Cigar Protective Enclosure with Liquid Retention and Dispensing Apparatus, Method and System

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system which comprises a unique and novel self-contained assembly of components that provide an air and liquid tight enclosure to maintain a cigar tobacco's aromatic purity, while simultaneously providing a liquid-tight enclosure for an alcoholic or non alcoholic beverage, together with providing a attached beverage container and a means for dispensing said beverage into said beverage container. This novel invention thereby provides an apparatus, method and system for providing a user with a simple, low cost portable recreational apparatus, method and system for the enjoyment of a smoking a fresh cigar, other legal plant based product, or a food product, while also be able to concurrently dispense, and drink, the user's preferred alcoholic beverage.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/529,690, filed on Jun. 9, 2015.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system which comprises a unique and novel self-contained assembly of components that provide an air and liquid tight enclosure to maintain a cigar tobacco's aromatic purity, while simultaneously providing a liquid-tight enclosure for an alcoholic beverage, together with providing a attached beverage container and a means for drip-resistant dispensing said beverage into said beverage container. This novel invention thereby provides an apparatus, method and system for providing a user with a simple, low cost portable recreational apparatus, method and system for the enjoyment of a smoking a fresh cigar while also be able to concurrently dispense, and drink, the user's preferred alcoholic beverage.

In the prior art, a plethora of devices have focused on providing various enclosures for packaging and transporting a cigar. It is well known, that for centuries, individuals would often partake in smoking a cigar, while simultaneously enjoying said user's favorite beverage, said beverage usually being said user's favorite alcoholic beverage. In order for a individual to simultaneously enjoy smoking a cigar and drink said user's favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage, the individual needed to either be at home where said individual had access to said individual's own beverages and beverage cups to drink said beverages from, or said individual need to be at a facility that provided alcoholic beverages, beverage cups, and also permitted cigar smoking. If an individual was traveling, said individual needed to carry his or her cigars in an airtight enclosure to maintain the freshness of the cigar tobacco, and, said individual also needed to carry a separate container for said user's favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, and also a separate cup to dispense said beverage into, and then allow said user to drink the beverage from.

While the aforementioned devices, methods and systems fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned prior art did not describe the novel, simple, effective, portable airtight, liquid tight apparatus and system that is disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the view of the above stated disadvantages in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved apparatus, method and system which comprises a unique and novel self-contained assembly of components that provide an air and liquid tight enclosure to maintain a cigar tobacco's aromatic purity, while simultaneously providing a liquid-tight enclosure for an alcoholic or non alcoholic beverage, together with providing a attached beverage container and a means for dispensing said beverage, with a drip-resistant structure, into said beverage container. This novel invention thereby provides an apparatus, method and system for providing a user with a simple, low cost portable recreational apparatus, method and system for the enjoyment of a smoking a fresh cigar while also be able to concurrently dispense, and drink, the user's preferred alcoholic or non alcoholic beverage.

More particularly, the cigar is first placed inside a cigar enclosure, said enclosure being made of a solid material, said material may be a metal or polymer, said material may be opaque, translucent or transparent, there being a clearance between said cigar's outside tobacco lining and the inside wall of said cigar's enclosure; said clearance having inter-dispersed therein, a resilient filler material to insure the cigar is secure and will not be able to move or slide out when open within said clearance, thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage in three dimensions. At one end of said cigar enclosure is provided a removable airtight seal. Said seal may be made from any solid material, said materials include, but are not limited to metals, polymers, waxes, cork, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic elastomers) and shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to easily remove said airtight seal with said user's own fingers and hands.

Said airtight sealed cigar enclosure is then placed inside of an airtight and liquid-tight outer beverage enclosure, said outer beverage enclosure being made of a solid material, said material may be a metal or polymer, said material may be opaque, translucent or transparent, there being a clearance between said cigar airtight enclosure's outer surface and the inside wall of said outer beverage enclosure; said clearance having inter-dispersed therein, said individual user's favorite liquid beverage (usually alcoholic), said clearance serving as a storage volume for said beverage (usually from 50 ml to 100 ml of liquid), and said beverage then also serving as a liquid vibration damper to insure the cigar enclosure is secure and will not be able to move within said clearance, thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage. At one end of said outer beverage enclosure is provided a removable liquid-tight seal cap. Said seal cap having a volume of sufficient size to allow said cap to be used by the individual for drinking said beverage. In the preferred embodiment, said seal cap is affixed to the one end of said outer liquid beverage enclosure by said cap having an internal thread and said outer liquid beverage enclosure end having a mating external thread. In the alternate, instead of mating threads to affix and seal the end cap to the end of the outer beverage enclosure, there may be provided internal circumferential grooves in said cap and mating circumferential grooves in said outer surface of said outer beverage enclosure end, said grooves being filled with resilient material ‘O-rings’. Said beverage seal cap may be made from any solid material, said materials include, but are not limited to metals, polymers) and shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to easily remove said liquid-tight seal and beverage cap with said user's own fingers and hands.

A user can then simply remove the outer enclosure seal cap, pour out the user's preferred (alcoholic or non alcoholic) beverage from the open end of the drip-resistant outer enclosure, into said seal cap (i.e. like a ‘shot-glass”), remove the airtight cigar enclosure, remove said airtight cigar enclosure's end seal, and then remove the fresh cigar from said cigar enclosure. The user can then light up (ignite with match or fueled lighter) said user's cigar, with said cigar tobacco's freshness and structural integrity being maintained during storage and transport in said invention's enclosures, and said user the enjoying said user's favorite beverage and cigar simultaneously, anywhere, anytime; There being no need for separate beverage serving facilities and separate beverage serving equipment.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of this invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.

In this respect, before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the limited claims herein be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel unique apparatus, method and system, which has all the advantages of the prior art devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel unique device, which is fabricated of durable and reliable materials, simpler design and less costly to manufacture and maintain.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a novel unique device which is susceptible of an even lower cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a device even more economically available to the buying public, yet with greater capabilities than that disclosed in the prior art.

For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the invention with its component parts disassembled.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with its component parts assembled.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention with the some of its component parts dissembled; i.e. the cap is removed, the cigar tube is partially removed but remains sealed, and the liquid is being poured out into the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, is the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, method and system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a cigar (108) is first placed inside a cigar enclosure (105), said enclosure being made of a solid material, said material may be a metal or polymer, said material may be opaque, translucent or transparent, there being a clearance between said cigar's (108) outside surface and the inside wall of said cigar's enclosure (105); said clearance having inter-dispersed therein, a resilient filler material to insure the cigar is secure and will not be able to move within said clearance, thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage. At one end of said cigar enclosure is provided (109) a removable airtight seal (104). Said seal being made from any solid material, said materials include, but are not limited to metals, polymers, waxes, cork, thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic elastomers, and shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to easily remove said airtight seal (104) with said user's own fingers and hands.

Said airtight sealed cigar enclosure is then placed inside of a liquid-tight outer beverage enclosure (100), said outer beverage enclosure being made of a solid material, said material may be a metal or polymer, said material may be opaque, translucent or transparent, there being a clearance between said cigar airtight enclosure's outer surface and the inside wall of said outer beverage enclosure; said clearance having inter-dispersed therein, and affixed to said cigar enclosure's outer surface, a resilient filler material (106 and 107) to insure the cigar enclosure is immobilized and will not be able to move within said clearance. Also located in said clearance between the outer enclosure and the cigar enclosure, is said individual user's favorite liquid beverage (110) (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), said beverage liquid filled clearance serving as a storage volume for said beverage, and said beverage (110) then also serving as a liquid vibration damper to further insure the cigar enclosure is immobilized and will not be able to move within said clearance, thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage. At one end of said outer beverage enclosure is provided a removable liquid-tight seal cap (103). Said seal cap having a volume of sufficient size to allow said cap to be used by the individual for containing and then drinking said beverage. In the preferred embodiment, said seal cap (103) is affixed to the one end of said outer liquid beverage enclosure by said cap having an internal thread (102) and said outer liquid beverage enclosure end having a mating external thread (101). At the extreme end of said outer enclosure's mating external thread (101), i.e., at the open end when the seal cap (103) is removed, the outer enclosure (100) may be manufactured with a drip-resistant edge, said edge's drip-resistant feature including, but not being limited to, a sharpened beveled circumferential geometry, for the purpose of to providing for a drip-resistant beverage dispensing outer enclosure (100), when said beverage (110) is dispensed into said seal cap (103). In the alternate, instead of mating threads to affix and seal the end cap to the end of the outer beverage enclosure (100), there may be provided internal circumferential grooves (in same section as 102) in said cap (103) and mating circumferential grooves in said outer surface of said outer beverage enclosure end (in same section as 101), said grooves being filled with resilient material ‘O-rings’. Said beverage seal cap (103) may be made from any solid material, said materials include, but are not limited to metals, polymers, and shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to easily remove said liquid-tight seal and beverage cap (103) with said user's own fingers and hands.

