DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a representative perspective view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a representative perspective view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a representative top view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a representative bottom view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a representative first side view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a representative first end view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a representative second side view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a representative second end view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a representative front view of a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a representative top view of a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a representative rear view of a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a representative perspective view of a smoking accessory including a caddy and a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13A is a representative perspective view of a clip of a smoking accessory according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13B is a representative perspective view of a clip of a smoking accessory according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a representative exploded side cutaway view of a smoking accessory including a caddy and a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a representative cutaway view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a detailed representative cutaway view of a caddy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a representative cutaway view of a smoking accessory including a caddy and a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 18 is a representative view of a caddy including a bottle opener according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows caddy 20 for holding a lighter L, in this case a disposable lighter, and a package P containing a smoking article. As seen in FIG. 1, package P includes “flip-top” F, which opens by articulating flip-top F between a closed position, as shown, and an open position, (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, caddy 20 remains mounted to package P, as shown in FIG. 1, during articulation of flip-top F. Also as seen in FIG. 1, caddy 20 includes bottle opener 50.
FIG. 2 shows caddy 20 holding lighter L. As shown, caddy 20 includes bottle opener 50.
FIGS. 3-8 depict various views of caddy 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3 and 5-8 show bottle opener 50 attached to body 25 of caddy 20. FIG. 4 shows anchor end 51 of bottle opener 50 attached within body 25 of caddy 20.
FIGS. 9-11 depict various views of clip 30 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with strap 34 removed.
FIG. 12 shows smoking accessory 10 including caddy 20 and clip 30. Package P including “flip-top” F, is shown inserted in caddy 20 and caddy 20 is shown held by clip 30. Clip 30 includes strap 34 having buckle 35. In a preferred embodiment, strap 34 is formed of a strip of material having alternate front and back surfaced having one or the other of a hook or loop type fabric to permit hook and loop type fastening of clip 30 to a variety of articles or structures. Also, in a preferred embodiment, caddy 20 and clip 30 are both formed of a polymeric material. More preferably, caddy 20 and clip 30 are both formed of a thermoplastic. Still more preferably, caddy 20 and clip 30 are both formed of an injection molded plastic.
Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, clip 30 is shown including strap 34 having buckle 35. FIG. 13A depicts strap 34 routed through vertical strap passage 36 while FIG. 13B depicts strap 34 routed through horizontal strap passage 37.
Referring to FIG. 14, smoking accessory 10 is shown including caddy 20 and clip 30. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, caddy 20 includes body 25, within which several apertures are formed. Package-receiving aperture 21 is formed in body 25 and extends into body substantially along axis Al. Package-receiving aperture 21 is formed having a size and configuration that permits a snug fit over package P. In FIG. 14, package P containing a smoking article S is shown positioned for insertion in package-receiving aperture 21 of caddy 20. FIG. 15 shows package P containing a smoking article S inserted in package-receiving aperture 21 of caddy 20. FIG. 16 shows a detail cutaway of a portion of body 25 caddy 20 showing package P containing smoking article S positioned within package-receiving aperture 21. Tooth 27 formed on an inner surface of package-receiving aperture 21 engages edge E of package P helping to retain package P in package-receiving aperture 21 of caddy 20.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, caddy 20 also includes first package eject aperture 23 and second package eject aperture 28 formed through a crown portion 29 of body 25, contiguous to package-receiving aperture 21 and substantially parallel to primary axis Al. First package eject aperture 23 and second package eject aperture 28 are also formed substantially along axis A1. This arrangement together with the size and configurations of first package eject aperture 23 and second package eject aperture 28 permit the use of lighter L, as shown in FIG. 14, to be used to eject package P from package-receiving aperture 21. Referring to FIG. 14, in order to remove package P, lighter L is withdrawn from lighter holding aperture 22 and inserted through first package eject aperture 23 and second package eject aperture 28, with a force F that ejects package P from package-receiving aperture 21.
Lighter holding aperture 22 is also formed in body 25 along secondary axis A2 and preferably is configured having a size and cross-sectional shape that is adapted to receive lighter L, shown in FIG. 14. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, lighter holding aperture 22 is formed in body 25 along axis A2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lighter holding aperture 22 is formed and oriented with respect to body 25 and package P such that a user might be able to hold caddy 20 with the package P inserted in package-receiving aperture 21, in such a manner that the lighter L is easily operated without removal from caddy 20. As shown, secondary axis A2 of lighter holding aperture 22 intersects with primary axis A1 along which package-receiving aperture 21 is formed.
Referring again to FIGS. 14 and 17 clip 30 is shown, which is attachable to a structure or other article, (not shown in FIG. 14), and in the case of FIG. 17, is shown as a sun-visor V, common in most vehicles, Clip 30 is attachable to a structure or other article employing strap 34 having buckle 35, Strap 34 is shown inserted through vertical strap passage 36 and in FIG. 17, strap 34 passes about visor V and is secured thereto by passing end 38 of strap 34 through buckle 35 and contacting the loop portion of a hook and loop fabric, not shown, against the hook portion of the hook and loop fabric as is well known to those skilled in the art.
Referring to FIGS. 14 and 17, to attach caddy 20 to clip 30, finger 32 of clip 30 is inserted into first package eject aperture 23 and ridge 31 of clip 30 cooperates with ledge 24 of caddy 20 to secure and hold caddy 20 with against clip 30. In the preferred embodiment, the fit of caddy 20 against clip 30 is achieved by the relative configurations and cooperating fit of ridge 31 of clip 30 with ledge 24 of caddy 20 in combination with the compressive force generated by finger 32 of clip 30 against caddy 20 and therefore against ridge 31 of clip 30 by ledge 24 of caddy 20.
Referring to FIG. 18, use of bottle opener 50 is demonstrated with respect to bottle top T of bottle B. In this case, lip L bottle top T is engaged by edge 55 of bottle opener 50 and an angular force F0 is exerted between fulcrum 26 and edge 55 of bottle opener 50 as shown to remove bottle top T from bottle B.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080023353
