WO2017088034A1

WO2017088034A1 - Receptacle for cigarette waste configured for being assembled to a cigarette pack and cigarette pack comprising such receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2017088034A1
Application number: PCT/BG2015/000039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gueorguiev Hristo IANEV
Original assignee: Ianev Gueorguiev Hristo
Priority date: 2015-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2017-06-01

Abstract

There is described a receptacle (10; 30) for cigarette waste configured for being assembled to a cigarette pack (20). The receptacle (10;30) comprises a waste container (11) for receiving cigarette waste, and fastening means (15; 35) arranged to attach said receptacle (10; 30) to one side of the cigarette pack (20). The receptacle (10; 30) is adapted to be mounted in a first and in a second configuration, wherein said waste container (11) is empty in the first configuration to tightly receive a corresponding part of the cigarette pack (20), and wherein the upper part of said container (11) is arranged to be adjacent said one side of the cigarette pack (20) in order to be able to contain cigarette waste in the second configuration. The fastening means (15; 35) are arranged to secure said receptacle (10; 30) in both first and second configurations.

Description

RECEPTACLE FOR CIGARETTE WASTE CONFIGURED FOR BEING ASSEMBLED TO A CIGARETTE PACK AND CIGARETTE PACK COMPRISING SUCH RECEPTACLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a receptacle for cigarette waste, i.e. ashes and/or cigarette butts, which is configured for being assembled to a cigarette pack. The invention also relates to a packaging of cigarette for sale comprising such receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most cigarette packs are just made up of a single container filled with cigarettes.

There are two types of cigarette pack, i.e. hard pack and soft pack.

Soft pack is a box packaging made of thin paper, usually containing 20 cigarettes. Soft packs may be considered inconvenient as they rupture easily and cannot be resealed. They offer the immediate convenience of not having to open the package each time the smoker wants a cigarette. They require less physical 'pocket space' when fewer cigarettes remain in the pack. Hard pack is the usual style of paperboard packaging for store bought cigarettes, which consists of a relatively stable box with a flip-top hard pack cigarette case. This successfully prevents the crumpling of cigarettes when kept in a person's pocket or handbag.

Some cigarette packs have been proposed that also contain an empty container for disposing the cigarette butts into. This could reduce cigarette butts of being discarded unto the street, where they contaminate the environment as they are not easily broken down. WOO 1/47380 discloses for example a cigarette pack comprising two separate parallel compartments, a cigarette compartment and a waste compartment. A single receptacle made of fireproof material is slideably located within the waste compartment and is accessible by the packet lid. The receptacle includes a mouth which is selectively accessible and sealed by sliding the receptacle partly out of the waste compartment. This is achieved by pushing upwards through an access hole in the body floor or by pulling an extraction flap. The waste container presents however the disadvantage of not being adapted to be fitted into a regular cigarette pack.

Another example is disclosed in US2,958,417 which described a hard cigarette pack which comprises an elongated rectangular hollow container filled lengthwise with cigarettes and having an opening in one wall parallel to the cigarettes, and an ashtray carried by the hollow container. The ashtray is movable outwardly or inwardly relative to the container to be respectively in an open and close positions. When the ash tray is swung to the open position, debris can be placed therein. Since the placing of such debris therein is preceded by the removal of one ore more cigarettes from the cigarette pack, there is a space therein which is available for receiving the debris when the trash is moved to the closed position. Although the ashtray construction described above can be made starting from a conventional/regular pack of cigarette, a significant number of modifications to the cigarette pack must however be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a receptacle for cigarette waste which is configured for being assembled to a conventional/standard cigarette pack without the need of modifying the construction of the cigarette pack. Another aim of the present invention is to provide a cigarette pack for sale comprising such receptacle.

Theses aims and other advantages are achieved by a receptacle for cigarette waste configured for being assembled to a cigarette pack and which comprises a waste container for receiving cigarette waste, and fastening means arranged to attach said receptacle to one side of the cigarette pack. The receptacle is adapted to be mounted in a first and in a second configuration, wherein said waste container is empty in the first configuration to tightly receive a corresponding part of the cigarette pack, and wherein the upper part of said container is arranged to be adjacent said one side of the cigarette pack in order to be able to contain cigarette waste in the second configuration. The fastening means are arranged to secure said receptacle in both first and second configurations. According to a preferred embodiment, the receptacle is configured to be assembled to the cigarette pack in a first and a second configuration,

wherein the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack is fitted into the waste container with the top or bottom side of said cigarette pack positioned in the lower part of said container in said first configuration,

wherein the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack is located out of the waste container with the top or bottom side of said cigarette pack positioned adjacent the upper part of said waste container in said second configuration, and

wherein said fastening means are adapted to secure the receptacle to the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack in both first and second configurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The invention will be better understood thanks to the following detailed description of two embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a hard cigarette pack comprising the receptacle tightly fitted to the lower part of the cigarette pack in a first configuration according to the first embodiment;

