Cigarette paper box

Abstract

The container includes a top case section that defines a top compartment configured to hold a standard package of cigarette rolling papers, and a bottom case section that defines a bottom compartment hingedly connected to a middle case section that acts as the floor of the top compartment and the lid of the bottom compartment. The middle case section may be subdivided into smaller storage regions by interior dividers. The middle case section may also include a latch configuration that secures both the top and bottom section of the case and each may be opened and closed individually. This allows access to either one of the compartments separately or both compartments simultaneously.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cigarette paper storage containers and, in particular, it concerns a container for holding a package of cigarette paper together with a number of cigarette filters.

Even after the advent of manufactured cigarettes, many people still prefer to roll their own cigarette. This provides the ability to custom make the cigarette to suit the smoker's personal preferences at the time, such as tobacco blend and amount and the use of a filter.

Rolling one's own cigarette does present, however, several problems to the smoker so inclined. Among these problems is the storage of the cigarette papers and filters in a way that also protects them from damage or being lost.

Various suggestions have been presented to overcome these problems. Among them is U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,488 to Gray, which discloses a cigarette paper dispenser that stores the cigarette paper package in the lid with an outlet opening configured to allow access to the cigarette papers with the dispenser closed. The Gray dispenser also has a storage compartment for tobacco. While The Gray dispenser succeeds in protecting the cigarette paper package, it fails to protect the individual cigarette papers that are exposed though the outlet opening.

There is therefore a need for a cigarette paper container that full protects the cigarette paper package and the individual cigarette papers. It would be advantageous if the container were to provide storage for cigarette filters as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a container for holding a package of cigarette paper together with a number of cigarette filters.

According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, a container of the storage of a cigarette paper package, the container comprising: a) a middle case section having top and bottom surfaces; b) a first case section hingedly connected to the middle case section so as to be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that in the closed state the first case section abuts the top surface of the middle case section, the first case section and the middle case section defining between them a first storage compartment; c) a retention arrangement configured to secure the cigarette paper package within the first storage compartment; and d) a second case section hingedly connected to the middle case section so as to be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that in the closed state the second case section abuts the bottom surface of the middle case section, the second case section and the middle case section defining between them a second storage compartment.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, interior dimensions of the first storage compartment are substantially similar to exterior dimension of the cigarette paper package.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, each of the middle case section, the first case section and the second case section has a substantially rectangular outer contour such that the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when closed.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the first and second case sections are hingedly connected to the middle case section along a hinge edge of the middle case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, at least one edge of the middle case section includes at least one projection that extends from the middle case section in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the middle case section, such that the projection forms a portion of a wall defining the second storage compartment.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the at least one edge of the middle case section is an edge opposite the hinge edge.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the middle case section includes a closure latch configured to engage corresponding latching structures located on each of the first and second case sections, the latch configured to retain either one and both of the first and second case sections in their respective the closed state, and opening each of the first and second case sections is independently affected.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retention arrangement includes retention protrusions configured on interior surfaces of walls of the first case section, the retention protrusions extending into the first storage compartment so as to engage the cigarette paper package.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retention arrangement is associated with the middle case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retention arrangement is associated with the first case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the retention arrangement includes and adhesive deployed on an interior surface of the first case section.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, the second case section is configured with at least one interior divider arranged to divide the second storage compartment into a plurality small storage regions.

According to a further teaching of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of small storage compartments is configured for the storage of cigarette filters.

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 container for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown in an open state;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown from a different point of view;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in a closed state;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a first preferred hinge arrangement;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a second preferred embodiment of a container for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown in an open state; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a third preferred embodiment of a container for holding a package of cigarette paper constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, shown in an open state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a container for holding a package of cigarette paper together with a number of cigarette filters.

The principles and operation of a container for holding a package of cigarette paper according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.

By way of introduction, the present invention provides a convenient way to store and protect a package of cigarette rolling papers. Generally speaking, the container of the present invention includes a top compartment configured to hold a standard package of cigarette rolling papers, and a bottom compartment that may be subdivided into smaller storage regions. Separating the two compartments is middle case section that acts as the floor of the top compartment and the lid of the bottom compartment. The middle case section may also include a latch that secures both the top and bottom section of the case and each may be opened and closed individually. This allows access to either one of the compartments separately or both compartments simultaneously.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention that illustrates the features of the container for storing a cigarette paper package, generally referred to herein as 2. The top storage compartment 4 is defined by the top case section 6 and the middle case section 8. The bottom storage compartment 12 is defined by the bottom case section 10 and the middle case section 8.

In preferred embodiments, the interior dimensions, that is, the height, width and length, of the top compartment 4 are substantially similar to the exterior dimensions of the cigarette paper package (not shown). Therefore, the top case section 6 has a substantially rectangular outer contour. The middle case section 8 and the bottom case section 10 are configured with a similar substantially rectangular outer contour such that the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when closed, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The top case section 6 is configured with retention protrusions 20 such that the cigarette paper package is held securely between the retention protrusions 20 and the inside surface 22 of the top case section 6 with the paper dispensing opening of the cigarette paper package facing the middle case section 8. It will be appreciated that although the retention protrusions 20 are illustrated here extending from the end walls 24 of the top case section 6, it is within the scope of the present invention to configure retention protrusions 20 in any and all of the walls of the top case section 6.

