Cigarette rolling paper dispenser

Abstract

A cigarette rolling paper dispenser is adapted to store tip blanks for using in reinforcing the mouth end of hand-rolled cigarettes. The dispenser is formed from a generally rectangular blank of stiff card. Lateral hinge lines divide the area of the blanks into multiple panels. One sets of panels are configured to fold into a conventional rolling paper compartment. Another set of panels define an integrally connected set of tip panels. Longitudinal tear lines extending across all the tip panels divide each panel into a set of rectangular tear-off tip blanks. The tip panels fold into a compact accordioned stack, which locates conveniently with the dispenser, when the later is folded to a compact state.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to dispensers of cigarette rolling papers, and more specifically, to dispensers adapted to store and dispense tip blanks used to reinforce the mouth end of a hand-rolled cigarette.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Hand-made cigarettes are made by placing shredded tobacco on a thin cigarette paper and rolling manually into a cylinder. A cigarette rolling paper commonly has a gummed strip along one side edge, which can be moistened to secure the cylinder. Rolling papers are commonly sold in compact packages, typically formed from a rectangular blank of card. Lateral hinge lines define a plurality of panels that fold into a rolling paper compartment with die cut slots permitting papers to be removed individually. Front and back covers pivot about hinge lines to enclosing the paper compartment for storage,

[0003] Machine-made cigarettes are often formed with filter tips. The filter tip provide an incidental advantage over hand-roller cigarettes, namely, reinforcing the, mouth end of the cigarette. With hand-rolled cigarettes, the mouth end tends to collapse on dampening by saliva, and loose tobacco maybe drawn into the smoker's mouth. In the past, some smokers have reinforced the mouth end of a hand-rolled cigarette with a make-shift tip, torn from any available source of stiff card, and rolled into a cylinder. The cylindrical tip is simply inserted into the open mouth end. Smokers may rarely have card materials available to make such tips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In one aspect, the invention provides a cigarette rolling paper dispenser that serves not only to dispense rolling papers but also to store and dispense tip blanks. The dispenser is typically formed from a generally rectangular planar blank, and a multiplicity of lateral hinge lines divide the area of the blank into a multiplicity of rectangular panels. One set of panels folds to define a largely conventional rolling paper compartment, which stores and dispenses the rolling papers. Another set of panels define a supply of tear-off tip blanks. Longitudinal tear lines divide each panel into a set of rectangular tip blanks, easily torn away individually as need. The tip-defining panels may fold into a compact stack, for storage against a panel otherwise defining the front cover of the dispenser when when folded to a compact state.

[0005] For purposes of this specification, the following terms should be interpreted to have the following meanings, “Lateral” refers to an orientation perpendicular to the length of the blank (before forming). “Longitudinal” refers to an orientation aligned with the length of the blank (before forming). “Configuration” generally involves providing hinge lines for folding into a desired shape, and incidental operations such as die cutting to produce joining tabs for adhesive bonding of panels or to define dispensing slots. “Identical” when used in reference to panels refers to near identical dimensions. Graphic matter, dies cuts within a panel, and surface treatments are not material. The meaning of other terms may be understood with reference to functions and structures associated with a preferred embodiment, disclosed below.

[0006] Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the preferred embodiment, and will be more specifically defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will be better understood with reference to drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in an unfolded orientation FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser partially folded to organize a set of tip-defining panels into a compact stack; and,

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser in its folded configuration, protecting both rolling papers and tip blanks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Reference is made to FIG. 1 which show a rolling paper dispenser 10 in an unfolded or open state intended for use. The dispenser 10 is formed from a generally rectangular planar blank 12 die-cut from relatively stiff card sheer. A multiplicity of lateral hinge lines, such as exemplary hinge line 14, divide areas on the card into a multiplicity of distinct rectangular panels that pivot and fold relative to one another. One set 16 of panels is configured to define a conventional rolling paper dispensing compartment 18. Another set 20 of panels, often referred to below as “tip panels”, is configured to define a supply of rectangular tip blanks that the user can tear-off individually.

[0011] The first set 16 of panels includes two identical major (larger) panels 24, 26 that serve as covers for the dispenser 10 in its compact state shown in FIG. 3. These panels 24, 26 are sometimes identified as a “forward” or “front” cover panel 24 and a “rear” or “back” cover panel 26, respectively, to identify to their orientation in the compact state of the dispenser 10. The front cover panel 24 protects the papers 28 normally extending from the rolling paper compartment 18, and also the supply of tip blanks. A major panel 30 and a pair of relatively narrow bridging panels 32, 34 fold against an inner face of the front cover panel 24 to define the rolling paper compartment 18. The longitudinal width of the bridging panels corresponds to the depth of the compartment 18 and ultimately define side walls bounding the compartment 18. A pair of lateral slots 36 are die cut into the major panel 30 for dispensing of cigarette papers 28 individually. As well, edges of that panel 30 are integrally formed with hinged parts (riot illustrated) defining appropriate top and bottom walls and mounting tabs so the assembly can adhered to inner face of the front cover panel 24, to secure the compartment 18. A tab 38 (shown in FIG. 3) may be attached to the back cover panel 26, and folded to overlay a lateral side edge of the front cover panel 24 and secured with an adhesive, to keep the dispenser 10 in its compact storage orientation until a user opens the dispenser 10.

[0012] The panel set 20 defining the supply of tips extends from a lateral side edge of the forward cover panel 24. A narrow bridging panel 40 extends between lateral sides of the forward cover panel 24 and a proximate tip panel 42. The longitudinal width of the bridging panel 40 once again corresponds to the depth of the compartment 18, larger by the collective thickness of the tip panels. This effectively defines a recess or open compartment (indicated only in FIG. 2 with reference number 44) against the inner face of the forward cover panel 24 to accommodate the cumulative thickness of the tip panels or storage against the forward cover panel 24.

[0013] The tip panels are jointed directly to one another by hinge lines pre-formed in the original planar blank 12. Referring again to FIG. 1, each adjacent pairs of tip panels may be seen to be hinged directly to one another along lateral hinge lines at their adjacent lateral side edges, such as the lateral hinge line 46 joining the adjacent pair of tip panel 42, 48, and the lateral hinge line 50, joining the adjacent pair of tip panels 48, 52. The The rightmost tip panel 54 is similar hinged to the adjacent tip panel 52. This permits the set 20 of tip panels to be folded into a compact accordioned stack (shown only in FIG. 2) and generally indicated with the reference number 56. The stack 56 of tip panels pivots into the open compartment 44 defined against the inner face of the forward cover panel 24.

[0014] Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be seen that each of the tip panels is effectively divided by longitudinal tear lines 58 (shown as perforations) to define a set of tip blanks. The panel 42, which is typical, provides seven tip blanks (only one blank 60 specifically indicated) in parallel relationship amid oriented with the length of the original planar blank 12. A tip blank 58 is simply torn away along a bounding longitudinal score line and easily torn along an adjacent hinge line at the narrow side edge of the tip blank. The strip-like tip blank may then be rolled by hand in a conventional manner to define a circular tip, as required, until the supply is exhausted. If desired, lateral gum lines may be applied across lengthwise ends of the tip panels, for use in securing each tip blank in its ultimate cylindrical shape. The orientation of the tip blanks is critical to practical durability of the dispenser 10. The tip panels might be defined by lateral tear lines, parallel to the various panel-defining binge lines, but it has been discovered that such an arrangement makes the tip panels curl, frustrating folding into the compact orientation of FIG. 3. Longitudinal tear lines 58 as illustrated preserve the stiffness of the set of tip panels.

[0015] It will be appreciated that a particular embodiment of the invention has been described and that modification may be made therein without departing from scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a cigarette rolling paper dispenser formed from a planar blank, the blank comprising a multiplicity of lateral hinge lines spaced to define a multiplicity of panels., the multiplicity of panels comprising a first set of rectangular panels configured to define a rolling paper compartment, the first set of panels comprising a pair of identical cover panels adjacent to one another, one of the cover panel comprising an inner face against which the rolling paper compartment is located, the improvement in which the dispenser provides a supply of rectangular, tear-off reinforcing strips for use with rolling papers contained in the rolling paper compartment, the multiplicity of rectangular panels comprising a second set of identical strip panels extending from a lateral side edge of the other of the cover panels and having a longitudinal width nor greater than the lateral wide of the cover panels, each adjacent pair of the strip panels joined by a lateral tear line extending fully between lateral edges of the blank, each of the strip panels comprising a set of longitudinal tear lines defining a plurality of the reinforcing strips.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 in which the blank comprising a rectangular bridging panel extending between a lateral side edge of one of the panels and an adjacent lateral side edge of the other cover panel, the bridging panel having corresponding to the longitudinal width of the cover panel such that the tear strip panels fold into a struck against the inner face of the other cover panel for location between the other cover panel and the compartment.