WO2007078322A2

WO2007078322A2 - Portable airtight water resistant odor impermeable container

Info

Publication number: WO2007078322A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/019454
Authority: WO
Inventors: Scott J. Tarlow
Original assignee: Tarlow Scott J
Priority date: 2005-12-30
Filing date: 2006-05-19
Publication date: 2007-07-12
Also published as: US20070163608A1; WO2007078322A3

Abstract

A two piece pocket container made of smooth, low-friction, high impact plastic comprises a container body having a tapered collar with a circumferential protrusion that snap-fits together with a tapered lid having a circumferential recess, providing an air-tight, water resistant, and odor impermeable seal. The container may be constructed in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of items including cigarettes, mini cigars, blunt cigarettes, cigarette packs, loose tobacco, rolling papers, mini cigarette lighters, money, keys, vitamin or herb supplements, and computer flash cards.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

PORTABLE AIRTIGHT WATER RESISTANT ODOR IMPERMEABLE

CONTAINER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storing a cylindrical smoking material, such as a cigarette or a mini cigar and particularly to a pocket-sized airtight cigarette container having a cap with a pocket clip thereon.

Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

Many cigarette extinguishing and storing devices exist in the prior art which simulate a ball-point pen, and include a cap that is adapted to cover one end of an elongated body for storing the cigarette or cigar.

U.S. Patent #2,038,350 issued April 21, 1936 to Farinella, is for a safety cigar cover having a hollow fireproof container shaped like a cigar with a cap snapping bead to retain the cap and a pocket clip on the outside. It has a removable replaceable lining. U.S. Patent #6,298,857, issued October 9, 2001 to Schmidt, is for a hand held portable humidor including an upper housing and a telescopically interfitting lower housing, with a ridge structure integrally formed on the upper housing and adapted to secure both a cigar cutter and a belt clip mechanism to the upper housing. In a preferred embodiment, the lower housing is formed with substantially parallel ribs thereacross which contact the upper housing when the lower housing slides within the upper housing. An alternative embodiment of the humidor also includes a clip mechanism for securing the humidor to an item of wearing apparel. U.S. Patent Application # 20040084055, published May 6, 2004 by

Rebensdorf, concerns an air and watertight portable container for carrying and extinguishing a cigarette. The container comprises an elongated cylindrical tube having a closed end and an open end disposed opposite the closed end for receiving an ignited cigarette; said open end has female threads for removably receiving a mating set of male threads connected to a cap, wherein the cap contains an O-ring located on a seat between the upper portion of the male threads and the bottom portion of a lip located on said cap.

U.S. Patent #6,431,177, issued August 13, 2002 to Sieggen, provides a cigarette extinguishing and storage device, which comprises a first hollow cylinder having an open end and a closed end. A second hollow cylinder constructed of a heat resistant material is concentric to the first cylinder and mounted therein. The second cylinder includes an open end adjacent the open end of the first cylinder and a closed end longitudinally spaced from the closed end of the first cylinder, thus forming an interior space therebetween. A plurality of partitions extend between the closed ends of the first and second cylinders and are positioned to form a plurality of dead air spaces for inhibiting a heat exchange between the closed ends. The second cylinder presents a diameter sufficient to permit a lit cigarette to be received therein. The device includes a third hollow cylinder having an open end and a closed end and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the first cylinder for releasably receiving the first cylinder therein.

U.S. Patent #6,920,885, issued July 26, 2005 to Braun, is for a cigarette holding apparatus and method for reducing or quitting use of smokers' articles. The apparatus is a tube which can readily be used to extinguish and preserve partially- smoked cigarettes for later use. The method involves use of the apparatus to periodically cut back on cigarette use until an acceptable level is reached.

U.S. Patent #2,715,961, issued August 23, 1955 to Field, indicates a three- piece safety extinguisher for ignited tobacco products, which has two compartments and a removable cap. The first compartment extinguishes the smoking material and the second compartment extinguishes matches.

U.S. Patent #D409,327, issued May 4, 1999 to Brock, shows the ornamental design for a cigarette extinguisher. U.S. Patent #4,660,575, issued April 28, 1987 to Andreason, claims a cigarette extinguisher which can readily be inserted into a conventional pack of cigarettes or the pocket of a user. It comprises a hollow cylinder with open ends, sized to store therein a lighted cigarette. A removable end cap covers one end to removably seal the same. A slidable keeper is mounted proximate the open end to releasably hold via a friction fit a cigarette inserted therein.

