WALLET FOR ROLLING SMOKABLE INSTRUMENTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to smoking devices. More particularly, the present device is a wallet constructed from foldable material that includes rolling papers, filters, a rolling tray and storage for cleaned smoking material as well as rolled smoking material. The wallet is constructed from a minimum number of material pieces which are folded into the wallet construction. The wallet can then be folded into various positions which allow access to a tray for cleaning and preparing smoking material. The tray also provides an area where the smoking material can be hand rolled whereby spilled or dropped smoking material is caught for reuse. The tray is positioned to allow cleaned or caught smoking material to be easily funneled into one of the pockets for storage, transport and later use.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/059,381, entitled “ROLLING PAPER DISPENSER WITH ENVELOPE POCKET”, filed Oct. 3, 2014. The contents of the above referenced application are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to smoking products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a folding wallet that includes the supplies and storage areas necessary to construct a plurality of smokable instruments as well as a storage area for rolled smokable instruments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Throughout the history of mankind, people have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, tobacco products. The people of the pre-Columbian Americas are believed to be the first to have used tobacco. For example, Native Americans cultivated the tobacco plant and smoked it in pipes, purportedly for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

The variety, quality and size of ready-made cigars and/or cigarettes satisfy the majority of the public. However, a small segment of connoisseurs insist that nothing can compare with the taste and smell of custom-blended tobacco products. These knowledgeable individuals are very selective in the manner their tobacco products are rolled and in the grade of tobacco used, and thus have a desire or fancy for individually customizing aroma, scent, taste and/or strength of a given product. It is generally known for these consumers to roll or wrap their own tobacco products for smoking. This is generally referred to in the art as “roll-your-own” product for smoking. However, known techniques for rolling and/or creating a customized smokable product have been somewhat burdensome and time consuming for the consumer. For example, in the case of a consumer customizing their own cigarettes, the consumer generally has to make a first purchase for acquiring the cigarette papers. A second purchase may then be made of a pre-processed filler tobacco of their choice.

When using such conventionally shaped cigarette rolling paper to make or roll a cigarette by hand, the paper is first folded, bent or held in somewhat of a V-shape or U-shape with one of the sides of the “V” or “U” being longer than the other. An amount of smoking material, such as tobacco or the like, is distributed substantially over the entire length of the rolling paper in the bottom of the V- or U-shaped pouch formed by the rolling paper. The longer portion of the rolling paper, being free of any of the smoking material, is then bent or rolled over the portion of the rolling paper covered with the tobacco and is rolled over upon itself to form a substantially cylindrical shape. The longer end of the rolling paper is wrapped around itself as far as possible and overlaps an underlying layer to form part of the wall of the cylinder.

The rolling process, when performed by hand, requires a keen eye, a steady hand, and a high degree of digital dexterity since the rolling paper is not very large compared to a human hand, since the particles of smoking materials tend to roll or slide off the small rolling paper, and since the rolling paper itself is very thin and easily ripped or torn. A critical step of rolling a cigarette by hand is using ones fingers to both form the “V” or “U” shaped pouch for the smoking material, and to roll the longer portion of the rolling paper around itself. During the process of rolling the longer portion of the paper around itself, the user depends on the trapped smoking material to provide the generally cylindrical shape to guide placement of the longer portion around itself to produce a generally cylindrical cigarette.

Oftentimes, however, the use of smoking material to guide placement of the longer portion around itself does not aid in producing a cylinder due to either poor distribution of smoking material along the V- or U-shaped pouch, causing a cigarette that falls apart, or a cigarette that is torn, which also has the effect of making the cigarette unsmokable. Thus, the consumer is also forced with finding a tray or other clean surface over which the cigarette can be rolled to catch what falls away during the rolling process. The tray also serves to provide a surface for cleaning unwanted portions of the smoking material away from the desired portions.

An additional shortcoming to hand rolled cigarettes using conventional cigarette rolling paper is that they do not include filters or other means for preventing the smoking material from being drawn into the user's mouth. One method that is used to prevent smoking material from being drawn into a user's mouth has been to restrict the size of the opening by pinching or twisting the end of the rolling paper upon itself. While this method is somewhat effective at reducing passage of smoking material from the cigarette, it also restricts the amount of air that can be drawn through the cigarette, and this restricts consumption of the smoking material. Restricting the cigarette air passage also requires a larger effort by the smoker, which reduces smoking pleasure.

