System and Method for Patching and Accessorizing a Cigarette of Cigar

Abstract

A system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar comprising is disclosed. Said system comprises a patch (having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a width, and a height) and an attaching means is disclosed. Said attaching means is capable of attaching said patch to a smoke (having a wrapper holding a smokeable material). Said patch comprises a rolling paper material. Said rolling paper material comprises a printed message. Said width of said patch comprises the distance between said first end and said second end of said patch. Said height of said patch comprises the distance between said top and said bottom of said patch.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar. In one embodiment, this disclosure relates to said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar but said system and method can be used with various types of “smokes”. The term “smokes” herein is to be understood as applying to any smokeable material wrapped in a wrapper; wherein, said smokes are substantially cylindrical in shape, may include a filter at one end of said smoke, and said smokeable material includes tobacco, herbs such as clove, or herbs for medicinal use, and/or similar materials.

Prior systems and methods for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar are discussed as follows.

U.S. Pub. No. 2003/0136705 A1 published on Jul. 24, 2003, for Robert Roth describes a method of repairing cigars and the storing and humidification of pre-coated adhesive backed cigar patches for sealing damaged cigars packaged in separate zip-lock bags stored in a small box with a Spanish cedar bottom insert having an optional humidifier compartment containing wet paper wads or wet Spanish cedar chips. Said method of cigar repair includes applying vegetable glue to one or both sides of a wrapper leaf and allowing the glue to dry, cutting desired sizes and shapes form the dried leaf, selecting a patch and wetting it, and applying the wet patch to the damaged cigar and allowing it to dry. Said methods, however, leave much to be desired. First, a goal and limitation of said methods is to provide a humidifier for a repair kit. Such a humidifier may become bulk and therefore less likely to be carried. Further, said methods require vegetable glue requiring hours to dry after application. Many smokers may not desire to wait hours before smoking a repaired cigar. Likewise, vegetable glue is not the only, and likely not the best, adhesive for the job of repairing a cigar. The repair procedure itself appears to be a hindrance as well by (1) requiring users to find a flat surface in order to allow the glue to dry, and (2) requiring users to conduct the step of cutting desired patch sizes and shapes. Flat surfaces may not be available or convenient at the time of smoking, and further cutting a desired patch size and shape may be cumbersome. Many smokers simply want to fix a cigar and smoke it and lack time and space to fix a cigar according to the disclosed repair method. Finally, this disclosure says nothing about accessorizing a cigar by using the disclosed method and therefore misses an opportunity to assist smokers brag as to the contents of their cigar (or smoke of any kind for that matter).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,443 issued on Dec. 26, 2000, for Donald G. Mitchell et al. describes a new tobacco wrapping paper for allowing cigar smokers to roll their own cigars. Each of a plurality of tobacco sheets has a layer of adhesive, i.e., gum-like, along a long side. A rectangular plastic package with a zip lock closure is supplied for containing a plurality of tobacco sheets. The package of tobacco sheets is distinguishable for being limited to large tobacco sheets having an adhesive only on one long edge. Unlike the Roth disclosure, this disclosure has no suggestion for repairing damaged cigars (or smokes of any kind). Rather, this disclosure serves to show that kits containing paper (known as rolling paper) are known in the art. This disclosure, further, does not contemplate the accessorizing of smokes.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed. Accordingly, an improved system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar would be advantageous.

SUMMARY

A system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar comprising is disclosed. Said system comprises a patch (having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a width, and a height) and an attaching. Said attaching means is capable of attaching said patch to a smoke (having a wrapper holding a smokeable material). Said patch comprises a rolling paper material. Said rolling paper material comprises a printed message. Said width of said patch comprises the distance between said first end and said second end of said patch. Said height of said patch comprises the distance between said top and said bottom of said patch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an overview of a pack of smokes and a smoke with a break in smoke.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D illustrate a front view, back view, side view, and an alternative back view of a patch, respectively.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a top view, front view and overview of break and patch during a patching procedure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a first and second overview of smoke with patch attached.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate a front view, a back view, a side view, and an alternative back view of a patch in a pre-attachment configuration.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate an overview of a tapered smoke with patch in said pre-attachment configuration, removed, and reattached.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate a front view of a plurality of patches with each with one or more decorative shapes.

FIG. 8 illustrates a printable sheet of patches.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate an isolated front and back view, and a side and a front view of a patch in a non-wrapping configuration applied to smoke.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D illustrate an overview of tapered smoke with break, and a front view, top view, and overview of patch attached to tapered smoke, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an overview of a pack of smokes 101 and a smoke 102 with a break 105 in smoke 102. In one embodiment, smoke 102 can comprise a cigarette, a cigar or similar. Smoke 102 can comprise a wrapper 103, a filter 104, and a smokeable material 301 (not illustrated here). In one embodiment, smoke 102 can comprise smokeable material 301 wrapped in wrapper 103. In one embodiment, smoke 102 can comprise smokeable material 301 wrapped in wrapper 103 and attached to filter 104 at one end, as is known in the art. In one embodiment, a break 105 can occur in smoke 102 due to mishandling of smoke 102 or a failure in the manufacturing process of smoke 102. In one embodiment, smokeable material 301 can comprise tobacco, herbs such as clove, and/or herbs for medicinal use. In one embodiment, some places in the world smokeable material 301 can legally comprise herbs such as cannabis.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D illustrate a front view, back view, side view, and an alternative back view of a patch 200, respectively. In one embodiment, said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar can comprise patch 200. Patch 200 can comprise a first end 201a, a second end 201b, a top 201c, a bottom 201d, a front 202, a back 203, a width 204, a height 205, and an attaching means capable of attaching said first end 201a to said second end 201b. In one embodiment, patch 200 can be substantially rectangular and comprises a rolling paper material. In one embodiment, width 204 can comprise the distance between first end 201a and second end 201b. Width 204 can comprise a wrapping width 208 and a excess width 209. In one embodiment, wrapping width 208 is equal to a circumference of smoke 102. In one embodiment, excess width 209 can comprise sufficient surface area to attach first end 201a to second end 201b. In one embodiment, height 205 can comprise the distance between top 201c and bottom 201d. In one embodiment, height 205 can comprise a sufficient length to cover an anticipated height of break 105 in smoke 102. In one embodiment, said rolling paper material can comprise wood pulp, hemp, flax, rice, and/or esparto. In one embodiment, said attaching means can comprise an adhesive 210 on back 203, proximate to second end 201b; wherein adhesive 210 can be capable of attaching second end 201b to front 202 proximate to first end 201a. In one embodiment, said attaching means can comprise moistening a portion of patch 200 proximate to second end 201b, pressing second end 201b against first end 201a, and allowing second end 201b to bond with first end 201a.

Patch 200 can further comprise one or more printed messages. In one embodiment, said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar can comprise accessorizing smokes 102 with said printed messages. Said printed messages can comprise one or more text messages 206 and/or one or more graphics 207. In one embodiment, said printed messages can be used to identify a brand of a particular smoke 102 or a particular line of smokes 102. In another embodiment, said printed messages can be used to identify the particular type of smokeable material 301 that is inside of smoke 102. For example, in one embodiment, a tobacco grown in North Carolina can be processed and wrapped inside of smoke 102; in such an embodiment, said printed message can comprise graphics 207 or text messages 206 capable of communicating the origin of said tobacco.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a top view, front view and overview of break 105 and patch 200 during a patching procedure. In one embodiment, said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar can comprise said repair procedure. In one embodiment, break 105 can be repaired using said patching procedure. In one embodiment, said patching procedure can comprise aligning patch 200 with break 105, wrapping said patch 200 around an external circumference 301 of smoke 102, and attaching first end 201a to second end 201b with said attaching means.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a first and second overview of smoke 102 with patch 200 attached. In one embodiment, patch 200 can hold together smoke 102 during smoking by sealing up break 105 and thereby minimizing loss of smokeable material 301. In another embodiment, patch 200 can comprise a means of displaying said printed message on smoke 102 regardless of whether a break 105 exists in smoke 102 or not. In one embodiment, patch 200 can wrap around smoke 102 fewer than two times, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or patch 200 can wrap around smoke 102 multiple times prior to attaching first end 201a to second end 201b with said attaching means.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate a front view, a back view, a side view, and an alternative back view of a patch 200 in a pre-attachment configuration. In one embodiment, said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar can comprise said pre-attachment configuration. In one embodiment, said pre-attachment configuration can comprise delivering patch 200 with smoke 102 prior to removing patch 200 from smoke 102 and wrapping patch 200 around break 105. In one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise said pre-attachment configuration wherein width 204 comprises wrapping width 208, excess width 209, and a pre-attachment width 501. In one embodiment, said pre-attachment configuration can comprise sufficient surface area for attaching patch 200 to smoke 102, removing patch 200 from smoke 102, and wrapping patch 200 around break 105. For example, in one embodiment, said pre-attachment configuration can comprise wrapping patch 200 around smoke 102, attaching first end 201a to second end 201b within pre-attachment width 501. In one embodiment, removing patch 200 from said pre-attachment configuration can comprise tearing a portion of pre-attachment width 501 but leaving a rewrapping portion of patch 200 (comprising at least wrapping width 208 and excess width 209) intact for reattaching patch 200 to smoke 102. In one embodiment, wrapping patch 200 around break 105 can comprise wrapping said wrapping width 208 around break 105 (and smoke 102) and attaching excess width 209 at first end 201a to second end 201b.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate an overview of a tapered smoke 600 with patch 200 in said pre-attachment configuration, removed, and reattached. In one embodiment, smoke 102 can comprise tapered smoke 600. Tapered smoke 600 can comprise a first end 601, having a first diameter 603, and a second end 602, having a second diameter 604. In one embodiment, tapered smoke 600 can taper down from one end to another. For example, in one embodiment, tapered smoke 600 can comprise a substantially cylindrical shape wherein first diameter 603 can be wider than second diameter 604 causing tapered smoke 600 to taper from first end 601 to second end 602, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C. In one embodiment, tapered smoke 600 can comprise a cigar. In one prior art embodiment, said cigar may comprise a cigar label wherein said printed message can be displayed. In one embodiment, said cigar label can be replaced with patch 200 in said pre-attachment configuration. In one embodiment, patch 200 in said pre-attachment configuration can comprise a benefit of displaying said printed message on front 202 and an added benefit of being able to repair break 105 in smoke 102. For example, in one embodiment, tapered smoke 600 can comprise a patch 200 in said pre-attachment configuration capable of displaying said printed message and repairing break 105 in tapered smoke 600 by removing patch 200 from said pre-attachment configuration, wrapping patch 200 around break 105, and attaching first end 201a to second end 201b, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate a front view of a plurality of patches 200 with each with one or more decorative shapes 700. In one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise a variety of different shapes. For example, in one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise decorative shape 700 and a body 701. In one embodiment, decorative shape 700 can comprise a shape height 702. In one embodiment, body 701 can comprise a substantially rectangular shape defined a body height 703 and width 204. In one embodiment, height 205 can comprise body height 703 and one or more of shape height 702. For example, in one embodiment, height 205 can comprise a shape height 702a plus a body height 703a plus a shape height 702b, as illustrated in FIG. 7A. In one embodiment, a plurality of decorative shapes 700 can be incorporated into patch 200. For example, in one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise body 701, a shape 700a, and a shape 700b, as illustrated in FIG. 7A. In another embodiment, one decorative shape 700 can be incorporated into patch 200. For example, in one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise body 701 and a shape 700c, as illustrated in FIG. 7B. In yet another embodiment, patch 200 can comprise one or more decorative shapes 700 in said pre-attachment configuration. For example, in one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise body 701, a shape 700d, and width 204; wherein width 204 can comprise wrapping width 208 plus excess width 209 plus pre-attachment width 501.

FIG. 8 illustrates a printable sheet of patches 800. In one embodiment, one or more of patch 200 can be cut out of printable sheet of patches 800. In one embodiment, said system and method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar can comprise separating a plurality of patches 200 from a sheet of said rolling paper material. In one embodiment, said sheet of said rolling paper can comprise printable sheet of patches 800. In one embodiment, printable sheet of patches 800 can comprise said rolling paper material. In another embodiment, one or more perforated edges 801, each in an outline of patch 200, can be perforated into printable sheet of patches 800. In one embodiment, one or more of perforated edges 801 on printable sheet of patches 800 can be identical to one another, or represent a variety of different patches 200.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D illustrate an isolated front and back view, and a side and a front view of a patch 200 in a non-wrapping configuration 900 applied to smoke 102. In one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise a parameter 901. In one embodiment, patch 200 can comprise a substantially round shape. In another embodiment, patch 200 can comprise adhesive 210 attached to back 203; wherein, adhesive 210 can substantially wrap around parameter 901. In one embodiment, said patching procedure can comprise aligning patch 200 with break 105 and applying patch 200 to smoke 102 over break 105. In another embodiment, said patching procedure can further comprise activating adhesive 210 prior to aligning patch 200 to break 105. In one embodiment, non-wrapping configuration 900 can comprise said repair procedure; wherein, said repair procedure does not require wrapping said patch 200 around external circumference 301 and attaching first end 201a to second end 201b. In one embodiment, adhesive 210 can comprise a glue, an adhesive activated by moisture, a tape with a removable backing, and/or a paper having and adhesive quality when moisture is in contact with said paper. In one embodiment, adding said moisture can comprise licking adhesive 210. In one embodiment, it is advantageous to minimize a surface area and thickness of patch 200 in order to minimize added smoking material when a user smokes said smoke 102 with patch 200 attached thereto. In one embodiment, patch 200 in non-wrapping configuration 900 can comprise one or more of said printed messages such as text messages 206 and/or graphics 207.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D illustrate an overview of tapered smoke 600 with break 105, and a front view, top view, and overview of patch 200 attached to tapered smoke 600, respectively. In one embodiment, break 105 can comprise a substantially long tear in wrapper 103. Further, in such an embodiment, patch 200 can comprise a long patch configuration 1000. In one embodiment, long patch configuration 1000 can comprise height 205 of patch 200 having a length sufficient to substantially cover break 105 and hold wrapper 103 closed. In one embodiment, break 105 in long patch configuration 1000 can comprise a cut in wrapper 103 used to open smoke 102 and access said smokeable material 301.

Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”

Claims

1. A system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar comprising:

a patch having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a width, and a height; and

an attaching means capable of attaching said patch to a smoke having a wrapper holding a smokeable material; wherein said patch comprises a rolling paper material; said rolling paper material comprises a printed message; said width of said patch comprises a distance between said first end and said second end of said patch; and said height of said patch comprises the distance between said top and said bottom of said patch.

2. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said height is long enough to cover a break in said smoke.

3. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein

said attaching means is capable of attaching said first end to said second end of said patch, and

said patch comprises a wrapping width and an excess width; further wherein, said wrapping width is equal to a circumference of a smoke, holding a smokeable material, and said excess width comprises sufficient surface area to attach said first end to said second.

4. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 3 wherein said width further comprises a pre-attachment width; further wherein,

said pre-attachment width comprises sufficient surface area to attach said patch to said smoke by wrapping said patch around said smoke and attaching said first end to second end; and

said excess width remains available to reattach said first end and said second end if said pre-attachment width is discarded or useable.

5. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said smoke comprises a cigarette.

6. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said smoke comprises a cigar.

7. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said smokeable material comprises tobacco.

8. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said smokeable material comprises cannabis.

9. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said rolling paper comprises wood pulp.

10. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said rolling paper comprises hemp.

11. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said rolling paper comprises flax.

12. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said rolling paper comprises rice.

13. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said rolling paper comprises esparto.

14. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises an adhesive on said back of said patch.

15. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises moistening a portion of said patch.

16. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said printed message comprises one or more graphics.

17. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 wherein said printed message comprises one or more text messages.

18. The system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 1 comprising a sheet of said rolling paper material comprising a plurality of said patches; wherein, said plurality of said patches separate from said sheet of said rolling paper material.

19. A method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar comprising:

attaching a patch to a smoke having a wrapper holding a smokeable material; wherein, said patch comprises a printed message, a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a parameter, a width, and a height; said smoke comprises a smokeable material wrapped in a wrapper; and said patch comprises a rolling paper material.

20. The method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 19 comprising a patching procedure comprising:

wrapping said patch around a break in said smoke;

covering said break in said smoke with said patch; and

attaching said first end to said second end of said patch; wherein, said width of said patch between said first end and said second end comprises a wrapping width and an excess width; said wrapping width is long enough to wrap around said smoke; said excess width is available to attach said first end to said second; and said height of said patch is long enough to cover said break.

21. The method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 20 further comprising

attaching said patch to said smoke in a pre-attachment configuration,

removing said patch from said smoke, and

repairing said break with said patching procedure; wherein, said pre-attachment configuration comprises wrapping said patch, having a pre-attachment width, around said smoke, and attaching said first end and said second end of said patch together within said pre-attachment width.

22. The method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 19 comprising a patching procedure comprising:

aligning said patch with a break in said smoke, and

applying said patch to said smoke over said break.

23. The method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 21 wherein

said break comprises a tear in said wrapper from a first end to a second end in said smoke, and

patch comprises a long patch configuration; further wherein, said long patch configuration comprises said height of said patch long enough to cover said break and hold said wrapper closed.

24. The method for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar of claim 19 wherein attaching a patch to a smoke comprises applying an adhesive on said back of said patch; wherein, said adhesive is capable of attaching said patch to said smoke.

25. A system for patching and accessorizing a cigarette or cigar comprising:

a patch having a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a width, a height, and an excess width; and

an attaching means capable of attaching said first end to said second end of said patch; wherein said patch comprises a rolling paper material; said width of said patch comprises the distance between said first end and said second end of said patch; said width comprises a wrapping width and an excess width; said wrapping width is equal to a circumference of a smoke, holding a smokeable material; said excess width comprises sufficient surface area to attach said first end to said second; said height of said patch comprises the distance between said top and said bottom of said patch; and said height is long enough to cover a break in said smoke.