US20050274633A1

US20050274633A1 - Cigarette package

Info

Publication number: US20050274633A1
Application number: US10/864,354
Authority: US
Inventors: Shlomi Ako
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-10
Filing date: 2004-06-10
Publication date: 2005-12-15

Abstract

The cigarette package of the present invention provides a covered service area in which service articles may be stored. In the preferred embodiments described herein, the service article may be a stain removing element, a scent supply element, or a combination of both. Preferred embodiments of the present invention described herein relate to packages that may be constructed by cutting and folding a single sheet of stock.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cigarette packages and, in particular, it concerns a cigarette package with a covered service area.
For many years, the cigarette industry has packaged cigarettes in two standard packages, known in the industry as soft packs and hard packs. These packages have remained substantially unchanged for decades. Of most interest to the present invention is the hard pack, also referred to as a flip-top box, which is a box, generally constructed from a blank cut from a single piece of card stock. While there have been attempts to provide better methods for sealing the packages both before and after initial opening by the consumer, there have been no suggestions that the box be modified so as to provide the consumer with any service beyond that of cigarette storage.
It is also know that smoking cigarettes leaves tobacco stains on the fingers of many smokers. In response, several devices have been suggested that protect the fingers from contact with the cigarette or other preventative measures.
Further, smokers often find that their fingers become odorous from the tobacco smoke, often making use of deodorizers or scent supplying agents to cover the odors.
There is therefore a need for a cigarette package that incorporates a covered service area. It would be of benefit if the covered service area included a stain removal element. It would be of further benefit if the covered service area contained a scent supply element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cigarette package with a covered service area.
According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a cigarette package comprising: (a) a package body at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and (b) a covered service area configured in the package body, the covered service area at least partially enclosed by an access lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body includes a package lid attached to the package body, such that the pack body and the package lid together define within them the cigarette storage volume.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the covered service area is configured in the package lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the covered service area is configured as a flat area of the package lid covered by the access lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the covered service area is configured as a recess in the package lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the access lid is hingedly attached to the package lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body, the package lid, and the access lid are integrally formed from a single foldable blank.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body, the package lid, and the access lid are included in an integrally formed molded package.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body and the access lid are integrally formed from a single foldable sheet.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body and the access lid are included in an integrally formed molded package.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a blank for constructing a cigarette package, the blank comprising a single sheet of foldable stock have an outer contour, pre-cut separation lines and foldable so as to form: (a) a box at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and (b) an access lid configured to cover a covered service area.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the box includes an integrally formed package lid such that the box and the package lid enclose the cigarette storage volume when the package lid is deployed in a closed position.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the covered service area is configured as a flat area of the package lid covered by the access lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the covered service area is configured as a recess in the package lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the access lid is hingedly attached to the package lid.
There is also provided according to the teachings of the present invention, a cigarette package comprising: (a) a package body at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and (b) at least one liquid impregnated cloth element associated with the package body.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one liquid impregnated cloth element is at least partially covered by an access lid.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the access lid is hingedly attached to the package body.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one liquid impregnated cloth element is affixed to the package.
According to a further teaching of the present invention, the package body is formed from a single foldable sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first preferred embodiment of a cigarette package constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of a first preferred embodiment of a blank for construction of the cigarette package of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a second preferred embodiment of a blank for construction of a cigarette package constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative accessory package constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a blank for the construction of the accessory package of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a cigarette package with a covered service area.
The principles and operation of a cigarette package with a covered service area according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
By way of introduction, it is an intention of the present invention to provide a cigarette package compatible with the current industry standards. Therefore, the preferred embodiments of the present invention described herein relate to packages that may be constructed by cutting and folding a single sheet of foldable card stock. That is, a package used for the direct packaging of cigarettes. It will be readily understood that the stock may be the card stock generally used in the art. However, substantially any foldable stock such as, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, sheet metal, sheets of plastic, and other polymers any also be used in the construction of the package of the present invention. Alternatively, the package may be constructed as a molded article, molded from plastics or other suitable polymers. That is, a package used in conjunction with a factory package, either soft or hard pack, as mentioned above. In such a configuration, the molded package of the present invention would necessarily be large enough to accept a factory pack inserted into the interior volume. It will be understood that the construction of packages that are different dimensions from the industry standards are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
