Cigarette box insert

Abstract

A cigarette box insert of such width, depth and height to snugly fit within a cigarette box, with the insert and its lid being dimensioned to avoid interference between the lid and a cigarette box upon opening and closing of the insert lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from provisional application 60/568,765, filed May 6, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cigarette box insert and device and, more particularly, to a device for use to adapt a standard cigarette box so that it holds a smoking pipe and smoking material.

This invention relates to a smoking device that fits snugly inside most commercially branded paperboard-type cigarette boxes. This new cigarette box insert was designed to store loose tobacco and a pipe within a “flip-top” style cigarette box. A cigarette smoker who is looking to limit tobacco intake would buy a favorite brand of cigarettes and use the tobacco contained within the cigarettes to fill the tobacco receptacle housed within the invention. Now the smoker can still carry a preferred pack of cigarettes, using the pipe to smoke just a fraction of a full cigarette. Hopefully, over time the smoker is able to gradually decrease tobacco usage.

This is not the first cigarette box insert. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,164 discloses a cigarette box insert that fits inside most commercially branded paperboard-type cigarette boxes. Among differences between U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,164 and this current invention is the mechanism by which the smoking material and pipe receptacles are revealed and sealed. Another difference is that this new design functions consistently regardless of the condition of the cigarette box.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,164 discloses a cigarette box insert having a lid for the insert which is adapted for attachment to a lid of the cigarette box by tape or the like. The insert lid is removed vertically from the insert when the cigarette box is opened. The attachment of the insert lid to the cigarette box by tape or the like means that the lid must be detached from the box and new tape applied in order to interchange the insert from one box to another box, such as from a worn box to a new box.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,658 discloses a smoking system in which a pipe is moved into accessible position by means of a resilient element, and only when its cover is slid to the side. The '658 system is not shaped and sized to fit snugly and securely within a cigarette box, and is not designed to provide access to its pipe and smoking material receptacles when placed within an opened cigarette box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a cigarette box insert in which the insert lid functions independently of, and consistently regardless of the condition of, the cigarette box, in which there is no interference between the insert lid and the cigarette box, and which is readily interchangeable between cigarette boxes, such as between a worn cigarette box and a new cigarette box. It is a further object to provide a cigarette box insert system which renders filling of a pipe with smoking material simple. A still further object is to provide such a system in which there is a reduced risk of mishandling the pipe and spilling of smoking material.

Briefly, therefore, the invention is directed to a cigarette box insert for a cigarette box of the type having an interior cavity and a hinged top, the cigarette box insert comprising a body having a body width, a body height, and a body depth for a close fit in a cigarette box; a smoking material receptacle in the body for holding loose smoking material; a pipe receptacle in the body for holding a smoking pipe; a smoking material receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the smoking material receptacle; a pipe receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the pipe receptacle; and an insert lid having a maximum lid width, a lid height, and a maximum lid depth, wherein the insert lid is mounted on the body for rotation between an closed position covering the smoking material receptacle opening and an open position providing access to the smoking material receptacle opening; wherein the maximum lid width is at least about 10% smaller than the body width.

Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-5 are perspective views of the invention.

FIGS. 6-7 are front elevations.

FIGS. 8-9 are top views.

FIGS. 10-11 are side elevations.

FIGS. 12-13 are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is a cigarette box insert for placement inside a standard cigarette box. The insert has body 1 (FIG. 3) with a receptacle 4 for storing loose smoking material. The receptacle for loose smoking material has a solid bottom and extends less than the entire depth of the pipe receptacle. There is at least one pipe receptacle 5 (FIG. 4) which has a solid bottom and extends less than the entire depth of the body. This is sized for receiving a small pipe and holding it relatively secure. The pipe receptacle 5 preferably contains a spring at its bottom for urging the pipe 15 upwardly upon opening of the insert lid 2 as shown in FIG. 2. If the pipe receptacle is too large, a pipe therein, which is usually metal, rattles around.

