FOLDABLE CIGARETTE ROLLING DEVICE

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a cigarette rolling device. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a cigarette rolling device used to roll individual cigarettes.

BACKGROUND

Cigarette rolling devices, as described herein, relate to devices that are used to roll an individual cigarette for personal use. Typically, the cigarette rolling device requires the user to place or insert rolling products, such as tobacco, a filter, and a rolling paper, for example, within the device and then, through some manual operation by the user, the device operates to roll the cigarette. Most of these cigarette rolling devices require the user to manually position parts of the machine to allow rolling products to be placed within the machine with rolling products and to initiate the rolling step. This can involve the user locking, moving, holding, rotating, or pulling certain parts of the cigarette rolling device.

U.S. Pat. No. 759,476 to Schopke describes a simple cigarette rolling device that uses an apron or ribbon that is drawn through the device by the user to obtain the rolling action. Schopke describes two hinged jaws that are opened and an apron that runs through them being depressed to a bottom of a chamber that is formed between the jaws to receive a quantity of tobacco. A rolling paper or cigarette wrapper is placed so that a portion of the rolling paper is clamped between the closed jaws. The ribbon or apron is then pulled by the user while holding the jaws shut to draw the apron through the device, and the frictional engagement of the cigarette-wrapper therewith causes the wrapper to be drawn between the closed jaws or sections and to roll within the forming-chamber around the filling of tobacco. The adhesive of the cigarette wrapper is activated so that it adheres to the body of the cigarette when formed.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,512,636 to Pohle describes a cigarette-making device that, similar to Schopke, also uses a rolling apron. Pohle includes a hinged cover that opens and allows the apron to sag to form a trough-like portion in which the cigarette wrapper and tobacco are added. The user then closes the cover and holds it closed, and then the user turns a handle on the roller which moves the apron through the cigarette-making device to form the cigarette similarly to Schopke.

There are many other known cigarette rolling devices that operate on a similar principle to Schopke and Pohle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 174,863 to Shaw; U.S. Pat. No. 635,018 to Keen; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,471,656 to Sas.

Each of the prior art approaches require a certain level of manual dexterity to operate the device properly. They typically require the user to hold the device in a certain manner with one hand and operate the device with another hand. The cigarette rolling device is an additional article that the user must carry along with tobacco, rolling paper, filters, and a lighter. The prior art cigarette rolling devices are rigid and somewhat bulky making them an additional inconvenience to carry. There is a need for a more compact and lightweight cigarette rolling device. Preferably, a cigarette rolling device can be constructed from cheap and recyclable materials to allow the device to manufactured cost-efficiently and allow for the device to be disposable (preferably in an environmentally-friendly manner). Integrating the cigarette rolling device with other accessories or rolling products can also make these devices easier to transport.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, a foldable cigarette rolling device is provided comprising: a lid; a main body; a trough portion attached to the lid and hingedly attached to the main body to move between an open trough position and a closed trough position; and a flexible belt passing through a portion of the lid and passing through a portion of the main body to form an open loop within the trough portion for receiving rolling product in the open trough position and a closed loop in the closed trough position wherein an end of the main body impinges the flexible belt against the lid to form the closed loop. The trough portion can be hingedly attached to the main body between the end of the main body and a mid-point of main body. In some aspects, areas of weakness defined can be defined in the trough portion to allow for hinging movement. The areas of weakness can be formed by any one of compression, indentation, shallow cut, or cut-out portion within the trough portion.

In some aspects of the foldable cigarette rolling device the trough portion can be biased to maintain the closed trough position. The trough portion can be biased by a resilient hinge or sidewalls at each end of trough portion that can be comprised of resilient material that biases the trough portion towards the lid to maintain the closed trough position.

The foldable cigarette rolling device can have a flexible belt that includes a bar attached at an end of the flexible belt along a portion of the width of the flexible belt to evenly distribute a pulling force applied to the bar. The flexible belt can be comprised of a clear plastic which can allows for visibility of a fill-level indicator that is defined in the trough portion of the device.

