TOBACCO POUCH

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a tobacco pouch (10, 20) comprising a first portion (17, 27), a second portion (18, 28) and a third portion (19, 29), wherein the first portion (17, 27) forms a flap (17'), the second portion (18, 28) and the third portion (19, 29) form an open tobacco compartment (11, 21), wherein a holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette (14) is provided to the third portion (19, 29) of the tobacco pouch (10, 20), wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette have at least one passage (15) comprising a first opening and a second opening for the insertion of a cigarette therethrough.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of accessories for smokers, more particularly to the field of tobacco pouches. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tobacco pouch comprising on one surface of the pouch's tobacco compartment a holding means for holding at least one cigarette.

Background of the invention

[0002] Tobacco pouches have been used by smokers for centuries to hold and transport loose tobacco for rolling cigarettes or preparing a pipe. Tobacco pouches are known in countless different versions, in leather or in plastic, but they all standardly comprise a compartment for holding tobacco.

[0003] Some tobacco pouches known in the art comprise on the outer surface of the tobacco compartment means for holding accessories, such as for instance a lighter, filters, or rolling papers. For instance, the German utility model application DE202011001898U1 discloses a tobacco pouch exhibiting an insertion pocket for receiving a package of rolling paper sheets and holding means for holding a lockable cylinder and/or a lighter. Similarly, the German utility model application DE8404373U1 shows a tobacco pouch comprising on the front of the pouch a pocket which has a slot for cigarette rolling paper sheets. Other knowns pouches provide for pockets for holding for instance cigarette filters.

[0004] Although, as mentioned, a plurality of tobacco pouches with holding means for accessories are known in the state of the art, none of these known devices provide holding means for rolled cigarettes. It would be very advantageous, however, to provide holding means for rolled cigarettes, as cigarettes already rolled could be easily transported and would be immediately available to the smoker. Unfortunately, the holding means provided in the tobacco pouches known in the art, for instance those cited above, are not adapted to hold cigarettes. They are either too large to hold cigarettes or they are so dimensioned that they would damage the cigarettes inserted into such means, e.g. by crushing them.

[0005] It is therefore a goal of the present invention to propose a novel tobacco pouch comprising holding means to hold at least one cigarette without the risk to lose or damage the cigarette.

Summary of the invention

[0006] Thus, the object of the present invention is to propose a novel tobacco pouch, with which the above-described drawbacks of the known device are completely overcome or at least greatly diminished.

[0007] An object of the present invention is, in particular, to propose a tobacco pouch permitting the transport of rolled cigarettes without damaging them.

[0008] According to the present invention, these objects are achieved in particular through the elements of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments follow moreover from the dependent claims and the description.

[0009] In particular, the objects of the present invention are achieved by a tobacco pouch comprising a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein the first portion forms a flap, the second portion and the third portion form an open tobacco compartment, wherein a holding means for holding at least one cigarette is provided to the third portion of the tobacco pouch, wherein the holding means for holding at least one cigarette have at least one passage comprising a first opening and a second opening for the insertion of a cigarette therethrough.

[0010] With this, it is possible to conveniently transport cigarettes, in particular rolled cigarettes, without the risk to damage the cigarettes. A smoker can therefore roll some cigarettes transport them with a pouch according to the present invention and smoke these cigarettes later.

[0011] In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the passage of the holding means for holding at least one cigarette is arranged such that the cigarettes are held substantially parallel to the long axis of the tobacco compartment. This has the advantage that the cigarettes are held in a position that prevents that they slip out of the holding means under the influence of gravity, when the pouch is held in an orientation in which the tobacco cannot escape the tobacco compartment.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette comprises at least two independent passages is arranged to hold at least two cigarettes, each in a respective passage, and the holding means is arranged such that the held cigarettes are not in contact with each other. This is favorable since it guarantees, for instance, that when one cigarette is wet another held cigarette does not become wet.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette comprises a flexible strap arranged to form a passage with the third portion of the tobacco compartment into which a cigarette is insertable. The width or diameter of the passage preferably corresponds to the diameter of cigarette. With this the holding means can easily be fabricated. Only one strap must be added to the known tobacco pouches.

[0014] In one embodiment, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette comprises a flexible strap capable of wrapping around a plurality of cigarettes, wherein an adhering means is provided in between each passage, between the flexible strap and the third portion to hold each cigarette. The adhering means can be a glue, a welding, a hook and loop fastener or any other similar means.