The cigarette package of the present invention provides a covered service area in which service articles may be stored. In the preferred embodiments described herein, the service article may be a stain removing element, a scent supply element, or a combination of both. Preferably the stain removing element, scent supply element, or a combination of both is configured as a towelette strip affixed within covered service area. The term “towelette” is used herein to refer to substantially any liquid impregnated cloth material, such as but not limited to natural and synthetic woven and non-woven materials. In such an application, the covered service area is configured as a flat area of the package covered by an access lid or flap. In use, the user may rub, or scratch against the towelette strip with their fingers or hand, for example. Alternatively, the user may scrub their fingers or hand with the towelette. However, it should be noted that the covered service area may be configured so as to accommodate storage of substantially any suitable article such as, but not limited to, matches, removable towelettes, and breath mints. In such an application, the covered service area may be configured as a secondary volume in the package having an access lid or flap.
Further, the service articles may be provided in the package at the time of manufacture, supplied with the package to be inserted into the covered service area upon initial opening of the package, or supplied as a choice of different articles to be purchased separately.
The package of the present invention may be configured for one time use, as is the industry standard. In the case of a molded plastic package, for example, the package may be configured for continued use with a number of factory packages in succession. In keeping with this, the service article supplied may be configured for use during the duration of a single package of cigarettes, or numerous packages of cigarettes. Alternatively, a number of replaceable single-pack service articles may be supplied with a package of the present invention configured for use with a number of factory packages in succession.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a cigarette package of the present invention, generally referred to as 2. Cigarettes are stored within the volume (not shown) generally defined by the body 4 of the package 2. The lid 6 of the package 2, which is hingedly connected to the body 4, provides access to the cigarettes stored inside the package 2 and includes the covered service area 8. The covered service area 8 in this preferred embodiment is a flat area of the lid 6 covered by the access lid 10. As illustrated here, the access lid 10 is hingedly connected to the package lid 6 in a region along the front of the package 2 such that the access lid 10 opens from the back of the package 2. The access lid 10 is locked in a closed position by inserting the locking tab 12 into slot 14.
In the preferred embodiment or the present invention, the service article 16 is a towelette that may be configured to remove stains, provide a scent, or a combination of both.
It should be noted that the covered service area 8, and thus the access lid 12, may be configured in the lid 6, either of the sides 4 a of the package, the front 4 b of the package, the back 4 c of the package, or the bottom 4 d of the package 2. Similarly, the access lid 10 may be configured to open from the back of the package 2 as illustrated, or alternatively the access lid 10 may be configured to open from the front or either side of the package. Although the access lid 10 illustrated herein is hingedly connected to the package 2, this is not intended as a limitation and the access lid 10 may be configured for other interconnection with the package 2 so as to be, but not limited to, slideable and completely removable.
FIG. 2 illustrates a first preferred embodiment of a blank 20, according to the principles of the present invention, from which the package 2 of FIG. 1 may be constructed from a single sheet of foldable stock. Once the outer contour of the blank 20 is cut as well, lines 22 a, 22 b, 24, 26 a, 26 b, 28, 30 a, and 30 b, adhesive is deployed in areas 32 a, 32 b, 32 c, 32 d, 32 e and 32 f, and the blank is folded along the remaining designated fold lines, so as to form a box, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. Area 36 is the covered service area, which in this configuration includes a towelette, as described above, affixed to the area of the package under the access lid 10. For ease of construction, the towelette may be affixed to area 36 of the blank prior to folding.
FIG. 3 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a blank 40, according to the principles of the present invention, form which a package (not shown) of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention may be constructed from a single sheet of foldable stock. This second blank is identical to the blank of FIG. 2, and therefore similarly numbered, with the exceptions of lines 42 and 44, which are cut so as to configure an access lid 10 that opens from the front of the package 2. This differs from the blank of FIG. 2 in that the access lid 10 of FIG. 2 opens from the back of the package 2.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative accessory package 50 according to the present invention. Here, the body 52 of the accessory package 50 is configured to partially encase a typical cigarette package (not shown), either soft or hard pack. The covered service area 54 and associated access lid 56 of the accessory package 50 are configured on the surface that becomes the bottom of the package. It will be appreciated that all of the variations of access lid placement and covered service area configuration discussed above with regard to the full packages of the present invention apply to the accessory package as well.
FIG. 6 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a blank 60, according to the principles of the present invention, from which the accessory package 50 of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be constructed from a single sheet of foldable stock. Once the outer contour of the blank 60 as well as lines 62 a, 62 b, 64, and 66 are cut, adhesive is applied to areas 68 a, 68 b, and 68 c. Preferably a service article towelette is affixed in area 70, and adhesive patches are attached in areas 72 a and 72 b. Then the blank is folded along the remaining fold lines indicated so as to form a box having the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The adhesive patches are used for attaching the accessory package 50 to a typical cigarette package. The adhesive patches are preferably double sided tape on which the outer protective covering is left attached, however, any suitable adhesive material may be used for attaching the accessory package 50 to a cigarette package.
It should be noted that it is within the scope of the present invention to provide an individual covered service area and attached access lid that is directly attachable to an outer surface of a typical cigarette package by use of an adhesive strip for example. That is to say, a covered service area and access lid may be formed as a stand along element and configured according to any of the above mentioned variations, such that the resulting element may be attached to a cigarette package by a consumer after initial opening of the cigarette package.
It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples and that many other embodiments are possible within the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cigarette package comprising:

(a) a package body at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and

(b) a covered service area configured in said package body, said covered service area at least partially enclosed by an access lid.

2. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein said package body includes a package lid attached to said package body, such that said pack body and said package lid together define within them said cigarette storage volume.

3. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein said covered service area is configured in said package lid.

4. The cigarette package of claim 3, wherein said covered service area is configured as a flat area of said package lid covered by said access lid.

5. The cigarette package of claim 3, wherein said covered service area is configured as a recess in said package lid.

6. The cigarette package of claim 3, wherein said access lid is hingedly attached to said package lid.

7. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein said package body, said package lid, and said access lid are integrally formed from a single foldable blank.

8. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein said package body, said package lid, and said access lid are included in an integrally formed molded package.

9. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein said package body and said access lid are integrally formed from a single foldable sheet.

10. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein said package body and said access lid are included in an integrally formed molded package.

11. A blank for constructing a cigarette package, the blank comprising a single sheet of foldable stock have an outer contour, pre-cut separation lines and foldable so as to form:

(a) a box at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and

(b) an access lid configured to cover a covered service area.

12. The blank of claim 11, wherein said box includes an integrally formed package lid such that said box and said package lid enclose said cigarette storage volume when said package lid is deployed in a closed position.

13. The blank of claim 11, wherein said covered service area is configured as a flat area of said package lid covered by said access lid.

14. The blank of claim 11, wherein said covered service area is configured as a recess in said package lid.

15. The blank of claim 11, wherein said access lid is hingedly attached to said package lid.

16. A cigarette package comprising:

(a) a package body at least partially enclosing a cigarette storage volume; and

(b) at least one liquid impregnated cloth element associated with said package body.

17. The cigarette package of claim 16, wherein said at least one liquid impregnated cloth element is at least partially covered by an access lid.

18. The cigarette package of claim 17, wherein said access lid is hingedly attached to said package body.

19. The cigarette package of claim 16, wherein said at least one liquid impregnated cloth element is affixed to said package.

20. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein said package body is formed from a single foldable sheet.