Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
This invention relates generally to the field of cigarette boxes, particularly those of the hinged-lid type. More specifically, the invention relates to cigarette boxes having improved structure for preserving freshness of the contents therein. The invention further relates to a dual-compartment cigarette box wherein each compartment is independently re-sealable.
Cigarette packs are marketed in different embodiments. The conventional structure of a cigarette package includes a small box, which may be either a so-called soft box or a hard box. Such boxes form a housing for a plurality of cigarettes, such as 20 cigarettes, and may be fabricated from either a cellulosic material or a synthetic material such as plastic.
Cigarettes have a shelf life. A box of cigarettes is generally good for a period of about one year from the date of manufacture. After that one year, cigarettes will become stale and lose flavor. This is because the individual cigarettes become dry and brittle due to the evaporation of aromatic oils.
Cigarettes may be vacuum sealed in freezer storage to extend freshness, but this is quite uncommon. Some stores and individuals use humidors that control humidity to preserve moisture and freshness of tobacco. This is somewhat common for cigars, but these generally are not used for off-the-shelf cigarettes. Further, humidors do not help tobacco packages while they are in transit.
Many cigarettes are not consumed until after extended periods of storage, transportation, and retail presentation. In some cases, particularly where cross-country or international transportation is involved, a package of cigarettes may not be consumed for many weeks or even months after manufacture and packaging. To help maintain freshness, cigarette boxes are typically enshrouded by an outer layer of plastic foil. Such an outer wrapping keeps air and moisture out of the interior of the box, at least until it is opened.
Cigarette boxes frequently also include an inner lining. The inner lining may be fabricated from tin or other metal material. Thus, a multi-layer structure is provided to help maintain freshness of the tobacco products therein. Unfortunately, once the package is opened the seal offered by the inner lining is lost and the cluster of cigarettes is exposed to ambient conditions. This accelerates the drying of the cigarettes and the loss of aromatic oils.
Several patents have issued in the field of cigarette packaging. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,467,872 issued in 1995. This patent is entitled “Rigid Hinged-Lid Packet for Tobacco Products, Particularly Cigarettes.” The '872 patent discloses a cigarette package with two hinged lids, one at an end opposite the other, such that the appearance of the package resembles two standard cigarette packages coplanar with one another but joined together by the bottom edges. The user opens one hinged lid to consume the cigarettes in one container; then the user flips the package and opens the second hinged lid to consume the remaining cigarettes in a second container.
In the cigarette package design for the '872 patent, the individual packets may be integral with one another or may comprise two separate containers joined at the respective bottom ends of each container. However, the '872 patent is not concerned with increasing the shelf life of the tobacco contents, nor does the patent disclose a mechanism for resealing one of the containers after it has been opened.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,201,413 entitled “Dual Cigarette Carton With Separable or Divisible Label Containing Universal Product Code” offers a similar concept. In the '413 patent, a dual cigarette carton is formed from two substantially identical single cigarette cartons. This is essentially two separate cartons connected together for tax-stamping and price coding purposes, wherein the cartons may be easily separated after sale.
A next packaging example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,895 entitled “Two-Pack Kit for Packaging Make-Your-Own Cigarettes.” The '895 patent offers a container with two packages to allow for the assembly of one's own cigarettes. A first package contains tobacco elements while a second package contains non-tobacco elements for construction of individual cigarettes. As can be seen, the '895 patent presents a clever idea but it is does not directed to a re-sealable cigarette package nor is it concerned with offering multiple, independently re-sealable compartments for existing cigarettes to increase the shelf life.
Another patent in the technical field is U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,310 entitled “Blank for Parallelepipedal Boxes or Box Elements.” The '310 patent offers a “blank” for forming a box for holding cigarettes. The box is constructed with a removal strip in such a manner that parallel tear lines extend through three connected wall sections of the blank. The '310 patent is not directed towards increasing shelf life of the tobacco contents.
