IE20140091A1 - Time release, sensory indicating tobacco craving management container - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable, rechargeable, pocket-sized, time-lockable tobacco containment device, easy to use by means of tactile depression sequences, is described. The invention provides a design to help smokers control their cravings by intentionally restricting access to the tobacco by placing their tobacco box inside the said device. When the pre-set time has elapsed, a visual indicator will turn off and a vibrating sensory indication will turn on discreetly alerting the smoker by vibrating allowing them to take out one or more tobacco products before closing said device restricting smoker again.

Description

Title Time release, sensory indicating tobacco craving management container Field of invention [001] The present invention is related to a tobacco addiction inhibiting device and more specifically to reduce tobacco consumption Background [002] Portable pocket sized time lockable tobacco containment device for craving management.

[003] The health risks with smoking tobacco has been well documented with a plethora of tobacco related illnesses, the use of tobacco for many individuals is not a lifestyle choice but a nicotine addiction that has a significant health impact. Additionally, there is a substantial economic cost to the individuals that are addicted to nicotine as the taxes in some countries are the same or higher than the price of the tobacco products making it an extremely expensive habit and also the economic cost to society having to treat all these sick people. Considering the health risks and economical costs, many people desire to quit smoking, but find it difficult because of the severe withdrawals that they go through.

[004] Nicotine withdrawal is the effect that nicotine dependent individuals feel after they discontinue the intake of tobacco products. Nicotine is an addictive substance found most commonly in cigarettes, roiling tobacco, cigars and pipe tobacco. The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal usually appear approximately 2 or 3 hours after the last dose of the drug. The common symptoms are an intense craving for nicotine, anxiety, drowsiness, depression, headaches, and increase in appetite, weight gain and difficulty with concentration. However the more attempts a smoker makes at giving up the greater the likelihood of quitting, because each attempt makes an individual more familiar with nicotine withdrawal symptoms. When people are trying to cut down or give up tobacco products using will power or nicotine replacements products are used, but these can lead to a number of difficulties and will power alone to quit may not be enough and a lot of people end up smoking again proved by the huge number of people smoking in the world has risen to 1.1 billion people according to the world health organisation and millions of people die every year from tobacco related illnesses. To overcome these problems the proposed invention presents a device that instead of abstinence or replacement to control addition to nicotine it encourages the user to control their cravings using the weaning method to slowly reduce their cravings from a large amount to small amount helping with their health and saving them money on expensive tobacco products by using the device the user can train themselves to manage their cravings and learn to deny themselves and over time reduce and cut out tobacco. 2.

[005] Furthermore, it is commonly known that tobacco and alcohol are often linked together and nicotine addicts who are trying to abstain from tobacco find the most difficult time they are tempted is when they are in social situation involving alcohol because their inhibitions weaver and the addict desires control over the situation. The present embodiment offer assistance to overcome, distract or reduce the amount of intake giving a sense of control, reducing the risk of chain smoking the less that is smoked the better for persons health and also saving money in the process and help avoid the morning after regrets of smoking too much and having a ‘smoking hangover' according to cancer research tobacco smoke contains the chemical acetaldehyde which is formed in your tissues when you drink alcohol and smoke tobacco at the same time leading to nasty hangover symptoms.

[006] Another problem arising from social situations involving alcohol and tobacco is friends, family, strangers asking to share one or some of your tobacco products feeling obliged or embarrassed to deny them end up parting with their expensive tobacco by using the presented invention one could just apologise and explain that they would have to wait the pre-determined amount of time hopefully working as a deter ant to the asker, on another note the option is there for the user to take out the tobacco product for themselves and for a friend or family member as sharing tobacco is a very common social practise.

Statement of Invention / Summary [007] The object of the invention is to provide a craving management time lockable tobacco product container to reduce tobacco consumption and inhibit indirect social cravings [008] The containment device comprises a tobacco product receptacle main body with operations electronics compartment and tobacco product compartment, a hinged lid that covers the tobacco product and electronics compartment, which is connected to the said main body by means of a rotating pin, said lid pivoting on said rotating pin provides access to cigarette compartment.