In some aspects, the foldable cigarette rolling device can define a groove within the lid that can receive the end of the main body to secure the device in the closed trough position. In yet other aspects, the trough portion can move to a folded position wherein the lid covers the main body to allow for portability of the device. The lid can also define a channel that allows flexible belt to pass therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a foldable cigarette rolling device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an open trough position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a closed trough position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a folded position;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a foldable cigarette rolling device having sidewalls comprised of resilient material and an accessory carrier on the main body;

FIG. 6. Is a top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 being operated by pulling the pull bar of the flexible belt;

FIG. 7A is a top plan view of the lid and trough portion of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device;

FIG. 7B is a top plan view of the lid cover of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device;

FIG. 7C is a top plan view of the main body having an accessory carrier of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device;

FIG. 7D is a top plan view of an alternative main body of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device;

FIG. 7E is a top plan view of the roll bar of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device; and

FIG. 7F is a top plan view of sidewalls attachment part of a prefabricated foldable cigarette rolling device;

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing the implementations of various embodiments described herein.

The term “rolling product” as used herein is used generally to refer to any products that may be placed within the cigarette rolling device described herein for rolling a cigarette. This includes the product to be consumed by way of smoking (e.g. tobacco) as well as products which may form part of the rolled cigarette, such as a filter or rolling papers, for example.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1, shown is a side perspective view of a foldable cigarette rolling device 100 that comprises a lid 120, a main body 140, a trough portion 160 hingedly attached to main body 140, and a flexible belt 180 that passes through lid 120 and main body 140. Both lid 120 and main body 140 each provide a channel that allows flexible belt 180 to pass therethrough. Device 100 is preferably constructed of paperboard, cardstock, cardboard, or like material (collectively, referred to as “cardstock” hereinafter), to allow it to have a slim profile and be easily foldable, but other materials can also be used.

A lid channel 121 of lid 120 can be formed between a lid cover 124 and lid body 122, and similarly, a main body channel 141 of main body 140 can be formed between a main body cover 144 and main body platform 142. Using cardstock, channels can be formed by having a portion of lid body 122 or main body platform 142 that is folded over lid body 122 or main body platform 142, respectively. In other embodiments, either or both channels 121, 141 can be integrated within lid 120 or main body 140, respectively, such as, for example, if any one of lid 120 or main body 140 are comprised of plastic, then channel can be integrally formed within lid or main body, respectively. Lid channel 121 and main body channel 141 allow flexible belt 180 to move through length of device 100.

Trough portion 160 can be hingedly attached to main body 140 to allow movement of foldable cigarette rolling device 100 through a number of positions that are illustrated in cross-sectional views in FIGS. 2-4. In FIG. 2, trough portion 160 is folded back towards main body 140 to form an open trough position for receiving rolling product 2 upon an open loop of flexible belt 180 within trough portion 160. Trough portion 160 is illustrated in a closed trough position in FIG. 3, wherein a closed loop of flexible belt 180 is formed by end 146 of main body 140 impinging against flexible belt 180 and lid 120. FIG. 4 provides an illustration of trough portion 160 in a folded position so that lid 120 is covering main body 140. The folded position is used for storage and portability of device 100. Preferably, end 146 of main body 140 is rigid and has low friction coefficient so as not to impede movement of flexible belt 180. End 146 can also be referred to as roll bar 146.

Trough portion 160 is hingedly attached to main body 140 at position of main body 140 between end 146 and a mid-point of main body 140. The position of hinged attachment should provide enough space to allow rolling product to be inserted in the open trough position and allow enough room to form the cigarette in the closed trough position.

Hinged attachment of trough portion 160 to main body 140 can be accomplished in a number of different ways. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 illustrate trough portion 160 including an adhered portion 164 that is attached to main body 140 by glue, adhesive, or other manner. Hinge 162 can be formed through areas of weakness defined on cardstock (e.g. through compression, shallow cuts, cut-outs, etc.) of trough portion 160 to allow it to flex or bend. This can provide for a number of flexible points or hinges along trough portion 160 between hinge 162 (as shown) and sidewalls 166 of trough portion 160 to provide a more gradual and continuous hinge over trough portion 160. For example, a second hinge 163 is illustrated in FIG. 1 where trough portion 160 meets sidewall 166, which can assist to define the area to receive rolling products within trough portion 160. In some embodiments, hinge 162 can be formed using a flexible attachment means to attach trough portion 160 to main body 140, such as, for example, using a flexible adhesive tape. Other embodiments can use other hinge mechanisms, such as by using a flexible material for the area of trough portion 160 between sidewalls 166 and adhered portion 164, or by using a common pin and knuckles type hinges. Preferably, hinge 162 allows trough portion 160 to lay flat against main body 140 in the folded position of FIG. 4.

