Method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape

Abstract

A method for manually winding a smoking paper includes providing a flat sheet or sleeve of smokable material with a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween. The base section has two long and two short sides. The wrapper section has a hypotenuse, a base extending from one short side to the hypotenuse, a first cutoff region at an intersection of the base and hypotenuse and a second cutoff region adjacent the first cutoff region and extending at an acute angle between 5° and 60° relative to the one short side. The wrapper section is manually rolled around the base section into a tube with a progressive spiral winding geometry by initially manually grasping the second cutoff region and then the first cutoff region, reducing local bending stress and facilitating uniform manual rolling of the smokable material without tearing or creasing.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape. More particularly, the invention relates to rolling a smoking paper by hand by the action of a smoker into the shape of a tube and optionally a filler made of smokable substances, such as smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials.

[0002] Smoking articles with tube-shaped sleeves are generally known as cigars, cigarillos or cigarettes. Cigars are formed of a filler, a surrounding wrapper holding the filler together and an exterior cover or wrapper. There is a difference between hand-rolled and machined-manufactured smoking articles. Hand-rolled articles are produced in factories in which rolling by hand is done by workers having a great deal of practice and dexterity. Different fillers are used for hand-rolled and machine-manufactured smoking articles. The machine-manufactured products are cigarillos and short cigars which are produced continuously as strands or individually and are cut to length. Cigarettes are formed of a filler placed in a tube-shaped paper sleeve.

[0003] Apart from machine-manufactured cigarettes, fillers and cigarette papers in packages have been available for a long time for the smoker to roll cigarettes by hand or by using simple rolling machines. In this way, the smoker rolls a portion of the cigarette filler in a rectangular cigarette paper and then glues the paper along its lengthwise edge. However, the self-rolled cigarettes may not provide the individual with smoking pleasure comparable to ready-made cigarettes in packages and may not be cost-effective.

[0004] Cigarette smoking is naturally differentiated from cigar or pipe smoking in that it is not concerned with pure filler consumption. The cigarette paper at least impairs the filler aroma and can, additionally, have other influences which the smoker as well as those exposed to second-hand smoke find objectionable.

[0005] There is therefore an incentive for the smoker who rolls his or her own cigarettes to at least replace the cigarette paper with a different. However, it is difficult to manually make a stable cigarette-like product out of fine cuttings for the filler and a sheet or sleeve in the shape of cigarette paper. In particular, in order to permit a leaf to be rolled, it must have a specific moisture content, and when moist, it reacts entirely differently than a leaf of paper. Paper allows itself to be readily rolled by hand in a “dry” condition and lends the necessary stability to the product.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,089 discloses a smoking sleeve with a base part for receiving a filler and a wrapper part to be rolled around the base part. The conventional smoking sleeve is difficult to roll by hand, as described above.

[0007] U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,113,658 and 9,961,935 disclose a smoking product which differs from the above-described smoking sleeve in that it provides a rectangular sheet which may be cut along a diagonal perforation to form the conventional smoking sleeve and an optional cut-off region providing a point to be gripped. However, the smoking sleeve is still difficult to roll by hand.

[0008] U.S. Publication No. 2015 / 0282523 provides a cigarette rolling paper with a curved edge that is tucked-in as the user rolls a cigarette. U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,755 discloses a product formed by rolling moistened leaves in a cylindrical casing for drying. Greek Utility Model GR 2016 / 0200052 teaches a paper for rolling cigarettes having glue covered with a removable strip for sealing the paper. U.S. Publication No. 2021 / 0352957 shows a rolling paper for rolling a tapered filter tip for a cigarette. French Publication FR 1,109,547 discloses a cigarette paper with cut edges which are covered by a gummed edge, but does not relate to a sheet or sleeve with a wrapper part to be rolled around a base part. Such prior art is even further removed from the subject matter of the present invention.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape, which overcomes the herein afore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods of winding smoking papers and smoking articles of this general type and which uses a smoking paper with a custom shape which makes it easier to roll.

