Patent Publication Number: US-9408414-B2

Title: Illuminated cigarette rolling and forming devices

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/692,875, filed Dec. 3, 2012 entitled “CIGARETTE ROLLING AND FORMING DEVICES,” which in turn is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/136,650, filed Jun. 10, 2008, entitled “CIGARETTE ROLLING AND FORMING DEVICES,” the disclosures of both of which application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to devices for making rolled cigarettes, and more particularly to hand-operated devices for making rolled cigarettes one at a time. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some cigarette smokers prefer the process of making their own cigarettes to buying pre-rolled and pre-packaged cigarettes. For example, the individual components of a cigarette, such as tobacco and cigarette papers, when purchased in bulk, are often less expensive per cigarette than pre-made cigarettes. In addition, some people find enjoyment in making their own cigarettes, and may even consider cigarette-rolling to be a challenging endeavor in which to demonstrate skill. 
     One way to make cigarettes individually and manually is to place an amount of loose tobacco in a cigarette paper and roll it between one&#39;s fingers. However, this approach is limited in that it is somewhat difficult to produce a cigarette of uniform shape and fill, and outside influences (for example, bad weather in an outdoor setting, or jostling from other people in a crowded area) may increase the difficulty. Relatively small and simple devices that allow a user to make cigarettes are available; however, such devices small enough to fit comfortably in one&#39;s hand or on a table may not be capable of rolling consistently a high-quality cigarette. Other devices, though capable of improved function, may be too large to be carried easily in a pocket or handbag, if they may be carried at all. 
     Rolling devices conventionally include a framework in which two roughly parallel rollers are closely arranged, and in which a looped belt is configured to encompass the rollers, with enough slack to form a groove or recess between the rollers in which loose tobacco may be formed into a cylindrical shape. Usually, at least one of the rollers is movable between two positions: an “open” configuration in which the rollers have their greatest separation, so that a broad, shallow recess in the belt between the rollers is formed, into which loose tobacco may be placed, and a “closed” configuration in which the rollers have their least separation, so that the belt forms a narrower and deeper recess, in which the loose tobacco may be compressed or shaped by movement of the belt over the rollers. In such devices, a piece of cigarette paper may then be fed between the rollers and rolled around the compressed tobacco to form a finished cigarette. 
     Different constructions are used to enable movement of the rollers relative to each other. In some devices, the ends of the movable roller may be journaled in a slot that defines a range of movement of the roller (relative to the other roller), as the ends are slid along the slot. In some devices, the moveable roller is mounted on a pair of hinged arms that may swing the moveable roller away from, or toward, the other roller. Some devices may include two pairs of arms on a central hinge, so that the rollers may be moved away from, or toward, each other by opening and closing the hinge. Such devices, however, are prone to a number of difficulties in use, such as in manipulating the looped belt to form a cylinder of tobacco having a cigarette paper around it, rolling the rollers or otherwise smoothly moving the belt over the rollers to compress the tobacco, accumulating tobacco debris within the slots or openings holding the ends of the rollers, and binding of the looped belt as it passes through the device, and so forth. Each of these difficulties may result in a substandard manually-rolled cigarette, user frustration, mechanical failure, and so forth. 
     Also, such devices typically do not provide a mechanism by which a compressed cylinder of tobacco may be inserted into a pre-formed cigarette tube, for example if a user would prefer to use a pre-formed cigarette tube instead of a leaf of cigarette paper. Pre-formed tubes are commercially available, some of which include filter tips, which may be difficult to incorporate into a cigarette rolling device. Instead, different types of injector machines are available, which operate by compressing loose tobacco in a chamber, and then forcing the compressed tobacco into a pre-formed tube. Such machines are generally too large and/or mechanically complex to allow portability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a cigarette rolling device; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a proximal support plate of the cigarette rolling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a guard plate of the device of  FIG. 1 , shown in relation to the support plate of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the proximal end of the device of  FIG. 1 , with the device in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the proximal end of the device of  FIG. 1 , with the device in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the distal end of the device of  FIG. 1 , with the device in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a base and a trough; 
         FIGS. 10A-10C  are three perspective views of a distal support plate having a recess for a clamping device ( FIG. 10A ), the distal support plate of  FIG. 10A  with the clamping device in an open position ( FIG. 10B ), and the distal support plate of  FIG. 10A  with the clamping device in closed position ( FIG. 10C ); 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a partial cutaway view of the device of  FIG. 1 , showing a close-up side view of the pushing device, with the translatable cylinder in a closed position ( FIG. 11A ), and a partial cutaway view of the device of  FIG. 1 , showing a close-up side view of the pushing device, with the translatable cylinder in an open position ( FIG. 11B ); 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cigarette rolling device that includes a light; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 , and illustrating one example of an activation switch for the light; and 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 , and illustrating the mechanism of action for one example of an activation switch for the light; all in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. 
     The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments. 
     The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other. 
     For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “NB” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element. 
     The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous. 
     Disclosed herein are several embodiments of cigarette rolling and forming devices, which generally include two (or more) cylinders and a looped belt trained thereon, and which are configured to selectively compress a quantity of loose tobacco into a shaped tobacco cylinder. Some embodiments of cigarette rolling devices according to the present disclosure include one or more features that minimize or prevent mechanical clogging due to loose tobacco. For example, in some embodiments, a pair of opposing support plates extends from a base, with two cylinders extending between the support plates and rotatably mounted thereto. The support plates include a pair of corresponding slots, with axle portions of one of the cylinders being journaled therein for slidable movement, such the cylinder is translatably moveable relative to the support plates through a range of motion defined by the slots. In various embodiments, the base may have a curved, contoured, or generally “hourglass” shape, which may provide clearance for a user&#39;s fingers when opening and closing the device, forming the tobacco rod, and/or inserting the tobacco rod into a pre-formed cigarette tube. In some embodiments, the contoured or hourglass shape of the base also may reduce the size and/or weight of the device, and/or may facilitate single-handed operation of the device. 
