AU2006100102A4 - Cigarette package assembly - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention title: Cigarette Package Assembly The invention is described in the following statement: 8297157 1.doc CIGARETTE PACKAGE ASSEMBLY Field of the invention The invention relates to a cigarette package assembly. More particularly, a cigarette package assembly which includes an integrated receptacle for cigarette ash/butts.

Background of the invention In this specification where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Smokers typically buy cigarettes pre-packaged in containers of general parallelepiped (box) shape. These are designed to conveniently slip into a shirt pocket of a smoker or be easily located in a handbag. These containers also include a flip top which permits access by the smoker to the cigarettes and after withdrawing a cigarette, the box to be resealed to maintain the freshness of the remaining unused cigarettes. This flip top is usually connected to the remainder of the container via a hinge which permits an easy rotational movement to expose or conceal the cigarettes contained in the box.

Conventionally, the cigarette package is made of semi rigid cardboard material. Machinery has be developed to cut a blank from this material. This blank is then creased and cut and then folded to form the cigarette package. Formation and assembly of the flip top may be integrated into this automated process.

Having withdrawn a cigarette from the box and upon lighting the cigarette, ash is formed which is either discarded or alternatively deposited in an ash receptacle. Merely discarding hot ash or a butt may give rise to a safety risk. Notably, it is well reported that many fires 8297157_ I.do -2- (especially bush fires) have been started by discarding a smouldering butt or hot ash. Likewise imprudent disposal of these items may cause unwanted environmental pollution.

Traditionally, ash and butts have been collected in ashtrays. There are usually container like articles into which this debris is placed. However, in many instances these receptacles are not readily available.

Consequently, there have been many reported attempts to integrate into the one package both a cigarette receptacle and an ash/butt receptacle. In doing so, a smoker does not need to seek out a separate receptacle for ash/butts and is therefore more likely not to just discard the ash/butt in a potentially unsafe manner.

Patents which have disclosed such attempts include: US Patent 5,682,986 which discloses a package assembly including a package for smoking articles and a complementary sleeve or shell capable of providing for the disposal of spent smoking articles.

US Patent 6,321,757 which discloses a container having a plurality of compartments with a first one of which being adapted to receive and store a pack of cigarettes and with a second one of which being adapted to receive and store cigarette ashes and spent cigarettes.

US Patent US 5,520,196 which discloses a cigarette case having an ash receptacle, which is designed so as to not throw the cigarette ashes and the cigarette butt to the road during walking.

US Patent 5,996,588 which discloses a pocket ashtray made of fireproof materials equipped for holding a packet of cigarettes with protection for the packet base from a deposit area for extinguishing cigarette butts and being made up of a box that is open in its upper part.

-3- S US Patent 4,789,059 which discloses a cigarette casing having an ashtray integrated into its side panel.

S US Design Patent 446,601 which discloses a cigarette package having a cigarette pack compartment and a separate ash compartment and each provided with its own discretely hinged closure.

Notwithstanding these attempts, there is still a need for a simple combination cigarette and ash/butt receiving receptacle.

Summary of the invention Accordingly there is provided a cigarette package comprising: a first open topped chamber to receive one or more cigarettes; a first closure hingedly connected to the first chamber and moveable between a first and a second position to open or close the first chamber.

a second open topped chamber located in the first chamber to receive ash/butts from one or more cigarettes; and a second closure located in the first closure and hingedly connected to the second chamber moveable between a first and second position to open or close the second chamber.

In this package, as the second chamber is located in the first chamber both the source of cigarettes and a place to deposit ash/butts are conveniently presented together for use. This will discourage a smoker discarding ash/butts. As the second closure is located in the first closure, operation of a second, and separate, closing or opening movement may be avoided. This convenience again encourages the user to use the second chamber for ash/butts rather than discard them.

-4- Preferably, the second closure is located relative the first closure such that movement of the first closure from the first position to the second position causes the second enclosure to close the second chamber. In this way, the user of the cigarette package only needs one action to close both closures after use. This also means the second chamber is sealed first with respect to the first chamber, which is itself sealed from the surrounding outside atmosphere. This gives two levels of protection of unwanted leakage of ash/butts to the environment.

Preferably, the second closure is attached to the first closure such that movement of the first closure between the first and second position causes the second enclosure to open and close the second chamber. This means the user when opening the first closure is not only presented with a source of cigarettes but also a place to deposit ash/butts. It is also adapted to allow the user to open and close both chambers using a single handed movement.

Preferably the second chamber is comprised of or lined (wholly or in part) with fire retardant material.

Preferably the first chamber and first closure together when in the closed position define a parallelepiped shape.

Preferably the second chamber and second closure together when in the closed position define a parallelepiped shape.

Preferably the second chamber has at least two walls in contact with at least two walls of the first chamber. Typically this will be an interference fit or attached using any suitable means such as adhesive etc.

Drawings Various non limiting embodiments/aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a drawing of a cigarette package according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a drawing of the second open topped chamber of the cigarette package of Figure 1 in the closed position; Figure 3 is a drawing of the second open topped chamber of the cigarette package of Figure 1 in the open position; and Figure 4 is a template of the second open topped chamber of Figures 2 and 3.

Shown in Figure 1 is a cigarette package comprising: a first open topped chamber to receive one or more cigarettes a first closure hingedly connected to the first chamber and moveable between a first position and a second position to open or close the first chamber a second open topped chamber located in the first chamber to receive ash/butts (not shown) from one or more cigarettes and a second closure located in the first closure and hingedly connected to the second chamber moveable between a first and second position (10) to open or close the second chamber Typically, all the components of this package may be comprised on conventional cigarette box packaging material. However the second chamber will be at least partially lined with fire retardant material (not shown) as it will be the receptacle for hot ash/butts.

The second closure is attached to the first closure such that movement of the first closure between the first and second position causes the second enclosure to open and close the second chamber This means the user when opening the first closure (4) is not only presented with a source of cigarettes but also a place to deposit ash/butts. It is also adapted to allow the user to open and close both chambers using a single handed movement.

-6- The second chamber and second closure is shown separately to the other components of package in Figures 2 to 4. In particular, Figure 4 depicts one template from which this combined item may be assembled. Here the hinge connection between second chamber (7) and second closure is formed by creasing.

The word 'comprising' and forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims does not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Claims (4)

1. A cigarette package comprising: a first open topped chamber to receive one or more cigarettes; a first closure hingedly connected to the first chamber and moveable between a first position and a second position to open or close the first chamber. a second open topped chamber located in the first chamber to receive ash/butts from one or more cigarettes; and a second closure located in the first closure and hingedly connected to the second chamber moveable between a first and second position to open or close the second chamber.

2. The cigarette package according to claim 1 wherein the second closure is located relative the first closure such that movement of the first closure from the first position to the second position causes the second enclosure to close the second chamber.

3. The cigarette package of according to claim 1 wherein the second closure is attached to the first closure such that movement of the first closure between the first position and second position causes the second enclosure to open and close the second chamber.

4. The cigarette package according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the second chamber is comprised of or lined (wholly or in part) with fire retardant material. The cigarette package according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein: the first chamber and first closure together when in the closed position define a parallelepiped shape; and the second chamber and second closure together when in the closed position define a parallelepiped shape. DEBORAH NICOLETTE HOLLAND 9 February 2006 8297157 .doc