U.S. Patent #6,463,936, issued October 15, 2002 to Hicks, describes a cigarette handling system that comprises a housing in a generally tubular configuration. The housing is formed with a sidewall and an integrally formed circular bottom wall and an open upper end. The housing is fabricated of a rigid moldable plastic material selected from the class of rigid moldable plastics. The housing has an exterior surface with a reduced diameter at the bottom wall and enlarged adjacent to the top. The housing has an interior surface, the interior surface being hollow for forming a chamber adapted to receive a lit cigarette and with the sidewall tapering radially outwardly from adjacent to the bottom toward the upper end with the upper end being end being flared slightly. This is to facilitate the guidance and entiy of the lit end of a cigarette into the chamber. A supplemental layer of heat resistant material is on the interior surface of the housing.

U.S. Patent #4,865,053, issued September 12, 1989 to Girona, discloses a combination holder and cover for a substantially cylindrical wrapped smoking material whereby a lit tobacco product is placed in said holder and inserted into said cover until said holder and cover fit snugly, thereby extinguishing the lit tobacco product and providing a means for storing and protecting the tobacco product for re- smoking or disposal. Alternatively, the holder is in the form of a mouthpiece through which the tobacco product can be smoked. U.S. Patent #4,819,666, issued April 11, 1989 to Turver, indicates an elongated container that has a main body at least as long as a cigarette. The body holds an interiorly threaded cylinder and has an upper end that is exteriorly threaded. A container cap has threads engageable with the body's exterior threads. There is a serrated cup and ash holder inside the container engaging the interior threads, and a knob is provided for rotating the cylinder to cause them to go up and down in the container, depending on the direction of rotation. The main body preferably has a clip on its exterior. U.S. Patent #6,273,094, issued August 14, 2001 to Potter, illustrates a tobacco product snuffer that is constructed of three elements, i.e. a tubular member, a sleeve which fits within the tubular member and a cap which secures the sleeve in place. The sleeve has an inside diameter to slidably receive a lighted cigarette or the like. The cap has a bore through which a cigarette is to be inserted into the sleeve and from which an end of the cigarette is able to project for ease of removal for re-use. Multiple sleeves are provided to accommodate differently sized cigarettes or tobacco products.

U.S. Patent #6,354,302, issued March 12, 2002 to Bingham, is for an adjustable device for snuffing out smoking tobacco products of various diameters. The device is comprised of a housing having a first open end, a second closed end, and a cavity formed therebetween; a slider within the cavity having an opening defined by an inner surface for accepting a burning end of a smoking tobacco product; and an adjustable retainer disposed within the opening wherein the retainer and the slider work in concert to snugly accept the burning end of the smoking tobacco product. U.S. Patent #5,499,634, issued March 19, 1996 to Herrmann, provides a device for extinguishing lighted tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, which includes an elongated, tubular cap having a closed, upper end terminating in a cap end wall and an open, upper end, as well as an elongated, tubular holder constructed and arranged to be telescoped within the cap and having an open, upper end and a lower, closed end terminating in a holder end wall opposite the closed, upper end of the cap. The holder has a radially outwardly projecting collar between the open, upper end and the closed, lower end and the cap has a series of longitudinally extending biasing strips located about an inner liner of the cap, the biasing strips being normally biased outwardly towards the longitudinal center line of the cap. The open, upper end of the holder is tapered outwardly in the direction of the closed, lower end thereof and terminates in the collar. The tapered holder is engageable with the biasing strips on the cap as the holder is telescoped within the cap until the open, lower end of the cap abuts the collar on the holder to thereby form a factional closure between the cap and the holder whereby a lighted tobacco product placed in the holder is extinguished by frictional closure between the cap and the holder.

