WO2006063398A1

WO2006063398A1 - Cigarette packet with receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2006063398A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001891
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pamela Robin Cummins
Original assignee: Pamela Robin Cummins
Priority date: 2004-12-14
Filing date: 2005-12-14
Publication date: 2006-06-22

Abstract

A cigarette packet (1) comprising a first body (10) and corresponding first lid (11) defining a packet for containing cigarettes and a second body (20) and corresponding second lid (21) defining a receptacle (2) for containing butts, an inner surface of the waste receptacle being lined with a fire resistant material.

Description

CIGARETTE PACKET WITH RECEPTACLE

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cigarette packet, and in particular to a cigarette packet incorporating a waste receptacle.

Description of the Prior Art

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Currently waste from cigarette products represents a major problem to the environment. In ) particular, whilst cigarette ash generally disburses, and is biodegradable, the filter or butt (also known as a stub) of the smoked cigarette is manufactured from artificial materials, and is not easily degraded in the environment. As a result of this, and the additional fact that the filter contains harmful chemicals, it is undesirable that cigarette butts or filters are released into the environment.

i Whilst disposing of the cigarette butt in the appropriate manner, such as in an ashtray or the like, alleviates the problem to a degree, this is only achievable in a number of limited environments, such as when smoking at home or in pubs. However, in public places or in locations when there are no suitable refuse receptacles, it is habitual for smokers to dispose of the filter or butt on the ground. This is such an endemic problem that it has been estimated that a large proportion of Sydney's litter problems results solely from cigarette butts or the like. It is therefore evident that a solution is required for this problem.

Summary of the Present Invention hi a first broad form the present invention provides a cigarette packet comprising: a) a first cavity defining a packet for containing cigarettes; b) a second cavity defining a waste receptacle for receiving waste, at least part of an inner surface of the cavity being lined with a fire resistant material. Typically an inner surface of a lid of the second cavity includes a double layer of fire resistant material to thereby allow cigarettes to be extinguished on the underside of the lid.

Typically the cigarette packet includes: a) a first body and corresponding first lid defining the first cavity; and, b) a second body and corresponding second lid defining the second cavity.

Typically the first and second bodies are arranged such that the second lid abuts at least one of the first body and first lid when in an open position, to thereby allow cigarettes to be extinguished on the underside of the lid.

Typically the first and second bodies are provided in at least one of: a) a back-to-back arrangement; and, b) a side-by-side arrangement.

Typically the waste receptacle has a width substantially equal to that of the cigarette packet and depth substantially equal to half that of the cigarette packet.

Typically the waste receptacle includes a lip adapted to cooperate with a lid to thereby seal > the waste receptacle.

Typically the lip includes a flap which in use cooperates with the lid to retain the lid in a closed position.

Typically the cigarette packet includes: a) a body; » b) a divider for defining the first and second cavities; and, c) a lid for providing access to the first and second cavities.

In a second broad form the present invention provides a cigarette packet comprising: a) a first body and corresponding first lid defining a packet for containing cigarettes; and, b) a second body and corresponding second lid defining a waste receptacle for receiving waste, at least part of an inner surface of the waste receptacle being lined with a fire resistant material. Brief Description of the Drawings

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure IA is a schematic side view of a first example of a combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle;

Figure IB is a schematic plan view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of

Figure IA;

Figure 1C is a schematic perspective view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of Figure IA; Figure ID is a schematic side view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of

Figure IA with the lid of the cigarette packet in an open position;

Figure IE is a schematic side view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of

Figure IA with the lid of the receptacle in an open position;

Figure IF is a schematic end view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of Figure IA with the lid of the receptacle in an open position;

Figure 2A is a schematic end view of a second example of a combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle;

Figure 2B is a schematic side view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of

Figure 2A; Figure 2C is a schematic plan view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of

Figure 2A;

Figure 3A is a schematic side view of a third example of a combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle; and,

Figure 2B is a schematic plan view of the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle of Figure 3A.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

An example of a cigarette packet incorporating a waste receptacle will now be described with reference to Figures IA to IF.

