Credit Card Carrying Pack for Rolling Papers

Abstract

A container for holding cigarette rolling papers is provided comprising a card having front and rear surfaces; and a rear panel fastened to the rear surface to define a cavity adapted to contain a plurality of cigarette rolling papers. Preferably, the card is approximately the same shape and size as a standard credit card and constructed from a plastic material. A ridge or other obstruction is included above the rear panel adapted to retain the rolling papers while inside the cavity. The card may further comprise a USB flash drive or portable media player flexibly attached to the front surface of the card.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to protective containers for storing, protecting, and carrying rolling papers in a wallet, thereby preventing the rolling papers from being bent or crushed when carried in a purse or pocket of a smoker.

II. Background and Prior Art

The use of smoking accessories including holders, containers, and packages of known designs and configurations for rolling papers is known in the prior art. More specifically, smoking accessories including carrying packs of known designs and configurations for rolling papers heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of carrying or transporting personal smoking papers in convenient packaging systems are known to consist of familiar structural configurations, such as paper boxes, plastic boxes, and foil wrappers.

While prior devices fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the prior art does not describe an ultra-portable rolling paper container that allows convenient carrying of cigarette rolling papers while also preventing them from being bent or crushed. The prior art containers may allow the papers to become bent and frayed when carried in a pocket or purse, or are undesirably bulky and uncomfortable when placed in a pocket. In this respect, the rolling paper container according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of conveniently carrying cigarette rolling papers in a credit card-like container that can be placed in a wallet for use by a smoker.

Credit cards are typically issued by a bank or business and authorize the holder to buy goods or services on credit. Commonly recognized credit cards include Visa®, MasterCard® and American Express®. In general, credit cards are a standard size and fit into wallet slots that are designed to hold them. The present invention provides a container that is approximately the same size as a standard credit card. This allows the container of the present invention to fit into a standard wallet slot thereby preventing the rolling papers from being crushed or bent when placed into a pocket or purse. Another feature of the present invention is that the credit card-like panel can be comprised of any credit card sized electronic device, for example a USB flash drive or a device that plays portable electronic sound of video files.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved rolling paper container that can be used for conveniently carrying rolling papers for use by a smoker while preventing them from being crushed or bent. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a protective container for rolling papers.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable carrying container for rolling papers.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable container that retains rolling papers while allowing them to be easily and individually dispensed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a container for rolling papers that fits into the credit card slot of a wallet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a container for rolling papers in combination with a portable electronic device.

Accordingly, a container for holding cigarette rolling papers is provided comprising a card having front and rear surfaces; and a rear panel fastened to the rear surface to define a cavity adapted to contain a plurality of cigarette rolling papers. Preferably, the card is approximately the same shape and size as a standard credit card and constructed from a plastic material. A ridge or other obstruction is included above the rear panel adapted to retain the rolling papers while inside the cavity. The card may further comprise a USB flash drive or portable media player flexibly attached to the front surface of the card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a card-like container for rolling papers.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an alternate embodiment of the present invention illustrating a rectangular card-like front panel having a USB flash drive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to FIG. 1, a front view of the credit card carrying container 1 is shown. The container 1 is composed of a flexible plastic card 2 resembling a credit card. In one embodiment, the container 1 has a front surface 19 and a rear surface 6 (shown in FIG. 2). Although the dimensions of the container 1 are not critical, the size of container 1 should be approximately the size of a standard credit card or debit card. Other indicia may be included on the front or rear surfaces 19, 6, including but not limited to company name, promotional information, or other advertising material.

In FIG. 2 a rear view of the container 1 is shown. In a preferred embodiment, the rear surface 6 of the container 1 includes a raised ridge 8, or possibly a plurality of individual raised areas, along the top edge 9, whose thickness is intended to abut or be adjacent to the top edge 13 of rolling papers 14. A rear panel 10 is fastened to the rear surface 6 on three sides, such that an open side is defined by upper edge 11 of rear panel 10. Thus, a cavity is formed which may contain a plurality of unfolded rolling papers 14. When rolling papers 14 are held between rear panel 10 and rear surface 6, the ridge 8 is in close proximity or abuts the top edges 13 of rolling papers 14, helping to prevent their inadvertent displacement from the container 1 and thereby preventing undesirable crumpling of the rolling papers 14. Preferably, the rear panel 10 of the container 1 has a semicircular cutout 5 on the top edge 11 for pushing the individual rolling papers 14 with the thumb or other finger to remove them from the container 1. As the rolling paper 14 is pushed upward, its upper edge 13 is caused to contact the ridge 8 and rest above it, becoming easily accessible to remove by pulling it from the container 1.

In FIG. 3, a perspective view of the container 1 is shown. The depth 16 of the container 1 allows it to hold approximately 20 rolling papers 14. In alternate embodiments, the depth 16 of the container 1 may be altered in order to hold fewer or more rolling papers 14.

FIG. 4 depicts the container 1 as described above, but with the addition of a USB flash drive 17. The USB flash drive 17 fits securely into an indentation 18 in the front surface 19 of the container 1 when not in use. The drive 17 is attached to the front surface 19 by a flexible base 20, and is shown in an ejected position for use. Thus, rolling papers 14 may be carried securely inside the container 1 with the convenience of a flash drive 17.

As can be seen for the foregoing description of the preferred and alternate embodiments, the present invention is intended to provide a protective storage and carrying case for rolling papers. In one embodiment, the storage and carrying case is fabricated from plastic and resembles a credit card. In alternate embodiments, the credit card-like front panel can be comprised of credit card sized electronic devices, such as a flash USB (Universal Serial Bus) drive or a portable media player. Although the primary market for the product is for portable carrying containers for smoking materials, similar containers can be developed for various other products. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container for holding cigarette rolling papers comprising: a card having front and rear surfaces; anda rear panel fastened to said rear surface to define a cavity adapted to contain a plurality of cigarette rolling papers.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein said container has approximately the same shape and size as a standard credit card.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is constructed from a plastic material.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein said card includes a ridge above said rear panel adapted to retain said rolling papers.

5. The container of claim 1, further comprising a USB flash drive flexibly attached to said front surface of said card.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising a portable media player flexibly attached to said front surface of said card.