Patent Publication Number: US-2020288768-A1

Title: Cigarette closure device and method

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The overall field of invention is devices and methods for production of pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Marijuana cigarettes, commonly known as joints, are a traditional means for smoking marijuana. As marijuana use has progressively been legalized and normalized, pre-rolled joints have gained significant popularity as a means for distribution and consumption of marijuana. 
     A joint, like any cigarette, is formed through a process by which the smoking material, in this case marijuana, is encased in a tube of paper known as rolling paper. The joint will have a distal end that is lit to burn, and a proximal end, through which a user will draw smoke. Various characteristics of the rolling paper and smoking material will affect a joint&#39;s physical integrity, how joint burns, and a user&#39;s smoking experience. 
     A typical tobacco cigarette is formed of shredded tobacco that is tightly packed. This tight packing is necessary to produce desirable burning and smoking characteristics. Specifically, tightly packed tobacco will burn in a uniform manner while still allowing free passage of smoke through its volume. Therefore, a smoker may draw smoke through a tightly packed tobacco cigarette with little effort. Shredded tobacco tends to be coherent, in that the shreds tend to intertwine to some degree, therefore causing the shredded tobacco to clump together. Tightly-packed shredded tobacco tends to remain coherent, and as a result, a typical cigarette may be formed to be open at the distal end, such that the smoking material, tobacco, is not encased, but rather, is open to the environment at the distal end. 
     Marijuana exhibits different physical and combustion characteristics than tobacco, as well as varying significantly from specimen to specimen. Marijuana, as prepared for a joint, is generally ground into granules, as opposed to the shreds typical of tobacco. Marijuana granules are not typically coherent. Furthermore, the optimal tightness of a joint&#39;s packing will depend on the physical characteristics of the marijuana specimen being used, and may range from loose to tight. Loose packing tends to promote uneven burning, while tight packing can impede a user&#39;s ability to draw smoke through the joint. Generally, optimal tightness is as tight as possible while still allowing free passage of smoke through the joint body. 
     A well-packed joint that is open at the distal end will tend to shed its contents during handling. As a result, it is desirable and traditional to close a joint at the distal end. It may be noted that while a tobacco cigarette does not require distal closure, it does not create undesirable characteristics. Closure of tobacco cigarettes is merely omitted as a non-necessity. 
     Joint closure may be achieved by folding or forming the rolling paper over the distal end such that it is substantially closed to the environment in a manner that will prevent the joint contents from escaping. The state of the art for joint closure requires that joints be closed by hand. A person manufacturing joints will use his or her fingers to grasp an amount of excess rolling paper at the distal tip, then fold or twist the rolling paper to achieve closure. Due to the large number of joints that are produced, the closure process represents a non-trivial amount of labor for joint manufacturers. 
     A need exists for a device and process for joint closure that reduces the amount of labor that is required to close a joint. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to reduce the amount of labor that is required for distal closure of a cigarette or joint by providing a device and related method for folding and dimpling the distal tip of a joint through single actuation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a plan view of an embodiment of a cigarette closure device. 
         FIG. 2  shows a section view of the embodiment of the cigarette closure device. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the device. 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the depression mechanism. 
         FIG. 5  shows a section view of the depression mechanism. 
         FIG. 6  shows a flow diagram of the cigarette closure operation. 
     
    
    
     DEFINITIONS 
     Smoking material: A combustible material filling a cigarette or joint. 
     Rolling paper: Paper that encases smoking material in a cigarette or joint. 
     Excess rolling paper: Rolling paper that extends beyond the smoking material at the distal tip of a cigarette. 
     Axial: Of or related to the major axis of a cylinder, cone, or any body of generally cylindrical or conical shape. 
     Radial: Of or related to any direction vector that resides on the plane normal to the axial direction. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the Summary above and in this Detailed Description, the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features 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 and/or in the context of other particular aspects and 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” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also contain 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). 
     The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range including that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range, including that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)—(a second number),” this means a range whose limits include both numbers. For example, “25 to 100” means a range whose lower limit is 25 and upper limit is 100, and includes both 25 and 100. 
