User Constructed Container with a Decorative or Advertising Exterior for Storing a Standard Cigarette Box

Abstract

A cigarette container is disclosed, which may be assembled by a user, with a decorative or advertising exterior for storing a standard cigarette box. The user assemblable cigarette container is larger than a standard cigarette box thereby allowing a standard cigarette box to fit inside of the assembled container. When a standard cigarette box is placed inside the assembled container the cigarette container covers the standard cigarette box thereby hiding the unsightly branding, warnings or graphic images on the exterior of the standard cigarette box. In addition, the assembled container provides additional structural support for the standard cigarette box to prevent crushing or damage to the cigarettes contained therein. A container has a hinged top that opens to expose the standard cigarette box. During opening of the hinged top to the container, the top of the standard cigarette box is also opened to expose the cigarettes therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for storing a cigarette box and covering the exterior of the cigarette box, the container comprising:
 a front section;   a back section opposing the front section;   a bottom section;   a top section opposing the bottom section;   a first side section and a second side sections, the first side section opposing the second side section, wherein the front section, back section, front section, bottom section, and top section are connected to form a container, the container being sized to accept a cigarette box;   a hinge, formed from a portion of the back section, having a first end and a second end;   an cut connected to the hinge, the cut extending from the first end of the hinge, a first side, across the front, and across the second side to the second end of the hinge.   one or more pictures, graphics, or text on the external side the front section, back section, first side section or second side section.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container is made from one or more of the following materials: paper, cardboard, plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein pictures, graphics or text are advertising for a business other than the maker of the cigarette box. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  where the container has a height dimension, width dimension, and a depth dimension and the height, width and depth is generally ⅛ of an inch greater than corresponding dimensions of the cigarette box that is accepted inside the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the hinge and cut correspond in location to a an opening of the cigarette box. 
     
     
         6 . A container for storing a cigarette box to thereby protect and cover the cigarette box, the container comprising:
 An opposing front section and back side section;   An opposing first side section and second side section;   An opposing top section and bottom section,   One or more flaps extending from the first side section, the second side section, top section, the bottom section, wherein the front section, back side section, first side section, second side section, top section, bottom section, and one or more flaps connect to form a container having an enclosed inner area;   a cut extending across the first side section from the back section in a non-perpendicular direction relative to the back section, then across the front section in a direction perpendicular to the side section, and then across the second side section to the back section in a non-perpendicular direction relative to the back section,   a hinge formed by bending a portion of the back section wherein the hinge and the cut operate to form a lid which rotates about the hinge to provide access to the inner area of the container, wherein the inner area of the container is size to be between 1/32 of an inch and ¼ of an inch larger in size than a cigarette box; and   one or more advertisements printed on an outer surface of one or more of the front section, back section, first side section, and second side section.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the one or more advertisements are for a product or service which is provided by a company other than a manufacture of cigarettes in the cigarette box. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the cigarette box has a first and second side sections which are generally 3.5 inches by 0.875 inches, a front section and a back section which are generally 3.5 inches by 2.125 inches, and a top section and a bottom section which are generally 2.125 inches by 0.875 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the cigarette box has a height between 3 inches and 4 inches, a width between 1.75 inches and 2.375 inches, and a depth between 0.75 inches and 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the lid is configured, when opened, to also open a cigarette box when a cigarette box is within the container. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 6  wherein further comprising a seal at the cut to reduce air flow from outside the container to inside the container. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the seal is also located at the top and the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . A method for using a cigarette box container comprising:
 constructing the container from a flat configuration that is generally two-dimensional to a container having a rectangular cross section that is three-dimensional to form an inner area;   presenting graphics, text, or both on the exterior of the container to provide a different exterior design than presented on the box of cigarettes;   opening a lid located at a top of the container by rotating the lid about a hinge that is located along a back section of the container to gain access to an interior of the container;   inserting a box of cigarettes into the interior of the container and closing the lid of the container over the box of cigarettes to cover the exterior of the box of cigarettes with the container thereby hiding an exterior of the box of cigarettes;   opening the lid of the container to gain access to one or more cigarettes within the box of cigarettes, wherein opening of the lid of the container also opens a top section of the box of cigarettes which is in the container.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the graphics, text, or both on the exterior of the container are not associated with a manufacture of the box of cigarettes. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the graphics, text, or both on the exterior of the container are advertising for a company or entity other than the manufacture of the box of cigarettes. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein constructing the container comprises folding one or more flaps on each end of the container inward and then folding a top section and a bottom section over the flaps to close the top and bottom of the container. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein when the box of cigarettes is empty, opening the lid of the container and removing the box of cigarettes and placing a new box of cigarettes in the container to thereby reuse the container.