U.S. patent application number 09/812645 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-03 for cigarette package having a cigarette saver.
Invention is credited to Collett, William Robert, Thomas, Timothy Frederick.
Application Number | 20040103907 09/812645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32393890 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040103907 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Collett, William Robert ; et
al. |
June 3, 2004 |
Cigarette package having a cigarette saver
Abstract
A cigarette saver is a device having two end portions and an
opening to a channel in the first end portion. A lit cigarette may
be inserted into the channel of the cigarette, extinguished and
stored for subsequent smoking. A cigarette saver may be sold inside
a crush proof box or soft package along with cigarettes.
Inventors: |
Collett, William Robert;
(Lexington, NC) ; Thomas, Timothy Frederick; (High
Point, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GROVER M MYERS
R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
BOWMAN GRAY TECHNICAL CENTER
950 REYNOLDS BOULEVARD
WINSTON SALEM
NC
27102
US
|
Family ID: |
32393890 |
Appl. No.: |
09/812645 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/235.1 ;
131/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/1081 20130101;
A24F 13/18 20130101; A24F 15/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/235.1 ;
131/256 |
International
Class: |
A24F 013/18 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A cigarette package comprising: a crush proof box; a plurality
of cigarettes; and a cigarette saver.
2. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein the cigarette saver is
a device having two end portions, wherein the first end portion
includes an opening to a channel.
3. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein the opening is
elliptical.
4. The cigarette package of claim 3, wherein the opening is
round.
5. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein the width of the
opening is greater than the diameter of one of the cigarettes.
6. The cigarette package of claim 5, wherein the length of the
channel in the cigarette saver is less than the length of the
cigarettes.
7. The cigarette package of claim 6, wherein the channel does not
extend through the length of the cigarette saver.
8. The cigarette package of claim 7, wherein the end of the channel
that terminates in the cigarette saver is tapered.
9. The cigarette package of claim 2, wherein the channel comprises
a guide portion and an extinguishing portion.
10. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein the cigarette saver
is constructed from plastic.
11. The cigarette package of claim 1, wherein the cigarette saver
is constructed from metal.
12. A cigarette saver, comprising: a substantially rectangular body
having two end portions and including a channel being open at an
end portion of the substantially rectangular body and terminating
in the substantially rectangular body.
13. The cigarette saver of claim 12, wherein the opening of the
channel at the end portion of the substantially rectangular body is
elliptical.
14. The cigarette saver of claim 12, wherein the width of the
opening is greater than a cigarette's diameter.
15. The cigarette saver of claim 12, wherein the length of the
channel in the cigarette saver is less than the length of a
cigarette.
16. The cigarette saver of claim 15, wherein the channel does not
extend through the length of the cigarette saver.
17. The cigarette saver of claim 12, wherein the end of the channel
that terminates in the cigarette saver is tapered.
18. A cigarette saver, comprising: a device having two end
portions, wherein the first end portion includes an opening to a
channel.
19. The cigarette package of claim 18, wherein the opening is
elliptical.
20. The cigarette package of claim 18, wherein the opening is
round.
21. The cigarette package of claim 18, wherein the width of the
opening is greater than a cigarette's diameter.
22. The cigarette package of claim 21, wherein the length of the
channel in the cigarette saver is less than the length of a
cigarette.
23. The cigarette package of claim 22, wherein the channel does not
extend through the length of the cigarette saver.
24. The cigarette package of claim 23, wherein the end of the
channel that terminates in the cigarette saver is tapered.
25. The cigarette package of claim 19, wherein the channel
comprises a guide portion and an extinguishing portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cigarette saver and to a
package of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, having a cigarette
saver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, conventionally have
been sold in packages. Typically, each package contains about
twenty or about twenty-five cigarettes.
[0003] One type of popular cigarette package is the so-called "hard
pack," "crush proof box" or "hinged lid package." Such a package
has a generally cuboid-type shape, is manufactured from resilient
paperboard, and includes an outer wrap of transparent polypropylene
film. Hinged lid cigarette packages conventionally are made from
two paperboard blanks. One blank forms the body and lid of the
package. The second blank forms an insert or inner frame which is
assembled to the inside of the front and side walls of the package.
The inner frame projects above the front and side walls of the
package body, and provides a seal between the lid and body when the
package is closed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,734 to
Allen et al. Other types of designs of blanks for hinged lid
cigarette packages can be of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,874,581 to Fox et al., 3,944,066 to Niepmann, and 5,139,140 to
Burrows et al.
[0004] Cigarettes also can be packaged in a container having the
form of a so-called "soft pack." See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,695,422 to Tripodi and 4,717,017 to Sprinke, Jr., et al.