Hinge 162 can also be resilient and biased towards the folded position shown in FIG. 4. This resilience can be achieved using cardstock with defined areas of weakness as noted above, or by comprising trough portion 160 (or at least hinge 162 of trough portion) from a resilient material. When biased towards the folded position, this resilient force can also maintain end 146 (or roll bar 146) of main body 140 against lid 120 to impinge against a loop of flexible belt 180 as shown in FIG. 3 in the closed trough position. This biasing can also be provided by using resilient sidewalls 166 as described below. In other embodiments, the biasing force to maintain the closed trough position can be provided by user of device 100 holding lid 120 against end 146 of main body 140

Biasing roll bar 146 against lid 120 can maintain device 100 in the closed trough position for rolling a cigarette. This may be convenient as it does not require the user to hold device 100 in a specific manner or apply a specific force.

Although trough portion 160 is shown with angled corners in FIGS. 2-4, trough portion 160 can also have rounded corners. The shape of the trough formed by trough portion 160 is not important so long as it provides sufficient space to form a round loop of flexible belt 180 around rolling product in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Trough portion 160 can also comprise sidewalls 166 at each end (shown in FIG. 1) which can assist with preventing rolling product from escaping from sides of trough portion 160. In some embodiments, sidewalls 166 can be omitted and trough portion 160 can form an open-ended channel for receiving rolling product 2. When constructed from cardstock or less rigid materials, sidewalls 166 can provide increased rigidity to trough portion 160 in order to maintain an open trough shape. Sidewalls 166 provide another advantage, in that they can define a fixed volume that serve as a guide to how much rolling product (e.g. tobacco) should be inserted into trough portion 160.

In some embodiments, trough portion 160 and lid 120 can be integrally formed and may also be integrally formed with sidewalls 166. For example, trough portion 160 and lid 120 can be formed by a molded plastic, and trough portion 160 can be hingedly attached to main body 140. As illustrated in FIGS. 2-4, trough portion 160 and lid 120 can be comprised of a single piece, such as a single piece of cardstock, that is folded into the proper shape.

In some embodiments, trough portion 160 can be comprised of a malleable material to allow trough portion 160 to be manipulated and maintained in a fixed position. For example, if trough portion 160 was comprised of a malleable metal, for example, then device 100 could be maintained in the closed trough position, for example, without any mechanical assistance, such as from a biasing force or the user holding device 100 in position. This could allow device 100 to maintain an open trough position, closed trough position, or folded position without any effort required by the user. Trough portion 160 could comprise a malleable metal sheet or wire, for example, to provide this functionality. Alternatively, hinge 162 can be comprised of a malleable material to maintain device 100 in a fixed position.

Preferably, flexible belt 180 is comprised of a flexible material with a low enough friction coefficient to allow it move easily through lid channel 121 and main body channel 141, but a sufficient friction coefficient to engage with a rolling paper impinged between a loop of flexible belt 180 so as to pull the rolling paper within the closed loop and around the other rolling products inserted onto flexible belt 180. Flexible belt 180 can be composed of a plastic, such as polypropylene plastic, for example.

In some embodiments, lid 120 or trough portion 160 can provide a guidance indicator regarding the fill level of trough portion that can be observed through flexible belt 180. For example, a line on inside surface of lid 120 or trough portion 160 can act as a fill-level indicator of how much rolling product, or its distribution within trough portion 160 should be arranged, to achieve a certain size or shape of the rolled cigarette (e.g. slim, thick, or conical). Flexible belt 180 should be composed of a transparent plastic so that such indicator can be observed through flexible belt 180.

