Multi-Compartment Storage Container

Abstract

A multi-compartment storage container for stowing smoking articles and a partially smoked item includes a shell that defines an interior space. The shell has a top that is open. A wall is coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space. The wall extends between a front and a back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell. The wall extends from a bottom of the shell to the top to define a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space. The large compartment is configured to stow smoking articles and the small compartment is configured to stow a lit smoking item. A lid is hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top. The lid is positioned to pivot to sealably close the top to extinguish the lit smoking item.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A multi-compartment storage container comprising:
 a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open;   a wall coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the wall extending between a front and a back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell, the wall extending from a bottom of the shell to the top defining a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space wherein the large compartment is configured for stowing smoking articles and the small compartment is configured for stowing a lit smoking item; and   a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further including the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 the front being dimensionally shorter than the back such that the top is tapered;   the lid being tapered such that the lid and the shell are substantially rectangularly box shaped when the lid is closed; and   a cover panel coupled to an interior surface of the lid such that the cover panel aligns with the wall when the lid is closed such that the small compartment is isolated from the large compartment.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first slot positioned is the shell and extending to the small compartment, the first slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a first plate positioned in the small compartment, the first plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell;   a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;   a first knob coupled to the first slat externally to the shell wherein the first knob is configured for sliding the first plate toward the top for lifting a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment through the top; and   a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , further including the first plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small compartment such that a first gap is positioned between the first plate and the wall, the first plate and the front, and the first plate and the back wherein the first gap is configured for debris to fall from the first plate to a first debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the first plate when the first plate is positioned at the lower end of the first slot. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a panel coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the panel extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell distal from the wall, the panel extending from the bottom of the shell to the top defining a small subcompartment and a large subcompartment within the large compartment wherein the small subcompartment is configured for selectively stowing a second lit smoking item and smoking aids;   a second slot positioned in the shell and extending to the small subcompartment, the second slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a second plate positioned in the small subcompartment, the second plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell;   a second slat coupled to the second plate and extending through the second slot;   a second knob coupled to the second slat externally to the shell wherein the second knob is configured for sliding the second plate toward the top for selectively lifting a second extinguished smoking item and the smoking aid from the small subcompartment through the top; and   a second gasket coupled to a circumference of the second slot wherein the second gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the second slat for fixedly positioning the second plate and for sealably closing the second slot.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , further including the second plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small subcompartment such that a second gap is positioned between the second plate and the panel, the second plate and the front, and the second plate and the back wherein the second gap is configured for debris to fall from the second plate to a second debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the second plate when the second plate is positioned at the lower end of the second slot. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a sheet coupled to the front of the shell proximate to the bottom of the shell, the sheet extending from proximate to the opposing sides of the shell, the sheet being coarse such that the sheet is abrasive wherein the sheet is configured for striking a match. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a tab coupled to and extending from a front edge of the lid, the tab being positioned substantially equally distant from the opposing sides of the shell wherein the tab is configured for positioning a digit of a hand for pivoting the lid relative to the shell for opening the top. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , further including the lid comprising a first section and a second section, the first section and the second section being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first section being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second section being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , further including a first protrusion coupled to the first section and a second protrusion coupled to the second section, the first protrusion and the second protrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first section and the second section relative to the shell for opening the small compartment and the large compartment, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 6 , further including the lid comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large subcompartment, third segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small subcompartment. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , further including a first extrusion coupled to the first segment, a second extrusion coupled to the second segment, and a third extrusion coupled to the third segment, the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment relative to the shell for opening the small compartment, the large subcompartment, and the small subcompartment, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . A multi-compartment storage container comprising:
 a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open, the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped, the shell having a front and a back, the front being dimensionally shorter than the back such that the top is tapered;   a wall coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the wall extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell, the wall extending from a bottom of the shell to the top defining a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space wherein the large compartment is configured for stowing smoking articles and the small compartment is configured for stowing a lit smoking item;   a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item, the lid being tapered such that the lid and the shell are substantially rectangularly box shaped when the lid is closed;   a tab coupled to and extending from a front edge of the lid, the tab being positioned substantially equally distant from the opposing sides of the shell wherein the tab is configured for positioning a digit of a hand for pivoting the lid relative to the shell for opening the top;   a cover panel coupled to an interior surface of the lid such that the cover panel aligns with the wall when the lid is closed such that the small compartment is isolated from the large compartment;   a first slot positioned is the shell and extending to the small compartment, the first slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a first plate positioned in the small compartment, the first plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the first plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small compartment such that a first gap is positioned between the first plate and the wall, the first plate and the front, and the first plate and the back wherein the first gap is configured for debris to fall from the first plate to a first debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the first plate when the first plate is positioned at the lower end of the first slot;   a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;   a first knob coupled to the first slat externally to the shell wherein the first knob is configured for sliding the first plate toward the top for lifting a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment through the top;   a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot;   a panel coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the panel extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell distal from the wall, the panel extending from the bottom of the shell to the top defining a small subcompartment and a large subcompartment within the large compartment wherein the small subcompartment is configured for selectively stowing a second lit smoking item and smoking aids;   a second slot positioned in the shell and extending to the small subcompartment, the second slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a second plate positioned in the small subcompartment, the second plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the second plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small subcompartment such that a second gap is positioned between the second plate and the panel, the second plate and the front, and the second plate and the back wherein the second gap is configured for debris to fall from the second plate to a second debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the second plate when the second plate is positioned at the lower end of the second slot;   a second slat coupled to the second plate and extending through the second slot;   a second knob coupled to the second slat externally to the shell wherein the second knob is configured for sliding the second plate toward the top for selectively lifting a second extinguished smoking item and the smoking aid from the small subcompartment through the top; and   a second gasket coupled to a circumference of the second slot wherein the second gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the second slat for fixedly positioning the second plate and for sealably closing the second slot; and   a sheet coupled to the front of the shell proximate to the bottom of the shell, the sheet extending from proximate to the opposing sides of the shell, the sheet being coarse such that the sheet is abrasive wherein the sheet is configured for striking a match.   
     
