Cigarette holding and dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A cigarette holding and dispensing apparatus includes a housing having a first and second dividing wall therein such that first, second and third compartment are defined within the housing. The first dividing wall has a vertical slot therein and into the first and third compartments. A covering is removably positioned on the housing. The covering has an aperture therein extending into the third compartment and an opening extending into said second compartment. A lighter may be positioned in the second compartment and a plurality of cigarettes may be positioned in the third compartment. An actuating assembly is mounted in the first compartment and extends into the third compartment through the first vertical slot for selectively lifting a cigarette upwardly through the aperture in the covering.

1. A cigarette dispensing and lighter holding combination device comprising:
 a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, a first dividing wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall, a second dividing wall extending between said first dividing wall and said front wall, a first compartment being defined between said first dividing wall and said back wall, a second compartment being defined between said second dividing wall and said first side wall and a third compartment being defined between said second dividing wall and said second side wall, said first dividing wall having a vertical slot therein extending upwardly from said bottom wall and into said first and third compartments, a covering being removably positioned on said housing, said covering having an aperture therein extending into said third compartment and an opening therein extending into said second compartment, wherein a lighter may be positioned in said second compartment and a plurality of cigarettes may be positioned in the third compartment; and 
 an actuating assembly being mounted in said first compartment and extending into said third compartment through said first vertical slot for selectively lifting a cigarette upwardly through said aperture in said covering. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating assembly includes:
 a lifting plate positioned in said third compartment and positioned adjacent to said vertical slot; 
 a lifting arm being attached to said lifting plate; and 
 an actuator being integrally coupled to said lifting arm for selectively moving said lifting plate upwardly such that a cigarette positioned on said lifting plate is extended upwardly through said aperture, said actuator extending through said second side wall. 
 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein said vertical slot is positioned adjacent to said second dividing wall. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 2 , further including a panel being positioned between said covering and said first dividing wall, an opening arm being attached to said panel for selectively moving said panel from a first position closing said aperture to a second position opening said aperture, said opening arm being integrally coupled to said actuator such that said opening arm moves said panel to said second position when said lifting arm moves said plate upwardly. 
     
     
       5. A cigarette dispensing and lighter holding combination device comprising:
 a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, a first dividing wall extending from said first side wall to said second side wall, a second dividing wall extending between said first dividing wall and said front wall, said second dividing wall being positioned nearer said first side wall than said second side wall, a first compartment being defined between said first dividing wall and said back wall, a second compartment being defined between said second dividing wall and said first side wall and a third compartment being defined between said second dividing wall and said second side wall, said first dividing wall having a vertical slot therein extending upwardly from said bottom wall and into said first and third compartments, said vertical slot being positioned adjacent to said second dividing wall, a covering being removably positioned on said housing, said covering being spaced from said first dividing wall, said covering having an aperture therein, said aperture extending into said third compartment and being positioned adjacent to said second dividing wall, said covering having an opening extending therethrough and into said second compartment, wherein a lighter may be positioned in said second compartment and a plurality; 
 an actuating assembly being mounted in said first compartment and extending into said third compartment for selectively lifting a cigarette upwardly through said aperture in said covering, said actuating assembly including;
 a lifting plate positioned in said third compartment and positioned adjacent to said vertical slot; 
 a lifting arm being positioned in said first compartment, said lifting arm extending through said slot and being attached to said lifting plate; 
 an actuator being integrally coupled to said lifting arm for selectively moving said lifting plate upwardly such that a cigarette positioned on said lifting plate is extended upwardly through said aperture, said actuator extending through said second side wall; 
 
