US20050236005A1

US20050236005A1 - Caddy for smoking accessories

Info

Publication number: US20050236005A1
Application number: US10/831,225
Authority: US
Inventors: John Bears; Sherry Dolejsi; Edward Dolejsi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-26
Filing date: 2004-04-26
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

A caddy for smoking accessories having compartments for a lighter, an ashtray, and a snuffer. The ashtray and the snuffer can form sealing engagements to help prevent air, odours, and liquids from entering into, or escaping from, the ashtray and the snuffer. The snuffer can have a snuffer base for holding cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars. The caddy also comprises a carrier attachment for carrying additional cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars. Different embodiments of the caddy can hold lighters of different shapes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to caddies for smoking accessories.

BACKGROUND

Cigarette litter is a growing concern. Many smokers improperly dispose of cigarette butts by discarding them on streets or sidewalks. Cigarette litter is unsightly and is an environmental problem as cigarette filters are made from non-biodegradable materials. Also, improperly disposed cigarette butts that remain smoldering are often the cause of accidental fires, which result in the loss of property and lives.
Smokers are also increasingly encouraged to stop smoking. However, cigarette packages normally carry multiple cigarettes, typically 20 to 25 cigarettes, which provides a smoker with access to a large number of cigarettes. Also, even if a smoker wishes to only partially smoke a cigarette and save the remaining portion, the cigarette loses its freshness after it is smoked and tastes different. Therefore, a smoker is likely to smoke an entire cigarette, even if they only desire to smoke a portion of it.
There is a need for a convenient apparatus which encourages smokers to properly dispose of cigarette litter, allows smokers to carry fewer cigarettes, and allows smokers to save partially smoked cigarettes.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The inventors disclose a caddy for smoking accessories. In one embodiment, the caddy comprises a caddy body having a lighter compartment, an ashtray compartment, and a snuffer compartment, an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment, and a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment. The caddy can be made from plastic, metal, or other suitable materials. The ashtray and the snuffer may have seals for forming sealing engagements with the caddy body to help prevent air, odours, and liquids from entering into and escaping from the ashtray and the snuffer when they are inserted into the caddy.
The snuffer may also include a snuffer base slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment. The snuffer base comprises an opening through which cigarettes, cigarillos, and cigars can be inserted. The snuffer base is shaped to fit snugly around the circumference of a cigarette, cigarillos, or cigar to help prevent odours and air from escaping from the snuffer compartment.
The lighter compartment may be adapted in shape to hold lighters having different shapes.
The caddy may optionally comprise a carrier attachment for carrying additional cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, or other smoking products. The carrier attachment can be attached to the caddy with a caddy clip.
Further aspects of the invention and features of specific embodiments of the invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In drawings which are intended to illustrate embodiments of the invention and which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the caddy with accessories.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the caddy with alternative accessories.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 4B is another side perspective view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 4C is a bottom perspective view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 7 is another side view of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 8B is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 8C is another side view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 9 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy without accessories.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy with accessories.
FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the ashtray.
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the ashtray.
FIG. 13A is a top perspective view of the snuffer.
FIG. 13B is a bottom perspective view of the snuffer.
FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the snuffer base.
FIG. 14B is a top view of the snuffer base.
FIG. 15A is a cut-away view of the snuffer inserted into the snuffer compartment of the caddy.
FIG. 15B is a partially exploded view of the caddy with accessories.
FIG. 16 is a partially exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the caddy.
FIG. 17 is a side view of a tube embodiment of the snuffer.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the carrier attachment for the caddy.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the lid for the carrier attachment.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the carrier attachment with its lid.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the assembled carrier attachment attached to the caddy.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the caddy clip for the caddy.
FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the caddy clip attached to the caddy.

