This invention relates to a cigarette paper dispenser. In particular, a cigarette paper dispenser foldable into different configurations.
Cigarette smoking remains a popular pastime. Rather than smoking commercially available pre-rolled varieties of cigarettes, many smokers prefer to fashion their own cigarettes by surrounding tobacco or other substances of their preference in rolled tobacco papers. To this end, there exists pre-packaged rolling or cigarette papers. These generally comprise a rectangular sheet of paper with a bisecting fold along the length of the paper. A filling of tobacco or other substances is placed by the smoker along the fold. The fold is then pinched between the fingers of the smoker and the paper is subsequently rolled about the filling. Once the smoker is satisfied that the filling is adequately distributed within the paper, the paper may be wrapped about the filling and sealed, normally by pressing along the length of the paper over a gummed or otherwise lightly adhesive strip along one side of the paper. A smoker may also place a filter or paper tip at one end of the cigarette to facilitate inhalation from the cigarette.
It should be noted that the satisfactory rolling of a cigarette as described above requires a manner of skill on behalf of the smoker. The construction of the cigarette can be aided by having a suitable surface to procure the tobacco or other filling substance from a larger bulk and to distribute the filling within the paper prior to the subsequent rolling.
A dispenser which further provided assistance for the rolling of a cigarette and provided for carriage of a rolled cigarette would be an improvement on the state of the art.
An embodiment of the present invention includes a cigarette paper dispenser comprising a structure foldable between a first and second configuration: the first configuration forming a tray; and the second configuration forming a pouch or enclosure for carrying a rolled cigarette.
The dispenser comprises a structure foldable between the two configurations thus facilitating the construction and carriage of rolled cigarettes. The device is foldable to provide an integrated solution to the fabrication and transport of rolled cigarettes.
The dispenser provides papers required for rolling a cigarette and the first configuration provides a tray surface which aids in the construction of a rolled cigarette. This prevents the smoker, for example, having to rest papers and tobacco in their lap. The pouch provides a useful receptacle to house a rolled cigarette when it is not desirable or not possible to smoke the rolled cigarette immediately upon fabrication. This prevents, for example, a rolled cigarette becoming crushed in a pocket.
The structure may further comprise a plurality of panels foldable along hinge lines adjoining the panels. This is advantageous as it provides for a simple and intuitive construction which allows a user to easily fold the structure between configurations.
In the first configuration the structure may comprise a substantially “M” shaped profile and in the second configuration the structure may form a substantially triangular shaped prism. This is advantageous as the “M” shaped profile of the tray provides an effective surface for the placement of tobacco or other filling substance within the rolling paper. For example, if the rolling paper is placed with its bisecting fold along the groove formed at the centre of the “M” shape, tobacco may be easily placed and very effectively distributed along the length of the rolling paper. The triangular prism shape is advantageous as it provides a strong structure which can retain a cigarette within its core. The triangular prism shape provides sufficient rigidity to resist crushing even if the dispenser receives knocks or blows. Thus, a cigarette placed within its core is protected.
The plurality of panels may comprise at least a first and a second cover panel and at least a first and a second inner panel. This provides for a simple construction and furthermore providing at least four panels in this manner, i.e. the first and second cover panels; and the first and second inner panels, provides four surfaces which can be easily folded by the user into the “M” shaped profile of the tray. Furthermore, the cover panels provide additional protection to the cigarette paper dispenser.
The first inner panel may be adjoined to the second inner panel along a first foldable hinge line along the length of the panels. This provides for formation of the centre of the “M” shape such that tobacco may be easily placed and very effectively distributed along the length of the rolling paper.
The first inner panel may be adjoined to the first cover panel along a second foldable hinge line along the length of the panels and the second inner panel may be adjoined to the second cover panel along a third foldable hinge line along the length of the panels. This provides for a simple foldable construction along a single foldable axis. Again, this is advantageous as it provides an intuitive construction which allows a user to easily fold the structure between configurations.
At least one of the plurality of panels may further comprise a pouch foldable between a closed configuration wherein the pouch is substantially flat and an open configuration forming a void for carriage of a rolled cigarette. This is advantageous as it provides that the dispenser is compact when it is in a fully closed configuration as the pouch will be substantially flat. It also provides that the pouch may remain flat when the structure is in the first configuration, forming the tray, such that the pouch does not interfere with the tray. Furthermore, it provides that when the pouch is in the open configuration, a volume or void is created in the structure which provides sufficient space for a rolled cigarette to be placed.
The pouch may comprise a pair of foldable collars which are substantially flat in the closed configuration and form end walls of the pouch in the open configuration. This is advantageous as once again, allowing the pouch to be substantially flat in the closed configuration provides for a compact construction while forming end walls in the open configuration prevents a rolled cigarette from falling out of the ends of the structure.
With the pouch in the open configuration, the plurality of panels may be foldable about the pouch to seal the void for carriage of a rolled cigarette. This is advantageous as it provides a sealed prism shape to protect the cigarette and prevent it from falling out of the structure.
The cigarette paper dispenser may further comprise a magnetic clasp to retain the pouch in the closed configuration. This further ensures that the pouch may remain flat when the structure is in the first configuration, forming the tray, such that the pouch does not interfere with the tray.
The cigarette paper dispenser may further comprise an elasticated means to retain the structure in the second configuration. It is advantageous to retain the structure in the second position when a cigarette is placed within the pouch to prevent the pouch from opening and thus prevent the cigarette from falling from the structure.
The elasticated band 11 extends from a central area of the first inner panel 4 and may be stretched to hook over a corner of the first cover panel 2 when the structure is in the tray configuration.
The pouch 14 comprises a pair of foldable collars 16, 17. These collars 16, 17 are substantially flat in the closed configuration and form end walls 18, 19 of the pouch in the second configuration.
The cigarette dispenser will now be described in use. Starting with the dispenser in the closed configuration as shown in
Tobacco or other substances may be placed along the rolling paper to the preference of the user and the paper may be wrapped and sealed by the user with a cigarette tip 12 added as desired. The cigarette is now rolled, however, the user may not wish to smoke the cigarette immediately and instead may wish to store the rolled cigarette for later use. In this instance, the structure 1 may be turned over as shown in
To retrieve the cigarette, the elasticated band 11 can be unwrapped and the first cover panel 2 and first inner panel 4 unfolded to allow the user access the pouch 14. The collars 16, 17 may be returned to their flat configuration, the pouch may be clasped shut and the first and second cover panels 2, 3 may be folded flat as per
The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1709937.5 | Jun 2017 | GB | national |
The present application claims priority from International Application No. PCT/EP2018/066392, filed on Jun. 20, 2018 which claims priority to Great Britain Application No. GB1709937.5 filed on Jun. 21, 2017, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2018/066392 | 6/20/2018 | WO | 00 |