Packaging system with a receptacle for storing debris

Abstract

A convenient, safe and economical packaging system has an open receptacle that collapses to a reduced closed receptacle for storing debris. An outer sleeve and a container are connected through an accordion section. The accordion section folds by pushing the container into the outer sleeve collapsing the open ashtray receptacle to the closed receptacle. A removable lining may optionally cover the walls of the closed receptacle. With the container pulled out the open ashtray receptacle is easily assessable through an access hole in the sleeve. A folded cutout attached to a panel of the sleeve and a bottom of the container covers the access hole in the closed position. The packaging system is particularly useful for packaging cigarettes and can be used several time before emptying the closed receptacle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A packaging system having an open receptacle for dispensing debris and a closed receptacle for storing said debris, said system comprising: 
 a) an outer sleeve comprising a front sleeve wall, a back sleeve wall, two side sleeve walls, and a sleeve bottom connecting adjacent ends of said front sleeve wall, said back sleeve wall and said two side sleeve walls, said front sleeve wall having a folded cutout section defining an access hole to said open receptacle, said folded cutout section being attached at a first end to said front sleeve wall, said folded cutout section having a free second end, said access hole being positioned a distance from said sleeve bottom to provide space for said closed receptacle;    wherein said outer sleeve is sized to slidably receive a container for movement between an open position and a closed position, said free second end of said folded cutout section being attachable to said container adjacent a bottom of said container so that in said closed position said folded section lies substantially flat to substantially cover said access hole and in said open position said folded section folds to substantially uncover said access hole in said closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 b) an accordion member positioned within said sleeve between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, wherein a surface of the accordion member and the sleeve bottom form the closed receptacle, said accordion member comprising at least two folding sections connected along a folding edge and first and second flaps, each said folding section having a geometry substantially similar to said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, said accordion member being attachable to said back sleeve wall by a first flap at a distance from said sleeve bottom such that said container is prevented from being retracted farther than where said accordion member is attached, of said accordion being attachable to said container bottom by a second flap such that said accordion member is flattened to serve as an ashtray bottom with said container in said extended open position and said container is prevented from being removed from said sleeve.    
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein debris received on said accordion member when said sleeve is in said open position is entirely contained within said closed receptacle when said sleeve is in said closed position.  
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the folding sections are sized to tightly close said closed receptacle and suffocate smoldering debris contained in said closed receptacle.  
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 c) a receptacle lining comprising a front lining panel section, back lining panel section, two side lining panel sections, and bottom lining panel section, positioned along walls of said sleeve such that said receptacle lining is entirely contained within said closed receptacle when said sleeve is in said closed position.    
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle lining forms an annulus suitable for containing debris.  
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle lining being attachable to said sleeve.  
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein said receptacle lining being removable from said sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein said accordion member shall be attached to said receptacle lining.  
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 b) said container, comprising a front container wall, a back container wall, two side container walls and a container bottom connecting adjacent ends of said front container wall, said back container wall and said two side container walls, said container being capable of slidably extending from said sleeve to an open position such that said access hole is open to said open ashtray receptacle between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, said container also being capable of slidably retracting within said sleeve to a closed position and stopping to a distance away from said sleeve bottom such that, said access hole is completely closed by a portion of said front container wall.    
     
     
         11 . The packaging system of  claim 10  wherein said container further comprises a flip-top attached to a top portion of said container.  
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 10  further comprising a means to secure said container in said closed position.  
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 12  wherein said means to secure said container in said closed position is a flip-top connected to a top edge of said sleeve.  
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein said sleeve comprises cardboard.  
     
     
         15 . The packaging system of  claim 1  wherein one or more inside surfaces of said sleeve are covered with a fire resistant material.  
     
     
         16 . The packaging system of  claim 15  wherein said fire resistant material is selected from the group consisting of a metal and fiberglass.  
     
     
         17 . The packaging system of  claim 15  wherein said fire resistant material is an adhesive backed metal tape.  
     
     
         18 . A packaging system for holding smoking members said system having an open ashtray receptacle for dispensing smoking debris and a closed receptacle for storing said smoking debris, said system comprising: 
 a) an outer sleeve comprising a front sleeve wall, a back sleeve wall, two side sleeve walls, and a sleeve bottom connecting adjacent ends of said front sleeve wall, said back sleeve wall and said two side sleeve walls, said front sleeve wall having a folded cutout section defining an access hole to said open receptacle, said folded cutout section being attached at a first end to said front sleeve wall, said folded cutout section having a free second end, said access hole being positioned a distance from said sleeve bottom to provide space for said closed receptacle;    b) a container for holding said elongated smoking members said container comprising a front container wall, a back container wall, two side container walls and a container bottom connecting adjacent ends of said front container wall, said back container wall and said two side container walls, said container being capable of slidably extending from said sleeve to an open position such that said access hole is open to said open ashtray receptacle, said container also being capable of slidably retracting within said sleeve to a closed position within said outer sleeve to a distance away from said sleeve bottom such that, said access hole is completely closed by a portion of a corresponding side container wall;    c) an accordion member positioned within said sleeve between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, wherein a surface of the accordion member and the sleeve bottom form the closed receptacle, said accordion member comprising at least two folding sections connected along a folding edge and first and second flaps, each said folding section having a geometry substantially similar to said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, said accordion member being attached to said back sleeve wall by said first flap at a distance from said sleeve bottom such that said container is prevented from being retracted farther than said position where said accordion member is attached, said accordion being attached to said container bottom by said second flap such that accordion member is flattened along said back sleeve wall to serve as an ashtray bottom with said container in said extended open position and said container is prevented from being removed from said sleeve;    wherein said outer sleeve is sized to slidably receive a container for movement between an open position and a closed position, said free second end of said folded cutout section being attachable to said container adjacent a bottom of said container so that in said closed position said folded section lies substantially flat to substantially cover said access hole and in said open position said folded section folds to substantially uncover said access hole.    
     
