US3777766A

US3777766A - Pipe tamping means

Info

Publication number: US3777766A
Application number: US00199536A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Kanady
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-11-17
Filing date: 1971-11-17
Publication date: 1973-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-11

Abstract

A tamper in combination with a lighter mechanism is provided wherein the tamper is attached to said lighter mechanism so that said tamper is adapted to slidably move through elongated hollow guide members between a first position wherein the tamping surface portion of the tamper is contiguous to the exterior portion of said lighter mechanism and a second position wherein said tamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism. Further, the tamping surface of said tamper is an enlarged area formed so as to allow a major portion of the tobacco being tamped to constantly breathe during the tamping operation.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Kanady 1451 Dec. 11, 1973 1 PIPE TAMPING MEANS [76] Inventor: Garland II. Kanady, 33 Hillcrest,

Ponca City, Okla.

[22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 199,536

[52] 11.8. C1. 131/243, 131/247 [51] Int. Cl. A24f 09/02 [58] Field of Search 131/243, 247, 177

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,263,690 8/1966 Buckley .1 131/243 2,894,515 7/1959 Wisrner, Jr 131/243 f 3,220,420 11/1965 Genoud 131/247 3,269,396 8/1966 Lamar 131/247 2,041,469 5/1936 Haas..... 131/247 165,274 7/1875 Suter 131/177 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7/1955 Great Britain 131/243 Primary ExaminerJoseph S. Reich Attorney-Glen M. Burdick [57] ABSTRACT A tamper in combination with a lighter mechanism is provided wherein the tamper is attached to said lighter mechanism so that said tamper is adapted to slidably move through elongated hollow guide members between a first position wherein the tamping surface portion of the tamper is contiguous to the exterior portion of said lighter mechanism and a second position wherein said tamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism. Further, the tamping surface of said tamper is an enlarged area formed so as to allow a major portion of the tobacco being tamped to constantly breathe during the tamping operation.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 PIPE TAMPING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a pipe tamping means. In one aspect the present invention relates to a pipe tamping means in combination with a lighter mechanism. In another aspect the present invention relates to a novel pipe tamping means which is attached to a lighter v mechanism in a manner so that the tamping surface of said tamping means can be caused to slide between a first position wherein the tamping surface of said tamping means is contiguous to the exterior portion of said lighter mechanism and a second position wherein said tamping surface is spaced away from said lighter mechanism. In still another aspect the present invention relates to'a pipe tamping means which allows a major portion of the tabacco being tamped to constantly breathe during the tamping operation. In yet another aspect the present invention relates to a novel tamping surface for a pipe tamping means wherein the tamping surface is formed of a plurality of bends of wire thus forming a large area which can be employed to tamp the tobacco in the pipe bowl but does not prevent air from reaching the tobacco during the tamping operation.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Many types of accessories have been proposed to assist a person smoking a pipe.Many of these accessories have proved usuful whereas many have possessed only novelty or curiosity benefits. However, as all pipe smokers can readily attest, a tamping means is an essential accessory if one is to enjoy the smoking of a pipe. Many different types of tamping means have been proposed by the prior art. However, most of these tamping means are separate instruments which must be carried in the pocket of the pipe smoker or in the tobacco pouch. In addition, one then needs to carry a lighter mechanism or matches for igniting the tobacco in the pipe bowl. Thus, it is readily apparent that the efficiency, accessability and convenience of accessoreis determine the degree of enjoyment derived from pipe smoking. In order to achieve this degree of enjoument one must carry a number of accessories in his pockets or in a pouch toe nable him to properly smoke the pipe and to maintain it in a lighted condition during the smoking period.

