IP Library Granted Patent US 6,929,120
Granted Patent B2
US 6,929,120 · App. 10/387,880 · Granted Aug 16, 2005

Curved back reclosable metal packaging unit

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,929,120
App. No.
10/387,880
Granted
Aug 16, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A packaging unit ( 10 ) for containing, for example cigarettes ( 44 ) has a body made of curved metal ( 12 ) and curved metal back ( 14 ) surfaces connected by metal sides ( 16 ), and a metal bottom ( 20 ), preferably having a central raised exterior part or bottom ( 42 ) surrounded by a ridge ( 40 ), with a lid ( 22 ) having a straight hinge ( 24 ) across the top, where the unit is capable of hermetic sealing.

Claims (18)

1. A packaging unit comprising:

a body portion comprising a curved metal front and curved back metal surface connected by metal sides;

a bottom metal portion that provides stability; and

a primary lid having a curved cross-section attached to the body portion along the front, back, and side surfaces of the body portion, and a secondary lid disposed within the primary lid, the secondary lid having a straight hinge across the top surface of the primary lid wherein the straight hinge allows opening of the secondary lid even though the primary lid has a curved cross-section, said packaging unit being capable of being opened and closed repeatedly, wherein the metal is an aluminum alloy having a thickness of from about 0.10 mm to 0.23 mm, the interior of the packaging unit has a plastic coating from about 0.005 mm to 0.018 mm thick to provide a non-reactive interior metal surface, and the packaging unit is a package that contains cigarettes.

2. The packaging unit of claim 1 , wherein the lids have rounded top edges and are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and aluminum, and there is no hinging along the back surface of the body portion.

3. The packaging unit of claim 1 , wherein the metal is aluminum alloy.

4. The packaging unit of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion has a stable bottom having a central raised exterior bottom surrounded by a ridge.

5. The packaging unit of claim 1 , wherein a hermetic seal is created by initial closure of the lids, and use of a foil seal at the interface between the various portions of the packaging unit.

6. A package for cigarettes comprising:

a body portion comprising metal front and curved back metal surface connected by metal sides;

a stable bottom metal portion having a central raised exterior bottom surrounded by a ridge; and

a primary lid having a curved cross-section attached to the body portion along the front, back and side surfaces of the body portion, and a secondary lid disposed within the primary lid, the secondary lid having a straight hinge across the top surface of the primary lid wherein the straight hinge allows opening of the secondary lid even though the primary lid has a curved cross-section;

said package being capable of being opened and closed repeatedly, wherein a hermatic seal is created by initial closure of the lids, and use of a foil seal at the interface between the various portions of the package.

7. The package of claim 6 , wherein the lids have rounded top edges and are made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and aluminum, and there is no hinging along the back surface of the body portion.

8. The package of claim 6 , wherein the metal is an aluminum alloy.

9. The package of claim 6 , wherein the metal is an aluminum alloy having a thickness of from about 0.10 mm to 0.23 mm, the interior of the packaging unit has a plastic coating from about 0.005 mm to 0.018 mm thick to provide a non-reactive interior metal surface, and the packaging unit is a package that contains cigarettes.

10. The package of claim 6 , wherein the ridge provides a stable bottom portion that allows ease of standing upright.

11. The package of claim 6 , wherein a moist humidor material is disposed in the bottom of die ridge of the unit, where the ridge provides an interior channel surrounding an interior raised bottom portion.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ALCOA USA CORP.
Reel/Frame 061558/0257 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2017
From: ALCOA USA CORP.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041521/0521 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2016
From: ALCOA INC.
To: ALCOA USA CORP.
Reel/Frame 040556/0141 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2003
From: ZONKER, HARRY R.; ANTHONY, MICHAEL J.; MATHABEL, RICHARD R.; KENZEICH, EILEEN M.; ABEL, MARK S.
To: ALCOA INC.
Reel/Frame 013958/0376 →