Abstract:
A hybrid cigar wrap provides unfilled two-ply shells, machine rolled cigars, and cigarillos having a natural tobacco outer leaf wrapper and an inner hemp, rice or wood-based paper wrapper, having a lighter, cleaner, smoother and less harsh tasting cigar.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to tobacco products. namely unfilled two-ply shells, machine made cigars and cigarillos, having a natural tobacco outer leaf wrapper and an inner hemp, rice or wood-based paper wrapper, creating a lighter, cleaner and smoother tasting cigar. 
         [0002]    Cigars are typically wrap with a natural tobacco leaf or with a manufactured wrapper which contains both natural tobacco and certain adhesives and cellulosic fiber materials. Commonly the inner wrapper or hinder wrapper of mass produced machine rolled cigars on the market today are comprised of reconstituted tobacco paper. The natural tobacco leaf has historically been the symbol of a quality cigar. Many manufacturers try to simulate the appearance of natural tobacco leaf wrappers on manufactured cigar wrappers, mainly because a manufactured cigar wrapper is considerably lower in cost. 
         [0003]    Wrappers for smoking articles in which the wrapper is formed as a single sheet are well known. For example. US 2011/0155156 discloses a wrapper for smoking material rods in which the wrapper comprises a single sheet formed from two or more plies, wherein the first ply comprises a fibrous material and the second ply comprises adsorbent material, fibrous material and flavoring. Further, US 2003/0217757 discloses a cigar with a paper wrapper, in which the paper wrapper consists essentially of conventional cigarette paper. 
         [0004]    In recent years, smoking of cigars has become fashionable and numerous cigar shops have opened around the world to satisfy this growing tread. The variety, quality and size of ready-made cigars satisfy the majority of the public. However, a growing number of connoisseurs prefer the taste and smell of custom-blended tobacco products. Many cigar aficionados prefer to roll their own cigars They buy tobacco leaves or cigar wrapping and use their preferred brand of crushed tobacco. 
         [0005]    According to the present invention there is provided a RYO “roll your owns” type of smoking material hybrid cigar wrapper, cigar or cigarillo which comprises a natural whole leaf tobacco outer wrapper and a rice, hemp, or wood- based paper inner wrapper. The present invention is a cleaner product than current cigars on the market, due to the elimination of the heavy burning paper used b current manufacturers, for a much lighter weight paper than is currently being used. 
         [0006]    Further, the inner wrapper of the present invention is not made of a clear cellulose material. The inner wrapper consists of rice, hemp, or wood-based papers, which can be unrefined or refined and capable of being scented. The inner wrapper of the present invention ideally is approximately 12-15 mgs; however, it can range from 0-40 mgs. 
         [0007]    Still further, the present invention comprises an outer wrapper leaf made of a premium natural whole leaf tobacco. The present invention does not consist of homogenized or reconstituted tobacco paper as the outer wrapper. The inner and outer wrappers are held together with natural glue adhesives or other currently available gum agents. Things such as: natural fruit pectin, cornstarch &amp; water, Arabic gum, Tragacanth gum, and other similar types of adhesives that currently used in the market today. The outer wrapper is cut to size, approximately 0-8″ in width by 0-8″ in length with the inner wrapper being approximately 0-1″ smaller in width than the outer wrapper. The inner liner is made to be 0-1″ smaller in width to provide fin a natural leaf tip to seal upon rolling the finished product, additionally the natural outer leaf tip may have, a natural adhesive glue added to it to seal the end of the outer wrapper. 
         [0008]    The use of a hybrid wrapper according to the present invention allows a user to choose from a variety of premium Natural leaf cigar wraps such as Maduro, Fronto, Havana, Candela and Palma, as well as pouches of different flavored pipe tobacco accompanied with mouth tips. A consumer will have the ability to customize their cigar by choosing their flavor combination of cigar leaf and flavored tobacco all in one step. 
         [0009]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a consumer with a hybrid cigar that is machine made and having as natural leaf cigar outer wrapper and rice, hemp or wood-based inner liner. The outer wrapper is cut to size, approximately 0-8″ in width by 0-15″ in length with the inner wrapper being approximately 0-1″ smaller in width than the out wrapper 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a consumer with a Cigarillo style machine made hybrid cigar wrap and having a natural leaf outer wrapper and rice, hemp or wood-based inner liner. The outer wrapper is cut to size, approximately 0-4″ in width by 0-6″ in length with the inner wrapper being approximately 0-1″ smaller than the outer waver, 
         [0011]    Additionally all hybrid cigar wrappers cigars or cigarillos and pouches of flavored and non flavored tobacco could be optionally packaged with a humidipak® to maintain freshness of the present invention. 
