WO2023037280A1 - Tamping and storage device and method of using same - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for filling and packing smokable material into a smokable receptacle including a housing having two sections joined together to allow them to slide against one another. The upper tamping section has a tamper and is configured to attached to a storage chamber such that the material inside the storage chamber falls into the tamping section of the housing and then into the filling section of the housing. The upper section can then be moved up and down with relation to the filling section thereby causing a tamper positioned in the tamping section to push or pack smokable material into a wrapper situated in a cavity in the filling section of the housing. The housings can be separated and then joined again in a different orientation to allow the tamper to push the filled wrapper out of the filling section of the housing.

Description

IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Utility Patent Application (International PCT Application)

Tamping and storage device and method of using same

Jeremy Fairchild, Ghent, West Virginia TITLE OF THE INVENTION.

Tamping and storage device and method of using same

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of priority to United States Provisional Application

No. 63/241 ,955 filed on September 8, 2021. The content of United States Provisional Application No. 63/241 ,955 filed on September 8, 2021 is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD.

The present invention is in the technical field of smoking articles or accessories. More particularly, the present invention is a tamping device with integrated structures to facilitate the loading of a receptacle with processed smoking material. The present disclosure also describes a method of loading and packing smokable material into a wrapper or cone. BACKGROUND ART.

There are a number of devices on the market that smokers can use to process their own smoking material and load it into other materials for smoking such as wrappers, papers and/or cones (“loading devices”). Generally, these devices use a grinder and the user is meant to load the material to be processed into the grinder. Manipulation of the grinder causes the smokable material to fall into a chamber that holds a wrapper. The chamber is shaped to guide the material into the wrapper. Typically, these devices rely on manual manipulation or vibrations to cause the smokable material to pass into the wrapper. As a result, the device produces a loosely packed wrapper that does not burn as well or as evenly and is aesthetically unpleasing. Some of these devices come with a tamper, or an elongated device that is used to pack the smokable material into the wrapper. This is typically accomplished by inserting the end of the tamper into the wrapper or over the open end of the wrapper and pushing down on the material with the tamper until the desired result is achieved. The tamper that sometimes comes with devices currently on the market is usually a structure that is physical separated from the rest of the loading device.

One such device is that described in U.S. Patent Number 9,814,259. That device features a grinder in a housing that has an aperture that allows material processed by the grinder to fall into a chamber that holds a paper wrapper. The lower support or portion of the lower chamber is then removed to allow the user to remove the filled wrapper. Similarly, U.S. Patent Number 9,427,020 uses a plurality of pre-formed tubes to hold wrappers in place - once filled, the user disassembles the base of the device to remove the pre-formed tubes, one of which holds the filled wrapper. The user then has to turn the device over to cause the filled wrapper to fall out of the device.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM.

These devices work well for most people; however, there are several medical conditions that cause people to lose dexterity in their hands, such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. These individuals have a difficult time manipulating small items such as smoking material and tampers. The loss of fine motor control in their hands can make it very difficult, once the wrapper is loaded with material, to manipulate the tamper well enough to pack the material firmly into the wrapper. As a result, trying to use one of the loading devices described above can be an exercise in frustration for such people.

SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

The solution described in this disclosure is a device that integrates a tamper into a portion of the housing such that the user can remove one portion of the housing from a portion that holds the receptacle for smokable material in place (i.e. the smokable receptacle) such as a paper cone or wrapper or other device that can be used to hold smokable material while it is being smoked. Hereinafter the terms smokable receptacle, wrapper and cone will be used interchangeably to refer to the object being packed with smokable material. The two sections of the device are configured to allow the user to load and tamp smokable material into a wrapper without as much manual manipulation as other devices require. The present invention is a smoking accessory used to pack or tamp smokable material into a smokable receptacle while limiting the amount of manual dexterity required to do so.

The user is able to disengage one portion of the housing from another, load their smokable material into the smokable receptacle and then use the tamper to pack the smokable material into the receptacle. Instead of holding a rather thin, elongated tamper, the user holds the entire upper portion of the housing which requires less fine motor skill to manipulate. In addition, the housing is configured to assist in the tamping of the smokable material, specifically aligning the tamper with the receptacle into which it is being inserted so that people having difficulty with fine motor skills have an easier time loading a cone or wrapper and tamping the smokable material down into the wrapper .

