Cigarette holder and humidifier system

Abstract

A cigarette holder is provided. The holder may include an inner tray to hold and protect the cigarettes, a securing mechanism to secure the lid of the holder to the body of the holder, and an internal humidity control system to regulate the relative humidity (RH) level within the holder at a desired RH level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cigarette holder comprising:
 a housing with an inner volume and a lid, the lid adapted to transition from a first position that seals the inner volume to a second position that opens the inner volume;   a tray adapted to fit within the inner volume and including at least one channel for holding at least one cigarette; and   a holding area formed in the tray and adapted to hold a humidity control device;   wherein the humidity control device regulates the relative humidity within the housing when the lid is in the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein the tray includes a body with a front, a back, a top, and a bottom, and the at least one channel extends between the top and the bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein a portion of a cigarette's circumference fits within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         4 . The cigarette holder of  claim 2  wherein the holding area is formed toward the tray's bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The cigarette holder of  claim 2  wherein the holding area is formed in the tray's back. 
     
     
         6 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein the holding area includes a cavity adapted to hold the humidity control device. 
     
     
         7 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein the humidity control device includes a 2-way humidity control device. 
     
     
         8 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein the humidity control device includes a salt solution device. 
     
     
         9 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  wherein the lid provides an airtight seal when in the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The cigarette holder of  claim 1  further comprising a pad adapted to secure the tray within the inner volume. 
     
     
         11 . A cigarette holder comprising:
 a housing including a front, back, left side, right side, bottom and top defining an inner volume, said top comprising a lid adapted to transition rotationally from a first position that closes the inner volume to a second position that opens the inner volume;   a tray adapted to fit within the inner volume and including at least one vertical channel adapted to hold one cigarette; and   a cavity formed in the tray and adapted to hold a humidity control device;   wherein the humidity control device regulates the relative humidity within the housing when the lid is in the first position.   
     
     
         12 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein a portion of a cigarette's circumference fits within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         13 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the cavity is formed in the bottom of the tray. 
     
     
         14 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the cavity is formed in the back of the tray. 
     
     
         15 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the humidity control device includes a 2-way humidity control device. 
     
     
         16 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the humidity control device includes a salt solution device. 
     
     
         17 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the lid provides an airtight seal to the inner volume when in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  further comprising a pad adapted to secure the tray within the inner volume. 
     
     
         19 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the at least one vertical channel includes a total number of channels selected from the group: two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight. 
     
     
         20 . The cigarette holder of  claim 11  wherein the height of the housing is 50 mm to 120 mm, the width of the housing is 10 mm to 60 mm, and the length of the housing is 5 mm to 8 mm.