Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Wrapper for Enclosing Smokable Substances
The current application claims priority to U.S non-provisional patent
application
serial number 15/219,061 filed on July 25, 2016 and U.S. provisional patent
application
serial number 62/245,153 filed on October 22, 2015.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a pliable sheet for rolling and
wrapping
smokable products, the pliable sheet being manufactured from a plant of the
cannabis
genus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A variety of plant matter is harvested for consumption, with one common method
of consumption being the burning of the plant matter and inhalation of the
resulting
smoke, colloquially referred to as smoking. Generally, to facilitate smoking
of such
herbs, a thin sheet is used to wrap the herbs into a generally cylindrical
sheet. This
process is known as "rolling"; while many vendors provide the option to buy
pre-rolled
products, there is a population of consumers that rolls their own product for
a variety of
reasons, e.g. reduced cost or improved choice in rolling paper.
A variety of rolling papers are provided for different purposes. Rolling
papers can
be sourced from a wide range of material; for example, wrapping papers can be
manufactured from rice and hemp. Additionally, rolling paper can be provided
in a
variety of sizes, from the efficiently compact to the comically large (the
latter being
lambasted in the theatrical film "Up In Smoke". Likewise, the specific type of
plant
matter being burned is variable, also referenced in the aforementioned film.
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The wide variety of rolling papers allows for a number of nuances to come into
play; wrapping papers derived from different plants affect burn time,
flavoring, and ease
of wrapping. Additionally, many rolling papers are enhanced with one or more
flavoring
elements. Resultantly, smokers can sample and enjoy a variety of rolling
papers with
unique characteristics in combination with their favorite cigarettes, cigars,
and so on.
Cigars are commonly wrapped in a tobacco leaf that imparts a specific flavor
and
experience, especially in combination with the actual blend of tobacco placed
within the
leaf. Other smokable substances could be enhanced in a similar manner. More
specifically, given the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and now even
recreational
purposes, it is desirable to provide a rolling paper made of marijuana. Though
there are
rolling papers which are sourced from hemp, it is an object of the present
invention to
provide a rolling paper that is completely sourced from the marijuana plant.
In short, the
present invention introduces a marijuana-based sheet which can be utilized for
rolling
papers and wraps.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the general composition and components of a
wrapper of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing different potential combinations of plant species
for the
wrapper of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example illustration showing the wrapper in an unrolled state and
a rolled
state.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the general process of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram further detailing a first stage of the process of the
present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram further detailing a second stage of the process of the
present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram further detailing a third stage of the process of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram further detailing a fourth stage of the process of the
present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing optional steps of the process of the present
invention.
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DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected
versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of
the present
invention.
The present invention details a wrapper for enclosing smokable substances as
well
as a method of manufacture therefor. The present invention utilizes material
sourced from
the cannabis genus (i.e. "marijuana plants" to create a sheet which can be
used as a
rolling paper or wrapper for smokable substances. The present invention is
subsequently
described in more detail.
The wrapper created by the present invention comprises a pliable sheet 1, the
pliable sheet 1 formed from a plurality of elongated cellulose fibers 2. The
plurality of
elongated cellulose fibers 2 forms the structure of the pliable sheet 1, with
adjacent
strands of fiber being effectively glued to each other by glucose bonds. In
line with the
stated goals of the present invention, the plurality of elongated cellulose
fibers 2 is
derived from a plant of the cannabis genus 31. More specifically, the
plurality of
elongated cellulose fibers 2 is derived from a female plant 3 of the cannabis
genus 31.
The female plant 3 of the cannabis genus 31 is colloquially referred to as a
marijuana
plant. The female plant 3 is desirable as source material due to the elevated
levels of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compared to the levels of THC found in the male
cannabis
plant 31. More specifically, the female plant 3 produces buds, which contain
higher levels
of THC compared to the stem and leaves. The present invention could
potentially be
produced from the stem, leaves, or other parts of the cannabis plant 31, but
optimally the
buds are used in order to maximize THC levels in the wrapper. Overall, the
pliable sheet
1 can serve as a marijuana-based rolling paper or wrapper which can be used
for rolling
marijuana or other herbal blends. The pliable sheet 1 is illustrated via FIG.
1 ¨ FIG. 3.
In different embodiments of the present inventions, different specifies from
the
cannabis genus 31 may be used for the pliable sheet 1. For example, in one
embodiment,
the plurality of elongated cellulose fibers 2 is derived from a female plant 3
of the sativa
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species 32 of the cannabis genus 31. In another embodiment, the plurality of
elongated
cellulose fibers 2 is derived from a female plant 3 of the indica species 33
of the cannabis
genus 31. In a third embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of
elongated
cellulose fibers 2 is derived from a first female plant 34 of a sativa species
32 of the
cannabis genus 31 and from a second female plant 35 of an indica species 33 of
the
cannabis genus 31. In this third embodiment, the pliable sheet 1 is
effectively created
from a blend 36 of the sativa species 32 and the indica species 33, compared
to the first
two embodiments which are sourced from only a single species of the cannabis
genus 31.
The term "blend" is used to refer to a strain 37 of the cannabis genus 31 that
is bred from
the sativa species 32 and the indica species 33. This does not preclude the
use of
combining plant matter from two different species in order to create the
pliable sheet 1.
Using a hybrid strain 37 (i.e. bred from sativa and indica) is simply
preferable.
The different embodiments described above allow for different profiles to be
provided for the wrapper. For example, a pliable sheet 1 sourced exclusively
from
cannabis sativa 32 will be experienced differently than a pliable sheet 1
sourced from
cannabis indica 33. A blend 36 of the two cannabis species will provide yet
another
profile, which can be further adjusted by varying the ratio of cannabis sativa
32 to
cannabis indica 33 in the blend 36.
In one possible embodiment of the present invention comprises an adhesive
strip
4. The adhesive strip 4 is connected along an edge of the pliable sheet 1 in
order to
facilitate rolling and securing of the pliable sheet 1 into a cylindrical
shape prior to
smoking. Preferably, the adhesive strip 4, as with the pliable sheet 1, is
derived from a
female plant 3 belonging to the cannabis genus 31, whether of the sativa
species 32,
indica species 33, or a blend 36 thereof. An oil extract from a plant of the
cannabis genus
31 is sticky and thus suitable for creating the adhesive strip 4. Using such a
plant-derived
oil is preferable as it maintains the cannabis-sourced focus of the present
invention; in
such an embodiment the present invention is 100% derived from a plant of the
cannabis
genus 31. An additional benefit of using an oil extract is that the extract is
completely
natural, being produced from vegetable matter rather than utilizing laboratory
created
chemical compounds. Though using a cannabis oil for the adhesive strip is
preferable,
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potentially he adhesive strip can be produced from any food safe adhesive.
Some
examples include, but are not limited to, gum and sugar-derived glues.
In order to maintain the adhesive properties of the adhesive strip 4 prior to
use,
one embodiment a release liner is provided for the adhesive strip 4. The
release liner is a
non-stick membrane that is placed over the adhesive strip 4. The release liner
prevents
the adhesive strip 4 from accidently sticking to another object. The release
liner also
protects the adhesive strip 4, helping to maintain the latter's adhesive
properties. The
release liner has non-stick properties, allowing it to easily be peeled away
from the
adhesive strip 4. Overall, the release liner protects the adhesive strip 4
during storage (i.e.
before being used to secure two ends of a rolling paper).
Potentially, further variety is enabled by infusing the pliable sheet 1 with a
flavoring element 5. The flavoring element 5 provides a more sophisticated
profile; for
example, a cherry-flavored pliable sheet 1 or a rosemary-flavored pliable
sheet 1 can be
created to enhance the smoking experience with pleasant tastes, smells, or
both. The
addition of such flavoring elements 5 is an enhancement to the core concept of
the
present invention, i.e. a fully marijuana derived pliable sheet 1 for wrapping
smokable
substances. The flavoring elements 5 could be omitted while remaining within
the scope
of the present invention.
The pliable sheet 1, as earlier stated, can be formed as a rolling paper or
wrapper
in a variety of sizes. For example, rolling papers can be sized to be single-
wide, double-
wide, and king-sized. Other sizes, denoted only by dimensions (e.g. a 1 1/4"
or 1 1/2") are
also possible. The thickness of the pliable sheet 1 is also unrestricted by
the present
invention. Thinner sheets burn slower and impart less taste to the smoking
experience.
Thicker sheets, conversely, are easier to roll and have superior durability.
Both are
compatible with the present invention.
Ultimately, a number of alternative embodiments for the pliable sheet 1 remain
possible within the scope of the present invention.
A method of manufacture for the wrapper is also provided. The method of
manufacture is used to convert a source of provided vegetable matter,
specifically of the
cannabis genus 31, into a cannabis-derived sheet. As earlier referenced, the
harvested
vegetable matter is preferably the buds of a female plant 3 of the cannabis
genus 31
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(whether of the sativa species 32, indica species 33, or blend 36 thereof).
The general
procedure entails first processing the harvested vegetable matter to extract a
supply of
cannabis-derived fibers. The cannabis-derived fibers are then separated from
each other,
resulting in a cannabis-derived pulp. In order to make the cannabis-derived
pulp more
.. suited for wrapper formation, it is refined into a cannabis-derived slurry.
The cannabis-
derived slurry is then transferred to a mold to form a cannabis-derived sheet.
Finally,
water is extracted from the cannabis-derived sheet, which is then suitable for
use as
rolling paper or a wrap for smokable substances. Each step of this procedure
is described
in more detail below, as well as illustrated via FIG. 4 ¨ FIG. 9.
The first step, i.e. processing the harvested vegetable matter in order to
produce a
cannabis-derived pulp, comminutes the vegetable harvested vegetable matter.
That is, the
vegetable matter is broken up into individual strands, the group of which is
referred to as
the cannabis-derived pulp. In order to achieve this, the harvested vegetable
matter is
passed through a mill in order to grind the harvested vegetable matter into
the individual
strands. A number of specific machines have been created to facilitate the
comminution
process, and the present invention does not concern itself with the specific
type of
machine used; the focus is instead the processing of the harvested vegetable
matter to
obtain the cannabis-derived pulp. After processing, the comminuted vegetable
matter is
cleaned via rinsing with an aqueous solution, after which it is ready for
refining.
Once the cannabis-derived pulp is created and rinsed, it is refined to be
softer.
Softening of the cannabis-derived fibers is traditionally accomplished through
mechanical process or water-based processes. The present invention focuses
primarily on
application of a water-based process, as subsequently described, though this
does not
preclude the application of mechanical refining or a combination of mechanical
and
water-based refining.
To refine the cannabis-derived pulp, a heated bath is prepared. The cannabis-
derived pulp is then immersed in this heated bath in order to cook and soften
the
individual strands into a more workable refined pulp. In order to be
effective, this
cooking stage requires a minimum specified duration. Exact minimum durations
vary
according to the specifics (e.g. composition) of the bath, but are generally
measured in a
magnitude of hours.
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In the preferred embodiment, the heated bath is a solution of sodium carbonate
in
water. Sodium carbonate is colloquially referred to as soda ash, and it helps
to separate
cellulose (i.e. the cannabis-derived fibers) from other plant polymers such as
lignin. As
earlier referenced, mechanical refining can be utilized alongside chemical
refining. For
example, machine beaters can be provided to help separate the cellulose from
the lignin.
Too, the present invention is not restricted to the use of a heated bath
utilizing sodium
carbonate; other solutions can be provided to separate the polymers of the
cannabis-
derived pulp.
Potentially, a finer level of refinement can be provided by hand; strands can
be
pulled apart by hand to further separate individual fiber strands from one
another. It is
possible to continue the refining process beyond this to obtain a desirable
size and
separation of fiber strands; this extent of refining is ultimately up to the
manufacturer and
customer demands.
Once the refined cannabis-derived pulp is refined, a cannabis-derived slurry
is
.. obtained. This slurry is a mixture of cannabis cellulose in an aqueous
solution, such as
from the heated bath. This solution is diluted and rinsed by mixing with
water, after
which it may be placed into a perforated sheet mold. The perforated sheet mold
itself is a
lattice-style base framed by a wall. The wall outlines the shape of the
eventual paper,
while the lattice-style base allows for water to be drained from the diluted
cannabis-
derived slurry. This first entails allowing the cellulose strands to settle at
the bottom of
the slurry, where glucose bonding begins to form the unitary sheet. After the
strands have
settled, the perforated sheet mold may be tilted to expedite draining and
complete
formation of the cannabis-derived sheet.
Once the cannabis-derived sheet has been formed, it is desirable to remove as
much water as possible. This is end stage is accomplished through two steps;
first, the
cannabis-derived sheet is removed from the perforated sheet mold and placed in
a press.
The cannabis-derived sheet mold is surrounded by absorbent sheets (for example
blotting
paper or felt pads) on either side. These absorbent sheets serve to collect
the water that is
pressed out of the cannabis-derived sheet during compacting. This compaction
removes a
large amount of water from the sheets, but some moisture remains.
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The final treatment, provided to minimize the remaining moisture in the
cannabis-
derived sheet, utilizes a dryer. The dryer is simply a fully or partially
enclosed heated
region into which the cannabis-derived sheet is placed. This heat helps to
practically
eliminate water from the cannabis-derived sheet, resulting in a pliable sheet
which can be
used as a wrap for enclosing smokable substances, as originally introduced in
this
application.
While the above described a core process for manufacture, several optional
steps
or substitution steps remain possible within the scope of the present
invention. For
example, flavoring or aromatic elements can be infused into the cannabis-
derived sheet,
such as by applying a desired element to the cannabis-derived sheet or even
immersing
the cannabis-derived sheet in such an element.
Likewise, an adhesive coating can be applied along an edge of the cannabis-
derived sheet. Such an adhesive coating assists with rolling or wrapping of
the sheet
about a smokable substance, as the adhesive maintains a cylindrical shape and
prevents
the rolled sheet from unfurling.
These are just a few examples of additional steps that can be incorporated
into the
process of manufacture. Ultimately, any variation is suitable as long as it
adheres to use
of vegetable matter from the cannabis genus for manufacture of a wrapper for
enclosing
smokable substances.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and
variations
can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter
claimed.
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