Cigar tube

Abstract

 A cigar tube (1) comprises two circular cylindrical tubular bodies open at one end whereat they are interconnected by mutual engagement to form a closed cigar tube. A first tubular body (2) has a first portion (2a) having the same cross section as the second tubular body (3) and a second portion (2b) extending from the open end, whose cross section is smaller than that of the first portion (2a), allowing it to be fitted into the open end of said second tubular body with a slight press fit, the first portion (2a) and the second portion (2b) of the first tubular body (2) being interconnected by a tapered section (2c).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cigar tube in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Valuable cigars are known to be individually packaged using tubes as described above.

[0003] One of the requirements to be met by cigar tubes is preservation of the physical integrity of the cigar held therein during transportation and until the moment of use. Furthermore, the tube should be able to protect the cigar contained therein from exposure to the environment, e.g. from moisture, and to preserve tobacco. Therefore, it is essential for the cigar tube both to have a rigid construction and to ensure a substantially airtight closure of its interior part.

[0004] As a result of the above requirements, currently available cigar tubes are rigid tubes, preferably made of metal, and have a screw cap.

[0005] Regarding prior art cigar tubes, the need of forming threaded parts both in the body of the tube and in the cap involves technical complications, as well as higher manufacturing costs per tube. This is highly prejudicial in terms of incidence of costs of each cigar tube, considering also that such cigar tube is designed for single use.

[0006] This invention is based on the issue of conceiving a cigar tube which has such structural and functional characteristics as to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks of prior art cigar tubes.

[0007] This problem is solved by the provision of a cigar tube according to claim 1.

[0008] Further features and advantages of the cigar tube of this invention will be apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigar tube of the invention;
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cigar tube of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a front plane view of the tube of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the tube of Figure 1.

[0009] Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 generally designates a cigar tube according to the invention.

[0010] The cigar tube 1 comprises a first tubular body 2 and a second tubular body 3, extending in a prevailing longitudinal direction X-X, which are each open at one end whereat the two bodies are interconnected by mutual engagement, one after the other, to form a closed cigar tube (Figures 1 and 2).

[0011] As shown in the figures, particularly in Figure 2, the second body 3 defines a cap which is as long as about half the length of the first tubular body 2, which defines the base body proper of the cigar tube 1.

[0012] Advantageously:

• the first tubular body 2 has a first portion 2a having substantially the same cross section as said second tubular body 1;
• the first tubular body 2 has a second portion 2b extending from its open end, whose cross section is smaller than that of the first portion 2a, allowing it to be fitted into the open end of the second tubular body 3 with a slight press fit, and
• the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b of the first tubular body 2 being interconnected by a tapered section 2c.

[0013] Preferably, the second portion 2b of said first tubular body 2 has a substantially constant cross section which terminates in a frustoconical leading portion which facilitates fitting of the second portion 2b of the first body 2 into the open end of the second tubular body 3.

[0014] As described above, and in a preferred embodiment, the first tubular body 2 and the second tubular body 3 have a circular section, the second portion 2b of said first tubular body 2 having a substantially constant diameter, which is smaller than the diameter of the first portion 2a.

[0015] In this configuration, the frustoconical leading end portion which facilitates fitting of the second portion 2b of the first body 2 into the open end of the second tubular body 3 is embodied by an end flare.

[0016] The second portion 2b of the first body 2 and the open end of the second tubular body 3 have such size and geometry as to assure exact airtight coupling therebetween. To achieve the above, preferably, the contacting surfaces of the first tubular body 2 and the second tubular body 3 are substantially smooth and have little roughness, to facilitate contact adhesion therebetween.

[0017] The first tubular body 2 and the second tubular body 3 are made of aluminum and have an enameled outer surface.

[0018] In a preferred aspect, the second portion 2b of the first tubular body 2 has a plurality of bosses 4 equally spaced along the circumference and radially projecting out of the surface of the second portion 2b to a predetermined limited length, e.g. equal to or less than 0.1 mm. These bosses form limited contact areas whereat a greater interference is provided with the open end of the second tubular body 3 as compared with the interference created by the remaining surface of the second portion 2b. By way of example, there may be provided two diametrically opposite bosses, three bosses at 120° from each other, like in the illustrated embodiment, or four bosses at 90° from each other.

[0019] As a mere example, the second portion 2b of the first tubular body 2 fits into the open end of the second tubular body 3 through an axial section L whose length is of the order of 1 cm.

[0020] Conveniently, the closed end of the tubular bodies 2 and 3 may be outwardly rounded, as shown, or in a different manner.

[0021] As clearly shown in the above description, the cigar tube of the present invention obviates the prior art drawbacks as set out in the introduction of this disclosure. Such cigar tube provides an airtight closure, in a simple and effective manner, without requiring any threaded parts or any other closure devices, whereby manufacturing costs therefor may be reduced.

[0022] Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the cigar tube as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cigar tube comprising a first tubular body (2) and a second tubular body (3) extending in a prevailing longitudinal direction (X-X), which are open at one end whereat they are interconnected by mutual engagement to form a closed cigar tube (1), characterized in that:

- said first tubular body (2) has a first portion (2a) having substantially the same cross section as said second tubular body (3);

- said first tubular body (2) has a second portion (2b) extending from its open end, whose cross section is smaller than that of said first portion (2a), allowing it to be fitted into the open end of said second tubular body (3) with a slight press fit, and

- said first portion (2a) and said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) are interconnected by a tapered section (2c).

2. A cigar tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) has a substantially constant cross section.

3. A cigar tube as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) has a substantially constant cross section which terminates in a frustoconical leading portion which facilitates fitting of said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) into the open end of said second tubular body (3).

4. A cigar tube as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

- said first tubular body (2) and said second tubular body (3) have a circular section and

- said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) has a substantially constant diameter, smaller than the diameter of the first portion (2a).

5. A cigar tube as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second portion (2b) of said first body terminates in an end flare (2d) which facilitates fitting thereof into the open end of said second tubular body (3).

6. A cigar tube as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the contacting surfaces of said first tubular body (2) and said second tubular body (3) are substantially smooth.

7. A cigar tube as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said first tubular body (2) and said second tubular body (3) are made of aluminum.

8. A cigar tube as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first tubular body (2) and said second tubular body (3) have enameled outer surfaces.

9. A cigar tube as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said second portion (2b) of said first tubular body (2) has a plurality of bosses (4) which radially project out of the wall of said second portion (2b) to a predetermined limited length, said bosses (4) forming limited contact areas, which provide a greater interference with the open end of said second tubular body (3) as compared with the remaining wall of the second portion (2b).

Drawing