US20030172943A1

US20030172943A1 - Device for cutting and storing cigarettes and the like

Info

Publication number: US20030172943A1
Application number: US10/099,795
Authority: US
Inventors: Simon Connolly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-15
Filing date: 2002-03-15
Publication date: 2003-09-18

Abstract

A device for storing and cutting cigarettes and the like. The device is comprised of a housing, a cap member, an annular member, and a cover member. A cigarette is stored inside of the housing and cap member by fitting the annular member over a cigarette and then connecting the housing to the cap member via the annular member. A blade element is coupled to the housing and the housing has a blade slot for allowing entrance of the blade element into a housing cavity. To stop smoking a partially smoked cigarette, the burning end of the cigarette is inserted into the housing and the burning end of the cigarette is cut of with the blade element. To expel the cut off end of the cigarette, the cover member is removed from the housing allowing the cut off end to exit the housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices aimed at helping those addicted to smoking to quit their addiction.

In the past, a number of different solutions were used to help smokers quit their habit, such as nicotine patches and nicotine bubble gum. However, none of these solutions are aimed at helping those smokers who don't want to quit smoking in one sudden step, commonly referred to as “cold turkey,” preferring to stop smoking gradually by smoking less and less with every day or with every cigarette. The problem faced by those who want to smoke a little bit at a time, as they transition to a non-smoking lifestyle, is that a lit cigarette will burn until it is all burned out or if it is put out by the smoker. Thus the smoker who wants to smoke only a half of a cigarette would have to choose between smoking the whole cigarette or putting out a half-smoked cigarette and throwing it away. The option of finishing the cigarette is not a good one for someone who wants to limit his or her smoking. On the other hand, the option of putting out the cigarette is not very appealing either since cigarettes have recently become quite expensive.

What is needed is a simple and inexpensive device aimed at allowing a smoker to smoke only a part of a cigarette at a time and to be able to smoke the rest or part of the cigarette at a later time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention achieves this goal by providing a device that can cut off the burning end of the cigarettes while at the same time providing a storage container for the cigarette, thus allowing the smoker to carry the partially smoked cigarette on his or her person.

The device is comprised of an elongated housing, which could be used for storage of the cigarette or a cigar or any other similar smoking product. A cap member could be coupled to an open end of the housing. The housing has a blade slot in its wall and a blade element attached to the housing and capable of entering and leaving a cavity inside of the housing through the blade slot. To cut off a burning end of a cigarette, the cap member is removed from the housing exposing an open end of the housing. Then the burning end of the cigarette is inserted inside of the housing cavity. The blade element is inserted into the cavity through the blade slot cutting off the burning end of the cigarette in the process. The cut off burning end of the cigarette could be removed from the housing either via the open end or via another end of the housing, which normally has a cover member secured to it. Removal of the cover member allows for expulsion of the cut off burning end of the cigarette.

Brand new or cut cigarettes could be stored inside of the device. The cigarette is inserted into an annular member. The annular member has a first and second section with the first section possessing the ability to be inserted into the first end of the housing and with the second section possessing the ability to be inserted into an open first end of the cap member. The first section of the annular member also blocks the access of the blade element into the cavity thus preventing accidental cutting of the cigarette.

