US2958416A - Smoking accessory - Google Patents

Description

Nov. l, 960 l. M. CLARK SMOKING ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 2o, 1957 f .lll

United States Patent SMOKING ACCESSURY Ivalee M. Clark, 7029 S. Indiana, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Nov. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 697,672

2 Claims. (Cl. 20G-.38)

This invention relates to a smoking accessory and particularly tto a tobacco product holder.

Because of the crushable characteristic of packaging means utilized with tobacco products such as cigarettes, receptacles are often employed to house the tobacco product when it is carried by the user. One disadvantage of the known receptacles is limited ease of accessibility to the tobacco products within the housing, and another disadvantage is the relatively complicated, and therefo-re costly, means for aiecting the Closure of the housing. Another disadvantage is that completely satisfactory means for associating a lighter therewith have not been developed.

The principal feature of this invention is to provide a new and improved tobacco product holder.

Another feature is the provision of such a holder having new and improved cover means.

A further feature is the provision of such a holder having a cover means provided with means for carrying a lighter for ready accessibility.

Still another feature of the invention is that the cover means comprises a flap removably disposable across an open top of the tobacco product holding means, which flap is maintained closed by the action of the weight of fthe lighter carried thereby.

Yet another feature is that the holder `is adapted to be received in the breast pocket of a persons chest covering clothing, such as a shirt or a coat, and is provided with a iiap arranged to position the lighter outside the pocket so that the lighter may be used without requiring removal of the device from the -users pocket.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a smoking accessory embodying the invention carried by and being used by a person;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the smoking accessory having a tobacco product received therein;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof with the cover member closed; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section thereof taken approximately along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as' disclosed in the drawings, a smoking accessory generally designated is shown to comprise a receptacle or case 11 adapted to hold a tobacco product such as a package of cigarettes 12. The holder is provided with an open top 13 through which the upper end of the cigarette package 12 is accessible. The front upper edge 14 of the receptacle 11 may be depressed somewhat below the other edges defining top 13 to provide improved accessibility to the cigarette package 12.

Extending upwardly from receptacle 11, preferably from the portion 15 thereof opposite front edge 14, is a cover member 16. Portion 15 comprises hinging means to permit the extension of cover 16 alternatively across the open top 13 and upwardly therefrom when desired.

As best seen in Fig. 4, when the cover is extended across open top 13, the top is effectively completely closed, thereby protecting cigarette package 12 within receptacle 11 against contamination by means such as dust, perspiration, etc. When cover member 16 is extended upwardly, as best seen in Fig. 2, cigarette package 12 is readily accessible.

Extending from the free end of cover member 16 opposite portion 15, is an extension 17 associated with cover 16 by means of a hinged connection 18%. When cover member 16 is arranged to extend across top 13, extension 17 hangs downwardly in facial juxtaposition to the front face 19 of receptacle 11. On the front of extension 17 is provided means defining a pocket 20` adapted to receive a conventional pyrophoric cigarette lighter 21. Pocket means 19 is preferably arranged so that when lighter 21 is inserted therein it will be substantially permanently retained by the frictional gripping action thereof. As best seen in Fig. 4, pocket 20 is arranged so that the flame producing mechanism 22 of lighter :21 extends outwardly from the pocket and is, thus, readily accessible for use. The weight of lighter 21 causes extension 17 to act through the connection 18 and urge cover 16 downwardly across top 13 of the receptacle. However, when desired, extension 17 may be readily swung upwardly about connection 18 to swing cover member 15 upwardly about portion 15 (lighter 20 being retained in place in pocket 19) to open the receptacle. To close the receptacle, extension 17 is released and the weight of lighter 20 causes the cover member 16 to swing downwardly and extend closingly across the top 13.

The entire smoking accessory 10 may be formed of a substantially flexible material such as leather or plastic, whereby the exibility thereof automatically provides the hinged functioning of connecting portions 15 and 18. Comprehended within the scope of the invention, however, is an accessory 10 formed of a more rigid material wherein the hinged relationship of extension 17 to cover member 16 and of cover member 16 to receptacle 11 is effected by other suitable hinge means (not shown).

The disclosed structure of smoking accessory 10, has been found to have substantially improved eicacy where the accessory is carried in the breast pocket P of a persons shirt or similar wearing apparel. Thus, as best seen in Fig. l, smoking accessory 10 may be used by placing cigarette package 12 therein and inserting the receptacle portion 11 of the accessory with front face 19 `facing outwardly, into pocket P. The Hap defined by cover member 16 and extension 17 is thus arranged to extend forwardly from rear portion 15 of the receptacle across top 13 thereof and over the front upper edge E of pocket P. Extension 17 thus lies in facial juxtaposition to the pocket P and lighter 21 is completely accessible at all times.

When the user wishes to smoke a cigarette of package 12, he need only grasp extension 17 and raise it (and cover member 16) so that top 13 of lthe receptacle is unobstructed. The holder is allowed to remain in the waist pocket. The selected cigarette is then removed from package 12 and inserted into the users mouth inthe conventional manner. Extension 17 is allowed to fall back to the hanging position, as seen in Fig. l, so that the flame mechanism 21 thereof is disposed uppermost relative to pocket 20 of the extension 17. The mechanism is then operated so as to produce a llame and 'the user need merely tip his head downwardly so that the outer end of the cigarette may be disposed in the flame produced by mechanism 21 whereby the cigarette is properly lighted.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departizatented Nov. 1, 1960 3 ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A 4smoking accessory of the character described, comprising: a pyrophoric lighter having ame producing mechanism at `one end; and a receptacle having an open top, adapted to retain tobacco products to be accessible at said top, and a cover element secured to said receptacle to extend removably across and resultingly close said top and having an extension extending downwardly from said top when the cover element is arranged to close said top and provided with a pocket having an open top, said pocket having a depth substantially equal to the height of the lighter below the ilame producing mechanism to retain the lighter with the flame producing mechanism thereof accessible at the top of said pocket when said extension extends so downwardly, whereby the weight of the lighter' retains the 'cover across said receptacle top, said pocket further being disposed on said extension to position the flame 4producing mechanism of the lighter adjacent the top of the receptacle.

2. The smoking accessory of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is receivable in the pocket of the chest-covering clothing of a person, said receptacle includes a front wall, and said extension is freely movable on said cover to be spaced forwardly of the front wall for receiving a sheet of fabric such as comprising afront portion of a pocket therebetween.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 171,054 Sachar Dec. 8, 1953 1,628,590 Greene May 10, 1927 2,745,456 Rubin May 15, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 938,379 France Feb. 7', 1951 www

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