U.S. Patent #5,385,157, issued January 31, 1995 to Smith, shows a cigarette snuffing and storing device. A cylindrical body has open ends, one of which is for receiving the smoking material. A cylindrical cap has an open end adapted to snugly receive the one open end of the cylindrical body. As such, the one open end of the cylindrical body may be capped in a substantially airtight manner. A hollow cylindrical plug has an open end for providing access to an interior cavity of the plug. A flexible screen covering the open end of the plug extends away from the open end of the plug and fits snugly within the other end of the cylindrical body in a substantially airtight manner. The cylindrical plug includes a non-smooth surface for facilitating gripping thereof. As such, the smoking material may be inserted into the one open end of the cylindrical body, which is then capped by the cylindrical cap, thereby smothering the smoking material within the airtight cylindrical body. Ashes from the smoking material are retained within the interior cavity of the plug, which may be emptied or cleaned periodically.

U.S. Patent #D452,346, issued December 18, 2001 to Storlie, claims the ornamental design for a combined article holder and cigarette snuffer.

U.S. Patent #D449,706, issued October 23, 2001 to Storlie, describes the ornamental design for a combined article holder and cigarette snuffer.

U.S. Patent #2,335,674, issued November 30, 1943 to Horlick, discloses a two piece cigarette conserver where a cigarette is placed in one end of a barrel piece and a cap piece is then placed thereon to cover the unlit end.

U.S. Patent #4,777,968, issued October 18, 1988 to Beloff, puts forth a device for extinguishing and preserving lighted cigars. The device comprises a hollow cylindrical tube having a closed end and an open end, an end cap for sealing the open end so as to form a substantially airtight container, and a snuffer positioned within the tube and adapted for movement relative to the tube. The device further includes a spring for restoring the snuffer to a desired initial position and a clip for permitting the device to be retained within the pocket of a user.

U.S. Patent #4,907,604, issued March 13, 1990 to Beloff, concerns a device for extinguishing a lighted cigar and for saving the extinguished cigar for later consumption. The device comprises a hollow cylindrical tube having a closed end portion and an open end opposed to said closed end portion and a removable cap sized to fit within the open end of the tube for forming a substantially air tight container so as to promote rapid extinguishment of the lighted cigar. The cap in a preferred embodiment has a bore configured to receive and reshape an unlit, wetted tip of the extinguished cigar and a pin having a pointed end for punching a hole in the unlit cigar tip. The device further includes an adjustable snuffer for accommodating cigars of different lengths.

U.S. Patent #5,862,809, issued January 26, 1999 to Nicotra, illustrates a portable cigar holder for extinguishing a lighted cigar and for saving the extinguished cigar for later consumption. The cigar holder comprises a hollow cylindrical tube having a closed end portion and an open end opposed to said closed end portion and a removable cap sized to close the open end of the tube for forming a substantially air tight container so as to promote rapid extinguishing of the lighted cigar. The cigar holder includes a specially configured snuffer which snuffer is in the shape of a bowl with the open end of the bowl facing the open end of the cigar holder and which snuffer is readily slidable within the cigar holder. The cigar holder of the invention accommodates cigars of different lengths while minimizing the overall length of the cigar holder so that the holder may be comfortably carried by the cigar smoker. The snuffer is preferably connected to the upper end of spring means at a point above the base of the snuffer and the snuffer is configured so that when the snuffer is moved downward in the tube when a cigar is inserted in the holder the lower portion of the snuffer is disposed (nested) within the spring means and the overall length of the cigar holder needed is shorter than prior art cigar holders for holding the same length cigars. To permit the device to be worn in a pocket of the user's apparel, a clip is provided.

What is needed is airtight, water resistant and odor impermeable pocket containers each having a tapered collar and lid to create an air-tight seal and a protrusion mating with a recess for a snap-lock fit and a slippery plastic surface to make it easier to open and close the cap to overcome the friction of the tapered fit. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide sealed airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable pocket containers, each having a tapered collar and lid to create an air-tight seal, a protrusion mating with a recess for a snap-lock fit and a smooth surface to make it easier to open and close the cap to overcome the friction of the tapered fit.

A related object of the present invention is to provide the airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable sealed pocket containers in a variety of sizes for carrying a variety of items in a pocket of a user including hand rolled cigarette carriers, small size or single cigarette carriers, mini cigars and blunt cigarette carriers, four cigarettes size carriers which also hold change and money, keys, and vitamins or herbs, and cigarette pack carriers with snap-in mini cigarette lighters, and computer flash cards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable sealed pocket containers in a lightweight and durable material.

One more object of the present invention is to provide inexpensive airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable sealed pocket containers.

