Cigarette packaging

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 substrate fixedly coupled to and residing along the under-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   a tab extending up from a back of the container and fixedly coupled to and residing along the substrate, 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 when the lid is in its closed position; wherein:
 the substrate comprises a distal end that received the adhesive material, and that has 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 under-surface of the lid, and   the distal end of the substrate extends beyond the tab but terminates 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 tab extends up from a back of the lining, and is integral to the lining; and   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 7 , 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 7 , 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 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 upper contour of the front surface of the container is an upper contour of the recessed portion such that the contour of the distal end of the substrate generally matches an upper contour of the recessed portion.   
     
     
         12 . A cigarette package comprising:
 an outer container configured to hold a plurality of cigarettes, the outer container having an exterior surface and a recess portion inwardly indented from the outer container exterior surface, the recess portion having a top edge and a first contour extending downwardly from the top edge on a front surface of the outer container;   a moisture-proof lining positioned within the outer container, said lining having a front surface that extends above the top edge and first contour of the recess portion to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of the lining, said lining having a second contour generally spaced from the first contour;   a lid pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container, the lid having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position;   a tab coupled to the interior surface of the lid, the tab having a distal end being configured to conform with the second contour of the lining; and   an adhesive substrate coupled to the interior surface of the lid, said adhesive substrate residing along the interior surface of the lid and extending beyond the distal end of the tab, the adhesive substrate being configured to contact the lining between the first contour of the outer container and the second contour of the lining to provide a moisture-proof seal when the lid is in its closed position;   wherein the lid is thereby configured so that sealing and closing the lid is done in one step, and reciprocally opening and unsealing the lid is done in one step.   
     
     
         13 . The cigarette package of  claim 12 , wherein the second contour follows a geometry of the first contour. 
     
     
         14 . A cigarette package comprising:
 an outer container configured to hold a plurality of cigarettes, the outer container having a top edge;   a moisture-proof lining positioned within the outer container, said lining having a front surface extending past the top edge of the outer container to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of the lining, said lining having a notch to allow access to cigarettes within the lining;   a lid pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container, the lid having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position;   a tab permanently coupled to the interior surface of the lid, the tab being configured to conform with the notch of the lining; and   an adhesive substrate permanently coupled to the interior surface of the lid, said adhesive substrate extending about at least a peripheral portion of the tab, the adhesive substrate being configured to contact the lining at a location upon the lining between the outer container top edge and the notch of the lining   wherein the lid is thereby configured so that sealing and closing the lid is done in one step, and reciprocally opening and unsealing the lid is done in one step.