Container for Cannabis and Tobacco

Abstract

A cannabis container has a housing with a first end that receives and encloses a removable storage bin for cannabis and a separate, stacked removable bin for a grinder. The opposite end provides separate, fixed storage compartments for a butane lighter, a pipe, rolling papers, tools or matches. The opposite ends of the housing can be hermetically sealed by twist-on caps.

Description

BACKGROUND

Some states, like Colo., have legalized cannabis for recreational and medicinal use. Other states have legalized cannabis for medical use. Transporting cannabis, also known as marijuana, with paraphernalia that many people use to smoke it can be problematic. Such paraphernalia typically includes rolling paper, a grinder, matches or a lighter, various tools, a pipe or bowl, and a storage bin. A container for cannabis and related paraphernalia would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of a container for cannabis, tobacco and other leafy materials;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the container depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view looking into an end cap that covers the left end of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an end view looking into a second cap that covers the opposite end of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 1 having the opposing end caps removed and showing cap engagement tabs and inclined cap sealing surfaces;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the right hand of the container shown in FIG. 1 showing openings into storage compartments shown in cross section in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the container shown in FIG. 1 and depicting a cross sectional view of the container's interior;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the container; and

FIG. 9 shows cross-sections of the structures shown in FIG. 8 as well as FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-9 depict a container 100 for cannabis, tobacco and other leafy plants as well as components, which fit inside the container 100. Like reference numerals identify the same structure in the different figures.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, the container 100 comprises a housing 102, which in the preferred embodiment is essentially a cylinder, with first and second opposing open ends, 104 and 106, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ends 104, 106 of the housing 102 are covered and enclosed by corresponding end caps 122, 124, which when removed provide access into the interior of the housing 102.

In the preferred embodiment, the housing 102, and the caps 122, 124 that cover the ends 104, 106 are substantially cylindrical. The space inside the housing 102 is thus also substantially cylindrical. In an alternate embodiment, the housing 102 has a cross sectional shape across the midpoint 112 that is substantially elliptical. Such an alternate housing embodiment thus resembles a flattened cylinder having correspondingly modified caps and modified storage compartments and storage bins.

The ends 104, 106 of the housing 102 are each provided with first and second (two) cap engagement tabs 108, 110 respectively. The cap engagement tabs are best seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The shapes of the cap engagement tabs 108, 110 resemble or are substantially the same as angular sectors of an annulus, a sector being an area enclosed by two radii of a circle or ellipse and the arc between them. An annulus is essentially a ring.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the first and second pairs of engagement tabs, 108, 110 are located at, near or “proximate” the opposing ends 104, 106 of the housing 102. They are also preferably diametrically opposite each other, i.e., evenly disposed around a geometric center 125 of the caps 122, 124. Alternate embodiments of the container 100 use more than two engagement tabs at one or both ends of the housing.

The opposing ends 104, 106 of the housing 102 are considered herein as having inclined sealing surfaces 114 and 116. Alternate embodiments of the container 100 have an inclined sealing surface at only one end, the particular end with an inclined sealing surface being a design choice. The locations of those inclined surfaces 114, 116 on the housing 102 are considered herein as being located “between” the engagement tabs 108, 110 and a midpoint 112 of the housing 102. They are also considered to extend around the housing's exterior surface. In the preferred embodiment, the inclined sealing surfaces extend around the perimeter of the housing wherein a perimeter is considered to be a boundary of a closed figure, regardless of whether the closed figure is a circle, rectangle or ellipse.

For claim construction purposes, the midpoint 112 of the housing 102 is considered to be a geometric plane that is substantially orthogonal to a center line 123 of the housing 102 located halfway between the respective ends 104 and 106. The midpoint 112 can thus be considered a bisector of the housing 102.

A first inclined sealing surface 114 located at the first end 104 mates with a complementary inclined surface 126 in the left or first end cap 122. A second inclined surface 116 located at the second end 106 mates with and engages a complementary inclined sealing surface 128 in the right hand or second cap 128. Inasmuch as the housing 102 is preferably a cylinder or at least substantially cylindrical, the inclined sealing surfaces 114, 116 on the housing 102 are essentially conical. Mating inclined sealing surfaces in the caps 126, 128 are therefore also preferably conical. The inclined conical surfaces 114, 116 and 126 and 128 are sized and shaped such that when the end caps 122 and 124 are in place and tightened, a “transition fit” exists between the inclined surfaces.

As used herein, a “transition fit” is considered herein to be a mechanical fit in which a clearance exists between two pieces such that the two parts are held closely together yet not so tightly held together that they cannot be disassembled. An interference fit, on the other hand, is a fit between two parts so tight that they cannot be moved or disassembled without some force. A clearance fit exists when two mechanical parts are so loosely fit together that they are able to freely rotate or slide relative to each other. A clearance fit can nevertheless provide a hermetic as well as a water-tight seal.

As best seen in FIG. 8, The end caps, 122 and 124 are provided with slots 135 , the top ends of which merge into a helical thread 137. The “width” of the slot 135 is greater than the arc length of the cap engagement tabs 108, 110. The caps 122, 124 can thus be slid over the cap engagement tabs 108, 110, over the outside perimeters 118, 120 of the housing 102 and locked into position by rotating the caps relative to the cap engagement tabs 108, 110. The caps 122, 124 are thus considered to be “twist on” caps relative to the housing 102 albeit with structural features 126, 128, which when mated to the ends 104, 106 of the housing 102 are able to provide hermetic seals to the housing 102.

Assembling the caps 108, 110 onto the ends 104, 106 of the housing 102 encloses or “seals” the interior of housing 102 and its contents. The tightness of the seal between the caps and the housing is a design choice and can be either airtight (hermetic) or watertight depending upon the tightness of the fit between the inclined sealing surfaces 114, 116 of the housing 102 against the inclined sealing surfaces 126 and 128 in the caps 122, 124 respectively.