Thus, it would be desirable to have a wallet for rolling smokable instruments. The wallet should include rolling papers and filters, and should also include at least one storage pocket for smoking material and/or rolled smokable instruments. The folding wallet should also provide a tray for cleaning the smoking material which easily empties into a storage pocket. The wallet for rolling smokable instruments should fold into a compact arrangement that can be carried within a pocket or purse, and should be constructed from readily available materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention relates to smoking devices. More particularly, the present device is a wallet constructed from foldable material that includes rolling papers, filters, a rolling tray and storage for cleaned smoking material as well as rolled smoking material. The wallet is constructed from a minimum number of material pieces which are folded into the wallet construction. The wallet can then be folded into various positions which allow access to a tray for cleaning and preparing smoking material. The tray also provides an area where the smoking material can be hand rolled, whereby spilled or dropped smoking material is caught for reuse. The tray is positioned to allow cleaned or caught smoking material to be easily funneled into one of the pockets for storage, transport and later use.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that provides the necessary components for rolling your own smokable instruments.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that is folded from a single sheet of thin flexible material.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that is folded from multiple sheets of thin flexible material.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that includes a storage compartment for cleaned smokable material.

Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that includes a tray for cleaning the smokable material and for catching any spilled smoking material during the hand rolling process.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that includes an attached package of folded rolling papers about which portions of the wallet are folded.

Still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a wallet for smokable instruments that can be held in a closed position without the use of clasps.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating one embodiment of the wallet for smokable instruments illustrated in an unfolded condition;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the tray and folded rolling paper features;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the pocket and rolling tray features.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the pocket and folded rolling paper features;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the rolling tray configured as a bi-directional funnel for directing smoking material to a rolling paper or the pocket feature;

FIG. 6 is an isometric side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the accordion side folds, rolling papers and filter attachments;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the rolling tray configured as a bi-directional funnel for directing smoking material to a rolling paper or the pocket feature;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the rolling tray configured as a bi-directional funnel for directing smoking material to a rolling paper or the pocket feature;

FIG. 9 is an isometric side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the accordion side folds, rolling papers and filter attachments;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the rolling tray configured as a bi-directional funnel for directing smoking material to a rolling paper or the pocket feature;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in an unfolded condition;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in an unfolded condition;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in an unfolded but partially assembled condition;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in a folded condition;

FIG. 15 is an isometric front view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in a partially unfolded condition;

FIG. 16 is an isometric front view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in a partially unfolded condition; and

FIG. 17 is an isometric rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 illustrated in a partially unfolded condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

Referring to FIGS. 1-17, a wallet for smokable instruments 100 is illustrated. In general, the wallet for smokable instruments 100 is constructed from a single piece of foldable material to include a pocket 46 portion for storage of loose smokable material, a package of folded rolling papers 50 secured to said pocket, and a bi-directional funnel 52 that doubles as a rolling tray. The wallet for smokable instruments 100 can be constructed from materials as simple as paper, and may alternatively be constructed from polymeric materials such as plastic, leather, cloth or suitable combinations thereof which provide the properties of being sufficiently stiff to hold shape while being flexible enough to withstand repeated folding and unfolding. In at least one embodiment, a plurality of filters 48 are secured to the pocket 46 adjacent the package of folded rolling papers 50. The rolling papers and/or filters are secured to the pocket with adhesive 84 (FIG. 15) or the like and may be supplied separately from the wallet. In this manner, the wallet for smokable instruments 100 may be disposed of when the rolling papers are depleted. Alternatively, the rolling papers may be replenished for continued use of the wallet.

