Wearable case for smoking articles and lighter

Abstract

A wearable case sized to contain smoking articles, adapted to retain a lighter includes a receptacle and hollow cap. The case includes a niche into which the cap can be upended and lodged to serve as an ash tray. The case may be worn around the neck or on a limb.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A smoking-article-and-lighter combination case comprising:
 a receptacle ( 12 ) arranged about a first axis (X-X), wherein the receptacle ( 12 ) includes opposite end portions ( 15 ,  17 ), and wherein the receptacle ( 12 ) defines:
 a cavity ( 20 ) arranged about the first axis (X-X) and configured to accommodate at least two smoking articles ( 26 ) within the receptacle ( 12 ); 
 a hollow neck ( 13 ) unitary with one of the opposite end portions ( 15 ), wherein the hollow neck ( 13 ) is configured to accommodate the at least two smoking articles in the cavity ( 20 ); 
 a retainer ( 22 ) unitary with the other of the opposite end portions ( 17 ) and extending therefrom in a direction transverse to the first axis (X-X); and 
 a spaced-apart pair of arcuate arms ( 14 ) disposed between the opposite end portions ( 15 ,  17 ) and extending in the direction transverse to the first axis (X-X); and 
   a hollow cap ( 10 ) having an open-end portion ( 16 ) configured to frictionally engage the hollow neck ( 13 ) to enable the hollow cap ( 10 ) to be removably secured to the hollow neck ( 13 );   wherein the retainer ( 22 ) and the spaced-apart pair of arcuate arms ( 14 ) are operative to accommodate a smoking-article lighter ( 28 ).   
     
     
         2 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer ( 22 ) defines a depression ( 22   a ) dimensioned and configured for frictionally engaging a bottom end portion ( 27 ) of the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ) to enable the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ) to be removably secured within the depression ( 22   a ), wherein the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ) is removably secured to the retainer ( 22 ). 
     
     
         3 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein the spaced-apart pair of arcuate arms ( 14 ) extend around the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ) and have end portions overlaying a lateral side ( 28   a ) of the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ). 
     
     
         4 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two smoking articles are cigars. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two smoking articles are cigarettes. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein portions of the retainer ( 22 ) and portions of the spaced-apart pair of arcuate arms ( 14 ) define a niche ( 18 ) disposed about a second axis (Y-Y) oriented transverse to the first axis (X-X), wherein the retainer ( 22 ) defines a lower jaw ( 22   b ), wherein the spaced-apart pair of arcuate arms ( 14 ) together define an upperjaw ( 14   b ), wherein the niche ( 18 ) is sized and configured for retaining the hollow cap ( 10 ) oriented along the second axis (Y-Y), and wherein portions of the lower jaw ( 22   b ) and upper jaw ( 14   b ) extend along the first axis (X-X) over the hollow cap ( 10 ) when the hollow cap ( 10 ) is retained in the niche ( 18 ). 
     
     
         7 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 6 , wherein when the receptacle ( 12 ) is oriented on a surface (S) parallel to the first axis (X-X) and the hollow cap ( 10 ) is retained in the niche ( 18 ) with the open-end portion ( 16 ) spaced from the surface (S), the open-end portion ( 16 ) of the hollow cap ( 10 ) can be used by a person to collect ash from one of the at least two smoking articles. 
     
     
         8 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 6 , including a band ( 24 ) disposed in the niche ( 18 ) between the receptacle ( 12 ) and the smoking-article lighter ( 28 ), when present. 
     
     
         9 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 8 , wherein the band ( 24 ) has a length to enable the receptacle ( 12 ) to be worn on a preselected region of a person ( 30 ). 
     
     
         10 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the band ( 24 ) possesses a predetermined elasticity value for enabling the receptacle ( 12 ) to be frictionally retained on the preselected region of the person ( 30 ). 
     
     
         11 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected region is a neck. 
     
     
         12 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected region is an upper arm portion or a lower arm portion. 
     
     
         13 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected region is a wrist. 
     
     
         14 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected region is an upper leg portion or a lower leg portion. 
     
     
         15 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 9 , wherein the preselected region is an ankle. 
     
     
         16 . The smoking-article-and-lighter combination case of  claim 1 , wherein the cap has an aperture formed therethrough, further comprising a cord extending through the aperture, the cord being operative to suspend the cap and the receptacle around a user's neck.