SNUFF BOX

Abstract

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1a-c) rotatable relative to each other, and dividing wall (2a, 2b) which divides the interior of the snuff box in two volumes. The dividing wall (2a, 2b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2a) and a second dividing wall part (2b), which are moveable relative to each other. The lid comprises a driving element (6, 2b) arranged to shift one dividing wall part. The driving element (6, 2b) may further be constituted by the second dividing wall part (2b) itself. The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5a, 5b) which give separate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the box into. In yet another version the snuff box may further be provided with indicators (7) acting as a volume indicator. These indicators may partially be constituted by the driving element.

Description

The present invention relates to a snuff box according to the introductory portions of the independent claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using snuff, and then in particular portion-packed snuff, there is a need for snuff boxes with a separate volume intended for used snuff. Snuff boxes with a fixed such volume is today available on the market, but the storage space for used snuff disadvantageously consumes part of the volume of the whole snuff box. A way of circumventing this is to divide the snuff box in two portions with a moveable separator and one of the earliest patents relating to such snuff boxes is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,219. The snuff box comprises a lid, a bottom and a separator constituted by two metal plates attached to each other by a hinge, where the two parts are pressed against each other with a spring. The design comprises a large number of components and is not well suited for mass production. The spring action gives a varying torque depending on how full the box is and may tend to unintentionally compact the snuff at maximum torque and may be unable to shift the metal plate at minimum torque.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a snuff box which makes production of such snuff boxes simpler.

Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a snuff box which makes it possible to apply an appropriate torque to the dividing wall when changing the volume intended for used snuff.

These and other objects are attained by a snuff box according to the characterising portions of the independent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1a-c) rotatable relative to each other, and dividing wall (2a, 2b) arranged to divide the interior of the snuff box in two volumes. The dividing wall (2a, 2b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2a) and a second dividing wall part (2b), which are moveable relative to each other. The lid advantageously comprises a driving element (6, 2b) arranged to shift one dividing wall part. The driving element (6, 2b) may further be constituted by the second dividing wall part (2b) itself.

The snuff box has the advantage that it may be constituted by a first continuous piece of material and a second continuous piece of material, as opposed to previous solution that needs more than two elements.

The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5a, 5b) which advantageously give separate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the box into. In yet another version the snuff box may further be provided with indicators (7) acting as a volume indicator. These indicators may advantageously partially be constituted by the driving element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen at an oblique angle from above

FIG. 3 shows a lid with a single opening of the first embodiment

FIG. 4 shows a lid with dual openings of the first embodiment

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from the side

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from above

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen at an oblique angle from above

FIG. 9 shows a lid with a single opening of the second embodiment

FIG. 10 shows a lid with dual openings of the second embodiment

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box with indicators

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part 1a seen from above and at an oblique angle from above, respectively. The bottom part 1a is essentially cylindrical with a covered bottom and is adapted for receiving a lid. In the bottom part 1a is a dividing wall 2a, 2b with two halves arranged, a fixed dividing wall part 2a and a moveable dividing wall part 2b. The fixed dividing wall part 2a is a plane piece of material that extends from the cylinder wall towards the box centre and is fixedly arranged in this position. From the centre axis of the box a moveable dividing wall part 2b extends towards the cylinder wall. The moveable dividing wall part 2b is attached to the moveable, but in such a way that it can be pivoted relative to that.

On the cylinder wall interior a number of recesses 3 are arranged and a protruding portion of the moveable dividing wall part 2b is normally placed in one of these recesses. If the moveable dividing wall part is made to rotate around the centre axis of the box, it tends to move in a step-wise fashion from recess to recess, and unloaded it is locked in one of these recesses.

The dividing wall 2a, 2b separates the box in two separate volumes, one intended for used snuff and the other for unused snuff. At purchase, the dividing wall may be arranged such that the volume intended for unused snuff is maximized and filled with snuff. As the snuff is consumed this volume is emptied and the portion for used snuff may be extended by shifting the position of the dividing wall 2b.

To separate access to the two volumes in a natural way, the box is provided with a lid 4 with one 5a or two lid parts 5a, 5b. The lid parts 5a, 5b may be opened without the lid in its entirety being removed and then access is given to one of the two volumes. In FIGS. 2-4 is shown the two versions of lids with one (FIG. 3) or two (FIG. 4) openings of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box where the lid is provided with a driving mechanism 6 that acts on the moveable dividing wall part 2b. FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box where the lid is provided with an alternative driving mechanism 6 and a volume indicator 7. The volume indicator 7 is constituted by a somewhat protruding line which initially runs along both the snuff box bottom part and lid, but as the lid is rotated relative to the bottom part, the distance between the line on the lid and the line on the bottom part indicates the remaining space of the box.

FIGS. 7-8 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen from above and from above at an oblique angle. FIGS. 9-10 show a lid of the second embodiment with a single opening and dual openings, respectively. In the second embodiment of the snuff box the two dividing wall parts 2a, 2b are arranged such that the dividing wall part 2a, which is fixedly attached to the bottom part, is not attached to the moveable dividing wall part 2b, but instead the relative to the bottom part moveable dividing wall part 2b is fixedly attached to the lid. When the lid is pushed onto the bottom part, the moveable dividing wall part 2b, which is fixedly attached to the lid, is positioned such that it extends from the centre axis of the bottom part towards the cylinder wall in the same way as in the first embodiment described above. By turning the lid relative to the bottom part, the ratio between the two volumes is changed. It may also be advantageous for this embodiment that the lid has a peg 8 arranged around the centre axis which, when the box is assembled, extends towards the bottom part and is received there by a steering element around which the peg may rotate.

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box where the lid and the bottom part are provided on their exteriors with indicators. These are appropriately positioned against each other by production and as the two volumes change ratio the indicator on the lid indicates how the ratio between the two volumes have changed by turning the lid relative to the bottom part. In this simplified illustration of the second embodiment the openings in the lid are not shown and any version of the openings in the lid may be used.

Claims

1. A snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1a-c) rotatable relative to each other, a dividing wall (2a, 2b) arranged to divide the interior of the snuff box in two volumes, where said dividing wall (2a, 2b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2a) and a second dividing wall part (2b), which are moveable relative to each other, characterised in that said lid comprises a driving element (6, 2b) arranged to shift one dividing wall part.

2. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said driving element (6, 2b) is constituted by the second dividing wall part (2b).

3. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said snuff box is constituted by a first continuous piece of material and a second continuous piece of material.

4. A snuff box according to claim 1, characterised in that said lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5a, 5b).

5. A snuff box according to claim 1 characterised in that said snuff box further is provided with indicators (7) acting as a volume indicator.