Cigarette pack with integral innerframe

Abstract

The invention may include a cigarette package for containing a plurality of cigarettes, the cigarette package comprising a main body portion and a lid portion. The body portion may include a front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the main body portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the main body portion and spaced from the first side panel of the main body portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the main body portion and spaced from the front panel of the main body portion, and a bottom panel adjacent the front panel of the main body portion, the side panels of the main body portion and the back panel of the main body portion. The main body portion may have a first portion and a second portion, with the second portion being compressed to a thickness that is less than the first portion. The lid portion may include a front panel, a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the lid portion, a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the lid portion and spaced from the first side panel of the lid portion, a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the lid portion and spaced from the front panel of the lid portion, the back panel of lid portion being integral with the back panel of the main body portion; and a top panel adjacent the front panel of the lid portion, first and second side panels of the lid portion and back panel of the lid portion. The compressed portion may be provided with “I”-shaped of V-shaped cuts to alleviate damage to the pack material.

1 . A cigarette pack comprising:
 a main body portion including
 a front panel, 
 a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the main body portion, 
 a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the main body portion and spaced from the first side panel of the main body portion, 
 a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the main body portion and spaced from the front panel of the main body portion, and 
 a bottom panel adjacent the front panel of the main body portion, the side panels of the main body portion and the back panel of the main body portion, and 
 wherein the main body portion has a first portion and a second portion, said second portion being compressed; and 
   a lid portion including
 a front panel, 
 a first side panel adjacent the front panel of the lid portion, 
 a second side panel adjacent to the front panel of the lid portion and spaced from the first side panel of the lid portion, 
 a back panel adjacent to the first and second side panels of the lid portion and spaced from the front panel of the lid portion, the back panel of lid portion being integral with the back panel of the main body portion and 
 a top panel adjacent the front panel of the lid portion, first and second side panels of the lid portion and back panel of the lid portion. 
   
   
   
       2 . The cigarette pack of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion of the main body has a thinner cross-section than the first portion of main body portion. 
   
   
       3 . The cigarette pack of  claim 2 , wherein said second portion has three distinct sections:
 a first compressed section on the front panel of the main body portion,   a second compressed section on the first side panel of the main body portion, and   a third compressed section on the second side panel.   
   
   
       4 . The cigarette pack of  claim 3 , wherein the second compressed section and third compressed section have thicknesses smaller than the first compressed section. 
   
   
       5 . The cigarette pack of  claim 4 , wherein the first second and third compressed sections have thicknesses in the range of 0.011-0.014 inches. 
   
   
       6 . The cigarette pack of  claim 3 , further comprising a first retention cut between the first and second compressed sections and a second retention cut between the first and third compressed portions, said first and second retention cuts for securing the lid portion of the cigarette pack to the main body portion. 
   
   
       7 . The cigarette pack of  claim 3 , further comprising a first radius cut defined by a first cut between the first and second compressed sections and a second radius cut defined by a first cut between the first and third compressed sections. 
   
   
       8 . The cigarette pack of  claim 7 , wherein the first radius cut has a second cut formed between the second compressed section and the first side panel in the first portion of the main body portion, the first and second cuts of the first radius cut forming a “V”-shaped cut; and
 wherein the second radius cut has a second cut between the third compressed section and the second side panel in the first portion of the main body portion, the first and second cuts of the second radius cut forming a “V”-shaped cut.   
   
   
       9 . The cigarette pack of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion of the main body serves as an innerframe.