In brief, a two-piece pocket container is made of smooth, low-friction, high impact plastic for carrying a variety of items, including cigarettes, mini cigars, blunt cigarettes, cigarette packs, loose tobacco, rolling papers, mini cigarette lighters, money, keys, vitamin or herb supplements, and computer flash cards. The container body has a tapered collar with a circumferential protrusion that snap-fits together with a circumferential recess on the tapered lid, providing an air-tight, water resistant, and odor impermeable seal. The containers are made in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate the various items.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an airtight, water resistant, odor impermeable, means of carrying a variety of items including cigarettes, mini cigars, blunt cigarettes, cigarette packs, loose tobacco, rolling papers, mini cigarette lighters, money, keys, computer flash cards, and vitamin or herb supplements to help preserve and keep the items fresh and dry inside as well as preventing odors from the items escaping from the container. Another advantage of the present invention is that it is secure.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it is convenient. One more advantage of the present invention is that it is lightweight and durable. An additional advantage of the present invention is that it is inexpensive to manufacture.

A contributory advantage of the present invention is that is can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate the variety of items carried in it. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the airtight odor impermeable container of the present invention for carrying a single cigarette therein;

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the airtight odor impermeable container of FIG. 1 showing the container cap aligned for mounting on the container body and showing the tapered snap together connection between the cap and the body; FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view in partial section of the mating tapered collar connection between the cap and the body including the protruding ring of the body and the mating recessed annular interior groove of the cap;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the airtight odor impermeable container of the present invention for carrying a single mini cigar or several cigarettes therein; FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the airtight odor impermeable container of FIG. 4 showing the container cap aligned for mounting on the container body and showing the tapered snap together connection between the cap and the body;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view in partial section of the mating tapered collar connection between the cap and the body of the container of FIG. 4 including the protruding ring of the body and the mating recessed annular interior groove of the cap;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the airtight odor impermeable container of the present invention for carrying several cigarettes and other items such as money therein;

FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the airtight odor impermeable container of FIG. 7 showing the container cap aligned for mounting on the container body and showing the tapered snap together connection between the cap and the body;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the airtight odor impermeable container of the present invention for carrying a full pack of cigarettes or tobacco and paper for rolling cigarettes therein with removable dividers having top recesses for supporting a lighter;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the airtight odor impermeable container of FIG. 9 showing one divider in place in the aligned vertical slots in the walls of the container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1 through 10, a container 2OA, 2OB, 2OC, and 20D for carrying items in a sealed environment in a pocket or carrying bag of a user comprises an elongated container body 21 A, 21B, 21C₅ and 21D, and a container cap 22A, 22B, 22C, and 22D. The container is fabricated of rigid air-impervious and water-impervious material, having a smooth exterior surface with rounded corners 19A, 19B, 19C, and 19D to fit easily and comfortably into the user's pocket or carrying bag.

The container body 2 IA, 2 IB, 21C, and 21D has at least one interior chamber 33 sized to fit at least one desired item to be carried in the user's pocket, and a container opening 31 at one end of the container body that communicates with the interior chamber for loading and unloading the interior chamber. The end of the container body that contains the container opening 31 has a tapered outer collar 25 surrounding the opening, which tapers from a wider portion adjacent to a protruding lip 24 spaced apart from the container opening to a narrower portion adjacent to the container opening and at least one circumferential protruding ridge 27 encircling the outer collar between the protruding lip 24 and the container opening 31. The container cap 22 A, 22B, 22C, and 22D has a cap opening 30 at one end of the container cap and an interior space 32 at least as deep as the length of the outer collar 25 of the container body 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D. The interior space 32 has a tapered recessed inner collar 26 to mate with the tapered outer collar 25 of the container body in an airtight and water resistant fit so that no air or moisture enters or leaves the container and no odors emanate from the closed container. The inner collar 26 is positioned adjacent to the cap opening 30, and has at least one recessed groove 28 encircling the inner collar at a position on the inner collar to mate with the protruding ridge 27 of the container body when the container cap is installed on the container body. The inner collar 26 has a precision tapered surface to mate with the outer collar 25 to form a tight friction fit between the container cap and the container body so that no air or moisture penetrates into the interior chamber and no smells emanate from the inner chamber, and the recessed groove 28 is precision formed to mate with the protruding ridge 27 with a close tolerance fit to snap together, locking the cap on the container to form a sealed airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable container to fit in the user's pocket.

