초록 ▼

A case for storing tobacco products comprises body having a cavity formed therein. A divider traverses the cavity and defines a boundary between first and second compartments within the cavity. A first lid is pivotally coupled to the body by a first hinge, and a second lid is pivotally coupled to th

A case for storing tobacco products comprises body having a cavity formed therein. A divider traverses the cavity and defines a boundary between first and second compartments within the cavity. A first lid is pivotally coupled to the body by a first hinge, and a second lid is pivotally coupled to the body by a second hinge. The first lid can be detachably coupled to the divider so as to enclose the first compartment, and the second lid can be detachably coupled to the divider so as to enclose the second compartment. Preferably, the divider is offset from the medial centerline of the body, so that the first compartment has the same length and depth, but a smaller width, than the second compartment. Thus, the case may be configured such that a single tobacco product can be stored in the first compartment, and multiple tobacco products of the same type can be stored in the second compartment. The first and second compartments are sufficiently sealed when the lids are in the closed position that a burning tobacco product stored in either compartment will be quickly extinguished due to a lack of oxygen when the lid for that compartment is moved to the closed position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A case for storing tobacco products comprising: a body having a cavity formed therein, said body comprising:an inner surface defining an interior boundary of said body and delimiting said cavity;an outer surface defining an exterior boundary of said body; anda lip defining an upper boundary of sa

1. A case for storing tobacco products comprising: a body having a cavity formed therein, said body comprising:an inner surface defining an interior boundary of said body and delimiting said cavity;an outer surface defining an exterior boundary of said body; anda lip defining an upper boundary of said body and circumscribing an open upper end of said cavity, said lip of said body being demarcated by upper edges of said inner and outer surfaces of said body;a divider traversing said cavity and defining a partition between first and second compartments within said cavity;a first lid comprising: an inner surface;an outer surface; anda rim demarcated by peripheral edges of said inner and outer surfaces of said first lid;means for pivotally coupling said first lid to said body such that said first lid can pivot back and forth from an open position, in which said first compartment is accessible through said lip of said body, to a closed position, in which said first compartment is enclosed by said body, said divider, and said first lid, said inner surface of said first lid contacting said lip of said body when said first lid is in said closed position;means for detachably securing said first lid to said divider when said first lid is in said closed position;a second lid comprising: an inner surface;an outer surface; anda rim demarcated by peripheral edges of said inner and outer surfaces of said second lid;means for pivotally coupling said second lid to said body such that said second lid can pivot back and forth from an open position, in which said second compartment is accessible through said lip of said body, to a closed position, in which said second compartment is enclosed by said body, said divider, and said second lid, said inner surface of said second lid contacting said lip of said body when said second lid is in said closed position;means for detachably securing said second lid to said divider when said second lid is in said closed position; anda metal cap comprising first and second lateral portions, a posterior portion, and a lower portion, said metal cap being affixed within said first compartment such that said first lateral portion, said posterior portion, and said lower portion of said metal cap are coupled to said inner surface of said body, and said second lateral portion of said metal cap is coupled to said divider. 2. The case of claim 1 wherein: said divider has a slot formed therein, said divider comprising: a first wall comprising:a first surface partially delimiting said slot;a second surface partially delimiting said first compartment; anda lip defining an upper boundary of said first wall, said lip of said first wall being demarcated by upper edges of said first and second surfaces of said first wall; anda second wall comprising: a first surface partially delimiting said slot;a second surface partially delimiting said second compartment; anda lip defining an upper boundary of said second wall, said lip of said second wall being demarcated by upper edges of said first and second surfaces of said second wall;said means for detachably coupling said first lid to said divider comprises a first arm extending outward from said inner surface of said first lid, said first arm comprising first and second surfaces defining opposite sides of said first arm;said means for detachably coupling said second lid to said divider comprises a second arm extending outward from said inner surface of said second lid, said second arm comprising first and second surfaces defining opposite sides of said second arm; said case is configured such that:said first arm is received within said slot and said first surface of said first arm is positioned flush against said first surface of said first wall to achieve an interference fit between said first arm and said divider when said first lid is in said closed position, and said first arm vacates said slot when said first lid is in said open position; andsaid second arm is received within said slot and said first surface of said second arm is positioned flush against said first surface of said second wall to achieve an interference fit between said second arm and said divider when said second lid is in said closed position, and said second arm vacates said slot when said second lid is in said open position. 3. The case of claim 2 wherein: said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls each comprise a planar lateral portion, said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls being parallel to one another; andsaid inner surface of said body comprises: first and second planar lateral portions that are parallel to each other and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, said first planar lateral portion of said inner surface of said body partially delimiting said first compartment, and said second planar lateral portion of said inner surface of said body partially delimiting said second compartment;planar anterior and posterior portions that are parallel to each other, and that are perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions of said inner surface of said body and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, anterior ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar anterior portion of said inner surface of said body, and posterior ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar posterior portion of said inner surface of said body; anda planar lower portion that is perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions, said planar anterior portion, and said planar posterior portion of said inner surface of said body, and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, lower ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar lower portion of said body. 4. The case of claim 3 wherein: said first wall has a recess formed therein, said lip of said first wall comprising: anterior and posterior portions that are contiguous and coplanar with said lip of said body, said inner surface of said first lid contacting said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said first wall when said first lid is in said closed position; andan intermediate portion extending downward between said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said first wall and delimiting said recess formed in said first wall; andsaid second wall has a recess formed therein, said lip of said second wall comprising: anterior and posterior portions that are contiguous and coplanar with said lip of said body, said inner surface of said second lid contacting said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said second wall when said second lid is in said closed position; andan intermediate portion extending downward between said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said second wall and delimiting said recess formed in said second wall. 5. The case of claim 2 wherein: said rim of said first lid comprises proximal and distal portions that are parallel to each other, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said first lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid when said first lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said rim of said second lid comprises proximal and distal portions that are parallel to each other, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said second lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid when said second lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said inner surfaces of said first and second lids each comprise a planar portion, a proximal end of said first arm being coupled to said planar portion of said inner surface of said first lid, and a proximal end of said second arm being coupled to said planar portion of said inner surface of said second lid;said first and second surfaces of said first arm each comprise a planar portion, said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said first arm being parallel to each other and to said proximal and distal portions of said rim of said first lid, and said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said first arm being perpendicular to said planar portion of said inner surface of said first lid; andsaid first and second surfaces of said second arm each comprise a planar portion, said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said second arm being parallel to each other and to said proximal and distal portions of said rim of said second lid, and said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said second arm being perpendicular to said planar portion of said inner surface of said second lid. 6. The case of claim 5 wherein: distal edges of said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said first arm are parallel to said planar portion of said inner surface of said first lid, and are coupled to each other by a bevel or a chamfer; anddistal edges of said planar portions of said first and second surfaces of said second arm are parallel to said planar portion of said inner surface of said second lid, and are coupled to each other by a bevel or a chamfer. 7. The case of claim 1 wherein: said rim of said first lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said first lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid when said first lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said rim of said second lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said second lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid when said second lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said means for detachably coupling said first lid to said divider comprises a first overhang formed on said divider, and said means for detachably coupling said second lid to said divider comprises a second overhang formed on said divider, said case being configured such that:said first overhang engages said distal portion of said rim of said first lid to achieve a snap fit between said first lid and said divider when said first lid is in said closed position, and said first overhang disengages said distal portion of said rim of said first lid when said first lid is in said open position; andsaid second overhang engages said distal portion of said rim of said second lid to achieve a snap fit between said second lid and said divider when said second lid is in said closed position, and said second overhang disengages said distal portion of said rim of said second lid when said second lid is in said open position. 8. The case of claim 7 wherein: said divider has a slot formed therein, said divider comprising:a first wall comprising: a first surface partially delimiting said slot;a second surface partially delimiting said first compartment; anda lip defining an upper boundary of said first wall, said lip of said first wall comprising anterior and posterior portions that are demarcated by upper edges of said first and second surfaces of said first wall and are contiguous and coplanar with said lip of said body, said inner surface of said first lid contacting said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said first wall when said first lid is in said closed position; anda second wall comprising: a first surface partially delimiting said slot;a second surface partially delimiting said second compartment; anda lip defining an upper boundary of said second wall, said lip of said second wall comprising anterior and posterior portions that are demarcated by upper edges of said first and second surfaces of said second wall and are contiguous and coplanar with said lip of said body, said inner surface of said second lid contacting said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said second wall when said second lid is in said closed position;said means for detachably coupling said first lid to said divider further comprises a first projection extending upward from said first wall between said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said first wall; andsaid means for detachably coupling said second lid to said divider further comprises a second projection extending upward from said second wall between said anterior and posterior portions of said lip of said second wall. 9. The case of claim 8 wherein: said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls each comprise a planar lateral portion, said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls being parallel to one another; said inner surface of said body comprises: first and second planar lateral portions that are parallel to each other and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, said first planar lateral portion of said inner surface of said body partially delimiting said first compartment, and said second planar lateral portion of said inner surface of said body partially delimiting said second compartment;planar anterior and posterior portions that are parallel to each other, and that are perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions of said inner surface of said body and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, anterior ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar anterior portion of said inner surface of said body, and posterior ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar posterior portion of said inner surface of said body; anda planar lower portion that is perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions, said planar anterior portion, and said planar posterior portion of said inner surface of said body, and to said planar lateral portions of said first and second surfaces of said first and second walls, lower ends of said first and second walls being coupled to said planar lower portion of said body;said first and second projections each comprise a planar upper surface;said first overhang comprises a first planar retraction surface extending between said upper edge of said second surface of said first wall and a projecting edge of said planar upper surface of said first projection, said first planar retraction surface and said planar lateral portion of said second surface of said first wall intersecting at a first obtuse refraction angle; andsaid second overhang comprises a second planar retraction surface extending between said upper edge of said second surface of said second wall and a projecting edge of said planar upper surface of said second projection, said second planar retraction surface and said planar lateral portion of said second surface of said second wall intersecting at a second obtuse refraction angle. 10. The case of claim 9 wherein: said first lid has a recess formed therein, said distal portion of said rim of said first lid comprising: anterior and posterior portions that are coplanar with each other, and that are parallel with said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid; andan intermediate portion extending laterally inward between said anterior and posterior portions of said distal portion of said rim of said first lid and delimiting said recess formed in said first lid, said intermediate portion of said distal portion of said rim of said first lid comprising a bevel or chamfer;said second lid has a recess formed therein, said distal portion of said rim of said second lid comprising: anterior and posterior portions that are coplanar with each other, and that are parallel with said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid; andan intermediate portion extending laterally inward between said anterior and posterior portions of said distal portion of said rim of said second lid and delimiting said recess formed in said second lid, said intermediate portion of said distal portion of said rim of said second lid comprising a bevel or chamfer;said case is configured such that:said planar upper surface of said first projection is coplanar with said outer surface of said first lid and said bevel or chamfer of said rim of said first lid is positioned flush against said first planar retraction surface when said first lid is in said closed position; andsaid planar upper surface of said second projection is coplanar with said outer surface of said second lid and said bevel or chamfer of said rim of said second lid is positioned flush against said second planar retraction surface when said second lid is in said closed position. 11. The case of claim 10 wherein: said first lid further comprises a semi-cylindrical projection extending outward from a distal end of said inner surface of said first lid along said bevel or chamfer of said first lid; andsaid second lid further comprises a semi-cylindrical projection extending outward from a distal end of said inner surface of said second lid along said bevel or chamfer of said second lid. 12. The case of claim 1 wherein said divider is offset from a centerline of said cavity, such that said first compartment is smaller than said second compartment, and such that said first lid is smaller than the second lid. 13. The case of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said body comprises: first and second planar lateral portions that are parallel to each other; planar anterior and posterior portions that are parallel to each other, and that are perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions of said outer surface of said body; anda planar lower portion that is perpendicular to said first and second planar lateral portions, said planar anterior portion, and said planar posterior portion of said outer surface of said body. 14. The case of claim 13 wherein: said rim of said first lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said first lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid when said first lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said rim of said second lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said second lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid when said second lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said means for pivotally coupling said first lid to said body comprises a first living hinge coupling said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid to an upper end of said first planar lateral portion of said outer surface of said body; andsaid means for pivotally coupling said second lid to said body comprises a second living hinge coupling said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid to an upper end of said second planar lateral portion of said outer surface of said body. 15. The case of claim 1 further comprising a metal lid coupled to said inner surface of said first lid so as to face said lower portion of said metal cap when said first lid is in said closed position. 16. The case of claim 1 wherein: said rim of said first lid comprises: an anterior portion comprising a principal portion that is coplanar with said outer surface of said body, and a projecting portion formed at a distal end of said anterior portion of said rim of said first lid, said projecting portion of said anterior portion of said rim of said first lid extending outward from said principal portion of said anterior portion of said rim of said first lid so as to overhang said outer surface of said body; anda posterior portion comprising a principal portion that is coplanar with said outer surface of said body, and a projecting portion formed at a distal end of said posterior portion of said rim of said first lid, said projecting portion of said posterior portion of said first lid extending outward from said principal portion of said posterior portion of said rim of said first lid so as to overhang said outer surface of said body; andsaid rim of said second lid comprises: an anterior portion comprising a principal portion that is coplanar with said outer surface of said body, and a projecting portion formed at a distal end of said anterior portion of said rim of said second lid, said projecting portion of said anterior portion of said rim of said second lid extending outward from said principal portion of said anterior portion of said rim of said second lid so as to overhang said outer surface of said body; anda posterior portion comprising a principal portion that is coplanar with said outer surface of said body, and a projecting portion formed at a distal end of said posterior portion of said rim of said second lid, said projecting portion of said posterior portion of said second lid extending outward from said principal portion of said posterior portion of said rim of said second lid so as to overhang said outer surface of said body. 17. The case of claim 1 wherein: said rim of said first lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said first lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said first lid when said first lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said rim of said second lid comprises proximal and distal portions, said case being configured such that said distal portion of said rim of said second lid rotates around said proximal portion of said rim of said second lid when said second lid pivots back and forth from said open position to said closed position;said outer surface of said first lid comprises: a principal portion;an elevated portion formed at a distal end of said outer surface of said first lid, said elevated portion extending upward from said principal portion of said outer surface of said first lid; andsaid outer surface of said second lid comprises: a principal portion;an elevated portion formed at a distal end of said outer surface of said second lid, said elevated portion extending upward from said principal portion of said outer surface of said second lid. 18. The case of claim 17 wherein: said elevated portion of said outer surface of said first lid has a different texture than said principal portion of said outer surface of said first lid; andsaid elevated portion of said outer surface of said second lid has a different texture than said principal portion of said outer surface of said second lid. 19. The case of claim 17 wherein: said elevated portion of said outer surface of said first lid has a different color than said principal portion of said outer surface of said first lid; andsaid elevated portion of said outer surface of said second lid has a different color than said principal portion of said outer surface of said second lid. 20. The case of claim 1 wherein: said inner surface of said second lid comprises:a planar peripheral portion that contacts said lip of said body when said lid is in said closed position; anda planar central portion that projects outward from, and is parallel to, said peripheral portion of said inner surface of said first lid.