Tamping and Storage Device and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A device for filling and packing smokable material into a smokable receptacle including a housing having two sections joined together to allow them to slide against one another. The upper tamping section has a tamper and is configured to attached to a storage chamber such that the material inside the storage chamber falls into the tamping section of the housing and then into the filling section of the housing. The upper section can then be moved up and down with relation to the filling section thereby causing a tamper positioned in the tamping section to push or pack smokable material into a wrapper situated in a cavity in the filling section of the housing. The housings can be separated and then joined again in a different orientation to allow the tamper to push the filled wrapper out of the filling section of the housing.

Claims

1. An assistive device for loading smokable material into a wrapper comprising: an upper housing with a tamper; a lower housing with a cavity; wherein the upper housing has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the lower housing such that the lower housing can fit into the upper housing; and wherein the tamper is positioned to insert into the cavity when the lower housing is inserted into the upper housing.

2. The assistive device of claim 1 further comprising an aperture located in an outer surface of the lower housing that communicates with the cavity.

3. The assistive device of claim 2 further comprising: a first opening and a second opening located at opposing ends of the upper housing and a first set of threads located on the upper housing proximate to the first opening.

4. The assistive device of claim 3 further comprising a chamber comprising a housing having a first opening and a second set of threads proximate to said first opening that are complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

5. The assistive device of claim 3 comprising: a chamber comprising: a housing; a first chamber opening and a second chamber opening at opposing ends of the housing; a second set of threads located proximate to the first chamber opening and a third set of threads located proximate to the second chamber opening; and a lid with a fourth set of threads that are complementary to at least one of the second set of threads or the third set of threads; wherein the second set of threads or the third set of threads are complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

6. The assistive device of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the lower housing is tapered such that a bottom of the housing has a larger diameter than a top of the lower housing.

7. The assistive device of claim 1 further comprising: at least one groove located on a surface of the lower housing and extending at least partially from a top of the lower housing to a bottom of the lower housing; and at least one tab located on a surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing.

8. The assistive device of claim 7 wherein the at least one groove has a at least one L-shaped portion.

9. The assistive device of claim 1 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper that can be extended or retracted.

10. An assistive device for loading smokable material into a receptacle comprising: a cylindrical lower housing with a cylindrical cavity that extends from an open end of the lower housing to an opposing, closed end of the lower housing; an aperture traversing the closed end of the lower housing and communicating with the cavity; and a cylindrical upper housing with a tamper that is positioned to extend at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the upper housing and to insert, at least partially, into the cavity in the lower housing.

11. The assistive device of claim 10 further comprising: at least one groove located on an outer surface of the lower housing and extending at least partially from a top of the lower housing to a bottom of the lower housing; wherein the groove has at least one L-shaped portion; and at least one tab located on an inner surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing.

12. The assistive device of claim 11 further comprising: at least one opening at a first end of the upper housing that communicates with a channel expending from the opening at the first end of the upper housing to an opening at a second end of the upper housing.

13. The assistive device of claim 12 further comprising: a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising: a housing having at least one open end and a second set of threads located adjacent to the at least one open end; said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

14. The assistive device of claim 12 further comprising: a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising: a housing having openings at a first end and a second end of the housing; a second set of threads located adjacent to the opening at the first end of the housing said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing; a third set of threads located adjacent to the opening at the second end of the housing said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing; and a lid having a fourth set of threads that are complementary to the second and third set of threads.

15. The assistive device of claim 14 wherein the lid is shaped such that it can be screwed into the housing of the chamber to a point where the lid is no longer flush with either the first end or the second end of the housing.

16. The assistive device of claim 13 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.

17. The assistive device of claim 15 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.

18. An assistive device for loading smokable material into a cavity comprising: an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein a diameter of the lower housing is smaller than a diameter of the upper hosing allowing the lower housing to be at least partially inserted into the upper housing; a tamper featured by the upper housing and configured to be inserted into a cavity featured by the lower housing; a groove on an outer surface of the lower housing and a tab attached to the upper housing and that fits into and can slide along the length of the groove; a plurality of openings in a top of the upper housing that communicate with a channel that runs the length of the upper housing and terminates in an opening at a bottom of the upper housing; wherein the lower housing fits into the opening at the bottom of the upper housing.

19. The assistive device of claim 18 further comprising an aperture located in a bottom surface of the lower housing wherein said aperture leads to the cavity and is large enough for the tamper to be inserted therein.