Flexible belt 180 can also include a bar that is attached along the width of flexible belt 180 that evenly distributes a pulling force across the width of flexible belt. Pull bar 182 is used to pull flexible belt 180 through device 100 to roll a cigarette, and retraction bar 184 can be used to pull flexible belt 180 through device 100 to provide slack in flexible belt 180 to insert into trough portion to prepare for receiving rolling product. The terms “pull” or “retract” with respect to flexible belt 180 are used herein to refer to the movement of flexible belt 180 from pulling pull bar 182 or retraction bar 184, respectively, in regard to the illustrated embodiments. Other embodiments of device 100 may reverse the pull and retract directions. The bar can be a rigid piece attached or integrally formed along a substantial portion of the width of flexible belt 180, preferably at or near the ends of flexible belt 180.

In other embodiments, flexible belt 180 can be attached to device 100. For example, flexible belt 180 can be attached to lid 120 so that positioning device 100 in the open trough position (or further extending hinge 162) will cause flexible belt 180 to retract, creating slack that can be pushed into trough portion 160. Other embodiments of cigarette rolling device, can further include a mechanical or automatic mechanism that inserts flexible belt into trough portion 160, rather than requiring a user to push flexible belt 180 into the trough.

In some embodiments, lid 120 can define a groove 126 along the width of the inner surface that engages with roll bar 146 in the closed trough position illustrated in FIG. 3. Groove 126 engaging with roll bar 146 can assist to define the closed trough position which is optimal for rolling a cigarette with device 100. Securing device 100 in the closed trough position ensures that the rolling product remains firmly in place and cylindrical when rolling. Groove 126 can also engage with roll bar 146 to secure or lock device 100 in the closed trough position. A biasing force, provided by a resilient hinge 162, a resilient trough portion 160, sidewalls 166, or through force of the user, can also assist to maintain roll bar 146 in engagement with groove 126. Preferably, groove 126 has a complementary shape to roll bar 146 and is large enough to allow a loop of flexible belt 180 between groove 126 and roll bar 146. In some embodiments, engagement of roll bar 146 with groove 126 can provide tactile or audible feedback to the user to confirm that device 100 is in the closed trough position and ready to roll the cigarette.

Groove 126 can also act as a hinge for lid 120. In the open trough position, lid 120 can be hinged about groove 126 to fold backwards away from main body 140 to allow for easier access to insert rolling product 2 upon flexible belt 180 within trough portion 160. Groove 126 can also allow lid to hinge 120 to hinge towards main body 140 in the closed trough position which could allow a user to hold lid 120 against main body 140 to assist with maintaining device 100 in the closed trough position during the rolling operation.

Reference is next made to FIG. 5, shown is a top perspective view of a foldable cigarette rolling device 200 that has sidewalls 266 that are comprised of a resilient material and further defines an accessory carrier 290 on main body 240. Reference numerals in the 200 series are used to denote elements in FIG. 5 that are similar to elements denoted with the 100 series of reference numerals with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

Sidewalls 266 are attached between lid 220 and trough portion 260 on each end of trough portion 260. Using a resilient material, such as rubber, for example, forces main body 240 against lid 220 in the closed trough position that is illustrated in FIG. 5. It should be appreciated that other biasing mechanisms can be used, such as a spring, for example, between lid 220 and trough portion 260.

Foldable cigarette rolling device 200 can also include accessories (such as lighters, rolling papers, tobacco, filters, etc.) that can be integrated or attached to foldable cigarette rolling device 200. For example, accessories can be adhered to main body cover 244 (e.g. a rectangular cigarette lighter or rolling paper package can be attached to main body cover 244 using an adhesive or other means).

Rolling papers are often sold in a rectangular cardboard package that are capable of being integrated with foldable cigarette rolling device 200. A typical rolling paper package has flat bottom, a top with a slit to access interleaved rolling papers, and a lid to cover the top of the package. Foldable cigarette rolling device 200 can be integrated with a rolling paper package by having main body cover 244 serve as the bottom of the rolling paper package and lid 220 serving as the lid to the rolling paper package. Other rolling products or accessories could be similarly integrated with foldable cigarette rolling device 200.

An accessory carrier 290 can be formed upon main body cover 244 to provide a receptacle for accessories. Foldable cigarette rolling device 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 illustrates a receptacle shaped to receive a rectangular package of rolling product, such as rolling papers, for example. In other embodiments, accessory carrier 290 can have a variety of shapes or sizes to receive other rolling products or accessories. In some embodiments, accessory carrier 290 can further include a flap that can close over the open portion, and the flap can have a reusable adhesive to seal accessory carrier 290 closed. This can be used, for example, to allow accessory carrier 290 to provide a small, resealable pouch of tobacco.

Referring next to FIG. 6, shown is a top perspective view of a foldable cigarette rolling device 200 that is being operated by a user pulling a pull bar 282 of a flexible belt 280. To operate device 200, the user would first open lid 220 away from main body 240 to expose the bottom of trough portion 260 in the open trough position (as shown in FIG. 2). Flexible belt 180 can be positioned at or near the bottom of trough portion 260. Rolling product 2 would then be placed upon flexible belt 180 within trough portion 260. After loading device 200 with rolling product 2, the user would then position lid 220 against the end 246 of main body 240 in the closed trough position.

Foldable cigarette rolling device 200 is shown in the closed trough position in FIG. 5 and the trough portion 260 has been loaded with rolling product (e.g. loose tobacco and a filter which is obstructed from view by sidewalls 266). The user can then insert a bottom edge of a rolling paper 4 between the closed loop of flexible belt 280 where end 246 of main body 240 impinges against lid 220 as shown in FIG. 5. The user would then operate flexible belt 280 by pulling, or some other mechanism, to cause the tobacco to be rolled by the movement of flexible belt 280 within trough portion 260. This movement of flexible belt 280 will also draw rolling paper 4 into the closed loop of flexible belt 280 to cause it to wrap around the tobacco and/or other rolling products. Rolling paper 4 typically has an adhesive near a top edge of the rolling paper, which may require activation, such as by using moisture, that will adhere to the rolling paper 4 to form the rolled cigarette. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the user may pull a pull bar 282 that is attached along the width of flexible belt 280 to evenly distribute the pulling force across the width of flexible belt 280. The rolled cigarette can then be ejected from device 200 by moving it back to the open position. This movement can also remove slack from flexible belt 280 within trough portion 260 to cause the rolled cigarette to be ejected from trough portion 260.

Reference will next be made to FIGS. 7A-F that illustrate embodiments of prefabricated parts of a foldable cigarette rolling device that can be constructed from cardstock. Dotted lines are used to indicate areas where cardstock can be folded to define the various features of a foldable cigarette rolling device. Reference numerals in the 300 series are used to denote elements in FIGS. 7A-F that are similar to elements denoted with the 100-series or 200-series of reference numerals with respect to the earlier described embodiments.

FIG. 7A illustrates lid 320 and trough portion 360 formed from the same cardstock piece. Areas of weakness 363 can be defined on trough portion 360, using compression, indentation, shallow cut, or cut-out portion of the cardstock, for example, to define the shape of trough portion 360 and allow for cardstock to bend to provide a hinge between adhered portion 364 that will attach to main body 340.

FIG. 7B illustrates lid cover 324 that is attached to lid 320 by lid cover flaps 324a, 324b. The illustrated fold lines provide sufficient space between lid 320 and lid cover 324 to form a channel to allow flexible belt 180 to pass therethrough.

FIG. 7C illustrates a main body 340 that has a main body cover 344 that attaches to the foldable cigarette rolling device through main body flaps 344a, 344b. An accessory carrier 390 is also defined with a thickness defined by the illustrated fold lines. The accessory carrier 390 would fold back onto main body cover 344 and attach to main body cover 344 by accessory flaps 390a, 390b that also provide a channel for flexible belt 180 within the main body 340. FIG. 7D illustrates an alternative main body 340 without the accessory carrier 390.

FIG. 7E illustrates a roll bar 346 that can be formed by folding the cardstock about the dotted line and attaching it to the main body portions illustrated in any one of FIGS. 7C and 7D.

FIG. 7F illustrates sidewalls 366 that can be attached between lid 320 and adhered portion 364 shown in FIG. 7A to form the trough shape. Sidewall flaps 366a, 366b can be attached to any one of lid 320 or trough portion 360.

While the exemplary embodiments have been described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and scope of the claims is to be accorded an interpretation that encompasses all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

FOLDABLE CIGARETTE ROLLING DEVICE

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