Preferred embodiments of the tamping device including a housing with an upper section and a lower section. While preferred embodiments and the anticipated best mode of the device involve a cylindrical housing, the housing can be any shape desired. The upper section, or tamping section, houses the tamping device or tamper and can optionally include a threaded cap at one end - the end opposite the end that engages the lower section or filling section of the device. The tamper is an elongated rod-like structure that is attached to or integrated into the upper tamping section of the housing. The filling section includes a cavity or receptacle into which a wrapper can be inserted. When the two sections of the housing are physically removed from one another, the tamping device is exposed on the upper section of the housing and an opening that accommodates the wrapper is exposed on the lower section of the housing. When the housing is assembled, i.e. the lower housing is inserted into the upper housing, the tamper is aligned with the cavity holding a wrapper containing smokable material and the upper housing can be used to push the tamper into the cavity and remove the tamper from the cavity allowing the user to pack the smokable material into the wrapper. The two sections of the housing are different sizes so that one section can insert or nest inside the other.

Preferred embodiments of the device include a separate cylindrical housing that can engage with the rest of the device. This separate housing is a storage device (hereinafter the “storage chamber”) that is meant to store smokable material, either before or after it has been ground up and processed to make it easier to load into a smokable receptacle. In its most basic form, it is a housing that has a lid or other cover to close an open end of the storage chamber as well as a cavity in which smokable material can be placed. Preferred embodiments of the storage chamber include a threaded closure or cap that includes an extra set of threads on a portion of the cap that are complementary to a set of threads on an outer portion of the tamping device, preferably the upper section of the tamping device. Preferred embodiments have the threads featured at one end, the top end, of the upper portion of the tamping device. The user can then use the threads on the upper section of the housing to engage the threads on the storage chamber; thus storing the storage chamber.

In use, the user fills the storage chamber with smokable material and can use the threaded cap to seal the chamber. Later, they can remove the lid of the storage chamber, turn the tamping device upside down and engage threads on the upper portion of the housing with those on the storage chamber. The user can then load smokable material into the tamping device by simply turning the tamping device rightside up again allowing the material to fall from the storage chamber into the upper section of the housing.

Preferred embodiments of the storage chamber include a cylindrical housing that is open at both ends and features threads proximate to each opening. One end of the storage chamber can be reversibly sealed with a cap having threads on a surface complementary to threads on a surface of the storage chamber. The other end can be sealed by a divider which in preferred embodiments is a disc shaped structure with threads on an outer surface that are complementary to threads located on an inner surface of the storage chamber. The difference between the cap and divider is that when the divider is engaged with threads on the inner surface of the storage chamber it does not protrude past an upper edge of the storage chamber’s opening, rather, when it is fully engaged it is recessed with respect to that upper edge of the opening of the storage chamber.

The tamping section of the housing includes a rod, or tamping device, that is positioned such that it extends incompletely along the central or longitudinal axis of the housing. Specifically, the tamping device is held in place by a portion of the housing. The tamper extends out and away from a top surface of the upper section of the housing; although, it need not be physically in contact with that top surface. Some embodiments of the device include a telescoping tamper that can be extended and retracted with respect to the upper section of the housing. Preferred embodiments of the lower section of the housing include a cavity that can hold a wrapper or cone for smokable material inserted therein, i.e. the smokable receptacle or wrapper. The cavity is sized and shaped to accommodate and support a commonly used conical shaped paper wrapper in an upright position such that an open end of the wrapper is exposed to the user and the open end of the lower section of the housing. The shape and dimensions of the cavity for the smokable receptacle can be varied as desired to accommodate a whole host of different receptacles, including but not limited to cigarette rolling papers, cigar rolling papers, paper cones, and even another device such as a pipe.

