Multi-Compartment Cigarette Package

Abstract

An improved cigarette package is provided. The cigarette package first includes a container which serves as a housing for two or more compartments, each compartment holding a plurality of cigarettes. 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 inner compartments each include a compartment tab that allows for opening and re-sealing of the respective inner compartments. Thus, a dual-compartment cigarette package is provided wherein the compartments may be independently opened and re-sealed. The configuration allows for selective opening of a single compartment while preserving the factory seal on the unopened compartment so that freshness and aromatic oils of the cigarettes within the package are preserved, even after opening of the package and compartments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cigarette package, comprising:
 an outer container configured to closely hold two or more cigarette inserts, wherein each insert comprises:
 a moisture-resistant lining forming a compartment configured to closely hold a plurality of cigarettes in parallel alignment, wherein each compartment comprises:
 an exterior surface having a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, an upper portion and a lower portion; and 
 a compartment tab configured to be peeled away from at least the upper surface of the compartment into an unsealed position, enabling access of cigarettes within the associated compartment, and configured to be re-sealed after the associated compartment is opened; 
 
   a lid pivotally connected to the container proximate an upper end to provide selective access to the compartments and the cigarettes therein, the lid being movable between open and closed positions; and   a sleeve configured to wrap around the two or more cigarette inserts and to hold the cigarette inserts in adjacent relation within the outer container.   
     
     
         2 . The cigarette package of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer container comprises a front surface forming an upper shoulder, wherein a distal end of the lid lands on the shoulder when the lid is pivoted to its closed position;   the sleeve comprises a front surface that serves as a recessed portion of the container, wherein the recessed portion extends above the shoulder and receives an under-surface of the lid when the lid is pivoted to its closed position; and   each compartment tab has a proximal end integral to the moisture-resistant lining of an associated compartment, and a distal end that moves between the unsealed and re-sealed positions.   
     
     
         3 . The cigarette package of  claim 2 , further comprising a substrate coupled to each compartment of the at least two cigarette inserts, the substrate comprising:
 a distal end, a proximal end, lateral boundaries and an under-surface, wherein:
 the proximal end is secured to the respective back surfaces of the compartments; 
 the distal end is configured to pivot from a sealed position wherein the distal end adhesively lands on the front surfaces of the respective compartments above the sleeve, and an unsealed position; and 
 the under-surface is adhesively secured to the compartment tabs such that moving the distal end of a substrate to its unsealed position causes a corresponding compartment tab to at least partially move to its unsealed position as well. 
   
     
     
         4 . The cigarette package of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the two or more cigarette inserts represent two cigarette inserts such that first and second compartments are provided for the cigarette package;   the substrate further comprises a first substrate tab associated with the first compartment and a second cigarette tab associated with the second compartment, wherein each of the first and second substrate tabs is disposed above the first and second compartment tabs, respectively, and adhesively coupled thereto;   the first and second compartment tabs are each defined laterally by opposing lateral edges and distally by its distal end, enabling the substrate tabs to be independently peeled from the respective first and second compartments; and   the substrate tabs are configured such that pulling of the distal end of the substrate adjacent one substrate tab results in the selective opening of the one substrate tab and simultaneous opening of the respective compartment tab coupled thereto to reversibly open a portion of the respective compartment for access to cigarettes.   
     
     
         5 . The cigarette package of  claim 4 , wherein:
 each substrate tab extends beyond the lateral and distal edges of the respective compartment tab to form a perimeter of adhesive material that is exposed around the under-surface of each substrate tab; and   the perimeter of adhesive material lands upon the exterior surface of the respective compartment to form a temporary seal when the substrate tab and compartment tab are closed.   
     
     
         6 . The cigarette package of  claim 5 , wherein each substrate tab and corresponding compartment tab extend from a portion of the back face of the compartment and continue along the top face of the compartments to a portion of the front face of the compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The cigarette package of  claim 4 , wherein each substrate tab further comprises a flap that extends beyond the distal end of the substrate that is configured to allow for easier grasping and pulling of each substrate tab. 
     