A user can then simply remove the outer enclosure seal cap (103) from the outer liquid-tight beverage enclosure (100), pour out the user's preferred (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) beverage (110) in said seal cap (i.e. like a ‘shot-glass”), remove the airtight cigar enclosure (105), remove said airtight cigar enclosure's end seal (104), and then remove the fresh cigar (108) from said cigar enclosure (105). The user can then ignite said user's cigar, with said cigar tobacco's freshness and structural shape and integrity being maintained during storage and transport in said invention's enclosures, and said user the enjoying said user's favorite beverage and cigar simultaneously, anywhere, anytime; There being no need for separate beverage serving facilities and separate beverage serving equipment. While the present invention discloses that a cigar (108) is at the center of the disclosed apparatus, the invention is not limited thereby; the invention also encompass other plant-based products that may be legally enjoyed, and also any solid food product that may be similarly stored in the same location as disclosed for the cigar (108), said food products include, but are not limited to, chocolate and other candies.

While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with preferred embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. For one example, the spherical rollers may be replaced by a combination system that provides for the same freedom of three dimensional motions that the spherical rollers provide; i.e. cylindrical rollers not mounted directly on base plate (100), but rather said four rollers each being mounted on a four fully rotational discs, with said discs then being mounted on the bottom of the base plate (100). It is therefore contemplated that the instant disclosure will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

In so far as the description above and the accompanying drawing disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the limited claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for an improved cigar enclosure and beverage container, said apparatus comprising:

a cigar, a cigar enclosure, said cigar being inside said cigar enclosure, said cigar enclosure being made of a solid material, there being a clearance between said cigar's outside surface and the inside wall of said cigar's enclosure,

at one end of said cigar enclosure is a removable airtight seal,

said airtight seal made from any solid material,

said cigar enclosure seal configured so that an individual is able to remove said airtight seal with said user's own fingers and hands,

a liquid-tight outer enclosure,

said airtight sealed cigar enclosure located inside of a liquid-tight outer enclosure, said outer enclosure being made of a solid material,

there being a clearance between said cigar enclosure's outer surface and the inside surface of said outer enclosure, said clearance having inter-dispersed and filled therein a liquid beverage,

said liquid beverage filling said clearance and serving as a storage volume for said beverage, and said beverage also being a liquid vibration damper to insure the cigar enclosure is not able to move within said clearance thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage,

at one end of said outer enclosure is provided a removable liquid-tight seal cap, said seal cap having a volume of sufficient size to allow said cap to be used by the individual for drinking said beverage,

said seal cap affixed to the one end of said outer liquid enclosure by said cap having an internal thread and said outer liquid beverage enclosure end having a mating external thread,

said beverage seal cap made from any solid material, and shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to remove said liquid-tight seal and beverage cap with said user's own fingers and hands.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at the extreme end of said outer enclosure's mating external thread, the outer enclosure is manufactured with a drip-resistant edge.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said drip-resistant edge consists of a sharpened beveled circumferential geometry, for the purpose of to providing for a drip-resistant beverage dispensing outer enclosure, when said beverage is dispensed into said seal cap.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, are transparent.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, are opaque.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cigar is replaced with any solid food product.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cigar is replaced with any other legal plant based product.