Generally, one section of the housing has a smaller diameter than the other so that one section of the housing can be inserted into a portion of the other section of the housing and both sections of the housing can toward or away from one another. In preferred embodiments, the upper or tamping section of the housing has a larger diameter than the lower or filling section of the housing and fits over a portion of the outer surface of the filling section. This configuration allows the two sections of the housing to slide against each other. Optionally, the two sections can feature a tongue and groove to keep the two sections aligned during use, i.e. to guide the motion of the two sections in relation to each other. The inventor has determined through trial and error that the preferred embodiment and best mode of practicing this invention includes a groove connected to a J-shaped or L-shaped channel that can accommodate the tongue such that the two sections can slide vertically, parallel to a longitudinal axis and then with a twist of one or both sections, the tongue is inserted into the J-shaped channel locking it into place. Optionally, the outer circumference and/or diameter of the lower or filling section of the device can tapered, i.e. one end may have a larger circumference than the other. This configuration can make it difficult to fully insert the lower section into the upper section by accident. This result can also be achieved using the tongue and groove mentioned above by having the groove extend incompletely down the outer surface of the housing causing the groove to stop the movement of the tongue in the groove and thus the movement of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing.

In use the two sections of the housing are separated from each other - the user simply pulls them apart. Then the user loads their wrapper into the cavity of the lower section of the housing. Next, the user closes the housing by inserting the lower section of the housing into the upper section of the housing. Following putting the housing back together, the user can remove the threaded cap from the storage chamber, turn the entire device upside down and use the complementary threads on the storage chamber to engage those on the tamping section. When the user then turns the device right-side up, the smokable material that is in the storage chamber falls into the tamping section. The tamping section contains ports, cavities or channels that run adjacent to the tamper. These channels allow the smokable material to fall into the lower or filling chamber holding the receptacle.

At that point, the user can simply move the tamping section up and down with respect to the filling section. The tamper is positioned in the tamping section such that when it is placed over the filling section, the tamper is aligned with the opening in the smoking receptacle or wrapper. When the tamping section is moved up and down, the tamper packs the smokable material into the wrapper or receptacle. The user can then disengage the two sections of the housing and place the tamping section upside down such that the tamper is facing upward (in relation to the user) and then insert the filling section, right-side up, over the tamping section. This position has the effect of allowing the tamper to insert into a channel or hole in the bottom of the filling section causing the tamper to push the filled smokable wrapper out of the cavity into which it was placed making it easier to retrieve.

Preferred embodiments may also include a base with which the lower or filling section of the housing can engage. Protrusions or tabs on the base can be used to engage with slots on the lower section of the housing thereby locking the two structures in place. In preferred embodiments, the base is a flared structure that supports the rest of the device when engaged with it.

The present invention is a smoking accessory used to pack or tamp smokable material into a smokable receptacle while limiting the amount of manual dexterity required to do so. Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from reading the following detailed description of the embodiments described and illustrated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the upper or tamping section of the device ;

Figure 1 B is a bottom perspective view thereof;

Figure 2A is a top perspective view of the lower or filling section of the housing; Figure 2B is a bottom perspective view thereof;

Figure 2C is a side perspective view thereof;

Figure 2D is a cross-sectional view thereof;

Figure 3A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the storage chamber;

Figure 3B is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the cap that engages with the storage chamber;

Figure 3C is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the cap that engages with the storage chamber;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the storage chamber; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a base for use with the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS.

