SMOKING MATERIAL EXTINGUISHING AND STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

The smoking material extinguishing and storage device disclosed herein comprises a main body and a strap, and may be made from a flexible material of construction such that the main body may be inverted relative to its original position. The device may be installed by a user on a standard smoking device in its various orientations to provide a user with a method for extinguishing lighted smoking material within such smoking device and a method for storing and transporting smoking material within the smoking device. The device may further comprise a heat-resistant and fire-resistant material of construction so as to prevent its damage from its anticipated use. The device may be designed with a concave, convex, or planar base so as to facilitate the formation of an effective seal on a plurality of smoking devices.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to smoking accessories, and, more specifically, to a smoking material extinguishing and storage device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extinguishing of a burning smoking material can be achieved via a plurality of methods, most of which involve covering or enveloping such material so as to suppress its access to the oxygen needed to continue the combustion process. Such covering or enveloping may be achieved, for example, by a dome or hood apparatus that may be placed over a container in which the burning material is held. An alternative method for extinguishing burning smoking material involves the use of a pipe tamper, which may be used to simultaneously suppress the combustion process and compress the burning material to facilitate its future relighting.

It is known to have a smoking pipe design that includes an integrated bowl cap that can be swiveled over, or hinged into contact with, the smoking cavity. In smoking pipes of this design, the primary function of the lid is to prevent the ingress of debris or contaminants during storage and to prevent spillage of the pipe contents during transportation. Generally, in this design, the lid is removed or articulated away from, and out of contact with, the pipe bowl prior use and is not reapplied until after the smoking session has ended. While the lid could be used to fully extinguish a pipe, a user normally extinguishes the pipe prior to reapplication of the lid, as generally the lid is not designed, nor intended, to be used frequently or repeatedly to extinguish the pipe.

It is known to have a smoking pipe design that includes a removable lid. Such a lid, though, may only fit pipes of that specific design and may not be usable on pipes even of a similar size and form factor. Furthermore, smoking pipes with an integrated or removable lid are not exceedingly popular as the lid detracts from the general aesthetic and primary function of the pipe.

It is known to have a smoking bowl insert designed for traditional tobacco pipes that alters the aperture of the bowl opening, thus slowing the rate of combustion of the tobacco held within. These inserts may be made from a metal, though, and become hot with use, have a fixed aperture, and may not be intended to extinguish a smoking apparatus. Due to their design, these inserts can only be used with a small subset of smoking pipes.

It is known to have a smoking pipe bowl cover designed for use with traditional tobacco pipes that acts as a removable lid or windscreen for the bowl opening. Such bowl lids may also affix to the bowl opening by gripping the bowl body, preventing egress of the bowl contents. These bowl lids, however, have limited functionality or do not work as originally designed with modern smoking apparatuses. Traditional tobacco pipes maintain a narrow form factor across a variety of bowl and stem shapes, allowing a singular bowl lid, of a fixed dimension, to function with, and affix to, a majority of traditional tobacco pipe designs. In recent years, however, traditional tobacco pipes have largely been replaced by modern smoking apparatuses with highly varied form factors, bowl designs, bowl sizes and construction materials, making bowl lid devices developed for use with traditional tobacco pipes generally incompatible with the majority of modern smoking apparatuses.

None of the products currently available allow a user to consistently regulate the rate of combustion within, and emission of smoke from, a modern smoking apparatus during use, and unlike traditional tobacco pipes, modern smoking apparatuses are often snuffed by the user between inhalations, causing many users to resort to using their hands, fingers, highly-flammable cigarette lighters, makeshift tools, or repurposed objects near the high-temperature combustion areas found on smoking apparatuses.

There is a need in the art for a device that may modify the aperture of a smoking apparatus bowl, or one or more ports thereon, allowing a user to better regulate the rate of combustion of their desired smoking substance, and, if desired, permit a user to completely occlude the opening of their smoking apparatus bowl and any additional port thereon. Such a device may consist of elements which allow a user to affix the device to their desired smoking apparatus igniter, smoking tools, or affix the device to their smoking apparatus, thus preventing the ingress of oxygen or the unwanted egress of smoke, vapor, or combustion by-products, while securing the contents of their smoking apparatus and any substances held therein.

