Patent Application
20170127717
A preferred embodiment of the present invention refers to a device for dispensing rolling paper.
In recent years it has become increasingly popular for smokers to roll their own cigarettes, cigars, or similar smoking articles instead of buying pre-rolled smoking articles. Loose tobacco, as well as a variety of different types of rolling papers, are readily available to consumers for this purpose. When rolling cigars, in particular, the rolling paper used typically contains some form of tobacco product. In some instances, smokers may simply use cured leaves of the tobacco plant to roll a cigar. In other cases, smokers commonly use a type of manufactured rolling paper made from homogenized tobacco leaf, which comprises processed tobacco pulp. This type of rolling paper, or any similar type of rolling paper comprising some form of tobacco product, is commonly referred to as “tobacco paper” or as a “blunt wrap.” Blunt wraps are typically sold as individual wraps contained in resealable bags. Because the individual blunt wraps are pre-cut to specific sizes, a user cannot easily adjust the size of a user-rolled cigar as desired. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a dispenser that can be used to easily size blunt wraps for rolling customized cigars of various sizes as desired by the user.
A variety of devices are known in the art for dispensing various kinds of paper, which can be cut into different sizes by the user. However, there are problems with utilizing known paper dispensers for dispensing and sizing rolling papers containing tobacco products. Blunt wraps are typically sold in resealable bags so that unused wraps can be sealed in the original packing for storage for later use. Because blunt wraps contain tobacco products, a certain amount of moisture must be maintained in the wrap to prevent it from drying out. If a blunt wrap becomes too dry, it will become brittle. Brittle papers are generally unsuitable for rolling cigars because they tend to crack and break easily when rolled. Storing the wraps in a sealed container prevents the moisture in the wraps from evaporating and thus keeps the wraps pliable for later use. However, known paper dispensers are generally not designed to prevent paper from losing moisture content to evaporation. Thus, tobacco paper utilized with a conventional paper dispenser would result in a substantial loss of moisture content from the paper. Accordingly, conventional paper dispensers are unsuitable for use with any type of rolling paper containing tobacco products.
Clearly, a need exists in the art for a device for dispensing rolling paper containing tobacco. Furthermore, a need exists in the art for a device for dispensing rolling paper that can be used to roll customized cigars of various sizes.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to a device for dispensing rolling paper containing tobacco. The device comprises a tube having an open end and a closed end, a cap configured for capping the open end of the tube, and a sheath for enclosing the tube. The device is utilized with a roll of cigar rolling paper long enough to roll two or more cigars or similar smoking articles. The rolling paper preferably contains tobacco products. The tube has a slit in its side wall that extends along the length of the tube from the open end of the tube to a point substantially near the closed end of the tube. The slit is wide enough to feed an edge of the rolling paper through the slit. In a preferred embodiment, at least one side of the slit has a serrated edge for tearing the paper cleanly. The sheath is compatible with the cap such that the sheath can be connected to the cap to seal the tube within the sheath.
To use the dispenser, the user first installs the roll of paper in the tube by inserting it into the open end of the tube. The end of the paper is fed through the slit such that a portion of the end of the roll of paper extends outside of the tube. The cap is then installed on the tube to cap the open end of the tube to form an enclosure from which the rolling paper is dispensed. The user pulls the end of the paper extending outside the tube until the desired length is obtained. The user then tears the paper along the serrated edge to form an individual rolling paper of a desired size. Once the user has torn off the rolling paper, he may then insert the tube into the sheath and connect the sheath to the cap until the user wishes to tear off another piece of rolling paper. When the sheath is connected to the cap, the tube is sealed within the sheath such that the roll of paper remaining inside the tube will substantially retain its moisture content. Thus, the device is used not only for dispensing rolling paper but also for storing rolling paper that contains tobacco so that the paper will not dry out and become brittle.
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing and dispensing rolling paper.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for cutting rolling paper to a desired size for rolling customized smoking articles of various sizes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing and dispensing rolling paper containing tobacco.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing and dispensing rolling paper that is portable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing and dispensing rolling paper that utilizes a roll of tobacco paper for rolling a plurality of smoking articles such that the device is cost effective to users by using replacement rolls of tobacco paper.
Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method of using such a device and a method of manufacturing such a device.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, and the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features, including method steps, of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with/or in the context of other particular aspects of the embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.
The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C, but also one or more other components.
Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).
Turning now to the drawings,
The rolling paper dispenser of the present invention is advantageous because it allows a user to tear off a desired length of rolling paper 30 for rolling customized smoking articles of various sizes, as desired by the user. The dispenser of the present invention is particularly advantageous when used in conjunction with rolling papers comprising tobacco. Because the moisture content of rolling papers containing tobacco must be maintained at certain levels to prevent the paper from drying out and becoming brittle, papers containing tobacco should be stored in an airtight container to prevent the moisture from evaporating. As shown in
Furthermore, the dispenser of the present invention is cost effective compared to alternatives that are currently commercially available to consumers. Currently, blunt wraps are typically sold to consumers in packs containing individual blunt wraps. Each wrap is sized to roll a single cigar or similar smoking article. The dispenser of the present invention is utilized with a roll of tobacco paper 30 long enough to roll a plurality of cigars. Thus, because the present invention allows a user to utilize a replaceable roll of tobacco paper 30, the user can purchase tobacco paper in bulk, thereby providing a cost savings compared to purchasing individual blunt wraps.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the edges 26 along the length of each side of the slit 16 is serrated such that rolling paper 30 fed through the slit 16 can be easily torn along the serrated edge 26. In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser further comprises a cutting blade attached to the tube 10 such that the blade is positioned along the length of one side of the slit 16. The blade is preferably serrated to aid in cutting the rolling paper. The blade may be attached to the interior or the exterior of the side wall of the tube 10.
The cap 18 is configured for capping the open end 12 of the tube 10. In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the cap 18 may be configured such that the lower end 40 fits around the exterior of the tube 10 in order to cap the open end 12 of the tube 10. In this embodiment, the cap 18 has a hollow interior, and a stopping element is preferably located in the interior of the cap 18 to control how far the cap 18 may be pushed down onto the tube 10. Additionally, in this embodiment, the lower end 40 and the upper end 42 of the cap 18 preferably have the same diameter.
As illustrated in
The dispenser of the present invention may be sold with or without a roll of rolling papers 30. In either case, compatible rolls of paper 30 will be sold separately from the dispenser as replacement rolls. In a preferred embodiment, each roll of rolling paper 30 is approximately 2 to 4 inches wide, and in a more preferred embodiment, approximately 2.5 to 3 inches wide. In addition, each roll 30 is preferably about 2 to about 4 feet long such that each roll 30 may be used to roll a plurality of cigars or similar smoking articles. Each roll 30 is configured to fit within the interior of the tube 10. Accordingly, each roll 30 should have a diameter that is smaller than the interior diameter of the tube 10. In addition, each roll 30 should have a width such that the roll 30 fits within the interior of the tube 10 between the closed end 14 of the tube 10 and the lower end 40 of the cap 18 when the lower end 40 of the cap 18 is fully inserted into the open end 12 of the tube 10. Furthermore, the slit 16 in the side wall of the tube 10 should be of sufficient length such that the entire width of a roll of paper 30 can be fed through the slit 16 when the lower end 40 of the cap 18 is fully inserted into the open end 12 of the tube 10, as shown in
To use the dispenser of the present invention, a user first installs a fresh roll of paper 30 in the tube 10 by inserting the roll 30 into the open end 12 of the tube 10. The end of the paper is fed through the slit 16 such that a portion of the end of the roll of paper 30 extends outside of the tube 10, as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the sheath 20 is sized such that a small space remains between the interior of the sheath 20 and the exterior of the tube 10 when the tube 10 is enclosed within the sheath 20. The space is preferably large enough such that the end of the roll of paper 30 located outside the tube 10 can remain outside the tube 10 when the tube 10 is enclosed within the sheath 20, i.e., the between the interior of the sheath 20 and the exterior of the tube 10, as shown in
The tube 10, the cap 18, and the sheath 20 are all preferably made of hard plastic, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, but may be made of any suitable material known in the art, including, but not limited to, glass, metal, rubber, or any combination thereof. To manufacture the device of the present invention, the tube 10, the cap 18, and the sheath 20 are all preferably produced through injection molding, though these components may be produced by any other suitable method known in the art. Once these individual components have been produced, the cap 18 may then be installed on the open end 12 of the tube, preferably by inserting the lower end 40 of the cap 18 into the open end 12 of the tube 10 until the open end 12 of the tube 10 is directly adjacent to the upper end 42 of the cap 18. The sheath 20 may then be installed around the tube 10 by inserting the closed end 14 of the tube 10 into the sheath 20 and then connecting the sheath 20 to the cap 18, preferably by inserting the upper end 42 of the cap 18 into the open end 22 of the sheath 20. This step seals the tube 10 and its contents within the sheath 20.
The dispenser may be sold with one or more rolls of tobacco paper 30 or similar rolling paper. In a preferred embodiment, a roll of paper 30 is installed within the tube 10 by inserting the roll 30 into the open end 12 of the tube 10 before the cap 18 and the sheath 20 are installed to seal the tube 10. To produce the roll of paper 30 utilized with the present invention, sheets of tobacco paper are first produced utilizing any suitable method known in the art. The sheets are then cut into sections that are preferably approximately 2 to 4 inches wide, and in a more preferred embodiment, approximately 2.5 to 3 inches wide, and preferably about 2 to about 4 feet long such that each roll 30 may be used to roll a plurality of cigars or similar smoking articles. Alternatively, the roll 30 may be longer than 4 feet in length as long as the roll fits inside the tube 10 with sufficient annular space to allow the roll 30 to rotate within the tube 10 as the paper is dispensed through the slit 16 in the side wall of the tube 10. Thus, the diameter of the tube 10 may be adjusted to accommodate larger rolls of paper 30 for rolling an increased number of cigars or similar smoking articles.
As discussed previously, at least one of the edges 26 along the length of each side of the slit 16 is preferably serrated such that rolling paper 30 fed through the slit 16 can be easily torn along the serrated edge 26. The tube 10 is preferably injection molded to produce a serrated edge 26 on one or both sides of the slit 16. In an alternative embodiment that comprises a cutting blade for tearing the rolling paper 30, the cutting blade is preferably a relatively thin strip of metal having a serrated edge. The blade is attached to the tube preferably by a glue or adhesive applied to one side of the blade and/or the side wall of the tube 10. The blade is preferably attached to the interior of the side wall of the tube, but may alternatively be attached to the exterior of the side wall of the tube. The blade is positioned along a length of one side of the slit 16 in the side wall of the tube 10 such that the serrated edge can be used to cleanly tear the rolling paper as it is dispensed. Thus, the blade should extend from a point approximately adjacent to the lower end 40 of the cap 18 (when the lower end 40 is fully inserted into the open end 12 of the tube 10) to the opposite end of the slit 16, which is substantially near the closed end 14 of the tube 10.
It is understood that versions of the invention may come in different forms and embodiments. Additionally, it is understood that one of skill in the art would appreciate these various forms and embodiments as falling within the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.
