Cigarette case with lighter and clock

• US 6,693,850 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Azanaw Mulaw
• Original Assignee: Azanaw Mulaw
• Inventors: Mulaw, Azanaw
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, JEANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/968,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20030063523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/276, 206/249, 206/89, 206/242, 206/85-86, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 131/270
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 15/005 with means for limiting the frequency of smoking, e.g. with time-control, counting means
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/006 combined with a lighter

Abstract

There is provided a cigarette case having a compartment for the storage of cigarettes and a second compartment of for the storage of a removable lighter or, alternatively, a lighter as an integral element of the case. An access door allows the removal of a cigarette from the case and the use of the lighter, while a separate installation door allows a pack of cigarettes to introduced into the cigarette compartment. An integral clock allows a user to set an alarm to sound at either a desired time or after a desired period of time, a feature beneficial to one desiring to limit the frequency of smoking. An adjustable spacer plate within the cigarette compartment accommodates either “regular” or “king” cigarettes. A clip on the back of the case allows for clipping the case to a user'"'"'s belt, a automobile'"'"'s sun visor or other similar object.

Claims

1. A case for cigarettes comprising:

a top, a bottom, a right and a left side, a front and a back, said top, said bottom, said right and left side, said front and said back enclosing a hollow interior,

a first section and a second section formed within said hollow interior, said first section being separated from said second section by an internal partition fixedly attached to at least one of said front, said back and said bottom of said case and substantially normal to each of said front, said back and said bottom of said case,

an access door disposed in said top, said access door allowing access to said first section and said second section when in an open state and to seal said first section and said second section when in a closed state, and

an insertion door disposed in one of said left side and said right side, said insertion door allowing access to said first section when in an open state and to seal said first section when in a closed state,

a spacer plate disposed within said first section, said spacer plate being variably adjustable to change the distance between said top and said spacer plate to accommodate various length of cigarettes.

2. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first section is sized contain cigarettes and said second section is sized contain a lighter.

3. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, wherein said access door and said insertion door are each attached to said case by one of the means:

slidably within a track and hingedly and snap on.

4. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 3, further comprising a release button operatively connected to a latch mechanism for retaining said access door in a closed position until released by said release button.

5. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, wherein said case is formed from at least one of the materials from the group:

a polymer, metal and wood.

6. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, wherein said lighter is one of the group:

a self contained, removable lighter and a lighter formed as a permanent, integral element of said case.

7. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a clock mounted within one of said top, said front, said back, said left side and said right side of said case.

8. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 7, wherein said clock is one of the group:

a digital clock and an analog clock.

9. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 8, wherein said clock further comprises an alarm, said alarm signaling at least one event from the group:

the attainment of a variably setable time and the passing of a variably setable period of time.

10. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a clip affixed to one of said front and said back of said case, said clip adapted for attachment of said case to an object by fastening over an edge of said object.

11. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a spacer plate disposed within said second section, said spacer plate being variably adjustable to change the distance between said top and said spacer plate to accommodate lighters of various lengths.

12. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 11, wherein the height of said spacer plate is adjustable by one method of the group:

a spring forcing said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, at least one hinge raising said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, and a screw adjuster.

13. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 11, wherein said second section further comprises a retention clip proximate the top thereof, said retention clip configured to retain said lighter within said second section.

14. A case for cigarettes, as defined in claim 1, wherein the height of said spacer plate is adjustable by one method of the group:

a spring forcing said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, at least one hinge raising said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, and a removable said spacer plate having a predetermined thickness.

15. A case for cigarettes comprising:

a top, a bottom, a right and a left side, a front and a back, said top, said bottom, said right and left side, said front and said back enclosing a hollow interior,

a first section, sized to contain cigarettes, and a second section, sized to contain a lighter, formed within said hollow interior, said first section being separated from said second section by an internal partition fixedly attached to at least one of said front, said back and said bottom of said case and substantially normal to each of said front, said back and said bottom of said case,

an access door disposed in said top and slidably attached to said case and allowing access to said first section and said second section when in an open state and to seal said first section and said second section when in a closed state, said access door providing access to said lighter and selected ones of said cigarettes, and

an insertion door disposed in one of said left side and said right side, said insertion door allowing access to said first section when in an open state, thereby allowing the insertion a pack of cigarettes and removal of an empty cigarette pack, and to seal said first section when in a closed state,

a release button operatively connected to a latch mechanism for retaining said access door in a closed position until released by said release button,

a spacer plate disposed within said first section, said spacer plate being variably adjustable to change the distance between said top and said spacer plate to accommodate various length of cigarettes, the height of said spacer plate being adjustable by one method of the group;

a spring forcing said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, at least one hinge raising said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case, and a removable spacer plate having a predetermined thickness,

a spacer plate disposed within said second section, said spacer plate being variably adjustable to change the distance between said top and said spacer plate to accommodate lighters of various lengths, the height of said spacer plate being adjustable by one method of the group;

a spring forcing said spacer plate away from said bottom of said case and a screw type adjuster,

a retention clip proximate the top of said second section, said retention clip configured retain said lighter within said second section,

a clock mounted within one of said top, said front, said back, said left side and said right side, said clock further comprising an alarm signaling at least one event from the group;

the attainment of a variably setable time and the passing of a variably setable period time, and

a clip affixed to said back of said case, said clip adapted for attachment of said case to an object by fastening over an edge of said object.

16. A cigarette case, as defined in claim 15, wherein said lighter is one of the group:

a self contained, removable lighter and a lighter formed as a permanent, integral element of said case.

17. A cigarette case, as defined in claim 15, wherein said case is formed from at least one of the materials from the group:

a polymer, metal and wood.