Figures 1A and 1 B show the upper section 12 of the cylindrical housing 11 that is also referred to as the tamping section 12 of the tamping device 10. As discussed above, the upper section 12 is a housing or casing, preferably cylindrical, that forms a space 17 that encloses a rod-shaped structure, the tamper 12a, that is used to pack or push material into the lower section of the housing (not shown). In this embodiment, there are tines or spokes 12b that extend inward from the cylindrical housing 11 to hold the tamping device 12a in place oriented along a longitudinal axis of the housing 11. Other embodiments may feature other structures that hold the tamping device 12a in place, but it is important to the functioning of the device to have some portion of the tamping section 12 of the housing 11 feature an opening 12c through which material can pass as discussed below. The tamping section 12 of the housing can also feature one or more tabs 18 or protrusions located along an inner surface 12d of the housing 11. In this embodiment, there is also an arrow on the outer surface of the housing 11 that serves as a visual marker for the protrusions 18. These tabs 18 engage a slot (not shown) on the lower or filling section of the housing (not shown). Preferred embodiments of the upper section 12 of the housing 11 also feature threads 16 on an outer surface at one end of the upper section 12 of the housing 11 , the end of the housing 11 that does not engage with the lower section of the housing 11 and in this embodiment is closest to the spokes 12b.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show the lower section 13 of the housing 11 , also called the filling section. The filling section 13 features a cavity 20 that is sized and shaped to accommodate some form of wrapper (not shown) into which smokable material is inserted and packed. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 feature openings 13a, 13b at both ends of the filling section 13. One end of the housing features a first opening 13a to accept the wrapper and the material that is being placed into the wrapper. As shown in Figure 2B, the opposing end of the filling section 13 of the housing 11 has an opening 13b or aperture large enough to accommodate the tamping device shown in Figure 1 B. This opening or aperture 13b communicates with the cavity 20. As explained below, the tamping device 12a can be used to push a filled wrapper out of the lower section 13 of the housing 11 by inserting the tamping device 12a into the aperture and pushing the filled wrapper up out of the cavity making it easier to grasp. Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C also show that preferred embodiments can feature one or more grooves 19 on an outer surface 13c of the housing 11. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 have a lower filling section 13 that is smaller in diameter than the upper tamping section 12 allowing the lower section 13 to be inserted into the upper section 12. In preferred embodiments, the tabs 18 on the inner surface 12d of the upper section 12 of the housing fit into the grooves 19 that are featured on an outer surface 13c of the lower section 13 of the housing thereby guiding the movement of the two sections of the housing 11 when they are joined together. Still other preferred embodiments of the device 10 include a section of the groove 19 that is J-shaped or L-shaped 19a much like a bayonet fitting. These portions of the groove serve to prevent additional vertical movement of the sections relative to one another when the tabs 18 are inserted into these portions of the grooves 19.

Figure 2C shows markings 25 on the outer surface 13c of the filling section 13 of the device 10. These markings 25 correspond to a certain volume inside the cavity 20 that holds the wrapper and can assist the user in deciding how far down to move the tamping section 12 when filling a wrapper.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C show an embodiment of the storage chamber 14 that is an optional feature of the device 10. In its most basic form, the storage chamber 14 is a housing 14a with a lid 21. One set of threads 16 is featured on an inner surface of the housing 14a and are complementary to threads 16 on an outer surface of the tamping section 12. These complementary threads allow the storage chamber 14 to be screwed onto the tamping section 12 of the device 10. In these embodiments, the lid 21 features two sets of threads 16. There is a first set of threads 16 located on an outer surface 21a of the lid 21. This set of threads can engage with the threads 16 located along the inner surface 14c of the housing 14a. These embodiments of the lid 21 also feature a second set of threads 16 featured by a recessed area 21 b of the lid 21. These threads are complementary to those threads 16 featured by the upper section 12 of the housing 11.

The storage chamber 14 features a chamber 14c into which smokable material can be inserted. In use, the storage chamber 14 is at least partially filled with material meant to be packed into a wrapper inserted into the cavity 20 featured by the filling section 13 of the housing 11. This embodiment of the storage chamber 14 also features fill lines 24a located on an interior surface 14c of the storage chamber 14 that allow the user to measure the volume of material being placed therein. The lid 21 can be attached to the storage chamber 14 and then the threads 16 on the recessed area 21b of the lid can be engaged with those on the upper tamping section 12 of the housing 11 allowing for storage of the material while the device is not in use. When the user desires to pack a wrapper with smoking material, they can remove the lower, filling section 13 of the housing 11 from the upper, tamping section 12 of the housing revealing the cavity 20. A wrapper or other container is placed into the cavity 20 and then the upper and lower 12, 13 sections of the housing 11 are re-engaged, i.e. the lower section 13 of the housing is inserted into the upper section 12 of the housing 11 typically by engaging the tabs 18 on the tamping section 12 into the groove(s) 19 featured by the outer surface 13c of the filling section 13. When desired, the lid 21 is removed from the storage chamber 14 and can be inverted and screwed onto the upper section 12 of the housing 11 without the lid 21. The user then turns the housing 11 right-side up and the material from the storage chamber 14 falls into and through the tamping section 12 of the housing 11 under the force of gravity and into the cavity 20 featured by the lower, filling section 13.

