APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RETAINING AND EXTINGUISHING A CANNABIS CIGARETTE AND RETAINING ITS ASH

Abstract

A method and apparatus for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and ash. The device with a body with a hollow cavity defining a first volume configured to extinguish the cannabis cigarette. This first volume tapering from a base to an opposing opening configured so that ash from the extinguished cannabis cigarette travels unidirectionally through the body and into the second end cap. The first end cap removably attachable to the body and a second end cap removably attachable to the opposite end of the body.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of cannabis, and in particular to extinguishing and retaining cannabis cigarettes and also retaining the ash of the cannabis cigarettes.

BACKGROUND

A hand or machine rolled cannabis cigarette typically has 0.25 g to 1 g of cannabis wrapped inside of a rolling paper. However, when the smoker only smokes part of the cannabis cigarette, they may want to save the unused portion of the cigarette for use at a later time.

However, current methods do not provide for extinguishing the unused portion of the cannabis cigarette so that when it is relit and smoked, it has the same cannabis taste and aroma as the original cannabis cigarette. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus and method that at least partially address one or more limitations of the prior art.

This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

SUMMARY

An object of this disclosure is to provide a device and a method for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and retaining its ash.

An aspect of this disclosure provides a body with a hollow cavity for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette. The hollow cavity is disposed between a first end of the body and a second opposite end of the body. The body defines a first volume configured to extinguish the cannabis cigarette. The first volume also tapers from a base to an opposing opening configured so that ash from the extinguished cannabis cigarette travels unidirectionally from the first volume and exits the first volume through the opposing opening of the body. A first end cap is removably attachable to the first end of the body and second end cap is removably attachable to the second end of the body. The second end cap defines a second volume configured to receive the ash from the first volume and retain the ash so that the ash is compartmentalized separately from the body.

An aspect of this disclosure provides a method for placing a lit cannabis cigarette into a device for extinguishing the cannabis cigarette by depriving a lit end of the cannabis cigarette of oxygen, and compartmentalizing the cannabis cigarette ash in a volume of an end cap configured to retain the ash separately from the extinguished cannabis cigarette.

Embodiments have been described above in conjunction with aspects of the present disclosure upon which they can be implemented. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in conjunction with the aspect with which they are described but may also be implemented with other embodiments of that aspect. When embodiments are mutually exclusive, or are otherwise incompatible with each other, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Some embodiments may be described in relation to one aspect, but may also be applicable to other aspects, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a device for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and retaining the ash of the cannabis cigarette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view showing the body of the device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative perspective view of the body of the device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing the second end cap of the device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an alternative device for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and retaining the ash of the cannabis cigarette according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the body of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the second end cap of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the first end cap and a perspective view of a holding assembly of a device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the holding assembly of the alternative device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates the components of a variety of devices of different configurations, including one with of a gripping assembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of this disclosure include a method and apparatus for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and ash so that a cannabis cigarette extinguished using this method and apparatus can be reused and has the same cannabis taste and aroma as the original unused cannabis cigarette.

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in a cannabis plant. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the acidic form of THC-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), cannabidiol (CBD) and its chemical precursor, cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) are all cannabinoids.

THCa is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. However, THCa can be converted into THC when heated. THC is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid compound that can cause people who smoke a cannabis cigarette to feel high.

CBDa can be obtained from cannabis plants that are still growing and CBD can be obtained from grown and cured cannabis plants. However, CBD can also be obtained from CBDa when CBDa is heated.

Additionally, CBD contains terpenes that are the primary constituents of essential oils that can produce the aromatic characteristics of a cannabis cigarette.

It is important to preserve and not damage these cannabinoids and terpenes when extinguishing a cannabis cigarette. This is because relighting an extinguished cannabis cigarette with undamaged cannabinoids and terpenes can impart the same positive experience as smoking the original unused cannabis cigarette.

As a result, this disclosure provides embodiments of an apparatus and method that can be used to extinguish a cannabis cigarette without damaging the cannabinoids and terpenes remaining in the unused portion of a cannabis cigarette.