DESCRIPTION

Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practised without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.
The inventors disclose a caddy for smoking accessories. The caddy is a compact, convenient, practical, and discreet device for carrying smoking accessories, unsmoked or partially smoked cigarettes, and cigarette butts. The caddy can be made from plastic or metal or any other suitable material. Preferably, the material is lightweight and flame and heat resistant.
The caddy encourages caddy users to properly dispose of cigarette butts and ashes because the caddy contains a convenient ashtray to hold cigarette butts and ashes. The ashtray feature is particularly useful when there are no convenient garbage disposal units or ashtrays near a caddy user. In such a situation, the caddy user can safely retain the cigarette butts and ashes in the ashtray so that burning butts and ashes are not accidentally discarded.
The caddy is also useful to assist smokers to stop smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes that are smoked. The caddy user can store a partially smoked cigarette in the caddy and re-smoke the cigarette at a later time. The caddy helps keeps the cigarette fresh and minimizes the release of odours from the partially smoked cigarette.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in a first embodiment, caddy 10 comprises a body 12 having a lighter compartment 14 for holding a lighter 24, a snuffer compartment 16 for holding a snuffer 20, and an ashtray compartment 18 for holding an ashtray 22. In one embodiment, caddy body 12 is elliptical shaped in cross-section. Caddy body 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6, and 7, comprises curved-shaped openings for lighter compartment 14 and snuffer compartment 16. The edges of said curved openings curve inwardly and upwardly from the outer edges or ends of caddy body 12 towards the opening of the centrally disposed ashtray compartment 18. The curved openings allow the caddy user to easily access lighter 24 and snuffer 20 from compartments 14 and 16 respectively. Caddy body 12 is designed to be compact so that it is discreet and practical for caddy users to carry.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an ashtray 22. Ashtray 22 comprises a cap portion 27 which is adapted to facilitate extraction of ashtray 22 from caddy body 12. Ashtray 22 also comprises an opening 28 which is defined by walls 30, 32, 34, and 35 of ashtray 22. Opening 28 allows the caddy user to deposit used cigarette ashes and butts in ashtray 22 for later disposal. In one embodiment, ashtray 22 can hold the butts and ashes approximately 4 cigarettes, although ashtray 22 can be different sizes to hold different quantities of butts and ashes.
Ashtray 22 is insertable into ashtray compartment 18 of caddy body 12 and ashtray 22 is held in place by friction fit. In one embodiment, ashtray compartment 18 of caddy body 12 is essentially the same cross-sectional shape as ashtray 22. Cap portion 27 of ashtray 22 contains a notch 36 which facilitates extraction of ashtray 22 from caddy body 12 when ashtray 22 is inserted. To use ashtray 22, a caddy user extracts ashtray 22 from caddy 12 to expose ashtray opening 28. Cigarette ashes and butts are deposited into ashtray 22 through opening 28, and ashtray 22 can be re-inserted into caddy body 12 to store the ashes and butts. Once ashtray 22 is full, the caddy user can extract ashtray 22 fully from caddy body 12 and discard the ashes and butts through opening 28.
In an alternative embodiment, ashtray 22 can be sealed once it is fully inserted into ashtray compartment 18 to help prevent odours from escaping therefrom. Ashtray 22 can be sealed in various ways. For example, FIG. 12 illustrates cap portion 27A with a seal 29 which abuts the opening of ashtray compartment 18 to form a sealing engagement between ashtray 22 and the outer rim of caddy body 12 which defines ashtray compartment 18. The sealing engagement helps prevent odours from escaping from ashtray 22. Seal 29 can also help prevent moisture from entering ashtray 22. Seal 29 can be made of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable material.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views of one of the embodiments of snuffer 20. In this embodiment, snuffer 20 comprises a chamber portion 38 with a tab portion 40, and snuffer base 50 as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. As shown in FIG. 15A, chamber portion 38, snuffer base 50, and tab portion 40 define a chamber 43 for storing a cigarette 25 when snuffer 20 is inserted into snuffer compartment 16. Tab portion 40 allows snuffer 20 to be held securely in snuffer compartment 16 of caddy body 12. FIG. 15B is a partially exploded view of the caddy 10 with accessories. As shown best in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, snuffer compartment 16 comprises tabs 44 which project inwardly from the inner wall of snuffer compartment 16. Tab portion 40 is inserted into space 46 defined by tabs 44 and side wall 48 of snuffer compartment 16, and is held in place by friction fit.
As discussed above, snuffer 20 also comprises a snuffer base 50 as shown in FIGS. 14A, 14B and 15A. Snuffer base 50 comprises a cup portion 52 which defines an opening 53 for holding a cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar, and flange portion 54 which defines grooves 56. Snuffer base 50 is insertable into snuffer compartment 16 of caddy body 12. Grooves 56 are adapted in shape to accommodate tabs 44 of snuffer compartment 16, and flange portion 54 is adapted in shape to fit within space 46. Snuffer base 50 is held securely in place within snuffer compartment 16 by friction fit. Cup portion 52 is adapted to fit snugly around the circumference of a cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar inserted into opening 53, to help prevent odours from the end of the cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar from escaping from snuffer compartment 16. Different snuffer bases 50 have openings 53 of different sizes to accommodate different sizes of cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars. The close fit of cup portion 52 also helps to prevent air from reaching the end of the cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar. Therefore, if a caddy user inserts a lit cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar end into cup portion 52 through opening 53, odours from the lit end are prevented from escaping from the snuffer compartment, and air is prevented from interacting with the lit end, which results in extinguishment of the cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar once chamber portion 38 and tab portion 40 of snuffer 20 are fully inserted into snuffer compartment 16. The lack of air contact also helps to preserve the freshness of the partially burned cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar.