In this example, the arrangement includes a standard cigarette packet 1 having a body 10 and a lid 11 which is attached to a waste receptacle 2 having a body 20 and lid 21. The cigarette - A -

packet may also include a lip 12 to ensure that the lid 11 engages with the body 10, in a substantially sealing manner. The body 10 and lid 11 define a cavity 15 (shown by dotted lines) for containing cigarettes in use. In a similar manner the waste receptacle 2 will include a lip 22 which ensures that the lid 21 substantially sealingly engages with the body 20. In any event, the waste receptacle 2 typically defines a cavity 25 (shown by dotted lines) for containing waste, such as cigarette butts, in use, as will be described in more detail below.

In this example, the cigarette packet 1 and the waste receptacle 2 are generally placed in a back-to-back arrangement with the waste receptacle 2 being of a similar width to the cigarette packet 1 but a reduced thickness, such as half the thickness of the cigarette packet 1. However, any suitable relative dimensions may be used, so for example, the waste receptacle 2 could be of similar dimensions to the cigarette packet 1.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when the Hd 11 of the cigarette packet is opened, this tends to extend outwardly from the rear of the cigarette packet. As a result, in one example the waste receptacle 2 has a slightly reduced length compared to the cigarette packet 1, thereby allowing the packet lid to be opened in the normal way as shown in Figure ID.

In order to ensure that the butts are disposed of safely the waste receptacle cavity 25 may be lined with a fire resistant material to ensure that it is not flammable and hence to ensure that butts placed therein will not cause the waste receptacle 2 to catch fire. In one example, the fire resistant material is formed from alfoil. This has the benefit of being cheap and lightweight as well as providing adequate fire resistive qualities. In addition to this, alfoil is used in the production of existing cigarette packaging, thereby aiding manufacture of the waste receptacle.

However, any suitable material may be used to provide fire resistive properties, and in one example, the fire resistive properties are such that the material used is able to withstand a warm or ignited cigarette butt being provided within the receptacle.

In addition to this, the underside of the lid 21, shown generally at 23, may be provided with enhanced fire resistive properties to allow the underside of the lid 23 to act as a surface on which the cigarette butt can be extinguished. In one example, this is achieved using a double layer of alfoil.

In this example, to aid with cigarette extinguishing, as the lid 21 is opened, it rests against the lid 11 of the cigarette packet 1, as shown in Figure ID, thereby providing a solid surface against which the cigarette may extinguished. It will be appreciated that this helps ensure that the cigarette is extinguished correctly, thereby further preventing issues with fire or the like.

As the cigarette butts tend to have a noxious odour, in one example, the lip 22 is provided to ensure that the lid 21 releasably engages the body 20, thereby reducing release of the odour from the cavity 25, and ensuring that the cigarette butts are retained in use. To further assist in this the lip 21 may include a flap 22 A, which engages with an underside of the lid 21, to ensure that the lid 21 remains closed unless otherwise urged open by a user, hi one example, the engagement of the lid 21 and the body 20 is adapted to substantially seal the waste receptacle to further reduce the release of noxious odours.

In use cigarette packets can be formed with and sold together with the waste receptacle 2 as a single item such that when an individual purchases a packet of cigarettes the waste receptacle 2 forms an integral part of the packet. This ensures that the smoker always has a location to dispose of their cigarette butts.

In this regard, as the waste receptacle 2 has a substantially identical configuration to the cigarette packet 1 it is easy for the cigarette packet manufacturer to manufacture the waste receptacle as a separate container in a similar manner. Thus, the manufacturer will create a suitable blank from cardboard, this may then be folded into the desired shape as required.

Once constructed, the waste receptacle 2 and the cigarette packet 1 can then be joined using a suitable glue or the like. As an alternative the waste receptacle and cigarette packet 1 may be simply be placed side by side and held together via the use of a cellophane wrapper or the like as typically provided on cigarette packets.

hi any event, in the above example, as the waste receptacle is generally of a similar configuration to the cigarette packet, it is generally possible to manufacture the waste receptacle using the same equipment used to manufacture the cigarette packet. This can therefore be constructed using the same tooling used for manufacturing standard cigarette packets, allowing the waste receptacle 2 to be incorporated into cigarette packets relatively cheaply.

Furthermore, in the above example, as the waste receptacle 2 is narrower than the cigarette packet 1, this does not overly add to the size of the combined packet, thereby allowing users to carry the packet as if it were a normal cigarette packet.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations on the packet designed could be implemented. Examples of these are shown in Figure 2A to 2C and Figures 3 A and ) 3B.