     
         8 . The cigarette package of  claim 4 , wherein the compartments, the compartment tabs, the substrate, the substrate tabs, or combinations thereof are fabricated from blanks of moisture- and aroma oil-insulating material. 
     
     
         9 . The cigarette package of  claim 4 , wherein the compartments, the compartment tabs, the substrate, the substrate tabs, or combinations thereof comprise a metallic material, cellulosic material, plastic material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The cigarette package of  claim 9 , wherein the compartments, the compartment tabs, the substrate, the substrate tabs, or combinations thereof comprise aluminum, tin, nickel, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The cigarette package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an exterior layer of water-resistant foil residing around the outer container.   
     
     
         12 . The cigarette package of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is fabricated primarily from a rigid cellulosic material or a synthetic material and has a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . A cigarette package comprising:
 an outer container configured to hold a plurality of cigarettes, the outer container having an exterior surface and a recessed portion inwardly indented from the exterior surface, the recess portion having a top edge and a first contour;   a lid pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position;   at least two moisture-proof compartments positioned within the outer container, the compartments each having a front surface that extends above the top edge and first contour of the recessed portion to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of each compartment;   the at least two compartments each comprising a compartment tab that is integral with each compartment, each compartment tab having a distal end and lateral boundaries;   a substrate coupled to and residing along a top face of the at least two compartments, wherein the under-surface of the substrate is coated in an adhesive material;   the substrate further comprising at least two substrate tabs that are integral with the substrate, are generally concentric with the compartment tabs and are adhesively coupled to the compartment tabs;   each of the at least two substrate tabs extending beyond the distal end and lateral boundaries of its respective compartment tab and onto the exterior surface of the respective compartment, the adhesive substrate being configured to contact the peripheral margin portion and the top face of the respective compartment to provide a moisture-proof seal when the substrate tabs and compartment tabs are in a closed position;   each substrate tab being configured to allow for selective opening and re-sealing of its respective compartment.   a sleeve configured to wrap around the two or more cigarette inserts and to hold the cigarette inserts in adjacent relation within the outer container.   
     
     
         14 . The cigarette package of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a sleeve configured to wrap around the at least two moisture-proof compartments configured to hold the compartments in adjacent relation within the outer container, wherein the sleeve is adhesively secured within the outer compartment;   wherein:
 the at least two compartments represent first and second compartments, and the at least two compartment tabs represent first and second compartment tabs integral to the first and second compartments, respectively; 
 the at least two substrate tabs represent first and second substrate tabs; 
 the outer container comprises a front surface forming an upper shoulder, wherein a distal end of the lid lands on the shoulder when the lid is pivoted to its closed position; 
 the sleeve comprises a front surface that serves as the recessed portion of the outer container, wherein the recessed portion extends above the shoulder and receives an under-surface of the lid when the lid is pivoted to its closed position; 
 the lateral boundaries of the compartment tabs comprise perforations; 
 each of the first and second substrate tabs is disposed above the first and second compartment tabs, respectively, and adhesively coupled thereto; and 
   the substrate tabs are configured such that pulling of the distal end of the substrate adjacent one substrate tab results in the selective opening of the one substrate tab and simultaneous opening of the respective compartment tab coupled thereto to reversibly open a portion of the respective compartment for access to cigarettes.   
     
     
         15 . The cigarette package of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the compartments, the compartment tabs, the substrate and the substrate tabs are fabricated from blanks of moisture- and aroma oil-insulating material; and   the outer container is fabricated primarily from a rigid cellulosic material or a synthetic material and has a rectangular cross-section.   
     