Further, many of the prior art tamping means have contained a tamping surface which is a solid surface. Such a tamping means, while acting as an excellent tamper, has suffered from the disadvantage that many times the burning tobacco is snuffed out due to the blocking of oxygen from the lighted surface of the tobacco when such a tamping device is used. Thus, when employing such'a solid surface tamping one must often relight the tobacco after each tamping process. It is highly desirable that a tamping means be provided having a tamping area or surface-which will allow a substantial amount of tobacco to be in contact with air for combustion during the tamping operation to prevent the extinguishing of the tire in the bowl of the pipe during such tamping operation. In addition, it would be very desirable if the tamping means could be combined with other accessories required for the smoking of a pipe to eliminate the number of accessory tools a "smoker must carry. However, in providing such a combination it is necessary that the accessories be compacted with no projecting surfaces while not in use and yet allow the smoker to position the accessories in their useful position when desired. Such new and improved I accessories for the pipe smoker are constantly being sought especially ones which can serve a multiplepurpose and eliminate the number of accessories or tools that a person must carry in order to enjoy the smoking of a pipe.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamping means. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamping means in combination with a lighter mechanism. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tamping means in combination with a lighter I mechanism wherein the tamping means can readily be employed to tamp the tobacco in a pipe bowl when desired and yet at the same time which will not protrude from the lighter mechanism when the tamping means is not in use.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. These drawings depict preferred specific embodimentsof the tamping means of the invention, and it is to be understood that the drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of the invention. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perpective view of a lighter mechanism having a tamping means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the lighter mechanism having a tamping means of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighter mechanism having another embodiment of the tamping means of the present invention. 7

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view .of a second type of lighter mechanism having a tamping means in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of still another lighter mechanism having another embodiment of-the tamping means of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the tamping means of FIG. 5.

of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of another alternate strap means suitable for use with the lighter mechanism of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial perspective view of lighter mechanism having another embodiment of the tamping means in accordance with the present invention. I

In the following discussion and description of the invention reference will be made to the drawings wherein the same reference numerals will be used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. The discussion and description is of specific embodiments of the tamping means of the invention, and it is to be understood that the discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a lighter mechanism ll having a case means 12 for containing a fuel supply and a flame producing igniter means and a tamping means 13. Tamping means 13 is slideably secured to a body member 16 of case means 12 by any suitable means such as strap means 17. As is evident from the drawing, strap means'17 secures tamping means 13 to said case means 12 at a position on body member 16 so as not to interfere with the movement of cover means 18 of case means 12.

Strap means 17, engageably surrounding body member 16 of case means 12, is provided with elongated hollow guide means 19 and 21 for slideably receiving tamping means 13. Tamping means 13 is an elongated wire member having at a first end thereof a plurality of bends 14 forming an enlarged area and at a second end portion a thumb-engageable means 22. The second end portion of the elongated wire member is depicted as a pair of

leg members

23 and 24 which are slideably positioned within elongated hollow guide means 19 and 21, respectively, of strap means 17. Thumb-engageable means 22 is secured to the end portion of legmember 23. As is apparent from the drawing, hollow guide means 21 is sufficiently longer than hollow guide means 19 to allow hollow guide means 21 to completely house leg member 24 of tamping means 13. As can readily be seen, the plane of the enlarged area formed by bends 14 is substantially perpendicular to leg

members

23 and 24 of said tamping means. However, it should be apparent that if one chooses a rigid enough material from which tamping means 13 is constructed, only leg member 23 and thus guide means 19 would be required. In such a case, the configuration of leg member 23 and the internal configuration of guide means 19 would have to be such that leg member 23 would not be free to rotate therein. As previously stated, thumbengageably means 22 is affixed to the end portion ofleg member 23 and such may be either permanently affixed or detachably affixed. By'employing the thumbengageable means 22

leg members

23 and 24 of tamping means 13 are caused to slide through guide means 19 and 21 between a first position wherein said enlarged area formed by bends 14 of tamping means 13 is contiguous to the exterior of body member 16 of case means 12 and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from body member 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of tamping means 13 ofthe present invention. In this embodiment a portion of tamping means 13'. namely

leg members

23 and 24, are carried internally within the shoulder means 26 of the fuel supply and flame-producing igniter of lighter mechanism 11'. Shoulder means 26 is constructed so that when the lighter mechanism 11' is assembled a cavity is created within shoulder means 26. This cavity is of sufficient size to readily carry

leg members

23 and 24 of tamping means 13'.

Leg members

23 and 24 pass through

guide openings

27 and 28 in shoulder means 26. Thumb-engageable means 22 protrudes through elongated opening means 29 in the side portion of shoulder means 26, adjacent the end containing guide opening means 27 and 28, by virtue of a rightangle bend 31 in leg member 23. Thus. the enlarged area framed by bends 14 can be slideably moved by pressure on thumb-engageable means 22 between a first position wherein bends 14 are contiguous to the exterior of body member 16 of case means 12 and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from body member 16.