The housing 102 and its interior space are sized, shaped and arranged to receive two storage “compartments” 130 and 132 into the left or first end 104. In the preferred embodiment, the second storage compartment 132 is preferably a cannabis grinder, well known to those of ordinary skill in the marijuana usage art, further description of which is omitted in the interest of brevity. As best seen in FIG. 8, the grinder 132 is sized, shaped and arranged to be stacked “under” a storage tin embodied as the first storage compartment 130. The top or first end 134 of the first storage compartment 130 is preferably provided with a removable cover. Similarly, a top end 136 of the second storage compartment or grinder 132 faces the first end of the housing 102. When the storage compartments 130 and 132 are stacked on each other, they fit into the first end 104 of the housing 102 with a clearance fit between them and the interior surface of the housing 102.

As best seen in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the second end 106 of the housing 102 is also provided with multiple cannabis paraphernalia storage compartments, the open or end views of which are best seen in FIG. 4 and identified by reference numerals 140, 142, 144 and 146. As best seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, the storage compartments 140, 142, 144 and 146 are “elongated,” i.e. they extend into the housing 102. The compartments extend into the housing 102 such that they are substantially parallel to each other as well as physically separated from each other.

Each compartment 140, 142, 144 and 146 has an opening with a corresponding shape and area, which are best seen in FIG. 4. The areas and shapes of the openings in compartments 140 and 144 are substantially the same. The areas and shapes of the openings into the other compartments 142 and 146 are different from each other as well as the first two compartments, 140, 144.

In a preferred embodiment the first elongated storage area 146 has an opening sized, shaped and arranged to receive a conventional butane “cigarette lighter” therein. Matches can also be kept in the first storage area 146.

Two other openings, 140 and 144 and which are adjacent to the first opening 146 are sized, shaped and arranged to accept or receive a marijuana cigarette, also known as a joint or doobie. A fourth elongated storage area 142 is sized, shaped and arranged to receive either a pipe or various tools, an example of which is a tweezers. Any one or more of the storage areas 140, 142, 144 and 146 can also be used to hold cigarette rolling papers therein.

Those of ordinary skill in the art should recognize the advantages and benefits of a container, capable of providing a hermetic seal, in which marijuana, tobacco or other leafy plants can be stored with the equipment necessary to use such plant material. Those of ordinary skill in the art should also recognize that the physical size of such a container can be changed as a design choice, the preferred embodiment having exterior dimensions similar to that of a conventional frozen orange juice container. Increasing the length and diameter will of course increase the size of the items and material that can be placed inside the container but at the expense of making the container more difficult to carry about, store or carry on one's person.

The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only. The true scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A container for cannabis, tobacco and other leafy material (a container), the container comprising:

a housing having first and second opposing ends and an exterior surface, the housing's ends being open and providing access into an interior of the housing, the housing having first and second pairs of cap engagement tabs extending outwardly from the exterior surface and located proximate the open ends, a first pair of cap engagement tabs being located proximate the first end, a second pair of cap engagement tabs being located proximate the second end;

a first inclined sealing surface located between the first pair of cap engagement tabs and a midpoint of the housing, the first inclined sealing surface extending around the exterior surface of the housing; and

a second inclined sealing surface located between the second pair of cap engagement tabs and the midpoint of the housing, the second inclined sealing surface extending around the exterior surface of the housing; and

a first end cap, sized, shaped and arranged to fit over the first end of the housing and engage the first pair of cap engagement tabs, the first end cap having an inclined sealing surface extending around an interior of the first end cap and engage the first inclined sealing surface with a transition fit;

a second end cap, sized, shaped and arranged to fit over the second end of the housing and engage the second pair of cap engagement tabs, second end cap having an inclined sealing surface extending around an interior of the second end cap and engage the second inclined sealing surface with a transition fit.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second storage compartments, the first storage compartment being sized, shaped and arranged to stack on the second storage compartment, the stacked storage compartments being sized, shaped and arranged to fit inside the housing with a clearance fit between the storage compartments and an interior surface of the housing, both storage compartments having first ends, the first end of each compartment facing the first end of the housing, both compartments also having closed second ends facing the second end of the housing, the first ends of at least one compartment having a removable cover.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein at least one storage compartment is sized, shaped and arranged to hold a grinder for leafy plants.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the inclined sealing surface in the first end cap and the first inclined sealing surface on the housing are configured to provide a substantially water-tight seal when they are engaged to each other.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the inclined sealing surface in the second end cap and the second inclined sealing surface on the housing are configured to provide a substantially water-tight seal when they are engaged to each other.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the housing has cross sectional shape that is substantially elliptical.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the second of the housing comprises first and second elongated compartments extending inwardly from the second end of the housing toward the midpoint of the housing, the first and second elongated storage compartments being physically separated from each other and substantially parallel to each other.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the first and second elongated compartments have corresponding openings, which have corresponding areas, the areas of the first and second elongated compartments being different from each other.

10. The container of claim90, wherein the opening area of at least one elongated storage compartment is sized, shaped and arranged to receive a butane cigarette lighter.

11. The container of claim 9, wherein the opening area of at least one elongated storage compartment is sized, shaped and arranged to receive a marijuana cigarette.

12. The container of claim 9, wherein the opening area of at least one elongated storage compartment is sized, shaped and arranged to receive a plurality of cigarette rolling papers.

13. The container of claim 9, wherein the opening area of at least one elongated storage compartment is sized, shaped and arranged to receive tools.

14. The container of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second inclined surfaces on the exterior of the housing is substantially conical.

15. The container of claim 8, wherein at least one of the inclined sealing surfaces in the first and second caps is substantially conical.