removal of said label, so that said indicia thereon cannot be read.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 41 wherein said grip tab does not bear adhesive.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 40 wherein said substrate further includes a lift-up corner to facilitate removal of said label so that said indicia thereon cannot be read.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 43 wherein said lift-up corner does not bear adhesive.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 40 further including a clear substantially flat substrate positioned between said label and said pair of walls.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 37 wherein said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons are printed directly on a wall of each of said first and second cartons.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
42 words
The dual cigarette carton defined in claim 37 wherein said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons are printed on a label which is affixed to a wall of each of said first and second cartons.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of packaging cigarette packs which are to be passed through tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons and later may be separated into groups of cigarette packs, said method comprising: (i) providing a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; (ii) providing a second carton substantially identical to said first carton; (iii) positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; (iv) then releasably attaching said first and second cartons together so that said first and second cartons will maintain their relative positions in a subsequent passage through a tax-stamping machine, said attaching step including positioning an adhesive-bearing label across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with the adhesive-bearing surface in operative contact with said adjacent coplanar, exterior walls, the opposite surface of said label bearing indicia encoded for the pricing of the dual carton formed by said first and second cartons.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
234 words
A method of packaging cigarette packs which are to be passed through tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons and later may be separated into groups of cigarette packs, said method comprising: (i) providing a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; (ii) providing a second carton substantially identical to said first carton; (iii) positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; (iv) then releasably attaching said first and second cartons together so that said first and second cartons will maintain their relative positions in a subsequent passage through a tax-stamping machine, said attaching step including positioning an adhesive-bearing label across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with the adhesive-bearing surface in operative contact with said adjacent coplanar, exterior walls, the opposite surface of said label bearing indicia encoded for the pricing of the dual carton formed by said first and second cartons.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 48 including the further step of providing the interior front walls of said first and second cartons with indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons, such that said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons are not readily scanned by automatic scanning equipment.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 48 including the further step of providing each wall of said two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 50 wherein said step of positioning an adhesive-bearing label across said walls comprises the further step of positioning said label such that said label covers said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons so that only the indicia which are encoded for the pricing of the dual carton are readable by automatic scanning equipment when said label is positioned across said pair of walls.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 51 including the further step of providing a clear substantially flat substrate positioned above said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons and between said label and said walls.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said dual carton is first passed through a tax-stamping machine and then transported to a place for retail sale and then separated into two separate cartons by a step including severing said label and rendering said indicia thereon unreadable by automatic scanning equipment.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
121 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said first and second side walls of said first and second cartons each comprise a first panel extending from said exterior rear wall and a second panel extending from said interior front wall, the first panel being folded above and over said second panel to be adjacent and substantially coextensive with said second panel, said step of positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another further including the step of positioning the free edge of the first panel of each of said first and second side walls of said first carton opposite and adjacent the free edge of the first panel of each of said first and second side walls of said second carton.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of packaging cigarette packs which are to be passed through tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons and later may be separated into groups of cigarette packs, said method comprising: (i) providing a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; (ii) providing a second carton substantially identical to said first carton; (iii) positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; (iv) releasably attaching said first and second cartons together so that said first and second cartons will maintain their relative positions in a subsequent passage through a tax-stamping machine, said attaching step including positioning an adhesive-bearing label across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with the adhesive-bearing surface in operative contact with said exterior walls; (v) positioning at least one row of cigarette packs in said first carton and positioning at least one row of cigarette packs in said second carton, wherein each pack bears printed matter along the outer faces of the walls thereof, said printed matter permitting a front face of the pack to be distinguished from a rear face of the pack, said packs being positioned so that the front faces of each of the cigarette packs will face the front wall of the carton in which the pack is placed.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
297 words
A method of packaging cigarette packs which are to be passed through tax-stamping machinery used in the automated processing of cigarette cartons and later may be separated into groups of cigarette packs, said method comprising: (i) providing a first carton having four substantially vertical walls, an exterior top wall, and an exterior bottom wall; said four vertical walls including an interior front wall, an exterior rear wall substantially parallel and spaced from said interior front wall, and first and second exterior side walls connecting juxtaposed vertical edges of said interior front wall and said exterior rear wall; (ii) providing a second carton substantially identical to said first carton; (iii) positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another with the interior front wall of said first carton coextensive with the interior front wall of said second carton such that the borders of the interior front walls are aligned; (iv) releasably attaching said first and second cartons together so that said first and second cartons will maintain their relative positions in a subsequent passage through a tax-stamping machine, said attaching step including positioning an adhesive-bearing label across two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with the adhesive-bearing surface in operative contact with said exterior walls; (v) positioning at least one row of cigarette packs in said first carton and positioning at least one row of cigarette packs in said second carton, wherein each pack bears printed matter along the outer faces of the walls thereof, said printed matter permitting a front face of the pack to be distinguished from a rear face of the pack, said packs being positioned so that the front faces of each of the cigarette packs will face the front wall of the carton in which the pack is placed.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 55 including the further step of providing indicia encoded for the automatic pricing of the dual carton formed by said first and second cartons, said indicia positioned on the surface of said label which does not bear adhesive, and positioned such that said indicia are rendered unreadable upon separation of said first and second cartons.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 55 including the further step of providing on the outer surface of each said interior front wall indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 55 including the further step of providing each wall of said two adjacent, coplanar, exterior walls of said first and second cartons with indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 58 wherein said step of positioning an adhesive-bearing label across said walls comprises the further step of positioning said label such that said label covers said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons so that only the indicia which are encoded for the pricing of the dual carton are readable by automatic scanning equipment when said label is positioned across said pair of walls.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 59 including the further step of providing a clear substantially flat substrate positioned above said indicia encoded for the pricing of one of said first and second cartons and between said label and said walls.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 55 wherein said first and second walls of said first and second cartons each comprise a first panel extending from said exterior rear wall and a second panel extending from said interior front wall, the first panel being folded above and over said second panel to be adjacent and substantially coextensive with said second panel, said step of positioning said first and second cartons adjacent one another further including the step of positioning the free edge of the first panel of each of said first and second side walls of said first carton opposite and adjacent the free edge of the first panel of each of said first and second side walls of said second carton.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-10-12 | 1997-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-12 | 2000-10-12 | 2001-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-12 | 2004-10-12 | 2005-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |