This disclosure relates to a device and system for packaging and smoking an organic smoking material, and a method of using same.
Organic smoking materials, such as tobacco and herbal mixtures, are sold over the counter either in bulk or loose form (for example, packaged loosely in a bag) or assembled (for example, as a rolled cigarette). Similarly, marijuana, such as medical marijuana, is also typically sold by dispensaries in bulk, or as intact buds. For example, a sealable bag is typically used as a container for an organic smoking material packaged in its loose form.
A buyer must purchase the organic smoking material in its loose form if the buyer prefers to prepare or assemble the smokable product himself, such as rolling a cigarette or packing a pipe. However, currently known packaging or containers do not provide a means by which the buyer can prepare the smokable product. For example, marijuana sold by dispensaries typically is packaged in a sealable bag or container, since such packaging is disposable and cost effective. However, this packaging is only for containing the marijuana and does not provide any other utility. Although there are a variety of available tools for preparing and smoking an organic smoking material, these must be purchased separately and can be expensive. Additionally, even currently known multi-use tools have disadvantages.
Non-disposable containers may also be used for containing organic smoking material. An exemplary currently known container may be composed of wood or other material, and includes a first compartment for storing a removable pipe or smoking device and a second compartment for storing a quantity of organic smoking material. The container also includes a lid that covers the first and second compartments. In one example, the lid is rotatable between open and closed positions. However, the lid merely functions to contain the organic smoking material and smoking device, and does not provide an airtight seal. Consequently, a humidity level within the second compartment cannot be maintained and odors are allowed to escape, not only alerting others to the contents of the container, but also allowing the organic smoking material to dry out. Additionally, in many cases the organic smoking material must be chopped or torn into smaller pieces in order to fit within the second compartment, which may be very small. This may affect the quality of the organic smoking material. Another disadvantage is that it can be very difficult to insert the organic smoking material into the second compartment without mess. Further, this container does not facilitate the easy removal and assembly of the organic smoking material into the smoking device. For example, the organic smoking material must be dumped out of the container, a small quantity used to load the smoking device 16, and the remainder reinserted into the container. Finally, this container is not intended to be disposable. As a result, the container may be constructed from expensive materials, such as wood, glass, or dense plastic.
In one embodiment, a system for containing and using an organic smoking material comprises: a container including: a chamber having a first compartment with a first depth and a second compartment with a second depth that is less than the first depth, the second compartment being adjacent to the first compartment; a first end having a rim; a closed second end opposite the first end; an insert at least partially in contact with the rim and at least partially extending into the chamber, the insert having an aperture aligned with the first compartment and a tub portion that defines the second compartment; a lower surface having a recessed portion that extends into the chamber, the recessed portion having a cleaning element that has a plurality of radially arranged fins surrounding a central shaft, the recessed portion being vertically aligned with the tub portion; and a lid configured to provide a seal against at least the second compartment, the lid being hingedly connected to the insert; and an elongate smoking device configured to be contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a length that exceeds a depth of the first compartment such that at least a portion of the elongate smoking device protrudes from the first compartment when the elongate smoking device is contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a stem portion and a bowl portion, the bowl portion having a sharpened free edge, the bowl portion being configured to receive the cleaning element.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the central shaft of the cleaning element protrudes beyond the plurality of radially arranged fins.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the system further comprises a loading funnel configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the container and aligned with the second compartment, the loading funnel including a head portion, a neck portion including an aperture, and at least one attachment element, at least a portion of the head portion having a straight edge.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the system further comprises a pushing device including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, at least a portion of the second end being configured to be inserted into the aperture of the neck portion of the loading funnel.
In one embodiment, a system for containing and using an organic smoking material comprises: a container including: a chamber having a first compartment with a first depth and a second compartment with a second depth that is less than the first depth, the second compartment being adjacent to the first compartment; a first end having a rim; a closed second end opposite the first end; an insert at least partially in contact with the rim and at least partially extending into the chamber, the insert having an aperture aligned with the first compartment and a tub portion that defines the second compartment; and a lid configured to provide a seal against at least the second compartment, the lid being hingedly connected to the insert; and an elongate smoking device configured to be contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a length that exceeds a depth of the first compartment such that at least a portion of the elongate smoking device protrudes from the first compartment when the elongate smoking device is contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a stem portion and a bowl portion.
A more complete understanding of embodiments described herein, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the housing 34 includes an upper or first end 42, a lower or second end 44 opposite the first end 42, and a lateral surface 46 extending between the first and second ends 42, 44. The lateral surface 46 has a height that may at least substantially define the height of the housing 34, without the lid 40. Put another way, the height of the lateral surface 46 and the height of the lid 40 when the container 30 is closed may together define the height of the container 30. The first end 42 is an open end having a rim 43 and the second end 44 is a closed end that includes a lower surface 48 of the housing 34. Thus, the housing 34 defines a chamber therein.