Additional cigarette packages are in existence that combine cigarette groupings to form a bundle. An example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,817 entitled “Packaging For a Plurality of Small Packs, Especially Cigarette Packs.” However, the inventors are unaware of any package that provides inner compartments that are capable of being independently resealed once opened.
A need exists for an improved, multi-compartment cigarette package that extends the shelf life for cigarettes or other smoke tobacco products. A need further exists for a cigarette package that allows for selective opening and resealing of only a portion of the cigarettes. Such a package would not only preserve the freshness of some of the cigarettes in an unopened portion of the package, but also prevent cigarettes in an opened portion from drying out after the factory seal is broken.
An improved cigarette package is provided. In one embodiment, the cigarette package first comprises an outer container. The outer container serves as a housing and is configured to closely hold a plurality of cigarettes. The outer container is fabricated primarily from a rigid cellulosic material (a so-called “hard” package) or from a pliable synthetic material (a so-called “soft” package). In either instance, the container preferably has a rectangular cross-section.
The outer container includes a lid pivotally connected to the container proximate an upper end. The lid provides selective access to the cigarettes and is movable between open and closed positions. A single lid is provided for multiple compartments.
The package also includes a first lining and a second lining. The first lining forms a first compartment while the second lining forms a second compartment. The first and second compartments reside within the same outer container.
The first and second compartments each have an exterior surface with a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, an upper portion and a lower portion. The first and second compartments further include a first compartment tab and a second compartment tab, respectively. The first and second compartment tabs are configured to allow for resealing of each compartment independently after each compartment has been opened. Embodiments comprising more than two compartments and associated compartment tabs are also envisioned in this disclosure.
The package further includes a substrate. The substrate is coupled to the first and second compartments. The substrate has a proximal end, a distal end and lateral boundaries. The substrate preferably has an adhesive material in the form of a coating along an under-surface. The adhesive material allows the substrate to be coupled to the compartments.
The substrate preferably includes a first substrate tab and a second substrate tab, wherein the tabs are integral with the substrate. The first and second substrate tabs may be disposed above the first and second compartment tabs, respectively, and coupled thereto. Because each substrate tab is coupled to a respective compartment tab, opening of a substrate tab results in a simultaneous opening of the respective compartment tab coupled thereto. It is noted that more than two substrate tabs may be provided, corresponding with the number of compartments.
The first and second compartment tabs may each be defined laterally by opposing lateral edges and distally by a distal edge. Each substrate tab may be configured to extend beyond the lateral and distal edges of the respective compartment tab to form a perimeter of adhesive material that is exposed around an under-surface of each compartment tab. The perimeter of adhesive material lands upon the exterior surface of the respective compartment to form a temporary seal when the substrate tab and compartment tab are together moved to a closed position.
In one embodiment, each substrate tab and corresponding compartment tab extend from a portion of the back face of the compartment. In the closed position, the substrate tab and corresponding compartment tab continue along the top face of the compartment to a portion of the front face of the compartment. Each substrate tab may further comprise a flap that extends beyond the distal end of the substrate. The flap is configured to allow for easier grasping and pulling of each associated substrate tab.
The compartments, the compartment tabs, the substrate, the substrate tabs, or combinations thereof are preferably fabricated from blanks of moisture- and aroma oil-insulating material. Examples of such a material include a metallic material such as tin, aluminum or nickel, or a plastic material. A wax-coated cellulosic material may also be employed.
The cigarette package further includes a sleeve. The sleeve is configured to wrap around the first and second compartments so as to securely hold the compartments together within the outer container. The sleeve also may serve to anchor the first and second compartments to the interior of the container, such as through an adhesive which prevents the compartments from sliding out of the container, particularly while the compartments are being opened.
The sleeve is preferably fabricated from a thin cardboard material. The sleeve includes a front surface that serves as a recessed portion of the container. The recessed portion forms a shoulder on which the lid lands when the lid is pivoted to its closed position.
The cigarette package may be provided with an exterior layer of water-resistant foil residing around the outer container. The foil is removed, or at least torn away, by the purchaser before opening the lid.