[0010] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for manually winding a smoking paper, the method comprising: providing a flat sheet or sleeve formed of smokable material configured to be manually rolled by a consumer, the flat sheet or sleeve having a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween; the generally rectangular base section having two long sides and two short sides; the generally triangular wrapper section having a hypotenuse and having a base extending from one of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section to the hypotenuse; the generally triangular wrapper section including a first cut-off region at an intersection of the base and the hypotenuse, and the generally triangular wrapper section including a second cut-off region disposed adjacent to the first cut-off region and extending at an acute angle of between 5° and 60° relative to the one short side of the generally rectangular base section; and manually rolling the generally triangular wrapper section around the generally rectangular base section into a tube with a progressive spiral winding geometry by initially manually grasping the second cut-off region and then the first cut-off region, thereby reducing local bending stress and facilitating uniform manual rolling of the smokable material without tearing or creasing.

[0011] In accordance with another feature of the invention, a filler is placed on the generally rectangular base section before the rolling step, the filler being located in an interior of the tube after the rolling step.

[0012] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the tube is wound around a mandrel.

[0013] A smoking paper comprises a flat sheet or sleeve having a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween, the generally rectangular base section having two long sides and two short sides, and the generally triangular wrapper section having a hypotenuse and having a base extending from one of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section to the hypotenuse.

[0014] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the base optionally has a cut-off region enclosing an acute angle, preferably between 5° and 60°, with the one short side of the generally rectangular base section. The cut-off region makes it easier for the smoker to wind the smoking paper into a spiral for smoking.

[0015] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cut-off region is a second cut-off region, and the generally triangular wrapper section has a separate first cut-off region at an intersection of the base and the hypotenuse. The first and second cut-off regions together further enhance the winding ability.

[0016] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the first cut-off region is disposed at an end of the second cut-off region facing away from the generally rectangular base section. The first cut-off region may be substantially parallel to the dividing line. Once again winding is enhanced by these features.

[0017] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the sheet or sleeve is formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials. All of these materials may be used in the smoking paper of the invention, according to the wishes of the smoker.

[0018] A smoking article comprises a smoking paper according to the invention, and a filler disposed on the generally rectangular base section, the sheet or sleeve being rolled into a tube with the generally rectangular base section holding the filler in an interior of the tube and the generally triangular wrapper section being wound into a spiral at an exterior of the tube. In this way, the smoking paper of the invention is formed into a fully smokable article.

[0019] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cut-off region is disposed at a mouthpiece end of the tube, and another of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section, located opposite to the one short side, is disposed at an end of the tube to be lighted. This provides an optimal configuration of the smoking article.

[0020] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a mandrel is provided around which the tube is wound for ease of winding.

[0021] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a band circumferentially surrounds the tube for stability.

[0022] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, not only is the sheet or sleeve is formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials, but the filler is also formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials.

[0023] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0024] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

[0025] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic, plan view of a smoking paper having a sheet or sleeve with a first cut-off region according to the prior art;

[0027] FIGS. 1B-1D are plan views of a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape having a second cut-off region according to the invention;

[0028] FIGS. 2A-2G are, respectively, a plan view and perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1C being progressively rolled around a filler;

[0029] FIGS. 3A-3H are, respectively, a plan view and perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B being progressively rolled;

[0030] FIG. 4A-4K are, respectively, a plan view and different perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B being progressively rolled;

[0031] FIGS. 5A-5F are, respectively, a plan view and fully-rolled perspective views of the prior art sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1A;

[0032] FIGS. 6A-6F are, respectively, a plan view and fully rolled perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B; and

[0033] FIGS. 7A-7F are, respectively, a plan view and fully rolled perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1A thereof, there is seen a spread-out sheet or sleeve 1 formed of paper, tobacco leaf or tobacco foil. The sheet or sleeve 1 has a generally rectangular base section 2 and a generally triangular wrapper section 3. The generally rectangular base section 2 has long sides 4, 5 and short sides 6, 7. The long side 4 is indicated as a phantom or dot-dash dividing line which is also a demarcation between the sections 2 and 3. The generally triangular wrapper section 3 has a base 8 and a hypotenuse 9.

[0035] The long sides 4, 5 of the generally rectangular base section 2 have a length of approximately 50 -150 mm and the short sides 6, 7 have a length of approximately 15-75 mm.