- Figure 2 shows a similar view of Figure 1 with the receptacle tightly fitted to the upper/flip-top part of the cigarette pack in a first configuration;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional longitudinal view of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the lower part of Figure 3; - Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a hard cigarette pack comprising the receptacle tightly fitted to the lower part of the cigarette pack in a second configuration;

Figure 6 shows a similar view of Figure 5 with the receptacle tightly fitted to the upper/flip-top part of the cigarette pack in a second configuration;

- Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional longitudinal view of Figure 5; - Figure 8 shows a detailed view of the lower part of Figure 7; - Figure 9 shows a top perspective view of the receptacle comprising the waste container and a container lid attached to its backside;

Figure 10 shows a bottom perspective view of Figure 9;

Figure 11 shows a cross-sectional lateral view of Figure 9; - Figure 12 shows a top perspective view of the receptacle, wherein the waste container is closed by the container lid,

- Figure 13 shows a bottom perspective view of Figure 12, and

- Figures 14 and 15 show a top respectively a bottom perspective view of the container lid. - Figure 16 shows a perspective view of a hard cigarette pack comprising the receptacle tightly fitted to one lateral side of the cigarette pack in a first configuration according to the second embodiment of invention.

- Figure 17 shows a similar view of Figure 16 with the receptacle tightly fitted to the lateral side of the cigarette pack in a second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention and with reference in particular to Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6, the receptacle 10 is configured to be assembled to both the flip-top 23 and the lower part 24 of a hard cigarette pack 20. In this respect, the receptacle 10 comprises a waste container 11 as shown for example in Figure 9 with a rectangular contour whose dimensions are defined in order to tightly receive the flip-top 23 or lower part 24 of the cigarette pack (Figures 1 and 2). The dimensions of the receptacle 10 and waste container 11 can easily be adapted to fit any size of regulated pack of cigarettes, whose dimensions may differ between countries, and which may contain as few as 10 cigarettes up to 50 cigarettes. The receptacle 10 is also adapted to be securely assembled to the upper and lower part of a soft cigarette pack (not illustrated). For concision purposes, the receptacle 10 will be described hereafter in connection with the lower part of the cigarette pack 20 as illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 although the same advantages can be obtained when fitted to the upper/flip top part of the cigarette pack.

The receptacle 10 can advantageously be tightly fitted to the lower part of the cigarette pack 20, before use, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 in a first configuration in which the size of container 11 of the receptacle 10 is adapted to tightly receive the lower part 24 of the cigarette pack 20. In order to reach this first configuration, the bottom side 21a of the pack 20 is first adjusted to be in contact with the upper part of the receptacle 10 in a plane parallel to the bottom side of the container 11. The pack 20 is then pushed downwards until the bottom side 21a of the cigarette pack 20 is in contact with the bottom part of the waste container 11 to perfectly fit the shape of the cigarette pack. Thanks to its small size and conception, the receptacle 10 does not have a significant impact and the overall size of the cigarette pack when assembled in the first configuration. The receptacle 10 according to this embodiment can therefore conveniently be assembled to a cigarette pack, sealed through a transparent airtight plastic film, for sale.

Referring now in particular to Figures 5 and 7, the receptacle 10 can be assembled to the lower part of a cigarette pack 20 in a second configuration. As shown in Figure 7, the receptacle 10 is assembled to the cigarette pack 20 such that the upper part of the container 11 is adjacent the bottom side 21a of the cigarette pack 20. In this configuration, the container 11 can contain ashes and cigarette butts which are sealed thanks to a container lid 13 upon which the bottom side of the cigarette pack 20 is in contact (Figure 8).

In both configurations, the receptacle 10 is securely attached to the cigarette pack 20 thanks to two rectangular projecting parts 15 which extend upwardly and slightly inwardly from two longitudinal sides 14 of the container 11 of the receptacle 10 as shown especially in Figures 9 and 11. The whole receptacle 10 is preferably made of polypropylene for its elasticity properties to give the adequate resilience to the projecting parts 15 such that these projecting parts are spaced apart from each other when the lower part of the cigarette pack 20 is introduced into the container 11 and pushed downwards to be assembled to the cigarette pack in the first configuration (Figure 4) while providing a gripping force against two opposite walls 22a, 22b of the cigarette pack 20 to secure the receptacle 10 to the lower part of the cigarette pack 20 in this configuration. The shape of the projecting parts 15 and their resilience are also adapted to provide the adequate gripping force against the two opposite walls 22a, 22b of the cigarette pack 20 to secure the receptacle 10 to the lower part of the cigarette pack 20 in the second configuration (Figure 8).

With reference in particular to Figures 13 and 14, the container lid 13 is fastened to the side 16 of the receptacle 10 (Figure 13) opposite the bottom of the waste container 11 when said receptacle 10 is assembled to the cigarette pack 20 in the first configuration as shown in Figure 1. In regard to Figure 14, the fastening means of the container lid 13 are preferably but not exclusively in the form of two cylindrical protruding parts 17 which are configured to be fitted into two corresponding holes 18 realized on the side 16 of the receptacle 10.