     
         19 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , wherein smoking debris received on said accordion member when said sleeve is in said open position is entirely contained within said closed receptacle when said sleeve is in said closed position.  
     
     
         20 . The packaging system of  claim 18  wherein said sleeve, said container and said accordion member comprise cardboard.  
     
     
         21 . The packaging system of  claim 18  wherein inside surfaces of said sleeve and surfaces of said accordion member are covered with a fire resistant material.  
     
     
         22 . The packaging system of  claim 21  wherein said fire resistant material is selected from the group consisting of a metal and fiberglass.  
     
     
         23 . The packaging system of  claim 18  wherein said container further comprises a flip-top attached to at top portion of said container for securing said smoking members.  
     
     
         24 . The packaging system of  claim 18  further comprising a means to secure said container in said closed position.  
     
     
         25 . The packaging system of  claim 24  wherein said means to secure said container in said closed position is a flip-top connected to a top edge of said sleeve.  
     
     
         26 . The packaging system of  claim 18  wherein said distance at which said accordion is attached to said back sleeve wall is greater than 0.5″ from said sleeve bottom.  
     
     
         27 . The packaging system of  claim 18  wherein said folded cutout section includes a notch for holding an elongated smoking member.  
     
     
         28 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , wherein one or more of the folding sections of the accordion member are sized to tightly close said closed receptacle and suffocate smoldering debris contained in said closed receptacle.  
     
     
         29 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , further comprising a pouch attached to the outer sleeve.  
     
     
         30 . The packaging system of  claim 18 , wherein a removable lining is present within said sleeve between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom.  
     
     
         31 . The packaging system of  claim 30 , wherein said removable lining comprise cardboard.  
     
     
         32 . The packaging system of  claim 30  wherein inside surfaces of said removable lining are covered with a fire resistant material.  
     
     
         33 . The packaging system of  claim 32  wherein said fire resistant material is selected from the group consisting of a metal and fiberglass.  
     
     
         34 . A packaging system that provides an open receptacle for dispensing debris and a closed receptacle for storing said debris, said system comprising: 
 a) an outer sleeve comprising a front sleeve panel, a back sleeve panel, two side sleeve panels, and a sleeve bottom panel connecting adjacent ends of said front sleeve panel, said back sleeve panel and said two side sleeve panels, said front sleeve panel having an access hole for dispensing of said smoking debris, said access hole positioned a distance from said sleeve bottom to provide space for said closed receptacle; wherein said outer sleeve is sized to slidably receive a container for movement between an open position and a closed position; and    b) a receptacle lining comprising a front receptacle lining panel, a back receptacle lining panel, two side receptacle lining panels, and a bottom receptacle lining panel connecting adjacent ends of said front receptacle lining panel, having a cross section substantially similar to said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, positioned within said sleeve between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom such that an annulus is present between said receptacle lining and said container bottom; and    c) an accordion member having at least two folding sections connected along a folding edge and first and second flaps, each said folding section having a geometry substantially similar to said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, positionable within said sleeve between said receptacle lining and said container bottom, wherein a surface of the accordion member and surfaces of said receptacle lining form the closed receptacle, said accordion member being attachable to said receptacle lining by said first flap such that said container is prevented from being retracted farther than said position where said accordion member is attached, said accordion being attachable to said container bottom by said second flap such that accordion member is flattened along a back sleeve panel when said container is in said extended open position and said container is prevented from being removed from said sleeve;    wherein debris received on said accordion member when said sleeve is in said open position is entirely contained within said annulus formed between said accordion member and said receptacle lining when said sleeve is in said closed position.    
     
     
         35 . A packaging system that provides an open receptacle for dispensing debris and a closed receptacle for storing said debris, said system comprising: 
 a) an outer sleeve comprising a front sleeve panel, a back sleeve panel, two side sleeve panels, and a sleeve bottom panel connecting adjacent ends of said front sleeve panel, said back sleeve panel and said two side sleeve panels, at least one of said side sleeve panels having an access hole for dispensing of said smoking debris, said access hole positioned a distance from said sleeve bottom to provide space for said closed receptacle; wherein said outer sleeve is sized to slidably receive a container for movement between an open position and a closed position; and    b) an accordion member having at least two folding sections connected along a folding edge and first and second flaps, each said folding section having a geometry substantially similar to said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, positionable within said sleeve between said sleeve bottom and said container bottom, wherein a surface of the accordion member and one or more of said sleeve panels form the closed receptacle, said accordion member being attachable to said sleeve bottom panel by said first flap at a distance from said sleeve bottom panel such that said container is prevented from being retracted farther than said position where said accordion member is attached, said accordion being attachable to said container bottom by said second flap such that accordion member is flattened along a back sleeve panel when said container is in said extended open position and said container is prevented from being removed from said sleeve;    wherein debris received on said accordion member when said sleeve is in said open position is entirely contained within said closed receptacle when said sleeve is in said closed position.