Abstract:
A cover sleeve for standard cigarette packs to cover over undesirable graphic displays printed on such cigarette packs is formed of an assemblable flat blank comprising a plurality of panels. The flat blank is suitable for point of purchase sale to the consumer and has a bottom panel for structural rigidity with a hole permitting access to the bottom of the cigarette pack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a separate cover sleeve product for cigarette packs which is capable of self-assembly. 
         [0002]    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has promulgated rules in which cigarette manufacturers will be required to visibly display more graphic images and messages concerning the dangers of cigarettes. While cigarette manufacturers are required to print their cigarette packages with such new visible displays, cigarette smokers are not required to always view such images. 
         [0003]    The new FDA rules do not prohibit consumers from covering over the images on cigarette packages they purchase. 
         [0004]    Cigarette cases for cigarette packs have long existed. Cigarette cases have been ornamental, sometimes expensive, and otherwise have been available for consumers to purchase at various retail locations. Generally, such cigarette cases are sold in a rectangular cuboid shape of a size suitable to receive a cigarette pack. 
         [0005]    The prior art is replete with cigarette cases having foldable flaps on top covering the top of the cigarette pack. Such cases are intended to be permanently used by a consumer who replaces empty cigarette packs when finished. 
         [0006]    The prior art discloses a package sleeve formed of a flat blank foldable to create a desired cigarette package. Such prior art is entitled Package Sleeve Including Pocket, publication US2011/0155796, filed Aug. 2, 2010. The combined article package in that prior art document is the original cigarette pack supplied by a manufacturer, in which cigarettes are sold, such as Philip Morris, to the consuming public. That prior art discloses the forming of a pocket section integral to the cigarette pack to carry suitable advertising and other promotional materials. Such sleeve and pocket are not separate from the cigarette pack itself. 
         [0007]    US 200510103654 entitled Cigarette Container, filed Sep. 16, 2004, discloses a container for holding cigarettes which has an inner pack for storing cigarettes in an outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is manufactured as part of the original cigarette pack and includes an aperture  41  in the bottom thereof to provide access to the bottom of the cigarette pack held within the sleeve. The sleeve and pack improve access to cigarettes held in a flip top box. 
         [0008]    The provision of a cover sleeve, in accordance with the present invention, for commercially available cigarette packs must take into consideration the need to have access to the bottom of the cigarette pack to push up cigarettes within the original cigarette pack, itself. 
         [0009]    Prior art US Pat. No. 4,240,548, entitled Push Pack, issued Dec. 23, 1980, discloses a separate sleeve covering a standard cigarette pack in which the combination of the separate sleeve and cigarette pack provides for automatic opening of a corner of the sleeve and cigarette pack to enable easy removal of individual cigarettes. The sleeve in the &#39;548 patent is provided with a fully open bottom so that the cigarette pack can be pushed upward, thereby flipping the lid and providing easy access to cigarettes. 
         [0010]    Cigarette packages manufactured and distributed by conventional cigarette makers are available for sale to consumers carrying the newly required FDA graphic labeling. Consumers who purchase cigarettes may not want to see such graphic images. An aspect of the present invention is to provide a sleeve sold separately from cigarette packs which is available for easy distribution and purchase by consumers as point of purchase products. In other words, while the consumer may be purchasing cigarettes, he may choose to purchase the present invention which may be available in a flat package to be assembled by the consumer in simple manner from a blank. 
         [0011]    Such blank can be sold in a convenient fashion and be readily available to consumers yet be susceptible of easy assembly. The assembly of the present invention will permit a separate cigarette sleeve or wrap to be formed and assembled by the consumer in a reliable and efficient manner so as to cover over the unwanted graphics yet not interfere with the conventional utilization of the cigarette packs. 
         [0012]    An important aspect of the present invention is to provide such a simple sleeve which will have an open top for easy receiving of a conventional cigarette pack and be snugly held therein. The bottom of the sleeve has a flap, which is part of the blank of foldable material. The flap on the bottom provides additional structural integrity as well as securely retaining the cigarette pack in the cover sleeve. The flap has a small opening permitting access to the cigarette pack contained therein. 
         [0013]    The present invention, as contrasted with the push pack of the Stio &#39;548 patent, provides a simple blank available as a flat sheet sold conveniently as point of purchase displays or otherwise. The structure of the sleeve includes the provision of a substantially closed bottom with de minimus access to the bottom of the cigarette pack held within the sleeve for access to the bottom of the cigarette pack to facilitate removal of cigarettes therefrom. 
         [0014]    An object of the present invention is to provide an easily assembled and structurally strong separate cover sleeve for conventional cigarette packs. 