In an alternative embodiment, snuffer 20A can comprise a tube as shown in FIGS. 10, 16, and 17 In this embodiment, snuffer 20A has an open end 72 through which a cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar is inserted. Snuffer 20A can be inserted into snuffer compartment 16A and can be held in place by friction fit. FIG. 9 is a top view of a snuffer body 12 having a snuffer compartment 16A that is adapted in shape to hold snuffer 20A. FIG. 8C is a side view of a snuffer body 12 having a snuffer compartment 16A. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, snuffer compartment 16A comprises a magnet 74 for holding a metallic snuffer 20A in caddy body 12.
As shown in FIG. 16, snuffer 20A can also comprise a seal 42 to seal snuffer 20A. Seal 42 can be made from rubber, plastic or any other suitable material. When snuffer 20A is fully inserted into snuffer chamber 16A, seal 42 forms a sealing engagement with the bottom inner wall of snuffer chamber 16A. Seal 42 helps prevent air and odours from entering into, or escaping from, snuffer 20A. In an alternative embodiment, the seal can be embedded in the inner wall of snuffer chamber 16A to form a sealing engagement between snuffer 20 and snuffer chamber 16A when snuffer 20 is inserted into snuffer chamber 16A. The caddy user can use snuffer 20A to store a partially smoked cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar. Because the sealing engagement helps prevent air from entering snuffer 20A, the caddy user can insert a lit cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar into snuffer 20A, insert snuffer 20A into snuffer compartment 16A, and eventually the burning cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar will consume the oxygen in snuffer 20A and stop burning. Because there is no air circulating into snuffer 20A, the remaining portion of the unburnt cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar will remain sealed and fresh in snuffer 20A until the caddy user extracts the cigarette, cigarillo, or cigar from snuffer 20A. In addition, because the sealing engagement helps prevent odours from escaping, caddy 10 is a convenient device for storing partially smoked cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars in an odourless fashion. Moreover, the sealing engagement also helps prevent moisture from entering snuffer 20. Therefore, caddy 10 can be used by the caddy user to safely store and carry cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars and prevent them from contacting moisture.
In other embodiments, the cross sectional area of snuffer 20 and snuffer compartment 16 can be increased to accommodate cigarillos or cigars which have a larger circumference than cigarettes. Moreover, the length of caddy 10 can also be increased to accommodate cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, or other smoking products having lengths that are longer than standard cigarettes.
Lighter compartment 14 of caddy body 12 may be adapted in shape to hold lighters 24 having different shapes. As shown in the embodiment in FIG. 1, lighter compartment 14 is adapted to receive a lighter 24, including disposable lighters, such as one manufactured by Société Bic. Lighter compartment 14 can also be adapted to receive lighters 24 made by other manufacturers, such as the Scripto-Tokai Corporation. FIG. 2 depicts such an embodiment of caddy 10 containing such a lighter 24. In operation, lighter 24 is insertable into lighter compartment 14. Lighter compartment 14 is adapted to hold lighter 24 by friction fit. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, 4B, 4C, and 6, lighter compartment 14 contains a plurality of projections 26 along the inner wall of lighter compartment 14 which hold lighter 24 by friction fit. Each projection 26 may extend along the length of the inner wall of lighter compartment 14 to which each projection 26 is attached. Each projection 26 extends inwardly from the inner wall of lighter compartment 14. Projections 26 can be different sizes and shapes such that projections 26 define a passageway within lighter compartment 14 for a lighter 24. The shape of each projection 26 can be changed to alter the shape of the passageway. Accordingly, lighter compartments 14 of different caddies 10 can hold lighters 24 of different shapes by friction fit.
In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8C, 9 and 10, lighter compartment 14A has a shape which conforms to the shape of a lighter 24, and lighter compartment 14A does not have projections 26. For example, in these Figures, it is shown that lighter compartment 14A conforms in shape to the shape of a lighter 24 that is manufactured by Société Bic. Lighter 24 is held in lighter compartment 14A by friction fit between inner wall 15 of lighter compartment 14A and lighter 24. Lighter compartment 14A can conform in shape to the shape of any lighter 24.
Caddy 10 may also optionally comprise a carrier attachment 58 for carrying additional cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, or other smoking products. As illustrated in FIG. 18, carrier attachment 58 comprises a carrier compartment 60 which can hold additional cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, or other smoking products. FIG. 19 illustrates lid 62 for carrier attachment 58. Lid 62 can also comprise a seal which seals carrier compartment 60 to help prevent introduction of air and moisture into compartment 60. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a fully assembled carrier attachment 58 with its lid 62.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing carrier attachment 58 fitted with caddy 10. FIG. 22 illustrates a caddy clip 66 for holding caddy 10 and carrier attachment 58 together. In one embodiment, caddy clip 66 may include curved arms 68 which are adapted in shape to hold caddy 10 by friction fit, as illustrated in FIG. 23. Back support 70 of caddy clip 66 is curved to exert pressure on carrier attachment 58 which holds carrier attachment 58 securely against caddy 10.
Caddy 10 and carrier attachment 58 can be carried in a case, such as a leather carrying case which is designed to hold caddy 10 by itself or caddy 10 and carrier attachment 58 together. The carrying case optionally contains a belt clip.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