Referring now to FIG. 4 another embodiment of tamping means 13" of the present invention is depicted. Lighter mechanism 32 having case means 33 of circular or cylindrical configuration and a fuel and flame producing igniter means (not shown) is provided with clamp means 34 engageably encircling a major portion of the perphery of the lower end portion of case means 33. Elongated hollow guide means 38 and 39 are affixed to or formed as part of clamp means 34 so as to be substantially parallel to each other and to the central axis of case means 33. Tamping means 13" provided with a pair of leg members 36 and 37 which are slideably positioned within guide means 38 and 39. These leg membersare an extension of a first end of said tamping means which is provided with a plurality of bends 14" that form an enlarged area. The plane of the enlarged area is substantially perpendicular to leg members 36 and 37. The end portions of leg members 36 and 37 are connected to thumb-engageable means 41. Thus, by applying pressure to thumb-engageable means 41, leg members 36 and 37 are caused to slideably pass through guide means 38 and 39 thus moving the enlarged area between a first position wherein the enlarged area formed by bends 14" is contiguous to the exterior of case means 33 and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from the exterior of case means 33.

A modification of clamp means 34 and elongated hollow guide means 38 and 39 which can readily be produced for a lighter mechanism having a body portion of circular configuration of the type of FIG. 4 is depicted in FIG. 8. In this modification, clamp means 34' again encircles a major portion of the periphery of the lighter mechanism 32. However, the ends of clamp means 34' are here provided with flanges 42. A plate means 43 is provided, which has formed along two of its opposite edges flanges 44 which are adapted to slideably engage flanges 42. Plate means 43 also carries one or more hollow guide means such as 38 and 39. As will be evident to those skilled in the art clamp means 34 and clamp means 43 can be modified in shape and size to encircle the body portion of any lighter mechanism regardless of its size or shape.

With reference to FIG. 9 another modification of clamp means 34 and elongated hollow guide means 38 and 39 which can readily be produced for a lighter mechanism having a body portion of circular or cylindrical configuration is shown. In this modification clamp means 34" again encircles a major portion of the periphery of the lighter mechanism. Similar to the clamp means of FIG. 8, the ends of clamp means 34" are provided with flanges 46 and 47. Plate means 48 has formed or attached along two of its opposite edges hollow guide means 49 and 51, the interior portion of hollow guide means 49 and 51 being adapted to slideably engage flange 46 and 47, respectively, of clamp means 34".

Referring next to FIG. 5 and 6, there is shown a lighter mechanism 11 having a case means 12 and tamping means 13" similar to those of FIG. 1, except that a portion of tamping means 13" is carried internally within the cover means 18. Leg members 23' and 24' of tamping means 13 pass through guide opening means 52 and 53 located in one end of cover means 18, and thumb-engageable means 22 protrudes through elongated opening means 54 in a face of cover means 18 adjacent the end containing guide opening means 52 and 53 by virtue of a right-angle bend56 in leg member 24'. This embodiment can also preferably be provided with an internal baffle means 57 as detailed in FIG. 7. Thus, the enlarged area formed by bends 14 can be slideably moved by pressure on thumbengageable means 22 between a first position wherein bends 14 are contiguous to cover means 18 and a second position wherein such bends are extended away from such cover means. FIG. 6 illustrates in detail a preferred shape of tamping means 13" in this embodiment. Baffle means 57 depictedin FIG. 7 serves to conserve lighter fluid by providing a partition closing the interiorof cover means 18' with respect to guide opening means 52 and 53 and elongated opening means 54, while forming a cavity thereabove to allow free longitudinal movement of tamping means 13". Although tamping means 13 is shown as being located in the upper portion of cover means 18', it is obvious that it can equally well be located in a side or bottom of lighter mechanism ll.

