Can for making quiet pack of smokeless tobacco

Abstract

A can for holding and compacting smokeless tobacco has a bottom member and a lid. The bottom member has a closed bottom, an open top, and a first compacting vane located within the bottom member. The lid is adapted to slidably fit on the bottom member and has a second compacting vane located within the lid. The first compacting vane extends partially across the bottom member, and the second compacting vane extends partially across the lid. The vanes are positioned to contact each other when the can is closed and either the lid or the bottom member is rotated. The lid and/or bottom member are adapted to receive graphics. With smokeless tobacco in the closed can, tobacco located between the first and second vanes in the can is compacted into a tight wad by simply rotating the lid, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, relative to the bottom member.

1 . A can for smokeless tobacco comprising:
 a bottom member having a closed bottom, an open top and a wall;   a first compacting vane located in said bottom member and having a first dimension which extends to said wall and a second dimension which extends from said closed bottom to said open top;   a lid for covering the open top of said bottom member and having a closed top and a wall substantially perpendicular to said closed top; and   a second compacting vane located in said lid and having a first dimension which extends to said wall, and a second dimension which extends from said closed top;   wherein a side of said first compacting vane is positioned to contact a side of said second compacting vane when said lid is on said bottom member and said lid is rotated relative to said bottom member.   
     
     
         2 . The can of  claim 1  wherein the lid of the can is adapted to receive a metal disk having engraving or graphics. 
     
     
         3 . The can of  claim 1  wherein the lid of the can is covered with graphics. 
     
     
         4 . The can of  claim 3  wherein said graphics are either painted on the lid or are on a wrap which is on the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The can of  claim 4  wherein graphics are on the side of the can. 
     
     
         6 . The can of  claim 1  wherein said first compacting vane extends along said first dimension from a side of said bottom member to a center of said bottom member. 
     
     
         7 . The can of  claim 6  wherein said first compacting vane extends from the closed bottom to the open top along said second dimension. 
     
     
         8 . The can of  claim 7  wherein said first compacting vane is less than the depth of the bottom member along said second dimension. 
     
     
         9 . The can of  claim 8  wherein said first compacting vane, along said first dimension, does not contact the side of said bottom member. 
     
     
         10 . The can of  claim 1  wherein said first compacting vane, in said first dimension, extends from the closed bottom to the open top. 
     
     
         11 . The can of  claim 1  wherein said second compacting vane located in said lid extends along the second dimension for a distance greater than said wall. 
     
     
         12 . The can of  claim 1  wherein the inside surface of the lid slidably fits on the outside surface of the bottom member. 
     
     
         13 . A method of providing a can for smokeless tobacco comprising the steps of:
 providing a bottom member having a closed bottom, an open top and a wall;   locating a first compacting vane in said bottom member, said vane having a first dimension which extends to said wall and a second dimension which extends from said closed bottom to said open top; and   providing a lid for covering the open top of said bottom member and having a closed top and a wall substantially perpendicular to said closed top;   locating a second compacting vane in said lid, said vane having a first dimension which extends to said wall, and a second dimension which extends from said closed top;   wherein a side of said first compacting vane is positioned to contact a side of said second compacting vane when said lid is on said bottom member and is rotated relative to said bottom member.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said first compacting vane extends along said first dimension from a side of said bottom member to a center of said bottom member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said first compacting vane extends from the closed bottom to the open top along said second dimension. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said first compacting vane is less than the depth of the bottom member along said second dimension. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said first compacting vane, along said first dimension, does not contact the side of said bottom member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said first compacting vane, along said first dimension, extends from the closed bottom to the open top. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said second compacting vane located in said lid extends along the second dimension for a distance greater than the height of said wall. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the inside surface of the lid slidably fits on the outside surface of the bottom member.