An alternate cigarette package is also provided herein. In this embodiment, the cigarette package again comprises an outer container configured to hold a plurality of cigarettes. The outer container has an exterior surface and a recessed portion along the exterior surface. The recessed portion may be inwardly indented from the outer container exterior surface and be provided with a top edge having a contour.
The package may further include a lid pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container. In operation, the lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. The lid has a distal end having a profile that matches the contour of the recessed portion.
At least two moisture-proof compartments are provided within the container. Each compartment offers a front surface that extends above the recessed portion. This serves to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of each compartment.
Each compartment further includes a compartment tab. Each compartment tab is integral with its associated compartment. Each compartment tab is provided with a distal end and lateral boundaries.
A substrate is coupled to and resides along a top face of each of the compartments. The under-surface of the substrate is coated with an adhesive material that secures the substrate to the inner compartments. The substrate comprises substrate tabs that are integral with the substrate. The substrate tabs are generally concentric with the compartment tabs and are coupled to the compartment tabs via the adhesive material on the under-surface of the substrate.
Each of the at least two substrate tabs extends beyond the distal end of its respective compartment tab. In the closed position, the substrate tabs each extend onto the exterior surface of the respective compartment. Thus, when the compartment tabs are moved to the closed position, each adhesive substrate tab contacts the peripheral margin portion and the top face of the respective compartments to provide a moisture-proof seal. Under this configuration, each substrate tab allows for selective opening and resealing of its respective compartment.
Still another cigarette package is provided herein. In this embodiment, an outer container is provided that holds a plurality of cigarettes and has a top edge. A lid is also included and is pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position.
At least two moisture-proof compartments are positioned within the outer container. The compartments each have a front surface extending past the top edge of the outer container to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of each compartment. Each compartment also includes a notch to allow access to cigarettes that are enclosed within the each compartment. Each compartment further includes a compartment tab, wherein the number of compartment tabs is equal to the number of compartments. Each tab is configured to conform with the notch of each compartment.
An adhesive substrate is also included that resides on the inner compartments and extends to the peripheral portion of the compartments. The adhesive substrate is configured to contact the compartment at a location upon the compartment between the outer container top edge and the notch of the compartment. Being so disposed, the adhesive substrate is configured to allow for selective opening of a single tab to expose the notch of a single compartment. Such a configuration allows the other compartment(s) to remain sealed. The adhesive substrate is additionally configured to allow for resealing of the individual compartments. Such resealing prevents evaporation of aromatic oils and preserves freshness of cigarettes in an opened compartment when the respective compartments are in their closed position.
A method of opening and resealing a cigarette package is also provided herein. The method first includes providing a package of cigarettes. The packaging is designed in accordance with the package described above, in its various embodiments.
The method also includes opening the lid, followed by opening a substrate tab. Opening of the substrate tab causes the associated compartment tab to be opened, which exposes cigarettes enclosed within one of the compartments. A consumer may then remove a cigarette from the container. The substrate and coupled internal compartment tab may then be moved from an open position to a closed position, and the selected compartment is sealed. Finally, the lid may be moved from an open position to a closed position to complete closure of the cigarette package.
A method for assembling a cigarette package is also provided herein. The method first includes providing at least two blanks of material to serve as at least two inner linings of moisture-resistant or moisture-proof material. Preferably, the blanks of material that serve as the at least two inner linings are fabricated from a moisture-proof material, such as aluminum, tin, nickel or combinations thereof.
Each of the at least two inner linings is folded to form a compartment. The compartment is dimensioned to hold a parallel grouping of cigarettes. In this manner, at least two inner compartments of the cigarette package are formed. Each of the at least two inner compartments has a top face, a back face, and a front face. Each of the inner compartments also includes a compartment tab. Each compartment tab is defined by opposing lateral edges and a distal edge configured to cover a compartment opening.
