Patent Publication Number: US-6341609-B1

Title: Cigarette holder

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a cigarette holder and more particularly to a cigarette holder which resembles a rifle cartridge. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The fingers of a cigarette smoker frequently become discolored in the areas where the smoker&#39;s fingers grasp the cigarette. Further, when the length of the cigarette becomes short, the cigarette is difficult to hold. Many types of cigarette holders have been previously provided, but the same are not easily useable when the cigarette is very short. Further, the conventional cigarette holders are not aesthetically pleasing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cigarette holder is provided wherein the holder, when not in use and in its stored position, resembles a rifle cartridge. The cigarette holder of this invention comprises a tubular cartridge case having a base end, an open neck end for partially receiving a bullet, and a powder chamber; a bullet having a base end and a forward end; the base of the bullet being received in the open end of the cartridge case; an elongated member having first and second ends; the first end of the elongated member being secured to the base end of the bullet; an alligator clip having first and second ends; the first end of the clip being secured to the second end of the elongated member; the alligator clip including movable jaw means at its second end; the clip and the elongated member being positioned in the powder chamber of the cartridge when the base end of the bullet is received in the open neck end of the cartridge case; the bullet, clip and elongated member being removable from the cartridge case to enable a smoker to grasp the bullet and to place a cigarette in the movable jaw means to facilitate the holding of the cigarette. 
     A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved cigarette holder. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder which resembles a rifle cartridge. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder which utilizes the actual components, except for the powder charge and primer, of a rifle cartridge. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder which may be used to hold a cigarette so that the smoker&#39;s fingers will not become discolored by the cigarette. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder which may be used to hold short cigarettes. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette holder which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of the cigarette holder; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette holder removed from the rifle cartridge case; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cigarette holder stored in the rifle cartridge case. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The numeral  10  refers generally to a conventional rifle cartridge comprising a cartridge case  12  and a bullet  14 . Case  12  includes a base end  16  and an open neck end  18  which is adapted to receive the base end  20  of the bullet  14 . Case  12  includes an interior powder chamber  22  which would normally contain the powder charge of the cartridge. A “new” brass cartridge with an inert primer should be used. A person should not attempt to modify a live cartridge. 
     The base end  20  of bullet  14  is preferably drilled or bored to create a bore  23  therein to enable the end  24  of wire member  26  to be inserted therein so that wire member  26  is secured to bullet  14 . Wire member  26  may be either soldered to bullet  14  or glued thereto in conventional fashion. Preferably, plastic sleeve  28  is then mounted on wire member  26  so as to embrace the same. The end  30  of wire member  26  is then secured to the base end  32  of alligator clip  34  having a movable spring-loaded jaw member  36  on its other end which may be moved towards or away from the stationary jaw member  38  through use of the handle  40 . End  24  of wire member  26  is secured to alligator clip  34  by soldering or clamping in conventional fashion. The plastic sleeve  28  is then heated to reduce the diameter thereof so that it closely or tightly embraces wire member  26  and the connection of the wire member  26  and the alligator clip  34 . 
     The alligator clip  34  and wire member  26  with sleeve  28  thereon are inserted into the powder chamber  22  until the base end  20  of bullet  14  is received in the open neck end  18  of the bullet  14 . When so installed, the assembly looks exactly like a rifle cartridge. 
     When it is desired to use the assembly as a cigarette holder, the bullet  14 , wire member  26  with sleeve  28  thereon, and alligator clip  34  are removed from the case  12 . A cigarette  42  may then be placed in between the stationary jaw member  38  and the movable jaw member  36 . The smoker may then grasp the bullet  14  and smoke the cigarette. When the smoker has finished smoking the cigarette, the cigarette is extinguished and the butt removed from the alligator clip  34 . The holder may then be reinserted into the case  12 . 
     Thus it can be seen that a novel cigarette holder has been provided which looks like a rifle cartridge when not being used and which is conveniently removed from the cartridge case when the smoker desires to smoke a cigarette. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.