Cyclones Intellectual Property Notification March 3, 2004

Notice is hereby given that the Cyclones product is protected by a pending United States Patent Serial # 10/922,048, this patent has been used to gain foreign filing priority in the PCT (EU), Serial PCT/US2004/029882.  Cyclones is a pending trademark filed in the USPTO, CIPO and EU CTM. For intellectual property inquiries please contact:

Chris Perque
Adams & Reese
One Shell Square
701 Poydras, Suite 4500
New Orleans, Louisiana 70139
 

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a product and method of making thereof for the consumption of smokable substances such as tobacco or herbs.  The product is comprised of tobacco, homogenized tobacco and/or natural leaf materials and has a hollow conical shape that allows for the easy insertion of smokable substances and further provides for larger amounts of smokable substances in the end of the product that the consumer lights, resulting in an initial slower prolonged burn and more even distribution of nicotine.  Additionally, the placement of a structure into one end of the hollow cone permits the consumer to consume the majority, if not all, of the smokable substance.   This structure also prevents debris and other unwanted materials from being sucked through the end of the product and into the mouth and respiratory system of the consumer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

            The present invention relates generally to products for the consumption smokable substances, and more particularly to a product and method of making thereof for the consumption of tobacco and other smokable substances having a hollow conical shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

            A segment of the smoking population enjoys smoking hand rolled cigars or cigarettes.  Typically, these individuals purchase rolling papers, tobacco leaves or cigar wrapping materials and hand roll their preferred brand of crushed tobacco, or herbs such as cloves, into a custom-made cigarette or cigar.  The result is a personally customized tobacco or herbal product with superior smell and taste than a prefabricated store bought product.  Hand fabricating cigars or cigarettes is time consuming and requires finger dexterity and skill.

            Prior art includes tobacco products formed by rolling moistened tobacco leaves about a cylindrical form casing to form a shell whereby a consumer can fill the shell with crushed tobacco.  In one embodiment of the prior art a slit is formed through a wall of the shell to allow prying open of the shell to insert the crushed tobacco.  The slit must then be closed and sealed again prior to smoking the product.  In another embodiment, a funnel is used to deposit the crushed tobacco into the ends of the cylindrical shell.

            Disadvantages of these prior art tobacco products include: extended time and requisite finger dexterity required to place crushed tobacco in the end openings of a prefabricated cylindrical shell; extended time and requisite finger dexterity required to pry open a slit in the prefabricated shell and place crushed tobacco into the shell; wasted tobacco or herbal product resulting from the end, or butt, of the cigar or cigarette becoming unholdable due to increased temperatures as the product burns during consumption; tobacco debris sucked through the end of the tobacco product during consumption that ends up in the mouth or respiratory system of the consumer; fast burn rates at the end of the cigar the consumer lights—the end many consumers assert has the best flavor and is most enjoyable; and uneven distributions of nicotine—the result of a generally cylindrically shaped product burning during consumption.

            The present invention addresses these problems by providing a product for the consumption of smokable substances with a novel shape and construction that is easy to utilize and provides for a consistent quality smoke. 

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a product, and method of making thereof, for consumption of tobacco, herbs and other similar smokable substances.  The hollow conical shape of the product allows for the easy insertion of the smokable substance.  The hollow conical shape further permits easy insertion of larger amounts of smokable substances into the end of the product the consumer lights, resulting in an initial slower prolonged burn and more even distribution of nicotine.  Additionally, the placement of a structure into one end of the hollow cone permits the consumer to consume the majority, if not all, of the smokable substance.  This structure further prevents debris and other unwanted materials from being sucked through the end of the product and into the mouth and respiratory system of the consumer.  The result is a product that is easy to use and provides for a superior smoke. 

            The present invention is generally comprised of a first sheet (or sheets) of material, the sheet (or sheets) forming a hollow cone, the hollow cone having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening whereby the second opening has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first opening.  The first sheet (or sheets) of material is comprised of tobacco, homogenized tobacco and/or natural leaf materials.  Additionally, the present invention may have a second sheet (or sheets) of material disposed within the first end of the hollow cone.  The second sheet (or sheets) of material may form a coil.  The present invention may further comprise a container for packaging the hollow cone whereby the cone will be protected and not lose its shape.  Additionally, the present invention may further comprise an elongated member for packing smokable substances into the hollow cone.  The unique shape and structure of the present invention provides for the advantages set forth above.

            The new method of making the above mentioned product for the consumption of tobacco and other smokable substances results in a product that is easy to use and provides for a consistent quality smoke.  Further, the number of steps required for the consumer to produce a final customized smoke is reduced as compared to prior art methods.  In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a first sheet (or sheets) of material, the first sheet of material comprised of tobacco, homogenized tobacco and/or natural leaf material; cutting the first sheet (or sheets) of material to a desired size; and forming the first sheet (or sheets) into a hollow cone, the hollow cone having a first end defining a first opening and a second end defining a second opening whereby the second opening has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first opening.  The method may further comprise the step of placing a second sheet (or sheets) of material within the first end of the hollow cone or it may further include the step of attaching a second sheet (or sheets) of material to the first sheet (or sheets) of material prior to forming the hollow cone, whereby when the hollow cone is formed the second sheet of material is disposed within the first end of the hollow cone.  The second sheet (or sheets) of material may form a coil.  The method may also include the step of packaging the hollow cone in a container.  Additionally, the method may also include the step of providing an elongated member to assist in packing tobacco or herbs into the hollow cone.

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