a caddy body having a lighter compartment, an ashtray compartment, and a snuffer compartment;

an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

wherein, the ashtray forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment.

2. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the ashtray comprises a seal which forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment.

3. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the snuffer comprises a snuffer chamber portion and a snuffer base slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment.

4. A caddy according to claim 3, wherein the snuffer base and the snuffer chamber portion define a chamber for holding a smoking product.

5. A caddy according to claim 3, wherein the snuffer base comprises a cup portion which surrounds the smoking product.

6. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the snuffer comprises a tube.

7. A caddy according to claim 6, wherein the snuffer forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the snuffer is inserted into the snuffer compartment.

8. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the lighter compartment comprises projections for holding a lighter in the caddy.

9. A caddy according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the projections is adjustable to accommodate lighters of different shapes.

10. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the lighter compartment conforms to the shape of a lighter and the lighter is held in the lighter compartment by friction fit.

11. A caddy according to claim 1 comprising a carrier attachment.

12. A caddy according to claim 11, wherein the carrier attachment comprises a carrier chamber and a lid having a seal which forms a sealing engagement with the carrier chamber.

13. A caddy according to claim 11, wherein the carrier attachment is attached to the caddy body with a clip.

14. A caddy according to claim 1, wherein the ashtray compartment is disposed between the snuffer compartment and the lighter compartment.

15. A caddy according to claim 14, wherein the caddy body comprises curved openings for the lighter compartment and snuffer compartment defined by chamber walls, wherein the upper edges of said walls curve inwardly and upwardly from an outer portion of said body towards the ashtray compartment.

16. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

wherein, the ashtray comprises a first seal which forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment; and the snuffer forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the snuffer is inserted into the snuffer compartment.

17. A caddy according to claim 16, wherein the caddy is made of metal.

18. A caddy according to claim 17, wherein the snuffer is held in the snuffer compartment by a magnet located on said body.

19. A caddy according to claim 16, wherein the shape of the lighter compartment conforms to the shape of a lighter and the lighter is held in the lighter compartment by friction fit.

20. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

wherein, the ashtray forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment; and the snuffer comprises a snuffer chamber portion and a snuffer base slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment.

21. A caddy according to claim 20, wherein the ashtray comprises a seal which forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment.

22. A caddy according to claim 20, wherein the snuffer base and the snuffer chamber portion define a chamber for holding a smoking product.

23. A caddy according to claim 22, wherein the snuffer base comprises a cup portion which surrounds the smoking product.

24. A caddy according to claim 20, wherein the lighter compartment comprises tabs for holding a lighter in the caddy.

25. A caddy according to claim 24, wherein the shape of the tabs is adjustable to accommodate lighters of different shapes.

26. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

a caddy body having a lighter compartment, a snuffer compartment, and an ashtray compartment disposed between the lighter compartment and the snuffer compartment;

an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

wherein, the caddy body comprises curved openings for the lighter compartment and snuffer compartment defined by chamber walls, wherein the upper edges of said walls curve inwardly and upwardly from an outer portion of said body towards the ashtray compartment;

and wherein, the ashtray comprises a first seal which forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment;

and wherein, the snuffer comprises a tube which forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the snuffer is inserted into the snuffer compartment;

and wherein, the shape of the lighter compartment conforms to the shape of a lighter and the lighter is held in the lighter compartment by friction fit.

27. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

an ashtray slidably insertable into the ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

and wherein, the ashtray forms a sealing engagement with the caddy body when the ashtray is inserted into the ashtray compartment;

and wherein, the snuffer comprises a snuffer chamber portion and a snuffer base slidably insertable into the snuffer compartment;

and wherein, the lighter compartment comprises tabs for holding a lighter in the caddy and the shape of the tabs is adjustable to accommodate lighters of different shapes.

28. A caddy for smoking accessories comprising:

a body having a lighter compartment, an ashtray compartment, and a snuffer compartment;

an ashtray slidably insertable into said ashtray compartment; and

a snuffer slidably insertable into said snuffer compartment;

wherein, said ashtray compartment is disposed between said lighter compartment and said snuffer compartment.

29. A caddy according to claim 28, wherein said body is elliptical shaped in cross-section.

30. A caddy according to claim 29, wherein said body has a first curved end wall and a second curved end wall, and wherein

(i) said lighter compartment comprises a first upper edge, wherein said first upper edge curves inwardly and upwardly from said first end wall to an upper portion of said ashtray compartment; and

(ii) said snuffer compartment comprises a second upper edge, wherein said second upper edge curves inwardly and upwardly from said second end wall to an upper portion of said ashtray compartment.