Combined Dispenser for Cigarette Rolling Papers and Filters

Abstract

A combined dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters is described. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a substantially box-shaped container for cigarette rolling papers that is defined by a plurality of panels including a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing sheets of the rolling papers. The dispenser also includes a cover panel with an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface. The cover panel is connected to the container at a hinge line. When pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel of the container, the cover panel substantially covers the top panel. The dispenser also includes a plurality of individually detachable cigarette filter strips stacked on the inner surface of the cover panel. The filter strips have a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to hand-rolled cigarettes. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combined dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters.

BACKGROUND

To form a hand-rolled cigarette, an amount of smoking material such as tobacco is distributed along the length of a pre-cut sheet of rectangular cigarette rolling paper. The rolling paper is then manually bent or rolled to wrap around the smoking material, forming a cylinder of overlapping layers that encloses the smoking material. FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional hand-rolled cigarette 310 in various stages of construction. Specifically, FIG. 7A shows an unrolled cigarette rolling paper 304 with a fold line 306. The rolling paper 304 is shown placed on top of a closed, conventional rolling paper dispenser 302 to illustrate relative scale. FIG. 7B shows smoking material 308 distributed along the inside surface 304(b) of the rolling paper 304 in a “V”-shaped channel formed by partially folding the rolling paper 304 along the fold line 306. FIG. 7C shows the rolling paper 304 rolled into a partially cylindrical configuration such that the outside surface 304(a) of the rolling paper 304 overlaps into the inside surface 304(b), with the outside surface 304(a) facing outwardly and the inside surface 304(b) substantially facing the enclosed smoking material shown in FIG. 7B. FIG. 7D shows the fully constructed cigarette 310.

Rolling papers are commonly sold in packages with a compartment that contains a stack of pre-cut rectangular sheets of rolling paper. Each of the sheets of rolling paper is dispensable through a slot cut out of a top portion of the compartment. A hinged panel is connected to the compartment of the packaging for covering the top portion of the compartment when it is moved into a closed position. Because the ends of a hand-rolled cigarette tend to collapse when dampened by saliva, some smokers use torn card material to create a makeshift reinforcing tip placed at the mouth end of the rolled cigarette.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0200852 describes a cigarette rolling paper dispenser formed from a generally rectangular planar blank that is die-cut from stiff card material. Hinge lines divide the planar blank into three sets of panels. A first set of panels forms a rolling paper container for storing and dispensing rolling papers. A second set of panels forms a cover for the container. The panels of a third set are connected by transverse hinge lines and each panel has pre-formed longitudinal tear lines that collectively define a plurality of adjacently connected tear-off tip blanks for reinforcing the mouth end of a rolled cigarette.

Conventional cigarette rolling papers do not include means for preventing the passage of smoking material or other undesirable particles into a user's mouth when the cigarette is being smoked. In the past, users have restricted the size of the opening at the mouth end of the cigarette by pinching or twisting the end of the cigarette paper to reduce the passage of smoking material. However, in this configuration the amount of smoke that can pass through the cigarette from the smoking material to the mouth end of the cigarette is restricted, which means the user may be required to exert an uncomfortable amount of effort in order to draw in a desired amount of smoke.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, and according to one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters. The dispenser includes a container for rolling papers that is defined by a plurality of panels, including a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing sheets of the rolling papers. The dispenser also includes a cover panel with an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface. The cover panel is connected to the container at a hinge line. When pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel, the cover panel substantially covers the container. The dispenser also includes a plurality of individually detachable cigarette filter strips stacked on the inner surface of the cover panel. The filter strips have a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips includes natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and/or plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips includes fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, each individual filter strip is connected to another filter strip in the stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, each individual filter strip is connected to at least one other filter strip in the stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the container has a recess defined such that when the cover panel is pivoted into a closed position with the inner surface of the cover panel facing the top panel of the container, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with at least a portion of the stack of filter strips protruding into the recess.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters includes a container for cigarette rolling papers that is defined by a plurality of panels, including a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing sheets of the rolling papers. The dispenser also includes a cover panel with an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface. The cover panel is connected to the rolling paper container at a hinge line. When pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface of the cover panel facing the top panel, the cover panel substantially covers the top panel of the container. The dispenser also includes a plurality of stacks of individually detachable cigarette filter strips that are disposed on the inner surface of the cover panel. The filter strips have a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, two or more separate stacks of individually detachable filter strips are provided.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the stacks is different from the material composition of the filter strips of at least one other stack.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the two or more separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another on the inner surface of the cover panel.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the two or more separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another along the inner surface of the cover panel in a direction that is substantially parallel to the hinge line.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks includes natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and/or plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks includes fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to at least one other filter strip in the respective stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to at least one other filter strip in the respective stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