     
         16 . A cigarette package comprising:
 an outer container configured to hold a plurality of cigarettes, the outer container having a top edge;   a lid pivotally connected to the outer container at an upper back end of the outer container, the lid being movable between an open position and a closed position;   at least two moisture-proof compartments positioned within the outer container, said compartments each having a front surface extending past the top edge of the outer container to expose a peripheral margin portion of an exterior surface of each compartment, said compartments each having a notch to allow access to a grouping of cigarettes within each compartment;   each compartment further comprising a compartment tab, wherein the number of tabs is equal to the number of compartments;   each tab being configured to conform with the notch of each compartment; and   an adhesive substrate residing on the compartments and extending to the peripheral portion of the compartment, the adhesive substrate being configured to contact the compartment at a location upon the compartment between the outer container top edge and the notch of the compartment   wherein the adhesive substrate is thereby configured to allow for selective opening of a single tab to expose the notch of single compartment while allowing the other compartments to remain sealed;   the adhesive substrate being further configured to allow for resealing of the compartment to prevent evaporation of aromatic oils and preserve freshness of cigarettes in a previously opened compartment when the container is in a closed position.   
     
     
         17 . A method of opening and resealing a cigarette package comprising:
 providing a package of cigarettes, the package comprising:
 an outer container, 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 first lining forming a first compartment and second lining forming a second compartment; 
 the first and second compartments residing within the outer container; 
 the first and second compartments each having an exterior surface with a top face, bottom face, front face, back face, upper portion, and lower portion; 
 the first and second compartments further comprising a first compartment tab and a second compartment tab, respectively, that are configured to allow for resealing of each compartment after each compartment is opened; 
 a substrate with an adhesive material along an under-surface that comprises a distal end; 
 the substrate further comprising a first substrate tab and a second substrate tab that are disposed above the first and second compartment tabs, respectively, and coupled thereto; 
   opening the lid;   opening a substrate tab, which then causes the respective internal compartment tab coupled thereto to be opened, exposing cigarettes that are enclosed within the opened compartment;   moving the substrate and coupled internal compartment tab from an open to a closed position to seal the opened inner compartment; and   moving the lid from an open position to a closed position to complete closure of the cigarette package.   
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a cigarette package comprising:
 providing at least two blanks of material to serve as at least two inner linings of moisture-resistant or moisture-proof material;   providing at least two groupings of cigarettes;   folding a first inner lining around a first grouping of cigarettes to form one of at least two inner compartments;   folding a second inner lining around a second grouping of cigarettes to form another of the at least two inner compartments;
 each of the at least two inner compartments comprising a top face, back face, and a front face; 
 each of the at least two inner compartments further comprising a compartment tab that is defined by opposing lateral edges and a distal edge; 
   providing a blank of material to serve as a substrate;
 the substrate comprising an under-surface with an adhesive material placed along the under-surface; and 
 the substrate further comprising at least two substrate tabs; 
   adhering the under-surface of the substrate to a top face of each of the at least two inner compartments such that the at least two substrate tabs are generally collinear with the compartment tabs of the at least two compartments and coupled thereto;
 the at least two substrate tabs and the compartment tabs coupled thereto being configured to allow for the selective opening and resealing of each inner compartment; 
   providing a blank of material to serve as a container that comprises a lid portion;   folding the blank of material to serve as a container around the at least two inner compartments to form an outer container configured to closely hold the at least two groupings of cigarettes after assembly; and   folding the lid portion of the bank of material to serve as a container to create a hinged lid.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a blank of material to serve as a sleeve;   folding the blank of material that serves as the sleeve around the at least two compartments, the sleeve being configured to hold the at least two inner compartments together and anchor the at least two inner compartments to the container, wherein the sleeve comprises a recessed portion that forms a shoulder on which the lid lands when the lid is pivoted to its closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the substrate tabs are slightly larger than the compartment tabs and extend beyond the lateral and distal edges of the compartment tabs to form a perimeter of adhesive material that is exposed around an under-surface of the tabs; and   pressing along the perimeter of adhesive material causes the compartment to be sealed after opening.