Compartmented smokeless tobacco can

Abstract

The present invention provides a compartmented smokeless tobacco can for containing a plurality of types of smokeless tobacco. In particular the compartmented smokeless tobacco can provides two separated compartments for simultaneously containing two types of smokeless tobacco. The tobacco can comprises a main container portion for holding smokeless tobacco, having a closed bottom and an open top. A lid is disposed on the open top of the main container portion. The lid of the tobacco container is movable from a closed position to an open position to provide access to the interior of the main container portion. A dividing member is disposed inside of the main container portion to divide the main container portion into two separate portions for holding two different types of smokeless tobacco.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to smokeless tobacco containers and more particularly to a smokeless tobacco can having separate compartments for holding different types of smokeless tobacco.

2. Description of the Related Art

Smokeless tobacco is typically sold, in cylindrical cans or tins. The tobacco cans have an interior portion for holding the tobacco and a removable lid disposed over the top of the interior portion. Each tobacco can contains a single type of smokeless tobacco. There are, however, several varieties of smokeless tobacco. With the rising popularity of smokeless tobacco an increasing variety of smokeless tobacco has been developed. There are several different types of smokeless tobacco including fine cut and long cut, as well as several different flavors. Existing smokeless tobacco cans only contain a single type of smoking tobacco. If someone desires a variety of smokeless tobacco that person must carry more than one tobacco can.

The following patent documents each disclose existing tobacco containers.

United Kingdom Patent Application number GB 2 147 875 published on May 22, 1985 discloses a tobacco container for holding pipe tobacco. The tobacco container provides a generally cylindrical tin with a cover portion. The container has two inwardly formed portions formed in the wall of the container. The first portion is adapted for supporting a pipe and the second portion is adapted for receiving ash.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,278 issued to Krawec et al. on Sep. 28, 1999 discloses a container for filter tipped cigarette tubes used in hand made cigarettes. The cigarette tube container provides a plurality of partitions for dividing the container space into multiple segments. The cigarette tubes are held upright inside of the container.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,101 issued to Heath, B. A. on Feb. 14, 1989 discloses a container assembly comprising multiple compartments. The container assembly comprises a cylindrical primary container for containing a first commodity such as smokeless tobacco. The container further comprises a cylindrical base portion and a dispenser subassembly secured to the primary container portion.

U.S. Pat. No. 336,801 issued to Evans et al. on Feb. 23, 1886 discloses a tobacco package. The package provides a pail or similar container having a plurality of partitions for separating different grades of tobacco. The partitions in the container are in the shape of a star.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a compartmented smokeless tobacco can solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compartmented smokeless tobacco can for containing a plurality of types of smokeless tobacco. In particular the compartmented smokeless tobacco can provides two separated compartments for simultaneously containing two types of smokeless tobacco. The tobacco can comprises a main container portion for holding smokeless tobacco, having a closed bottom and an open top. A lid is disposed on the open top of the main container portion. The lid of the tobacco container is movable from a closed position to an open position to provide access to the interior of the main container portion. A dividing member is disposed inside of the main container portion to divide the main container portion into two separate portions for holding two different types of smokeless tobacco.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a compartmented smokeless tobacco can having at least two separate container portions for holding tobacco.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compartmented smokeless tobacco can for holding at least two different types of smokeless tobacco.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a compartmented smokeless tobacco can that allows the user to have a selection of types of smokeless tobacco in a single tobacco can.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is side perspective view of the compartmented smokeless tobacco can.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the compartment smokeless tobacco can.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a compartment smokeless tobacco can 10 according to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can 10 is a device for separately containing a plurality of types of smokeless tobacco in a single container. The tobacco can 10 comprises a main container portion 12 having closed bottom portion 14 and an open top portion 16. The open top portion 16 provides access to the hollow interior of the main container portion 12. According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the top portion 16 and the bottom portion 14 are generally cylindrical in shape having a center axis. The entire tobacco can 10 comprises typical dimensions for smokeless tobacco cans, which allow a person to carry the tobacco can 10 in that person's pocket.

The tobacco can 10 further comprises a cover 18 disposed on top of the top portion 16 of the main container portion 12 to close the open top portion 16. The cover 18 comprises a first lid 20 and a second lid 22. A center hinge member 24 is disposed along the center of the cover 18, separating the first lid 20 and the second lid 22. The center hinge member 24 is aligned along the center axis of the top portion 16.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the tobacco can 10 depicting the interior of the main container portion 12. The main container portion 12 is divided into two separate portions by a center divider 30, defined by the hidden lines shown in FIG. 2. The center divider 30 is a generally rectangular wall disposed inside of the main container portion 12. The center divider 30 is disposed along the center axis of the top portion 16 and the bottom portion 14 of the main container portion and is aligned along the center hinge portion 24 of the cover 18. The center divider 30 divides the interior of the main container portion 12 in a first interior portion 26 and a second interior portion 28. The first container portion 26 contains a first type of tobacco 32a. The second container portion 28 contains a second type of tobacco 32b.

The center hinge portion 24 allows the first lid 20 and the second lid 22 to move from a closed position to an open position, as shown in FIG. 3. The first lid 20 and the second lid 22 may be opened simultaneously or they may each be opened individually. The first lid 20 may be lifted upward and pivoted about the hinge portion 24 to provide a first opening 34. The first opening 34 provides access to the contents of the first interior container portion 26. The second lid 22 may be lifted upward and pivoted about the hinge portion 24 to provide a second opening 36. The second opening 36 provides access to the contents of the second interior container portion 28.

The entire smokeless tobacco can 10 comprises a single unitary piece. The cover 18 is integrally formed to the main container body 12. The entire smokeless tobacco can 10 is preferably made from a durable plastic material. The center hinge portion 24 is preferably made from a plastic material that is more pliable, in comparison to the plastic material of the main container portion 12 and the cover 18, to allow the first lid 20 and the second lid 24 to pivot from the closed position to the open position.

According to certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the main container portion 12 is divided into more than two separate interior portions to hold more than two types of tobacco.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A compartmented smokeless tobacco can, comprising:

a main container portion having a bottom portion, an open top portion and a generally cylindrical side wall enclosure defining a hollow interior portion;

a cover disposed along the open top portion having a hinge member disposed through the center of the cover separating the cover into a first lid portion and second portion, whereby the first lid portion and the second lid portion are movable about the hinge member; and

a center divider disposed through the center of the main container portion separating the hollow interior portion into a first interior compartment and a second interior compartment;

whereby the first interior compartment and the second interior compartment each contain a different type of tobacco separately in the compartmented smokeless tobacco can.

2. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 1, wherein the center divider is aligned with the center hinge member.

3. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 1, wherein the first lid portion is movable from a closed position to an open position by pivoting the first lid portion upward about the center hinge member.

4. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 1, wherein the second lid portion is movable from a closed position to an open position by pivoting the second lid portion upward about the center hinge member.

5. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 1, wherein the entire compartmented smokeless tobacco can is a single integrated piece.

6. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 1, wherein the main container portion, the first lid portion, the second lid portion and the center divider are made from a first plastic material.

7. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 6, wherein the center hinge member is made from a second plastic material that is more pliable than the first plastic material.

8. A compartmented smokeless tobacco can, comprising:

a main container portion having a bottom portion, an open top portion and a generally cylindrical side wall enclosure defining a hollow interior portion;

a cover disposed along the open top portion having a hinge member disposed through the center of the cover separating the cover into a first lid portion and second portion, whereby the first lid portion and the second lid portion are movable about the hinge member; and

a partitioning member disposed inside of said main container portion for dividing the interior portion into a plurality of tobacco containing portions;

whereby the compartmented smokeless tobacco can simultaneously contains several, separated varieties of smokeless tobacco.

9. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 8, wherein said partitioning member comprises a center divider disposed through the center of the main container portion separating the hollow interior portion into a first interior compartment and a second interior compartment.

10. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 9, wherein the center divider is aligned with the center hinge member.

11. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 8, wherein the first lid portion is movable from a closed position to an open position by pivoting the first lid portion upward about the center hinge member.

12. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 8, wherein the second lid portion is movable from a closed position to an open position by pivoting the second lid portion upward about the center hinge member.

13. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 8, wherein the entire compartmented smokeless tobacco can is a single integrated piece.

14. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 8, wherein the main container portion, the first lid portion, the second lid portion and the partitioning member are made from a first plastic material.

15. The compartmented smokeless tobacco can according to claim 14, wherein the center hinge member is made from a second plastic material that is more pliable than the first plastic material.