According to another aspect of the dispenser, the container has a recess defined such that when the cover panel is pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface of the cover panel facing the top panel of the container, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with the at least a portion of the stack of filter strips protruding into the recess.

In another embodiment, a combined dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters includes a substantially box-shaped container for storing and dispensing cigarette rolling papers. The container is defined by a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing individual sheets of the rolling papers, a bottom panel opposite the top panel, a front wall panel, a rear wall panel opposite the front wall panel, a first side wall panel, and a second side wall panel opposite the first side wall panel. The combined dispenser also includes a cover panel with an outer surface and an opposite, inner surface. The cover panel is connected to the rolling paper container at a transverse hinge line. When pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel, the cover panel substantially covers the top panel of the container. The combined dispenser also includes a plurality of stacks of individually detachable cigarette filter strips disposed on the inner surface of the cover panel. The filter strips have a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel and the container panels.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the stacks is different from the material composition of the filter strips of at least one other stack.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, at least two of the plurality of separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another on the inner surface of the cover panel.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, at least two of the plurality of separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another along the inner surface of the cover panel in a direction that is substantially parallel to the hinge line.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks includes natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and/or plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks includes fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to another filter strip in the respective stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to another filter strip in the respective stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

According to another aspect of the combined dispenser, the container has a recess that is substantially defined by one or more of at least a portion of the top panel, first side wall panel, and second side wall panel of the container such that when the cover panel is pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with the at least a portion of one or more of the stacks of filter strips protruding into the recess.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to those with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the dispenser according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an unassembled, flattened configuration.

FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the dispenser according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the hinged cover panel in a partially closed position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the dispenser according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a dispenser in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of a cigarette filter strip, cigarette rolling paper, and assembled cigarette according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows an isometric view of an individual filter strip according to one aspect of the present invention, FIG. 6B shows a flattened cigarette rolling paper with the filter strip folded into an accordion-shaped configuration according to one aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 6C shows a cigarette formed by rolling the cigarette paper into a substantially cylindrical arrangement surrounding the folded filter strip at one end, according to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional hand-rolled cigarette in various stages of construction. FIG. 7A shows a sheet of cigarette rolling paper placed on a closed, conventional rolling paper dispenser to illustrate relative scale. FIG. 7B shows smoking material distributed along the inside of the rolling paper in a partially rolled state. FIG. 7C shows the rolling paper rolled around the smoking material shown in FIG. 7B such that the rolling paper overlaps to form an partially complete cylindrical shape. FIG. 7D shows a fully constructed cigarette formed with a complete cylindrical shape enclosing the smoking material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments of a combined dispenser for dispensing cigarette rolling papers and filter strips, as illustrated in the drawings. The inventions may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are intended to convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, all “examples” given herein are intended to be non-limiting.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a combined dispenser 100 for cigarette rolling papers 139 and filter strips 105, 111, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the dispenser 100 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an unassembled, flattened configuration. FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of the dispenser 100 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a hinged cover panel 102 in a partially closed position. FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the dispenser 100 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

As shown, the dispenser 100 has a substantially box-shaped container 110 for storing and dispensing the cigarette rolling papers 139. The container 110 is defined by a top panel 114 with a cut-out dispensing slot 112 for dispensing individual sheets of the rolling papers 139 therethrough, a bottom panel 134 opposite the top panel 114, a front wall panel 128, a rear wall panel 132 opposite the front wall panel 128, a first side wall panel 118, and a second side wall panel 124 opposite the first side wall panel 118. A cover panel 102 has an outer surface 102(a) and an opposite, inner surface 102(b). The cover panel 102 is connected to the container 110 at a transverse hinge line 108. When pivoted about the hinge line 108 into a closed position (not shown) with the inner surface 102(b) facing the top panel 114 of the container, the cover panel 102 substantially covers the top panel 114 and thus the dispensing slot 112. Stacks 104, 106 of individually detachable cigarette filter strips 105, 111 are adjacently disposed along the inner surface 102(b) of the cover panel 102 in a direction that is substantially parallel to the transverse hinge line 108.

