Abstract:
A cigarette pack capable of carrying different-sized and different-branded cigarettes is disclosed. The cigarette pack may consist of a first portion, a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion, and a top portion hingedly coupled to a sliding portion slidably disposed within the second portion. The cigarette pack may also include sleeves disposed within the first portion and second portion and configured to support cigarettes within the sleeve. The cigarette pack may also include a platform for supporting cigarettes within either of said portions.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/120,972 filed on Dec. 9, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Cigarettes are commonly packaged and sold in packs containing about twenty cigarettes. The cigarettes are typically packaged such that the interstitial space between the cigarettes and the pack walls and between the cigarettes themselves is minimized, thus helping prevent damage to the cigarettes from impacts during transport. Consequently, though cigarettes are manufactured in a variety of lengths and diameters, the cigarettes contained in a single pack usually share a common, uniform length and diameter. 
         [0003]    People may desire to smoke several varieties of cigarettes on any particular occasion. As different varieties or brands of cigarettes may have different lengths and diameters, one is typically required either to carry a separate pack for each variety of cigarettes that one desires to smoke, or to combine different types of cigarettes in a package designed for only one particular size of cigarette, which may result in damage to the cigarettes. Therefore, a cigarette pack that can conveniently and protectively carry cigarettes of different lengths, diameters, and brands is desired. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a cigarette pack capable of carrying different-sized and different-branded cigarettes is disclosed. The cigarette pack may consist of a first portion, a second portion hingedly coupled to the first portion, and a top portion hingedly coupled to a sliding portion slidably disposed within the second portion. The cigarette pack may also include sleeves disposed within the first portion and second portion and configured to support cigarettes within the sleeve. The cigarette pack may also include a platform for supporting cigarettes within either of said portions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0005]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package in a closed configuration. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment a cigarette package with a top portion slid upwards. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package with a top portion tilted rearwards. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package with a top portion tilted rearwards. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package in an open configuration. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a front cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top cutaway view of an exemplary embodiment of a cigarette package. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0014]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiment” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0015]    The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0016]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a cigarette package  100  is provided. Cigarette package  100  may be configured to accept cigarettes of different sizes and/or brands. Cigarette package  100  may include a first portion  110 , a second portion  120  and a top portion  130 . First portion  110  may comprise a front face  112 , a rear face  116 , a bottom face  118 , and two opposing side faces  114  disposed therebetween. Second portion  120  may comprise a front face  122 , a rear face  126 , a bottom face  128 , and two opposing side faces  124  disposed therebetween. Top portion  130  may comprise a front face  132 , a rear face  136 , a top face  138  and two opposing side faces  134  disposed therebetween. In one embodiment, the depth of first portion  110  may be different than the depth of second portion  120 . The depths of first portion  110  and second portion  120  may be varied as desired to best accept cigarettes of desired dimensions such that the cigarettes are disposed securely within first portion  110  and second portion  120 . The depth of top portion  130  may be approximately similar to the sum of the depth of first portion  110  and the depth of second portion  120  such that top portion  130  may enclose both first portion  110  and second portion  120  when cigarette package  100  is in a closed configuration. First portion  110  and second portion  120  may be hingedly coupled via hinge  154 . Hinge  154  may facilitate shifting cigarette package  100  between an open configuration and a closed configuration. 
         [0018]    First portion  110  may include a sleeve  140  disposed therein, and wrapper  150  may be disposed within sleeve  140 . In one embodiment, a first group of cigarettes  160  may be disposed within wrapper  150 . Cigarettes  160  may have a desired length and a desired diameter. Sleeve  140  may be configured to fit snugly within first portion  110  and to provide support for first group of cigarettes  160  such that first group of cigarettes  160  is well supported within sleeve  140 . The thickness of sleeve  140  may be varied as desired to provide optimal support to first group of cigarettes  160 . 
         [0019]    Second portion  120  may include a sleeve  142  disposed therein, and wrapper  152  may be disposed within sleeve  142 . In one embodiment, a second group of cigarettes  162  may be disposed within wrapper  152 . Cigarettes  162  may have a desired length and a desired diameter. Sleeve  142  may be configured to fit snugly within first portion  120  and to provide support for second group of cigarettes  162  such that second group of cigarettes  162  is well supported within sleeve  142 . The thickness of sleeve  142  may be varied as desired to provide optimal support to second group of cigarettes  162 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, a platform  146  may be disposed within first portion  110  or within second portion  120 . The height of platform  146  may be varied as desired in accordance with the height of cigarettes  160  or cigarettes  162 . In one embodiment, platform  146  may have a height such that the height of platform  146  and the height of cigarettes  160  is substantially similar to the height of sleeve  140  or sleeve  142 . 
         [0021]    Top portion  130  may be hingedly coupled to sliding portion  144 . Sliding portion  144  may be slidably disposed within second portion  120  and substantially coplanar to sleeve  142 . Sliding portion  144  may facilitate shifting top portion between a raised position and a lowered position. When in a raised position, top portion  130  may be pivoted towards the rear portion of second portion  120  to facilitate shifting cigarette package  100  from a closed configuration to an open configuration. 
         [0022]    In a closed configuration, rear face  116  of first portion  110  and front face  122  of second portion  120  may be substantially in contact with each other. Top portion  130  may be in a lowered position such that front face  132  is substantially coplanar with front face  112  of first portion  110  and rear face  136  is substantially coplanar with rear face  126  of second portion  120 . In the lowered position, top portion  130  may facilitate maintaining cigarette package  100  in a closed configuration. 
         [0023]    In operation, top portion  130  and sliding portion  144  may be slid upwards such that sleeve  140  is exposed. Top portion  130  may then be pivoted rearwards, thereby enabling access to first group of cigarettes  160 . First portion  110  may then be pivoted outwards, exposing rear face  116  of first portion  110  and front face  122  of second portion  120 , and enabling access to second group of cigarettes  162 .