Turning now to FIG. still another embodiment of the tamping means of the present invention is depicted. In this embodiment a plate means 58 is provided which is secured to any one of the faces of case means 12. Elongated hollow guide means 59 and 61 are affixed to, or formed as part of, plate means 58 so as to be substantially parallel to each other. Leg members 23" and 24" tamping means 13" are slideably positioned within guide means 59 and 61in such a manner as to position the enlarged area shown as being formed by a plurality of bends 14, which is substantially perpendicular to

leg members

23 and 24", contiguous the adjacent face of case means 12. Thumb-engageable means 41 is then secured to the end portion of leg members 23" and 24". Thus, by applying pressure to thumbengageable means 4],

leg members

23 and 24 are caused to pass through

guide members

59 and 61, respectively, between a first position wherein the enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of case means 12 and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from the exterior of case means 12;

While the foregoing discussion and description has been made in connection with certain preferred specific embodiments of the pipe tamping means of the present invention it is to be understood that minor variations can be made in the pipe tamping means without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while the enlarged area of the pipe tamping means of the invention has been depicted as being formed of a plurality of bends any other means such as a perforated plate member having a sufficient amount of openings therein to allow the tobacco to breathe could readily be employed without departing from the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the discussion and descriptionis only intended to illustrate and teach those skilled in the art how to practice the invention, and such is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims set forth hereinafter.

I claim:

I. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement which comprises:

a. clamp means engageably encircling a major portion of the periphery of said case means;

b. a pair of tube means secured to said clamp means,

the longitudinal axes of said tube means being parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to the plane of said clamp means encircling said case means, and;

c. an elongated wire passing through said tube means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at a second end thereof with a thumb-engageable area, such that said wire is movable through said tube means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

2. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising:

a. a first face of said case means having an elongated opening therein;

b. a second face of said case means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening in said 1 first face;

c. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening between a first positon wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior; and,

d. an internal baffle means engaged with the interior wall of said case means forming a cavity for free longitudinal movement of said elongated wire while thereby forming a cavity sealing said fuel supply and flame producer means from said guide opening and said elongated opening.

3. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising:

a. a shoulder means formed as an integal part of the body means of said case means, said shoulder means encircling the upper perihery of said body means and forming a cavity between said shoulder means and the upper perihery of said body means;

bl a first face of said shoulder means having an elongated opening therein;

c. a second face of said shoulder means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening ,in said first face; and

d. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening and within said cavity between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

4. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising;

a. a plate means permanently secured to one of the faces of said case means;

b. a pair of hollow guide means secured to said plate means, the longitudinal axes of said guide means being parallel to each other; and

c. an elongated wire passing through each of said guide means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and said wire being provided at a second end thereof with a thumb engageable area, such that said wire is moveable through said guide means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

Claims

1. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement which comprises: a. clamp means engageably encircling a major portion of the periphery of said case means; b. a pair of tube means secured to said clamp means, the longitudinal axes of said tube means being parallel to each other and approximately perpendicular to the plane of said clamp means encircling said case means, and; c. an elongated wire passing through said tube means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at a second end thereof with a thumb-engageable area, such that said wire is movable through said tube means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

2. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising: a. a first face of said case means having an elongated opening therein; b. a second face of said case means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening in said first face; c. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening between a first positon wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior; and, d. an internal baffle means engaged with the interior wall of said case means forming a cavity for free longitudinal movement of said elongated wire while thereby forming a cavity sealing said fuel supply and flame producer means from said guide opening and said elongated opening.

3. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising: a. a shoulder means formed as an integal part of the body means of said case means, said shoulder means encircling the upper perihery of said body means and forming a cavity between said shoulder means and the upper perihery of said body means; b. a first face of said shoulder means having an elongated opening therein; c. a second face of said shoulder means having a guide opening therein, said second face being adjacent the elongated axis of said elongated opening in said first face; and d. an elongated wire passing through said guide opening and provided at its first end exterior of said case means with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and provided at its end opposite said first end with an approximately right-angle bend through said elongated opening, such that said wire is moveable through said guide opening and within said cavity between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.

4. In a lighter mechanism comprising a case means containing a fuel supply and flame-producing igniter means, the improvement comprising; a. a plate means permanently secured to one of the faces of said case means; b. a pair of hollow guide means secured to said plate means, the longitudinal axes of said guide means being parallel to each other; and c. an elongated wire passing through each of said guide means and provided at a first end thereof with a plurality of bends in a single plane forming an enlarged area, the plane of said bends being substantially perpendicular to said wire, and said wire being provided at a second end thereof with a thumb engageable area, such that said wire is moveable through said guide means between a first position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is contiguous to the exterior of said case means and a second position wherein said enlarged area is spaced away from said exterior.