The panels 114, 118, 124, 128, 132, and 134 that define the container 110, and the cover panel 102, each have an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, with each panel connected to one or more of the other panels at scored lines. As shown, the container panels 114, 118, 124, 132, and 134 have respective outer surfaces 114(a), 118(a), 124(a), 132(a), and 134(a), and the cover panel 102 has an outer surface 102(a). Each of the panels also has a respective inner surface 114(b), 118(b), 124(b), 132(b), and 134(b), and the cover panel 102 has an inner surface 102(b). The cover panel 102 is connected to the rear wall panel 132 at a scored, transverse hinge line 108, and the rear wall panel 132 is connected to the bottom panel 134 at a transverse score line 116. The first side wall panel 118 and second side wall panel 124 are connected to the bottom panel 134 at longitudinal score lines 120 and 122, respectively. The front wall panel 128 is connected to the bottom panel 134 at a transverse score line 126 and the top panel 114 is connected to the front wall panel 128 at a transverse score line 130.

The filter strips 105, 111 of the stacks 104, 106 have a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel 102 and the container panels 114, 118, 124, 128, 132, and 134. It should be appreciated that more than two stacks of filter strips can be disposed on the inner surface 102(b) and that the stacks can be arranged in relation to one another in a spatial configuration other than a parallel arrangement along a transverse direction as shown without departing from the scope of the present invention. The material composition of the filter strips 105, 111 includes one or more of natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material. The material composition of the filter strips 105 in stack 104 includes fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings that are sized to allow passage of smoke and prevent passage of smoking material. Each individual filter strip 105, 111 in the stacks 104, 106 is connected to another filter strip in the respective stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strips 105, 111, cover panel 102, or container 110. As one example, each individual filter strip 105, 111 in the stacks 104, 106 can be connected to at least one other filter strip in the respective stack with an adhesive such as a weak adhesive that is selected for allowing each filter strip to be detachable and re-attachable to the stack.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a combined dispenser 200 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the dispenser 200 has a substantially box-shaped container 210 for storing and dispensing the cigarette rolling papers 239. The container 210 is defined by a top panel 214 with a cut-out dispensing slot 212 for dispensing individual sheets of the rolling papers 239 therethrough, a bottom panel 234 opposite the top panel 214, a front wall panel 228, a rear wall panel 232 opposite the front wall panel 228, a first side wall panel 218, and a second side wall panel (not shown) opposite the first side wall panel 218. A cover panel 202 has an outer surface 202(a) and an opposite, inner surface 202(b). The cover panel 202 is connectable to the container 210 at a transverse hinge line. When pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position (not shown) with the inner surface 202(b) facing the top panel 214 of the container, the cover panel 202 substantially covers the top panel 214 and thus the dispensing slot 212. The container 210 has a recess 236 that is defined by portions of the side wall panels (first side wall panel 218 is shown) and the top panel 214 such that when the cover panel 202 is pivoted into a fully closed position (not shown) with the inner surface 202(b) of the cover panel facing the top panel 214 of the container 210, the inner surface 202(b) lays substantially flat on the top panel 214 with at least a portion of a stack 204 of filter strips protruding into the recess 236.

FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of a cigarette filter strip 105, cigarette rolling paper 139 with a fold line 138, and assembled cigarette 141, according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows an isometric view of an individual filter strip 105 according to one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 6B shows a flattened cigarette rolling paper 139 with the filter strip 105 folded into an accordion-shaped configuration such that when the folded filter strip is disposed in the rolled cigarette, particles or pieces of the smoking material are prevented from passing into the user's mouth upon inhalation but the flow of smoke through the cigarette 141 is not significantly restricted when smoke is drawn into the user's mouth from the mouth end 141(a). FIG. 6C shows the cigarette 141, with the first, mouth end 141(a) and an opposite, second end 141(b), formed by rolling the cigarette paper 139 into a substantially cylindrical arrangement surrounding the folded filter strip 105 at the mouth end 141(a). It should be appreciated that the filter strip can be folded or rolled into configurations other than an accordion-shaped arrangement without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the filter strip 105 can alternatively be rolled into a configuration having a circular, spiral-shaped cross-section when viewed from the mouth end 141(a) of the cigarette 141.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the present invention and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.

