US20240206527A1

US20240206527A1 - Windscreen for rolling cigarettes cross-reference to related applications

Info

Publication number: US20240206527A1
Application number: US18/086,969
Authority: US
Inventors: Zach Thomas Morford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-12-22
Filing date: 2022-12-22
Publication date: 2024-06-27

Abstract

The invention is a device to aid in the hand rolling of cigarettes. The device provides a working space shielded from wind and drafts. The device is a windscreen in the shape of a three-sided box with no top or bottom. The windscreen is set on its narrow edge on the flat surface of a rolling tray creating a working space protected from wind and drafts.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

PARTIES TO JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to the rolling of cigarettes. Rolling your own cigarette provides many advantages to the smoker. One advantage is to reduce the cost of smoking. Another advantage is selecting from a wide variety of tobacco brands and flavors.
Rolling a cigarette requires the use of many accoutrements. Examples of the accoutrements include cigarette paper, pre-rolled cigarette tubes, pre-rolled cigarette cones (FIG. 2 ), filters, and tobacco. All the accoutrements above are very lightweight and are subject to being blown away by wind or drafts. Thus, there is a need for a way to protect the accoutrements from wind and drafts.
Not only does the lightweight of the accoutrements make hand rolling difficult in a windy or drafty environment, but the process of rolling a cigarette adds to the difficulty. To roll a cigarette, the smoker usually places the accoutrements on a rolling tray, places a quantity of tobacco on the rolling tray, and breaks up or fluffs the tobacco. Fluffing is necessary, so the tobacco burns appropriately and allows air to be drawn through the cigarette. The tobacco needs to be placed within cigarette paper, either a flat sheet of paper or a pre-rolled cigarette tube or cone; optionally, a filter may be inserted at that time. The cigarette is then rolled either by hand or with a manual or electronic rolling device. Rolling a cigarette requires fine motion and control of lightweight materials, which is difficult or impossible in a windy or drafty environment. Thus, there is a need to provide a way to screen out wind or drafts during the cigarette rolling process.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a windscreen that, when combined with a rolling tray, allows the smoker to roll a cigarette in a windy or drafty environment. The invention is generally depicted in FIG. 1 . The screen is a three-sided box with no top or bottom. The screen is set on its narrow edge on the flat portion of the rolling tray. The inner dimensions of the three-sided box define a working space where the smoker can roll a cigarette without interference from wind or drafts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a pre-rolled cigarette cone.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a rolling tray.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention in use.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the invention in use.

FIG. 6 is a top-down view of the invention in use.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a two-piece rolling tray.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the invention in use on a two-piece rolling tray.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the invention in use on a two-piece rolling tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a windscreen (100) generally described in FIG. 1 . The three-sided box is formed by folding a three-dimensional rectangular piece along the width dimension (101) at each end to form a three-sided box with no top or bottom. When in use, the windscreen stands on its narrow edge (102), where said edge defines the depth of the rectangular piece as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 . The windscreen should be constructed of materials with sufficient rigidity to allow it to be stood on edge (102). Non-limiting examples of these materials include plastic, polyacrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, paper, corrugated paper, cardboard, wood, bamboo, metal, or foil.
Attaching an anti-slip device to one of the windscreen's narrow edges (102) helps secure the screen to the rolling tray. The device can be selected from any device with a high coefficient of friction or one that can be removably attached to the rolling tray. Non-limiting examples include felt, grit, rubber, or a magnet.
The height of the windscreen should be sufficient to block the wind. The inner area defined by the three sides provides the working space (103) for rolling a cigarette. The working space should be large enough to accommodate the necessary accoutrements for rolling a cigarette. The windscreen's length and width are adapted to fit the inner dimensions of the flat surface of the rolling tray (301, 701, and 702), as shown in FIGS. 3-9 . Rolling trays come in many shapes and sizes, but non-limiting examples include 5×7×1 inches, 11×7×2 inches, 13×11×2 inches, or 12×6×2 inches.
The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
The applicant has submitted claims directed to combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.

Claims

1. A windscreen comprising: a three-dimensional rectangular piece where the rectangular piece has a first end and a second end; where the rectangular piece is folded along the width of the first end and the second end, to form a three-sided box, where the box does not have a top or bottom.

2. Where the windscreen of claim 1 is made of a solid or flexible material.

3. Where the material of claim 2 is selected from the group consisting essentially of: plastic, polyacrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, paper, corrugated paper, cardboard, wood, bamboo, metal, or foil.

4. Where the windscreen of claim 3 has an anti-slip device is applied to one of the narrow edges of the rectangular piece.

5. Where the anti-slip device of claim 4 is a magnet or a piece of rubber.

6. A windscreen comprising: a three-dimensional rectangular piece having a length, a width, and a depth; where the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the depth; where the rectangular piece has a first end and a second end; where the piece is folded along the width of the first end and the second end to form a three-sided box; where the box has no top or bottom.

7. The windscreen of claim 6 where the windscreen is made of a solid or flexible material.

8. The windscreen of claim 7 where the solid material is selected from the group consisting essentially of: plastic, polyacrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, paper, corrugated paper, cardboard, wood, bamboo, metal, or foil.

9. Where the windscreen of claim 8 has an anti-slip device is applied to one of the narrow edges of the three-sided box.

10. Where the anti-slip device of claim 9 is a magnet or a piece of rubber.

11. The windscreen of claim 10 where outer dimensions of the three-sided box is less than the inner dimensions of the flat surface of a rectangular rolling tray.

12. The windscreen of claim 10 where the outer dimensions of the three-sided box fits within the inner diameter of the flat surface of a circular or oval rolling tray.

13. The windscreen of claim 10 where the outer dimensions of the three-sided box fits within the inner dimensions of the flat surface of a rectangular rolling tray, where the outer dimensions of the rectangular rolling tray are: 5×7×1 inches, 11×7×2 inches, 13×11×2 inches, or 12×6×2 inches.

14. A method for preventing disruption of rolling a cigarette by placing the windscreen of claim 10 on a rolling tray by contacting the edge having the magnet or rubber piece to the flat surface of the rolling tray and placing the smoking accoutrements within the inner dimensions of the three-sided box and rolling a cigarette.

15. The method of claim 14 where the outer dimensions of the rectangular rolling tray are: 5×7×1 inches, 11×7×2 inches, 13×11×2 inches, or 12×6×2 inches.