METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING CIGARS

Abstract

A cigar fabricating apparatus, comprising of a container having a bottom panel, one or more side walls, an interior and an open top above said bottom panel. Said container supports an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections with an upper closure that enables the open top to be closed. The interior has a shell holder above the elevated panel, the shell holder having multiple separate loading stations and a plurality of shells, each shell sized and shaped to removably fit and occupy a loading station. Multiple shells can be filled with smokable filler material. Panel openings in the elevated panel enable any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section. Smokable filler material that is dispensable into said container and shells via said open top, wherein the divider and elevated panel openings are so positioned that the shells occupying the shell holder do not block smokable filler flow through the openings.

Claims

1. A cigar fabricating apparatus, comprising: a) a container having a bottom panel, one or more side panels, an interior and an open top opposite said bottom panel; b) said container supporting an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections; c) an upper closure panel that enables the open top to be closed; d) an insert that fits the interior above the elevated panel, the insert having dividers that define multiple separate loading stations; e) a plurality of shells that each removably fit and occupy a loading station; f) panel openings in the elevated panel that enable any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section; g) multiple shells to be filled with smokable filler material; h) wherein the divider and elevated panel openings are so positioned that the shells occupying the insert do not block tobacco filler flow through the openings; and i) smokable filler material that is dispensable into said container and shells via said open top.

2. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the container is a box having multiple flat sides.

3. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 1 wherein the insert includes multiple intersecting panels.

4. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 3 wherein the panels are generally vertically positioned.

5-8. (canceled)

9. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 2 wherein one of the sides is a movable panel that is movable between open and closed positions.

10. A cigar fabricating apparatus, comprising: a) a container having a bottom panel, one or more side walls, an interior and an open top above said bottom panel; b) said container supporting an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections; c) an upper closure that enables the open top to be closed; d) the interior having a shell holder above the elevated panel, the shell holder having multiple separate loading stations; e) a plurality of shells, each shell sized and shaped to removably fit and occupy a loading station; f) multiple shells to be filled with smokable filler material; g) panel openings in the elevated panel that enable any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section; h) smokable filler material that is dispensable into said container and shells via said open top; and i) wherein the divider and elevated panel openings are so positioned that the shells occupying the shell holder do not block smokable filler flow through the openings.

11-14. (canceled)

15. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 10 wherein each loading station has multiple panel openings.

16-19. (canceled)

20. The cigar fabricating apparatus of claim 11 wherein the container has an upper section that is cylindrically shaped that is removably connectable to a lower section that is cylindrically shaped.

21. A method of fabricating cigars comprising the steps of: a) providing a container having a bottom panel, one or more side panels, an interior and an open top opposite said bottom panel; b) said container of step a supporting an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections; c) providing an upper closure panel that enables the open top to be closed; d) supporting an insert within said interior above the elevated panel, the insert having dividers that define multiple separate loading stations; e) placing a plurality of shells in said insert, each shell occupying a said loading station; f) enabling any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section via one or more panel openings; g) positioning the shells so that they do not block tobacco filler flow through the panel openings; and h) adding smokable filler material into said container and shells via said open top.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the container is a box having multiple flat sides and surrounding each shell with said sides.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the insert includes multiple intersecting divider panels and surrounding each shell with multiple divider panels.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the panels are generally vertically positioned.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the shells are nested one inside another.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein each loading station has a said panel opening.

27-28. (canceled)

29. The method of claim 21 wherein one of the sides is a movable panel that is movable between open and closed positions.

30. (canceled)

31. The method of claim 21 wherein the shell holder includes multiple interior panels, each loading station surrounded by multiple interior panels.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein the interior panels are generally vertically positioned.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein the upper section is larger than the lower section.

34. The method of claim 21 wherein each loading station has multiple panel openings.

35. The method of claim 21 wherein each shell is generally conically shaped and further comprising nesting one shell inside another shell to provide nested shells and filling and removing one of the shells of said nested shells followed by filling the other shell of the nested shells.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

[0068] FIG. 1 is a perspective of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

[0070] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the front panels in an open position;

[0071] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the front panels in an open position;

[0072] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0073] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0074] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0075] FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0076] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0077] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0079] FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0080] FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0082] FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0083] FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0084] FIG. 17 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0085] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention;

[0086] FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the method of the present invention; and

[0087] FIGS. 20-22 are exploded perspective views of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0088] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a cylindrical alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

[0089] FIGS. 24-26 are top views of various inserts that can be used with the embodiment shown in FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0090] FIGS. 1-22 show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designate generally by the numeral 10. FIGS. 1-19 also show the method of the present invention.