Embodiments of this disclosure can be used to extinguish a cannabis cigarette by depriving the cigarette of oxygen before its lit end turns to ash. This method of extinguishment is known as oxygen depravation. Oxygen deprivation is preferable to other methods of extinguishment because it more quickly stops the transformation of THCa into THC and CBDa into CBD. Oxygen deprivation is also preferable because it can reduce the vaporization of terpenes and other compounds. As a result, oxygen deprivation achieved by this devices of the present disclosure conserves THC, CBD and terpenes so that a cannabis smoker who relights an extinguished cannabis cigarette feels the same high and experiences the same sensory response as they felt when smoking the original unused cannabis cigarette. As a result, since the smoker can save their cannabis cigarette and smoke it at a later time with the same cannabis taste and aroma as the original cannabis cigarette, they can avoid overconsuming cannabis (resulting in better control of THC and CBD dosage) thus minimizing over exposure to harmful byproducts of a lit cannabis cigarette such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHA) (which can potentially lower the risk of developing smoking related cancer), or wasting less cannabis by letting the cigarette burn without smoking it.

This method of extinguishment is also preferable from a safety perspective because it can reduce the potential for smouldering ash that remains after extinguishing the cannabis cigarette igniting another flammable material and potentially starting a fire.

The devices of the present disclosure also allow the smoker to experience the same cannabis taste and aroma when smoking the relit cannabis cigarette as the original unused cannabis cigarette had because when the remaining cannabis cigarette was stored in the device of embodiments of this disclosure, the device seals the remaining cannabis cigarette from oxygen to keep it from drying out and to also keep the ash separated from the extinguished cannabis cigarette.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the device that includes first end cap 150, body 110 and second end cap 160.

First end cap 150 and second end cap 160 can both be removably attached to body 110 in order to contain a cannabis cigarette within body 110. Attaching first end cap 150 and second end cap 160 to body 110 creates a seal so that this lit cannabis cigarette is extinguished by depriving it of oxygen before the lit end of the cannabis cigarette turns to ash.

This seal also allows the extinguished cannabis cigarette to retain its scent by not allowing it to dry out.

In some embodiments, a rubber gasket can be included to seal first end cap 150 with body 110. This gasket may optionally be removably attachable to first end cap 150. This rubber gasket seal can keep any odour within body 110 from escaping and also reduce the amount of oxygen entering body 110.

In some embodiments, the device with rubber gasket seals is waterproof.

This seal can in part be attributed to body 110, first end cap 150 and second end cap 160 being of metal construction. Metal can be less porous than other materials. Consequently, the cannabis cigarette stored within the device made of metal is exposed to less oxygen and as a result, the cannabis cigarette stays fresher for a longer period of time.

In other embodiments of the device of FIG. 1, body 110 can be constructed from glass and the first end cap 150 and second end cap 160 made of either plastic or metal. Glass can have advantages over metal because glass can be easier to clean and as a result, the device can have less bacteria and other contaminants than a device where body 110 is made of metal. However, metal can be stronger than glass and as a result less likely to break and cause injuries to the user.

In some embodiments, body 110 can be constructed from recycled glass.

Some embodiments of this device can include a gasket (not shown) attached to first end cap 150 and another gasket (not shown) attached to second end cap 160. These gaskets can improve the ability of first end cap 150 and second end cap 160 of the device to seal the cigarette stored within body 110 from being exposed to oxygen. Suitable materials for a gasket include but are not limited to rubber and silicone.

The ash of the extinguished cannabis cigarette stored within a device of embodiments of this disclosure can be removed from the extinguished cannabis cigarette when an external force is applied to the device and this force causes this ash to separate from the extinguished cannabis cigarette due to a resulting force acting on the extinguished cannabis cigarette that is unaligned with a resulting force acting on the ash.

Embodiments of the device of this disclosure store the extinguished cannabis cigarette within the device separately from its ash. This can be an important feature because ash can contain a mixture of minerals and other chemicals that can affect the taste and aroma of cannabis.