The method further includes providing a blank of material to serve as a substrate. The substrate may be referred to as a “sticker.” The substrate comprises a planar body having a proximal end, a distal end and an under-surface. The substrate is designed to increase the shelf life of the cigarettes when the cigarettes are placed inside the compartments of the cigarette package. In one embodiment, the substrate is comprised of aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the substrate may be fabricated from a wax-coated cellulosic material.
An adhesive material is placed along the under-surface of the substrate. The adhesive material allows the substrate to be selectively folded onto a front surface or an upper surface of the compartments, and releasably attached thereto. To aid in releasing the substrate from the compartments, the substrate optionally includes at least two substrate tabs. The tabs do not have the adhesive material, allowing the tabs to serve as flaps for gripping.
The method additionally includes adhering the under-surface of the substrate to a top face of each of the at least two inner compartments. The top face may be along an upper surface of the compartments, or a front surface near the top. The at least two substrate tabs are generally collinear with the compartment tabs of the at least two compartments. The substrate tabs are, therefore, coupled to the inner compartment tabs. When so disposed, the at least two substrate tabs and the compartment tabs that are coupled thereto are configured to allow for the selective opening and resealing of each inner compartment, independently.
Preferably, the substrate tabs are slightly larger than the compartment tabs and extend beyond the lateral and distal edges of the compartment tabs. In this way, a perimeter of adhesive material is exposed around an under-surface of the tabs such that pressing along the perimeter of the substrate tabs causes the adhesive material to bond to the compartments, generating a reversible seal after a compartment has been opened.
The method also includes providing a blank of material to serve as a container. The blank forms the perimeter for the inner linings. The method then includes folding the blank of material that serves as the container around the at least two inner compartments to form a rectangular housing for a plurality of cigarettes.
The method still further includes folding the blank of material that serves as the container to create a hinged lid. The hinged lid may be releasably sealed to an outer front surface of the container. In one aspect, the housing is fabricated from a compliant synthetic material such as a plastic material. In another aspect, the housing is fabricated from a rigid cellulosic material.
The method may additionally include providing a blank of material to serve as a sleeve. In such an embodiment, the blank of material that serves as the sleeve is folded around the at least two compartments. The sleeve is configured to hold the at least two inner compartments together and anchor the at least two inner compartments within the container. In these embodiments, the sleeve may comprise a recessed portion that forms a shoulder on which the lid lands when the lid is pivoted to its closed position.
Optionally, the method further comprises providing a water-resistant material, and wrapping the container with the water-resistant material to provide a moisture barrier.
So that the present inventions can be better understood, certain drawings, charts, graphs and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected exemplary embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications.
As used herein, the term “blank” refers to a substrate that is folded along designated lines to form a three-dimensional object.
The inventions are described herein in connection with certain specific embodiments. However, to the extent that the following detailed description is specific to a particular embodiment or a particular use, such is intended to be illustrative only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the inventions or claims.
The container 110 has a lower end 112 and an upper end 114. A lid 115 is hingedly connected to the container 110 at the upper end 114. A hinge line is shown at 116. It is understood that the hinge line extends along a back surface (seen best in
The lid 115 is movable from an open position wherein a cigarette 150 may be accessed, to a closed position wherein the lid 115 seats on a shoulder 118. It is observed that while closing the lid 115 may limit contact of the cigarettes 150 with the air, it does not provide a moisture barrier or an air tight seal.
First,
The lid may further include a lid flap 220. The lid flap 220 extends beyond a lower end 219 of a front portion 215B (as seen in
It is also noted that a front portion 215B of the lid 215 is seen in
Additional details of the package 200 are presented in
Referring to
The sleeve 500 is slidably received within the outer container 210 during fabrication. The recessed portion 520 is a front face of the sleeve 500, and serves as something of a landing surface for the lid 215 when the lid 215 is pivoted back from its open position (seen in
In
An adhesive material is provided along the substrate 400. Specifically, the adhesive material is coated along an under-surface of the substrate 400. This serves to releasably couple the substrate 400 to the inner compartments 300A, 300B along the top and, optionally, front faces.