Such a device may further affix to a smoking apparatus to add an auxiliary carburetor port, act as a bowl aperture modifier, a pipe rest, a reamer, an ashtray, an ash catcher, or the like. If attached to a user's smoking apparatus igniter, it may be utilized as a suction cup connector or fastener, allowing a user to affix their igniter to other objects, their smoking apparatus, or the user's surrounding environment, or to visibly differentiate their igniter from others.

It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a smoking material extinguishing and storage device.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a smoking material extinguishing and storage device that may be manually installed by a user on a standard smoking device.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a smoking material extinguishing and storage device that may comprise a flexible material of construction so as to facilitate its conformation to a plurality of standard and non-standard smoking devices.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a smoking material extinguishing and storage device that may comprise a flexible material of construction so as to facilitate its inversion from a first orientation to a second orientation.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a smoking material extinguishing and storage device that may comprise a heat-resistant material of construction so as to prevent its damage from heat.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a smoking material extinguishing and storage device that may comprise a fire-resistant material of construction so as to prevent its damage from fire.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art, both with respect to how to practice the present invention and how to make the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top isometric perspective view of a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom isometric perspective view of a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top isometric perspective view of a second orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a smoking material extinguishing and storage device and a smoking pipe, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a smoking material extinguishing and storage device placed on a smoking pipe, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a smoking material extinguishing and storage device being attached to a smoking pipe, as contemplated by the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a smoking material extinguishing and storage device attached to a smoking pipe, as contemplated by the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a smoking material extinguishing and storage device attached to a lighter, as contemplated by the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for reference only and is not limiting. The words “front,” “rear,” “anterior,” “posterior,” “lateral,” “medial,” “upper,” “lower,” “outer,” “inner,” and “interior” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the invention, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

The present invention relates generally to smoking accessories, and, more specifically, to a smoking material extinguishing and storage device. As contemplated by the present disclosure, a smoking apparatus may be any traditional smoking pipe, glass pipe, water pipe, electronic cigarette, atomizer, vaporizer, or other smoking device known in the art.

The illustrations of FIGS. 1 through 5 illustrate a first orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device as contemplated by the present disclosure. The figures illustrates a main body 1 comprising a cap 2 and a strap 5. The cap 2 further comprises a cap rim 3 and a cap base 8, and the strap 5 connects to the cap 2 at a plurality of strap connections 4 such that the strap 5 is centrally mounted relative to cap 2. The strap 5, by its plurality of strap connections 4, forms an elliptical opening 6. The main body 1 may further comprise a textured design element 7, which may be a pinch area or other appropriate traction design.

The illustration of FIG. 6 illustrates a second orientation of a smoking material extinguishing and storage device as contemplated by the present disclosure. The figure illustrates a main body 1 comprising a cap 2 and a strap 5. The cap 2 is inverted around the plurality of strap connections 4 such that cap rim 3 is located within elliptical opening 6 formed by strap 5.

The strap 5 and plurality of strap connections 4 are designed to allow the user to rotate, or reverse, the strap 5 so that the body 1 converts from an outwardly facing cap 2 as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5 to an inwardly facing cap 2 as depicted in FIG. 6. The device now comprises a closed loop around the inwardly facing cap 2. Once the cap 2 is inverted, it can then be affixed to a smoking apparatus or other device of the user's choosing.

The cap base 8 is shown as a concave depression, but may be flat, convex, or have a varied topology. In the present illustration the cap base 8 has concave depression allowing it to better mate to the generally convex smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101, as shown in FIGS. 7 through 10. In a preferred embodiment, the cap 2 and cap rim 3 are formed in a circular manner as to better mate with the generally circular shape of most smoking apparatus bowls 102 and bowl rims 101.

The strap 5 may comprise a singular closed band, an adjustable band, an open strap with fasteners, or a removable strap, or may comprise a plurality of straps. The strap 5 may have a plurality of connectors or fasteners or any combination thereof. If so equipped, the strap 5 may be used to secure the device to an igniter, a user's finger, a user's smoking apparatus, or any other object desired by the user. In some applications, the device may be designed without a strap, or may have a handle, knob, grip, or an element that aids manual manipulation by, and is ergonomic to, the user.

