Self-Extinguishing Storage Device

A self-extinguishing storage device is disclosed. The self-extinguishing storage device safeguards cylindrical smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, for future consumption. A cylindrical body includes a longitudinal length between two open ends in order to accept the cylindrical smoking article therein. A pair of cylindrical caps are configured to friction fit with the cylindrical body at each of the open ends. The pair of cylindrical caps form an airtight closure.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates, in general, to self-extinguishing storage devices and, in particular, to self-extinguishing storage devices that safeguard cylindrical smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, for future consumption.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of self-extinguishing storage devices exist to safeguard cylindrical smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, for future consumption. Such storage devices need to provide an easy manner for emptying ashes therefrom in a clean manner. Such storage devices also need to extinguish any smoking article without allowing smoke, that can have odors, to escape, while preserving the smoking article for future consumption without damaging or dirtying the smoking article. Existing self-extinguishing storage devices have failed to achieve all of these goals. Accordingly, a need exists for a self-extinguishing storage device that safeguards cylindrical smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, for future consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to achieve a self-extinguishing storage device that safeguards cylindrical smoking articles, such as cigarettes and cigars, for future consumption. It would also be desirable to enable a thermomechanical solution that furnishes an effective, compact, and easily portable storage device. To better address one or more of these concerns, in one aspect of the invention, a self-extinguishing storage device is disclosed. A cylindrical body includes a longitudinal length between two open ends in order to accept the cylindrical smoking article therein. A pair of cylindrical caps are configured to friction fit with the cylindrical body at each of the open ends. The pair of cylindrical caps form an airtight closure. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1B,FIG. 2,FIG. 3,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5, therein is depicted one embodiment of a self-extinguishing storage device, which is schematically illustrated and generally designated10. The self-extinguishing storage device10safeguards smoking articles C, such as cylindrical smoking articles like cigarettes and cigars G (SeeFIG. 6B), for future consumption. It should be appreciated, however, that the self-extinguishing storage device10may also provide storage for other articles, such as pills P (SeeFIG. 7B) and other small items.

A cylindrical body12has a longitudinal length from an open end16to an open end18with a longitudinal axis A therethrough. As shown, the longitudinal length14is marked in one-eighth (⅛) increments, each representing 12.5 percent of the total longitudinal length. In one embodiment, the total longitudinal length14includes a length of 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) or 4.5 inches (11.43 cm). The longitudinal length14, however, may be any length. The cylindrical body12has an interior surface20and an exterior surface22with an inner diameter dciand an outer diameter dco. The cylindrical body12may have a continuously integral, closed tubular sidewall24that has no perforations or openings other than the aforementioned open end16and the open end18. Each of the open ends16,18is configured to accept a smoking article, such as the smoking article C. The cylindrical body12may be a metal, such as aluminum or copper, or a polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It should be appreciated that the cylindrical body12may be any material that is self-extinguishing.

In one embodiment, a cylindrical cap30having a receiving end32is configured to friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12at the open end16. The cylindrical cap30may be a metal, such as aluminum or copper, or a polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or an elastomeric material, such as a rubber or synthetic rubber. The cylindrical cap30includes a sidewall34, an end member36opposite the receiving end32, and a lip38at the receiving end32. An interior volume39is defined within the cylindrical cap30. The sidewall34and the lip38, in combination, have a subterminal surface40accommodating distal phalange contact F of a user. In one embodiment, the sidewall34and the end member36form a continuously integral, closed surface42. The sidewall34has an inner diameter ds1iand an outer diameter ds1o. The cylindrical cap30may include a cap length of at least 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) in order to provide distal phalange contact F. It should be appreciated, however, that the cylindrical cap30may have any cap length.

The cylindrical cap30forms, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12parallel to the longitudinal axis A, an airtight closure V. The cylindrical cap30extends, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12, along the longitudinal axis A and intersecting the longitudinal length14from at least one-eighth (⅛) of the longitudinal length14measured from the open end16. The cylindrical cap30, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22, being disposed in a spaced, non-contact relationship with the interior surface20. As shown and best seen inFIG. 5, the cylindrical cap30, in response to distal phalange contact F and displacement of the lip38of the cylindrical cap30from the longitudinal axis A, releases the airtight closure V.

In one embodiment, a cylindrical cap50having a receiving end52is configured to friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12at the open end18. The cylindrical cap50may be a metal, such as aluminum or copper, or a polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or an elastomeric material, such as a rubber or synthetic rubber. The cylindrical cap50includes a sidewall54, an end member56opposite the receiving end52, and a lip58at the receiving end52. An interior volume59is defined within the cylindrical cap50. The sidewall54and the lip58, in combination, have a subterminal surface60accommodating distal phalange contact F of a user. In one embodiment, the sidewall54and the end member56form a continuously integral, closed surface62. The sidewall34has an inner diameter ds2iand an outer diameter ds2o. The cylindrical cap50may include a cap length of at least 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) in order to provide distal phalange contact F. It should be appreciated, however, that the cylindrical cap50may have any cap length. In one embodiment, the cylindrical cap30and the cylindrical cap50are identical.

The cylindrical cap50forms, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12parallel to the longitudinal axis A, an airtight closure V. The cylindrical cap50extends, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22of the cylindrical body12, along the longitudinal axis A and intersecting the longitudinal length14from at least one-eighth (⅛) of the longitudinal length measured from the open end18. The cylindrical cap50, upon the friction fit with the exterior surface22, being disposed in a spaced, non-contact relationship with the interior surface20. Similar to the cylindrical cap30, the cylindrical cap50, in response to distal phalange contact F and displacement of the lip58of the cylindrical cap50from the longitudinal axis A, releases the airtight closure V.

In one operational embodiment, the device may be kept in any orientation. One of the open ends16,18may be capped with one of the cylindrical caps30,50. The other open end16,18may be opened to insert the smoking article C, which is then capped by the available cylindrical cap30,50. As such, due to the airtight closure V created by the cylindrical caps30,50extending at least one-eighth (⅛) of the longitudinal length14, the smoking article C is smothered and extinguished within the closed cylindrical body12. Further, any ashes H (SeeFIG. 6B) that break away from the smoking material are captured in the respective interior volume39,59of the respective cylindrical caps30,50, which may be periodically removed and emptied or cleaned.

The self-extinguishing storage device10provides a self-extinguishing storage device10that safeguards smoking articles C, such as cigarettes and cigars G (SeeFIG. 6B), for future consumption. The thermomechanical solution including the cylindrical body12and the cylindrical caps30,50furnish an effective, compact, and easily portable storage device. In particular, the self-extinguishing storage device10has a symmetrical form factor and design that allows either end to be accessed, while providing an airtight enclosure that will not allow smoke or odors to escape. Further still, the self-extinguishing storage device10preserves the smoking article C for future consumption without damaging or dirtying the smoking article C.

Referring now toFIG. 6AandFIG. 6B, in some embodiments, the self-extinguishing storage device10includes a cylindrical body72having a pair of cylindrical caps74,76that are configured to friction fit with the cylindrical body72at each open end78,80. As shown, the cylindrical body72and the pair of cylindrical caps74,76are made of the same material. Within the cylindrical body72, a cigar G with ashes H is extinguished due to the airtight closure V. Referring now toFIG. 7AandFIG. 7B, the self-extinguishing storage device10includes a cylindrical body92having a pair of cylindrical caps94, that are configured to threadably engage with the cylindrical body92at each open end98,100. As shown, the cylindrical body92and the pair of cylindrical caps94,96are made of the same material. It should be appreciated, however, that the cylindrical body92and the pair of cylindrical caps94,96may be made of different materials. Within the cylindrical body92, the pills P are maintained in the airtight closure V.

Referring now toFIG. 8, the self-extinguishing storage device10includes the cylindrical body12with the open end16and the open end18with the exterior surface22having a wrap110, which may be any design, including images, symbols, and alphanumeric characters, for example, at least partially circumscribing the exterior surface22. The cylindrical caps30,50are respectfully secured to each of the open ends16,18.

Referring now toFIG. 9, the self-extinguishing storage device10includes the cylindrical body12with the open end16and the open end18with the exterior surface22having a magnetic body120secured to the exterior of the cylindrical body12. The cylindrical caps30,50are respectfully secured to each of the open ends16,18. The magnetic body120uses magnetic forces to selectively secure the self-extinguishing storage device10to any magnetic body.

The order of execution or performance of the methods and techniques illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, elements of the methods and techniques may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and that the methods may include more or less elements than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular element before, contemporaneously with, or after another element are all possible sequences of execution.