 a panel being positioned between said covering and said first dividing wall; 
 an opening arm being attached to said panel for selectively moving said panel from a first position closing said aperture to a second position opening said aperture, said opening arm being integrally coupled to said actuator such that said opening arm moves said panel to said second position when said lifting arm moves said plate upwardly. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein said lifting arm includes a vertically orientated first arm having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said first arm is pivotally coupled to said first dividing wall and positioned adjacent to said second side wall, a horizontally orientated second arm includes a first end and a second end, said first end of said second arm is pivotally attached to said first dividing wall and positioned adjacent to said lower end of said first arm, a foot being integrally attached to and extending downwardly and away from said first end of said second arm, said foot extending toward said second side wall, said second end of said second arm being positioned adjacent to an upper end of said slot, a leg being attached to said second end of said second arm and extending downwardly therefrom, a bottom end of said leg being integrally attached to said plate, said actuator extending through the second side wall and being attached to said first arm, wherein depressing said actuator forces said foot downward such that said leg and the attached plate is lifted. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 6 , further including a biasing member, said biasing member being U-shaped and having a first end attached to the first arm and a second end attached to the second arm, said biasing member biasing said second arm toward a horizontal position. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said opening arm includes a first elongated member having first end integrally attached to said panel and a second end positioned adjacent to said bottom wall, said first elongated member having first bend, a second bend and a third bend therein, each of the first, second and third bends each having generally a same angle such that said first elongated member extends downwardly from said covering to said first bend, extends downward and toward said first side wall to said second bend, downward along said first side wall to said third bend and from said third bend toward said second side wall and downward, said second end of said first elongated member being positioned adjacent to said slot and between said slot and said first side wall, a second elongated member being integrally attached to and extending upwardly from said second end of said first elongated member, a elongated member being integrally attached to and extending between a top end of said second elongated member and said upper end of the first arm such that said third elongated member is angled upwardly from said second elongated member to said first arm, wherein depressing of said actuator lifts said second elongated member such that the panel is moved toward said second side wall. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 8 , further including a biasing arm being integrally attached to said first arm and extending toward and abutting said third elongated member, said biasing arm being angled upwardly such that said biasing arm and said third elongated member form an angle directed toward said first arm, said angle having a measurement greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the actuating assembly comprises:
 (a) a lifting plate positioned in the second compartment and positioned adjacent to the vertical slot;   (b) a lifting arm attached to the lifting plate; and   (c) an actuator integrally coupled to the lifting arm for selectively moving the lifting plate upwardly such that a cigarette positioned on the lifting plate is extended upwardly through the aperture, the actuator extending through the second side wall.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:
 (a) a panel positioned between the top cover and the first dividing wall; and   (b) an opening arm attached to the panel for selectively moving the panel from a first position closing the aperture to a second position opening the aperture, the opening arm integrally coupled to the actuator whereby the opening arm moves the panel to the second position when the lifting arm moves the plate upwardly.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus for dispensing cigarettes comprising:
 (a) a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;   (b) a first dividing wall extending from proximate the first side wall to proximate the second side wall and defining a first compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the back wall, and a second compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the front wall; the first dividing wall having a substantially vertical slot therein extending upwardly from the bottom wall and into the first and second compartments, wherein the second compartment is adapted for containing a plurality of cigarettes;   (c) a top cover positioned on the housing and having an aperture therein communicating with the second compartment, wherein the top cover is removably attached to the housing and spaced apart from the first dividing wall;   (d) an actuating assembly positioned in the first compartment and extending into the second compartment through the substantially vertical slot for selectively lifting a cigarette contained in the second compartment upwardly through the aperture in the top cover; wherein the actuating assembly comprises:
 (i) a lifting plate positioned in the second compartment and positioned adjacent to the vertical slot; 
 (ii) a lifting arm positioned in the first compartment, the lifting arm extending through the slot and being attached to the lifting plate; 
 (iii) an actuator integrally coupled to the lifting arm for selectively moving the lifting plate upwardly whereby a cigarette positioned on the lifting plate is extended upwardly through the aperture, the actuator extending through the second side wall; 
 (iv) a panel positioned between the top cover and the first dividing wall; and 
 (v) an opening arm attached to the panel for selectively moving the panel from a first position closing the aperture to a second position opening the aperture, the opening arm being integrally coupled to the actuator whereby the opening arm moves the panel to the second position when the lifting arm moves the plate upwardly. 
   