Additionally, these minerals and other chemicals can contaminate the cannabis remaining within the extinguished cannabis cigarette to the point that its quality is reduced. This results in the smoker smoking this contaminated cannabis experiencing less of a high, less feeling of relaxation and less feeling of well being.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the device of this disclosure with first volume 115 of body 110. First volume 115 is a hollow cavity disposed between first end cap 150 and second end cap 160. First volume 115 can be used to retain a cannabis cigarette stored within it and ash from the cannabis cigarette can travel unidirectionally through opening 130.

FIG. 3 illustrates first volume 115 of body 110, opening 130 and helical threaded opening 140 as seen when attaching body 110 to second end cap 160.

FIG. 3 illustrates first volume 115 tapering from a base to an opposing opening 130. Opposing opening 130 is configured so that ash that is removed from the extinguished cannabis cigarette travels unidirectionally from first volume 115, through opening 130 and into second volume 165 of second end cap 160 (as shown in FIG. 4). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that ash contained by second volume 165 is compartmentalized separately from first volume 115 so that the extinguished cannabis cigarette is not contaminated by the carbon and minerals contained in the ash, and as a result, the extinguished cannabis cigarette has the same taste and aroma as the cannabis cigarette before it was lit.

This ash travels unidirectionally from body 110 into second end cap 160 due to protrusion 170 that fits within opening 130 of body 110 and blocks ash contained within second end cap 160 from travelling back into body 110 through opening 130.

FIG. 4 further illustrates raised portion 180 with helical threaded edge 185 that can be received by helical threaded opening 140 of body 110. This combination of helical threaded opening 140 and helical threaded edge 185 allows second end cap 160 to be removably attached to body 110. Additionally, a rubber gasket (not shown) can be included to seal second end cap 160 with body 110. This gasket may optionally be removably attachable to second end cap 160.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the device of this disclosure that is shaped differently than the device illustrated by FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. FIG. 5 illustrates body 510, first end cap 550 and second end cap 540.

FIG. 6 illustrates body 510 with exterior surface with keyed ridge 520 and exterior surface with keyed ridge 530. FIG. 6 also illustrates first volume 515. This keyed ridge 520 and keyed ridge 530 together make up a childproof locking mechanism.

FIG. 7 illustrates second end cap 540 with second keyed ridge 550 that is complementary with keyed ridge 530 so that second keyed ridge 550 can be received by keyed ridge 530 to allow second end cap 540 to be removably attached to body 510.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 4 both illustrate second end cap 540 and 160, respectively, each with a circular and flat exterior end that allows body 510 and 110 respectively to stand vertically unsupported when second end cap 540 or 160 is attached to body 510 or 110.

FIG. 8 illustrates holding assembly 810 of first end cap 550. Holding assembly 810, also known as a finger trap cap accessory, can retain a cannabis cigarette and those skilled in the art will appreciate that this cannabis cigarette can be accessed by removing first end cap 550 from body 510.

Holding assembly 810 prevents physical contact of the lit end of the cannabis cigarette with body 510. The cannabis cigarette held by holding assembly 810 remains undamaged while being stored within body 510. As a result, the cannabis cigarette is extinguished using the oxygen deprivation extinguishment methods previously described in this disclosure and not due to physical contact.

This lack of physical contact is desirable for many reasons including that an undamaged cannabis cigarette is easier to relight and smoke later, the cannabis cigarette is not contaminated by any potential foreign matter disposed on the surface of body 510 and the flavour and potency are maintained when the cannabis is undamaged.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate view of holding assembly 810 positioned within body 510.

