U.S. patent application number 10/287842 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-06 for cigarette extinguishing and storage device.
Invention is credited to Rebensdorf, William D..
Application Number | 20040084055 10/287842 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32175768 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040084055 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rebensdorf, William D. |
May 6, 2004 |
Cigarette extinguishing and storage device
Abstract
This invention resides in 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.
Inventors: |
Rebensdorf, William D.;
(Anaheim, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Cleveland R. Williams
Suite 100
2501 E. Chapman Avenue
Fullerton
CA
92831
US
|
Family ID: |
32175768 |
Appl. No.: |
10/287842 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/235.1 ;
131/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 13/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/235.1 ;
131/256 |
International
Class: |
A24F 013/18 |
Claims
I claim
1. A device for holding and rapidly extinguishing a cigarette which
comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having a closed end and an
open end disposed opposite the closed end for receiving an ignited
cigarette; wherein the open end contains female threads for
removably receiving male threads contained on a cap, wherein said
cap contains protruding male threads on a seat between the top of
the male threads and the bottom of the cap, and O-ring fitting
around the seat of the cap for hermetically sealing said
device.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongated cylindrical tube
contains an inside diameter that is slightly larger than the
outside diameter of a cigarette.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the seat
located on the cap is slightly larger than the inside diameter of
the O-ring.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap contains a lip which is
slightly larger than the seat and protruding from the bottom of
said cap.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein the lip of the cap is
substantially equal to the outside diameter of the elongated,
cylindrical tube.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap of said device contains a
protrusion on the top portion thereof.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the protrusion on the top portion
thereof contains a circular hole for receiving a first
connector.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein a second connector connects with
the first connector.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second connector removably
connects with a necklace.
10. A device for holding and hermetically sealing pills therein
which comprises: An elongated cylindrical tube having a closed end
and an open end disposed opposite the closed end for receiving
protruding male threads on the cap, said cap containing a seat
between the top of the male threads and the bottom of the cap for
receiving the O-ring.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an air and water tight, portable
container for cigarettes and in the alternative for pills. The
container is hermetically sealed and suitable for extinguishing and
storing cigarettes. The container in an alternate mode is suitable
for holding pills, especially moisture sensitive pills.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Various containers and devices have been produced for
carrying and extinguishing cigarettes.
[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,302 B1 to Bingham relates
to a device for snuffing out smoking tobacco products having
various diameters. The device consists of a housing having a first
open end, a second closed end, and a cavity formed between the two
ends. A slider within the cavity has an opening defined by an inner
surface for accepting a burning end of a smoking tobacco product.
An adjustable retainer is disposed within the opening of the open
end, wherein the retainer and the slider work in concert to snugly
accept the burning end of the tobacco product.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,094 B1 to Potter describes a tobacco
product snuffer consisting of three elements; namely 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 similar
product. The cap contains a bore through which a cigarette can be
inserted into the sleeve and from which an end of the cigarette
projects for ease of removal and re-use. Multiple sleeves are
provided to accommodate cigarette or tobacco products having
different sizes.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,809 to Nicotra teaches a portable
cigarette holder for rapidly extinguishing a lighted cigar and for
saving the extinguished cigar for later use. The cigar holder
consists of a hollow cylindrical tube having a closed end portion
and an open end opposed to said closed end portion. A removable cap
is sized to close the open end of the tube. The cigar holder
contains a snuffer in the shape of a bowl which has a spring
mechanism attached to the bottom thereof. The snuffer is readily
slidable within the cigar holder. The snuffer is moved downward in
the tube when a cigar is inserted in the holder.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,752,528 and 5,501,332 to Ayres et al.
relate to a cigarette extinguishing and storage device. The device
is of a tubular shape and provided by telescoping elements which
define an enclosure in which a lit cigarette is extinguished and
store for re-use. Charcoal or a similar deodorant is provided at
the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb condensates from
tobacco smoke. The device is constructed from one or more plies of
paper, rendering it disposable.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,127 to Tyler discloses a sealed
container for pills on a money clip. The container has a main body
having a first finger and a second finger with a generally U-shaped
spring forming joint therebetween. The first finger has an upper
surface upon which a container base portion is mounted. The
container base portion has a threaded portion along the peripheral
sides thereof, and a sealing surface at the upper reaches thereof.
A cap is provided with threads. A sealing portion is used to form a
seal between the container base portion at the sealing surface and
the cap.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,634 to Herrmann teaches a device for
extinguishing lighted tobacco products, such as cigarettes and
cigars. The device includes an elongated, tubular cap, end wall and
an upper end, as well as elongated tubular holder constructed and
arranged to be telescopes within the cap and having an open, upper
end and a lower, closed end. The closed end terminates in a holder
end wall opposite the closed, upper end of the cap. The lower end
of the cap abuts a collar on the holder to thereby form a
frictional closure between the cap and the holder, whereby a
lighted tobacco product placed in the holder is extinguished by the
frictional closure between the cap and the holder.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,953 to Taylor describes a cigarette
snuffer for extinguishing a lit cigarette. The device is made of a
cylindrical thin-wall tube having an open end section and a closed
end section, with two diametrically opposed slots in the tube wall,
which extend between the closed end section and open end section
for enabling a user to grasp and remove an extinguished cigarette
disposed in the tube.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,604 to Beloff relates to a device for
rapidly extinguishing a lighted cigar and for saving the 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. A removable cap sized to fit within the open end of
the tube for forming a substantially airtight container so as to
promote rapid extinguishment of the lighted cigar is utilized
herein. The cap has a bore configuration to receive and reshape an
unlit, welted tip of the extinguished cigar and a pin having a
pointed end for punching a hole in the unlit cigar. The device
includes an adjustable snuffer for accommodating cigars of
different lengths for re-use. Charcoal or a similar deodorant is
provided at the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb
condensates from tobacco smoke. The device is constructed from one
or more plies of paper, rendering it disposable.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,575 to Andreason et al. teaches a
cigarette extinguishing device which can readily be inserted into a
pack of cigarettes or the pocket of the user. It consists of a
hollow cylinder with open ends, sized to store therein a lighted
cigarette. A removable end cap covers one end to seal the device. A
slidable keeper is mounted at the open end to releasably hold a
cigarette inserted therein.