Cigarettes are removed from a soft package by tearing away a
portion of the top of the package, in order that cigarettes can be
easily accessed from the top of the package.
[0005] In the past, cigarette packages have been designed that can
extinguish lighted cigarettes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,096,878
to Whitley et al. relates to a tobacco package with a built in
ashtray. Other cigarette packages allow for lighted cigarettes to
be extinguished and for the cigarette butts to be stored. See, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,159,272 to Swift, 4,207,976 to Herman,
and 5,992,621 to Grant et al. However, the cigarette packages
disclosed in these patents have a more complex construction and
design than conventional cigarette packages. For example, both
Swift and Grant et al. involve individual compartments for each
cigarette. Packages such as these would be difficult to integrate
into an automated cigarette manufacturing and packaging
process.
[0006] Cigarette prices have increased and the number of places
that a smoker can enjoy a cigarette has decreased. Therefore, there
is an increased need for saving cigarettes that have not been
completely consumed for later use. It would also be desirable to
have a cigarette package that allows for the extinguishing and
storing of cigarettes that resembles conventional cigarette
packages and that is easily integrated into a cigarette
manufacturing and packaging process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a cigarette saver. As used
herein, the term "cigarette saver" refers generally to a device for
extinguishing a burning cigarette and storing it so that the smoker
can relight the extinguished cigarette and smoke it later. Thus, if
a person must extinguish a cigarette before they have finished
smoking it, the person can extinguish and store the cigarette in a
cigarette saver of the present invention. When the person has an
opportunity to resume smoking the cigarette, the person may remove
the extinguished cigarette from the cigarette saver and relight
it.
[0008] An embodiment of a cigarette saver of the present invention
comprises a device having two ends, wherein the first end includes
an opening to a channel. The size of the opening is greater than
the diameter of the cigarettes. In one embodiment where the opening
is circular, the diameter may be just slightly larger than the
diameter of the cigarettes such that a minimal amount of air enters
the channel when a person extinguishes a cigarette. In another
embodiment, the opening is an oval (i.e., elliptical) that is
larger than the diameter of the cigarettes. In this embodiment, the
elliptical opening narrows to a generally cylindrical extinguishing
portion of the channel. The length of the channel is preferably
less than the length of the cigarettes such that the extinguished
cigarette may be easily removed from the cigarette saver. The
channel also terminates in the cigarette saver (i.e., does not
extend through a second end of the device). The end of the channel
may be tapered to assist in extinguishing the cigarette.
[0009] The cigarette saver may be constructed from various
materials known in the art, such as plastic and metal. The
cigarette saver may be a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, the
cigarette saver may be a substantially rectangular body surrounding
the cylindrical channel. In another embodiment, the device may be a
tube or cylinder.
[0010] In another embodiment, a cigarette saver comprises a
substantially rectangular body having two end portions and
including a cylindrical channel being open at a first end portion
of the substantially rectangular body and terminating in the
substantially rectangular body. Another embodiment of a cigarette
saver comprises a body having two end portions and including a bore
open at one end portion of the body.
[0011] The present invention also relates to a cigarette package.
An embodiment of a cigarette package of the present invention
comprises a crush proof box (i.e., a hard pack or a hinged lid
package), a plurality of cigarettes and a cigarette saver. In one
embodiment, the cigarette package comprises twenty cigarettes. The
cigarette saver may be any of the embodiments described above.
[0012] It is a feature and advantage of the present invention to
provide a cigarette saver that enables a person to extinguish a
cigarette and to store it so that the person can relight the
extinguished cigarette and smoke it later.
[0013] Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to
provide a cigarette saver that can be sold with a cigarette
package.
[0014] A further feature of the present invention is to provide a
cigarette saver that can be stored in a cigarette package.
[0015] A still further feature of the present invention is to
provide a cigarette package that includes cigarettes and a
cigarette saver that enables a smoker to extinguish a lighted
cigarette and store it for subsequent relighting.
[0016] Another feature of advantage of the present invention is to
provide a cigarette package that includes cigarettes, a cigarette
saver and a crush proof box.