As is shown in more detail in
In one embodiment, the container 30 includes an insert 66 that defines an entry aperture 68 for the first compartment 36 and defines the wall of the second compartment 38. The lid 40 is hingedly coupled to the insert 66 at a location proximate the entry aperture 68 for the first compartment 36. Further, in one embodiment, the lid 40 and the insert 66 are manufactured as a single piece (for example, as shown in
The portion of the insert 66 that defines the walls of the second compartment 38, which is referred to herein as the tub portion 70, is constructed such that the floor or base 72 of the tub portion 70 rests on, or is located in close or immediate proximity to (for example, within 2 mm from), the first surface 54 of the ledge 52. Thus, the tub portion 70, and therefore the second compartment 38, has a depth within the housing 34 that is less than the height of the lateral surface 46 of the housing 34. Further, in use, the base of the first compartment 36 is deeper within the housing 34 of the container 30 than the base of the second compartment 38 (for example, as shown in
At least a portion of the tub portion 70 may extend beyond the rim 43 of the first end 42 of the housing 34. Further, the lid 40 is recessed to receive the portion of the smoking device 32 that extends from the housing 34, and meets to form a seal against the portion of the tub portion 70 that extends beyond the rim 43. Thus, a seal, and in some embodiments an airtight seal, may be formed between the lid 40 and at least the second compartment 38, which prevents humidity and odor from escaping from the container 30.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, as shown in
As is shown in
Referring now to
Further, in one embodiment, at least a portion of the mouth 98 includes a tapered straight edge 104, similar to a dustpan. In use, the tapered straight edge 104 can be rested on a flat surface and organic smoking material can be swept into the mouth 98 and the head portion 92 of the loading funnel 88. The container 30, and the loading funnel 88, may then be righted such that the lower surface 48 of the housing 34 is resting on the flat surface and the loading funnel 88 extends upward from the container 30 and the second compartment 38. In this position, the organic smoking material falls from the head portion 92, through the neck portion 94, and into the second compartment 38.
The at least one attachment element 96 is configured to releasably attach the loading funnel 88 to the container 30. The head portion 92, the neck portion 94, and the attachment element(s) 96 may be manufactured as a single piece, with the attachment element(s) 96 extending from, incorporated into, or proximate the neck portion 94. In one non-limiting example, the attachment element(s) 96 include at least one rail 106 sized and configured to extend over, matably attach to, accept, or otherwise couple to at least a portion of the housing 34, such as the rim 43 (which may protrude beyond the lateral surface 46 of the housing 34) and/or the insert 66. It will be understood that the attachment element(s) 96 may have any size, shape, and/or configuration that, when the lid 40 is open, allows the loading funnel 88 may be slid onto, snapped onto, or otherwise releasably coupled to the container 30.
As shown in
Some embodiments advantageously provide device and system for packaging, storing, and smoking an organic smoking material, and a method of using same. In one embodiment, a container comprises: a housing defining a chamber; a first compartment within the chamber, the first compartment having a first depth; a second compartment within the chamber adjacent the first compartment, the second compartment having a second depth that is less than the first depth; and a lid configured to provide an airtight seal to at least the second compartment.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the housing includes a first end defining a rim and a second end opposite the first end, the container further comprising: an insert coupled to the rim of the first end and at least partially extending into the chamber, the lid being hingedly coupled to the insert, the insert including: an aperture aligned with the first compartment; and a tub portion that defines the second compartment when the insert is coupled to the rim of the first end.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the second end of the housing includes a recessed portion that extends into the chamber and is aligned with the tub portion.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the tub portion has a base that is one of in contact with and immediately proximate the recessed portion that extends into the chamber.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the container further comprises a cleaning element within the recessed portion, the cleaning element including a plurality of radially arranged fins surrounding a central shaft, the central shaft protruding beyond the plurality of radially arranged fins.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the first compartment is configured to contain a smoking device and the second compartment is configured to contain an organic smoking material, the first depth of the first compartment being such that at least a portion of the smoking device protrudes from the first compartment when the smoking device is contained within the first compartment.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the first compartment is configured such that at least a portion of the smoking device protrudes from the first compartment when the smoking device is contained within the first compartment and when the lid is in a closed position.
In one embodiment, system for containing and using an organic smoking material comprises: a container including a housing having a first compartment, a second compartment, and a lid, the first compartment being deeper than the second compartment, the lid being configured to provide an airtight seal to at least the second compartment; and an elongate smoking device configured to be contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a length that exceeds a depth of the first compartment such that at least a portion of the elongate smoking device protrudes from the first compartment when the elongate smoking device is contained within the first compartment, the elongate smoking device having a stem portion and a bowl portion, the bowl portion having a sharpened free edge.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the housing includes a lower surface having a recessed portion that extends into the housing, the recessed portion having a cleaning element that has a plurality of radially arranged fins surrounding a central shaft, the cleaning element being configured to be inserted into the bowl portion of the elongate smoking device.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the system further comprises a loading funnel configured to be removably attached to at least a portion of the container and aligned with the second compartment, the loading funnel including a head portion, a neck portion including an aperture, and at least one attachment element, at least a portion of the head portion having a straight edge.
In one aspect of the embodiment, the system further comprises a pushing device including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, at least a portion of the second end being configured to be inserted into the aperture of the neck portion of the loading funnel.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiments are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.
This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/291,902, filed on Mar. 4, 2019, entitled ORGANIC SMOKING MATERIAL DISPENSER, which claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/130,609, filed on Sep. 13, 2018, entitled ORGANIC SMOKING MATERIAL DISPENSER, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/693,639, filed Jul. 3, 2018, entitled ORGANIC SMOKING MATERIAL CONTAINER, the entireties of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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20210195944 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16291902 | Mar 2019 | US |
Child | 17198766 | US | |
Parent | 16130609 | Sep 2018 | US |
Child | 16291902 | US |