U.S. patent application number 12/470681 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-25 for can for making quiet pack of smokeless tobacco.
Invention is credited to Benjamin James Yount.
Application Number | 20100043812 12/470681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41695174 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100043812 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yount; Benjamin James |
February 25, 2010 |
CAN FOR MAKING QUIET PACK OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO
Abstract
A can for holding and compacting smokeless tobacco has a bottom
member and a lid. The bottom member has a closed bottom, an open
top, and a first compacting vane located within the bottom member.
The lid is adapted to slidably fit on the bottom member and has a
second compacting vane located within the lid. The first compacting
vane extends partially across the bottom member, and the second
compacting vane extends partially across the lid. The vanes are
positioned to contact each other when the can is closed and either
the lid or the bottom member is rotated. The lid and/or bottom
member are adapted to receive graphics. With smokeless tobacco in
the closed can, tobacco located between the first and second vanes
in the can is compacted into a tight wad by simply rotating the
lid, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, relative to the bottom
member.
Inventors: |
Yount; Benjamin James;
(Beaufort, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL RIES
318 PARKER PLACE
OSWEGO
IL
60543
US
|
Family ID: |
41695174 |
Appl. No.: |
12/470681 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61090899 |
Aug 22, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 23/00 20130101;
B65D 21/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/329 |
International
Class: |
A24F 23/00 20060101
A24F023/00 |
Claims
1. A can for smokeless tobacco comprising: a bottom member having a
closed bottom, an open top and a wall; a first compacting vane
located in said bottom member and having a first dimension which
extends to said wall and a second dimension which extends from said
closed bottom to said open top; a lid for covering the open top of
said bottom member and having a closed top and a wall substantially
perpendicular to said closed top; and a second compacting vane
located in said lid and having a first dimension which extends to
said wall, and a second dimension which extends from said closed
top; wherein a side of said first compacting vane is positioned to
contact a side of said second compacting vane when said lid is on
said bottom member and said lid is rotated relative to said bottom
member.
2. The can of claim 1 wherein the lid of the can is adapted to
receive a metal disk having engraving or graphics.
3. The can of claim 1 wherein the lid of the can is covered with
graphics.
4. The can of claim 3 wherein said graphics are either painted on
the lid or are on a wrap which is on the lid.
5. The can of claim 4 wherein graphics are on the side of the
can.
6. The can of claim 1 wherein said first compacting vane extends
along said first dimension from a side of said bottom member to a
center of said bottom member.
7. The can of claim 6 wherein said first compacting vane extends
from the closed bottom to the open top along said second
dimension.
8. The can of claim 7 wherein said first compacting vane is less
than the depth of the bottom member along said second
dimension.
9. The can of claim 8 wherein said first compacting vane, along
said first dimension, does not contact the side of said bottom
member.
10. The can of claim 1 wherein said first compacting vane, in said
first dimension, extends from the closed bottom to the open
top.
11. The can of claim 1 wherein said second compacting vane located
in said lid extends along the second dimension for a distance
greater than said wall.
12. The can of claim 1 wherein the inside surface of the lid
slidably fits on the outside surface of the bottom member.
13. A method of providing a can for smokeless tobacco comprising
the steps of: providing a bottom member having a closed bottom, an
open top and a wall; locating a first compacting vane in said
bottom member, said vane having a first dimension which extends to
said wall and a second dimension which extends from said closed
bottom to said open top; and providing a lid for covering the open
top of said bottom member and having a closed top and a wall
substantially perpendicular to said closed top; locating a second
compacting vane in said lid, said vane having a first dimension
which extends to said wall, and a second dimension which extends
from said closed top; wherein a side of said first compacting vane
is positioned to contact a side of said second compacting vane when
said lid is on said bottom member and is rotated relative to said
bottom member.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first compacting vane
extends along said first dimension from a side of said bottom
member to a center of said bottom member.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first compacting vane
extends from the closed bottom to the open top along said second
dimension.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first compacting vane is
less than the depth of the bottom member along said second
dimension.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first compacting vane,
along said first dimension, does not contact the side of said
bottom member.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein said first compacting vane,
along said first dimension, extends from the closed bottom to the
open top.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein said second compacting vane
located in said lid extends along the second dimension for a
distance greater than the height of said wall.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the inside surface of the lid
slidably fits on the outside surface of the bottom member.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/090,899, filed on 22 Aug. 2008, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to smokeless tobacco
containers and more particularly to a can for smokeless tobacco
having internal members for compacting the smokeless tobacco while
the can is closed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] At the present time most smokeless tobacco products are sold
in relatively thin cylindrical containers which are made of
cardboard, metal or plastic. The tobacco containers are used for
holding the tobacco and have a removable top for covering the
tobacco within the container.