Alternatively, the cigarette paper package may be secured to the top case section 6 by an adhesive 30 deployed on the inside surface 22 of the top case section 6. It should be noted that the adhesive may be deployed on substantially any suitable inside surface of top case section 6 and in substantially any suitable pattern, and that the retention protrusions 20 and the adhesive 30 may be used in concert to secure the cigarette paper package to the top case section 6.

In a further alternative configuration, the top case section 6 may be configured without retention protrusions 20, and the cigarette paper package may be attached to the top surface 32 of the middle case section 8 by adhesive 34 with the paper dispensing opening of the cigarette paper package facing into the top case section 6.

The middle case section 8 may include a closure latch 40 configured to engage corresponding latching structures 42 and 44 located on the top 6 and bottom 10 case sections, respectively. The embodiment of a latch 40 illustrated herein is configured to retain either one or both of the top 6 and bottom 10 case sections in their respective closed state. Opening each of the top 6 and bottom 10 case sections may be independently affected. Therefore, access may be gained to only the top storage compartment 4, only the bottom storage compartment 12, or both the top 4 and bottom 12 storage compartments simultaneously.

The middle case section 8 may also include at least one, and preferably two as illustrated herein, projections 46 that extends from the middle case section 8 in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the middle case section 8, such that the projections 46 forms a portion to the wall the defines the bottom storage compartment 12, by filling the corresponding cut-out areas 52 formed in wall 50 of the bottom case section 10. It should be noted that the formation of a combination of projections and cut-out areas in any of the non-hinged walls of the bottom case section 10 is within the scope of the present invention.

The bottom case section 12 may include at least one interior divider 60 that subdivides the bottom storage compartment 12 into a number of smaller storage regions 62. Preferably, the smaller storage regions 62 are of a size that readily accepts a plurality of cigarette filters. The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 is configured with one such interior divider 60 and therefore has two smaller storage regions 62. The second preferred embodiment 2a of FIG. 5 is configured with two such interior dividers 60 and therefore has three smaller storage regions 62. It will be appreciated that the interior divider 60 may be configured as a full wall as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, as a partial wall as illustrated in FIG. 5, and that a single bottom case section 12 may include a combination of full and partial walls (not shown).

Preferably, the top case section 6 and the bottom case section 12 are hingedly attached to the middle case section 8 along one edge of the middle case section 8. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the contain 2 includes a hinge arrangement 70 configured such that hinge section 72 hingedly connects the top case section 6 to the middle case section 8, and hinge section 74 hingedly connects the bottom case section 12 to the middle case section 8.

The third preferred embodiment 2c illustrated in FIG. 6, includes an alternate hinge arrangement and an alternative closure latch configuration. Here, the middle case section 108 includes a side wall 120 configured with a hinge pins 122 that pivotally connect to the middle case section 108 through hinge apertures 124. The closure latch configuration of this embodiment includes latch pins 130 that releasably engage closure apertures 132.

It will be appreciated that alternatively, an integrally formed container, that is, a one piece container in which the top, middle and bottom case section are integrally form and interconnected by integrally formed hinge portions, is within the scope of the present invention.

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 container of the storage of a cigarette paper package, the container comprising:

(a) a middle case section having top and bottom surfaces;

(b) a first case section hingedly connected to said middle case section so as to be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that in said closed state said first case section abuts said top surface of said middle case section, said first case section and said middle case section defining between them a first storage compartment;

(c) a retention arrangement configured to secure the cigarette paper package within said first storage compartment; and

(d) a second case section hingedly connected to said middle case section so as to be deployable between an open state and a closed state, such that in said closed state said second case section abuts said bottom surface of said middle case section, said second case section and said middle case section defining between them a second storage compartment.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein interior dimensions of said first storage compartment are substantially similar to exterior dimension of the cigarette paper package.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein each of said middle case section, said first case section and said second case section has a substantially rectangular outer contour such that the container has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape when closed.

4. The container of claim 3, wherein said first and second case sections are hingedly connected to said middle case section along a hinge edge of said middle case section.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein at least one edge of said middle case section includes at least one projection that extends from said middle case section in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of said middle case section, such that said projection forms a portion of a wall defining said second storage compartment.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein said at least one edge of said middle case section is an edge opposite said hinge edge.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said middle case section includes a closure latch configured to engage corresponding latching structures located on each of said first and second case sections, said latch configured to retain either one and both of said first and second case sections in their respective said closed state, and opening each of said first and second case sections is independently affected.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein said retention arrangement includes retention protrusions configured on interior surfaces of walls of said first case section, said retention protrusions extending into said first storage compartment so as to engage the cigarette paper package.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein said retention arrangement is associated with said middle case section.

10. The container of claim 1, wherein said retention arrangement is associated with said first case section.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein said retention arrangement includes and adhesive deployed on an interior surface of said first case section.

12. The container of claim 1, wherein said second case section is configured with at least one interior divider arranged to divide said second storage compartment into a plurality small storage regions.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of small storage compartments is configured for the storage of cigarette filters.