     The present invention is a cigarette closure device and method that will close the distal tip of a cigarette through a single actuation. To operate the device, a rolled cigarette that is open at its distal tip is held by the device, and the device is actuated to sequentially fold portions of excess distal tip rolling paper in a manner that effectively closes the cigarette distal tip to the environment. In an embodiment, the device is a handheld tool that closes the distal tip of a cigarette by pressing a plunger. In alternative embodiments, the device is semi-automated or fully automated, and the plunger is actuated through non-manual means. 
       FIG. 1  shows a plan view of an embodiment of a cigarette closure device. The device is generally cylindrical, having a major axis extending downward through its length. The device comprises once or more cigarette positioners  102 . The shown embodiment has two positioners: a proximal tip positioner  104  and a distal tip positioner  106 . The proximal tip positioner  104  is generally concave or cup-shaped and serves to locate the proximal tip of a cigarette radially such that the proximal tip is generally concentric with the device&#39;s major axis and axially such that an axial force that is applied to the cigarette is resisted. In the embodiment, the distal tip positioner  106  is a ring that serves to locate the cigarette distal tip radially. In alternative embodiments, any number or combination of cigarette positioner features may be employed to serve the functions of locating and holding a cigarette in position for the closure operation. Cigarette positioner features in alternative embodiments may comprise clamps, receptacles, collets, or any other mechanism capable of positioning or holding a cigarette in the location and orientation necessary for distal tip closure. 
       FIG. 2  shows a section view of the embodiment of the cigarette closure device. The device further comprises a depression mechanism  108  having a plurality of depression features  110 . The depression features comprise a plurality of shaped depressors  112  and a dimpler  114  that reside in a retracted state above the distal tip prior to operation of the device. In the embodiment, a spring mechanism  130  provides a retracting a spring force that urges the depression mechanism  108  to a retracted state, upward away from the positioners  102 . In the embodiment, the spring  130  is coiled wire. 
     In the embodiment, the depression mechanism  108  resides within a housing  116  that is rigidly affixed to the positioners  102 . The housing  116  is open at its upper end  118 , and a portion of the depression mechanism  108  extends through the opening. The portion of the depression mechanism extending through the opening is a plunger  122  that is adapted to receive a depressing axial force supplied by an operator. 
     During actuation of the embodiment, a user will manually apply a downward or depressing force to the plunger  122  sufficient to compress the spring mechanism  116  and displace the depression mechanism toward the cigarette positioner  102 . As the axial force is applied to the depression mechanism  108 , the depression features  110  are urged downward into contact with the distal tip of the cigarette. 
     In alternative embodiments, any means for actuating and cycling the depression mechanism  108  between a retracted and depressed state may be used. Means for cycling between retracted and depressed states may include pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, or electro-mechanical actuators such as cylinder-pistons, linear motors, ball-screws, belt drives, mechanical linkages, or any other actuator capable of providing the cyclical motion. In the preferred embodiment, the depression mechanism is exhibits strict axial motion due to the arrangement of concentric cylinders that provide for sliding axial motion along the major axis. In alternative embodiments, the depression mechanism may by guided by other means such as a hinge or other mechanism that provides for motion that is not strictly axial during the entire actuation path. The key element to the axial actuation is that it is generally in the direction of the cigarette major axis during the formation of the rolling paper folds and dimple. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the device. In the preferred embodiment, the housing  116  is contoured and adapted to be gripped by a user. 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the depression mechanism  108 . The depression mechanism has a plurality of shaped depressors  112 . The depressors  112  have depression surfaces  126  that are adapted to interact with excess rolling paper to fold the excess rolling paper toward the major axis. Each shaped depressor  112  is nominally positioned above the joint. During actuation, the depressors are urged downward into contact with the joint. The shaped depressors  112  are axially staged or staggered, residing at differing heights above the positioner  102 . This staggered arrangement will cause the shaped depressors to contact the joint in sequence during actuation, resulting in a sequence of folds that effectively closes the joint. In other words, a sequential fold pattern occurs in which a first shaped depressor will contact a first portion of excess rolling paper to form a first arcuate fold that closes a first portion of the distal dip of the joint, then a second depressor will contact a second portion of excess rolling paper to form a second arcuate fold that closes a second portion of the distal dip of the joint, and so on until the joint has been effectively closed. In the embodiment, three shaped depressors  112  serve to each fold a portion of the excess paper. In alternative embodiments, two, four, or more shaped depressors may serve the same function. In the preferred embodiment, shaped depressors are located at uniform angular spacing of approximately 120 degrees. In alternative embodiments, shaped depressors may have non-uniform angular spacing or angular spacing that corresponds to the number of depressors employed by a given embodiment. 