The tapered outer collar 25 and mating tapered inner collar 26 both have smooth plastic surfaces to make it easier to open and close the cap, thereby overcoming the friction of the tapered fit and snap connection of the protrusion 27 and groove 28.

The container is fabricated in a variety of sizes and shapes according to the shapes of the items carried and the necessary shape of container for carrying a variety of items in the user' s pocket including a hand rolled cigarette or single commercially- rolled cigarette 40 container as shown in FIG. 1, a mini cigar 50 or blunt cigarette container as shown in FIG. 4, a four cigarettes size container, as shown in FIG. 7, which may also hold change and money 60 and most keys and computer flash cards, and a cigarette pack or tobacco and rolling paper container as shown in FIG. 9 with a snap-in mini cigarette lighter.

The container may also have a clip 23 on the exterior of the container, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, for clipping the container onto an edge of a pocket.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, the container 2OD further comprises at least one removable divider 16 that is insertable into at least one pair of channels or tracks 18 in the walls of the inner chamber of the container to divide the inner chamber 33, as shown in FIG. 9, into at least two inner chambers 33A and 33B, as shown in FIG. 10. These two inner chambers 33A and 33B may be used to store different items separate from each other, such as loose tobacco in one chamber and rolling papers in the other. Two removable dividers 19 each having a recessed portion 17 of a top edge may be used to support a lighter 70 stored horizontally resting on the recessed portions of the dividers. The container of FIG. 9 is made in two sizes to accommodate regular and king-size cigarettes. It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

L A container for carrying items in a sealed environment in a pocket of a user, the container comprising: an elongated container body fabricated of rigid air impervious and water impervious material, the elongated container body comprising a smooth exterior surface with rounded corners to fit comfortably in a pocket of a user, at least one interior chamber sized to fit at least one desired item to be carried in a pocket of a user, a container opening at a first end of the container body communicating with the at least one interior chamber for loading and unloading the interior chamber, the first end further comprising a tapered outer collar surrounding the container opening, the outer collar tapering from a wider portion adjacent to a protruding lip spaced apart from the container opening to a narrower portion adjacent to the container opening, at least one protruding ridge encircling the outer collar between the protruding lip and the container opening; a container cap fabricated of rigid air impervious and water impervious material, the container cap comprising a smooth exterior surface with rounded corners to fit comfortably in a pocket of a user, a cap opening at one end of the container cap, an interior space at least as deep as the length of the outer collar of the container body, the interior space having a tapered recessed inner collar to mate with the tapered outer collar of the container body in an airtight and water resistant fit so that no air or moisture enters or leaves the container and no smells emanate from the closed container, the inner collar positioned adjacent to the cap opening, at least one recessed groove encircling the inner collar at a position on the inner collar to mate with the at least one protruding ridge of the container body with the container cap installed on the container body, the inner collar having a precision tapered surface to mate with the outer collar to form a tight friction fit between the container cap and the container body so that no air or moisture penetrates into the interior chamber and no smells emanate from the inner chamber, and the at least one recessed groove precision formed to mate with the at least one protruding ridge with a close tolerance fit to snap together to lock the cap on the container to form a sealed airtight, water resistant, and odor impermeable container to fit within a pocket of a user; wherein the tapered outer collar and mating tapered inner collar both have slippery plastic surfaces to make it easier to open and close the cap to overcome the friction of the tapered fit and snap connection of the at least one protrusion and at least one groove.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is fabricated in a variety of sizes and shapes of containers according to the shapes of the items carried and the necessary shape of container for carrying a variety of items in a pocket of a user including a hand rolled cigarette container, a small size or single cigarette container, a mini cigar container, a blunt cigarette container, a four cigarettes size container which may also hold change and money and most keys, a cigarette pack container with a snap-in mini cigarette lighter, and a computer flash card.

3. The container of claim 1 further comprising at least one removable divider insertable into the container to divide the at least one inner chamber into at least two inner chambers.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the at least one removable divider comprises two removable dividers each having a recessed portion of a top edge for supporting a lighter stored horizontally resting on the recessed portions of the dividers.

5. The container of claim 1 further comprising a clip on an exterior of the container for clipping the container onto an edge of a pocket.