20. The assistive device of claim 19 wherein the tamper is a telescoping tamper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0022] FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the upper or tamping section of the device;

[0023] FIG. 1B is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0024] FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the lower or filling section of the housing;

[0025] FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view thereof;

[0026] FIG. 2C is a side perspective view thereof;

[0027] FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view thereof;

[0028] FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the storage chamber;

[0029] FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the cap that engages with the storage chamber;

[0030] FIG. 3C is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the cap that engages with the storage chamber;

[0031] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the storage chamber; and

[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a base for use with the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] FIGS. 1A and 1B show the sleeve 12 of the cylindrical housing 11 that is also referred to as the tamping section or sleeve 12 of the tamping device 10. As discussed above, the sleeve 12 is a housing or casing, preferably cylindrical, that forms a space 17 that encloses a rod-shaped structure, the tamper 12a, that is used to pack or push material into the lower section of the housing (not shown). In this embodiment, there are tines or spokes 12b that extend inward from the cylindrical housing 11 to hold the tamper 12a in place and oriented along a longitudinal axis of the housing 11. The tines 16 are positioned above a annular lip 30 that surrounds the opening in the top surface of the sleeve 12 as shown in FIG. 1A. In some embodiments, such as the one shown in FIG. 1A, the lip slopes downward toward a bottom surface of the sleeve. The tines 12b and the lip 30 help to limit, decrease and/or control the flow of material from the storage chamber (not shown) into the sleeve 12 thereby controlling the rate at which material passes from the storage chamber into the sleeve 12. Other embodiments may feature other structures that hold the tamping device 12a in place. There is at least one opening at a first end or top of the sleeve and at least one opening at a second end or bottom of the sleeve. The sleeve 12 of the housing can also feature one or more tabs 18 or protrusions located along an inner surface 12d of the housing 11. In this embodiment, there is also an arrow on the outer surface of the housing 11 that serves as a visual marker for the protrusions 18. These tabs 18 engage a slot (not shown) on the lower or filling section of the housing (not shown). Preferred embodiments of the sleeve 12 of the housing 11 also feature threads 16 on an outer surface at one end of the sleeve 12, the end of the housing 11 that does not engage with the lower section of the housing 11 and in this embodiment is closest to the spokes 12b.

[0034] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show the stem 13 of the housing 11, also called the filling section. The stem 13 features a cavity 20 that is sized and shaped to accommodate some form of receptacle (not shown) into which smokable material is inserted and packed. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 feature openings 13a, 13b at both ends of the stem 13. One end of the housing features a first opening 13a to accept the wrapper and the material that is being placed into the wrapper. As shown in FIG. 2B, the opposing end of the stem 13 has an opening 13b or aperture large enough to accommodate the tamping device 12a shown in FIG. 1B. This opening or aperture 13b communicates with the cavity 20. As explained below, the tamper 12a can be used to push a filled wrapper out of the stem 13 of the housing 11 by inserting the tamping device 12a into the aperture and pushing the filled wrapper up out of the cavity making it easier to grasp.

[0035] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C also show that some embodiments can feature one or more grooves 19 on an outer surface 13c of the stem 12. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 have a stem 13 that is smaller in diameter than the upper sleeve 12 allowing the stem 13 to be inserted into the sleeve 12. In preferred embodiments, the tabs 18 on the inner surface 12d of the sleeve 12 of the housing fit into the grooves 19 that are featured on an outer surface 13c of the stem 13 of the stem 13 thereby guiding the movement of the two sections of the housing 11 when they are joined together. Still other preferred embodiments of the device 10 include a section of the groove 19 that is J-shaped or L-shaped 19a much like a bayonet fitting. These portions of the groove 19 serve to prevent additional vertical movement of the sections relative to one another when the tabs 18 are inserted into these portions of the grooves 19.

[0036] FIG. 2C shows markings 25 on the outer surface 13c of the stem 13 of the device 10. These markings 25 correspond to a certain volume inside the cavity 20 that holds the wrapper and can assist the user in determining when the wrapper has been filled with the desired amount of smokable material.

[0037] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show an embodiment of the storage chamber 14 that is an optional feature of the device 10. In its most basic form, the storage chamber 14 is a housing 14a with a lid 21. At least one set of threads 16 is featured on an inner surface of the housing 14a and are complementary to threads 16 on an outer surface of the sleeve 12. These complementary threads allow the storage chamber 14 to be screwed onto the sleeve 12 of the device 10.

[0038] FIG. 3B shows a preferred embodiment of the lid 21. This embodiment has a single set of threads that are complementary to the threads 16 located on an inner surface 14a of the storage chamber 14. This allows the lid 21 to be threaded onto the storage chamber 14.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the same storage chamber 14 and also shows the lid 21 and the plug 26. The storage chamber 14 can have one continuous set of threads 16 running the entire inside length of the inner surface 14a or it can have two discrete sets of threads 16. Some embodiments of the storage chamber 14 and/or lid 21 feature a plurality of ridges or ribs 23 on an exterior surface 14b to make gripping the housing 14a of the storage chamber 14 easier. Some embodiments of the storage chamber 14 also features fill lines 24a located on an interior surface 14c of the storage chamber 14 that allow the user to measure the volume of material being placed therein.

[0040] In addition, this version of the storage chamber 14 features two openings-one at a first end 14d and one at a second end 14e. The opening at the first end 14d is sealed by a lid 21 featuring threads 16 on an outer surface that are complementary to threads 16 that are located on an inner surface 14c of the housing 14a of the storage chamber 14. In addition, there is a second end 14e that also features threads 16 on an inner surface 14c of the housing 14a that is meant to be sealed by a plug 26, a flattened disc-shaped structure that features threads 16 on an external surface that are complementary to threads 16 on the inner surface 14c of the housing 14a. When engaged with those threads 16 the plug 26 can be seated such that it is either flush with the edge or rim 14f of the housing 14a or it can be positioned to be recessed with respect to that same edge 14f.

[0041] FIG. 3C shows an alternate embodiment of the lid 21 that features two sets of threads 16. There is a first set of threads 16 located on an outer surface 21a of the lid 21. This set of threads can engage with the threads 16 located along the inner surface 14c of the housing 14a. These embodiments of the lid 21 also feature a second set of threads 16 featured by a recessed area 21b of the lid 21. These threads are complementary to those threads 16 featured by the sleeve 12 of the housing 11.

[0042] The storage chamber 14 features a chamber 14c into which smokable material can be inserted. In use, the storage chamber 14 is at least partially filled with material meant to be packed into a wrapper inserted into the cavity 20 featured by the stem 13 of the housing 11. This embodiment of the storage chamber 14 also features fill lines 24a located on an interior surface 14c of the storage chamber 14 that allow the user to measure the volume of material being placed therein.

[0043] The upper and lower sections 12, 13 of the housing 11 are configured to slide against each other. The user can place the assembled device 10 onto a flat surface, grip the lower section of the housing and then move the sleeve 12 of the housing 11 featuring the tamper 12a up and down. Gravity causes the material to fall from the storage chamber 14 through the openings 12c between the spokes 12b and into the wrapper held by the cavity 20 and the up and down movement of the tamper 12a packs the material more tightly into the wrapper. Preferred embodiments of the device 10 have a stem 13 and a sleeve 12 that are sized and shaped such that there is not a lot of friction between the two pieces when they move relative to one another. Properly configured, the fit between the two pieces is loose enough that the sleeve 12 can fall over the stem 13 under the force of gravity, thereby tamping the material into the wrapper without manual manipulation by the user.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows an optional base 15 that can be used with the device 10. The base 15 is a circular, flared structure a central portion 15a of which extends upward and away from a surface on which the base 15 is placed. The base features an opening 15b that can optionally feature tabs 18 sized, shaped and positioned to engage with grooves 19 featured on the outer surface 13c of the stem 13 of the device allowing the user to lock the base 15 onto the device 10 for use.

[0045] To use the device, the threaded lid 21 is removed from the storage chamber 14, smokable material is placed in said chamber and the lid 21 is replaced. The sleeve 12 is pulled upward to separate it from the stem 13 revealing the opening 17 in the top surface of the stem 12 and the cavity 20 with which the opening 17 communicates. A wrapper or other similar smokable receptacle is placed into the cavity 20 and the sleeve is reengaged with the stem engaging the tongue/tab 18 and groove 19 structures if need be. Next the storage chamber 14 is unscrewed from the sleeve 12, inverted and opened by unscrewing the plug 26 that closes an end 14e of the storage chamber 14. The assembled housing 11 is then inverted and screwed into the storage chamber 14 using the same threads 16 on the sleeve 12 that were used to attach the storage chamber 14 to the sleeve 12 originally. The entire device 10 is then inverted and turned right-side up. The smokable material is then in position to fall into the wrapper. Next the user gently lifts the sleeve 12 and drops or allows it to fall back onto the stem 13. The tamper 12a is aligned within the sleeve 12 such that it encounters pushes or packs the smokable material falling into the stem 13 into the wrapper located in the cavity 20. The user tamps the material into the wrapper at the same time that the material falls from the storage chamber 14 into the stem 13 by repeatedly lifting the sleeve 12 and allowing it to fall over the stem 13. As the wrapper is filled with smokable material, the tamper 12a causes the sleeve 12 to stop falling at increasingly higher positions with respect to the stem 13. Some embodiments will feature volume measurements 25 on the outside of the stem 13 such that the user can see how much smokable material has been placed and tamped into the wrapper by noting where the sleeve 12 stops falling with relation to those volume measurements 25. [0046] Clause 1. A device for loading and tamping smokable material into a smokable receptacle or wrapper comprising a housing comprising a stem with a cavity located inside the stem; a sleeve with a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end wherein the first and second openings communicate with an inner space defined by the sleeve; said inner space having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the stem; and a tamping device located inside the sleeve. [0047] Clause 2. The device of Clause 1 wherein the tamping device is positioned along a longitudinal axis of the sleeve and the cavity in the stem extends away from a bottom surface of the stem along a longitudinal axis of said stem to an opening in the top surface of the stem. [0048] Clause 3. The device of Clause 1 further comprising an opening located in and traversing the bottom surface of the stem; and wherein the opening communicates with the cavity. [0049] Clause 4. The device of Clause 1 further comprising a discrete storage chamber removably attached to the sleeve. [0050] Clause 5. The device of Clause 4 further comprising a first opening at a first end of the discrete storage chamber and a second opening at a second end of said storage chamber and at least one set of threads located on an inner surface of the discrete storage chamber. [0051] Clause 6. The device of Clause 4 further comprising a lid with threads that are complementary to the at least one set of threads located on an inner surface of the discrete storage chamber and a plug with threads that are complementary to the at least one set of threads located on an inner surface of the discrete storage chamber. [0052] Clause 7. The device of Clause 1 further comprising a removeable base attached to a bottom surface of the stem. [0053] Clause 8. The device of Clause 1 further comprising at least one groove located on a surface of the stem and extending at least partially from a top surface of the stem to a bottom surface of the stem; and at least one tab located on a surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing. [0054] Clause 9. The device of Clause 8 wherein the at least one groove has a at least one L-shaped portion. [0055] Clause 10. The device of Clause 1 further comprising an annular lip positioned below the first opening in the sleeve. [0056] Clause 11. A device for loading and tamping smokable material into a smokable receptacle or wrapper comprising a cylindrical lower housing with a cylindrical cavity that extends from an open end of the lower housing to an opposing, closed end of the lower housing; an aperture traversing the closed end of the lower housing and communicating with the cavity; and a cylindrical upper housing with a tamper that is positioned to extend at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the upper housing and to insert, at least partially, into the cavity in the lower housing; at least one groove located on an outer surface of the lower housing and extending at least partially from a top of the lower housing to a bottom of the lower housing; wherein the groove has at least one L-shaped portion; and at least one tab located on an inner surface of the upper housing that is sized and positioned to engage with the at least one groove on the lower housing. [0057] Clause 12. The assistive device of Clause 11 further comprising at least one opening at a first end of the upper housing that communicates with a space extending from the opening at the first end of the upper housing to an opening at a second end of the upper housing. [0058] Clause 13. The assistive device of Clause 12 further comprising a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising a housing having at least one open end and a second set of threads located adjacent to the at least one open end; said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing. [0059] Clause 14. The assistive device of Clause 12 further comprising a first set of threads located adjacent to the at least one opening at the first end of the upper housing; a chamber comprising a housing having openings at a first end and a second end of the housing; a second set of threads located an inner surface of the housing; said threads being complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing; a plug having a third set of threads that are complementary to the second set of threads. [0060] Clause 15. The assistive device of Clause 14 wherein the plug is shaped such that it can be screwed into the housing of the chamber to a point where the plug is no longer flush with either the first end or the second end of the housing. [0061] Clause 16. The device of Clause 12 further comprising a set of tines located inside the at least one opening at a first end of the upper housing; and a lip positioned on an inside surface of the upper housing and below the set of tines. [0062] Clause 17. An assistive device for loading smokable material into a cavity comprising an upper housing and a lower housing; wherein a diameter of the lower housing is smaller than a diameter of the upper hosing allowing the lower housing to be at least partially inserted into the upper housing; a tamper featured by the upper housing and configured to be inserted into a cavity featured by the lower housing; a groove on an outer surface of the lower housing and a tab attached to the upper housing and that fits into and can slide along the length of the groove; a plurality of openings in a top of the upper housing that communicate with a channel that runs the length of the upper housing and terminates in an opening at a bottom of the upper housing; wherein the lower housing fits into the opening at the bottom of the upper housing. [0063] Clause 18. The assistive device of Clause 17 further comprising an aperture located in a bottom surface of the lower housing wherein said aperture leads to the cavity and is large enough for the tamper to be inserted therein. [0064] Clause 19. The assistive device of Clause 17 further comprising a removable chamber comprising a discrete housing; with a first chamber opening and a second chamber opening at opposing ends of the discrete housing; a second set of threads located proximate to the first chamber opening and a third set of threads located proximate to the second chamber opening; and a lid with a fourth set of threads that are complementary to at least one of the second set of threads or the third set of threads; wherein the second set of threads or the third set of threads on the chamber are complementary to the first set of threads on the upper housing.

[0065] The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, the ability to pack smoking material into a smokable wrapper without having to manually add the material to the wrapper. This device makes it considerably easier for someone with compromised dexterity in their hands to fill a wrapper with smokable material without assistance. Most prior art devices depend on the vibrations of the device to fill a wrapper with smokable material.

[0066] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0067] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0068] It is understood that the above-described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0069] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.