[0015] According to one further embodiment, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette comprises one or more half pipe structures, wherein the diameter of the half pipe structure is about the same as the diameter of a cigarette, preferably the diameter of the half pipe structure is stretchable. The diameter may range from 5.0 mm to 8.0 mm.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width of the holding means for holding at least one cigarette is less than the length of a cigarette to be held, advantageously smaller than half the length of a cigarette to be held. By this means, the held cigarettes are easily accessible to remove them from the holding means. Furthermore, by providing holding means with a width less than the length of the cigarette, the risk that the holding means damages the cigarettes is reduced.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette is made of a plastic. With this the holding means can be made of the same material as the pouch itself and fabricated with the pouch in one manufacturing process.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette is attached to the third portion of the tobacco compartment by means of a heat treatment. This is particularly advantageous when the pouch and the holding means are made of a material which under heat treatment can melt together to form a joint.

[0019] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding means for holding at least one cigarette is at least partially detachable and reattachable. This is advantageous since the access to the held cigarettes is easier. If the holding means are completely detachable, the holding means can be exchanged or used on another pouch. Conveniently, the holding means is at least at one extremity provided with a re-adherable glue allowing for numerous detaching and attaching operations.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, an anchoring area for a cigarette paper booklet is provided on the third portion of the tobacco compartment. With this a paper booklet can be attached on the third portion of the tobacco compartment. The user of the pouch has then at hand papers for rolling cigarettes.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anchoring area is provided with an adhesive for attaching the cigarette paper booklet. By this means, a paper booklet can easily be attached to the anchoring area. The anchoring area could alternatively be provided with a hook and passage fastener that would interact with a hood and passage fastener attached to the paper booklet.

[0022] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive is configured such that the cigarette paper booklet is exchangeable. With this empty paper booklets can be exchanged with a full one.

[0023] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anchoring area is provided on the third portion of the tobacco compartment which is on the same surface as the holding means for holding at least one cigarette. With this, the pouch can be placed on a surface, for instance a table, with the surface not comprising the cigarettes holding means and the anchoring area facing the table, while the users has access at the same time to the holding means as well as the paper booklet attached to the anchoring area.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tobacco pouch comprises a flap arranged such that the tobacco compartment is closable. With the flap the tobacco compartment can conveniently be closed.

[0025] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flap is arranged to cover the at least one cigarette held by the holding means when the tobacco compartment is closed by the flap. By this means, the held cigarettes are covered and protected by the flap.

[0026] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flap is arranged to cover the anchoring area for a cigarette paper booklet when the tobacco compartment is closed by the flap. With this not only the held cigarettes but also the rolling paper of the booklet attached to the anchoring area are covered and protected by the flap.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the tobacco pouch comprises a longitudinal sheet comprising a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein the first portion of the longitudinal sheet forms the flap, the second portion and the third portion forms the open tobacco compartment by sealing two parallel ends.

[0028] In one embodiment, the flap is foldable to cover the third portion such that the open tobacco compartment is covered.

Brief description of the drawings

[0029] 

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a tobacco pouch according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the cigarette holding means; and

Figure 3 is a schematic top view of a tobacco pouch according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0030] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic top view of a tobacco pouch 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pouch 10 comprises an open tobacco compartment 11 that can conveniently be closed by a flap 17'. On the third portion 19 of the tobacco pouch 10, a means 13 for holding the cigarettes 14 is provided. It is important to understand that the holding means 13 is not only capable of holding the cigarettes in the sense of applying a force on them such that the cigarettes cannot escape the holding means during transport of the pouch. It can hold the cigarettes without damaging them. It is of course important since cigarettes are easily damageable.

[0031] As can be seen in Figure 1, the holding means 13 is advantageously configured to hold several cigarettes, for instance two, three or four cigarettes 14 each in a passage 15 (or a loop), respectively. Depending on the size of the compartment 11 even more cigarettes can be held by the means 13.

[0032] Advantageously, the width W of the means 13 is less than the length of the cigarettes 14, preferably less than half the length of the cigarettes 14. The "width W" is considered the dimension of the means 13 in the same direction as the direction of extension of the held cigarette. This is first advantageous since it reduces the risk of damaging the cigarettes and second it permits to have an easy access to remove the cigarettes 14 from the means 13.