7. A system for an improved cigar enclosure and beverage container, said system comprising:

a cigar, a cigar enclosure, said cigar being inside said cigar enclosure, said cigar enclosure being made of a solid material, there being a clearance between said cigar's outside surface and the inside wall of said cigar's enclosure,

at one end of said cigar enclosure is a removable airtight seal,

said airtight seal made from any solid material,

said cigar enclosure seal configured so that an individual is able to remove said airtight seal with said user's own fingers and hands,

a liquid-tight outer enclosure,

said airtight sealed cigar enclosure located inside of a liquid-tight outer enclosure, said outer enclosure being made of a solid material,

there being a clearance between said cigar enclosure's outer surface and the inside surface of said outer enclosure, said clearance having inter-dispersed and filled therein a liquid beverage,

said liquid beverage filling said clearance and serving as a storage volume for said beverage, and said beverage also being a liquid vibration damper to insure the cigar enclosure is not able to move within said clearance thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage,

at one end of said outer enclosure is provided a removable liquid-tight seal cap,

said seal cap having a volume of sufficient size to allow said cap to be used by the individual for drinking said beverage,

said seal cap affixed to the one end of said outer liquid enclosure by said cap having an internal thread and said outer liquid beverage enclosure end having a mating external thread,

said beverage seal cap made from any solid material, and shall be so configured,

that an individual user is able to remove said liquid-tight seal and beverage cap with said user's own fingers and hands.

7. The system of claim 7, wherein at the extreme end of said outer enclosure's mating external thread, the outer enclosure is manufactured with a drip-resistant edge.

8. The system of claim 8, wherein said drip-resistant edge consists of a sharpened beveled circumferential geometry, for the purpose of to providing for a drip-resistant beverage dispensing outer enclosure, when said beverage is dispensed into said seal cap.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, are transparent.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, are opaque.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the cigar is replaced with any solid food product.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the cigar is replaced with any other legal plant based product.

13. A method for an improved cigar enclosure and beverage container, said method comprising:

the step of having a cigar,

the step of having a cigar enclosure,

the step of having said cigar being inside said cigar enclosure,

the step of having said cigar enclosure being made of a solid material,

the step of having a clearance between said cigar's outside surface and the inside wall of said cigar's enclosure,

the step of having at one end of said cigar enclosure a removable airtight seal,

the step of having said airtight seal made from any solid material,

the step of having said cigar enclosure seal configured so that an individual is able to remove said airtight seal with said user's own fingers and hands,

the step of having a liquid-tight outer enclosure,

the step of having said airtight sealed cigar enclosure located inside of a liquid-tight outer enclosure,

the step of having said outer enclosure being made of a solid material,

the step of having a clearance between said cigar enclosure's outer surface and the inside surface of said outer enclosure,

the step of having said clearance being inter-dispersed and filled therein with a liquid beverage,

the step of having said liquid beverage filling said clearance and serving as a storage volume for said beverage,

the step of having said beverage also being a liquid vibration damper to insure the cigar enclosure is not able to move within said clearance thereby protecting said cigar from transport vibration damage,

the step of having at one end of said outer enclosure a removable liquid-tight seal cap,

the step of having said seal cap having a volume of sufficient size to allow said cap to be used by the individual for drinking said beverage,

the step of having said seal cap affixed to the one end of said outer liquid enclosure by said cap having an internal thread and said outer liquid beverage enclosure end having a mating external thread,

the step of having said beverage seal cap made from any solid material, and

shall be so configured, that an individual user is able to remove said liquid-tight seal and beverage cap with said user's own fingers and hands.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said method includes the step of having at the extreme end of said outer enclosure's mating external thread, the outer enclosure being manufactured with a drip-resistant edge.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said method includes the step of having said drip-resistant edge consisting of a sharpened beveled circumferential geometry, for the purpose of to providing for a drip-resistant beverage dispensing outer enclosure, when said beverage is dispensed into said seal cap.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said method includes the step of having the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, being transparent.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said method includes the step of having the cigar enclosure, the outer liquid tight enclosure, and the seal cap, being opaque.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said method includes the step of having the cigar being replaced with any solid food product.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said method includes the step of having the cigar being replaced with any other legal plant based product.