Cigar storage and transportation container

A cigar storage and transportation container is disclosed which includes inner and outer tubular components which are telescoped one within the other. A sealed container is achieved by closing the tubular members at opposite ends, and the interior of the container may be accessed by pulling the tubular members apart. In its side wall, each tubular member includes an opening, and the openings on the tubular members are positioned so that, upon relative rotation of the tubular members, the openings can be brought into varying degrees of alignment. With the openings fully aligned, communication is provided between the interior and exterior of the container, so that a cigar stored therein may readily be exposed to the regulated environment of a humidor. With the openings fully out of alignment, an effective seal is provided between the interior and exterior of the container, thereby preserving the freshness of the cigar.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to containers for cigars and, more 
specifically, involves a container which is useful for storing and 
transporting cigars, while preserving them in their optimum condition of 
freshness. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Fine cigars are made of natural leaf tobacco throughout. Unfortunately, 
high quality leaf tobaccos are very delicate, and their favor can be 
preserved, only by maintaining control over the moisture content of the 
cigar. If the moisture content is too low, the cigar will dry out, burn 
too rapidly, and will taste hot and unpleasant. 
In a tobacco shop, cigars are stored in humidors or special showcases in 
which the moisture content is controlled. However, once a cigar is removed 
from the humidor or showcase, it will experience significant moisture loss 
in a very short time. 
In an effort to preserve cigar freshness, manufacturers have sealed them in 
individual cigar tubes. This, however, proves very expensive and is, at 
best, a compromise solution. Since it is not normally economical to 
provide a tightly sealed environment for individual cigars, a certain 
amount of drying will occur between the time the cigar is stored in its 
tube and the time it is delivered to the tobacco shop. At the tobacco 
shop, the cigar could be restored to its optimum condition in a relatively 
short time by being stored in a humidor. However, the sealed environment 
of the cigar tube prevents this from taking place, and the cigar must be 
sold to the ultimate customer in a less than optimum condition. 
Ideally, cigars should be sealed at the manufacturers plant in bulk 
quantities, such as a cigar box full at time. When the sealed box is 
received by the tobacconist, the seal may be broken, and the entire box of 
cigars stored in the humidor, to restore the cigars to their optimum 
condition. Ideally, a cigar need not be placed in a sealed container again 
until it is removed from the humidor for sale to a customer. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a storage and 
transporting container for individual cigars which can be placed in an 
unsealed condition while the cigars are in a humidor, yet may readily be 
operated to seal the cigar in the container, once it has been removed from 
the humidor. 
It also an object of the present invention to provide a cigar storage and 
transportation container which is reliable, convenient and efficient in 
use, yet relatively inexpensive in construction. 
In accordance with the present invention, a cigar storage and transporting 
container comprises inner and outer tubular components which are 
telescoped one within the other. A sealed container is achieved by closing 
the tubular members at opposite ends, and the interior of the container 
may be accessed by pulling the tubular members apart. In its side wall, 
each tubular member includes an opening, and the opening on the tubular 
members are positioned so that, upon relative rotation of the tubular 
members, the openings can be brought into varying degrees of alignment. 
With the openings fully aligned, communication is provided between the 
interior and exterior of the container, so that a cigar stored therein may 
readily be exposed to the regulated environment of the humidor. With the 
openings fully out of alignment, an effective seal is provided between the 
interior and exterior of the container, thereby preserving the freshness 
of the cigar while it is carried about.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the details of the drawing, there is illustrated a 
container 10 for storing and transporting a cigar, which container 
embodies objects and features of the present invention. The container 
broadly comprises an outer tubular member 20 and an inner tubular member 
30 mounted within the outer tubular member in telescoped fashion. One end 
22 of the outer tubular member and the opposite end 32 of the inner 
tubular member are closed, so that a closed container for a cigar is 
provided when the inner tubular member is mounted within the outer tubular 
member. The outer and inner tubular members are also provided with 
elongated openings 24-34 in their side walls, which openings preferably 
conform substantially in shape and size and are positioned so that they 
may be brought into varying degrees of overlap by relative rotation 
between the inner and outer tubular members, as indicated by the arrow 40 
in FIG. 2. 
In use, a cigar 50 is placed inside inner tubular member 30, and the inner 
tubular member is then slid into the outer tube as far as it will go. The 
tubes 20 and 30 may then be rotated relative to each other in order to 
bring the openings 24, 34 into partial (see e.g. FIGS. 2 and 4) or full 
(see FIGS. 1 and 3) alignment (or to select intermediate degrees of 
alignment), whereby selected communication is provided between the 
interior and the exterior of the container 10. With the tubular members 
positioned as in FIGS. 2 and 4, the container 10 may be placed within a 
humidor and the cigar 50 will be exposed to the controlled environment 
therein. When the container 10 is removed from the humidor, relative 
rotation of the outer and inner members 30 to bring the openings 24, 34 
out of alignment (see FIGS. 1 and 3) will cause the interior of the 
container 10 to be sealed from the exterior, thereby preventing rapid 
drying out of the cigar and preserving its freshness. 
The inner and outer tubes 20, 30 are preferably made of thin sheet metal, 
as is common for cigar tubes. Preferably, the inner tubular member 30 has 
a relatively firm fit within the outer tubular member 20, so that an 
effective seal may be provided therebetween. Although the openings 24, 34 
in the tubular members may be any shape, or more than one opening may be 
provided in each, it preferable that they be made long and narrow, so as 
to provide the maximum open area, with minimum weakening of the tubular 
members. 
Although a preferred form of the invention has been disclosed for 
illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many 
additions, modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompany 
claims.