The upper and lower sections 12, 13 of the housing 11 are configured to slide against each other. The user can place the assembled device 10 onto a flat surface, grip the lower section of the housing and then move the upper section 12 of the housing 11 featuring the tamper 12a up and down. Gravity causes the material to fall from the storage chamber 14 through the openings 12c between the spokes 12b and into the wrapper held by the cavity 20 and the up and down movement of the tamper 12a packs the material more tightly into the wrapper. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 have a filling section 13 and a tamping section 12 that are sized and shaped such that there is not a lot of friction between the two pieces when they move relative to one another. Properly configured, the fit between the two pieces is loose enough that the tamping section 12 can “fall” over the filling section 13 under the force of gravity, thereby tamping the material into the wrapper without manual manipulation by the user.

Figure 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the storage chamber 14. This embodiment of the storage chamber 14 features a plurality of ridges or ribs 23 on an exterior surface 14b to make gripping the housing 14a of the storage chamber 14 easier. Similarly, ribs 23 can be featured by the cap 24 to the storage chamber 14. A second embodiment of the storage chamber 14 also features fill lines 24a located on an interior surface 14c of the storage chamber 14 that allow the user to measure the volume of material being placed therein. In addition, this version of the storage chamber 14 features two openings - one at a first end 14d and one at a second end 14e. The opening at the first end 14d is sealed by a cap 24 featuring threads 16 on an outer surface that are complementary to threads 16 that are located on an inner surface 14c of the housing 14a of the storage chamber 14. In addition, there is a second end 14e that also features threads 16 on an inner surface 14c of the housing 14a that is meant to be sealed by a divider 26, a flattened disc-shaped structure that features threads 16 on an external surface that are complementary to threads 16 on the inner surface 14c of the housing 14a. When engaged with those threads 16 the divider 26 can be seated such that it is either flush with the edge or rim 14f of the housing 14a or it can be positioned to be recessed with respect to that same edge 14f. The user can place smokable material on top of the divider 26 and then engage the same threads 16 that engage the divider 26 with those on the tamping section 12 of the device 10 allowing any material that is placed on the divider 26 to fall into the device 10 as described above.

After the wrapper is packed, the user can remove the tamping section 12 from the filling section 13, invert the tamping section 12 and place it on a flat surface or simply hold it in place. The filling section 13 can then be placed into the tamping section 12 allowing the tamper 12a to displace the filled wrapper, i.e. to push it up out of the cavity 20 featured by the filling section 13 and making it easy for a user to manually grab.

Figure 5 shows an optional base 15 that can be used with the device 10. The base 15 is a circular, flared structure a central portion 15a of which extends upward and away from a surface on which the base 15 is placed. The base features an opening 15b that can optionally feature tabs 18 sized, shaped and positioned to engage with grooves 19 featured on the outer surface 13c of the filling section 13 of the device allowing the user to lock the base 15 onto the device 10 for use.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to pack smoking material into a smokable wrapper without having to manually add the material to the wrapper. This device makes it considerably easier for someone with compromised dexterity in their hands to fill a wrapper with smokable material without assistance. Most prior art devices depend on the vibrations of the device to fill a wrapper with smokable material.

Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE.

A device for filling and packing smokable material into a smokable receptacle including a housing having two sections joined together to allow them to slide against one another. The upper tamping section has a tamper and is configured to attached to a storage chamber such that the material inside the storage chamber falls into the tamping section of the housing and then into the filling section of the housing. The upper section can then be moved up and down with relation to the filling section thereby causing a tamper positioned in the tamping section to push or pack smokable material into a wrapper situated in a cavity in the filling section of the housing. The housings can be separated and then joined again in a different orientation to allow the tamper to push the filled wrapper out of the filling section of the housing.

