Small item dispenser attachable to a cigarette pack

Abstract

A small item dispenser configured to be mounted on another object, such as a cigarette pack, is disclosed. One embodiment of the small item dispenser includes a dispenser length that is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the length of the cigarette pack and a dispenser width that is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the width of the cigarette pack. The small item dispenser includes an attachment structure that can be used to attach the dispenser to a pivotally openable cover of the cigarette pack.

1 . A small item dispenser configured to be mounted on a cigarette pack including a housing for holding cigarettes and a pivotally openable top cover, the cigarette pack defining a pack height, a pack width, and a pack length, the cigarette pack defining a major front face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length and a major rear face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length, the cigarette pack also defining a first side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width and a second side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width, the small item dispenser comprising:
 a) a body including a storage compartment for storing small items, the body also including a dispenser length and a dispenser width; and   b) an attachment structure coupled to the body, the attachment structure configured for removably attaching the small item dispenser to the cigarette pack;   c) wherein the small item dispenser is configured such that the dispenser length is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the pack length and the dispenser width is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the pack width.   
   
   
       2 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the small item dispenser includes a rectangular configuration with a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, a first side face and a second side face, wherein, when the small item dispenser is mounted on the cigarette pack, the front face of the small item dispenser is configured to not substantially extend out past the major front face of the cigarette pack and the rear face of the small item dispenser is configured to not substantially extend out past the major rear face of the cigarette pack and the first and second side faces of the small item dispenser are configured to not substantially extend out past the first and second side faces of the cigarette pack, respectively. 
   
   
       3 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the small item dispenser includes confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       4 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the small item dispenser includes exactly 20 pieces of confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       5 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 3 , wherein the small item dispenser includes at least 20 pieces of confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       6 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser length is about 2 inches and the dispenser width is about 15/16 of an inch. 
   
   
       7 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure is integrally molded with the body of the small item dispenser. 
   
   
       8 . A small item dispenser according to  claim 7 , wherein the attachment structure includes a portion extending substantially parallel to the body of the small item dispenser. 
   
   
       9 . A cigarette pack assembly comprising:
 a) a cigarette pack including a housing for holding cigarettes and a pivotally openable top cover, the cigarette pack defining a pack height, a pack width, and a pack length, the cigarette pack defining a major front face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length and a major rear face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length, the cigarette pack also defining a first side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width and a second side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width, the cigarette pack defining a bottom face having dimensions of the pack width and the pack length, the top cover of the cigarette pack also defining a top face having dimensions of the pack width and the pack length; and   b) a small item dispenser removably mounted on the cigarette pack, the small item dispenser comprising:
 1) a body including a storage compartment for storing small items, the body also including a dispenser length and a dispenser width, wherein the dispenser length is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the pack length and the dispenser width is substantially similar or smaller in dimension to the pack width; and 
 2) an attachment structure coupled to the body, the attachment structure being for removably attaching the small item dispenser to the cigarette pack. 
   
   
   
       10 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the small item dispenser includes a rectangular configuration with a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, a first side face and a second side face, wherein the front face of the small item dispenser does not substantially extend out past the major front face of the cigarette pack and the rear face of the small item dispenser does not substantially extend out past the major rear face of the cigarette pack and the first and second side faces of the small item dispenser do not substantially extend out past the first and second side faces of the cigarette pack, respectively. 
   
   
       11 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser length is about 2 inches and the dispenser width is about 15/16 of an inch. 
   
   
       12 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the small item dispenser is mounted on the top cover of the cigarette pack. 
   
   
       13 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the attachment structure is slidably inserted into a slot defined between the top face of the top cover of the cigarette pack and one of the first and second side faces of the cigarette pack. 
   
   
       14 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the small item dispenser is mounted adjacent the bottom face of the cigarette pack. 
   
   
       15 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the attachment structure is slidably inserted into a slot defined between the bottom face of the cigarette pack and one of the first and second side faces of the cigarette pack. 
   
   
       16 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the small item dispenser includes confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       17 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the small item dispenser includes exactly 20 pieces of confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       18 . A cigarette pack assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the small item dispenser includes at least 20 pieces of confectionary items stored in the storage compartment. 
   
   
       19 . A method of attaching a small item dispenser to a cigarette pack that includes a housing for holding cigarettes and a pivotally openable top cover, the cigarette pack defining a pack height, a pack width, and a pack length, the cigarette pack defining a major front face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length and a major rear face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack length, the cigarette pack also defining a first side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width and a second side face having dimensions of the pack height and the pack width, the top cover of the cigarette pack defining a top face having dimensions of the pack width and the pack length, the method comprising:
 providing a small item dispenser comprising a body including a storage compartment for storing small items; and   attaching the small item dispenser to the pivotally openable top cover of the cigarette pack.   
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , further comprising slidably inserting a portion of the small item dispenser into a slot defined between the top face of the top cover of the cigarette pack and one of the first and second side faces of the cigarette pack. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the small item dispenser includes confectionary items stored in the storage compartment.