[0017] With the foregoing and other advantages and features of the
invention that will become hereinafter apparent, the nature of the
invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the
following detailed description of the invention, the appended
claims and to the several views illustrated in the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cigarette
saver according to the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a bottom elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver
shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 6-6;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver
shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line 7-7;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cigarette
saver according to the present invention with an extinguished
cigarette;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention with an
extinguished cigarette;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver according to the present invention with an
extinguished cigarette;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver
shown in FIG. 10 taken along the line 11-11;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package according to the present invention having
cigarettes and a cigarette saver;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package according to the present invention having
cigarettes and a cigarette saver;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package according to the present invention having
cigarettes and a cigarette saver;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package of the present invention showing cigarettes and a
cigarette saver inside of a crush proof box;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package of the present invention showing cigarettes and a
cigarette saver inside of a crush proof box;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
cigarette saver of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver
shown in FIG. 19 taken along the line 20-20; and
[0038] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette package of the present invention showing cigarettes and a
cigarette saver inside of a crush proof box.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] The present invention relates to a cigarette saver and to a
package of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, having a cigarette
saver. An embodiment of a cigarette package of the present
invention comprises a crush proof box, a plurality of cigarettes,
and a cigarette saver. In one embodiment, a cigarette saver is a
device having two end portions, wherein the first end portion
includes an opening to a channel.
[0040] The opening may be any shape that will assist in receiving
cigarettes into the channel of the cigarette saver. Suitable
openings are elliptical and round with the width of the opening
being greater than the diameter of a cigarette. The channel may
comprise a guide portion and an extinguishing portion. The guide
portion preferably has a greater width than the extinguishing
portion. The guide portion begins at the opening and may narrow to
the extinguishing portion. The extinguishing portion may be
substantially cylindrical with a diameter that is only slightly
larger than the diameter of a cigarette to assist in extinguishing
the cigarette by reducing the amount of air that enters the
channel.
[0041] The length of the channel in the cigarette saver is
preferably less than the length of a cigarette. The length of the
channel may be such a length that when an extinguished cigarette is
in the cigarette saver, a portion of the cigarette butt extends
from the opening to allow a smoker to remove and relight the
cigarette. In one embodiment, the channel does not extend through
the length of the cigarette saver and the end of the channel that
terminates in the cigarette saver is tapered.
[0042] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-7
illustrate an embodiment of a cigarette saver 5 of the present
invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a
cigarette saver of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front
elevational view of an embodiment of a cigarette saver of the
present invention. FIG. 3 is a top elevational view and FIG. 4 is a
bottom elevational view of an embodiment of a cigarette saver
according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side elevational
view of an embodiment of a cigarette saver of the present
invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of a cigarette
saver of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of
the cigarette saver shown in FIG. 3 taken along the line 6-6 and
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver shown in
FIG. 2 taken along the line 7-7.
[0043] The cigarette saver 5 shown in FIGS. 1-7 comprises a
substantially rectangular body having two end portions 10,15. The
first end portion 10 includes an opening 20 to a channel 25. As
shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, the opening 20 may be elliptical. In
other embodiments (e.g., FIGS. 18-20), the opening may be round.
The width ("W") of the opening 20 is preferably greater than the
diameter of cigarettes to be extinguished and saved.
[0044] The length of the channel 25 (Lc in FIG. 6) is preferably
less than the length of cigarettes to be extinguished and saved.
The channel 25 preferably does not extend through the length (Ls in
FIG. 5) of the cigarette saver 5. In embodiments where the channel
25 does not extend through the length (Ls in FIG. 5) of the
cigarette saver 5, the end 30 of the channel 25 terminates in the
cigarette saver 5. In one embodiment, the end of the channel that
terminates in the cigarette saver is tapered. A tapered end of the
channel assists in extinguishing the cigarette.
[0045] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the channel 25
comprises a guide portion 35 and an extinguishing portion 40. The
guide portion 35 helps align the cigarette and guide it into the
extinguishing portion 40. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the guide portion
35 may be an elliptical funnel. Persons of ordinary skill in the
art will recognize that other shapes may be used to guide the
cigarette into the extinguishing portion. The diameter (D in FIG.
6) of the extinguishing portion 40 may be only slightly greater
than the diameter of the cigarette to be extinguished. With a
diameter of the extinguishing portion 40 that is only slightly
greater than the cigarette, the cigarette is more easily
extinguished as the amount of air that can enter the channel 25 is
reduced.
[0046] FIGS. 8-11 illustrate an embodiment of a cigarette saver 60
of the present invention with an extinguished cigarette 70 in the
channel 65. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show perspective, front elevational
and top elevational views, respectively. FIG. 11 is a
cross-sectional view of the cigarette saver shown in FIG. 10 taken
along the line 11-11. The channel comprises a guide portion 80 and
an extinguishing portion 75. As shown in FIGS. 8-10, the length of
the channel 65 is less than the length of cigarette 70 to be
extinguished. Also, the diameter of the extinguishing portion 75 is
only slightly greater than the diameter of the cigarette 70 to be
extinguished.