     Some embodiments may also include guard plates disposed between the ends of the movable cylinder and the slot in which the axle portions are journaled, the guard plate being configured to prevent loose tobacco from the recess from entering the slot. In such embodiments of cigarette rolling devices, a guard plate may include a movement slot through which the axle portion extends, the movement slot configured to accommodate a path of movement of the axle portion of the translatable cylinder as the first cylinder is moved within the range of motion defined by the curvilinear slots. Optionally, the guard plate may be partially or wholly recessed in a corresponding recess in the support plate, or be otherwise disposed between the cylinder and the curvilinear slot. 
     Some embodiments of cigarette rolling devices according to the present disclosure may include a trough extending between the support plates, the trough having a top surface and a bottom surface, with the belt being trained around the cylinders and the trough, so that the portion of the belt forming the recess in which loose tobacco may be compressed is prevented from contacting other portions of the belt. In some embodiments, the trough may be configured to snap into one or more corresponding recesses on the base, and/or the trough may be configured to interconnect the support plates. 
     Some embodiments of cigarette forming devices according to the present disclosure also include a pushing device mounted for movement along an axis parallel to the cylinders, the pushing device including a pushing element adapted to engage and push one end of a shaped tobacco rod in the cylindrical recess toward one of the support plates, for example, to push the tobacco rod into a pre-formed cigarette tube. In such embodiments, the support plate may further include an opening and a nozzle disposed in the support plate, and optionally a nozzle guard to protect the nozzle from accidental damage and/or to facilitate visualization of the nozzle by a user. In various embodiments, the nozzle may extend in a direction away from the cylinders and may be configured to receive and retain one end of a pre-formed cigarette tube against the plate. The pushing device may thus be adapted to selectively push the tobacco rod from the recess into a pre-formed cigarette tube retained on the nozzle. In some embodiments, the pushing device may further be configured, after pushing the tobacco rod into the tube, to compress the tobacco rod into the tube. 
     In additional embodiments, the pushing device also may be configured to rotate around the fixed cylinder, and thus may be used to open and close the device (e.g., slide the translatable cylinder in the journaled slot). In these embodiments, when rotated about the axis of the fixed cylinder (e.g., away from the translatable cylinder), the pushing device may include a pushing element that exerts force on the translatable cylinder, causing it to move in it&#39;s journaled slots into an open position. 
     In various embodiments, the nozzle also may be associated with a clamping mechanism, which may be configured to hold the pre-formed cigarette tube in place against and/or around the nozzle. In some embodiments, the clamping mechanism may be used to retain the pre-formed cigarette tube on the nozzle, for example while the pushing device is being used to slide the tobacco rod into the pre-formed cigarette tube. In some embodiments, the clamping mechanism may be configured to be activated by a user without needing to alter the user&#39;s grip on the cigarette rolling device. 
     In some embodiments, the cigarette rolling device also may be configured to form a tobacco rod having a slightly asymmetrical (e.g., slightly conical) shape, wherein a first end of the tobacco rod has a slightly smaller diameter than the second end of the tobacco rod. In some embodiments, this asymmetrical shape may be achieved by varying the length of the slots at the first and second ends of the device, thus aligning the translatable cylinder slightly out of parallel with the fixed cylinder. In some embodiments, this slightly conical tobacco rod shape may ease the displacement of the rod through the nozzle and into the pre-formed cigarette tube. 
     These and other illustrative embodiments of cigarette rolling and/or forming devices may incorporate any combination of the features, components, and concepts discussed herein. Several illustrative, non-exclusive examples of cigarette rolling devices according to the present disclosure are disclosed below in connection with  FIGS. 1-11 . As explained in more detail with respect to each embodiment, the illustrative embodiments differ from each other primarily in terms of different mechanical configurations and features. Alternative configurations and/or variants of several of the embodiments may also be presented, such as to illustrate variations of structural components and arrangement of such components. The various embodiments, configurations, and methods disclosed in the paragraphs below are examples and should not be considered in a limiting sense, but merely for illustrative purposes of one or more of the aspects of the subject matter described herein. Numerous variations are possible and considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
     The cigarette rolling devices in  FIGS. 1-11  are illustrated in somewhat simplified form as including a contoured or hourglass-shaped base from which opposing support plates extend, with at least two cylinders extending between the support plates. As discussed, these devices may alternatively incorporate different support structures such as those variously described, illustrated, and/or incorporated herein or otherwise consistent with the present disclosure. Similarly, any of the following illustrative examples of rolling devices may be utilized with any or all of the described features or components, may have any suitable relative size and shape, and may be incorporated into a handheld device or a larger mechanical system. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that components, subcomponents, and variants of the subsequently described  FIGS. 1-11  may be used with other cigarette rolling devices within the scope of the present disclosure, such as those otherwise described and/or incorporated herein. 
     One illustrative and non-exclusive embodiment of a cigarette rolling device  100  is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . This embodiment of a cigarette rolling device  100  includes a pair of support plates  101  (separately indicated at  101   a ,  101   b ) extending from a contoured or hourglass-shaped base  102 , which may be coupled to each support plate  101   a ,  101   b . In various embodiments, base  102  and support plates  101  together may form the outer edges of the device. As a matter of convenience, the support plates are sometimes referred to herein as “proximal” and “distal,” with “proximal” used herein to indicate “relatively closer to the body of a user as typically held during use” (e.g., closer to the non-nozzle end), and signified by P in  FIG. 1 , and “distal” indicating “relatively farther from the body of a user as typically held during use” (e.g., closer to the nozzle end), and signified by D in  FIG. 1 . These conventions are used herein to describe the relative relationships between elements of all of the illustrated embodiments of the cigarette rolling device. 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the proximal end of the device of  FIG. 1 , with the device in an open configuration, and  FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the proximal end of the device of  FIG. 1 , with the device in a closed configuration. The support plates  101  are shown to be attached firmly to each other by way of base  102 . As shown also in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , the base may be connected to the support plates  101  at anchor points  105 , such as by screws, rivets, or other mechanical linkages, or by any appropriate fastening means, to form a stable structure. As can be best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , base  102  may have a curved, contoured, or generally “hourglass” shape, and a radiused portion  102   a , which may provide clearance and or a convenient resting place for a user&#39;s fingers when opening and closing the device, forming the tobacco rod, and/or inserting the tobacco rod into a pre-formed cigarette tube. In some embodiments, the contoured, radiused, hourglass shape of base  102  also may reduce the size and/or weight of the device, and/or may facilitate single-handed operation of the device. 
     As shown best in  FIG. 1   6 , translatable cylinder  103  and fixed cylinder  104  are shown to be mounted to, and extending between, the support plates. In the illustrative embodiment  100 , each cylinder is shown to include axle portions  106  protruding in a longitudinal direction from the ends of the cylinder, the axle portions being mounted or otherwise rotatably coupled to the support plates. In particular, and as shown in  FIG. 2 , each support plate is shown to include a slot  107  in which the axle portions of translatable cylinder  103  are journaled, and a mounting site  108  (shown as a hole) in which the axle portions of fixed cylinder  104  are journaled. Slot  107  and mounting site  108  may allow cylinders  103  and  104 , respectively, to be rotated relative to the support plates. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in device  100 , mounting site  108  may allow fixed cylinder  104  to be rotatable about a single, fixed axis defined by the placement of the axle portions relative to the support plates. As such, the mounting site may include any rotatable linkage; for example, instead of a hole through the support plate (as shown), a recessed portion into the proximal surface of the support plate may be used, or a stud or other mount that protrudes proximally from the support plate surface to rest within a corresponding depression-shaped axle portion on fixed cylinder  104 . Such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Slot  107   a  allows translatable cylinder  103  be selectively translatably moved relative to the support plates (and relative to fixed cylinder  104 ), through a range of motion defined by the size and shape of the slot, by sliding the axle portions of translatable cylinder  103  along the slots. Thus, translatable cylinder  103  is configured to be rotatable about a non-fixed axis. 
     As described in greater detail below, the inverted “J” shape of the slot shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  may provide stability when shaping a quantity of loose tobacco in a belt trained around the cylinders, such as by retaining the translatable cylinder  103  in (or otherwise preventing or reducing inadvertent movement of the translatable cylinder  103  from) a desired position in the slot, such as that shown in  FIG. 5 . As such, the slot may have any desired configuration. For simplicity, the slots in the illustrated embodiments are all shown to have a generally curvilinear configuration, and may be referred to herein as “curvilinear slots” for convenience and clarity, such as to distinguish among other types of slots described herein. However, the slots may be curved, straight, or otherwise shaped, in various embodiments and alternative configurations of various embodiments, so the term “curvilinear slots” is not meant to be restrictive. Further, some configurations may include a slot-shaped recess in the proximal surface of the support plates, instead of a slot through the support plates (as shown), or a slot that includes portions that extend all the way through the support plate and recessed portions, and so forth, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , which is a side elevation view of the distal end (e.g., the nozzle end) of the device of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 7 , which is a top view of the device of  FIG. 1  in a closed position, in some embodiments, slot  107   b  may be slightly longer than corresponding slot  107   a , or may be positioned slightly closer to fixed cylinder  104  that corresponding slot  107   a , which is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . This asymmetry in slot length and/or position results in translatable cylinder  103  being positioned slightly out of parallel with respect to fixed cylinder  104  when the device is in a closed position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). This asymmetry results in a tobacco rod having a very slightly tapered or conical shape, which may facilitate dislodging of the formed tobacco rod from the device. In various embodiments, the degree to which translatable cylinder is out of parallel with fixed cylinder  104  may be between about 1 degree and 15 degrees, for example about 5-10 degrees out of parallel. In some embodiments, this angle may be adjusted by a user by varying the position of the translatable cylinder  103  with regard to slot  107   b  when the device is in a closed position. 
     Returning to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , rolling device  100  is also shown to include a looped belt  109  trained around the cylinders  104 . In various embodiments, belt  109  may be formed from a polyether urethane material. Such materials may provide sufficient grip on the cylinders  104  and/or tobacco rod, while also being sufficiently compliant without the use of plasticizers, which might have undesirable health consequences for the user. Additionally, polyether urethane belts may be resistant to oils and may inhibit bacterial growth. In the illustrated embodiment, belt  109  is shown to be somewhat loose, with the portion of the belt disposed between the cylinders forming a recess, indicated at  114 . In various embodiment, this recess may be relatively broad and shallow when cylinder  104  is spaced away from cylinder  103  (e.g., when the device is in an open position, see e.g.,  FIG. 4 ), and substantially cylindrical when the cylinders are substantially adjacent each other (e.g., when the device is in a closed position as in  FIG. 5 ). 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , as well as in greater detail in  FIG. 9 , the device also may include a trough  130  extending from a corresponding notch  131  in base  102 . The trough is shown to have a U-shaped or semicircular cross-section, with a first or inner surface  132 , and a second, or outer, surface  134  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 9 ). As can be seen in  FIGS. 4-6 , one layer of belt  109  is shown to be trained around the outer surface of the trough, which is thus disposed between the portion of the belt forming the recess and the portion surrounding the recess portion. 
     The trough may facilitate efficient use of the device, for example, by reducing drag. For example, if the trough were not present, the portion of the belt that forms the recess may be urged toward, or even against, the other layer of the belt that moves in the opposite direction of the portion forming the recess, when a quantity of loose tobacco is being shaped in the recess via rolling of the belt. The inner surface of the belt may further have a texture to reduce the amount of friction generated when portions of the surface slide or contact each other. However, in some circumstances, the inner surface of the belt that slides against itself when the two layers are moved in opposite directions may eventually become worn from repeated use, and/or create drag that interferes with rolling, due to two surfaces moving relative to each other. Moreover, moisture or loose tobacco particles may cause layers of the belt to bind or otherwise adhere to each other, pulling both layers in the same direction, which may lead to binding of the cylinders, creasing or tearing the belt, or other mechanical interference or damage to the device. 
     Also, distensions or other irregularities in the belt surface may in turn lead to uneven rolling of a leaf of cigarette paper around a shaped tobacco rod, or may create creases and folds in a leaf of cigarette paper, which many users may find undesirable. The trough may thus reduce or prevent drag by providing a stable sliding surface for one layer of the belt, or otherwise preventing the portion of the belt forming the recess from rubbing or sliding against, or otherwise contacting, other portions of the belt, such as a layer of the belt moving in the opposite direction when the belt is rolled. 
     As mentioned briefly above, a quantity of loose tobacco is compressed and shaped into a tobacco rod by rolling the belt, as the tension of the belt itself, in addition to forces urging the tobacco against surfaces over which the belt is moved. The trough may function to increase the tension of the belt (or reduce slack) overall or when the cylinders are in the closed configuration, by providing another surface around which the belt is trained. Increasing the tension of the belt may in turn provide stability to the device and/or increase consistency of cigarettes produced using the device by positionally stabilizing the cylindrical recess formed when the cylinders are in the closed configuration. In such configurations, only the portion of the belt trained around the outer surface of the trough may come in contact with the trough. 
     In some configurations, such as those in which the portion of the belt forming the recess comes in contact with a trough (such as the inner surface of the trough), the trough may facilitate forming of a tobacco rod by providing a support surface against which the tobacco in the recess may be urged when the belt is moved over the cylinders (or rolled around the rollers). The roller surfaces and the surface tension of the unsupported portion of the belt itself collectively provide a compressive force on the tobacco in the cylindrical recess, but repeated use over time may tend to stretch the belt so that the surface tension is weakened, or the belt is slackened sufficiently, and so forth, so that the belt may become unsuitable for compressing tobacco. As such, the support trough in such configurations may provide a support surface against which the belt may be urged, which may reduce or even prevent distension of the belt via the compressive force delivered to the tobacco in the recess by the cylinders. 
     Optionally, the trough may function to establish the diameter of a finished cigarette, such as by providing a support surface of constant diameter, and/or by increasing the tension of the belt surface, as discussed above, either of which may assist a user in determining the correct quantity of loose tobacco to use. By reducing or preventing variation in the diameter of tobacco rod shaped in the device, a user can be assured of relatively consistent results, which may in turn reduce waste if the tobacco rod produced is too large for a standard pre-formed cigarette tube to surround. The trough may thus have any configuration, shape, thickness, cross-section, and so forth, suitable to achieve any of the aforementioned results. For example, alternative configurations may include a flatter or more curved cross-section than that shown (e.g., a semi-circular cross section with a different diameter), be a different thickness, and so forth, as well as be of composite construction and/or discontinuous construction. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the trough may help align the axis of the tobacco rod formed in the recess of the belt with the axis of the nozzle. In some embodiments, without the backup support and alignment the trough provides, the tobacco rod might fail to align with the nozzle, and thus might not be displaceable by the pushing device through the nozzle. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 , device  100  may also include a pair of guard plates  110 , each of which is disposed between an end of the translatable cylinder  103  and the curvilinear slot  107 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, each support plate  101  may include a circular recess  113  in which each guard plate  110  may be at least partially seated. However, in other embodiments, support plate  101  may not include this circular recess, and each guard plate  110  may be at seated adjacent support plate  101 , rather than recessed into support plate  101 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , guard plate  110  may include an axle portion  116 , which is journaled within a mounting site on the support plate  101 . Guard plate  110  also includes a movement slot  111 , through which axle portion  106  of translatable cylinder  103  extends; as such, guard plate accommodates movement of translatable cylinder  103  while preventing loose tobacco from the recess  114  from entering the curvilinear slot  107 . Although two guard plates are shown, other embodiments of a cigarette rolling device may include only one guard plate, or even multiple guard plates. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , about half of the curvilinear slot  107  overlaps recess  114  in at least the “open” configuration and in at least part of the range of movement of cylinder  103 . Loose tobacco typically includes a sufficient amount of moisture such that stray pieces of tobacco may have a tendency to stick to, clog, or otherwise interfere with moveable components of a cigarette rolling device, which may in turn interfere with intended operation and require periodic cleaning. As configured, however, the guard plate  110  of cigarette rolling device  100  is disposed between the end of the cylinder and the curvilinear slot, preventing loose tobacco from the recess  114  from entering the slot  107 , while allowing movement of the translatable cylinder  103  between open and closed configurations. Guard plate  110  may thus be configured as desired to prevent loose tobacco from the belt, or more particularly from the recess formed by the portion of the belt between the cylinders, from entering the curvilinear slot, while accommodating movement of the axle portion as the cylinder is moved back and forth. In general, embodiments incorporating one or more pairs of curvilinear slots and one or more cylinders journaled for slidable movement therein, the shape of the guard plate, and/or the configuration of the movement slot in a guard plate, may relate to such factors as the shape and/or length of the slot, the relative size(s) of the moveable cylinder(s), and so forth. 
     As described above, although device  100  may be used to roll cigarettes in cigarette papers, which typically come in books of packets of flat leaves, pre-formed cigarette tubes are also commercially available, for example if a user prefers to hand-roll a tobacco rod, but does not want to roll a leaf of cigarette paper around the tobacco rod. Some commercially available cigarette tubes also include filter tips positioned within the otherwise empty tube, into which a user may place a shaped tobacco rod. Thus, embodiments of a cigarette rolling device may instead include a mechanism by which a tobacco rod shaped in the cigarette rolling device, as explained in detail above, may be pushed or injected into a pre-formed cigarette tube. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , and as shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , device  100  may also include a pushing device  150  mounted for movement relative to the cylinders  103 ,  104  along an axis parallel to the cylinders, and optionally, mounted for movement relative to the fixed cylinder about an axis parallel to the fixed cylinder  104 . Pushing device  150  includes an outer surface  152  and an inner surface  154 , the inner surface further including a collar portion  156  which is shaped to removably clamp to fixed cylinder  104  to retain the pushing device on the cylinder, but to also allow slidable movement of the sliding device therealong. The outer surface is shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  to include a tab  153  that provides for ease of both slidable and rotational movement, for example, by a user&#39;s thumb or index fingers, but the outer surface may have any suitable configuration. 
     In various embodiments, an arm  158  is shown to extend from the collar portion  156  in a direction such that when pushing device is mounted on fixed cylinder  104 , the arm descends generally into a recess  114  formed by the portion of the belt  109  trained around the cylinders  103 ,  104 . An extension  159  protrudes from the arm, for example at a right angle in some embodiments, and terminates in a substantially circular pushing element  160 . So configured, the pushing element is adapted to engage and push the end of a shaped tobacco rod in the cylindrical recess, for instance by sliding the pushing device along the cylinder. More particularly, the pushing device is adapted to be slid toward one support plate, designated as the “distal” support plate, from the direction of the other, “proximal” support plate, and back again. In other words, if the pushing device is initially positioned near the proximal support plate, when a tobacco rod is shaped in the cylindrical recess, sliding the pushing device toward the distal support plate will engage the pushing element with the end of the tobacco rod and push the end of the tobacco rod toward the first support plate, to longitudinally compress the tobacco rod. 
     As mentioned above, “tapping” or compressing the end of a shaped tobacco rod may more securely pack the tobacco into a cylindrical form, making the tobacco rod less likely to break apart and/or to reduce or even prevent loose tobacco from flaking away or otherwise coming loose from the tobacco rod. As such, longitudinal compression may allow a cigarette to last longer in storage, without tobacco coming loose from the end of the cigarette. Compression of one or both ends of a tobacco rod may also provide a flat surface against which cigarette paper, or the end of a cigarette tube, may be folded, such as to hold tobacco in the paper or tube while the cigarette is being held, stored, or smoked, and/or simply for aesthetic effect. 
     In addition to slidable movement, the collar portion  156  and inner surface  154  are configured to move in a predetermined range of rotatable movement about the cylinder to which the device  150  is clamped, such as to ensure stability of the pushing device on the cylinder  104 . For example, in some embodiments, as cylinder  103  is moved from a “closed” position to an “open” position, the portion of the belt trained between the cylinders moves from defining a relatively deeper, cylindrical recess to defining a broader, relatively shallower recess. As this belt portion moves from one configuration to the other, it may push against the portion of the pushing device within the recess (e.g., the pushing element  160 , the extension  159 , and/or the pushing device arm  158 ). However, the collar portion  156  and inner surface  154  of the pushing device are configured to allow the pushing device to “rock” back and forth on the cylinder, for example to accommodate the movement of the belt when the cylinders are moved between “open” and “closed” configurations, without becoming detached therefrom. 
     In various embodiments, pushing device  150  also may include an outrigger portion  192  extending from collar portion  156  and configured to limit rotation of pushing device  150  about fixed cylinder  104  by coming in contact with the portion of belt  109  that is wrapped around translatable cylinder  103 . This configuration allows outrigger portion  192  to prevent over-rotation of pushing device  150  about fixed cylinder  104 , which otherwise might allow the pushing device  150  (and particularly the pushing element  160 , the extension  159 , and/or the pushing device arm  158 ) to pinch belt  109  against trough  130 . 
     Additionally, outrigger portion  192  may serve to orient the axis of the pushing element  160  and align it to the axis of the formed tobacco rod. Additionally, in various embodiments, outrigger portion  192  may provide stability to the pushing device  150 , as well as providing an additional slide bearing surface that reduces overall contact pressure of the pushing device  150  against belt  190  when extending it to displace the tobacco rod. 
     In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the collar portion  156  may be configured to rotate outward and away from translatable cylinder  103  along the longitudinal axis of fixed cylinder  104 , for example when tab  153  is depressed by a user. In some embodiments, this rotation of the collar portion may result in the portion of the pushing device within the recess (e.g., the pushing element  160 , the extension  159 , and/or the pushing device arm  158 ) exerting sufficient pressure against translatable cylinder  103  to cause the translatable cylinder to move along slots  107  into an open position (see, e.g.,  FIG. 11B ). This feature may allow a user to conveniently “flip” the device into an open position, for example to receive tobacco in recess  114 , and may be accomplished with a single hand. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , pushing device  150  typically may be moved into a center position along the longitudinal axis of fixed cylinder  104  prior to being rotated about the longitudinal axis of fixed cylinder  104 , so that it may exert approximately equal pressure on both the proximal and distal ends of translatable cylinder  103 . However, one of skill in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, pushing device may be used to open device  100  in any position along fixed cylinder  104 . 
     In various embodiments, proximal support plate  101   a  may be configured to receive and house at least a portion of pushing device  150 , such as to allow the pushing device to be moved substantially out of recess  114  while a quantity of loose tobacco is being shaped into a tobacco rod, so as not to interfere with the rolling process. In various embodiments, therefore, proximal support plate  101   a  thus may include a recess for receiving a portion of pushing device  150 . As such, the pushing device may be selectively moved to the support plate, housing a portion thereof within the recess in the support plate, so that after a tobacco rod is formed, the pushing device may be deployed to urge the pushing element against the end of the tobacco rod. 
     As such, in some embodiments, a pushing device as described above may function as a compression element, such as to longitudinally compress the tobacco rod. However, as may be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , some embodiments of the cigarette rolling device may also include an opening  170  in the distal support plate  101   b , and a corresponding nozzle  172  disposed on the support plate that couples to or extends through the opening. In various embodiments, the nozzle  172  may have a circular cross-section and may be positioned on the distal support plate  101   b  to be aligned with the substantially circular recess  114  formed by the belt  109  when the cylinders  103 ,  104  are in a “closed” configuration, such that the contents of the cylindrical recess  114  (such as a shaped tobacco rod) may be pushed through the opening  170  and the nozzle  172 , when the pushing device  150  is slid from the proximal support plate  101   a  toward the distal support plate  101   b . In the some embodiments, the nozzle may be mounted to the support plate by means of a retaining rim on support plate, but any suitable mounting method may be used. 
     The size of the cross-section of the nozzle is such that an end of pre-formed cigarette tube (not shown) may be fitted snugly over the nozzle and retained against the support plate. As such, after a quantity of loose tobacco has been shaped into a compressed tobacco rod in the substantially cylindrical recess formed by the belt, sliding the pushing device from the second support plate toward the first support plate functions to engage the pushing element with the end of the tobacco rod and urges the tobacco rod through the opening  170  and nozzle  172 , and into the cigarette tube retained against the first support plate, to form a cigarette. In some embodiments, a nozzle guard  174  may be used in conjunction with the nozzle  172 , for example to protect the nozzle from accidental damage during transport, but also to serve as a visual guide to assist a user in fitting the pre-formed cigarette tube over the nozzle. In some embodiments, nozzle guard  174  may have a contrasting color when compared with nozzle  172 , for instance to help make nozzle  172  more visually distinct. 
     Also, in various embodiments, sliding the pushing device  150  to the extent of the movement allowed by the distal support plate  101   b  may project at least a portion of the pushing element  160  partially through the opening  170 , by means of extension  159  on arm  158 . When the length of the cylinders corresponds to the length of the cigarette tube, this configuration thus may allow the tobacco rod, once injected into the cigarette tube, to be further compressed or “tapped” into the tube. Optionally, of course, the pushing device also may be used to push bits of loose tobacco from the belt, for example to clean the belt of the device between uses. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 10A-10C , some embodiments of the device also include a clamping device  180  that is selectively operable to retain a pre-formed cigarette tube on the nozzle  172 . Although any suitable configuration may be used, clamping device  180  is shown in  FIGS. 10A-10C  to include a three-pronged clamping element  182  housed within distal support plate  101   b , the clamping element terminating in two or more clamping surfaces  184   a ,  184   b ,  184   c  that are shaped to hold an end of the tube against the exterior surface of the nozzle  172 . Clamping element  182  may be biased away from nozzle  172  by means of an internal biasing element (which in the illustrated embodiment is clamping element  182 ), such that pressing a button  190  at the other end of clamping element  182  urges a trio of clamping surfaces  184   a ,  184   b ,  184   c , against the nozzle  172 , securing a pre-formed cigarette tube in place, such as for receiving a tobacco rod from the device  100 . In some embodiments, three-pronged clamping element  182  may travel within a recess  188  within the distal support plate  101   b , and actuation of button  190  may force the outer two  184   a ,  184   c  of the three clamping surfaces against the sides of recess  188 , thus urging force the outer two  184   a ,  184   c  of the three clamping surfaces inward, and against the exterior surface of nozzle  172 . The inner clamping surface  184   b  may simultaneously be pressed against the underside of nozzle  172 . Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, clamping device  180  exerts pressure on three sides of nozzle  172 . Although a three-pronged clamping member is illustrated herein, one of skill in the art will also appreciate that such clamping mechanisms may be used that have one, two, three, or even more clamping surfaces. 
     Some embodiments of the cigarette rolling device may include a lighting element that may aid in the operation of the device in dark or low-light environments. In various embodiments, the lighting element may be positioned to provide light in any part of the device where light may be helpful, for example between the cylinders, where it may facilitate loading and/or rolling of the loose tobacco, or near the nozzle, where it can aid in positioning the cigarette tube. In various embodiments, the lighting element may include a power source and an activation member, such as a button or switch, which may allow the lighting element to be selectively actuated when additional light is desired or needed. Some embodiments may include an automatic switch, for example, that may be actuated when the device is opened or closed. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cigarette rolling device that includes a light. In this embodiment, the light source  294  is oriented to provide light at the nozzle  272 , thus facilitating the positioning, clamping, and/or loading of a cigarette tube. In various embodiments, light source  294  may be any kind of light source capable of illuminating a desired field, such as an incandescent bulb, an LED, a laser diode, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, light source  294  is positioned in a void in support plate  201   b . In some embodiments, support plate  201   b  may include light-directing materials such as reflectors to aid in directing the light to a desired location, and/or it may include light-transmitting materials that may glow or scatter light in multiple directions, depending on the desired effect. 
     Although the illustrated embodiment directs light towards nozzle  272 , one of skill in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, light source  294  may be directed to illuminate the cylindrical recess, for example to illuminate the recess during loading or rolling, or it may be configured to illuminate both the cylindrical recess and the nozzle simultaneously or in sequence. Additionally, although light source  294  is illustrated as being located in a void within support plate  201   b , one of skill in the art will appreciate that it could be located in other parts of the device in alternate embodiments, such as the distal plate, cylinders, or base, depending on the desired field of illumination and the specific dimensions of the device. 
     The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 12  also includes a power source  296 , such as a battery.  FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment in which battery  296  is housed in a corresponding void in support plate  201   b , however one of skill in the art will appreciate that battery  296  may be housed in another part of the device, such as the base, so long as an electrical path may be established between light source  294  and battery  296 . In some embodiments, battery  296  may be accessed via battery cover  295 , which may be removed in order to replace the batteries. 
     Some embodiments also may include an activation member, such as switch  298 , which may be configured to control the operation of light source  294 . In the illustrated embodiment, switch  298  is a thumb switch, but one of skill in the art will appreciate that other types of switches may be substituted to suit a particular function. In other embodiments, buttons or other user interface elements may be substituted. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 , and  FIG. 14  is a side view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 13  depicts the device with switch  298  in the “on” position and light source  294  illuminating a field near nozzle  272 , and  FIG. 14  depicts the device with switch  298  in the “off” position. Both views illustrate how support plate  201   b  houses light source  294 , battery  296 , battery cover  295 , and switch  298 .  FIG. 15  is a side view of the cigarette rolling device shown in  FIG. 12 , and illustrates the mechanism of action for switch  296 . As can be seen in  FIG. 15 , in some embodiments, switch  298  may be positioned to allow a user to operate the switch with his or her thumb without changing his or her grip on the device. Both the “on” ( 298   a ) and “off” ( 298   b ) positions are depicted. 
     The overall structural configuration of a cigarette rolling device  100  having been explained, an illustrative explanation of the use of such a device, in general, is given in the paragraphs below. In the following explanation, several of the individual components are further discussed, as well as variations to the structural configuration and some components of the illustrated embodiments. All of such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. 
     In use, such as to roll a cigarette, a user may first move cylinder  103  away from cylinder  104 , such as by applying force to the tab  153  on pushing device  150  sufficient to cause the portion of the pushing device within the recess (e.g., the pushing surface  160 , the extension  159 , and/or the pushing device arm  158 ) to exerting sufficient pressure against translatable cylinder  103  to cause the axles  106  of translatable cylinder  103  to move along slots  107  into an open position. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the device may be opened in other ways, even if pushing device  150  is present, such as by applying pressure directly to translatable cylinder  103  or to the belt  109  trained around the cylinder. 
     As mentioned above, the configuration of the slot  107  may be suitable to provide a desired amount of ease of movement of cylinder  103 , such as by restricting or allowing freedom of movement along the slot; to provide a desired range of separation of the cylinders when cylinder  103  is moved near to or away from cylinder  104 ; and so forth. Additionally, as described in greater detail above, the two slots  107   a ,  107   b  may be of different lengths, or may be positioned differently on support plates  101   a ,  101   b , such that the cylinders  103 ,  104  are not quite parallel to one another. In particular, the cylinders  103 ,  104  may be spaced more closely together at the distal end (e.g., the nozzle end) of the device when the device is in the closed position, so as to create a slightly cone-shaped tobacco rod, for instance to ease displacement of the formed tobacco rod out of recess  114  through the nozzle  172 . Thus, even though the slots in the illustrated embodiments are all shown, in general, to have an inverted “J” shape, any desired shape may be used, and the slots may be of different lengths or have different positioning with respect to one another. 
     A user may then place a quantity of loose tobacco on the portion of the belt  109  between the cylinders  103 ,  104 , and may prepare to shape the loose tobacco into a tobacco rod by moving the translatable cylinder  103  toward the fixed cylinder  104 , into a “closed” configuration, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Throughout the disclosure, the term “substantially adjacent” is used to describe the relative positions of the cylinders in this configuration, the term indicating that the cylinders are positioned close enough together so that loose tobacco placed in the recess shapes the recess into a substantially cylindrical form when the cylinders are urged into this configuration, but still spaced to provide sufficient clearance so that the portions of the belt trained over each cylinder do not come into contact when the belt is moved. 