If the application calls for the device to be attached to an igniter, then the strap 5 is designed so that its circumference is approximately the circumference of the prototypical smoking apparatus or cigarette lighter. If the application calls for the device to utilize an elastic strap 5 to attach the device to an igniter, its molded circumference should be designed to allow the strap to fit the circumference of the average lighter. In this embodiment, the elastic nature of the strap 5 allows the device to be affixed to a wide variety of smoking apparatuses and cigarette lighters, as shown in FIG. 11. The device may also be affixed to other types of igniters, such as butane torch lighters, to a user's smoking apparatus for storage in its non-converted state, or to other tools and devices used for smoking, vaporizing, or consuming smoking materials. The device may also be grasped in a user's hand so that it rests comfortably in their palm. If an application calls for the device to be designed without a strap 5, the device may utilize an adhesive element, snap, binding, sleeve, contour, latch or other fastener to attach to an igniter or smoking apparatus.

Pipe and cigarette igniters fall into two general categories: either user-refillable or non-refillable and disposable. Igniters, in both categories, have a general form factor designed to be ergonomic so they can be gripped by the user during use and generally have an elliptical or round body with rounded edges. Therefore, in this embodiment, the possible location of an igniter, user's finger, or other object is shown as elliptical space 6.

In one embodiment the smoking material extinguishing and storage device may comprise a plurality of magnets built into the cap 2 to aid in attachment to a standard smoking device. The plurality of magnets may be molded into the smoking material extinguishing and storage device or may be embedded within the smoking material extinguishing and storage device, depending on the chosen material of construction. Most standard smoking devices are made from glass or non-ferrous metals, and it is contemplated that a custom smoking device would need be made from a ferrous metal or contain magnets or ferrous materials embedded in the smoking apparatus body, bowl rim or bowl body so as to facilitate such an embodiment. In one embodiment the smoking material extinguishing and storage device may comprise a plurality of magnets that may also be molded into the strap 5.

In one embodiment the smoking material extinguishing and storage device may further comprise an attachment strap that may be attached to a standard smoking device, and to which the smoking material extinguishing and storage device may attach. In such an embodiment the smoking material extinguishing and storage device may be stored on the standard smoking device as an alternative to capping the bowl 102, if not desired. The attachment strap may connect to the smoking material extinguishing and storage device by any appropriate means such as, for example, a button, a hook, a snap, a catch, or a plurality of magnets.

The illustrations of FIGS. 7 through 10 illustrate a first type of standard smoking device showing a smoking device main body 106, bowl 102, bowl rim 101, carburetor port 104, and mouthpiece 105. To begin the smoking process, a user begins by placing their desired smoking material into the bowl 102 of the smoking device. The smoking material is then ignited, atomized, or vaporized, generating smoke or vapor, which the user then inhales via the mouthpiece 105. When the user ceases inhalation, the remaining smoking material generally remains ignited. This continued combustion reduces a user's smoking efficiency and wastes the valuable substance to be smoked, atomized, or vaporized. It is common for the combustible material held in the bowl of the smoking apparatus to remain ignited until fully consumed or extinguished by the user.

If the smoking apparatus remains ignited between inhalations or when not in use, it can release noxious emissions of smoke or vapor and may remain a fire hazard for a substantial amount of time after the user has finished consuming the smoking material. Currently, there are several makeshift methods for extinguishing a smoking apparatus that many users commonly employ either independently or in conjunction with each other. Traditionally, classic tobacco pipes were designed to remained lighted throughout the smoking process, and were typically not extinguished until the cessation of the user's smoking session. With modern smoking apparatuses, however, it is common practice to snuff and reignite the smoking material between inhalations and multiple times during a smoking session.

The most common makeshift methods employed for extinguishing a smoking apparatus utilize the objects most readily available to the user. Therefore, one of the most common methods for extinguishing an ignited smoking apparatus involves the use of a user's hand and fingers to cover the opening of the modern smoking apparatus bowl, mouthpiece, or one or more carburetion ports, if so equipped. Commonly, a user wishing to extinguish their smoking apparatus or pipe will place the palm of their hand or one or more fingers over the bowl and the ignited smoking material held therein to reduce the air available for combustion and starve the combustion process of oxygen. When utilizing this method, a user may suffer from a burning sensation, burns to their hands or fingers, or a deposit of ash on their skin.

Another common makeshift method for extinguishing a smoking apparatus involves the use of a smoking apparatus igniter, commonly, a butane cigarette lighter. In this method, the user places the igniter horizontally over the open part of the smoking apparatus bowl to act like a lid, thereby reducing airflow to the material in an attempt to suppress the combustion of the ignited smoking material. Many types of igniters have elliptically shaped bodies, which do not permit a user to occlude the commonly flat planar surface of the bowl opening, mouthpiece, or carburetor ports when brought into contact with the smoking apparatus.