Claims

1. A dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters, comprising:

a container for cigarette rolling papers, defined by a plurality of panels including a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing sheets of the rolling papers;

a cover panel with an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, connected to the rolling paper container at a hinge line, for substantially covering the top panel of the container when pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel; and

a plurality of individually detachable cigarette filter strips stacked on the inner surface of the cover panel, the filter strips having a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the material composition of the filter strips comprises one or more of natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the material composition of the filter strips comprises fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein each individual filter strip is connected to another filter strip in the stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein each individual filter strip is connected to at least one other filter strip in the stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

6. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the container has a recess defined such that when the cover panel is pivoted into a closed position with the inner surface of the cover panel facing the top panel of the container, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with at least a portion of the stack of filter strips protruding into the recess.

7. A dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters, comprising:

a container for cigarette rolling papers, defined by a plurality of panels including a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing sheets of the rolling papers;

a cover panel with an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, connected to the rolling paper container at a hinge line for substantially covering the top panel of the container when pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel; and

a plurality of stacks of individually detachable cigarette filter strips disposed on the inner surface of the cover panel, the filter strips having a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel.

8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the plurality of stacks comprises at least two separate stacks of individually detachable filter strips

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the stacks is different from the material composition of the filter strips of at least one other stack.

10. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the at least two separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another on the inner surface of the cover panel.

11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the at least two separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another along the inner surface of the cover panel in a transverse direction that is substantially parallel to the hinge line.

12. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks comprise one or more of natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of the at least one stack comprise fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

14. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to at least one other filter strip in the respective stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

15. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to at least one other filter strip in the respective stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

16. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the container has a recess defined such that when the cover panel is pivoted into a closed position with the inner surface of the cover panel facing the top panel of the container, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with at least a portion of one or more of the stacks of filter strips protruding into the recess.

17. A combined dispenser for cigarette rolling papers and filters, comprising:

a substantially box-shaped container for storing and dispensing cigarette rolling papers, defined by a top panel with a cut-out dispensing slot for dispensing individual sheets of the rolling papers therethrough, a bottom panel opposite the top panel, a front wall panel, a rear wall panel opposite the front wall panel, a first side wall panel, and a second side wall panel opposite the first side wall panel;

a cover panel with an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, connectable to the rolling paper container at a hinge line for substantially covering the top panel of the container when pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel; and

a plurality of stacks of individually detachable cigarette filter strips disposed on the inner surface of the cover panel, the filter strips having a material composition that is different from the material composition of the cover panel and the container panels.

18. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the stacks is different from the material composition of the filter strips of at least one other stack.

19. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another on the inner surface of the cover panel.

20. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein at least two of the plurality of separate stacks of filter strips are disposed adjacent to one another along the inner surface of the cover panel in a direction that is substantially parallel to the hinge line.

21. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks comprises one or more of natural fibrous material, synthetic fibrous material, and plastic material for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

22. The combined dispenser of claim 21, wherein the material composition of the filter strips of at least one of the plurality of stacks comprises fibrous, paper-like material formed with porous openings for allowing the passage of smoke and preventing the passage of smoking material.

23. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to another filter strip in the respective stack such as to be individually detachable without tearing any portion of the filter strip, cover panel, or container.

24. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein each individual filter strip of at least one of the plurality of stacks is connected to another filter strip in the respective stack with an adhesive selected such that each filter strip is detachable and re-attachable.

25. The combined dispenser of claim 17, wherein the container has a recess substantially defined by at least a portion of one or more of the top panel, first side wall panel, and second side wall panel of the container such that when the cover panel is pivoted about the hinge line into a closed position with the inner surface facing the top panel, the inner surface lays substantially flat on the top panel with at least a portion of one or more of the plurality of stacks of filter strips protruding into the recess.