In
Of interest, the substrate tab 440A is slightly larger than the first inner compartment tab 340A, providing a perimeter. As discussed above and in more detail below, this perimeter of exposed substrate may be coated in an adhesive material to allow for releasable resealing of the inner compartment 300A after a cigarette is removed for consumption. Meanwhile, in the view of
Also visible in
As shown in
As noted above, and as seen in
It is understood that the cigarette package 200 may enclose more than two inner compartments. In one aspect, three separately sealable, or four separately sealable, inner compartments are employed. In any event, the sleeve 500 is wrapped around the two inner compartments 300A, 300B to secure them together.
The inner compartment tabs 340A, 340B are both shown in an open position, revealing a notch in the top face of the compartments 300A, 300B. This exposes interior chambers 380A, 380B of each compartment 300A, 300B. Also in
Also visible in
The compartment tab 340 can be seen extending from a small portion of the back face 327, continuing through a portion of the top face 360, and ultimately terminating at the upper contour 345 of the front face 325. The majority of the compartment tab 340 resides along the top face 360 of the compartment 300. The compartment tab 340 parallel sides 342.
The inner compartment 300 is preferably fabricated from a material that is moisture proof. For example, the material may comprise aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the material may comprise any substance known in the art to be moisture proof and capable of being folded into a lining, such as wax-coated heavy paper. Each of the inner compartments 300 helps to maintain the aromatic oils and moisture of the cigarettes 150 within the container 210, even after the package 200 has been opened by the consumer.
The compartment tab 340, in essence, is an extension of the inner compartment 300. The tab 340 is also fabricated from a moisture-proof material such as aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof.
As shown in the blank of material 610 of
The blank of material 610 further includes substrate tabs 440A, 440B. The tabs 440A, 440B are separated by a medial portion 430. Both the medial portion 430 and the substrate tabs 440A, 440B have front faces (432A and 432B, respectively), which form a front face of the substrate 425 when folded and placed along the compartments 300A, 300B. Each substrate tab 440A, 440B is laterally defined by the lateral boundaries of the substrate 400 and medially defined by perforations 437A, 437B extending across a portion of the substrate 400 between the respective substrate tabs 440A, 440B and the medial portion 430. The substrate 400 is distally defined by a distal end 435 of the substrate 400.
The substrate 400 further comprises substrate flaps 445A, 445B. The substrate flaps 445A, 445B are collinear with the respective substrate tabs 440A, 440B. As shown, substrate flaps 445A, 445B extend beyond the distal end 435 of the substrate 400 and are configured to facilitate easy opening of the substrate tabs 440A, 440B by the consumer.
The substrate 400 and substrate tabs 440 are designed, fabricated, and configured to extend the life of the cigarettes 150 within the package 200. It is believed that the life of the cigarettes 150, calculated from when the consumer first opens the package, may be extended by up to 20%, or even up to 40%. It is also believed that the shelf life of the cigarettes 150 before the package 200 is opened is also extended.
The medial portion 430 of the substrate 400 is shown extending across the gap between the top faces 360A, 360B of the compartments 300A, 300B. In this way, the inner wall 530 of the sleeve 500, which was visible before folding of the substrate 400, is now covered.
Also in
Of interest, the location of the inner wall 530 of the sleeve 500 can be seen as a gap between the two compartments 300A, 300B. The medial portion 430 of the substrate 400 is shown extending across the gap between the top faces 360A, 360B of the compartments 300A, 300B, to cover a portion of the inner wall 530 of the sleeve 500.
Finally,
As discussed above and as shown in
To break either the factory or temporary seal, the lid 215 is first opened by moving the lid flap 220 in the direction of the arrow “O”, as shown in
As can be seen, an improved cigarette package is provided herein. The cigarette package operates to extend the life of a conventional package of cigarettes by at least 20% to 40%. While it will be apparent that the inventions herein described are well calculated to achieve the benefits and advantages set forth above, it will be appreciated that the inventions are susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the spirit thereof.