Users also commonly utilize the body of their smoking apparatus igniter or cigarette lighter to apply a compressive force on the ignited smoking material in the smoking apparatus bowl in an attempt to reduce airflow around the smoking material and slow the rate of combustion. This method is also sometimes used to completely snuff the ignited smoking material held in the bowl. Using an igniter or lighter to extinguish a smoking apparatus has several disadvantages.

The most common type of smoking apparatus igniter or cigarette lighter is disposable, made of plastic, and filled with a combustible liquid or gas fuel such as butane. When the body of a lighter is used to compress, agitate, or cover the combustible smoking material, it is heated by the ignited smoking material. When the plastic body of the lighter, commonly made of polyformaldehyde, is heated to within a fraction of the combustion temperature of substances commonly consumed with smoking apparatuses, it may release toxic substances such as the carcinogen formaldehyde. Polyformaldehyde is also flammable and is non-self-extinguishing.

Tobacco and other commonly smoked substances, when ignited, burn in the range of 800-1400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is well above the temperature that most plastics begin to release toxic fumes. Other plastics commonly used to construct igniters release highly toxic dioxin compounds when heated. While the relative volume of these released toxins may be low, they are concentrated in the bowl of the smoking apparatus. When these toxins are concentrated in the smoking apparatus bowl and inhaled by a user, they can have deleterious impacts on human health.

Another makeshift method users commonly use to extinguish a smoking apparatus involves the use of a repurposed object to reduce the aperture of, or occlude, the opening of the bowl, mouthpiece, or carburetor ports. These repurposed objects include ordinary household items like metal coins, wine corks, or kitchen utensils. Using a repurposed household item is less than ideal and may present a fire hazard.

By occluding the opening of a smoking apparatus bowl or combustion chamber, emission of smoke can be greater controlled, reducing waste of the valuable combustible smoking material and reducing the unwanted emission of smoke or vapor. It is common for a user to ignite and extinguish a modern smoking apparatus multiple times in one smoking session, so the solution needs to be readily available to the user, ergonomic, and seamlessly integrated into a user's smoking routine. The current methods for snuffing or extinguishing a smoking apparatus are ineffective and can even have serious acute or chronic negative impacts on users' health.

Depending on the user's preference and smoking apparatus, the invention may be used to partially or fully occlude the opening of bowl 102 and the bowl rim 101. By partially occluding the opening of bowl 102, the rate of combustion of the smoking material can be better regulated by the user. By regulating the rate of combustion, the user can keep the smoking material ignited for the next inhalation while limiting the unwanted emission of smoke during their exhalation of smoke or vapor, or while passing the smoking apparatus to another user. In this process, the user can bring the invention out of physical contact with the smoking apparatus, inhale via the mouthpiece 105, and repeat these steps multiple times during their smoking session.

To employ the invention as a smoking apparatus snuffer, the user may simply grasp the device in their hand or may affix the device to a smoking apparatus igniter, their finger, or another object of their choosing utilizing the strap 5. If the application calls for the device to be attached to a smoking apparatus igniter, the strap 5 would be designed to allow a user to easily affix it to their desired type of igniter.

The illustration of FIG. 11 illustrates a standard lighter with a smoking material extinguishing and storage device affixed thereon. The figure illustrates a cap 2 and a strap 5, wherein the strap 5 is attached to a standard lighter in a preferred orientation. The figure further illustrates a plurality of strap connections 4, cap rim 3, and cap base 8.

The user ignites the smoking material placed in the bowl 102 of their smoking apparatus using their preferred igniter, and, upon cessation of the inhalation of smoke, the user aligns the circular cap rim 3 and cap base 8 over the bowl 102 and bowl rim 101 so that the cap 2, cap rim 3, and cap base 8 is generally in lateral alignment with bowl 102 and bowl rim 101. Once the cap 2, cap rim 3, and cap base 8 are brought into proper alignment with the bowl 102 and bowl rim 101, the device is pressed into physical contact with smoking apparatus so that the cap rim 3 and cap base 8 are touching the surface of the bowl rim 101. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the cap 2, cap rim 3, and cap base 8 are designed to be larger than the diameter of the average smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101, so that the cap 2 and cap rim 3 completely occlude the opening of the bowl 102 when brought into physical contact with the bowl rim 101. If designed for use with a custom smoking apparatus, the cap 2, cap rim 3 and cap base 8 may be designed to mate specifically with the smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101.