The external surfaces of the body 1 and the body itself have dimensions such that they conform to the internal surfaces of a standard cigarette box of the standard cardboard type which is sold in stores and in machines and holds 20 class A cigarettes. The body is therefore sized so that it slips easily into a cigarette box and is retained snugly therein, while still being removable for cleaning or transfer to a new cigarette box. That is, the width of the body, which is the horizontal dimension facing the viewer in the front view of FIGS. 6 and 7, is between about 1 and 3/4 inches and about 2 and 1/16 inches, being about 2 inches in a currently preferred embodiment. The depth of the body, which is the horizontal dimension facing the viewer in the side view of FIGS. 10 and 11, is about 15/16 inch or less, such as between about 3/4 inch and 15/16 inch, being about 7/8 inch in a currently preferred embodiment, such that the body is slidable into a standard cigarette box and held snugly therein. These dimensions are only slightly less than the interior dimensions of standard cigarette boxes of the “flip-top” type which hold 20 class A cigarettes. This is illustrated in FIG. 7 which shows the insert inside a cigarette box, with the cigarette box illustrated in phantom. All of the dimensions may alternatively be such that the body conforms to the internal surfaces of a different cigarette box, such as one which is less common but holds 25 class A cigarettes, or one which holds 20 “slims” or “100s.”

The height of the body (not including the lid), which is the vertical dimension facing the viewer in the front view in FIGS. 6 and 7, is selected to ensure that the front lip 13 of the body is above the horizontal edge 14 bridging flanges 7 and 8 (FIG. 2). It is also selected to ensure that the rear lip of the insert (i.e., the lip opposite lip 13) is slightly above the horizontal hinge the for cigarette box lid on the rear of the cigarette box. This ensures that there is no significant interference between the lid and the cigarette box hinge or flanges upon opening of the lid. To accomplish this for a standard box of 20 Class A cigarettes, the body height is at least about 2 and 3/4 inches, such as between about 2 and 3/4 inches and about 3 and 1/4 inches, being about 2 and 7/8 inches in a currently preferred embodiment.

The body 1 and lid 2 are made from a relatively lightweight wood or plastic material. When made from wood the receptacles 4 and 5 may be bored or drilled out by standard techniques. When made from plastic the receptacles 4 and 5 may be molded into the body during its formation by injection molding or other suitable technique.

The lid 2 is secured to the body 1 by, for example, the screw 3 and mating hole 6 shown in FIG. 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the lid 2 is rotatably openable to provide access to the smoking material receptacle 4 and pipe receptacle 5. The lid is sized and dimensioned to avoid interference with the cigarette box 11 upon operation of the lid; that is, such that it does not contact the cigarette box lid hinge or flange sections 7 and 8 of the cigarette box 11 upon opening and closing of the lid 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The lid width is the horizontal dimension facing the viewer in front view of FIG. 6, and the lid depth is the horizontal dimension facing the viewer in the side view of FIG. 10. As used herein, the terms lid width and lid depth refer to the maximum lid width at any point on the lid and the maximum lid depth at any point on the lid. The lid is preferably generally oval-shaped as shown in FIG. 8, and is slightly deeper on one half than on the other half such that it is generally irregularly oval-shaped. The slightly deeper section is for covering the smoking material receptacle, while the slightly shallower section is for covering the pipe receptacle, where the smoking material receptacle 4 is slightly larger than the pipe receptacle 5 (FIG. 4). The width of the insert lid is the same as or slightly smaller than the distance between cigarette box flanges 7 and 8 at a position on the flanges which intersects front lip 13 of the insert. For use with a standard Class A box of 20 cigarettes, therefore, the width of the insert lid is about 1 and 5/8 inches or less, such as between about 1 and 5/8 inches and about 1 and 1/4 inches. This ensures adequate clearance between the insert lid and these flanges upon rotation of the lid to open position as shown in FIG. 2. In the top view shown in FIG. 8, it is seen that the width of insert lid 2 is at least about 10% smaller than the width of body 1, and that the depth of the insert lid 2 is at least about 10% smaller than the depth of body 1.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an alternative embodiment in which the lid 22 is designed to cover only the smoking material receptacle, and not the pipe receptacle 25. This permits use of a longer tobacco pipe 15. The pipe receptacle 25 in this embodiment may optionally extend through the entirety of the height of the body 21.