[0091] Cigar fabricating apparatus 10 provides a container, box or cabinet 11. The upper end portion of the box, container or cabinet 11 can have an open top 34 that can be closed with a removable cover or lid 12. Container 11 has interior 13. Interior 13 contains an insert or shell support 14. Insert or shell support 14 can be removable from container 11 or not removable. Interior 13 has upper section 36 above panel 22 and lower section 37 below panel 22 (see FIG. 9).

[0092] In one embodiment, container 11 can be a generally cube shaped box having side panels 16, 17, rear panel 15, bottom panel 20 and front panels 18, 19. Front panels 18, 19 can include shorter panel 18 and longer panel 19. Also provided are closure panel 21 and elevated panel 22. Flap 23 can be an extension of elevated panel 22. Flap 23 can be folded or hinged to elevated panel 22 at hinge or fold 29.

[0093] Insert or shell support 14 provides multiple shell loading positions 30 (see FIG. 10). Insert or shell holder 14 can be formed of multiple intersecting divider panels 25, 26, 27, 28. In FIGS. 1-19 an exemplary nine (9) load holding positions 30 are provided. The apparatus 10 of the present invention enables simultaneous filling of multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31, 32 with a selected smokable filler material 33 such as tobacco. When such filler material 33 is added to the shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31 via open top 34 (e.g., see FIGS. 11-13), some filler material 33 fills the shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31 while other filler material 33 is excess or misdirected filler that falls to and through elevated panel 22 and into lower sections 37 (see FIGS. 14-19). Elevated panel 22 has openings 24. The lower end 39 of each cone or shell or tube or cylinder 31 rests upon elevated panel 22 but does not block openings 24 as seen in FIG. 8.

[0094] In order to fill multiple shells 31 with a smokable filler material 33, each cone, shell, cylinder or tube 32 is placed in container 11 and into a load holding position 30. In one embodiment, stacked tubes, cones, shells or cylinders 31, 32 can be placed in each load holding position 30 (see FIGS. 3, 7,8). Smokable filler material 33 (e.g., tobacco) is added to container 11 via open top 34 (see arrows 45, 46 in FIG. 12). A user then covers open top 34 with cover or lid 12 (see arrows 47, 48 FIG. 13). Container 11 is then shaken in order to fill each shell, tube, cone/cylinder 31 with filler material 33 (see FIG. 14, arrows 73, 74 and arrows 75 FIG. 15). Any excess or overflow of material 33 falls through panel openings 24 and into lower section 37 of container 11 where it collects for later reuse. An upper shell 32 of the nested shells 31, 32 is now filled and can be removed. After removal of the filled upper shells 32, the same procedure is used to fill the lower shells 31 (see arrows 35 in FIG. 19).

[0095] FIGS. 20-22 show an additional embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 50. In FIGS. 20-22, a three part housing includes middle, upper and lower sections that are connected together in telescoping fashion. In FIGS. 20-21, housing center section 51 is provided. In FIG. 22, housing center section 52 is provided.

[0096] In FIGS. 20 and 21, the housing center section 51 has an upper shoulder 53, lower shoulder 54, upper edge 55. Raised panel 58 can be connected to housing center section 51 at hinge 60. Raised panel 58 has openings 59 that function on the same manner as the openings 24, 43, of screen 44 of FIG. 10. Lid 56 fits over upper edge 55 and seats or stops against upper shoulder 53. Lid 56 has lower edge 57 that rests upon and engages shoulder 53 when the lid 56 is placed in a closed position on center section 51.

[0097] In FIG. 21, raised panel 58 has been rotated about 180 degrees. This rotation is indicated by arrow 61 in FIG. 20. Thus in FIG. 21, the raised panel 58 is not visible as panel 58 is located at the bottom of center section 51. In FIGS. 20 and 21, housing lower section 62 has a bottom panel 63 and four (4) side panels 64. Housing lower section 62 has an open top 65 that is receptive of the lower portion of housing center section 51. Housing lower section 62 provides an upper edge 66 that engages lower shoulder 54 when center section 51 is attached to housing lower section 62.

[0098] In FIG. 22, housing lower section 67 has an upper shoulder 68 and upper edge 69 above the shoulder 68. In FIG. 22, center section 52 has a bottom opening 71 that is receptive of housing lower section 67. When housing lower section 67 is assembled to housing center section 52 in FIG. 22, edge 69 extends into housing center section 52. Lower edge 72 of center section 52 engages and rests upon shoulder 68. As with the embodiments of FIGS. 1-21, a bottom panel 63 is provided on housing section 52, being pivotally attached thereto or being a separate part that rests upon upper edge 69 of lower section 67.

[0099] It should be understood that while a squared or cube construction is shown in FIGS. 20-22, another shape such as a cylindrically shaped cigar fabricating apparatus 50 could be constructed using cylindrically shaped upper, central and lower sections instead of the cubed shaped sections shown in FIGS. 20-22.

[0100] FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a cylindrical alternate embodiment 150. Alternative cigar fabricating apparatus 150 can comprise housing interior center section 160, housing exterior section 180, and lid 156.

[0101] Housing interior center section 160 can comprise upper edge 161 and lower edge 174 with interior space 162 being between the upper 161 and lower 174 edges.

[0102] Between upper 161 and lower 174 edges can be first slot 163, second slot 166, and third slot 170. Opposite of first slot 163 can be opposing first slot 164. Opposite of second slot 166 can be opposing second slot 167. Opposite of third slot 170 can be opposing third slot 171.

[0103] Housing exterior section 180 can comprise upper edge 181 and lower edge 185 with interior space 182 being between the upper 181 and lower 185 edges.

[0104] Lid 156 can include bottom portion 157.

[0105] Upper insert 200 can comprise first face 210 having a smaller radius surface 230 and a larger radius surface 240, along with a tab 245. The transitions between smaller 230 and larger 240 radius surfaces can include shoulders 232. First face 210 can include a first plurality of smaller openings 250 and a second plurality of larger openings 260. The second plurality of larger openings 260 can be sized to fit the exterior surface of a conical smoking product. The first plurality of smaller openings 250 can be sized to allow smokable filler to pass through but not allow the exterior surface of a conical tobacco product to pass through.

[0106] Middle insert 300 can comprise first face 310 having a smaller radius surface 330 and a larger radius surface 340, along with a tab 345. The transitions between smaller 330 and larger 340 radius surfaces can include shoulders 332. First face 310 can include a first plurality of smaller openings 350 and a second plurality of larger openings 360. The second plurality of larger openings 360 can be sized to fit the exterior surface of a conical smoking product. The first plurality of smaller openings 350 can be sized to allow smokable filler to pass through but not allow the exterior surface of a conical tobacco product to pass through. The second plurality of larger openings 360 can be smaller than the second plurality of larger openings 260, but larger than the first plurality of smaller openings 250 and first plurality of smaller openings 350.

[0107] Lower insert 400 can comprise first face 410 having a smaller radius surface 430 and a larger radius surface 440, along with a tab 445. The transitions between smaller 430 and larger 440 radius surfaces can include shoulders 432. First face 410 can include a plurality of openings 460 which can be sized to allow smokable filler to pass through but not allow the exterior surface of a conical tobacco product to pass through.

[0108] As schematically indicated in FIG. 23 upper insert 200 can be inserted into first slot 163 where tab 245 enters opposing first slot 165 until shoulders 232 contact the edges of first slot 163. In this manner upper insert 200 can be supported by housing interior section 160.

[0109] As schematically indicated in FIG. 23 middle insert 300 can be inserted into second slot 166 where tab 345 enters opposing second slot 167 until shoulders 332 contact the edges of second slot 166. In this manner middle insert 300 can be supported by housing interior section 160.

[0110] As schematically indicated in FIG. 23 lower insert 400 can be inserted into third slot 170 where tab 445 enters opposing third slot 171 until shoulders 432 contact the edges of third slot 170. In this manner lower insert 400 can be supported by housing interior section 160.

[0111] As schematically indicated by FIG. 23 housing exterior section 180 can be slid over housing interior section 160 and thereby lock into place upper 200, middle 300, and lower 400 inserts relative to housing interior section. Also as schematically indicated by FIG. 23 lid 156 can be placed over the combination of housing interior 160 and exterior 180 sections thereby creating an enclosed volume of the interior 162 of housing interior section 160.

[0112] Once assembled the embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 through 26 is used in substantially the same way as other embodiments for filling smokable products (e.g., multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31, 32) with smokable filler. Multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32 can be inserted into the interior 162 of middle housing section 160 via plurality of larger openings 260 of upper insert 200 and plurality of larger openings 360 of middle insert 300. Lower insert 400 will support the inserted multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32. Smokable filler is added by a user above upper insert 200, top 150 is placed on opt of the now closed device and it is shaken. The added smokable filler will both enter the interiors of the multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32 with some of the filler passing through the upper insert via plurality of smaller holes 250 and entering the space between upper insert 200 and middle insert 300. Additional shaking will cause this quantity of smokable filler to pass through middle insert via plurality of smaller holes 350 and enter the space between middle insert 300 and lower insert 400. Additional shaking will again cause this quantity of smokable filler to pass through lower insert 400 via plurality of smaller holes 460 and enter the space between lower insert 400 and bottom 174. After the multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32 are filled with smokable filler via this process of adding smokable filler above upper insert 200 and shaking, interior section 160 can be pulled out of exterior section 180 and the retained smokable filler in the space between lower insert 400 and bottom 180 recovered from the interior 182 of exterior housing section 180.

[0113] In various embodiments middle insert 300 can be omitted with only upper insert 200 and lower insert 400 used. Middle insert 300 is used primarily to maintain a substantially vertical position for multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32. If middle insert 300 is not used it is envisioned that the lower ends of multiple shells, tubes, cylinders or cones 31,32 would shift relative to lower insert 400 during the filling and shaking process.

[0114] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:

TABLE-US-00001 PARTS LIST: PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION 10 cigar fabricating apparatus 11 box/container/cabinet 12 cover/lid 13 interior 14 insert/shell support/shell holder 15 rear panel 16 side panel 17 side panel 18 front shorter panel 19 front longer panel 20 bottom panel 21 closure panel 22 elevated panel 23 flap 24 opening 25 divider panel 25 divider panel 26 divider panel 27 divider panel 28 divider panel 29 hinge/fold 30 shell loading position 31 shell/tube/cylinder/cone 32 shell/tube/cylinder/cone 33 tobacco filler material/smokable material 34 open top 35 user 36 upper section 37 lower section 38 upper end cone/shell 39 lower end cone/shell 40 upper end of insert 41 lower end of insert 42 arrow 43 smaller diameter opening 44 raised panel/screen 45 arrow 46 arrow 47 arrow 48 arrow 50 cigar fabricating apparatus 51 housing center section 52 housing center section 53 shoulder, upper 54 shoulder, lower 55 upper edge 56 lid/housing upper section 57 lower edge 58 raised panel 59 opening 60 hinge 61 arrow 62 housing lower section 63 bottom panel 64 side panel 65 open top 66 upper edge 67 housing lower section 68 shoulder 69 upper edge 70 open top 71 bottom opening 72 lower edge 73 arrow 74 arrow 150 cigar fabricating apparatus 156 top 157 lower edge of top 160 housing interior center section 161 upper edge 162 interior space 163 first slot 164 first slot for tab 166 second slot 167 second slot for tab 170 third slot 171 third slot for tab 174 lower edge 177 exterior surface 180 housing exterior center section 181 upper edge 182 interior 185 bottom 186 interior surface 187 exterior surface 200 upper insert 210 first face 220 second face 230 smaller radius surface 232 shoulders between smaller and larger radius surfaces 240 larger radius surface 245 tab 250 plurality of smaller openings 260 plurality of larger openings 300 middle insert 310 first face 320 second face 330 smaller radius surface 332 shoulders between smaller and larger radius surfaces 340 larger radius surface 345 tab 350 plurality of smaller openings 360 plurality of larger openings 400 lower insert 410 first face 420 second face 430 smaller radius surface 432 shoulders between smaller and larger radius surfaces 440 larger radius surface 445 tab 450 plurality of smaller openings 460 plurality of larger openings

[0115] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

[0116] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.