In another embodiment, the annular member is incorporated into the cap member. In this embodiment, the cap member has a first section and a second section. The first section of the cap member fits slidably into the first end of the housing. Additionally, a cigarette can be inserted slidably into the first section of the cap member.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a device for helping people quit smoking by allowing them to smoke only a portion of a cigarette and then cut off the burning end of the cigarette.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that would allow a smoker to carry on his or her person, a brand new or a cut cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: [0010]
FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of one of the embodiments of the invention showing a cigarette stored inside of a device. [0011]
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of one of the embodiments of the invention showing how a burning end of a cigarette is cut by the blade element. [0012]
FIG. 3 is a side view of an annular member. [0013]
FIG. 4 is a front view of an annular member. [0014]
FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the embodiments of the invention. [0015]
FIG. 6 is a side view of one of the embodiments of the invention. [0016]
FIG. 7 is side cross-sectional view of one of the embodiments of the invention showing a cigarette stored inside of a device. [0017]
FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the embodiments of the invention. [0018]
FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of a cap member of one of the embodiments of the invention.[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention represents a [0020] device 1 for cutting and storing cigarettes 2 and the like, as depicted in FIGS. 1-9.
The [0021] device 1 is comprised of an elongated housing 3, a cap member 9, and an annular member 16 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. The housing 3 has a housing wall 29, an exterior surface 4, a first end 5, a second end 6, a longitudinally positioned housing cavity 8, and a blade slot 7. The first end 5 of the housing 3 is an open end.
A [0022] blade element 14 having a cutting edge 15 is coupled to the housing 3. In one embodiment, the blade element 14 has a blade support member 25, wherein the blade support member 25 has a first end 26 coupled to a blade element 14, and a second end 27 coupled to the housing 3 via such well known in the art means as a rigid annular band 34 fitted over the housing 3, as depicted in FIG. 8. The orientation of the coupling of the blade element 14 to the housing 3 is such that the cutting edge 15 faces the blade slot 7 on the housing 3 as depicted in FIG. 1. When a user wishes to stop smoking a partially smoked cigarette 2, he or she would insert the burning end of the cigarette 2 into the housing cavity 8 via the first end 5 of the housing 3. Upon application of force upon the blade support member 25 in a direction of the housing 3, the blade element 14 enters the housing cavity 8 as depicted in FIG. 2 and cuts off the burning end of the cigarette 2. Now, the user can save the cigarette 2 and smoke it at a later time.
The [0023] cap member 9 has an exterior surface 10, a first end 11 and a second end 12, and a longitudinally positioned cap cavity 13. The first end 11 of the cap member 9 is an open end.
The [0024] first end 5 of the housing 3 and the first end 11 of the cap member 9 could have means well known in the art for securing to each other. Alternatively, an annular member 16 could be utilized to secure the housing 3 to the cap member 9. The annular member 16 is depicted separately in FIGS. 3 & 4 and incorporated with the device 1 in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6. The annular member 16 has an exterior surface 19, a first section 17 and a second section 18, wherein the two sections 16 and 17 are separated by a protrusion 20. The annular member 16 fits slidably over a cigarette 2 as depicted in FIGS. 1 & 2. An exterior diameter of the first section 17 of the annular member 16 is substantially equal to the diameter of the housing cavity 8 and the second section 18 of the annular member 16 has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the cap cavity 13, whereby the first section 17 of the annular member 16 fits slidably into the first end 5 of the housing 3 and the second section 18 of the annular member 16 fits slidably into the first end 11 of the cap member 9. Therefore, the annular member 16 serves a function of securing the housing 3 to the cap member 9.
Another function of the [0025] annular member 16 is to provide means for securing of a cigarette 2 inside of the device 1 when the user is not smoking the cigarette 2. The annular member 16 fits slidably over a cigarette 2. Then, the housing 3 is secured to the cap member 9 utilizing the annular member 16 as a connector in a manner described above. Now the device 1 can be stored on the person of a user with a cigarette 2 stored inside of the device 1. However, a cigarette 2 stored inside of a device 1 is in danger of being accidentally cut by the accidental entry of the blade element 14 into the housing cavity 8 via the blade slot 7. Here, the first section 17 of the annular member 16 serves as a barrier separating the blade element 14 and the cigarette 2 as depicted in FIG. 1.
In addition, the [0026] device 1 could have a cover member 21 depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6. The cover member 21 has an exterior surface 22, a first end 23 and a second end 24. The device 1 has means for securing of the first end 23 of the cover member 21 to the second end 6 of the housing 3. After the cigarette 2 is cut, the cut off cigarette end could be discarded from the housing 3 by removing the cover member 21 from the second end 6 of the housing 3.
In an alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. [0027] 7-9, the device 1 could lack the annular member 16 by having a modified cap member 9. In this embodiment, the cap member 9 has a first section 30 and a second section 31, wherein the first section 30 has an open first end 32 and the second section 31 has a closed second end 33. The cap member 9 has a longitudinally positioned cap cavity 13, which cap cavity 13 extends at least through length of the first section 30 of the cap member 9, wherein the first section 30 of the cap member 9 fits slidably inside of the first end 5 of the housing 3, and wherein a cigarette 2 fits slidably inside of the cap cavity 13 as depicted in FIG. 7.
In various alternative embodiments, the [0028] device 1 could have a plurality of blade elements 14 as depicted in FIG. 6 where two blade elements 14 are positioned opposite each other on the housing 3, each blade element 14 having its own blade slot 7 in the housing 3. Additionally, as depicted in FIG. 6, the housing wall 29 could have a transparent window member 28 positioned at a point where the cigarette 2 gets cut by the blade element 14 thus allowing the user to observe the cutting of the cigarette 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. [0029] 1-4. In a preferred embodiment, the device 1 is comprised of an elongated housing 3, a cap member 9, an annular member 16, and a cover member 21 as shown in FIGS. 1-4. The housing 3 has a cylindrical shape, a housing wall 29, an exterior surface 4, a first end 5, a second end 6, a longitudinally positioned housing cavity 8, and a single blade slot 7. The first end 5 of the housing 3 is an open end.
A [0030] single blade element 14 having a cutting edge 15 is coupled to the housing 3. The blade element 14 has a blade support member 25, wherein the blade support member 25 has a first end 26 coupled to a blade element 14, and a second end 27 coupled to the housing 3. The orientation of the coupling of the blade element 14 to the housing 3 is such that the cutting edge 15 faces the blade slot 7 on the housing 3 as depicted in FIG. 1.
The [0031] cap member 9 has a cylindrical shape, has an exterior surface 10, a first end 11 and a second end 12, and a longitudinally positioned cap cavity 13. The first end 11 of the cap member 9 is an open end.
An [0032] annular member 16 is utilized to secure the housing 3 to the cap member 9. The annular member 16 has an exterior surface 19, a first section 17 and a second section 18, wherein the two sections 16 and 17 are separated by a protrusion 20. The annular member 16 fits slidably over a cigarette 2 as depicted in FIGS. 1 & 2. An exterior diameter of the first section 17 of the annular member 16 is substantially equal to diameter of the housing cavity 8 and the second section 18 of the annular member 16 has a diameter that is substantially equal to diameter of the cap cavity 13, whereby the first section 17 of the annular member 16 fits slidably into the first end 5 of the housing 3 and the second section 18 of the annular member 16 fits slidably into the first end 11 of the cap member 9. Therefore, the annular member 16 serves a function of securing the housing 3 to the cap member 9.
The [0033] annular member 16 also provides means for securing of a cigarette 2 inside of the device 1 when the user is not smoking the cigarette 2. First, the annular member 16 is fitted slidably over a cigarette 2. Then, the housing 3 is secured to the cap member 9 utilizing the annular member 16 as a connector in a manner described above.
The [0034] cover member 21, depicted in FIGS. 1 & 2, has an exterior surface 22, a first end 23 and a second end 24. The device 1 has means well known in the art for securing of the first end 23 of the cover member 21 to the second end 6 of the housing 3. After the cigarette 2 is cut, the cut off cigarette end could be discarded from the housing 3 by removing the cover member 21 from the second end 6 of the housing 3.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A device for cutting cigarettes and the like, utilized as an aid in quitting smoking, comprising:

