Abstract: A hinged lid box having an innerframe and interlocking means for maintaining the box substantially closed. The interlocking means includes a panel of material including a tab that is secured to the inside of the front panel of the lid so that the tab is opposed to but not secured to the lid surface whereby the tab is disposed to pass inside the innerframe during closure. The innerframe is thus frictionally engaged by the tab and the opposing surface of the front panel of the lid to retain the lid closed. The tab may be formed by a slit in the panel of material and provided with a score line to facilitate bending the tab at the desired location to engage the innerframe. The tab also may be formed by cutting a notch in the panel, thereby providing a space between the tab and the panel from which the tab is cut. The notch may be provided with a configuration that facilitates inserting the tab behind the innerframe. Means for raising the tab a distance above the surface of the panel of material also may provided.

Abstract: A sealed cigarette carton is formed by activating an adhesive pre-applied to a carton blank and then setting the adhesive. Cigarette packaging apparatus and method utilizing packaging stock comprising a pre-applied adhesive forms cigarette cartons that are sealed by heat-activating and then setting the pre-applied adhesive.

Abstract: A pack has a retention member formed in the walls of the innerframe and the lid. The retention member can be tab-like extension members extending from a top edge of the innerframe and the bottom edge of the lid. When the tab-like extension member is folded into operational position, it functions to help keep the lid closed by providing additional interference between the lid and the innerframe. The retention member can also be segments of inner wall panels of the lid itself. When folded into operational position, the folded segment of the inner wall panel functions to help keep the lid closed by providing additional interference between the lid and the innerframe. Any of these retention members can be folded into operational position by the manufacturer. Alternatively, the pack can be provided to the consumer with the extension member in non-operational position, leaving to the individual consumer's discretion the decision to fold the retention member into operational position.

Abstract: Cigarette packaging apparatus and method utilizing packaging stock comprising a pre-applied adhesive to form cigarette packages that are sealed by activating and then preferably setting the pre-applied adhesive.

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.

Abstract: An outer wrapper for a container which includes an integral tear tape. The tear tape is formed by cutting two sets of score lines extending partially through the thickness of the wrapper material. The tear tape can be patterned to conform to the parting line along which the container opens, including oblique segments, thus allowing the container to be opened without interference from the parts of the wrapper which remain in contact with the container subsequent to removal of the tear tape.

Abstract: A method of folding foil around cigarette bundles where the exposed foil on the top of the bundle is flat with no apparent folds. The smooth flat appearance is created by forming the top folds prior to forming the side folds. Notches or holes cut into the foil by which folding stresses on the outermost cigarettes in the bundle are reduced are also provided.

Abstract: A dual cigarette carton formed from two substantially identical single cigarette cartons. The two cartons are connected along their front walls, which face one another, with releasable adhesive, and along their bottom walls with a label such that the two cartons remain securely connected when in the dual carton configuration and hence can be processed for tax-stamping through standard machinery and distributed to the consumer as a dual unit. The cartons can readily be separated by the consumer for the sale of an individual carton.

Abstract: A cigarette carton adapted to contain two rows of five cigarette packs per row. The carton is formed from two substantially identical cartons which are each adapted to contain one row of five cigarette packs. The two cartons are connected along their front walls, which face one another, with a joining strip which is placed over or between the tops of the front walls. The cartons are also connected along their bottom walls with a label. These connections keep the two cartons securely connected when in the ten-pack configuration so that they can be processed through standard machinery for processing ten-pack cartons, such as tax-stamping machinery. The cartons can readily be separated by a consumer for the sale of an individual five-pack carton.

Abstract: An interframe for insertion into a cigarette box is provided. The innerframe allows a bundle of smaller than standard size cigarettes to be securely retained in a standard size cigarette box, which is larger than necessary to hold the smaller than standard size cigarettes. The innerframe creates space in the box so that the cigarettes are securely retained. The innerframe has a front panel, outer side panels, inner side panels, top panels and windows situated between the front panel and each of the outer side panels.

Abstract: A hinged lid box having an innerframe and rounded corners and means for maintaining the box substantially closed. The means includes a second front panel of material affixed in superposition to the interior front panel of the box lid to engage the innerframe of the box, providing increased structural support and frictional forces that retain the box in a closed position. The second panel of material has approximately the same width at the lid panel and a height that is greater than 50% and less than 100 % of the height of the box lid. The panel also may have tabs extending from the panel into the rounded corners of the box so that the tabs are interposed between the innerframe corners and the lid corners when the lid is closed.

Abstract: A hinged top cigarette box is provided. The box has an inner sleeve nested inside an outer sleeve. Preferably both the inner sleeve member and the outer sleeve member are formed from the same laminate blank. The outer sleeve member has a cover member formed therein. The cover member opens and closes by the use of a flexural hinge. Alternatively, the hinged top box can be formed by separate laminate blanks. Plugs may be used to close the top and bottom portion of the hinged top box to hold the shape of the hinged top box and to prevent cigarettes or loose tobacco from falling therethrough.