Claims

I Claim:

Claim 1 : An assistive device for loading smokable material into a wrapper comprising: an upper housing with a tamper; a lower housing with a cavity; wherein the upper housing has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the lower housing such that the lower housing can fit into the upper housing; and wherein the tamper is positioned to insert into the cavity when the lower housing is inserted into the upper housing.

Claim 2: The assistive device of Claim 1 further comprising an aperture located in an outer surface of the lower housing that communicates with the cavity.

Claim 3: The assistive device of Claim 2 further comprising: a first opening and a second opening located at opposing ends of the upper housing and a first set of threads located on the upper housing proximate to the first opening.

Claim 4: The assistive device of Claim 3 further comprising a chamber comprising a housing having a first opening and a second set of threads proximate to said first opening that are complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

Claim 5: The assistive device of Claim 3 comprising: a chamber comprising: a housing; a first chamber opening and a second chamber opening at opposing ends of the housing; a second set of threads located proximate to the first chamber opening and a third set of threads located proximate to the second chamber opening; and a lid with a fourth set of threads that are complementary to at least one of the second set of threads or the third set of threads; wherein the second set of threads or the third set of threads are complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

Claim 6: The assistive device of Claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the lower housing is tapered such that a bottom of the housing has a larger diameter than a top of the lower housing.

Claim 7: The assistive device of Claim 1 further comprising: at least one groove located on a surface of the lower housing and extending at least partially from a top of the lower housing to a bottom of the lower housing; and at least one tab located on a surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing.

Claim 8: The assistive device of Claim 7 wherein the at least one groove has a at least one L-shaped portion.

Claim 9: The assistive device of Claim 1 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper that can be extended or retracted.

Claim 10: An assistive device for loading smokable material into a receptacle comprising: a cylindrical lower housing with a cylindrical cavity that extends from an open end of the lower housing to an opposing, closed end of the lower housing; an aperture traversing the closed end of the lower housing and communicating with the cavity; and a cylindrical upper housing with a tamper that is positioned to extend at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the upper housing and to insert, at least partially, into the cavity in the lower housing.

Claim 11. The assistive device of Claim 10 further comprising: at least one groove located on an outer surface of the lower housing and extending at least partially from a top of the lower housing to a bottom of the lower housing; wherein the groove has at least one L-shaped portion; and at least one tab located on an inner surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing.

Claim 12. The assistive device of Claim 11 further comprising: at least one opening at a first end of the upper housing that communicates with a channel expending from the opening at the first end of the upper housing to an opening at a second end of the upper housing.

Claim 13. The assistive device of Claim 12 further comprising: a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising: a housing having at least one open end and a second set of threads located adjacent to the at least one open end; said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing. Claim 14. The assistive device of Claim 12 further comprising: a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising: a housing having openings at a first end and a second end of the housing; a second set of threads located adjacent to the opening at the first end of the housing said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing; a third set of threads located adjacent to the opening at the second end of the housing said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing; and a lid having a fourth set of threads that are complementary to the second and third set of threads.

Claim 15. The assistive device of Claim 14 wherein the lid is shaped such that it can be screwed into the housing of the chamber to a point where the lid is no longer flush with either the first end or the second end of the housing.

Claim 16. The assistive device of Claim 13 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.

Claim 17. The assistive device of Claim 15 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.

Claim 18. An assistive device for loading smokable material into a cavity comprising: an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein a diameter of the lower housing is smaller than a diameter of the upper hosing allowing the lower housing to be at least partially inserted into the upper housing; a tamper featured by the upper housing and configured to be inserted into a cavity featured by the lower housing; a groove on an outer surface of the lower housing and a tab attached to the upper housing and that fits into and can slide along the length of the groove; a plurality of openings in a top of the upper housing that communicate with a channel that runs the length of the upper housing and terminates in an opening at a bottom of the upper housing; wherein the lower housing fits into the opening at the bottom of the upper housing.

Claim 19. The assistive device of Claim 18 further comprising an aperture located in a bottom surface of the lower housing wherein said aperture leads to the cavity and is large enough for the tamper to be inserted therein. 22

Claim 20. The assistive device of Claim 19 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.