Although specific examples of the present invention and its application are set forth it is not intended that they are exhaustive or limiting of the invention. These illustrations and explanations are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application, so that others skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use.

Claims

1. A cigarette box insert for a cigarette box of the type having an interior cavity and a hinged lid, the cigarette box insert comprising:

a body having a body width, a body height, and a body depth for a close fit in a cigarette box;

a smoking material receptacle in the body for holding loose smoking material;

a pipe receptacle in the body for holding a smoking pipe;

a smoking material receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the smoking material receptacle;

a pipe receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the pipe receptacle; and

an insert lid having a maximum lid width, a lid height, and a maximum lid depth, wherein the insert lid is mounted on the body for rotation between a closed position covering the smoking material receptacle opening and an open position providing access to the smoking material receptacle opening;

wherein the maximum lid width is at least about 10% smaller than the body width.

2. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the maximum lid depth is at least about 10% smaller than the body depth.

3. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the insert lid is generally oval-shaped.

4. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the insert lid is generally irregularly oval-shaped with a deeper section for covering the smoking material receptacle opening and a shallower section for covering the pipe receptacle opening.

5. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the insert lid is rotatable to the open position within an open cigarette box without interference between the insert lid and the cigarette box.

6. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the insert lid is rotatable 360° within an open cigarette box without interference between the insert lid and the cigarette box.

7. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body height provides clearance between the insert lid and a hinge of a cigarette box into which the insert is inserted.

8. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body height is at least about 2 and 3/4 inches.

9. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body height is between about 2 and 3/4 inches and about 3 and 1/4 inches.

10. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body height is about 2 and 7/8 inches.

11. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body width is between about 1 and 3/4 inches and about 2 and 1/16 inches.

12. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body width is about 2 inches.

13. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body depth is about 15/16 inch or less.

14. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body depth is between about 3/4 inch and about 15/16 inch.

15. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the body depth is about 7/8 inch.

16. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the insert lid operates independently of the hinged lid of the cigarette box.

17. The cigarette box insert of claim 1 wherein the pipe receptacle opening and the smoking receptacle opening are not opened by opening of the hinged lid of the cigarette box.

18. The cigarette box insert of claim 2 wherein the body depth is about 7/8 inch.

19. A cigarette box insert for a cigarette box of the type having an interior cavity and a hinged top, the cigarette box insert comprising:

a body having a body width between about 1 and 3/4 inches and about 2 and 2/16 inches, a body height between of at least about 2 and 3/4 inches, and a body depth of between about 3/4 inch and about 15/16 inch for a close fit in a cigarette box;

a smoking material receptacle in the body for holding loose smoking material;

a pipe receptacle in the body for holding a smoking pipe;

a smoking material receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the smoking material receptacle;

a pipe receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the pipe receptacle; and

an insert lid having a maximum lid width, a lid height, and a maximum lid depth, wherein the insert lid is mounted on the body for rotation between an closed position covering the smoking material receptacle opening and an open position providing access to the smoking material receptacle opening;

wherein the maximum lid width is at least about 10% smaller than the body width.

20. A cigarette box insert for a cigarette box of the type having an interior cavity and a hinged top, the cigarette box insert comprising:

a body having a body width of about 2 inches, a body height of about 2 and 7/8 inches, and a body depth of about 7/8 inch for a close fit in a cigarette box;

a smoking material receptacle in the body for holding loose smoking material;

a pipe receptacle in the body for holding a smoking pipe;

a smoking material receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the smoking material receptacle;

a pipe receptacle opening at the top of the body for providing access to the pipe receptacle; and

an insert lid having a maximum lid width, a lid height, and a maximum lid depth;

wherein the insert lid is mounted on the body for rotation between an closed position covering the smoking material receptacle opening and an open position providing access to the smoking material receptacle opening;

wherein the insert lid has is generally irregularly oval-shaped with a deeper section for covering the smoking material receptacle opening and a shallower section for covering the pipe receptacle; and

wherein the maximum lid width is at least about 10% smaller than the body width.