[0033] As illustrated in Figure 1, the pouch 10 is arranged such that, when the compartment 11 is closed by the flap 17', the latter covers the cigarettes 14 held by the means 13. This is favorable since the flap 17' protects the cigarettes 14, for instance from the rain, during the transport of the pouch.

[0034] Cigarette 14 are held by the means 13 advantageously parallel to the long axis X of the tobacco compartment 11. This has the advantage that the cigarettes 14 are held in a position that prevents that they slip out of the holding means 13 under the influence of gravity, when the pouch 10 is held in an orientation in which the tobacco cannot escape the tobacco compartment 11.

[0035] Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the means 13 for a holding at least one cigarette. The holding means 13 is in the form of a flexible strap 16 arranged to form with the third portion 19 of the tobacco pouch 10 a passage 15 per cigarette into which a cigarette 14 is insertable. The passages 15 have a minimum width corresponding to the diameter to the cigarette 14, such that they are held in place but without being damaged. The passage may have different widths depending on the direction considered, for example, with the shortest width in a direction orthogonal to the third portion 19. It is foreseeable also that different widths of passages 15 are provided to hold different types of cigarettes having different diameters. The flexible strap 16 can be, advantageously at least at one point, attached to the third portion 19 of the tobacco pouch 10 by means of a heat treatment such as by heat seal. An additional adhesive means 15a can be provided in between passages such that the cigarettes can be tightly held and adjusted thanks to the adhesive means 15a. Such adhesive means can be hook and loop fastener or glue for instance.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be foreseen that the means 13 is at least partially detachable and reattachable to the third portion 19 of the pouch 10, 20. This can be for instance attained by providing at one extremity of the strap 16 a re-adherable strip of glue 12 or a hook-and-loop fastener 12 which is a type of detachable means 13. Detachable means 13 are favorable since the access to the cigarettes is simplified. It can be foreseen that a re-adherable strip of glue 12 or hook and loop fastener 12 is provided at both extremity of the strap 16. By this means, the means 13 can completely be removed from the compartment 11 and placed on the any surface of the pouch. This is also convenient since the means 13 can be exchanged with another means 13 that has for instance passages 15 dimensioned to hold larger cigarettes. Of course, the strips of glues or hook and loop fastener can be provided on the third portion 19 instead or additionally to the strap 16. Nevertheless, the means 13 can be, in the frame of the present invention, fixed and not detachable from the third portion 19.

[0037] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic top view of a tobacco pouch 20 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tobacco pouch 20 is almost identical to the pouch 10 presented in Figure 1. In particular, it comprises also a means 13 for holding cigarettes 14. All the favorable embodiments of the holding means 13 presented above can also be foreseen in the pouch 20.

[0038] Besides the holding means 13, pouch 20 comprises an anchoring area 26 for attaching a cigarette paper booklet on the third portion 29 of the tobacco pouch 20. While the anchoring area 26 is advantageously provided on the same portion 29 of the tobacco compartment 21, it could be provided on another surface without departing from scope of the present invention. An adhesive, favorably a re-adherable glue, or a hook and loop fastener, is provided on the anchoring area 26 for attaching and detaching a paper booklet.

[0039] Furthermore, the pouch 20 can, in addition to the anchoring area 26, provides for holding means 23 for cigarette filters, for instance in the form of a small pocket. The pocket may be closed by a zip lock element or a detachable seal or a ring element. With this all the material required to roll cigarettes can be carried together the pouch and the rolled cigarettes 14 can be held by the means 13. While in Figure 3 the holding means 23 are shown beside the anchoring area 26, it can be placed at another location in the pouch 20, for instance on the inner surface 27a of the flap 27'.

[0040] It is important to note that the flap 17', 27' is configured such that it covers and protects the anchoring area 26, respectively the paper booklet attached to the anchoring area, the cigarettes held by the holding means 13, 23 as well as the means 22 (if such means are provided).

[0041] To this end, it is reiterated that the tobacco pouch according to the present invention has a number of advantages. For instance, it has organized and secure storage of cigarettes and accessories, prevents finished rolled cigarette stick from bending during storage, possibility to store cigarettes for easy and convenient access and separated from tobacco compartment.

[0042] Moreover, it is disclosed herein that typically the tobacco pouch is provided started with a longitudinal sheet. Only one surface of the sheet typically has a printed surface and another surface without. The holding means is provided to the printed surface whereas the surface without printed surface may form the tobacco compartment or the inner side of the flap.

[0043] The material suitable for such longitudinal sheet is for instance 20µm OPP (Oriented Polypropylene) material having surface treatment for ink surface and good printing quality. Nevertheless, these properties increase difficulties during sealing/attaching of the means such as holding means. For this reason, sealing process needs higher sealing time or higher temperature. In this connection, it is preferably that in the area where the means are being provided, untreated printing surface area are being provided or better sealing properties material such as heat active adhesive can be used.

[0044] Width of the holding means can be about 20-50 mm for instance. The holding means can be made with the same material as the tobacco pouch material (2 ply OPP/PE or OPP/Metallized PET /PE). PE (Polyethylene) side is sealing surface and has contact with printed surface pouch. To this end, it is disclosed that the usage of low melting temperature of PE layer helps for easy sealing.

[0045] During forming sealing of the holding means (to the third portion of the tobacco pouch), dummy metal rods may be useful. These rods help the holding means to create the required form (passage/loop for holding cigarette). Diameter of the metal rod is typically slightly bigger than cigarette rod.

[0046] It is also disclosed herein that the sealing process can be conventional heat-sealing or ultrasonic sealing process on a pouch maker machine.

[0047] Finally, it should be pointed out that the foregoing has outlined two pertinent non-limiting embodiments. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications to the disclosed non-limiting embodiments can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. As such, the described non-limiting embodiments ought to be considered merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications. Other beneficial results can be realized by applying the non-limiting embodiments in a different manner or modifying them in ways known to those familiar with the art.

Claims

1. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) comprising a first portion (17, 27), a second portion (18, 28) and a third portion (19, 29), wherein the first portion (17, 27) forms a flap (17'), the second portion (18, 28) and the third portion (19, 29) form an open tobacco compartment (11, 21), wherein a holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette (14) is provided to the third portion (19, 29) of the tobacco pouch (10, 20), wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette have at least one passage (15) comprising a first opening and a second opening for the insertion of a cigarette therethrough.

2. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to claim 1, wherein the passage (15) of the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette (14) is arranged such that the cigarettes are held substantially parallel to the long axis (X) of the tobacco compartment.

3. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the holding means (13) for holding at least one cigarette comprises at least two independent passages (15) to hold at least two cigarettes, each in a respective passage (15), such that the held cigarettes are not in contact with each other.

4. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette (14) comprises a flexible strap arranged to form a passage (15, 25) with the third portion (19, 29) of the tobacco compartment (11, 21) into which a cigarette is insertable.

5. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette (14) comprises a flexible strap and wherein an adhering means (15a) is provided in between each passage (15), and between the strap and the third portion to hold each cigarette.

6. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette comprises one or more half pipe structures, wherein the diameter of the half pipe structure is about the same as the diameter of a cigarette, preferably the diameter of the half pipe structure is stretchable, ranging from 5.0 mm to 8.0 mm.

7. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette is less than the length of a cigarette (14) to be held, advantageously smaller than half the length of a cigarette (14) to be held.

8. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette is made of a plastic.

9. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette is attached to the third portion (19, 29) of the tobacco compartment (11, 21) by means of a heat treatment.

10. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding means (13, 23) for holding at least one cigarette is at least partially detachable and reattachable.

11. Tobacco pouch (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an anchoring area (26) for a cigarette paper booklet is provided on the third portion (29) of the tobacco compartment.

12. Tobacco pouch (20) according to claim 11, wherein the anchoring area (26) is provided with an adhesive for attaching the cigarette paper booklet.

13. Tobacco pouch (20) according any one of the claims 10 to 12, wherein the anchoring area (26) is provided on the same third portion (29) of the tobacco pouch (20) as the holding means (23) for holding at least one cigarette.

14. Tobacco pouch (10, 20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tobacco pouch (10, 20) comprises a longitudinal sheet comprising a first portion (17, 27), a second portion (18, 28) and a third portion (19, 29), wherein the first portion (17, 27) of the longitudinal sheet forms the flap (17'), the second portion (18, 28) and the third portion (19, 29) forms the open tobacco compartment (11, 21) by sealing two parallel ends.

15. Tobacco pouch (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap (17', 27') is foldable to cover the third portion (19, 29) such that the open tobacco compartment (11, 21) is covered.

Drawing