The wallet for smokable instruments includes a base panel 2 having a rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The base panel has a bottom portion 4, a top portion 6, a first side portion 8, and second side portion 10; the bottom portion 4 including a depending bottom panel 12. The bottom portion 4 of the base panel 2 forms a first fold line 14, whereby the bottom panel 12 may be oriented at about a right angle with respect to the base panel 2, a front panel 16 depending from the bottom panel 12, a second fold line 18 allowing the front panel 16 to be oriented at about a right angle with respect to the bottom panel 12 and about parallel and spaced apart with respect to the base panel 2. A first side panel 20 depends from the base panel 2 along the first side portion 8, the first side portion forming a third fold line 24 whereby the first side panel is oriented at about a right angle with respect to the base panel. A second side panel 22 depends from the second side portion 10 of the base panel 2, the second side portion forming a fourth fold line 26 so that the base panel 2, bottom panel 12, first side panel 20 and said second side panel 22 form the pocket 46. In at least one embodiment, the first side panel 20 includes a first glue tab 28 depending from a fifth fold line 30 along the outermost edge of the first side panel 20. The second side panel 22 includes a second glue tab 32 positioned along the outermost edge of the second side panel, wherein the first and the second glue tabs 28, 32 are adhered to an inner surface 34 of the front panel 16. In an alternative embodiment, a divider panel 80 is inserted between the first and the second glue tabs 28, 32 and the inner surface 34 of the front panel 16, whereby the pocket 46 is divided into a first pocket 86 and a second pocket 88. In at least one embodiment, a top portion 82 of the divider panel 80 extends over the second tie panel 64 (described further below), whereby, when the wallet is folded, the top portion of the divider is folded over the top of the second pocket.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-17, in at least one embodiment, the first side panel 20 includes a first accordion fold 36 for providing flexibility to the first side panel at an upper portion thereof, and the second side panel 22 includes a second accordion fold 38 for providing flexibility to the second side panel at an upper portion thereof. The accordion folds may be straight as shown in FIGS. 11-13 and 16, or they may be V-shaped as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-9 without departing from the scope of the invention. In the embodiments utilizing the V-shaped accordion folds, it is preferable that the front panel 16 includes a relief fold 40 extending across said front panel and positioned to coincide with the first and the second accordion folds 36, 38, whereby the front panel bends with the accordion folds to close the pocket. In at least some embodiments, the front panel 16 further includes a depending lid flap 42; the lid flap 42 having a sixth fold line 44 which allows the lid flap to be tucked into the pocket 46, fully closing the top of the pocket.

In all of the embodiments, the wallet for smokable instruments 100 includes a bi-directional funnel 52. The bi-directional funnel allows loose smoking material to be cleaned from undesirable material including stems, seeds, dirt, etc. The bi-directional funnel 52 is also constructed to allow cleaned smoking material to be easily poured from a first end 54 into a rolling paper if tilted in a first direction, while allowing unused smoking material to be poured into the pocket by tilting the funnel in a second direction. Still yet, the bi-directional funnel 52 functions as a rolling tray to catch material lost during the rolling process. The bi-directional funnel 52 is constructed from a first funnel panel 58 and a second funnel panel 60 separated by a first tie panel 62. The first tie panel 62 includes a seventh fold line 66 and an eighth fold line 68, allowing the bi-directional funnel 52 to be folded to have substantially the same profile as the pocket 46. A second tie panel 64 secures the bi-directional funnel to the pocket 46, the second tie panel 64 having a ninth fold line 70 between the base panel 2 and the second tie panel 64. A tenth fold line 72 is provided between the second tie panel and the first funnel panel 58, so that the second tie panel 64 and the ninth and the tenth fold lines 70, 72 allow the bi-directional funnel to be folded over the top of the pocket, thereby closing the pocket.

In at least one embodiment, the bi-directional funnel 52 includes a pair of sideboards 74. The sideboards are formed by folding a portion of the first funnel panel 58, the second funnel panel 60, and the first tie panel 62 upward along eleventh fold line 76 and the twelfth fold line 78 so that the sideboards extend upwardly. The sideboards 74 keep loose smoking material positioned on the funnel panels as it is poured either into the pocket 46 or a rolling paper. In at least one embodiment, a wire or elastic tie 90 or the like can be utilized to hold the sideboards of the bi-directional funnel 52 in a vertical position. The elastic or wire tie 91 can also be utilized to hold the wallet 100 in a closed position when not utilized for the funnel. However, in the preferred embodiment, the wallet is supplied with one or two deformable members 93 (FIG. 11) that are secured to an outer surface of the rolling tray and can be formed around the top portion of the wallet to hold the assembly in a closed position without the use of clasps or the like. The deformable members preferably include wire nitinol, metal strip(s) or the like that can be formed and reformed by hand which allow the user to hold the rolling tray at a desired orientation with respect to the pocket. Thereafter, the deformable member(s) can be bent to a new shape to hold the rolling tray closed in front of the pocket. The deformable member(s) 93 may be of any desired length along the outer surface of the rolling tray and may extend along a portion of the pocket as desired. In addition, there may be one or more of the deformable members in any spacing along the outer surface which can be formed over the top of the pocket without departing from the scope of the invention.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wallet for smokable instruments comprising:

a pocket portion 46 for storage of loose smokable material, said pocket 46 formed from a single piece of folded material, a package of folded rolling papers secured to said pocket 46 and a lid flap 42 for closing said pocket 46.

2. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 1 including a plurality of filters secured to said pocket adjacent said package of folded rolling papers.

3. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 1 wherein a base panel 2 includes a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, said base panel having a bottom portion 4, a top portion 6, a first side portion 8 and second side portion 10, said bottom portion 4 including a depending bottom panel 12, said bottom portion 4 of said base panel 2 forming a first fold line 14 whereby said bottom panel 12 may be oriented at about a right angle with respect to said base panel 2, a front panel 16 depending from said bottom panel 12, a second fold line 18 allowing said front panel 16 to be oriented at about a right angle with respect to said bottom panel 12 and about parallel and spaced apart with respect to said base panel 2, a first side panel 20 depending from said base panel 2 along said first side portion 8, said first side portion 8 forming a third fold line 24 whereby said first side panel 20 is oriented at about a right angle with respect to said base panel 2, a second side panel 22 depending from said second side portion 10 of said base panel 2, said second side portion 10 forming a fourth fold line 26, whereby said base panel 2, said bottom panel 12, said first side panel 20 and said second side panel 22 form said pocket.

4. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 3 wherein said first side panel 20 includes a first glue tab 28 depending from a fifth fold line along the outermost edge of said first side panel 20, said second side panel 22 including a second glue tab 32 positioned along the outermost edge of said second side panel 22.

5. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 4 wherein said first and said second glue tabs 28, 32 are adhered to an inner surface 34 of said front panel 16.

6. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 3 wherein said first side panel 20 includes a first accordion fold 36 for providing flexibility to said first side panel at an upper portion thereof, said second side panel 22 including a second accordion fold 38 for providing flexibility to said second side panel at an upper portion thereof.

7. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 6 wherein said first and said second accordion folds 36, 38 are V-shaped.

8. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 6 wherein said front panel 16 includes a relief fold 40 extending across said front panel positioned to coincide with said first and said second accordion folds 36, 38, whereby said front panel bends with said accordion folds to close said pocket.

9. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 8 wherein said front panel 16 includes a depending lid flap 42, said lid flap 42 having a sixth fold line 44 which allows the lid flap to be tucked into said pocket 46.

10. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 8 including a bi-directional funnel 52, a first end 54 of said bi-directional funnel 52 secured to said pocket 46 so that contents of said bi-directional funnel 52 can be poured into said pocket 46 and visa-versa.

11. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 10 wherein said bi-directional funnel 52 is constructed from a first funnel panel 58 and a second funnel panel 60 separated by a first tie panel 62, said first tie panel including a seventh fold line 66 and an eighth fold line 68, said construction allowing said bi-directional funnel to be folded to have substantially the same profile as said pocket 46.

12. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 11 wherein said bi-directional funnel 52 includes a second tie panel 64 for securing said bi-directional funnel to said pocket 46, said second tie panel 64 having a ninth fold line 70 between said base panel 2 and said second tie panel 64 and a tenth fold line 72 between said second tie panel 64 and said first funnel panel 58, said second tie panel and said ninth and said tenth fold lines allowing said bi-directional funnel to be folded over the top of said pocket, thereby closing said pocket.

13. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 11 wherein said bi-directional funnel 52 includes a pair of sideboards 74, said sideboards formed by folding a portion of said first funnel panel 58, said second funnel panel 60 and said first tie panel 62 upward along eleventh fold line 76 and the twelfth fold line 78, said sideboards constructed and arranged to keep loose smoking material positioned on the funnel panels as it is poured either into said pocket 46 or a rolling paper.

14. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 5 including a divider panel 80, said divider panel 80 inserted between said first and said second glue tabs 28, 32 and said inner surface 34 of said front panel 16, whereby said pocket 46 is divided into a first pocket 86 and a second pocket 88.

15. The wallet for smokable instruments of claim 14 wherein a top portion 82 of said divider panel 80 extends over said second tie panel 64, whereby, when said wallet is folded, said top portion of said divider is folded to close said second pocket 88.