     
         15 . A multi-compartment storage container comprising:
 a shell defining an interior space, the shell having a top, the top being open, the shell being substantially rectangularly box shaped;   a wall coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the wall extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell, the wall extending from a bottom of the shell to the top defining a small compartment and a large compartment within the interior space wherein the large compartment is configured for stowing smoking articles and the small compartment is configured for stowing a lit smoking item;   a panel coupled to the shell and positioned in the interior space, the panel extending between the front and the back of the shell proximate to a respective opposing side of the shell distal from the wall, the panel extending from the bottom of the shell to the top defining a small subcompartment and a large subcompartment within the large compartment wherein the small subcompartment is configured for selectively stowing a second lit smoking item and smoking aids;   a lid hingedly coupled to the shell proximate to the top wherein the lid is positioned for pivoting for sealably closing the top and extinguishing the lit smoking item, the lid comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment being independently pivotable relative to the shell, the first segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small compartment, the second segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the large subcompartment, third segment being complementary to an upper perimeter of the small subcompartment;   a first extrusion coupled to the first segment, a second extrusion coupled to the second segment, and a third extrusion coupled to the third segment, the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion extending from a front edge of the lid wherein the first extrusion, the second extrusion, and the third extrusion are configured for positioning a digit of a hand for selectively pivoting the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment relative to the shell for opening the small compartment, the large subcompartment, and the small subcompartment, respectively;   a first slot positioned is the shell and extending to the small compartment, the first slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a first plate positioned in the small compartment, the first plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the first plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small compartment such that a first gap is positioned between the first plate and the wall, the first plate and the front, and the first plate and the back wherein the first gap is configured for debris to fall from the first plate to a first debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the first plate when the first plate is positioned at the lower end of the first slot;   a first slat coupled to the first plate and extending through the first slot;   a first knob coupled to the first slat externally to the shell wherein the first knob is configured for sliding the first plate toward the top for lifting a first extinguished smoking item from the small compartment through the top;   a first gasket coupled to a circumference of the first slot wherein the first gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the first slat for fixedly positioning the first plate and for sealably closing the first slot   a second slot positioned in the shell and extending to the small subcompartment, the second slot having an upper end positioned proximate to the top and a lower end positioned proximate to the bottom of the shell;   a second plate positioned in the small subcompartment, the second plate being substantially parallel to the bottom of the shell, the second plate being dimensionally smaller than a cross-section of the small subcompartment such that a second gap is positioned between the second plate and the panel, the second plate and the front, and the second plate and the back wherein the second gap is configured for debris to fall from the second plate to a second debris collection space defined by the bottom of the shell and the second plate when the second plate is positioned at the lower end of the second slot;   a second slat coupled to the second plate and extending through the second slot;   a second knob coupled to the second slat externally to the shell wherein the second knob is configured for sliding the second plate toward the top for selectively lifting a second extinguished smoking item and the smoking aid from the small subcompartment through the top; and   a second gasket coupled to a circumference of the second slot wherein the second gasket is positioned for frictionally coupling to the second slat for fixedly positioning the second plate and for sealably closing the second slot; and   a sheet coupled to the front of the shell proximate to the bottom of the shell, the sheet extending from proximate to the opposing sides of the shell, the sheet being coarse such that the sheet is abrasive wherein the sheet is configured for striking a match.