FIG. 10 illustrates the components of a variety of embodiments of the device of the present disclosure. One embodiment includes gripping assembly 1010 which can grip a cannabis cigarette at a desired orientation within first volume 115. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this cannabis cigarette can be accessed and removed from body 110 when first end cap 150 is not attached to body 110.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific features and embodiments thereof, it is evident that various modifications and combinations can be made thereto without departing from the disclosure. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded simply as an illustration of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims, and are contemplated to cover any and all modifications, variations, combinations or equivalents that fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A device for retaining and extinguishing a cannabis cigarette and ash, the device comprising: a body with a hollow cavity for retaining and extinguishing the cannabis cigarette, the hollow cavity disposed between a first end of the body and a second opposite end of the body; the second end of the body defining a first volume configured to extinguish the cannabis cigarette, the first volume tapering from a base to an opposing opening configured so that ash from the extinguished cannabis cigarette travels unidirectionally through the first volume and exits the first volume through the opposing opening of the body;a first end cap removably attachable to the first end of the body; anda second end cap removably attachable to the second end of the body and the second end cap defining a second volume configured to receive the ash from the first volume and retain the ash in the second volume compartmentalized separately from the body.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the base is circular.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the second volume comprises a protrusion, the protrusion adapted to fit within the opposing opening of the body and the protrusion inserted at least partially into the first volume through the opposing opening of the body.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end cap further comprises a raised portion of an interior surface and the raised portion of the interior surface has a helical threaded ridge configured to be received by an exterior surface of the first end of the body, the exterior surface of the first end of the body has a helical thread hole for removable attachment of the first end cap to the body.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end cap further comprises a raised portion of an interior surface and the interior surface has a keyed ridge configured to be received by an exterior surface of the first end of the body, the exterior surface of the first end of the body has a complementary keyed ridge for removable attachment of the first end cap to the body.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the second end cap further comprises a raised portion of an interior surface and the interior surface of the second end cap has a helical threaded ridge configured to be received by an exterior surface of the second end of the body, the exterior surface of the second end of the body having a helical thread hole for removable attachment of the second end cap to the body.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the raised portion of the interior surface of the second end cap has a keyed ridge configured to be received by an exterior surface of the second end of the body, the exterior surface of the second end of the body having a complementary keyed ridge for removable attachment of the second end cap to the body.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of metal.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end cap is removably attachable to the first end of the body and a second end cap is removably attachable to the second end of the body to seal the body.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the second end cap has a flat exterior second side, the flat exterior second side opposite to a side of the second end cap being removably attachable to the second end of the body to allow the device to stand vertically unsupported when the second end cap is removably attachable to the body.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end cap is removable from the first end of the body to allow access to the hollow cavity of the body to retain the cannabis cigarette or to allow the removal of the retained cannabis cigarette.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the body is further provided with a gripping assembly on the first end of the body for holding the cannabis cigarette at a desired orientation within the hollow cavity of the body.

13. A method for extinguishing and storing a cannabis cigarette, the method comprising: placing a lit cannabis cigarette into a device as defined in claim 1;extinguishing the lit cannabis cigarette by depriving a first lit end of the lit cannabis cigarette of oxygen; andcompartmentalizing the ash in a volume of a first end cap configured to retain the ash separately from and the extinguished cannabis cigarette.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein depriving the first lit end of the lit cannabis cigarette of oxygen extinguishes the lit cannabis cigarette before the first lit end turns to ash.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein depriving the first lit end of the lit cannabis cigarette of oxygen occurs such that the remaining cannabinoids and terpenes of the cannabis cigarette are undamaged.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising sealing the device to retain the scent of the extinguished cannabis cigarette by removably attaching the first end cap to a first end of the body of the device and removably attaching a second end cap to a second opposite end of the body of the device.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein ash from the extinguished cannabis cigarette is separated from the extinguished cannabis cigarette when external motion is applied to the device.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein compartmentalizing the ash by allowing the ash to travel unidirectionally through the first end of the body and into the volume of the first end cap configured to retain the ash separately from the extinguished cannabis cigarette.

19. The method of claim 18 further compartmentalizing the ash by placing a protrusion configured to extend outwardly from the volume of the first end cap, the protrusion inserted into the first end of the body by removably attaching the first end cap to the first end of the body of the device.