     “Substantially cylindrical,” in turn, signifies a shape with a relatively constant and substantially circular cross-section, such that a quantity of loose tobacco, when rolled in such a substantially cylindrical recess, is formed into a cylindrical shape, also referred to herein as a “tobacco rod.” As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the cross-section of the recess  114  when the cylinders are substantially adjacent is slightly teardrop-shaped, with the point of the teardrop extending to the space between the cylinders. However, the movement of the belt over the cylinders compresses any loose tobacco in the tip area into a cylindrical shape. 
     In general, a quantity of loose (uncompressed) tobacco sufficient to form a cigarette will occupy a greater volume than when compressed, and, when the cylinders are moved into the “closed” configuration, will urge the belt outward into the substantially cylindrical shape shown in  FIG. 5 . The size and cross-section of the cylindrical recess  114 , for a given quantity of loose tobacco, may be determined by factors such as the length of the belt  109  relative to the configuration of the cylinders  103 ,  104 , the elasticity of the belt, the size of the cylinders, and so forth. As such, the belt (and the cylinders) may be configured as desired to provide a tobacco rod of desired dimension and/or desired compression. For example, the belt may be longer or shorter than as shown, and/or elastic or non-elastic, such as to form a differently-sized cylindrical recess in which the tobacco may be compressed. 
     After a quantity of loose tobacco is placed on the belt  109 , and the cylinders have been moved to a “closed” configuration, the belt may be moved over the cylinders to shape the loose tobacco into a tobacco rod. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the portion of the belt forming recess  114  will “roll” the loose tobacco as the belt is moved over the cylinders, via the force exerted on the tobacco by the surface tension of the portion of the belt forming the cylindrical recess, and any surfaces against which the belt is urged (for example, the lower portion of the belt against which the cylindrical recess portion is slid, the surfaces of the cylinders, and so forth). 
     In the cigarette rolling devices illustrated herein, the cylinders (such as cylinders  103 ,  104 ) are all shown to be rotatably mounted to the support plates, and thus may be rolled in either direction to move the belt and compress the tobacco. As such, such cylinders may also be referred to herein as “rollers.” Rotating the cylinders may allow easy movement of the belt over the cylinders. However, one or more of the cylinders may instead be nonrotatably mounted, for example in embodiments in which the belt may be slid over the one or more nonrotatable cylinders. For example, an alternative configuration may include a nonrotatable cylinder in place of cylinder  104 , together with a rotatable cylinder such as translatable cylinder  103 , or any desired combination of rotatable and nonrotatable cylinders. 
     The surfaces of the cylinders thus may be textured to provide a desired degree of friction against the belt. The belt may also (or alternatively) have a textured outer and/or inner surface, such as to provide a desired degree of friction when moved over the cylinders and/or against the tobacco. In embodiments incorporating rotatable cylinders (or rollers), for example, the surface of the belt that is urged against the surface of the rollers may be textured or otherwise fabricated to assure a “grip” of the belt over the rollers, such that a user may be able to roll the rollers by exerting force on the belt. In embodiments incorporating nonrotatable cylinders or structures around which the belt is slid, the surface of the belt that moves against such cylinders may be smoothly textured or otherwise configured to reduce drag. Also, the surface of the belt that is urged against the tobacco may be textured or otherwise fabricated to “grip” the loose tobacco, such as to facilitate compression as the belt is rolled around the tobacco, as desired. 
     In configurations that incorporate nonrotatable cylinders, a “cylinder” may be configured to have a partially cylindrical or even geometrically noncylindrical shape, and consist of one or more surfaces over which the belt may be slid. Such surfaces may have a partially cylindrical or curved shape, such as to facilitate sliding, or any desired geometry to provide a sliding surface, and/or a surface against which the belt may be urged in order to compress a quantity of loose tobacco into a tobacco rod when the belt is moved over the cylinders. Such variations are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure, and, as such, are considered to be within the scope of the term “cylinder,” as used herein. For the sake of clarity, however, all of the illustrated embodiments are shown to include rotatably mounted cylinders. 
     After the belt has been moved over the cylinders to compress the tobacco into a tobacco rod, a user may place a pre-formed cigarette tube over nozzle  172 , and optionally may depress button  190  in order to activate the clamping device  180  and hold the pre-formed cigarette tube in place. Longitudinal pressure may then be applied to pushing device tab  153  to slide the collar portion  156  of pushing device  150  from the proximal end to the distal end of fixed cylinder  104 , which simultaneously advances the pushing device arm  158 , extension  159 , and substantially circular pushing surface  160  within recess  114 . This movement pushes the formed tobacco rod through opening  170  and nozzle  172  into the pre-formed cigarette tube. Once the tobacco rod has been inserted into the pre-formed cigarette tube, further sliding of pushing device  150  may cause the tobacco rod to be tamped within the tube as described above in greater detail. 
     Alternately, a user may insert one end of a piece (or “leaf’) of cigarette paper between the cylinders and continue moving the belt, to roll the paper received between the cylinders around the tobacco rod. Cigarette papers are commercially available in several standard sizes, and the overall width of the cylinders may be appropriate, in various embodiments, to accommodate leaves of various sizes. Commercially available cigarette papers are usually gummed along one edge, or include some other adhesive property, so that when the gummed edge is oriented to be the trailing edge of the leaf as it is rolled around the tobacco rod, the gummed edge adheres to the surface of a portion of the paper already rolled. As such, if such a cigarette paper is used in the rolling device, a user may stop rolling and moisten the trailing, gummed edge prior to rolling the paper completely around the tobacco rod. Once the paper is rolled around the rod, the cylinders may be moved into the “open” configuration and the formed cigarette may be removed. 
     Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.