[0047] FIGS. 12-15 illustrate an embodiment of a cigarette package
of the present invention. As shown, the cigarette package 100
comprises a crush proof box 105, a plurality of cigarettes 110 and
a cigarette saver 115. The cigarette saver 115 may be a cigarette
saver as described above with regard to FIGS. 1-11, comprising a
substantially rectangular body having two end portions 140,145. The
first end portion 145 includes an opening 125 to a channel. The
opening 125 may be elliptical, circular or any other shape
conducive to the insertion of cigarettes. The channel may comprise
a guide portion 135 and an extinguishing portion 130. The guide
portion 135 helps align the cigarette and guide it into the
extinguishing portion 130. As shown in FIGS. 12-15, the guide
portion 135 may be an elliptical funnel. Persons of ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that other shapes may be used to guide
the cigarette into the extinguishing portion 130.
[0048] While the embodiment of a cigarette package shown in FIGS.
12-15 comprises a crush proof box, other embodiments may comprise a
soft pack instead. Typical crush proof boxes are designed to
include about twenty or about twenty-five cigarettes. A cigarette
package of the present invention may comprise a crush proof box
designed to include twenty-five cigarettes. Using a crush proof box
of this size, the crush proof box can hold twenty cigarettes and a
cigarette saver as shown in FIGS. 12-15. The cigarettes 110 shown
in FIGS. 12-14 are wrapped in foil 120.
[0049] Other sizes of crush proof boxes may be used, such that the
number of cigarettes in the cigarette package vary. For example,
FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of a cigarette package 170 of the
present invention comprising a crush proof box 175 designed to
include twenty-three cigarettes, a cigarette saver 180 and twenty
cigarettes 185. The lid of the crush proof box is not illustrated
to better display the arrangement of the cigarettes 185 and the
cigarette saver 180 inside the crush proof box 175.
[0050] FIG. 17 shows an embodiment of a cigarette saver 180 that
may be included in a cigarette package of the present invention
where the cigarette saver 180 and twenty cigarettes fit in a crush
proof box designed to include twenty-three cigarettes as shown in
FIG. 16. The cigarette saver 180 shown in FIG. 17 comprises a
substantially rectangular body having two end portions 190,195. The
first end portion 190 includes an opening 200 to a channel 205.
[0051] FIGS. 18-20 illustrate another embodiment of a cigarette
saver 250 of the present invention. The cigarette saver 250 shown
in FIGS. 18-20 comprises a substantially rectangular body having
two end portions 255,260. The first end portion 255 includes an
opening 265 to a channel 270. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the
opening 265 is round. The width ("D" in FIG. 19) of the opening 265
is preferably greater than the diameter of cigarettes to be
extinguished and saved.
[0052] The length of the channel 270 ("L" in FIG. 20) is preferably
less than the length of cigarettes to be extinguished and saved.
The channel 270 preferably does not extend through the length of
the cigarette saver 250. In embodiments where the channel 270 does
not extend through the length of the cigarette saver 250, the end
272 of the channel 270 terminates in the cigarette saver 250. In
one embodiment, the end of the channel that terminates in the
cigarette saver is tapered. A tapered end of the channel assists in
extinguishing the cigarette.
[0053] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
cigarette package of the present invention. As shown, the cigarette
package 272 comprises a crush proof box 275, a plurality of
cigarettes 280 and a cigarette saver 250. The cigarette saver 250
shown in FIG. 21 is the cigarette saver as described above with
regard to FIGS. 18-20, comprising a substantially rectangular body
having two end portions 255,260. The first end portion 255 includes
a circular opening 265 to a channel 270. While the embodiment of a
cigarette package shown in FIG. 21 comprises a crush proof box,
other embodiments may comprise a soft pack instead. The crush proof
box 275 shown in FIG. 21 is designed to hold twenty-five
cigarettes. Using a crush proof box of this size, the crush proof
box can hold twenty cigarettes and a cigarette saver as shown in
FIGS. 21.
[0054] A cigarette saver of the present invention may be
constructed from materials known to those of ordinary skill in the
art. The cigarette saver should be constructed from a material that
can withstand the temperatures necessary to extinguish a lighted
cigarette. For example, the cigarette saver may be constructed from
plastic or metal. With a substantially rectangular solid, a
cigarette saver of the present invention may be formed by
mechanically drilling a channel. Cigarette savers of the present
invention can also be formed by injection molding.
[0055] With respect to the descriptions set forth above, optimum
dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention (to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and
manner of operation, assembly and use) are deemed readily apparent
and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in
the specification are intended to be encompassed herein.
[0056] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the
foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and all suitable
modifications and equivalents falling within the scope of the
appended claims are deemed within the present inventive
concept.
[0057] The features of the present invention, together with the
other objects of the invention, and along with the various features
of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure.
* * * * *