Loose material packing and dispensing device and related methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a propel/repel based loose material dispensing device, a hollow body, a movable platform, and a threaded shaft. The hollow body houses leafy material stored therein and comprises a dispensing opening at one end to dispense the leafy material. The movable platform is housed within the hollow body and may be used to dispense/move leafy material stored within the hollow body as well as compress it. The threaded shaft is operable to removably interface with the movable platform via an adjustable connection that enables a user to adjust the position of the movable platform via a rotatable base at one end of the shaft. The threaded shaft may also be removed from said movable platform and utilized as a packing tool to compress leafy material stored within the tube.

1 . A propel/repel-based dispensing device comprising:
 a. a hollow cylindrical tube operable to store and dispense leafy material comprising a dispensing opening at a first end of said hollow cylindrical tube;   b. a movable platform operable to move and dispense leafy material stored within said hollow cylindrical rube; and   c. a threaded shaft operable to form an adjustable connection with said movable platform and comprising a rotatable base at a first end of said threaded shaft operable to rotate said threaded shaft thereby adjusting the position of said movable platform, said threaded shaft operable to be disconnected from said hollow cylindrical tube such that the threaded shaft can be used to compact said leafy material in said hollow cylindrical tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said threaded shaft is operable to be removed from said movable platform and function as a packing tool to compress leafy material stored within said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second end of said threaded shaft further comprising a packing tip optimized for compaction of leafy material stored within said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable connection comprises a threaded opening on said movable platform with threading that complements threading on said threaded shaft such that the movable platform is operable to move along the threading of the shaft when said rotatable base is rotated. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of said hollow cylindrical tube comprises a securing mechanism operable to removably connect said threaded shaft to said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said securing mechanism is operable to seal said second end of said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said securing mechanism is a slot opening having a shape complementary to the base of said threaded shaft such that said threaded shaft is secured and removed from said slotted opening with the application of force on said threaded shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said movable platform is operable to compress said leafy material when a rigid surface seals said dispensing opening. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said hollow cylindrical tube further comprises a cap operable to interface with and seal said dispensing opening of said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said movable platform is operable to compress leafy material when said movable platform is moved closer to said dispensing opening when said cap is secured to said dispensing opening. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said cap is operable to transport a predetermined amount of compressed loose material from said hollow cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said hollow cylindrical tube comprises a plurality of caps of various sizes to enable a user to transport a desired amount of compressed loose material by selecting a cap of the appropriate size. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of said hollow cylindrical tube comprises a track, and said movable platform comprises an edge complementary to said track such that said movable platform is operable to move along said track when said threaded shaft is rotated. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a match sleeve wrapped around the outer surface of said hollow cylindrical tube comprising a striking surface and a match holder operable to hold at least one match. 
     
     
         15 . A dispensing device comprising:
 a. a hollow body operable to store and dispense leafy material comprising a dispensing opening at a first end and a slot collar on a second end opposite to said first end;   b. a movable platform having threading at the center of the platform and being operable to linearly translate and dispense leafy material stored within said hollow body;   c. a cap operable to seal and store said leafy material in said hollow body at said dispensing opening of said hollow body; and   d. a translation mechanism having a threaded shaft connected to a rigid base with a wedge connector therebetween that is operable to temporarily secure the translation mechanism to said hollow body through said slot collar, wherein said translation mechanism threaded shaft engages with said moveable platform threading and allows a user to rotate said rigid base, thereby linearly advancing said moveable platform and dispensing said leafy material.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said hollow body further comprises at least one linear guide protruding out from an interior surface along a length of said hollow body. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said movable platform further comprises a guide positioned on an exterior surface of said movable platform and having a geometry substantially complementary to said hollow body linear guide. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said translation mechanism is operable to compress said leafy material against an upper interior surface of said cap. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said wedge connector is operable to disengage the translation mechanism from said hollow body while said moveable platform is secured to said threaded shaft and is operable to be used as a compression surface for packing said leafy material. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said hollow body is further comprising a locking interface on an exterior surface of the hollow body and is adjacent to the dispensing end and includes a plurality of cam paths operable to secure said cap. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)