To extinguish the smoking material held in bowl 102, the user fully occludes the opening of the smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101 with the cap 2 and cap base 8, depriving the combustion process of oxygen, and does not remove the device until the smoking material is no longer ignited. This is a short process as the volume of the standard smoking apparatus bowl or combustion chamber 102 is low and any trapped oxygen is quickly consumed by the combustion process. The user can then end their smoking session or easily reignite their desired smoking material with their preferred igniter.

To more rapidly extinguish the ignited smoking material in the smoking apparatus bowl 102, the user repeats the same process as before, bringing the invention into physical contact with the smoking apparatus, occluding the opening of bowl 102, bowl rim 101, and any carburetor ports 104. The user then inhales via the mouthpiece 105 and, as the bowl 102 and any additional ports 104 that allow the ingress of air are occluded, a vacuum is created within the smoking apparatus body 106 and bowl 102, depriving the combustion process of oxygen and more rapidly extinguishing the ignited smoking material.

Once a user has placed the desired substance to be smoked, atomized, or vaporized within the smoking apparatus, generally, careful consideration must be made so that the smoking apparatus is not tipped, rotated, or otherwise disturbed to prevent spilling the smoking material. Many types of smoking apparatuses will also carbonize the smoking material during regular use and, thus, the user must be mindful as to not spill the ash or carbonized substance into the environment or onto surrounding surfaces. Because of this, it may be difficult to transport a smoking apparatus once loaded with the smoking material without causing unintended spillage of the material or contaminating the storage environment, especially if that substance has been carbonized during the smoking, vaporizing, or atomization process.

The device may also secure substances to be smoked, vaporized, or atomized within a smoking apparatus whether in a fresh, unconsumed state, partially consumed, or totally consumed and carbonized, preventing unwanted release of the consumable substance or byproducts generated by the smoking, vaporization, or atomization process.

To convert the invention from the snuffing configuration with an outwardly facing cap rim 3 and cap base 8 to the enclosure configuration with an inwardly facing cap base 8, the user grasps the strap 5 and cap 2, rotating the strap 5 about the plurality of strap connections 4 while simultaneously holding the cap 2. In the enclosure configuration, the strap 5 extends from the plurality of strap connections 4, forming a closed loop around the cap 2, cap rim 3, and cap base 8, being centrally aligned with the underside of the cap 2 and the cap base 8. The strap 5 may then be elongated or adjusted by the user to extend around and encompass the supporting structure of the smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101, securely affixing the invention to the smoking apparatus and preventing the unwanted spillage of the bowl contents and any combustion by-products within the bowl 102. If a smoking apparatus is so equipped, the strap 5 may also be designed to cover one or more ports 104 on the body of the smoking apparatus, preventing the ingress of air and unwanted spillage of combustion by-products from within the body of the smoking apparatus.

To affix the invention to a smoking apparatus, the user begins by aligning the cap base 8 and cap rim 3 over the opening of the smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101. The cap 2 and cap base 8 is then brought into physical contact with the smoking apparatus bowl 102 and bowl rim 101 so that the cap 2, cap rim 3, and cap base 8 occludes the opening of the smoking apparatus bowl 102. The user may then use the strap 5 to secure the invention to the body of the smoking apparatus 106. If the invention utilizes an adjustable strap 5, the user then holds the invention in contact with the smoking apparatus while expanding the strap 5 and stretching it over the body of smoking apparatus 106.

Once the invention is mated to the smoking apparatus, it may then be utilized by a user to secure the contents of the bowl for travel or storage, preventing the unwanted spillage of the smoking apparatus contents, securing the smoking material in the bowl 102.

When a user wants to resume using their smoking apparatus, the user removes the device from the smoking apparatus by grasping the smoking apparatus and device body 1 while removing the strap 5 from the smoking apparatus body 106. Depending on the embodiment, the invention may then be converted to the snuffer configuration as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5.

A common smoking apparatus variant is the water pipe, which utilizes one or more chambers of water to filter the smoke generated by combustion. Unlike handheld pipes that generally maintain a smaller range of shapes and sizes, water pipes may vary greatly in size and appearance, and, for that reason, the device may comprise different iterations and design considerations. If the invention is used with a water pipe or another type of smoking apparatus, it is foreseeable that the user may wish to utilize the invention as a mouthpiece cover. Depending on the embodiment, rather than having a concave cap underside 8, as depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5, the invention may utilize a cap base 8 with a convex design or flat construction, allowing the invention to better occlude the opening of the mouthpiece.

If the embodiment calls for the device to be attached to a cigarette lighter or other type of igniter allowing for greater convenience for the user, the strap 5, body 1 and other components may be designed to have an ergonomic shape so as to conform to a user's hand and to not impede the use of the igniter on which it is affixed. In some configurations, it may be advantageous for the user to grip or hold the device in their palm, or attach the device to their hand or finger, or another object. The strap 5 and body 1 may be constructed of various materials to accommodate these embodiments.

Some types of smoking apparatus bowls have a raised element housed within the bowl 102 that may extend vertically beyond the plane of the bowl rim 101. If the device is used with these types of smoking apparatuses, the cap base 8 may contain an indent, recess or space that accepts this raised bowl element, allowing the cap base 8 and cap rim 3 to be brought into physical contact with, and occlude, the opening of the bowl 102 and bowl rim 101.

If the cap base 8 is concave and constructed of an elastic material, it may be employed by the user as a suction cup, allowing the device and any item mounted thereon to be affixed to a smoking apparatus or the surrounding environment for efficient use or storage by the user.

In some applications, it may be advantageous for the body or strap portion of the device to have one or a plurality of chambers, compartments, recesses or cavities which permit the storage of the user's desired smoking material, allowing greater accessibility and ease of use.

In some applications, it may be advantageous for the body or strap portion of the device to contain a plurality of ports, openings or valves that allow the egress of smoke and/or the ingress of oxygen, allowing the user to better control the rate of combustion within, and emission of smoke or vapor from, their smoking apparatus.

The body or strap portion of the device may also incorporate design elements that would allow device to be used as a scraper, applicator, reamer, tamper, or otter types of tools commonly used with smoking apparatuses, or permit the device to affix to pre-existing smoking apparatus tools known in the art.

In various exemplary embodiments, a smoking material extinguishing and storage device may be substantially constructed of one or more materials suitable to achieve the intended characteristics of the device. For example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, various exemplary embodiments of the device may be substantially constructed of one or more materials of silicone, wood, glass, metal, ceramic, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or combinations thereof. With respect to the materials of construction, it is not desired nor intended to thereby unnecessarily limit the present invention by reason of such disclosure.

The elastic nature of the construction material allows the band portion of the device to expand so a user can affix the device to various sizes and types of lighters, igniters or to any other object the user desires. It may be preferable for the device to be molded from one contiguous material for durability. A material like elastic silicone would meet these design requirements as it is also heat resistant and is available in FDA-Certified food-safe and medical-grade iterations. For better usability, the invention is designed to be ergonomic and conform to a user's hand so that it may be seamlessly integrated into a user's smoking routine.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A smoking material extinguishing and storage device, comprising: a cap; anda strap;wherein said strap is attached to said cap at a plurality of strap connection points;wherein said cap is round; andwherein said strap forms an elliptical opening.

2. The invention of claim 1, further comprising: a cap base; anda cap rim;wherein said cap base forms a bottom surface of said cap;wherein said cap rim forms a circumferential attachment between said cap and said cap base.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said smoking material extinguishing and storage device is made from an elastic material.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein said smoking material extinguishing and storage device is made from a heat-resistant material.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said smoking material extinguishing and storage device is made from a fire-resistant material.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said smoking material extinguishing and storage device may be inverted from a first orientation to a second orientation.

7. The invention of claim 6, wherein said strap covers a plurality of air ports on a smoking device.

8. The invention of claim 6, wherein said strap attaches circumferentially to a lighter.

9. The invention of claim 6, further comprising: a plurality of magnets.

10. The invention of claim 9, wherein said plurality of magnets are attached to said smoking material extinguishing and storage device.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein said plurality of magnets are embedded within said smoking material extinguishing and storage device.

12. The invention of claim 11, further comprising: a magnetic smoking device.

13. A method for securing combustible smoking material, comprising the steps of: placing said cap on top of a smoking cavity of a smoking device,affixing said strap around a bowl of said smoking device; andencapsulating said combustible smoking material.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: allowing said combustible smoking material to extinguish.