         [0015]    Another object of this invention is to provide such a sleeve which provides easy access to the top of the cigarette pack yet substantially closes the bottom preventing the cigarette pack from sliding out, yet also provides an opening for access to the bottom of the cigarette pack. 
         [0016]    Still another object of this invention is to provide such a cover sleeve for a cigarette pack formed as a foldable flat blank capable of being easily packaged as point of purchase displays yet susceptible to easy assembly and utilization. 
         [0017]    Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional cigarette pack within the cover sleeve of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a decorative cover sleeve with cigarettes projecting from the combination sleeve and cigarette pack. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention of a blank for forming the cover sleeve. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of this invention prior to complete closing and showing the sleeve in an intermediate position as the sleeve is being formed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of a further intermediate position of the sleeve being formed showing the bottom portion thereof, 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing an intermediate position as the sleeve being formed. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5  after the sleeve has been assembled. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a standard Marlboro cigarette pack  10  carried within a cover sleeve  12 .  FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing a cigarette pack  14  with cigarettes  16  projecting from the top thereof held in a cover sleeve  18  having an ornamental design. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a one piece blank  30  preferably made of paper for forming a cover sleeve adapted to be placed over a cigarette pack. The cigarette pack can be, for example, a soft pack or hinged-lid hard pack containing cigarettes. 
         [0027]    The embodiment of the blank shown in  FIG. 3  has a one piece configuration and comprises a plurality of panels and a bottom flap. The panels are folded, and one panel overlies another to form the cover sleeve. The bottom flap hinges at a fold line as will be described in further detail. 
         [0028]    The blank  30  has a bottom panel  32 , a rear panel  34 , two side panels of substantially rectangular shape  36  and  38 , corresponding corner fold panels  40  and  42 , as well as front panel  44  and additional side panel  46  and tuck in flap panel  48 . 
         [0029]    The cover sleeve of this invention is designed to fit a typical king size cigarette pack with the dimension of approximately 5.7 mm width, by 2.4 mm depth and 8.7 mm height as well as the larger king size cigarettes of approximately 5.7 mm width, 2.4 mm depth and 10.2 mm height. Any suitable cigarette pack may be covered by a blank of suitable size. 
         [0030]    A hole or cut out  50  in bottom panel  32  permits access to the bottom of the cigarette pack. Preferably, the cut out takes up no more than 20% of the area of the bottom panel  32  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0031]    Blank  30  is sold in flat form and may be suitable for point of purchase displays. A customer purchasing the cover sleeve of this invention may easily assemble the cover sleeve to accomplish its intended purpose. Such assembly is somewhat intuitive and requires folding the individual panels along fold lines as described hereinafter. Side flap  46  is folded along fold line  52  as is front flap  44  then folded along fold line  54 . Side flap  38  is folded about fold line  56  and rear flap  34  is folded about fold line  58 . Bottom flap  32  is folded about fold line  60  as are side corner flaps  40  and  42  folded about fold lines  62  and  64 . Tuck in flap  48  is folded about fold line  66  as side flaps  40  and  42  are being inserted in the cover sleeve as bottom panel  32  and flap  48  are folded into the bottom of cover sleeve  30 . 
         [0032]    Side flaps  36  and  46  are permanently attached together as by adhesive covered over with self remove strips to ensure the cover sleeve maintains its package integrity. 
         [0033]    Bottom flap  32  in conjunction with corners  40  and  42  and tuck in flap  48  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) provide bottom rigidity to the cover sleeve yet permit access through aperture  50  to the cigarette pack held within. 
         [0034]    The top of the cover pack is open (see  FIG. 4 ), providing complete and full access to the top of the cigarette pack. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 4-7  taking in conjunction with  FIG. 3  show the sleeve of this invention in the process of being assembled. It is sold in flat form as in  FIG. 3  and ultimately is assembled as in  FIG. 7 , which shows the bottom with hole or aperture  50 . The top is fully open as shown in  FIG. 4 , which is an intermediate stage showing the cuboid form of the sleeve being assembled with corner  40  and side panel  46  displayed. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the final form of the bottom flap  32  with tuck in flap  48  and corner flaps  40  and  42  initially as shown in  FIG. 5  and then in the intermediate process as being folded over as shown in  FIG. 6  prior to the bottom closure shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0037]    The blank may be made of paper stock and may be printed with different designs to appeal to all potential purchasers. Such designs may also include advertising or other indicia or data. The indicia could be customized to a person&#39;s name, city or other identifying material. 
         [0038]    It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.