         [0012]    These together with other objects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inner and outer wrappers illustrating the two-ply cigar wrap assembly of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a planar view of the inner and outer wrappers of the present invention prior to being rolled onto a plastic packaging tube. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the inner and outer wrappers of the present invention being wrapped around a plastic packaging tube prior to packaging in foil pouch. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating packaging into single foil packaging. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating packaging into a double foil packaging with a humidipak®. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the packaged product having a tear open tab and re-sealable zip lock seal. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A-6B  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating removal and unrolling of the present invention from foil packaging. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the present invention prior to roiling with the natural tobacco leaf tip of the outer wrapper exposed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention showing a user hand rolling the present invention with the natural tobacco leaf tip exposed. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of the present invention illustrating the final rolled product with cigar tip and tobacco. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is perspective view of a “6 pack” of the present invention in individual foil pouches. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a cut-away view of a pre-packaged tobacco hag and a set or cigar tips with a humidipak® located within the pre-packaged tobacco pouch. 
           [0026]    FIG.  12 A—a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention showing a machine rolled hybrid cigar. 
           [0027]    FIG.  12 B—a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing a machine rolled hybrid cigarillo 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention. There is shown a natural whole leaf tobacco outer wrapper  18  having a leaf tip  20  capable of having a glue adhesive or pectin added to help seal tip and a rice or hemp paper inner wrapper  16 . The outer wrapper  18  has glue applied to the surface prior to attaching the inner wrapper  16 . The inner wrapper  16  of the present invention is not made of a clear cellulose material. The inner wrapper  16  consists of rice or hemp papers, which can be unrefined or refined and capable of being scented. The inner wrapper  16  is ideally approximately 12-15 mgs, but can range from 0-40 mgs. The outer wrapper  18  is made of a premium shade grown natural whole leaf tobacco. The outer wrapper  18  does not consist of homogenized or reconstituted tobacco paper. 
         [0029]    The inner wrapper  16  and outer wrapper  18  are held together with natural pectin glue or other currently available gum agent. The outer wrapper  18  is cut to size, approximately 0-8″ in width by 0-8″ in length with the inner wrapper  16  being approximately 0-1″ smaller in width than the outer wrapper  18 . The inner wrapper  16  is made to be a minimum 0-1″ smaller to provide for a natural leaf tip  20  to seal upon rolling the finished product with a standard pectin or glue. The leaf tip  20  is moistened by the user and used to seal the cigar closed one the product is ready to be used. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows the two-ply wrap  14  of the present invention prior to being rolled onto a plastic packaging tube  24  and having a packaging sheet  22  paper or cellophane paper to add moisture protection and prevent leaves from rubbing together in multiple packs. The packaging tube  24  provides rigidity and protection during shipping. 
         [0031]    Shown in  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the two ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention being placed between the packaging sheet  22  and the plastic packaging tube  24  prior to packaging. 
         [0032]      FIG. 4A  shows the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention wrapped around the packaging tube  24  and being inserted into a single foil pouch packaging  26   a.  Shown in  FIG. 4B  is the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention wrapped around the packaging tube  24  and being inserted into a double foil pouch packaging  26   b  with a humidipak®  36 . 
         [0033]    Shown in  FIG. 5  is the single foil pouch packaging  26   a  having a tear open tab  28  and a re-sealable portion  30 . The re-sealable portion  30  is made of a zip lock® seal. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 6A and 68  show the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention being removed and unrolled from a single foil pouch  26   a.    
         [0035]    Shown in  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention with tobacco  34 , prior to rolling and with the natural tobacco leaf tip  20  of the outer wrapper  18  exposed. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates a user hand rolling the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention with the natural tobacco leaf tip  20  exposed. 
         [0037]    Shown in  FIG. 9 , is a partial perspective view of the two-ply cigar wrap  14  of the present invention with the tobacco  34  and the inner wrapper  16 , outer wrapper  18  and natural tobacco leaf tip  20  and having a cigar tip  32  attached at one end of the cigar. 
         [0038]    Shown in  FIG. 10  is perspective view of a “6 pack” of the present invention  14  in individual foil pouches  26   a.    
         [0039]    Shown in  FIG. 11  is a cut-away view of a pre-packaged tobacco bag having tobacco inside and a set of cigar tips  32  with a humidipak®  36  to maintain freshness, inside a clear re-sealable bag located within the pre-packaged tobacco pouch. 
         [0040]    Shown in  FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention as a machine rolled hybrid cigar  38  with a natural leaf outer wrapper  18 , a natural leaf tip  20 , a rice, hemp or wood-based inner wrapper  16  and having tobacco  34  inside. The natural leaf outer wrapper  18  is approximately 0-8″ in width and approximately 0-15″ in length. The inner wrapper  16  is approximately 0-1″ smaller in width than the outer wrapper  18 . 
         [0041]    Shown in  FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention as machine tolled hybrid cigarillo  40  having a natural leaf outer wrapper  18 , a natural leaf tip  20 , a rice, hemp or wood-based inner wrapper  16  and having tobacco  34  inside. The outer wrapper  18  is cut to size approximately 0-4″ in width and 0-6″ in length with the inner wrapper  16  being approximately 0-1″ smaller than the outer wrapper  18 .