[0012] Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,757 B1 to McCutcheon relates to
a cigarette pack and ash holder/extinguisher which keeps cigarettes
and their ashes in a container. The cigarette pack and ash
holder/extinguisher includes a container having a plurality of
compartments. A first compartment is adapted to receive a pack of
cigarettes, a second compartment is adapted to receive and store
cigarette ashes and spent cigarettes; and also includes a tubular
member securely disposed in the second compartment and being
adapted to extinguish a cigarette.
[0013] The first and second compartments contain a first and second
lid members containing latching means. The device also contains a
clip member for clipping onto an object.
[0014] As can readily be determined from the above, there is an
ongoing research effort to produce new and novel cigarette holders
and/or extinguishers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention resides in a cigarette
holder/extinguisher that is hermetically sealed. The cigarette
holder/extinguisher has an elongated, cylindrical configuration
having a closed end and an open end. The open end contains female
threads for removably receiving a cap having protruding male
threads. The cap contains a seated area near the top portion of the
male threads for receiving a sealing member, for example an
O-ring.
[0016] The cap can contain connecting members, such as, triangular
or round shaped connecting member for connecting the cigarette
holder/extinguisher to a necklace or key ring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side-view of the cigarette
holder/extinguisher.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side, cut-away view of the cigarette
holder/extinguisher of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a side, cut-away, exploded view of FIG. 2, wherein
the O-ring is not attached to the cap.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side, cut-away, exploded view of FIG. 2, wherein
the O-ring is attached to the cap.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of the cigarette holder/extinguisher
containing a triangular shaped connector attached to a circular
shaped connector.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of cigarette holder/extinguisher shown
in FIG. 5 wherein the circular shaped connector is attached to a
necklace.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The present invention relates to an air and watertight
portable container for holding and extinguishing cigarettes and in
the alternative for holding pills, especially pills that are
sensitive to water.
[0024] Embodiments of the of the cigarette holder/extinguisher are
hereinafter described with reference to the drawings in which
identical or corresponding parts are indicated by the same
reference characters or numbers through the several views.
[0025] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a cigarette
holder/extinguisher 2 herein referred to as the device is an
elongated cylindrical tube 3 having closed end 4 and open end 6
which is disposed opposite to closed end 4. A cap 8 containing male
protruding threads 18 removably connects with female threads 12.
O-ring 20 hermetically seals the device 2 when the cap 8 is
threadably attached to elongated cylindrical tube 3. Cigarette 14
is contained in cylindrical tube 3 having extinguished ashes 16. It
should be noted that the inside diameter of cylindrical tube 3 is
slightly larger than the outside diameter of cigarette 14.
[0026] Knurls 7A, 7B and 7C are located around the outside of Cap 8
and around the outside of the top and bottom portions of
cylindrical tube 3. The knurls are for gripping functions which
allow for easy opening and closing of cap 8 on said tube 3.
[0027] It should also be noted that cigarette holder/extinguisher
may constructed form plastic or a soft metal, such as aluminum,
copper, bronze, brass or stainless steel. If the device 2 is
constructed from plastic, the cylindrical tube and cap may be
injection molded with no finishing operations being required.
[0028] If the tube is constructed from plastic, a polystyrene
plastic is preferred because it offers a substantial amount of heat
resistance as well as excellent heat insulating properties and high
impact resistance. Regardless of the type material used to
construct the device 2 the effectiveness of said device 2 is such
that the cigarette is immediately extinguished thus preventing heat
from passing through the device 2 to the user.
[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 are cut-away and exploded views of FIGS. 1 and
2 with the following differences: The elongated cylindrical tube 3
of device 2 contains cylindrical cavity 40 for receiving a
cigarette. Cylindrical tube 3 has a bottom closed end 4 and open
end 6 which is disposed opposite closed end 4. Female threads 12
are located near the top portion of open end 6. Cap 8 contains
protruding male threads 18 which threadably mate with female
threads 12 or tube 3. Cap 8 also contains seat 22 which is
positioned between the top portion of male threads 18 and the
bottom portion of Cap 8 having lip 34. O-ring 20 is positioned
around seat 22 which has an outside diameter that is slightly
larger than the inside diameter of O-ring 20, thus permitting for
an air and water hermetical seal of said device 2.
[0030] FIGS. 5 and 6 show views that are substantially the same as
FIGS. 3 and 4 with the following differences:
[0031] Cap 8 contains protrusion 24 containing circular hole 26 on
the top portion thereof. Protrusion 24 may have a rectangular,
square or circular configuration. A first connector 28 connects
with protrusion 24 via circular hole 26. Second connector 30
connects with first connector 28 by passing through opening 36 of
first connector 28. Necklace 32 connects with second connector 30
via opening 38 of said connector. Necklace 32 allows the user to
conveniently carry the cigarette holder/extinguisher around said
user's neck.
[0032] In an alternative mode, the device 2 herein can be used to
contain a variety of different shaped pills in an air and water
tight hermetically sealed environment.
[0033] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the
invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, only such
limitation should be imposed as are indicated in the appended
claims.
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