CONE LOADING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to the technical field of tobacco and herbal smoking articles, and more specifically, to the technical field of a device to load and form a conical shaped smoking article using rolling paper wrappers.

BACKGROUND

Hand rolling smoking articles, such as cigarettes and the like, is a well-known practice. One way to make cigarettes individually and manually is to place an amount of ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs in a cigarette paper and roll it between one'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.

In another process, rolling paper may be formed into a cone or one may purchase premade cones. The maker of the smoking article may then use the cone to scoop up small amounts of ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The maker of the smoking article may hold the open end of the cone upward allowing the small amount to fall into the cone. This process continues until a desired amount of ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs is held within the cone. The maker may use a rod or similar object to compact the ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs into the cone. This process is repeated until the cone is filled and compacted with the desired amount of ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs. The open end of the cone is then sealed forming the smoking article.

Unfortunately, rolling individual smoking articles is time consuming. Further, rolling individual smoking articles may cause inconsistency in the smoking articles. This may be due to the smoking articles being unevenly filled and/or compacted with the ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs. Unevenly filling and/or compacting the ground smokable tobacco and/or herbs may adversely affect burn rates and temperatures of the smoking articles. That, in turn, can adversely affect the smoke flavors and result in the generation of unwanted combustion byproducts during the material burn.

Hand rolled smoking articles generally come in one of two shapes, a cone shape or a cylindrical tube. The shape of the smoking article may create a different smoking experience because of the air flow and burn. Cones mimic a funnel, with a larger opening for packing and a smaller opening for inhaling, allowing for a different type of air flow than a tube. A tube, on the other hand has the same diameter on the opening as it does on the mouthpiece, which mimics the cigarette type of air flow.

Relatively small and simple devices that allow a user to make smoking articles are available. However, these devices are only able to roll cylindrical smoking articles and cannot roll conical smoking articles.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, a device forming a conical shaped smoking article is disclosed. The device has a container having a receptacle. The receptacle has an open top. A lid is hingely coupled to the receptacle to open and close the receptacle. A rolling mechanism is attached to the lid. Movement of the lid causes the rolling mechanism to forming a conical smoking article.

In accordance with one embodiment, a device for forming a conical shaped smoking article is disclosed. The device has a container having a receptacle with an open top and a lid hingely coupled to the receptacle to open and close the receptacle. A rolling mechanism is attached to the lid. Movement of the lid causes the rolling mechanism to rotate forming a conical smoking article. The rolling mechanism has a pair of track members positioned on opposing sides of the lid, wherein a length of the pair of track members is adjustable. A conical shaped roller is provided, wherein each end of the conical roller is positioned in a respective track member and slidable within the respective track member. A rolling sheet is attached to the lid and positioned around a portion of the conical shaped roller. A rod is positioned between the pair of track members, the rolling sheet positioned around a portion of the rod. A pair of arm members is attached to the lid, wherein a corresponding arm is attached to a corresponding end of the conical roller. Movement of the lid causes the pair of arm members to move the conical roller within the pair of track members

In accordance with one embodiment, a device for forming a conical shaped smoking article is disclosed. The device has a container having a receptacle with an open top and a lid hingely coupled to the receptacle to open and close the receptacle. A slot is formed within the lid. A rolling mechanism is attached to the lid. Movement of the lid causes the rolling mechanism to rotate forming a conical smoking article. The rolling mechanism has a pair of track members positioned on opposing sides of the lid. The pair of track members are arched. A conical shaped roller is provided, wherein each end of the conical roller is positioned in a respective track member and slidable within the respective track member. A rolling sheet is attached to the lid and positioned around a portion of the conical shaped roller. A rod is positioned between the pair of track members, the rolling sheet positioned around a portion of the rod. A pair of arm members is attached to the lid, wherein a corresponding arm is attached to a corresponding end of the conical roller. Movement of the lid causes the pair of arm members to move the conical roller within the pair of track members rotating the conical roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application but rather illustrate certain attributes thereof. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary smoking article rolling device in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exemplary smoking article rolling device with the lid open in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary smoking article rolling device with the lid partially closed in accordance with one aspect of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an exemplary smoking article rolling device with the lid removed in accordance with one aspect of the present application; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary rolling mechanism of the smoking article rolling device in accordance with one aspect of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, show an embodiment of a smoking article rolling device 10 (hereinafter rolling device 10). The rolling device 10 may allow for the formation of individual conical shaped smoking articles 12. The rolling device 10 may be formed of a container 14. The container 14 may be used to house components of the rolling device 10. The container 14 may come in any geometrical configurations as long as it may be able to house the components of the rolling device 10 and allow the components to operate as described below. In the present embodiment, the container 14 may be an annulus sector in shape. The curved nature of the container 14 may aid in the formation of the conical shaped smoking articles 12. In accordance with one embodiment, the corners of the annulus sector shaped container 14 may be rounded.

The annulus sector shaped container 14 may have opposing side surfaces 14A and 14B. The opposing side surfaces 14A and 14B may be arc shaped. The arc of the side surface 14A may have a radius R1 and the arc of the side surface 14B may have a radius R2. The radiuses R1 and R2 may be proportional such that the distance between opposing side surfaces 14A and 14B may remain approximately equal. In accordance with one embodiment, the radius of R2 is approximately twice that of R1 measured from a common center point C.

The container 14 may be formed of a receptacle 16. The receptacle 16 may have an open top area 16A. A lid 18 may be positioned on top of receptacle 16 to cover the open top area 16A. In the embodiment shown, the lid 18 may be hingely attached to rear surface 16B of the receptacle 16. In accordance with an embodiment, the receptacle 16 and the lid 18 may have the same geometric configurations. Thus, in the embodiment shown, both the receptacle 16 and the lid 18 may both be annulus sector shaped.

The lid 18 may have a slot 20 formed therethrough. The slot 20 may be used to allow the conical shaped smoking articles 12 being formed by the rolling device 10 to be expelled from the container 14 as may be described below. In accordance with an embodiment, the slot 20 may run across a front area along a width of the lid 18.

A rolling mechanism 22 may be housed within the container 14. The rolling mechanism may be used to form the conical shaped smoking articles 12. In the present embodiment, the rolling mechanism 22 may be coupled to the lid 18. Movement of the lid 18 may cause the rolling mechanism 22 to form the conical shaped smoking articles 12 and expel the conical shaped smoking articles 12 out of the slot 20 as may be disclosed below.

The rolling mechanism 22 may have a roller 24. The roller 24 may be conical in shape such that a first end 24A may have a wider diameter than a second end 24B, the first end 24A located opposite of the second end 24B. The roller 24 may be movable within a track system 26. The roller 24 may be positioned within the track system 26 such that the roller 24 may not lift out of the track system 26 when moving within the track system 26. In accordance with one embodiment, the track system 26 may be adjustable in length. Adjusting the length of the track system 26 may allow one to adjust the compactness of the conical shaped smoking articles 12. A longer length of the track system 26 may form a more compact conical shaped smoking articles 12.

In the present embodiment, the track system 26 may have a first track 26A and a second track 26B. The first end 24A of the roller 24 may be movable within the first track 26A. The second end 24B of the roller 24 may be movable within the second track 26B. The first track 26A and a second track 26B may be arc shaped in a similar manner as the side surfaces 14A and 14B of the container 14. The first track 26A may have a radius R1 like that of the side surface 14A. The second track 26B a radius R2 like that of the side surface 14B. As stated above, the radiuses R1 and R2 may be proportional such that the distance between first track 14A and the second track 14B may remain approximately equal. In accordance with one embodiment, the radius of R2 is approximately twice that of R1 measured from a common center point C.

The rolling mechanism 22 may have a rolling sheet 28. One end of the rolling sheet may be placed around a portion of the roller 24 with another end attached to an interior of the lid 18. The rolling sheet 28 may also be placed around a portion of a rod 29. The rod 29 may be secured in the track system 26. In the present embodiment, a first end 29A of the rod 29 may secured to the first track 26A. The second first end 29B of the rod 29 may be secured to the second track 26B.

A pouch 30 may be formed within the rolling sheet 28. The pouch 30 may run along a width of the rolling sheet 28. In the embodiment shown, the pouch 30 may be formed between the roller 34 and the lid 18. The pouch 30 may be used to hold rolling paper 32 used to form the conical shaped smoking articles 12. The pouch 30 may also be used to hold the tobacco or herb 34 used in the conical shaped smoking articles 12. The pouch 30 may also be used to hold a filter if the user forming the conical shaped smoking articles 12 wishes to incorporate a filer in the conical shaped smoking articles 12.

A pair of arm members 38 may be used to move the roller 24 within the track system 26. The arm members 38 may move the roller 24 along the first track 26A and the second track 26B. The movement of the roller 24 along the first track 26A and the second track 26B may allow the formation of the conical shaped smoking articles 12. In accordance with one embodiment, a first arm member 38A of the pair of arm members 38 is coupled to the lid 18 and to the first end 28A of the rod 28. A second arm member 38B of the pair of arm members 38 is coupled to the lid 18 and to the second end 28B of the rod 28. The raising and lowering of the lid 18 may cause the arm members 38 to move the roller 24 back and forth along the first track 26A and the second track 26B.

In operation, when the user wishes to make the conical shaped smoking articles 12, the user may raise the lid 18 to an open positioned as may be shown in FIG. 2. With the lid 18 in the open position, the user may place the tobacco or herb 34 within the pouch 30. When the proper amount of tobacco or herb 34 is placed within the pouch 30, the user may place the rolling paper 32 within the pouch 30. The user may position an edge of the rolling paper 32 within the pouch 30. If the user wishes to add a filter, the filter may be added at one end of the pouch 30. In general, the filter 36 may be added to the end of the pouch 30 located closes to the narrower end of the roller 24. The user may then lower the lid 18. As the lid 18 is being lowered, the pair of arm members 38 may move the roller 24 within the track system 26. The conical nature of the roller 24 as well as the curved nature of the track system 26 may cause one end of the rolling paper 32 to roll faster and more tightly thereby forming the conical shaped smoking articles 12. As the lid 18 moves to shut the container 14, the roller 14 may push the conical shaped smoking articles 12 out of the slot 20. In accordance with one embodiment, the slot 20 may be formed at less than 6° angle but greater than 2° from the position of the rod 29 when measured from the common center point of the radius R1 and R2. The position of the slot may allow for a smoother ejection of the conical shaped smoking articles 12 from the container 14.

The foregoing description is illustrative of embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.