STORAGE SYSTEM FOR SMOKING PRODUCT

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage system for smoking products wherein the storage system is characterized by having an integral pump that allows a partial vacuum to be created in the storage system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Smoking a cigar produces smoke having an odor or smell that some find unappealing. A partially smoked/consumed cigar that has been allowed to stop burning will often continue to emit a similar smell even after the smoke is gone. This smell can provide a problem for a person who would like to partially consume a cigar, then put it aside for some time before continuing to consume it later. Another problem is that a partially consumed cigar may become stale as it loses its aromatic taste and smell when put aside for an extended period of time. The present invention mitigates both problems by providing a storage system having an integral pump that can remove air from the storage system thereby allowing the cigar to be stored in a partial vacuum which keeps the smoking product fresh and also reduces the level of smell.

Storage systems for smoking products are known. For example, United States Patent (USP) 11,622,574 (inventor: B. Awuondo) discloses a storage apparatus for a smoking product that includes a carriage that is configured to be inserted into a container in the storage system.

Storage containers that enable a substance to be stored in a partial vacuum are also known—for example, U.S. Pat. No. 11,014,710 (inventor: B Skiba) discloses such a container. Some embodiments of the container of the invention have an outer wall, an inner wall and an air gap that can be vacuumed or insulated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, the invention provides:

A storage system for a smoking product comprising:

• • i) a storage component for said smoking product; and
  • ii) an integral pump for removing air from said storage component,
  • wherein
  • a) said storage component has a first end; a second end and a storage space located between said first end and said second end;
  • b) said integral pump is located at said first end and cooperates with said storage space; and
  • c) said second end includes a closure system.

In an embodiment, the invention provides:

A process to store a smoking product wherein the process comprises the use of the storage system described immediately above and wherein

• • a) said smoking product is placed into said storage space
  • b) said closure system is closed to enclose said smoking product within said storage system; and
  • c) said integral pump is used to remove air from said storage space.

In an embodiment, the smoking product is selected from the group consisting of cigars; cigarillos; cigarettes (including herbal cigarettes) and cannabis. Thus, it is to be understood that the present storage system is suitable for a wide variety of smoking products even though much of the present description is more narrowly directed to a cigar as the smoking product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a storage system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a section view of the storage system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows an expanded view of the storage system shown in FIG. 1.

For convenience, Table I provides a list of the parts shown in the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following non-limiting description is intended to describe embodiments sufficiently to enable a person of ordinary skill to practice the invention.

As used herein, the term partial vacuum is intended to convey its conventional meaning, namely an enclosed space from which air has been removed, therefore providing a pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure.

The storage system has an end cap 7 that can be opened and closed to allow a smoking product such as a cigar to be placed in the storage space 1.

When the cigar is placed in the storage space 1, the end cap 7 is closed and an integral pump can be operated by pulling the pump handle 8 to remove air from the storage system. A check valve 11 restricts air flow back into the storage space 1, thereby maintaining a lower air pressure (also referred to herein as a partial vacuum) in the storage space 1.

As used herein, the term “integral pump” means that the pump is built into the storage system and remains part of the storage system when the smoking product is stored in the storage space. For clarity, the term is intended to exclude a pump that is taken away from the storage system after the pump has removed air from the storage space.

The pump shown in the attached figures comprises a pump cylinder 2 and a pump piston 5. The pump is operated by pulling the pump handle 8, thereby causing the pump piston 5 to move through the pump cylinder 2 and cause air be removed from the storage space 1.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the storage space 1 is a tube. The tube may be fabricated from any material that has sufficient strength to withstand the force caused when air is pumped out of the storage space and the pressure within the storage space drops. Non limiting examples include rigid polymers such as polyolefins and metals such as steel or aluminum. The use of aluminum, particularly anodized aluminum has been tested and found to be suitable. The low permeability of anodized aluminum also helps to maintain the partial vacuum in the storage space and to reduce emissions of odor out of the storage space. In addition, anodized aluminum provides some fire/flame resistance (in comparison to polyolefins) in the event that the smoking product is placed in the storage space before combustion of the smoking product has been fully terminated and/or in the event that the smoking product is placed in the storage space when the smoking product is still hot. It will be recognized by many that a partially consumed cigar emits an odor that some find unpleasant. Furthermore, a partially consumed cigar that is left unsealed and unprotected can go stale. The present storage system mitigates both problems.