[0036] The term “generally rectangular” means that the section 2 is close enough to a purely rectangular shape to permit a filler to be held in place while rolling. The term “generally triangular” means that the section 3 is close enough to a purely triangular shape to permit the section 3 to be spirally wound around the section 2.

[0037] One corner of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 may have a first cut-off region 10, which is approximately vertical and parallel to the phantom line 4. The first cut-off region 10, which may vary in size, is similar to the cut-off region 243 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,113,658 and 9,961,935.

[0038] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1B, the base 8 of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 is cut to produce a second cut-off region 12 which is disposed at an angle relative to the first cut-off region 10 and at an angle relative to the short side 7 of the generally rectangular section 3. The second cut-off region 12 extends over all or most of the base 8 of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 and forms an acute angle α of between 5° and 60° with the short side 7 of the generally rectangular base section 2 shown in FIG. 1C. The second cut-off region 12 makes it easier for the consumer to roll the sheet or sleeve 1.

[0039] It may be seen from FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D that the angle enclosed by the second cut-off region 12 and the short side 7 and possibly part of the base 8 is variable, with the angle being more extreme from FIG. 1B to 1D to 1C.

[0040] FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 1C. Before the sheet or sleeve 1 is rolled, a filler 13 made of smokable substances, such as smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials is placed on the generally rectangular base section 2. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled around the filler 13 and FIG. 2D-2G show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 forming a tube 16 in different perspective views.

[0041] After the sheet or sleeve 1 has been rolled into a smoking article, the cut-off region 12 is disposed at a mouthpiece end of the tube 16, and the short side 6 of the generally rectangular base section 2 is disposed at an end of the tube 16 to be lighted.

[0042] FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 1B. FIGS. 3B-3G also show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled around the filler. FIG. 3H shows an end-elevational view of the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1. It is noted that the second cut-off region 12 is not clearly shown in FIGS. 3B-3E merely because of the angle at which the view is shown.

[0043] FIG. 4A is another view similar to FIG. 1B, FIGS. 4B-4D show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled, and FIGS. 4E-4K show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 in different perspective views.

[0044] FIG. 5A shows the prior art sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1A, and FIGS. 5B-5F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1A in different perspective views. FIGS. 5B-5F also show an optional mandrel 14 around which the sheet or sleeve 1 may be wound. A band 15 may be optionally used to hold the wound sheet or sleeve 1 in place.

[0045] FIG. 6A shows the sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1B and FIGS. 6B-6F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1B in different perspective views.

[0046] FIG. 7A shows the sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1C and FIGS. 7B-7F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1C in different perspective views.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1A thereof, there is seen a spread-out sheet or sleeve 1 formed of paper, tobacco leaf or tobacco foil. The sheet or sleeve 1 has a generally rectangular base section 2 and a generally triangular wrapper section 3. The generally rectangular base section 2 has long sides 4, 5 and short sides 6, 7. The long side 4 is indicated as a phantom or dot-dash dividing line which is also a demarcation between the sections 2 and 3. The generally triangular wrapper section 3 has a base 8 and a hypotenuse 9.

[0035]The long sides 4, 5 of the generally rectangular base section 2 have a length of approximately 50 -150 mm and the short sides 6, 7 have a length of approximately 15-75 mm.

[0036]The term “generally rectangular” means that the section 2 is close enough to a purely rectangular shape to permit a filler to be held in place while rolling. The term “generally triangular” means that the section 3 is clo...

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape. More particularly, the invention relates to rolling a smoking paper by hand by the action of a smoker into the shape of a tube and optionally a filler made of smokable substances, such as smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials.

[0002] Smoking articles with tube-shaped sleeves are generally known as cigars, cigarillos or cigarettes. Cigars are formed of a filler, a surrounding wrapper holding the filler together and an exterior cover or wrapper. There is a difference between hand-rolled and machined-manufactured smoking articles. Hand-rolled articles are produced in factories in which rolling by hand is done by workers having a great deal of practice and dexterity. Different fillers are used for hand-rolled and machine-manufactured smoking articles. The machine-manufactured products are cigarillos and short cigars which are produced continuously as strands or individually and are cut to length. Cigarettes are formed of a filler placed in a tube-shaped paper sleeve.

