1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

2.

Venue is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), 1391(c) and 1400(b) in that the

acts and transactions complained of herein were conceived, carried out, made effective, and had effect within the State of California and within this district, among other places. Defendant resides in this judicial district by virtue of its business activities in this district and has committed acts of infringement in this judicial district. THE PARTIES 3. Plaintiff Fan Bao is an individual, with a business address of 17005 Evergreen

Place, #B, City of Industry, California 91745. Plaintiff Bao is the owner and principal of Plaintiff Zico USA, Inc. 4. Plaintiff Zico USA, Inc. is a corporation duly organized and existing under the

laws of California with its principal place of business at 17005 Evergreen Place, #B, City of Industry, California 91745. Plaintiff Zico, under the direction of Plaintiff Bao, invents, designs, manufactures and sells various devices for use in connection with the enjoyment of tobacco products. 5. Upon information and belief, defendant HBI is a corporation organized and

existing under the laws of Arizona, with its principal place of business at 3315 W. Buckeye Road, Suite B, Phoenix, Arizona 85009. FACTS COMMON TO ALL COUNTS 6. On September 11, 2012, the United States Patent & Trademark Office duly

and legally issued United States Letters Patent No. 8,261,752, entitled Crank Type Automatic Cigarette Tube Injector (the 752 Patent). The 752 Patent is attached as Exhibit A to this Complaint and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 7. The 752 Patent describes and claims, among other things, a crank type

cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube. The cigarette tube injector includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding 2
COMPLAINT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability. 8. Plaintiff Bao is the owner of U.S. Patent No. 8,261,752. Plaintiff Zico is the

only entity authorized to sell products based on Mr. Baos 752 Patent. 9. Upon information and belief, Defendant HBI imports, distributes, sells and/or

advertises an electric cigarette injector, the Zen Supershooter. A copy of the webpage advertising Zen Supershooter on Defendant HBIs website is attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference. The Zen Supershooter is an exemplary product that Plaintiffs allege infringes one or more claims of the 752 patent, including at least claim 1 of the 752 patent. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF FOR INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,261,752 10. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations set forth in the

foregoing paragraphs, as though fully set forth herein. 11. Defendant has infringed and continues to infringe at least one of the claims of

the 752 Patent by developing, making, using, offering to sell, selling and/or importing, in this District and elsewhere in the United States, the Zen Supershooter and other similar electric cigarette injectors that infringe on one or more of the claims of the 752 patent, including at least claim 1 of the 752 patent. 12. Defendant has committed the above acts of infringement with full knowledge

of the Asserted Patent, including one or more of the claims of the 752 Patent, and its applicability to the Zen Supershooter and other similar electric cigarette injectors. In particular, on or about September 18, 2012, Plaintiffs sent a cease and desist letter to Defendants Legal Department, in which it identified the 752 patent and its applicability to the Zen Supershooter and other similar electronic cigarette injectors. A copy of the letter is attached hereto as Exhibit C and incorporated herein by reference. 3
COMPLAINT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

13.

Defendant was thus on notice of Plaintiffs intellectual property rights related

to the Zen Supershooter and similar electronic cigarette injectors, and, on information and belief, specifically investigated the applicability of those rights (including the rights reflected in the 752 Patent) to the Zen Supershooter and similar electronic cigarette injectors. Defendant has not, however, ceased their infringement of the 752 Patent. 14. Defendants actions constitute direct infringement, contributory infringement,

and/or active inducement of infringement of at least one of the claims of the 752 Patent in violation of 35 U.S.C. 271. 15. Plaintiffs have sustained damages and will continue to sustain damages as a

result of Defendants acts of infringement. 16. Plaintiffs are entitled to recover damages sustained as a result of Defendants

wrongful acts in an amount to be proven at trial. 17. Defendants infringement of the 752 Patent will continue to damage

Plaintiffs business, causing irreparable harm, for which there is no adequate remedy at law, unless it is enjoined by this Court. 18. Defendants infringement of the 752 Patent amounts to willful infringement,

entitling Plaintiffs to increased damages and attorney fees and costs incurred in prosecuting this action under 35 U.S.C. 284 and 285. Indeed, Defendant has infringed the 752 Patent with full knowledge of this patent, including full knowledge that its actions constituted infringement of the 752 Patent. 19. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants infringement of the 752

Patent, Plaintiffs have been and continue to be damaged in an amount yet to be determined. 20. Unless a preliminary and permanent injunction are issued enjoining Defendant

and its officers, agents, servants and employees, and all others acting on its behalf or in concert with Defendant, from infringing the '191 Patent, Plaintiffs will be greatly and irreparably harmed. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs pray for judgment against Defendant, as follows: 4
COMPLAINT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

(1)

For a judicial determination and declaration that Defendant has infringed, and

continues to infringe, United States Letters Patent No. 8,261,752; (2) For a judicial determination and decree that Defendant, its respective

subsidiaries, officers, agents, servants, employees, licensees, and all other persons or entities acting or attempting to act in active concert or participation with them or acting on its behalf, be preliminarily and permanently enjoined from further infringement of the 752 Patent; (3) For a declaration that Defendant notify all of its users of the infringing system

and of the users participation in the infringement with Defendants encouragement, and that Defendant encourages all such users to cease all such infringing actions; (4) For a judicial decree that orders Defendant to account for and pay to Plaintiffs

all damages caused to Plaintiffs by reason of Defendants infringement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Section 284; (5) For a judicial determination and decree that Defendant's infringement of

