CIGARETTE-ROLLING KIT SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A cigarette-rolling kit system and method for forming a cigarette with shredded leaf enclosed in rolling paper, providing a forming block having a major-arcuate trough and a semicircular trough, a pushing tab, a leveling slider, a tamping cylinder, and a leaf shreds preparation tool, where the major-arcuate trough retains the forming cigarette and guides the initial rolling, and the semicircular trough guides the final rolling.

Claims

1. A cigarette-rolling kit system for forming a cigarette, having an intended length and diameter, with shredded leaf enclosed in a rolling paper, the cigarette-rolling kit system comprising: (i) a forming block of substantially rectangular cuboid form with substantially square transverse section of area substantially four times the cigarette diameter, and axial length of the cigarette length plus a smaller additional axial length, having, along one axial face, a major-arcuate trough having a closed end and a flared open end, and, along an opposite axial face, a semicircular trough having a closed end and a flared open end, said major-arcuate trough and said semicircular trough being each adapted to hold the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf; (ii) a pushing tab having a lobe adapted to fit into and slide within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, and another lobe adapted to extend from said forming block, said pushing tab adapted to eject the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from said major-arcuate trough; (iii) a leveling slider having a stepped lower face corresponding to and adapted to slide along said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (iv) a tamping cylinder of diameter smaller than the cigarette diameter, adapted to tamp the shredded leaf within the rolling paper; and (v) a leaf shreds preparation tool adapted to facilitate the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; where, in use, said pushing tab is placed within and against the closed end of said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, the rolling paper is placed within said major-arcuate trough, the shredded leaf is prepared and gathered, and then placed into the rolling paper, using said leaf shreds preparation tool, said leveling slider is moved along said major-arcuate trough for the purpose of distributing and leveling the shredded leaf, the rolling paper is rolled within said major-arcuate trough, further enclosing the shredded leaf, the shredded leaf is tamped with said tamping cylinder, the partially rolled cigarette is removed from said major-arcuate trough using said pushing tab, is placed into said semicircular trough of said forming block, and is given further rolling to form the finished cigarette.

2. The cigarette-rolling kit system of claim 1, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive.

3. The cigarette-rolling kit system of claim 1, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of substantially 250 degrees.

4. A cigarette-rolling kit method comprising: (i) providing a cigarette-rolling kit, comprising: (a) a forming block of substantially rectangular cuboid form with substantially square transverse section of area substantially four times the cigarette diameter, and axial length of the cigarette length plus a smaller additional axial length, having, along one axial face, a major-arcuate trough having a closed end and a flared open end, and, along an opposite axial face, a semicircular trough having a closed end and a flared open end, said major-arcuate trough and said semicircular trough being each adapted to hold the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf; (b) a pushing tab having a lobe adapted to fit into and slide within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block, and another lobe adapted to extend from said forming block, said pushing tab adapted to eject the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from said major-arcuate trough; (c) a leveling slider having a stepped lower face corresponding to and adapted to slide along said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (d) a tamping cylinder of diameter smaller than the cigarette diameter, adapted to tamp the shredded leaf within the rolling paper; and (e) a leaf shreds preparation tool adapted to facilitate the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (ii) placing said pushing tab within and against the closed end of said major-arcuate trough of said forming block; (iii) placing the rolling paper within said major-arcuate trough; (iv) preparing and gathering the shredded leaf using said leaf shreds preparation tool; (v) placing the shredded leaf into the rolling paper using said leaf shreds preparation tool; (vi) moving said leveling slider along said major-arcuate trough for the purpose of distributing and leveling the shredded leaf; (vii) rolling the rolling paper within said major-arcuate trough, further enclosing the shredded leaf; (viii) tamping the shredded leaf with said tamping cylinder; (ix) removing the partially rolled cigarette from said major-arcuate trough using said pushing tab; (x) placing the partially rolled cigarette into said semicircular trough of said forming block; and (xi) rolling the partially rolled cigarette further to form the finished cigarette.

5. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive.

6. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, where said major-arcuate trough has a central reflex angle of substantially 250 degrees.

7. The cigarette-rolling kit method of claim 4, further comprising placement of a filter into the forming cigarette.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention showing parts in place as used;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention showing parts separately;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a side view of the forming block of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0028] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0030] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0031] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0032] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use;

[0033] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use; and

[0034] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the cigarette-rolling kit of the invention at a stage of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cigarette-rolling kit 10 provides a forming block 1, a pushing tab 2, a leveling slide 3, a tamping cylinder 4, and a leaf-shreds preparation tool 5. The forming block 1 provides a major-arcuate trough 11 and a semicircular trough 12.

[0036] Referring additionally to FIG. 3, the forming block 1 is of substantially rectangular cuboid form, with an axial length which is long enough to accommodate the intended length of the cigarette plus a smaller additional length, as illustrated, to allow for the closed ends and the flared open ends of troughs as disclosed in detail below. The transverse section of the forming block 1 is substantially square, and has an area of substantially four times the cigarette diameter, which allows room for the two troughs, disclosed below, a sufficient amount of remaining face and internal material on either side of the troughs, and a sufficient amount of remaining internal material between the two troughs to maintain the structural integrity of the forming block 1.

[0037] Two troughs, a major-arcuate trough 11 and a semicircular trough 12, each running along the axial length, are placed on opposite faces of the forming block 1, as shown. The transverse diameter of each trough is substantially the intended diameter of the cigarette to be formed.

[0038] The semicircular trough 12 encloses a semicircle that has a diameter substantially the intended diameter of the cigarette to be formed, and creates an opening which matches that diameter. The semicircular trough 12 has a closed end which prevents the forming cigarette from slipping out, and a flared open end which guides the placement and removal of the cigarette.

[0039] The major-arcuate trough 11 encloses more than a semicircle, and therefore creates an opening along the face of the forming block 1 which is smaller than the intended diameter of the cigarette, resulting in a trough which tends to hold the contents of the trough within the trough, allowing the rolling paper and the enclosed shredded leaf to be rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11 without falling out. The major-arcuate trough 11 has a closed end that prevents the rolling paper and enclosed shredded leaf from slipping out and provides a resistance against which to apply tamping force, and has a flared open end which provides for easier, guided insertion and removal of objects. The smaller additional axial length, added to the intended length of the cigarette, provided in the axial length of the forming block 1, is the length of the pushing tab 2, and the closed end and flared open end of the major-arcuate trough 11. In the illustrated embodiment, and where the intended diameter of the cigarette is 10mm and the intended length of the cigarette is 70 mm, the substantially square transverse dimensions are approximately 20 mm each side and the axial length is approximately 78 mm, allowing 70 mm for the cigarette length plus 1 mm for the closed end, 1 mm for the pushing tab 2, and 6 mm for the flared open end.

[0040] In preferred embodiments the major-arcuate trough 11 has a central reflex angle of from 240 to 260 degrees, inclusive, which result in facial openings of a width which is from approximately 75% to approximately 85% the greatest width or diameter of the trough, which in turn substantially matches the intended diameter of the cigarette. The illustrated embodiment shows a central reflex angle of approximately 250 degrees. Where the intended cigarette diameter is 10 mm, and therefore the longest span of the major-arcuate trough 11 is substantially the same 10 mm, the opening on the face of the forming block 1 is approximately 80% or 8 mm at approximately 250 degrees, as illustrated.

[0041] A pushing tab 2 is provided, as illustrated, which has a lobe that fits into the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1 and can slide within the major-arcuate trough 11, and has another lobe extending from the forming block 1. The pushing tab 2 is used to push or eject the partially rolled cigarette from the major-arcuate trough 11 at the appropriate time, as treated below.

[0042] A leveling slider 3 is provided, as illustrated. The lower face of the leveling slider 3 has a stepped face corresponding to the opening of the major-arcuate trough 11 on the face of the forming block 1. Specifically, the lower face of the leveling slider 3 has a protruding tab which fits and protrudes slightly into the trough opening, allowing for the presence of rolling paper extending out of the trough opening, in use, as treated below. The leveling slider 3 is used to level, spread, and distribute shredded leaf which has been placed inside the rolling paper which has been placed inside the major-arcuate trough 11.

[0043] A tamping cylinder 4 is provided, as illustrated. The tamping cylinder 4 has a diameter slightly smaller than the intended diameter of the cigarette, which in turn is substantially the diameter of the major-arcuate trough 11. The tamping cylinder 4 is used to tamp or compress the shredded leaf within the partially rolled cigarette, as treated below.

[0044] A leaf shreds preparation tool 5 is provided, as illustrated. The leaf shreds preparation tool 5 facilitates the preparation and gathering of a portion of shredded leaf, and placement of shredded leaf into the rolling paper located within the major-arcuate trough of the forming block, as treated below.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 5, in use, the pushing tab 2 is placed within the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1, resting against the closed end. A piece of rolling paper is placed into the major-arcuate trough 11 by sliding into the flared open end of the trough. The rolling paper is positioned as illustrated, with a long flap and a short flap extending out of the opening. Using the leaf shreds preparation tool 5, a portion of the shredded leaf is prepared with whatever chopping, blending, or other preparation is needed, and the portion of shredded leaf is gathered and spread out upon the leaf shreds preparation tool 5 as illustrated, and is then placed into the portion of the rolling paper enclosed by the major-arcuate trough 11.

[0046] Optionally, a filter or similar item can be placed into the forming cigarette at this step or at subsequent steps.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in use, the leveling slider 3 is placed upon the face of the forming block 1 such that the protruding tab of the leveling slider 3 protrudes into the opening of the major-arcuate trough 11, and is moved along the opening to level and evenly distribute the shredded leaf.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in use, the short flap of the rolling paper is placed against the shredded leaf such as to allow rolling of the cigarette, and the rolling paper is rolled such as to bring the long flap over the short flap.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, in use, the rolling paper and the enclosed shredded leaf are further rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11, which holds the forming cigarette against premature ejection from the forming block 1 and guides the desired rolling motion.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in use, after the forming cigarette is nearly completely rolled within the major-arcuate trough 11 of the forming block 1, the tamping cylinder 4 is used to tamp and compress the shredded leaf which is enclosed by the rolling paper.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 14, in use, the nearly completely rolled forming cigarette is ejected from the major-arcuate trough 11 by sliding the pushing tab 2 toward the flared open end of the trough.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 15, in use, the forming block 1 is repositioned such that the semicircular trough 12 is facing up, and the nearly completely rolled forming cigarette is placed into the semicircular trough 12 as illustrated.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, in use, the forming cigarette is further rolled inside the semicircular trough 12 until it is completely rolled, at which point it can be removed from the forming block 1, and the rolling process is finished.

[0054] Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.