[0006] When a user desires to use smokeless tobacco, the top or lid
of the container is removed and, using his/her thumb and index
fingers, removes a pinch or dip of the smokeless tobacco from the
container, squeezes the pinch or dip of tobacco removed from the
container between his/her fingers to compact it into a small tight
wad, and then inserts the wad into his/her mouth. The lid is then
placed back onto the container.
[0007] Almost all commercially available smokeless tobacco
containers are, at best, not easy or convenient to use. The
two-piece construction of almost all containers in use today
require a user to first open the lid, insert his/her fingers into
the container to remove a pinch of tobacco, squeeze the removed
pinch of tobacco to compact it while still holding the lid and
container, and then replace the lid on to the container to reclose
it. Most times this procedure can be both awkward and cumbersome to
do.
[0008] What is needed is a new improved can for smokeless tobacco
that is easier to use and helps to retain the flavor of the
smokeless tobacco by limiting its exposure to air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A can for holding and compacting smokeless tobacco has a
bottom member and a lid. The bottom member has a closed bottom, an
open top, and a first compacting vane located within the bottom
member. The lid is adapted to slidably fit on the bottom member and
has a second compacting vane located within the lid. The first
compacting vane extends partially across the bottom member, and the
second compacting vane extends partially across the lid. The vanes
are positioned to contact each other when the can is closed and
either the lid or the bottom member is rotated. With smokeless
tobacco in the closed can, tobacco located between the first and
second vanes in the can is compacted into a tight wad by simply
rotating the lid, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, relative
to the bottom member.
[0010] The top surface of the lid can include a circular depression
of about 1/32 of an inch for receiving a disk insert, which can be
replaced and has a design, graphics, a picture, etc. to allow a
user to customize the can with graphics of choice. The can is made
of a material that can be painted and/or is adapted to receive a
stick-on covering or wrap of plastic or paper which has custom
graphics of the user's choice. Thus, the user has the ability to
initially select and subsequently change the look of the top of the
can or, if desired, the complete outside of the can at any
time.
[0011] The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred
feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art
may better understand the detailed description of the invention
that follows. Additional features of the invention will be
described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the
invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can
readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a
basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out
the same purposes of the present invention and that such other
structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention
in its broadest form.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying
drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference
numerals.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view looking down into the bottom
member of an open can for holding smokeless tobacco positioned next
to the lid of said open can;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking up into the lid of an
open can positioned next to said open can for holding smokeless
tobacco;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the top and bottom of the
lid of the can;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top of the lid and
bottom of the can where graphics are on the lid;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of five cans having graphics thereon;
and
[0018] FIG. 6 shows five cans with graphics which are on the sides
of the cans and cover a portion of the bottom surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a can 10 for holding and
compacting smokeless tobacco into a tight wad with a minimum of
motion and noise without requiring a user to touch the tobacco in
accordance with the principles of the invention. The smokeless
tobacco can 10 is used to compact smokeless tobacco into a tight
wad while in the container by simply turning the lid 12 either
clockwise and/or counter-clockwise relative to the bottom member
14. In this embodiment the lid has a continuous smooth side wall 16
and the side wall 18 of the bottom member 14 of the can is smooth
and allows a user to grip the bottom member of the can when turning
the bottom member relative to the lid.
[0020] Continuing with FIG. 1, the bottom of the can is closed with
a substantially smooth straight surface 24 and has an open top. The
side wall of the can bottom is substantially circular and
perpendicular to the bottom surface, and the can, when closed, has
a size and shape which can be easily carried by a user and which
can receive the contents of a package of smokeless tobacco normally
sold for daily use.
