Combined cigarette package and waste storage receptacle apparatus

Abstract

A conventional cigarette pack includes a thin pouch of heat-resistant flexible material disposed therein. The pouch has a recloseable top opening that is sized to permit a cigarette butt to be placed in the pouch following withdrawal of a cigarette from the pack. The pouch expands to fill the space in the pack created when each successive cigarette is withdrawn to be smoked. When the entire contents of the pack are consumed by the smoker, the pack and/or the pouch filled with butts can responsibly be disposed of to avoid adverse environmental impact.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: 
     
         1 . A combined cigarette package comprising:
 multiple cigarettes contained in said package and means for responsibly disposing of the cigarette butts resulting from smoking any of the cigarettes in said multiple.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said means comprises a disposable pouch for receiving and storing said cigarette butts. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said disposable pouch is sized and configured to fit inside said package in juxtaposed proximity to said multiple cigarettes contained in said package. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said disposable pouch is adapted to expand in volume in said package as cigarettes in said multiple are consumed. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said disposable pouch has a top wall, a front wall, an opposed rear wall, a first side wall and a second opposed sidewall,
 said disposable pouch further including a recloseable opening in said top wall for receiving cigarette butts therethrough. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said recloseable opening is located on said top wall of said disposable pouch proximal to said first side wall and distal to said second sidewall so as to be located in the corner of said pouch defined by the intersection of said top wall and said first sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus  claim 5  wherein said recloseable opening comprises a hollow neck portion extending beyond said top wall of said disposable pouch to define a passageway for receiving and storing cigarette butts within the interior space defined by said disposable pouch. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said hollow neck portion terminates distally in a flap member, said flap member being adapted to be folded relative to said neck portion to close said passageway. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said flap member has a layer of tacky adhesive for removably attaching said flap member to said neck portion. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of claim further including a pull-tab attached to said flap member. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said hollow neck portion has first and second opposed fan-foldable walls for facilitating size-adjustment of said opening defined by said hollow neck extension. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said hollow neck portion includes a pull-tab for activating said fan-foldable walls to adjust the size of said opening defined by said hollow neck extension. 
     
     
         13 . The method of responsibly disposing of cigarette butts comprising the following steps:
 (a.) providing a disposable pouch adapted to receive and store cigarette butts therein,   (b.) placing said disposable pouch in each package of manufactured cigarettes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said step (a.) comprises the step of providing said pouch with a recloseable opening and wherein said step (b.) comprises placing said disposable pouch in a corner of each of said packages of manufactured cigarettes.