     
     
       13. An apparatus for dispensing cigarettes comprising:
 (a) a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;   (b) a first dividing wall extending from the first side wall to the second side wall and defining a first compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the back wall, and a second compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the front wall; the first dividing wall having a vertical slot therein extending upwardly from the bottom wall and into the first and second compartments, wherein the second compartment is adapted for containing a plurality of cigarettes;   (c) a top cover positioned on the housing and having an aperture therein communicating with the second compartment, wherein the top cover is removably attached to the housing and spaced apart from the first dividing wall;   (d) an actuating assembly positioned in the first compartment and extending into the second compartment through the vertical slot for selectively lifting a cigarette contained in the second compartment upwardly through the aperture in the top cover, wherein the actuating assembly comprises:
 (i) a lifting plate positioned in the second compartment and positioned adjacent to the vertical slot; 
 (ii) a lifting arm positioned in the first compartment, the lifting arm extending through the slot and being attached to the lifting plate; 
 (iii) an actuator integrally coupled to the lifting arm for selectively moving the lifting plate upwardly whereby a cigarette positioned on the lifting plate is extended upwardly through the aperture, the actuator extending through the second side wall; 
 (iv) a panel positioned between the top cover and the first dividing wall; and 
 (v) an opening arm attached to the panel for selectively moving the panel from a first position closing the aperture to a second position opening the aperture, the opening arm being integrally coupled to the actuator whereby the opening arm moves the panel to the second position when the lifting arm moves the plate upwardly; and 
   (e) wherein the lifting arm includes a vertically orientated first arm having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the first arm is pivotally coupled to the first dividing wall and positioned adjacent to the second side wall, and further comprising:
 (i) a horizontally orientated second arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second arm being pivotally attached to the first dividing wall and positioned adjacent to the lower end of the first arm; 
 (ii) a foot integrally attached to and extending downwardly and away from the first end of the second arm, the foot extending toward the second side wall, the second end of the second arm positioned adjacent to an upper end of the slot; and 
 (iii) a leg attached to the second end of the second arm and extending downwardly therefrom, a bottom end of the leg being integrally attached to the plate, the actuator extending through the second side wall and being attached to the first arm, wherein depressing the actuator urges the foot downward whereby the leg and the attached plate is lifted. 
   
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a substantially U-shaped biasing member having a first end attached to the first arm and a second end attached to the second arm, the biasing member biasing the second arm toward a horizontal position. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a second dividing wall extending between the first dividing wall and the front wall, wherein the second compartment comprises a first section defined by the first side wall and the second dividing wall for containing a cigarette lighter, and a second section defined by the second dividing wall and the second side wall for containing the plurality of cigarettes. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the opening arm includes a first elongated member having a first end integrally attached to the panel, and a second end positioned adjacent to the bottom wall, the first elongated member having a first bend, a second bend and a third bend therein, each of the first, second and third bends having a similar angle whereby the first elongated member extends downwardly from the covering to the first bend, extends downward and toward the first side wall to the second bend, downward along the first side wall to the third bend and from the third bend toward the second side wall and downward, the second end of the first elongated member being positioned adjacent to the slot and between the slot and the first side wall, a second elongated member being integrally attached to and extending upwardly from the second end of the first elongated member, a elongated member being integrally attached to and extending between a top end of the second elongated member and the upper end of the first arm such that the third elongated member is angled upwardly from the second elongated member to the first arm, wherein depressing the actuator lifts the second elongated member whereby the panel is moved toward the second side wall. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a biasing arm integrally attached to the first arm, and extending toward and abutting the third elongated member, the biasing arm angled upwardly wherein the biasing arm and the third elongated member form an angle of greater than ninety degrees directed toward the first arm. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for dispensing cigarettes comprising:
 (a) a housing having a bottom wall, a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;   (b) a first dividing wall extending from proximate the first side wall to proximate the second side wall and defining a first compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the back wall, and a second compartment defined by the first dividing wall and the front wall; the first dividing wall having a substantially vertical slot therein extending upwardly from the bottom wall and into the first and second compartments, wherein the second compartment is adapted for containing a plurality of cigarettes;   (c) a top cover positioned on the housing and having an aperture therein communicating with the second compartment;   (d) an actuating assembly positioned in the first compartment and extending into the second compartment through the substantially vertical slot for selectively lifting a cigarette contained in the second compartment upwardly through the aperture in the top cover;   (e) a panel positioned below the top cover and above the second compartment; and   (f) an opening member operatively connected to the actuating assembly and attached to the panel for selectively sliding the panel from a first position closing the aperture to a second position opening the aperture.