[0021] The circular side wall 18 of the can bottom 14 can have a
height of substantially 7/8 of an inch from the inside surface of
the bottom of the can and an inside diameter of substantially 21/2
inches. Compacting vane 26 located in the can bottom is securely
attached to the bottom surface 24 and wall 18 of the can and has a
height of substantially 3/4 of an inch. In this embodiment
compacting vane is substantially 1/8 of an inch below the top of
side wall 18. Compacting vane 26 can have a length of substantially
1 3/16 of an inch to locate the end of the compacting vane
substantially 1/16 of an inch back from the center of the can. The
width of the vane can be, more or less, substantially 1/16 of an
inch thick.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view
looking up into the lid of an open can positioned next to said open
can for holding smokeless tobacco where the lid has a compacting
vane 22 which extends down from the inside surface of the lid 12
for a distance which is slightly less than the depth of the bottom
member to allow lid 12 to be placed onto bottom member 14 of the
can so as to sit on the top open portion of 14 can formed by side
18.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the can 10. The bottom surface
24 on the can has a circular indentation.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of
the top and bottom of the lid of the can. The circular wall 16 of
the lid has a height of substantially 1/4 of an inch and an inside
diameter of substantially 21/2 inches plus twice the thickness of
the wall 18 of the can. The inside diameter of the wall of the lid
is such that it can be received by the outside surface of the wall
of the can bottom with a snug sliding fit, and can be easily
rotated while on the can bottom in a clockwise and/or a
counter-clockwise direction. Compacting vane 22 is securely
attached to the inside surface of the top of the lid, has a length
of substantially 11/8 inches, and a depth which is slightly less
than the depth of the bottom member to allow the lid to be placed
on the bottom member
[0025] The outer most end of compacting vane 22 which is close to
wall 16 is positioned to provide a gap of substantially 1/16 of an
inch between the inside surface of wall 16 and the end 28 of
compacting vane 22. The other end 30 of vane 22 is located
substantially 1/16 of an inch back from the center of the lid to
provide clearance between the ends of the compacting vanes 22 and
26 (visible in FIG. 1) as they move past each other. The height of
compacting vane 22 is substantially 3/4 of an inch to provide a
clearance of substantially 1/8 of an inch between the bottom end of
vane 22 and the bottom surface of the can bottom when the lid is
slideably connected to the can bottom.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 4, the top of the lid can have a circular
depressed area 21 which is adapted to receive a disk having
graphics or a picture. The disk can be of metal or plastic and can
be either removed or replaced by a user as desired. In some
instances the picture may be of a significant other.
[0027] The smokeless tobacco can 10, including the compacting
vanes, can be made of a durable plastic material or of a metal.
[0028] In operation a user purchases a packet of smokeless tobacco
and transfers the contents of the purchased packet to the bottom
member of the can here disclosed. The user then places the lid 12
on the top of bottom member of the can with the compacting vane in
the cap positioned about 90 degrees to either the left or right of
the compacting vane in the bottom member of the can.
[0029] The location of the two compacting vanes relative to each
other is determined by the user.
[0030] In another method of use, the vanes can be located 180
degrees apart to form a straight line.
[0031] At this time the smokeless tobacco in the can is in an
enclosed area not exposed to the air and is not compacted.
[0032] When the user decides to enjoy the use of smokeless tobacco,
with the lid still on the bottom member and with the vanes about 90
degrees apart, he/she turns the lid relative to the bottom member
back and forth a number of times to urge the two compacting vanes
to move toward and away from each other to compact the smokeless
tobacco located between the two compacting vanes into a tight wad.
After a few back and forth turns the user removes the lid from the
bottom member, removes a desired portion of the compacted smokeless
tobacco from the bottom member of the can for use, and then
replaces the lid onto the bottom member.
[0033] In the method of use where the vanes are 180 degrees apart,
the user turns the lid relative to the bottom member clockwise
until a desired resistance is felt, and then repeats the turning
process but now in a counter-clockwise direction until a desired
resistance is felt. This is repeated a number of time until the
user feels that the pack is sufficiently tight. The user now
removes the lid and takes the tightly compacted pack out of the
bottom member for enjoyment.
[0034] With the can here disclosed, a user can obtain a very
tightly compacted pack of smokeless tobacco without squeezing loose
particles between his/her fingers, without making any noise, and
all with a minimum of noticeable hand movements.
[0035] Looking at FIG. 5, there is shown the tops of five cans to
which graphics have been have be added. The cans are made of metal
or plastic and can be painted or covered with a wrap of paper or
plastic which shows a picture or graphics selected by a user. The
top surface of the lid can include a depressed area for accepting a
metal insert such as aluminum or a plastic insert which has a
picture or graphics. The graphics or a picture may be provided by
the user. The insert can be of metal with engravings or of plastic
with graphics printed on it. The use of graphics is not limited to
the lid and can also cover the side and at least a portion of the
bottom of the can.
[0036] Looking at FIG. 6, there is shown the bottoms of five cans
where graphics are on the side and part of the bottoms of the
cans.
[0037] With this invention a user has the ability to place a
picture of graphics on a part of the can or wrap the entire can
with custom graphics of his/her choice. In addition, a user has the
ability to change the insert on the top of the can or completely
change the look of the can on any given day.
[0038] A group of users who may find the disclosed can for
smokeless tobacco particularly useful are Marines, Soldiers,
Sailors and Airmen in combat situations that want to dip, and do so
without making any noise or movements that may reveal their
position to an enemy.
[0039] Another group of users of the invention may be hunters who
do not want to be spotted by the animals they are hunting.
[0040] While there have been shown and described and pointed out
the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the
preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions
and substitutions and changes of the form and details of the
apparatus illustrated and in the operation may be done by those
skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *