Cigarette storage device   

Abstract: A cigarette storage device is provided, comprising of a open ended cylindrical tube and cap for the protection of an individual cigarette. The tube has 1 open, cylindrical side and the other end being rounded with a small hole in the center. The tube is machined to a size slightly larger in diameter than a conventional cigarette. The cap is pressed onto the outside of the cylindrical end & contains a clip for affixing to a wallet or clothing.

1. Prior Art

The following is a tabulation of prior art that appears relevant:

Patent # Issue Date Patentee 6,431,177 August 2002 Sieggen 6,273,094 August 2001 Potter D409327 May 1999 Brock 5,862,809 January 1999 Nicotra 5,385,157 January 1995 Smith et al. 5,377,826 January 1995 Ayres et al 5,345,953 September 1994 Taylor 5,002,073 March 1991 Chaing 4,984,586 January 1991 Nae-Won 4,886,076 December 1989 Gilbert et al. D303438 September 1989 Higgins 4,809,715 March 1989 Musetti 4,660,575 April 1987 Andreason et al. 4,587,980 May 1986 Tipper 4,585,014 April 1986 Fry 3,886,954 June 1975 Hannema et al. 2,715,961 August 1955 Field 2,335,674 November 1943 Horlick 2,113,745 April 1938 Pyatt

2. Background of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a cigarette storage device designed to be compact to allow the user to travel with a single cigarette easily, conveniently & discretely. This storage device is designed to fit in the fold of a wallet or pocket of the user. The cap & clip design, with the top of the clip coming flush to the top of the cap, allows the storage device to sit flush in a wallet fold or pocket. The device is designed to be near exact length of a conventional cigarette to minimize materials, allowing the device to be very compact. The device is created from machined metal tubing & formed sheet metal.

Although the description above contains many specifics, they should not be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments, rather illustrations of some embodiments.

Several devices have been proposed in the prior art for a cigarette storage device, such as those in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,431,177, 4,660,575, 2,113,745 and other mentioned above. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not provide an inexpensive, compact device that can be easily carried in the fold of a wallet. The previous mentioned devices are comprised of expensive, bulky materials which increase the size & weight of the device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,177 specifically also runs a high risk of cigarette breakage due to pieces meeting at middle of where a cigarette would be stored.

SUMMARY

Therefore in summary, a general object of this invention is to provide a device for storing a cigarette. This storage device is designed to store a cigarette in such a way that is minimal in weight, size & visible features while stored in the users wallet or pocket. The cigarette is stored entirely in the tube, with the cap enclosing the opened end of the tube. The clip & cap are designed in such a way that the top of the clip is equal to the top of the cap, allowing the device to be stored compact in the users wallet. A small hole in one end of the tube allows the user to blow into the tube & free any potentially lodged cigarette. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent with the accompanying drawings, way of illustration and example.

In the drawings, related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the tube. #1 is the tube & #2 notes the hole in the rounded end of the tube.

FIG. 1B is a plan view of the tube

FIG. 1C is a section view of FIG. 1B

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the cap & clip. #3 notes the cap, #4 notes the clip & #5 notes the slit in the cap.

FIG. 2B is a plan view of the cap & clip

FIG. 2C is a section view of FIG. 2B

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the cigarette storage device with cap attached to storage tube.

FIG. 3B is a plan view of the cigarette storage device with cap & clip attached to the storage tube.

FIG. 3C is a section view of FIG. 3B.