Cigarette Packaging, and Method for Sealing a Cigarette Package

Abstract

An improved cigarette package is provided. The cigarette package first comprises a container which serves as a housing for a plurality of cigarettes. The housing is a rectangularly-shaped outer container formed from a blank. The package also includes a lid, which is hingedly connected to the container at an upper end. Opening and closing the lid provides selective access and closure to the container. The package further includes an inner layer of foil. The inner foil layer is configured to reside along an inner surface of the container. The package additionally includes a substrate. The substrate resides along an inner surface of the lid, and includes an adhesive material. When the lid is in a closed state, the distal end of the substrate generally mates with upper edges of an upper contour of a front surface of the container, while a tab has a distal end that matches an upper contour of the front surface of the inner lining above the front surface of the container, thereby enabling a one-step closure and seal for the cigarette package and thereby increasing the life of the cigarettes inside the box. A method of sealing a cigarette package is also provided herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cigarette package, comprising:
 an outer container formed from a blank, the container configured to closely hold a plurality of cigarettes;   a lid pivotally connected to the container proximate an upper end to provide selective access to the cigarettes, the lid being movable between open and closed positions;   a moisture-proof lining residing within at least a portion of the outer container, the lining being fabricated from a metallic material, and the lining having a front surface that receives the lid when the lid is in its closed position;   a tab extending up from a back of the container and residing along an inner surface of the lid, the tab also being fabricated from a moisture-proof material to increase the shelf life of the cigarettes when the cigarettes are placed inside the box and the lid is in its closed position; and   a substrate residing and being exposed along an inner surface of the lid, wherein an adhesive material on the substrate releasably secures the lid to the front surface of the moisture-proof lining when the lid is in its closed position; and   wherein:
 the substrate comprises a distal end having a contour that generally matches an upper contour of a front surface of the container, and 
 the tab comprises a distal end having a contour that generally matches an upper contour of the front surface of the lining above the front surface of the container, 
 thereby enabling a one-step closure and seal for the cigarette package. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cigarette package of  claim 1 , wherein the container has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The cigarette package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a body of the substrate resides between the tab and the lid, and   the distal end of the substrate extends beyond the tab and along the under-surface of the lid.   
     
     
         4 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an exterior layer of water-resistant foil residing around the container.   
     
     
         5 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the outer container is fabricated primarily from a rigid cellulosic material. 
     
     
         6 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the outer container is fabricated primarily from a synthetic material. 
     
     
         7 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the lining and connected tab are fabricated from a blank of moisture—and aroma oil—insulating material. 
     
     
         8 . The cigarette package of  claim 7 , wherein the lining and connected tab comprise aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof, with an adhesive material applied along the distal end of the adhesive layer as a coating. 
     
     
         10 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises a cellulosic material or a plastic material, with an adhesive material applied along the distal end of the adhesive layer as a coating. 
     
     
         11 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein the tab is integral to the inner lining. 
     
     
         12 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the front surface of the container comprises a recessed portion forming a shoulder on which the lid lands when the lid is pivoted to its closed position; and   the contour of the distal end of the substrate generally matches an upper contour of the recessed portion.   
     
     
         13 . A method of sealing a cigarette package, comprising:
 providing a package of cigarettes, the package comprising:
 a container formed from folding a blank, the container holding a plurality of cigarettes; 
 a lid portion pivotally connected to the container proximate an upper end to provide selective access to the cigarettes; 
 a moisture-proof lining residing along at least a portion of an inner surface of the container, the lining being fabricated at least partially from a metallic material, and the lining having a front portion that receives the lid when the lid is in a closed position; 
 a tab extending up from a back of the container and residing along an inner surface of the lid, the tab also being fabricated from a moisture-proof material to increase the shelf life of the cigarettes when the cigarettes are inside the box and the lid is in its closed position; and 
 a substrate residing and being exposed along an under-surface of the lid, wherein an adhesive material on the substrate releasably secures the lid to the front portion of the moisture-proof lining when the lid is in its closed position; 
 wherein the substrate comprises a distal end having a contour that matches an upper contour of a front surface of the container, and the tab comprises a distal end having a contour that matches an upper contour of the front surface of the lining above the front surface of the container; 
   opening the lid;   removing a cigarette from the container; and   moving the lid from an open position to a closed position to both close and seal the cigarette package in one step.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a body of the substrate resides between the tab and the lid, and   the distal end of the substrate extends beyond the tab and along the inner surface of the lid.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the package further comprises:
 an exterior layer of water-resistant foil residing around the container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the container is fabricated primarily from a rigid cellulosic material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the container is fabricated primarily from a synthetic material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lining comprises aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof, with an adhesive material applied along the distal end of the adhesive layer as a coating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the substrate comprises a cellulosic material or a plastic material, with an adhesive material applied along the distal end of the adhesive layer as a coating. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the front surface of the container comprises a recessed portion forming a shoulder on which the lid lands when the lid is pivoted to its closed position; and   the contour of the distal end of the substrate generally matches an upper contour of the recessed portion.   
     
     
         22 . A method for sealing a cigarette package, comprising:
 providing a blank of material to serve as a container for closely holding a plurality of cigarettes;   providing a blank of material to serve as an inner lining along the container, the liner being fabricated from a moisture-proof material;   providing a blank of material to serve as a tab, the tab also being fabricated from a moisture-proof material;   providing a blank of material to serve as a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises an adhesive material at a distal end;   adhering the blank of material that serves as the inner layer of foil to an inner surface of the container;   folding the blank of material that serves as the container, along with the inner lining, to form a rectangular housing;   further folding the blank of material that serves as the container to create a hinged lid movable between open and closed positions;   adhering an inner surface of the substrate to an inner surface of the lid;   placing a plurality of cigarettes into the housing; and   releasably sealing the hinged lid to an outer front surface of the container without mechanical connection, wherein:   the substrate has a distal end generally configured to follow a contour of a first cut-out portion of the container;   wherein:
 the substrate comprises a distal end having a contour that matches an upper contour of a front surface of the container, and 
 the tab comprises a distal end having a contour that matches an upper contour of the front surface of the inner lining above the front surface of the container, 
 thereby enabling a one-step closure and seal for the cigarette package. 
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing a water-resistant foil material; and   wrapping the container with the water-resistant foil material to provide a moisture barrier; and wherein:
 a body of the substrate resides between the tab and the lid, and 
 the distal end of the substrate extends beyond the tab and along the inner surface of the lid, exposing an adhesive coating.