The operation of the pump has been described above. It will also be recognized that it is important to prevent air from flowing back into the partial vacuum. In this context, a check valve 11 is used in this embodiment to maintain the partial vacuum in the storage space 1. Such check valves are well known items of commerce. A check valve that was obtained from ISM-Industrial Specialties Mfg. & IS Med Specialties was tested and found to perform well (as described further in the examples).

A series of conventional seals also helps to maintain the partial vacuum, including piston seal 4, a closure system seal 12a and a check valve seal 12. In this embodiment, parts 12 and 12a are O-rings. Such O-rings are also well-known items of commerce. Conventional O-rings were purchased and observed to perform well.

As may be inferred with reference to FIG. 2, the end cap 7 is opened to allow insertion of the smoking product (e.g. a cigar) into the storage space 1, then closed before pumping air out of the storage space. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the end cap 7 is a threaded cap having cap threads 7a that cooperate with tube threads on the interior of the storage tube 1 (not shown) to enable the end cap to be affixed to the tube (by screwing it on) and removed (by screwing it off).

Elevator System

The storage system shown in FIG. 2 also includes an optional elevator system. The elevator system includes a compression spring 9 and an elevator plate 10. When a cigar is inserted into the storage tube, the compression spring 9 and elevator plate 10 cooperate together to keep the end of the cigar near the opening of the tube to ease the removal of the cigar from the tube.

Pump Sub Assembly and Cleaning of the Storage System

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the following components fit together to form a pump sub assembly:

• • a) Pump handle 8
  • b) Pump cap 3
  • c) Piston seal 4
  • d) Piston 5
  • e) Pump cylinder 2
  • f) Check valve 11
  • g) O-ring 12; and
  • h) Check valve cover 6

A slotted roll pin 13 at the end of the piston 5 cooperates with the pump handle 8; piston seal 4 and pump cap 3 to connect the piston 5 to the pump handle in the proper configuration.

The check valve 11 is a slight interference fit due to the O-rings and slid into the cylinder 2 as indicated in FIG. 2. The check valve cover 6 is then threaded into the check valve 11 to complete the pump sub assembly. This complete pump sub assembly is then attached to the storage tube 1 via external threads 2a on the cylinder 2. These external threads cooperate with threads on the inside of the storage tube 1. Thus, the pump sub assembly may be easily and conveniently attached and detached to and from the storage tube 1 by simply screwing and unscrewing the pump sub assembly. At the opposite end of the storage tube 1, the end cap 7 is also attached to the storage tube 1 with end cap threads 7a that cooperate with threads on inside of the storage tube 1 which traps the check valve 11 in place. Thus, the end cap 7 may also be easily and conveniently attached and detached to and from the storage tube 1 by simply screwing and unscrewing the end cap 7. Thus, it will be apparent that the storage system shown in FIG. 2 may be taken apart for cleaning with little time or effort required. Water may be used to wash the storage system shown in FIG. 2 as all parts in this embodiment of the storage system are water resistant.

EXAMPLES

These examples illustrate the effectiveness of the pump and check valve of the present storage system.

A storage system as shown in FIG. 2 was used in these examples.

Example 1

The end cap of the storage system was screwed in place and the pump was then used to remove air from the storage space by pulling the pump handle 12 times. The pump handle became more difficult to pull as the pressure dropped. It was observed that the pressure in the storage space was low enough to cause the pump handle/piston to retract back if the pump handle was pulled about half way out, then released. The storage system was then left alone for 5 days. At this time, the pump handle was again pulled about half way out, then released and the pump handle/piston was again observed to retract back, indicating that the check valve worked well enough to maintain a low pressure in the storage space for this period of time.

Example 2

The end cap was removed for this example and the open end of the storage space was placed on a flat smooth and clean rubber board. The pump was then activated by pulling the handle several times to form a partial vacuum in the storage space. The board was then turned upside down and the storage system remained in place because the partial vacuum was sufficient to hold the storage system to the rubber board by suction. The storage system was then left for 14 days without falling from the board, again indicating the effectiveness of the check valve and seals of the present system.