     The dimpler  114  portion of the depression mechanism has a dimpling surface  128  that resides at the highest height above the positioner  102 , such that during actuation, the dimpling surface  128  contacts the joint after the shaped depressors  112  have completed the folding portion of the operation. Upon completion of the folding portion of the closure, the dimpler  114  depresses the center of the distal tip to form a generally flat or concave depression at the distal tip, which serves to secure the folds in a manner that will tend to retain closure, even upon handling of the finished joint product. 
     The shaped depressors  112  are flexible or are flexibly affixed to the depression mechanism in the radial direction such that upon forming a fold, the depressor can be urged outward away from the joint. In the embodiment, the distal positioner has grooves  120  adapted to receive the shaped depressors during actuation to cause the radial displacement of the depressors such that axial motion of a depressor is translated into radial motion by nature of the depressors&#39; interaction with the grooves. In alternative embodiments, the radial spring rate of a depressor may be tuned to allow the joint itself to provide sufficient physical resistance to force the radial displacement of a depressor  112  after a fold is formed. 
       FIG. 5  shows a section view of the depression mechanism  108 . In the embodiment, the depression mechanism is integrally formed, such that a single solid body comprises the shaped depressors  112  having depression surfaces  126 , the dimpler  114  having a dimpling surface  128 , the mechanism body  132 , and the plunger  122 . In alternative embodiments, the depression mechanism may be formed from individual parts that are assembled into a depression mechanism  108  assembly. 
     In an embodiment, the shaped depressor  112  is attached to the depression mechanism  108  by an elongate member  124  having a large length-to-thickness ratio that is adapted to form a leaf spring that is substantially rigid in the axial direction while providing spring-resistance in the radial direction. In alternative embodiments, shaped depressors may be attached to the depression mechanism by alternative means for providing substantially rigid axial positioning and displaceable radial positioning. 
     The depression surfaces  126  have a surface profile that is adapted to both fold excess rolling paper as well as displace the shaped depressors radially outward during and after the folding operation. In the preferred embodiment, the distal positioner  104  aids the radial displacement by incorporating grooves  120  to receive and guide the shaped depressors during closure. During closure, the shaped depressors  112  slide within the grooves  120 , and it is beneficial to reduce sliding friction. Sliding friction can be modified by altering the angle of the depression surfaces with respect to the axial motion as well as through material or coating selection reduce the coefficient of friction. In the preferred embodiment, the depression mechanism is stainless steel, and therefore it is beneficial for the groove material to have a low friction coating. The angle or profile of a depression surface should be chosen that balances the surface&#39;s ability to form a fold while being sufficiently steep to cause the axial motion to be translated into radial motion. In the preferred embodiment the angle of the depression surfaces is approximately 30 degrees. 
     The device may be made of virtually any combination of materials that are substantially rigid including metal, plastic, thermoplastic, composite, or other suitable materials or material combinations. 
       FIG. 6  shows a flow diagram of the cigarette closure method. The method comprises the following steps:  1 ) insert a cigarette into the cigarette positioner(s)  102 ;  2 ) actuate the depression mechanism to begin translation toward the cigarette;  3 ) a first shaped depressor  112  forms a first fold of excess paper at the distal tip;  4 ) the first shaped depressor  112  retracts radially away from the cigarette;  5 ) a second shaped depressor  112  forms a second fold of excess paper at the distal tip;  6 ) the second shaped depressor  112  retracts radially away from the cigarette;  7 ) a dimpler  114  depresses the center of the distal tip. 
     While preferred and alternate embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this CIGARETTE CLOSURE DEVICE AND METHOD. Accordingly, the scope of the CIGARETTE CLOSURE DEVICE AND METHOD is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the scope of the CIGARETTE CLOSURE DEVICE AND METHOD is to be determined entirely by reference to the claims. Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings (if any) disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and Applicant hereby reserves the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions. 
     The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. 
     All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35. U.S.C. § 112 ¶6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of U.S.C. § 112 ¶6.