To pass from the first to the second configuration, the receptacle 10 is first pulled to be disassembled from the cigarette pack 20, the container lid 13 is detached from the side 16 of the receptacle 10, the longitudinal edges of the container lid 13 are adjusted into two opposite linear recesses 19 (Figures 9 and 11) arranged between the corresponding longitudinal sides 14 of the waste container 11 and its associated rectangular projecting part 15 and finally the lower part of the cigarette pack is introduced and pushed downwards until the bottom side of the cigarette pack is in contact with the upper part of the container lid 13 as shown in Figure 8.

Thanks to its unique configuration, a smoker can easily detached the receptacle 10 from his cigarette pack before lighting a cigarette and use it as an ashtray. In this respect, the container lid 13 is slid open along the opposite linear recesses 1 and blocked approximately halfway when the protruding parts 17 abuts against one of the lateral sides of the container 11. The smoker then drops the ashes in the waste container 11 when smoking the cigarette and extinguishing it before throwing the cigarette butt in the container 11. The smoker then slide back the lid 13 to close the waste container and assemble the receptacle 10 to the lower part of the cigarette pack in the second configuration. The capacity of the container can receive several cigarettes' waste before having to empty the container in a trashcan.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the receptacle 30 as shown in Figures 16 and 17 is adapted to be tightly fitted to one lateral part of the cigarette pack. The components of the receptacle 30 and their functionality as described above remain the same, only their size change to be adapted to the length of one lateral side of the cigarette pack 20. The container of the receptacle 30 presents the advantage of having a higher capacity which can thus stock more cigarette's waste.

Claims

Receptacle (10; 30) for cigarette waste configured for being assembled to a cigarette pack (20), said receptacle (10; 30) comprising:

- a waste container (11) for receiving cigarette waste, and

- fastening means (15; 35) arranged to attach said receptacle (10; 30) to one side of the cigarette pack (20),

characterized in that said receptacle (10; 30) is adapted to be mounted in a first and in a second configuration, wherein said waste container (11) is empty in the first configuration to tightly receive a corresponding part of the cigarette pack (20), and wherein the upper part of said waste container (11) is arranged to be adjacent said one side of the cigarette pack (20) in the second configuration in order to be able to contain cigarette waste,

and in that the fastening means (15; 35) are arranged to secure said receptacle (10; 30) in both first and second configurations.

Receptacle (10; 30) for cigarette waste according to claim 1, characterized in that said waste container (11) is adapted to tightly receive the upper, lower or one lateral part of the cigarette pack (20) in the first configuration, and wherein the upper part of the waste container (11) is adjacent the top, bottom or one lateral side (21a, 21b, 21c) respectively in the second configuration.

Receptacle (10) for cigarette waste according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack (20) is fitted into the waste container (11) with the top, respectively the bottom side (21a, 21b) of said cigarette pack (20) positioned in the lower part of the waste container (11) in said first configuration, wherein the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack (20) is located out of the waste container (11) with the top or bottom side (21a, 21b) of said cigarette pack (20) positioned adjacent the upper part of said waste container (11) in said second configuration, and

wherein said fastening means (15) are adapted to secure the receptacle (10) to the upper or lower part of the cigarette pack (20) in both first and second configurations. Receptacle (10; 30) for cigarette waste according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it further comprises a container lid (13) adapted to be:

attached to the side (16) of the receptacle (10; 30) opposite the bottom of the waste container (11) when said receptacle (10; 30) is assembled to the cigarette pack (20) in the first configuration, and

mounted between the waste container (11) and the cigarette pack (20) when the receptacle (10; 30) is assembled to the cigarette pack (20) in the second configuration.

Receptacle (10; 30) according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said fastening means (15; 35) are in the form of projecting parts which extend upwardly and slightly inwardly from two longitudinal sides (14) of the waste container (11) such that said flexible parts are spaced apart from each other when the upper, lower or one lateral part of the cigarette pack (20) is at least partly introduced into the receptacle (10; 30) to provide a gripping force against two opposite walls (22a, 22b) of the cigarette pack (20) to secure the receptacle (10) to the upper, lower or one lateral part of the cigarette pack (20).

Cigarette pack (20) comprising the receptacle (10; 30) according to anyone of claims 1 to 5 in said first configuration.

Use of a receptacle (10; 30) for cigarette waste with a cigarette pack (20) comprising the following steps:

providing the cigarette pack (20) according to claim 6,

detaching the receptacle (10) from the cigarette pack (20),

dropping ashes and/or cigarette butts into the waste container (11),

placing a container lid (3) to close the waste container (11) comprising cigarette waste, and

fitting the receptacle (10) together with the cigarette pack (20) in said second configuration.