[0003] Apart from machine-manufactured cigarettes, fillers and cigarette papers in packages have been available for a long time for the smoker to roll cigarettes by hand or by using simple rolling machines. In this way, the smoker rolls a portion of the cigarette filler in a rectangular cigarette paper and then glues the paper along its lengthwise edge. However, the self-rolled cigarettes may not provide the individual with smoking pleasure comparable to ready-made cigarettes in packages and may not be cost-effective.

[0004] Cigarette smoking is naturally differentiated from cigar or pipe smoking in that it is not concerned with pure filler consumption. The cigarette paper at least impairs the filler aroma and can, additionally, have other influences which the smoker as well as those exposed to second-hand smoke find objectionable.

[0005] There is therefore an incentive for the smoker who rolls his or her own cigarettes to at least replace the cigarette paper with a different. However, it is difficult to manually make a stable cigarette-like product out of fine cuttings for the filler and a sheet or sleeve in the shape of cigarette paper. In particular, in order to permit a leaf to be rolled, it must have a specific moisture content, and when moist, it reacts entirely differently than a leaf of paper. Paper allows itself to be readily rolled by hand in a “dry” condition and lends the necessary stability to the product.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,089 discloses a smoking sleeve with a base part for receiving a filler and a wrapper part to be rolled around the base part. The conventional smoking sleeve is difficult to roll by hand, as described above.

[0007] U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,113,658 and 9,961,935 disclose a smoking product which differs from the above-described smoking sleeve in that it provides a rectangular sheet which may be cut along a diagonal perforation to form the conventional smoking sleeve and an optional cut-off region providing a point to be gripped. However, the smoking sleeve is still difficult to roll by hand.

[0008] U.S. Publication No. 2015 / 0282523 provides a cigarette rolling paper with a curved edge that is tucked-in as the user rolls a cigarette. U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,755 discloses a product formed by rolling moistened leaves in a cylindrical casing for drying. Greek Utility Model GR 2016 / 0200052 teaches a paper for rolling cigarettes having glue covered with a removable strip for sealing the paper. U.S. Publication No. 2021 / 0352957 shows a rolling paper for rolling a tapered filter tip for a cigarette. French Publication FR 1,109,547 discloses a cigarette paper with cut edges which are covered by a gummed edge, but does not relate to a sheet or sleeve with a wrapper part to be rolled around a base part. Such prior art is even further removed from the subject matter of the present invention.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape, which overcomes the herein afore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known methods of winding smoking papers and smoking articles of this general type and which uses a smoking paper with a custom shape which makes it easier to roll.

[0010] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method for manually winding a smoking paper, the method comprising: providing a flat sheet or sleeve formed of smokable material configured to be manually rolled by a consumer, the flat sheet or sleeve having a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween; the generally rectangular base section having two long sides and two short sides; the generally triangular wrapper section having a hypotenuse and having a base extending from one of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section to the hypotenuse; the generally triangular wrapper section including a first cut-off region at an intersection of the base and the hypotenuse, and the generally triangular wrapper section including a second cut-off region disposed adjacent to the first cut-off region and extending at an acute angle of between 5° and 60° relative to the one short side of the generally rectangular base section; and manually rolling the generally triangular wrapper section around the generally rectangular base section into a tube with a progressive spiral winding geometry by initially manually grasping the second cut-off region and then the first cut-off region, thereby reducing local bending stress and facilitating uniform manual rolling of the smokable material without tearing or creasing.

[0011] In accordance with another feature of the invention, a filler is placed on the generally rectangular base section before the rolling step, the filler being located in an interior of the tube after the rolling step.

[0012] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the tube is wound around a mandrel.

[0013] A smoking paper comprises a flat sheet or sleeve having a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween, the generally rectangular base section having two long sides and two short sides, and the generally triangular wrapper section having a hypotenuse and having a base extending from one of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section to the hypotenuse.

[0014] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the base optionally has a cut-off region enclosing an acute angle, preferably between 5° and 60°, with the one short side of the generally rectangular base section. The cut-off region makes it easier for the smoker to wind the smoking paper into a spiral for smoking.