an elongated housing, having a housing wall, having an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, at least one blade slot, and a longitudinally positioned housing cavity;

a cap member, having an exterior surface, having a first end and a second end, having a longitudinally positioned cap cavity, wherein the first end of the cap member is an open end, and wherein the device has means for securing of the first end of the cap member to the first end of the housing;

at least one blade element coupled to the housing, having a cutting edge, wherein the blade element has means for entering and leaving the housing cavity through the blade slot.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the housing, the housing cavity, the cap member, and the cap cavity have cylindrical shape and a diameter of the cap cavity is substantially equal to a diameter of the exterior surface of the housing, whereby the first end of the cap member fits slidably over the first end of the housing.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising:

an annular member for slidably fitting over a cigarette, having an exterior surface, having a first section and a second section, wherein at least one protrusion extends from the exterior surface of the annular member, wherein the exterior diameter of the first section of the annular member is substantially equal to the diameter of the housing cavity and the second section of the annular member has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the cap cavity, whereby the first section of the annular member fits slidably into the first end of the housing and the second section of the annular member fits slidably into the first end of the cap member.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the housing, the housing cavity, the cap member, and the cap cavity have cylindrical shape and a diameter of the exterior surface of the cap member is substantially equal to a diameter of the exterior surface of the housing.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising:

an annular member for fitting over a cigarette, having an exterior surface, having a first section and a second section, wherein at least one protrusion extends from the exterior surface of the annular member, wherein the exterior diameter of the first section of the annular member is substantially equal to the diameter of the housing cavity and the second section of the annular member has a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of the cap cavity, whereby the first section of the annular member fits slidably into the first end of the housing and the second section of the annular member fits slidably into the first end of the cap member.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a cover member, having an exterior surface, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the cover member is an open end, the second end of the housing is an open end, and wherein the device has means for securing of the first end of the cover member to the second end of the housing.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein:

the cover member is cylindrical in shape, has a cylindrical cover cavity, and both the housing and the housing cavity have a cylindrical shape, wherein a diameter of the cover cavity is substantially equal to a diameter of the exterior surface of the housing, whereby the first end of the cover member fits slidably over the second end of the housing.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the blade element is coupled to a blade support member, wherein the blade support member is coupled to the housing.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein:

the blade support member has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the blade support member is coupled to the blade element and the second end of the blade support member is coupled to the exterior surface of the housing.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein:

the blade support member is made out of an elastic material, whereby allowing the blade element to enter the housing cavity through the blade slot upon application of force to the blade support member.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the housing member has two blade slots and two blade elements, wherein the blade slots are oppositely positioned along the same imaginary circumference line on the housing, and wherein each blade slot allows for access of the blade element into the housing cavity.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a window member embedded in the housing wall and made out of a transparent material, whereby a user of the device can observe at what location a cigarette is being cut by the blade element.

13. A device for cutting cigarettes and the like, utilized as an aid in quitting smoking, comprising:

a cap member, having a first section and a second section, wherein the first section has an open first end and the second section has a closed second end, the cap member having a longitudinally positioned cap cavity, which cap cavity extends at least through length of the first section of the cap member, wherein the first section of the cap member fits slidably inside of the housing at the first end of the housing, and wherein a cigarette fits slidably inside of the cap cavity;

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising:

15. The device of claim 14 wherein:

16. The device of claim 13 wherein:

17. The device of claim 16 wherein:

18. The device of claim 17 wherein:

19. The device of claim 13 wherein:

the housing member has two blade slots and two blade elements, wherein the blade slots are oppositely positioned along same imaginary circumference line on the housing, and wherein each blade slot allows for access of the blade element into the housing cavity.

20. The device of claim 13 further comprising: