US20070000502A1

US20070000502A1 - Multifunction Container Device

Info

Publication number: US20070000502A1
Application number: US11/427,379
Authority: US
Inventors: Yura Chong; Matthew Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2006-06-29
Publication date: 2007-01-04
Also published as: WO2007005488A2; WO2007005488A3

Abstract

A multipurpose of multifunction container device is provided that has a body defining at least one storage compartment to contain one or more items therein and a housing section that is designed to contain one or both of: a cutter device useful to cut the tip of items contained in the storage compartment (or other items) and an implement, such as a lighter, flashlight, compass, etc.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the following U.S. Provisional Applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/695,520, filed Jun. 30, 2005;
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/697,485, filed Oct. 17, 2005;
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/712,209, filed Nov. 30, 2005;
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/761,599, filed Jan. 24, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to container devices, and more particular to multipurpose or multifunction container devices of a portable variety.
Multipurpose container devices are useful because they can carry multiple diverse items and implements. For example, it is useful to have a single container device that can carry tobacco items and implements (e.g., lighters and cutters). In addition, such a device can be useful as a personalized gift or as a brand promotional item, where an advertiser's brand is placed on the device. Such devices are becoming very popular. In addition, a multipurpose container device may also be useful to carry items and implements for camping activities.
What is needed is a stylishly designed multipurpose or multifunction container device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of a container device according to a first embodiment.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are side views of a container device according to the first embodiment showing its modes of operation.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a container device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the container device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the container device according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a container device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a container device according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a container device according to a variation of the third embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a cutter arm useful in the various embodiments described herein.
FIG. 13 is a front view of the cutter arm shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a container device according to a fourth embodiment.
FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views of a container device according to a fifth embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a exploded perspective view of the container device according to the fifth embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a front view of a container device according to a sixth embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a side perspective view of the container device according to the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 20 is a top view of the container device according to the sixth embodiment.
FIG. 21 is a side view of the container device according to the sixth embodiment.
FIGS. 22 and 23 are top perspective views of a container device according to a seventh embodiment.
FIGS. 24 and 25 are top perspective views of a container device according to an eighth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a multipurpose or multifunction container device. The container device may have numerous uses and applications, some of which are described hereinafter. However, the present invention, unless otherwise stated, is not to be construed to be limited to a container for a particular product or type of product.
FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a container device according to a first embodiment.
The container device according to the first embodiment is a case shown at reference numeral 10 comprising a first section 20 and a second section 30. The first section comprises a case lid 22 with an open space 24 within the case. There is an interior space 34 within the second section 30 that together with the interior space 24 of the first section 20 a storage space when the first section 20 of the case when first section 20 and second section 30 are properly connected or otherwise coupled together and in a closed position. The storage space can be used for storing items, within the case, such as a cigar, flask, flashlight, tools, knives, threads, first-aid kits, medicine, etc which are only provided as means of an example. A cigar as an example of such an item is shown at reference numeral 40. The first and second sections 20 and 30 may be connected or otherwise coupled in many ways including without limitation, interference fit, screw fit, hinges, latches, clasps, snapfit, Velcro™ or forms of complementary mating engagements (male-female, etc.), or any combination thereof. FIG. 4 shows an example in which a hinge connection is used. Thus, the first section 20 serves as a lid for the case 10. In certain embodiments, a seal may be provided to protect and provide, for example, an air or moisture seal within the case for the container when the first section/lid 20 closes or otherwise covers the second section 30.
In certain further embodiments, there may be an optional cap 28 which opens and closes at the exposed end or tip of the first section. When the cap 28 is opened, another space or subcompartment is made accessible in which another item 60 is stored or contained, such as lighter, flashlight, compass or any such desired accessory or item as part of the overall case lid. Similar to the coupling of the first section 20 to the second section 30, the cap 28 may open and close over the end of the first section 20 in many ways including including without limitation, interference fit, screw fit, hinges, latches, clasps, snapfit, Velcro™, or forms of complementary mating engagements (male-female, etc.). In certain embodiments, a seal may be provided to protect and provide, for example, an air or moisture seal within the case for the container when the first section/lid 20 and/or the cap 28 is closed.
There is a cutter housing 32 that is located within the body of the second section. The cutter housing 32 comprises a hole or opening 36 that may be opened or closed. The hole or opening 36 is surrounded by the body of the second section 30 according to certain embodiments. In other embodiments, the hole or opening 36 is part of the cutter housing 32 that may separate or otherwise detach and re-attach to the 34 body of the second section 30 via methods such as those attachment technologies referred to above. Depending on the embodiment, the hole or opening may be congruent with an axis of the cutter housing 32 and/or the body of the second section 30.
According to various embodiments, the hole 34 or opening 36 of the cutter housing 32 is closed by a blade 38 which may traverse across the opening 36. There is a passageway or groove within the cutter hosing 32 that allows the blade to traverse in and out of the body of the second section allowing it to close and open the cutter housing space. The blade 38 moves in an out of the cutter housing opening from the perimeter of the cutter housing 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In most embodiments, a cutting edge of the blade 38 cuts or slices or otherwise pierces any object within the cutter housing opening 36 and in the path of the blade 38 as it traverses across the opening 36 between. its open and closed positions. Furthermore, the cutting edge of the blade 38 is no longer exposed to cutting when it is in its closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The blade may move in and out of the second section 30 by a lever 70 that is attached to the blade 38 but is hingedly mounted on the exterior of the body of the second section 30. The lever 70 is substantially congruent with the surface of the second section 30 when the cutter housing is in its closed position. The lever 70 further comprises a latch or some other securing mechanism such that the blade 38 remains locked or secured in the closed position until desired to be unlocked by the a user. The lever 70 is pulled away from the second section by the user to create or otherwise allow for access to the opening or hole 36 in the cutter housing 32 resulting in the open state of the cutter housing 32.
Turning to FIGS. 5-9, a container device according to a second embodiment is described. The container device 100 comprises a main body 110, a cap member 120 and a cutter assembly 130. The main body 110 may have a generally elongated cylindrical shape, though its cross-section or profile need not be circular, and may have an oval profile as shown in FIG. 8, or any other closed geometrical shaped profile. The cap member 120 and cutter assembly 130 may have a profile similar to that of the main body so that the container device 100 appears as an integrated unit when fully assembled as shown in FIG. 5.
The main body 110 is hollow and defines a storage space for storing one or more of the items therein as well as a further lining (not shown) circumscribing the interior wall of the main body 110 that defines the storage space. The main body 110 has a first end 112 and a second end 114. The cap member 120 fits over a first end 112. The cap member 120 attaches to the main body 110 at the first end 112 and the cutter assembly attaches to the main body at the second end 114. In certain variations of this embodiment, there may be an extender (not shown) that is also hollow and defines a storage space. The extender also has an extender first end and an extender second end where the first end is complementary to receive the cap member 120 and the second extender end is complementary to receive and fit the first end 112 of the main body 110. The use of the extender results in increasing the overall dimensions of the main body 110 so as to be able to accommodate the desired larger storage items of choice.
The cap member 120 is closed at a rounded tip or geometrically shaped end 122 and is open at a second end 124. Thus, the cap member 120 may have an interior space that is closed on one end that extends the dimensions of the storage space associated with the main body 110 when it is attached to the main body 110. There are numerous ways of connecting the cap member 120 to the main body 110, including any one of the aforementioned coupling technologies. FIG. 9 illustrates one example where the main body 110 has a length portion 116 that has a slightly smaller exterior dimension or profile such that the length portion 116 fits inside of the second end 124 of the cap member 120. The cap member 120 can be pushed flush with the exterior surface of the main body 110 as shown in FIG. 5 such that a substantially smooth and continuous exterior surface is created.
The cutter assembly 130 comprises a cutter housing 132 and a cutter arm 140. The cutter housing 132 comprises a first length portion 134 that may have the same profile as the main body 110 and a second length portion 136 that is slightly smaller in profile than the first length portion such that it may slide into the second end 114 of the main body 110, forming a continuous surface with the main body 110, as shown in FIG. 5. The first length portion 134 of the cutter housing 132 comprises a hole or opening 138 that is sized to receive the tip of a product or item to be cut. Further, the cutter housing 134 may have slightly smooth indented or concave portions 134A and 134B as shown in FIG. 7 that correspond to the location of the opening 138.
According to this embodiment, the cutter arm 140 comprises a blade holder member 142, a handle 144 and a lip 146. There is a tab or raised portion 148 on a lateral surface of the lip 146. The blade holder member 142 holds a blade 150 between its two spokes. There are slots or grooves on the inside walls of the cutter housing 132 to receive the spokes of the blade holder member 142 such that the cutter arm 140 may be moved (e.g., slid) in and out of the cutter housing 132 between a closed position as shown in FIG. 5 and an open position as shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 11, described hereinafter, illustrates structural details of a blade holder member (not otherwise visible in FIG. 9) that may be the same as the blade holder member 142. When the cutter arm 140 is moved from the open position (FIG. 9) to the closed position (FIG. 5) while the tip of a product or item is placed in the opening 138, the blade 150 will cut through that portion of the product in the opening 138. The blade holder 142 and blade 150 are shown in further detail in connection with additional embodiments described hereinafter. The cutter arm 140 secures to the cutter housing 132 via, for example, a snap-fit engagement between the raised portion 148 and an inner wall of the cutter housing. The handle 144 may have smooth grooves or indented portions 144A and 144B as shown in FIG. 7 to facilitate the grip of a user's hand. The difference between the cutter configuration of this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the cutter in this embodiment is moved along or parallel to a major axis of the device 100, whereas the cutter in the first embodiment is moved transverse or normal to the major axis of the device.
Turning to FIGS. 10 and 11, a container device 200 according to a third embodiment is described. The container device 200 is similar to container device 100 except that in place of the cap member 120 there is an implement housing 220 that contains an implement 230, such as a lighter, a flashlight, a knife, etc., and a cap 240. The implement housing 220 has a first end 222 and a second end 224. The first end 222 of the implement housing has a profile to fit over the extended portion 116 of the main body 110. The first end of the implement housing receives the implement 230. If the implement is a lighter device, then it will comprise a fuel storage housing portion 232 and a lighter mechanism 234. If the implement 230 is a flashlight, then it comprises a power source contained in a housing and a bulb, light emitting diode, etc. The cap 240 is shown to attach to the implement housing 220 by a hinge mechanism formed by complementary hinge component 226 on the implement housing 220 and hinge component 242 on the cap 240. Thus, the cap 220 can pivot between a closed position over the implement 230 flush with the wall of the implement housing 220 and an open position to permit access to and use of the implement 220 as shown in FIG. 10. It should be understood that present invention is not limited to a hinge connection between the cap 240 and the housing 220 and any other connection technique may be employed, examples of which are enumerated above.
The cap 240 has a rounded exterior surface and a profile that matches the profile of the implement housing 220 so that when the cap 240 is closed, a substantially continuous surface is formed with the implement housing 220.
The implement housing 220 is removable from the main body 110 and may be replaced entirely by a cap 250 that is similar to the cap member 120 for the container device 100 of the second embodiment. This allows the container device 200 to have extended storage space afforded by the main body 110 and the cap 250 when the implement 230 is not needed or desired.
Referring again to FIG. 11, a configuration is shown for the cutter arm 140 and blade 150 that is a configuration that may be used in any one of the embodiments described herein. The cutter 140 comprises a blade holder member having spokes 142A and 142B between which the blade 150 is held. The leading edge 152 of the blade 150 is the edge of the blade that cuts the item placed in the opening 138 when the cutter arm 140 is moved into the cutter housing 130. In variations of this embodiment, a dual blade cutting mechanism similar to that taught by the embodiment represented by FIGS. 15-17 is envisioned where one blade is fixed relative to a second movable blade with in the opening of the cutter housing.
Turning to FIGS. 12 and 13, the cutter arm 140 is described in further detail. As mentioned above, the cutter arm 140 has spokes 142A and 142B. Each of these spokes has an inward facing slot or groove 143 into which lateral edges of the blade 150 fit to hold it in position. In addition, each of the spokes has an outward facing ridge 145 whose function is described hereinafter. The cutter arm 140 comprises a base 146 that mounts to the handle 144 (FIG. 11).
Reference is now made to FIG. 14 for a description of a container device 300 according to a fourth embodiment. In several respects, the container device 300 is similar to the container devices of second and third embodiments in that it comprises a main body 110, a cutter housing formed of cutter housing sections 132(1) and 132(2), blade holder 140, blade 150 and handle 144. However, the container device 300 comprises a cap member 310 that fits onto the first end 112 of the main body 110 and an implement housing 220 that houses implement 230 and is enclosed by cap member 240. There is a ring member 305 that fits onto the length portion 116 of the main body 110 before the cap 310 is inserted onto the main body 110. The ring member 305 is for appearances. The cap 310 comprises first and second length portions 312 and 314. The first length portion 312 as the same profile dimensions and shape as the main body 110, but the second length portion 314 has profile that tapers to a smooth surface, similar to cap 240. Thus, the cap 310 can be kept on the device and the implement housing 220 attached over the cap 310. In this way, a user may detach the implement housing 220 with the included implement 230 but keep the cap 240 on the implement housing 220 and still have the cap 310 available to secure items in the main body 110.
FIGS. 15-17 illustrates a container device 400 according to a fifth embodiment. The container device 400 employs a side-by-side arrangement of a main body 410 and implement housing 420. Moreover, the implement housing 420 also serves to contain a cutter assembly 430 and there is an opening 422 in the implement housing 420. There is a cap 440 that is movable or removable to provide access to an implement 450 and to the storage compartments 412 of the main body 410. The storage compartments 412 may be separated into individual compartments or integrated into one overall compartment depending on the embodiment, and there may be one or more of them even though two are shown for example purposes only. There is an item 40 shown contained in one of the compartments. There is a bottom cap 460 that may or may not be removable from the main body 410. In instances where the bottom cap 460 is removable, this bottom cap 460 may provide for a further separate storage component (not shown) such as a humidifier insert for the storage compartments 412 or other insert of choice (e.g. compass, blade, string, matches, etc.). The cap 440 may be mounted on a hinge to the main body 410, or use any one of the aforementioned coupling techniques described above. The main body 410 may have a larger cross section or profile that tapers towards a smaller profile shared by the implement housing 420.
Referring in particular to FIG. 17, with continued reference to FIG. 15, one construction of the container device 400 is shown. Numerous other constructions are possible. According to this construction, the main body 410 and implement housing 420 and formed from a front housing section 470(1) and a back housing section 470(2) that fit together. Housing sections 470(1) and 470(2) have openings 472(1) and 472(2), respectively, which are aligned so as to form the opening 422 when they are assembled. In addition, each housing section has an implement storage region 473 defined by suitable raised portions. A top plate 480 fits over the housing sections 470(1) and 470(2) when they are assembled. The top plate 480 has openings to provide access to the storage compartments 412 as well as for the implement 450.
The cutter assembly 430 comprises a blade holder 432 that holds a first blade 431, a handle 434, and a second blade 436. The blade holder 432 holds the first blade 431 in a manner similar to the cutter assemblies of the previous embodiments. The blade holder 432 fits into the cutter handle 434 and the blade 431 is movable within a slot of the implement housing 420. The blade 436 is fixed (immovable) in the implement housing 420 so as to partially extend into the opening 422 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. For example, the blade 436 may have small holes that receive pins that extend outward from the housing section 470(2). Slots or guides 474 are provided in one or both of the housing sections 470(1) and 470(2) that are spaced apart from each other a distance slightly greater than a width of the blade holder 432 to restrict lateral movement inside the implement housing 420 when the blade holder 432 is moved to cut an item placed in the opening. The blades 431 and 434 are shown to have semi-circular shaped cutting edges. This is only an example, and the cutting edges of the blade 431 and 434 may be diagonal, straight, curved, etc.
Thus, the cutter assembly of the container device 400 employs a dual-blade cutting system that cuts an item from two sides. However, when the cutter arm 432 is retracted into the implement housing 420, the opening 422 is sealed off by the solid portion of the blade 431 because the cutting edge of the blade is pushed beyond the opening 422 as shown in FIG. 16. Consequently, there are no exposed cutting edges when the cutter assembly is properly stowed. Other variations of the embodiment may include single blade cutters or other styles such as the bullet or punch style cutter mentioned previously above.
FIGS. 18-21 illustrate a container device 500 according to a sixth embodiment. Referring first to FIG. 18, the container device 500 comprises a storage compartment body section 510 and an implement housing section 520 that houses an implement 530 and a cutter assembly 540. There is a cap 550 that is removable to provide access to a storage compartment between walls of the body section 510 and to the implement 530. In this embodiment, the implement housing 520 has a storage slot 522 sized to contain the implement 530 such that it is completely recessed into the implement housing 520. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the implement 430 is completely removable from the slot 522 of container device 500. There is a hinge 605 that attaches the top 610 to the bottom 620 so that they can close on each other.
The cutter assembly 540 comprises a housing 542 having an opening 544, a blade holder 546 to hold a blade (not shown) and handle 548. The cutter assembly 540 may be mounted on a pin 526 inside the implement housing 520 so as to pivot out of a slot 524 in the housing 520. This allows for access so that the blade holder 546 can be pulled out from the housing 542 to allow a user to insert an item into the opening 544 to be cut when the handle 548 is pushed back into the housing 542. The cutter assembly 540 may comprise a construction similar to that shown in connection with any of the previous embodiments, or may have a construction similar to known cutter devices. Moreover, as an alternative, the cutter assembly 540 may be designed to be completely withdrawn from the housing 520 when it is used and then replaced when not in use, similar to configuration of the implement 530.
Turning to FIGS. 22 and 23, a container device 600 is shown according to a seventh embodiment. The container device 600 comprises a top or lid 610 and a bottom 620. The top 610 has a first compartment section 612 that, when the top 610 is closed onto the bottom 620, is aligned with a first compartment section 622 of the bottom 620. Similarly, the top 610 has additional elongated storage compartment sections 614 and 616 that are aligned with elongated storage compartment sections 624 and 626 of the bottom 620. Thus, there are dividing walls between these compartment sections on the top 610 and bottom 620. Thus, when the top 610 is closed onto the bottom 620, the first compartment section 612 of the top overlies the first compartment section 622 of the bottom to form a first storage compartment, and the compartment sections 614 and 616 overly the compartment sections 624 and 626 to form additional storage compartments. There are securing flaps 630 and 632 that can be folded over items stored in the compartment sections 624 and 626 as shown in FIG. 23. In certain variations of this embodiment (not shown) the storage compartment section 614 and 616 can be integrated into one entire non-compartmentalized compartment section. Similarly, in certain other variations of this embodiment, the storage compartment sections 614 and 616 can be integrated into one non-compartmentalized compartment section as well as the corresponding compartment sections 624 and 626 such that there is only one compartment section in 610 and one compartment section in 620.
There is a storage flap 640 has a first slot 642 for receiving an implement 650 and a second slot 644 for receiving a cutter device 660. The implement 650 may be a lighter, flashlight or other implement as described above in connection with the other embodiments. The cutter device 660 may be a cutter device having a construction that is well known in the art. The storage flap 640 is mounted on a hinge 646 to an edge of the bottom 620 so that it can be folded over and into the storage compartment section 622 as shown in FIG. 23. The securing flaps shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 may be made of metal, wood or plastic material. Moreover, the flaps are optional, particularly in embodiments where the compartment sections are divided.
FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate a container device 700 according to an eighth embodiment. The container device 700 is similar to the container device 600 shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, except that the top 710 and the bottom 720 each have separate storage compartments. The top 710 and bottom 720 are attached to each other by a hinge 705. That is, the top 710 has storage compartments (separated from each other by dividing walls). Similarly, the bottom 720 has storage compartments 722 and 724, which may be slightly larger in width than the compartments 712-718 of the top 710. There is a securing flap member 719 that is mounted on the hinge 705 and can be rotated to a position overlying the storage compartments 712-718 to retain items in those compartments. Similar, there is a securing flap member 726 that is mounted to the hinge 705 adjacent to securing flap member 719 to be rotated or pivoted over the storage compartments 722 and 724 to retain items in those compartments. The securing flaps 719 and 726 may be made of plastic, metal or wood. They are biased in a closed/secured position by a spring mechanism, interference fit or possibly a latch. The container device 700 also comprises a storage flap 740 mounted on a hinge 746 to the bottom 720, to store an implement 750 and a cutter device 760 in its slots 742 and 744, respectively, similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 and described above.
Numerous materials may be used for the various components of the container devices according to the embodiments described herein. For example, and not by way of limitation, certain body and housing portions may be made of injection-molded plastic, while other portions such as the cap and cutter arm may be made of a hard metal, such as zinc with gold, silver or nickel plating or aesthetics, leather, cloth or other fabric.
In addition, in the case where a container device according to any one of the embodiments described herein is used for storing tobacco products, such as cigars, the inside of that portion of the storage compartment may be lined with cedar or similar material. Moreover, the storage compartments may be suitable to contain a miniature humidifier to maintain humidity in the compartment and preserve the life of cigars.
In all of the embodiments described herein, the cutting assembly may take the form or variation shown in other embodiments herein (e.g., dual blade, single blade, etc.) or may take the form of other types of cigar cutters heretofore known, such as those commonly known in the industry as “bullet” or “punch” style cutters, or hereinafter developed. In addition, while in some embodiments shown herein the blade is shown to have straight or diagonal edge and in other embodiments it has a crescent shaped edge, it should be understood that the cutting edge of the blade in any of the embodiments may have any suitable shape.
The devices described herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative and not meant to be limiting.

Claims

1. A container device, comprising:

a. a tubular body having a first end and a second end, said tubular body being sized and shaped to contain at least one product therein;

b. a cap enclosing the first end of said tubular body;

c. a cutter assembly comprising a housing comprising an opening that is sized to receive an end of a product to be cut, a blade holder mounted to slide within said housing and that is moveable substantially along a plane that extends across said opening, and a blade that is held by said blade holder, wherein the housing of said cutter assembly comprises a first end that is sized and shaped to removably attach to the second end of the tubular body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cap is attached by corkscrew threaded engagement, latch, snap fit, Velcro, interference fit, or a hinge.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cap is removably attached.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the cap comprises a lighter assembly comprising a body, a lighter mechanism and a fuel storage container, wherein a first end of the body of the lighter device is sized and shaped to removably attach to the first end of the tubular body.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing of said cutter assembly comprises a first end that is sized and shaped to removably attach to the second end of the elongated tubular body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening in the housing of the cutter assembly is oriented substantially normal to a major axis of the elongated tubular body.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the blade mechanism slides in a direction along or parallel to said major axis.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein cross-sectional dimensions of the body of the lighter assembly, the housing of the cutter assembly and the elongated tubular body are substantially the same such that when the lighter assembly is attached to the first end of the elongated tubular body and the cutter assembly is attached to the second end of the elongated tubular body, the device appears and handles as a single unitary body.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongated tubular body is sized to hold two or more elongated tobacco products side by side.

10. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a cap member that is moveable to enclose a second end of the lighter housing, thereby hiding and containing the lighter mechanism.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the first end of the elongated tubular body comprises a portion that is sized and shaped to fit inside a portion of the first end of the body of the lighter assembly.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the first end of the elongated tubular body comprises a portion that is sized and shaped over a portion of the first end of the body of the lighter assembly.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the second end of the elongated tubular body comprises a portion that is sized and shaped to fit inside a portion of the first end of the housing of the cutter assembly.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional dimensions of the second end of the elongated tubular body comprises a portion that is sized and shaped to fit over a portion of the first end of the housing of the cutter assembly.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the body of the lighter assembly is sufficiently hollow to accommodate at least one tobacco product that extends through said elongated tubular body.

16. The device of claim 1, and further comprising a first cap member that hingedly attaches to the lighter housing and closes over the lighter mechanism to hide the lighter mechanism, and a second cap member that removably fits over the first cap, wherein the first cap member and the second cap member are formed of a metal material.

17. A container device, comprising:

a. a body comprising a first elongated section and a second elongated section, wherein the first and second elongated sections are adjacent to each other, the first elongated section comprising an interior compartment sufficient to contain at least one elongated tobacco product therein;

b. a lighter assembly positioned in said second elongated section and extending beyond a first end of the elongated section, the lighter assembly comprises a lighter mechanism and a fuel storage container;

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the blade mechanism comprises a handle that is attached to the blade, wherein the handle comprises exterior dimensions that are substantially the same as the exterior dimensions of the second elongated section.

19. The device of claim 17, and further comprising a cap member that is moveable to enclose at least a first end of the interior compartment in said first elongated section.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the cap member is sized to further enclose the first end of the second elongated section to thereby hide and contain the lighter mechanism.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the cap member has exterior dimensions that are substantially the same as exterior dimensions of the first and second elongated sections of the body so that the device appears and handles as a unitary body when the cap member is closed over the first ends of the first and second elongated sections of the body.

22. A container device, comprising:

a. a housing comprising a first section defining a first compartment being sized and shaped to contain at least one tobacco product therein, a second section defining a second compartment being sized and shaped to removably contain a lighter device, and a third section defining a third compartment;

b. a cutter assembly disposed in the third compartment and comprising a cutter housing having an opening therein that is sized to receive a tip of a tobacco product, a blade holder that is slidable within said cutter housing across said opening, and a blade held by said blade holder, wherein said cutter housing is hingedly mounted in said third compartment of the housing so that the cutter assembly can be rotated outside of said third compartment to provide access to said opening in said cutter housing.

23. The device of claim 22, and further comprising a lighter device, wherein the lighter device may be disposed inside said second compartment so as to be fully contained within said housing and may be fully removed from the housing for use.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the cutter assembly further comprises a handle attached to an end of the blade holder to be gripped by a user's hand to move the blade holder across the opening in the cutter housing.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the second and third compartments are arranged collinearly, and the first compartment is adjacent to the second and third compartments.

26. A container device, comprising:

a. a base member;

b. a lid that is hingedly attached to the base member to open and close over the base member;

c. wherein the base member comprises a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment is sized and shaped to contain at least one elongated tobacco product;

d. a flap member hingedly attached to the base member so as to rotate in and out of said second compartment, wherein the flap member comprises a sleeve suitable for holding a lighter device and cutter assembly comprising an opening sized to receive a tip of a tobacco product, a blade holder mounted to slide within said housing and that is movable along a plane that extends across said opening, and a blade that is held by said blade holder.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the lid comprises at least one compartment for holding an elongated tobacco product.

28. The device of claim 27, and further comprising a first retainer flap that is pivotably attached to the base member and is movable to extend across the first compartment to secure at least one elongated tobacco product in said first compartment.

29. The device of claim 28, and further comprising a second retainer flap that is pivotably attached to the base member and is movable to extend across the compartment of said lit member to secure at least one elongated tobacco product in said lid member.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the first compartment comprises a plurality of divided sections each suitable for containing a single elongated tobacco product.

31. A multifunction container device comprising a body defining at least one storage compartment to contain one or more items therein and a housing section to contain one or both of: a cutter device useful to cut the tip of items and an implement.