[0015] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the cut-off region is a second cut-off region, and the generally triangular wrapper section has a separate first cut-off region at an intersection of the base and the hypotenuse. The first and second cut-off regions together further enhance the winding ability.

[0016] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the first cut-off region is disposed at an end of the second cut-off region facing away from the generally rectangular base section. The first cut-off region may be substantially parallel to the dividing line. Once again winding is enhanced by these features.

[0017] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the sheet or sleeve is formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials. All of these materials may be used in the smoking paper of the invention, according to the wishes of the smoker.

[0018] A smoking article comprises a smoking paper according to the invention, and a filler disposed on the generally rectangular base section, the sheet or sleeve being rolled into a tube with the generally rectangular base section holding the filler in an interior of the tube and the generally triangular wrapper section being wound into a spiral at an exterior of the tube. In this way, the smoking paper of the invention is formed into a fully smokable article.

[0019] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cut-off region is disposed at a mouthpiece end of the tube, and another of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section, located opposite to the one short side, is disposed at an end of the tube to be lighted. This provides an optimal configuration of the smoking article.

[0020] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a mandrel is provided around which the tube is wound for ease of winding.

[0021] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, a band circumferentially surrounds the tube for stability.

[0022] In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, not only is the sheet or sleeve is formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials, but the filler is also formed of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials.

[0023] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

[0024] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method for manually winding a smoking paper including a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

[0025] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic, plan view of a smoking paper having a sheet or sleeve with a first cut-off region according to the prior art;

[0027] FIGS. 1B-1D are plan views of a sheet or sleeve with a custom shape having a second cut-off region according to the invention;

[0028] FIGS. 2A-2G are, respectively, a plan view and perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1C being progressively rolled around a filler;

[0029] FIGS. 3A-3H are, respectively, a plan view and perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B being progressively rolled;

[0030] FIG. 4A-4K are, respectively, a plan view and different perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B being progressively rolled;

[0031] FIGS. 5A-5F are, respectively, a plan view and fully-rolled perspective views of the prior art sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1A;

[0032] FIGS. 6A-6F are, respectively, a plan view and fully rolled perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1B; and

[0033] FIGS. 7A-7F are, respectively, a plan view and fully rolled perspective views of the sheet or sleeve of FIG. 1C.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1A thereof, there is seen a spread-out sheet or sleeve 1 formed of paper, tobacco leaf or tobacco foil. The sheet or sleeve 1 has a generally rectangular base section 2 and a generally triangular wrapper section 3. The generally rectangular base section 2 has long sides 4, 5 and short sides 6, 7. The long side 4 is indicated as a phantom or dot-dash dividing line which is also a demarcation between the sections 2 and 3. The generally triangular wrapper section 3 has a base 8 and a hypotenuse 9.

[0035] The long sides 4, 5 of the generally rectangular base section 2 have a length of approximately 50 -150 mm and the short sides 6, 7 have a length of approximately 15-75 mm.

[0036] The term “generally rectangular” means that the section 2 is close enough to a purely rectangular shape to permit a filler to be held in place while rolling. The term “generally triangular” means that the section 3 is close enough to a purely triangular shape to permit the section 3 to be spirally wound around the section 2.

[0037] One corner of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 may have a first cut-off region 10, which is approximately vertical and parallel to the phantom line 4. The first cut-off region 10, which may vary in size, is similar to the cut-off region 243 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,113,658 and 9,961,935.

[0038] According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1B, the base 8 of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 is cut to produce a second cut-off region 12 which is disposed at an angle relative to the first cut-off region 10 and at an angle relative to the short side 7 of the generally rectangular section 3. The second cut-off region 12 extends over all or most of the base 8 of the generally triangular wrapper section 3 and forms an acute angle α of between 5° and 60° with the short side 7 of the generally rectangular base section 2 shown in FIG. 1C. The second cut-off region 12 makes it easier for the consumer to roll the sheet or sleeve 1.

[0039] It may be seen from FIGS. 1B, 1C and 1D that the angle enclosed by the second cut-off region 12 and the short side 7 and possibly part of the base 8 is variable, with the angle being more extreme from FIG. 1B to 1D to 1C.

[0040] FIG. 2A is a view similar to FIG. 1C. Before the sheet or sleeve 1 is rolled, a filler 13 made of smokable substances, such as smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco and / or natural leaf materials is placed on the generally rectangular base section 2. FIGS. 2B and 2C show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled around the filler 13 and FIG. 2D-2G show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 forming a tube 16 in different perspective views.

[0041] After the sheet or sleeve 1 has been rolled into a smoking article, the cut-off region 12 is disposed at a mouthpiece end of the tube 16, and the short side 6 of the generally rectangular base section 2 is disposed at an end of the tube 16 to be lighted.

[0042] FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIG. 1B. FIGS. 3B-3G also show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled around the filler. FIG. 3H shows an end-elevational view of the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1. It is noted that the second cut-off region 12 is not clearly shown in FIGS. 3B-3E merely because of the angle at which the view is shown.

[0043] FIG. 4A is another view similar to FIG. 1B, FIGS. 4B-4D show the sheet or sleeve 1 being progressively rolled, and FIGS. 4E-4K show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 in different perspective views.

[0044] FIG. 5A shows the prior art sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1A, and FIGS. 5B-5F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1A in different perspective views. FIGS. 5B-5F also show an optional mandrel 14 around which the sheet or sleeve 1 may be wound. A band 15 may be optionally used to hold the wound sheet or sleeve 1 in place.

[0045] FIG. 6A shows the sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1B and FIGS. 6B-6F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1B in different perspective views.

[0046] FIG. 7A shows the sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1C and FIGS. 7B-7F show the fully rolled sheet or sleeve 1 of FIG. 1C in different perspective views.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0034]Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1A thereof, there is seen a spread-out sheet or sleeve 1 formed of paper, tobacco leaf or tobacco foil. The sheet or sleeve 1 has a generally rectangular base section 2 and a generally triangular wrapper section 3. The generally rectangular base section 2 has long sides 4, 5 and short sides 6, 7. The long side 4 is indicated as a phantom or dot-dash dividing line which is also a demarcation between the sections 2 and 3. The generally triangular wrapper section 3 has a base 8 and a hypotenuse 9.

[0035]The long sides 4, 5 of the generally rectangular base section 2 have a length of approximately 50 -150 mm and the short sides 6, 7 have a length of approximately 15-75 mm.

[0036]The term “generally rectangular” means that the section 2 is close enough to a purely rectangular shape to permit a filler to be held in place while rolling. The term “generally triangular” means that the section 3 is clo...

Claims

1. A method for manually winding a smoking paper, the method comprising:providing a flat sheet or sleeve formed of smokable material configured to be manually rolled by a consumer, the flat sheet or sleeve having a generally rectangular base section and a generally triangular wrapper section defining a dividing line therebetween;the generally rectangular base section having two long sides and two short sides;the generally triangular wrapper section having a hypotenuse and having a base extending from one of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section to the hypotenuse;the generally triangular wrapper section including a first cut-off region at an intersection of the base and the hypotenuse, and the generally triangular wrapper section including a second cut-off region disposed adjacent to the first cut-off region and extending at an acute angle of between 5° and 60° relative to the one short side of the generally rectangular base section; andmanually rolling the generally triangular wrapper section around the generally rectangular base section into a tube with a progressive spiral winding geometry by initially manually grasping the second cut-off region and then the first cut-off region, thereby reducing local bending stress and facilitating uniform manual rolling of the smokable material without tearing or creasing.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises placing a filler on the generally rectangular base section before the manual rolling step, the filler being located in an interior of the tube after the rolling step.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises winding the tube around a mandrel.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises placing the first cutoff region at an end of the second cut-off region facing away from the generally rectangular base section.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises aligning the first cutoff region substantially parallel to the dividing line.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the smokable material sheet or sleeve of at least one of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco or natural leaf materials.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises placing the cut-off region at a mouthpiece end of the tube, and locating another of the short sides of the generally rectangular base section, opposite to the one short side, at an end of the tube to be lighted.

8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises circumferentially surrounding the tube with a band.

9. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises forming the filler of at least one of smokable herbs, plants, tobacco, homogenized tobacco or natural leaf materials.

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