In the example shown in Figures 2A to 2C the waste receptacle 2 and the cigarette packet 1 are provided side-by-side. Thus, in this example, the cavities 15, 25 are in a side-by-side arrangement as opposed to a back-to-back arrangement in the example of Figures IA to IF.

In one instance the lids 11, 21 can be independently operable so that the waste receptacle 2 is ^; only opened when it is desired to dispose of a cigarette butt and not when a cigarette is removed from the packet 1. Otherwise operation is substantially as described above. This allows cigarettes to be removed from the cigarette packet 1 without release of any odour from the waste receptacle 2.

Alternatively, however, the lids 11, 21 can be integrally formed from a single lid, which when opened provides access to both the cigarette packet 1 and the waste receptacle 2. In this regard, the combination could be formed using a single packet constructed using a suitable blank. The single packet can incorporate, or be modified, by the provision of a divider, which separates the packet cavity into the cigarette packet 1 and waste receptacle 2, so that the waste receptacle 2 and cigarette packet 1 are formed from a common packet, with the divider forming the separate cavities 15, 25.

Whilst the provision of a single lid may allow odour to be released when removing cigarettes, this can make manufacture of the combined cigarette packet 1 and waste receptacle 2 easier. In particular, this allows manufacturers to modify existing cigarette packet designs by adding a divider to define the cigarette packet 1 and the waste receptacle. Suitable fire resistant material can then be added to the waste receptacle if required, for example, if the material from which the packet is manufactured does not provide sufficient fire resistance properties.

Thus, this arrangement can be constructed using a standard cigarette packet, with the packet being subsequently divided into two cavities, allowing the configuration to be constructed with little modification to existing manufacturing techniques. It will be appreciated that if a standard cigarette packet is used as the body for the combined cigarette packet and waste receptacle, there may be a reduced capacity for containing cigarettes, although this can be counteracted by providing an oversized packet. In any event, this allows the waste receptacle to be implemented using existing manufacturing capabilities.

In the example shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the cigarette packet 1 is modified slightly so that when the lid 11 is opened it remains flush with the packet 1. In this instance the cigarette packet 1 and the waste receptacle 2 can be of identical heights as a result when the lid 21 is open it can be folded back to rest on top of the lid 11 as shown. In this instance, as shown in a plan view the inner surface 23 of the lid 21 will rest on top of the lid 11 again providing a surface upon which the cigarette butt may be extinguished.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that the invention broadly appearing before described.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1) A cigarette packet comprising: a) a first cavity defining a packet for containing cigarettes; b) a second cavity defining a waste receptacle for receiving waste, at least part of an inner surface of the second cavity being lined with a fire resistant material.

2) A cigarette packet according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of a lid of the second cavity includes a double layer of fire resistant material to thereby allow cigarettes to be extinguished on the underside of the lid.

3) A cigarette packet according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cigarette packet includes: a) a first body and corresponding first lid defining the first cavity; and, b) a second body and corresponding second lid defining the second cavity.

4) A cigarette packet to claim 3, wherein the first and second bodies are arranged such that the second lid abuts at least one of the first body and first lid when in an open position, to thereby allow cigarettes to be extinguished on the underside of the lid.

5) A cigarette packet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first and second bodies are provided in at least one of: a) a back-to-back arrangement; and, b) a side-by-side arrangement.

6) A cigarette packet according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the waste receptacle has a width substantially equal to that of the cigarette packet and depth substantially equal to half that of the cigarette packet.

7) A cigarette packet according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the waste receptacle includes a lip adapted to cooperate with a lid to thereby seal the waste receptacle.

8) A cigarette packet according to claim 7, wherein the lip includes a flap which in use cooperates with the lid to retain the lid in a closed position.

9) A cigarette packet according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette packet includes: a) a body; b) a divider for defining the first and second cavities; and, c) a lid for providing access to the first and second cavities. 1O)A cigarette packet comprising: a) a first body and corresponding first lid defining a packet for containing cigarettes; and, b) a second body and corresponding second lid defining a waste receptacle for receiving waste, at least part of an inner surface of the waste receptacle being lined with a fire resistant material.

H)A cigarette' packet according to claim 10, wherein the cigarette packet is a cigarette packet according to any one of the claims 1 to 9.