Inventors: Matthew James Bickerton and Michael Lee Simpson

Title of Invention: Home-Fill Kit for Flower Sticks

Attorney Docket: FPLNT-PCT03

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to prior-filed U.S. Application 63/236,608 filed August 24, 2021, of which the entire contents thereof are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

Patent disclosures pertaining to the construction and filling of the sticks/cartridges and heating devices may be found in U.S. Application No. 16/509,469 titled "Flower Cartridge Crimping and Filling for Herb Delivery," filed on July 11, 2019 (published as US2020/0015516A1); International Application No. PCT/US2019/41499 titled "Flower Cartridge for Herb Delivery," filed on July 11, 2019 (published as W02020014550A4); Application No. PCT/US2021/044095 titled "Dual Convection and Conduction Oven for Flower Stick" filed on July 31, 2021 (published as WO2022026938A2); Application No. 17/259,461 titled "Flower Cartridge for Herb Delivery" filed July 11, 2019 (published as US2021/0244085A1), of which the entire contents thereof are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTION

The present invention is directed to devices and methods for a user to self-fill flower sticks containing natural consumables for use with a heat-not-burn heating and vaporizer device for the purposes of inhalation.

In the prior art, users of such heaters and vaporizers are limited to filled sticks offered by vendors of natural consumables, who often fill them with specific types of consumables out of many varieties commercially or non-commercially available. The prior filling process fills 500 sticks at once and requires a certain amount of equipment that is not readily accessible for the end user. In response, users have attempted to reuse and refill their own single-use flower sticks, which is generally inconvenient, messy, and resulted in inconsistent experiences.

The present invention enables the user to obtain and fill empty flower sticks with the consumables of their choice in the comfort and privacy of the home or other settings. Additional advantages include the ability to customize the dosage and strength of the consumables and to fill closer to a date where the consumables are fresh.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The home-fill kit comprises essentially a flower sticks pack, a pack holder, and a tamper. The user begins with a flower sticks pack, snaps it open, and inserts it into the pack holder, positioning the open lid of the pack to slide through a slot in the holder so the flower sticks can be exposed in the filling position. The user deposits natural consumables within a reservoir of the pack holder, uses an attached flower flicker to maneuver the material into the tamping tubes, and pushes the material into the flower sticks using the tamper. The user removes the pack from the holder and closes the lid to preserve the filled tubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary home-fill kit with the flower sticks pack inserted into a pack holder with a tamper attached.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the elements of a home-fill kit. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the home-fill kit in operation in which some consumables are disposed within a reservoir of the pack holder.

Fig. 4A shows an open flower stick pack with a lid in a partially open position.

Fig. 4B is a front view of an unopened flower stick pack with the perforated portion visible.

Fig. 4C is a rear view of an unopened flower stick pack with the lid hinge score visible.

Fig. 5 are embodiments of the arrangement of sticks within a pack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings referred to herein are for the purpose of illustrating the preferred embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same.

Fig. 1 is a drawing of an embodiment of the home-fill kit comprising of at least a pack holder 10, a tamper 11, a flower sticks pack 12, which is a carton with snap-open lid 13 with a plurality of flower sticks 14 arranged inside the pack. The lid is illustrated in an open position and held back by the pack holder. The pack may be reclosed for easy storage, transport, to prevent debris from entering unfilled sticks, or preserve the freshness of filled sticks.

Fig. 2 is an exploded drawing of the various elements of the home-fill kit as they fit together. The pack holder 10 comprises of at least a cavity 22 adapted to hold flower sticks pack 12 in either the open-lid or closed-lid configuration; a slot 23; a finger window 26; a reservoir 24; tamping tubes 25. In a preferred embodiment, holder 10 is made of high density or ABS plastic, although any suitable material such as metal may be used. The holder may be made of transparent or translucent material to give a visual indication of its contents.

The tamper 11 has a generally contoured shape that matches the curvature of reservoir 24 and contains protrusions 27 adapted to create a clearance fit with tamping tubes 25. It also stores a flower flicker 21. Flower sticks pack 12 is shown in the open position with the filling ends of flower sticks 14 facing upward. A septum 28 divides the pack into sticks of 10 and the sticks are immobilized by slight compression as the walls of the pack push in on them.

When the flower sticks pack is opened, the lid that is formed by the snap-open packaging is bent to the side, revealing the sticks. The pack comprises snap-open packaging with flower sticks arranged inside in a rigid position such that when the pack is placed in the pack holder, the flower sticks are in alignment with the tamping tubes of the pack holder. Once the pack is opened, the cardboard may become deformed through ordinary handling or wear-and-tear, causing the sticks to fall out of filling position. Nonetheless, the pack may be stabilized and the sticks put into the correct position when inserted into the pack holder, because the holder provides structural reinforcement to the pack.

An exemplary embodiment of a pack contains 20 empty/unfilled sticks arranged in 2-by-10, which may also be referred to in prior disclosures as flower cartridges. Other arrangements or number of sticks is contemplated. In particular, 16 empty sticks, when filled, can hold 2.0 grams of natural consumables. The empty sticks are arranged in the pack such that the filling end (or insertion end, as it is known in related prior disclosures) of each stick faces upwards.

When the user desires to fill the flower sticks, they must employ a pack holder comprising tamping tubes used to receive natural consumables. An exemplary embodiment contains 20 tamping tubes configured to line up precisely with the filling end of the sticks. The holder contains a cavity configured to snugly receive the flower sticks pack with its cover in the open position, and a slot configured to accommodate the position of the lid as the pack slides into the holder. The lid is configured to fold back at the same location as the slot.

The holder additionally contains a reservoir with tamping tubes disposed at the bottom such that when the flower sticks pack is fully inserted with the pack holder, the tamping tubes line up with the flower sticks. The sizing of the tamping tubes matches the sizing of the protrusions of the tamper such that they create a clearance fit with the tamping tubes when inserted. The bottom of the tubes also form a clearance fit with the filling ends of the flower sticks to minimize loss of consumables when tamping. Fig. 3 illustrates the filling process in which some natural consumables 30 have been deposited in the reservoir, which may be maneuvered or handled with a flower flicker 21.

Once the pack is inserted into the holder and the filling end exposed, the user places a desired amount of natural consumables into the reservoir of the holder. A brush or spatula may be used to help sweep the consumables into the tamping tubes. In an exemplary embodiment, this reservoir is curve-shaped at the bottom and contains no sharp edges or corners for natural consumables to become entrapped.

Attached to the tamper is a flower flicker, shaped with a handle to facilitate its removal from the tamper, with a width and contour to match the width and contour of the reservoir in cross-section. The user may remove this implement to aid in maneuvering the natural consumables into the tamping tubes. The matching contours ensures a minimal amount of leftover consumables remain in the reservoir, where it cannot be tamped into the flower sticks.

When the desired amount of consumables has been arranged into the tubes the tamper is inserted into the reservoir, pushing the natural consumables down into the flower sticks. When the tamper comes to rest against the contours of the reservoir, the protrusions would have reached the level of the top of the filling end of the sticks, and maximum compression of the natural consumables is achieved. In an exemplary embodiment, the protrusions are slightly longer (0.5-lmm) than the tubes, such that the ground flower is pushed slightly below the top of the filling end. When the tamper is removed, the natural consumables under compression would spring back to a level approximately equal to the top of the filling end, resulting in the creation of an even or flat surface where the consumables are exposed.

Upon completion of the process, the flower sticks pack may be removed from the holder and the lid closed for future use of the filled sticks. Since pushing or pulling the pack by the lid may tear it off the pack or damage it, a finger window 26 is provided. The user may remove the pack easily from the holder by pushing it through the finger window.

In an exemplary embodiment, the flower sticks pack is made of paper flower stick tubes and the carton made of cardboard. The pack holder and tamper are made of high-density plastic or metal or any other suitable material. Any suitable number of sticks may be included in a pack. In another embodiment, a pack holder may be constructed with sufficient clearance for the flower sticks pack to be inserted into the holder with its lid in the closed position, to aid in storage and to protect the pack from deforming.

In another embodiment, a flower flicker comprising a scoop, paddle, or brush attachable to a cover configured to be attachable to the pack holder is disclosed. The cover is configured to function as a tamper, and may be removed to prepare for filling and tamping. The scoop is removable from the cover tamper for use to sweep the consumables into the empty sticks. The width of the flower flicker is the same or less than the width of the upper cavity of the pack holder.

In another embodiment, a tamper with a removable cover is disclosed. A shim is disposed within the cover configured to also function as a tamper. This shim may be removed from the cover and inserted into the pack holder to partially cover some tamping tubes. This embodiment advantageously allows filling of only a portion of tubes based on the user's preferences, such as availability of consumables or desire to maintain freshness.

Fig. 4A illustrates a flower sticks pack 12 with the lid 13 partially open.

The user ordinarily receives a new pack with the lid closed and attached to seam 40. Once the user snaps open the pack, the lid will swing to this configuration which partially or wholly covers the flower sticks, yet do not stay fully closed or open, which is a property of the hinged portion of the cardboard to which the lid attaches to the pack. The advantage of the pack holder 10 is apparently because upon pack insertion, the lid must be pushed back.

Fig. 4B and 4C illustrates certain construction aspects of the flower sticks pack. The pack surface is perforated along perforation 41 at the front. A hinge score line 42 runs along the length of the rear of the pack. Seams 40 runs from perforation 41 to hinge score line 42 along either side of the pack.

These features are pre-cut or preformed. Together, they delineate lid 13. The packs do not need to be sealed or shrink-wrapped like other perishable products, because they are shipped and delivered empty to the user without any natural consumables. The perforation ensures the pack can remain closed without additional packaging. The seam ensures the pack can be easily opened when the lid is actuated. The hinge score line on the pack surface is made via scoring or perforation to ensure the creation of a hinge at the desired location, and to remain aligned with the slot of the pack holder when the pack is inserted.

Fig. 5 shows various embodiments in the number of flower sticks within a pack and their geometric arrangement. Because the pack is required to retain its shape, more precisely during filling with the assistance of a pack holder, specific embodiments where the shape of the pack can be optimally maintained is specifically contemplated. They include a 2-pack; 4-pack arranged in a line; 4-pack forming a square shape; an 8-pack formed by a 2x4 rectangle; an 8-pack formed by a 2-1-2-1-2 stack; and a 16- pack formed by a 2x8 rectangle. It is noted that all arrangements require the sticks to be stacked (the walls of neighboring sticks to be in contact) in order to retain their shapes under compression from each side of the pack.

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically, and individually, indicated to be incorporated by reference.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.