Cigarette pack blank

Abstract

A cigarette pack assembled from a unitary blank comprises a body portion and a lid portion with an integral horizontal hinge line between the body and lid portions about which the lid portion moves between open and closed positions relative to the body portion. The body and lid portions each have opposite side panels. Diagonal cut lines along the sides of the cigarette pack separate the side panels of the body portion from the side panels of the lid portion. Each diagonal cut line extends to the hinge line and includes at least one uncut portion along its length. When the lid portion is initially moved to its open position the uncut portion of each cut line is broken. During assembly, the uncut portions of the diagonal cut lines function to strengthen the blank used to form the cigarette pack. Additionally, the uncut portion serves as an indicator with respect to whether or not the lid has been opened.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blank for use in forming a container comprising a body forming portion and a lid forming portion, the body forming portion including a back panel integrally connected to a left side panel and a right side panel, and the lid forming portion including a back panel integrally connected to a left side panel and a right side panel, an integral horizontally disposed hinge line between the back panel of the body forming portion and the back panel of the lid forming portion, and diagonal cut lines one between the left side panels and the other between the right side panels, each cut line extending to the hinge line and including at least one uncut portion along its length.  
     
     
         2 . A blank as in    claim 1    wherein each uncut portion is about midway along the length of the diagonal cut line.  
     
     
         3 . A blank as in    claim 1    including a plurality of uncut portions in each cut line.  
     
     
         4 . A blank as in    claim 1    wherein each uncut portion is in the range of 0.020 to 0.065 inches.  
     
     
         5 . A blank as in    claim 1    wherein each uncut portion is in the range of 0.020 to 0.040 inches.  
     
     
         6 . A blank as in    claim 1    wherein each uncut portion is 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         7 . A cigarette pack comprising a body portion and a lid portion, an integral horizontal hinge line between the body portion and the lid portion about which the lid portion moves between open and closed positions relative to the body portion, the body and lid portions each having opposite side panels, and diagonal cut lines along sides of the cigarette pack separating the side panels of the body portion form the side panels of the lid portion, each cut line extending to the hinge line and including at least one uncut portion along its length whereby when the lid portion is initially moved to its open position the uncut portion of each diagonal cut line is broken.  
     
     
         8 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein each uncut portion is about midway along the length of the diagonal cut line.  
     
     
         9 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    including a plurality of uncut portions in each cut line.  
     
     
         10 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein each uncut portion is in the range of 0.020 to 0.065 inches.  
     
     
         11 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein each uncut portion is in the range of 0.020 to 0.040 inches.  
     
     
         12 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein each uncut portion is 0.030 inches.  
     
     
         13 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein the pack has rounded edges.  
     
     
         14 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein the pack has beveled edges.  
     
     
         15 . A cigarette pack as in    claim 7    wherein the pack has squared-off edges.  
     
     
         16 . A container having a hinge-lid and a body connected together along a hinge line, the hinge lid and body including sidewalls, each separated by a cut line with at least one uncut portion in each cut line.  
     
     
         17 . A container as in    claim 16    including a plurality of uncut portions in each cut line.