[009] The containment device further comprises an actuating pin which is retracted when operated said action allows lid to pivot on rotating pin offering access to tobacco contents [010] At the point of access granted through means of the timing device in the electronics compartment, sensory signals are activated for notification purposes through means of a miniature vibration motor and led visual indicator [011] These, other advantages and specifications will be made clearer in the figures and detailed descriptions of the invention. 3.

Description of drawings:

[012] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 A-B illustrates various views of a portable, rechargeable, pocket sized time lockable tobacco product dispensing container with single button operation.

Fig. 2 - 2A illustrates cross section view and bottom view respectively of a portable, rechargeable, pocket sized time lockable tobacco product dispensing container with two button operation.

Fig. 3 A-D illustrates the user sequences and timer sequences respectively Fig. 4 is a functional diagram of a circuit for the portable rechargeable, pocket sized time locking tobacco product dispensing container.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment:

[013] The current application and embodiment relates to the invention of a portable, pocket sized, rechargeable, time lockable tobacco craving management, social indirect craving inhibitor container with depressible actuators 9 and 9.1 indicated in isometric view Fig 1. The tobacco craving container includes as seen in Fig 1 a rectangular main body 1, alternative body style arrangements 18, locking pin cavity 5, solenoid activated locking pin 6, an angled hinged lid 2, having a protruding lock pin 3, complete with locking pin receiver 4. As best seen in Fig 1 the interior of the housing is divided into a cigarette cavity tobacco container 14 and an electronics compartment or mechanisms compartment wall 20.

[014] Side elevation Fig 1A shows the main body 1 having a depressible timer initiation actuator 9.1 and lock release button 9, having an individual light indicator 10 and 10.1. The lid and body mating angle 17 to allow clearance of protruding lock pin 3 of lid 2 pivoting on hinge 8.

[015] Front View Fig 1B the lid 2 tobacco craving container lid cavity 15 Fig 2, having protruding locking pin 3, having locking pin hole 4. The main body 1 having a locking pin cavity 5, timer initiation lock 9.1 and release button 9, and body style arrangements 18. 4.

[016] Cross Section Fig 2 the Lid 2 is maintained in its closed position through de energizing of the solenoid 7 of the main body 1 when energized in closed position solenoid 7 disengages the solenoid pin 6 in the main body 1 retracting through the protruding lock pin 3 of the said lid 2 which thus can pivot to the open position on the axis of the hinge pivot point 8 so the user can gain access to the cigarettes within the main body 1. The solenoid 7, rechargeable battery 12, vibration motor 19, circuitry complete with microcontroller 11, micro USB communication and recharging point 13 are compartmentalized from the tobacco container cavity by side wali 20.

[017] The Electronics system 11 of the invention can be broken down into two modules: the power module which includes the micro USB connector 13 as per base view FIG 2A and the battery 12, the main microprocessor module which includes the timer switch, flash memory, operator interface module the solenoid, vibration motor and light indicators as part of the preferred printed circuit or wiring 11. Fig 4 Five volts regulated is drawn through the micro USB 13 on the bottom of the main body 1, energy flows from the micro USB through diode D1 to the controller, capacitors C3 and provide storage and reduce transients on the supply. The voltage converted U1 boosts and regulates the output voltage to five volts, capacitor C3 provides energy storage for the output supply, voltage is then distributed to the battery for charge and the battery is connected to the main circuitry as detailed in fig 4.

[018] The solenoid 7 is deactivated post set time is initiated, the lid is closed and the lock button 9.1 is depressed, this disengages the solenoid pin 6 into the protruding lock pin 3 locking the lid of the dispensing container. When the user activates the timer sequence through the release button 9.1 there is a countdown sequence processed in the micro controller as part of the printed circuit 11 this can be pre-set through 3 configurations as set out in Fig 3A and 3B. Once the timer has elapsed the release fight indicator 10 is energized and the vibration motor 19 is energized for 10 seconds in 2 second intervals to indicate the release button 9 can be depressed to de-energize the solenoid 7 allowing the user access the contents or replenish the container.

[019] The states of operation are (1) timing to open to access cigarettes, (2) lid unlocked (3) lid open, (4) tobacco ready to be extracted (4) Lid closed, (5) Lid locked (6) set time sequence 5 minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes. The indicator light 10.1 will flash based on timer sequence selected notifying the user to their preferred settings. The vibration motor 19 is a silent indicator for discreet notification of potential accessibility to the container.

[020] While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims. .

Claims (14)

1. Crave Cage - Ciaims

1. A portable, rechargeable, pocket sized time lockable, craving management, social craving inhibitor tobacco product container, comprising of an aesthetically pleasing designed lightweight tobacco product container configured with a time release locking mechanism attached to a hinged lid with vibrating indicator, light indicators and HMI devices to allow interaction with the time release or locking mechanism features

2. The time-lockable system of Claim 1, further includes formed on the main body or on the pivoting lid, interface depressible actuators only for user interface combined with operational lights and vibration indicator

3. The time lockable system of Claim 1, further including a power source, a miniature solenoid or motor configured to cause the time-driven locking mechanism to lock or release, a miniature vibrating motor option to highlight activation points, printed circuit board and or cabling connecting circuitry,

4. A portable, rechargeable, pocket sized time lockable tobacco product container - a pivoting lockable lid - a main body - a rechargeable power source positioned in the main body or lid - a micro USB charge point and or data transfer point mounted into the main body - a user interface mechanism formed on the housing - a locking mechanism in the main body with a key in the lid to receive the actuator pin - a timing mechanism configurable or programmable to receive inputs from the user interface mechanism, wherein the timing mechanism in part determines the period of locked or unlocked state for the locking mechanism and a main body tobacco product container to house the individual tobacco products or the packaged tobacco product having an interface point containing a portion of the locking mechanism of the pivoting lid. - A vibrating indicator wherein a vibration generating motor is fitted to the main body acting as a sensory indicator of a timing result - a visual indicator in the form of an Led emitter or multiple emitters formed in the main body casing

5. The time lockable storage system of ciaim 4 wherein the main body will house the miniature electronic PLC and or a microcontroller for timing operations, control sequences, activations and logic controls

6. The time lockable storage system of claim 4 wherein the main body further comprising the power source to power the solenoid, timer controls, led, digital display, piezo vibrator and other circuitry 6.

7. The main body of claim 4 wherein the timing mechanism is activated via the actuation of a depressible actuator or actuators that are proportionally part of the main body

8. The time lockable storage system of claim 6 wherein an insufficient power source or removed power source causes the locking mechanism to return to lock position.

9. The time lockable storage system of claim 4 wherein the user interface in the main body is highlighted by a light emitting diode, reflective strip, a coloured indicator or inclusion of all variants.

10. The time lockable storage system of claim 4 wherein the activation of the user interface is engaged through a single button or multiple button arrangements with smooth or tactile embossments or engravings

11. The main body of claim 4 wherein the micro-usb communication and or charging point will be housed in the underside of the main body with optional removable cover to protect from foreign bodies entering the cavity

12. The time lockable storage system of claim 4 wherein a pivoting lid comprising: - a cavity - a locking pin encompassing a receiver hole for the solenoid pin - an embossment or engraving of branding to any of the faces.

13. The main body of claim 1 will be designed to mask the negative imagery of the tobacco product box and highlight the brand of the tobacco product, the main body design will have multiple variants to cater for the various brands and variants in the tobacco product packaging,

14. The main body of claim 1 wiil be designed to allow an area to display branding messages, advertisements and other text or logo based information.