United States Letters Patent No. 8,261,752 has been, and continues to be, willful and deliberate, for a determination that this case is exceptional, and for an award of enhanced damages, costs, and attorneys' fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Sec. 284 and 285; (6) (7) For an award of damages according to proof at trial; For a judicial order awarding to Plaintiffs pre-judgment and post-judgment

interest on the damages caused to it by Defendants infringement; and (13) For any such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper under the circumstances.

Dated: November 25, 2013

ONE LLP

By: __________________________________ Nathaniel L. Dilger, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiffs, Fan Bao and Zico USA, Inc. 5
COMPLAINT

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Dated: November 25, 2013

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 38(b), Plaintiffs demand a trial by jury for this action on all issues so triable.

ONE LLP

By: __________________________________ Nathaniel L. Dilger, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiffs, Fan Bao and Zico USA, Inc

6
COMPLAINT

EXHIBIT A

US008261752B2

(12) United States Patent

Bao
(54) CRANK TYPE AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE TUBE INJECTOR

(10) Patent N0.:

(45) Date of Patent:
3,721,248 A 3,741,220 A
3,886,952 A
4,167,948 A
_ 5,088,506

US 8,261,752 B2
Sep. 11, 2012

3/1973 Paynter 6/1973 Meinunger

6/1975 Kastner
9/1979 Moscovitch

(76)
(*)

Inventor:
_

Fan Bao, City of Industry, CA (US)

_ _ _

4,215,705 A
A

8/1980 Maren

2/1992

Kastner

Not1ce:

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this

patent is extended or adjusted under 35

6,557,560 B2
7,905,235 132*

5/2003 Kastner
3/2011 Patel ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ 131/57

U_S_C_ 154(1)) by 483 days_

2008/0156335 A1
2009/0183741 A1

7/2008 Bajouet
7/2009 Lin

(21) Appl. No.: 12/584,110

(22)
(65)

* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner * Richard Crispino
_ _ Assistant Examiner * Dionne Walls Mayes

Filed:

Aug. 31, 2009

_

Pnor Pubhcatlon Data Us 2010/0229880 A1 Sep. 16, 2010

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Raymond Y. Chan; David and Raymond Patent Fll'm

Related US. Application Data (60) Provisional application No. 61/209,953, ?led on Mar.
11 2009'

(57) ABSTRACT A Crank type Cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco
leaves into a holloW cigarette paper tube, includes a housing

(51)
(52)

Int_ CL A 24C 5/00

(200601)

having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an
Output Shaft received in the housing and a Cigarette ?lling

us. Cl. .......................................... .. 131/70- 131/75

(58) Field of Classi?cation Search 131/70i75 See application ?le for complete'story ' (56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
2,551,095 A * 5/1951 ChaZe ......................... .. 222/162

arrangement, Which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than tWo cigarette lengths of the
cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and

2,731,971 A 3,124,141 A 3,693,630 A

1/1956 Kastner 3/1964 Seitter 9/1972 Kastner

improved portability.
25 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

341

50

US. Patent

Sep. 11,2012

Sheet 3 of8

US 8,261,752 B2

US. Patent

Sep. 11,2012

Sheet 4 of8

US 8,261,752 B2

104m
H:
I

ow

wdE

US. Patent

Sep. 11,2012

Sheet 5 of8

US 8,261,752 B2

\ /,

15

332

3311 21

331/

US. Patent

Sep. 11,2012

Sheet 6 of8

US 8,261,752 B2

/'-'-K

________ __________( 1

10

331/
3311
20

313

122

40

50

FIG.6

US. Patent

Se .11 2012

Sheet70f8

US. Patent

Sep. 11,2012

Sheet 8 0f 8

US 8,261,752 B2

QUE
om

US 8,261,752 B2
1
CRANK TYPE AUTOMATIC CIGARETTE TUBE INJECTOR CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

2
to push the tobacco leaves into the cigarette paper tube, the
driving shaft at least has to be the same length as the length of the chamber. When the tobacco leaves are loaded into the

chamber, the driving shaft has to stay outside the chamber and

This is a non-provisional application of a provisional appli cation having an application No. 61/209,953 and a ?ling date of Mar. 11, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

align With the chamber longitudinally. Considering the driv ing mechanism, the total length of this machine must be longer than the length of the driving shaft plus the length of
the chamber Which is at least tWo times of the length of a

cigarette.
Another type of automatic machine incorporates With a

spiral noZZle for delivering the tobacco leaves into the ciga
rette paper tube. HoWever, When the spiral noZZle is rotated for delivering the tobacco leaves, the tobacco leaves Will be shred into small pieces Within the cigarette paper tube. There

1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a cigarette tube injector, and more particularly to a cigarette tube injector Which not only can make a tight and even injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a compact siZe for enhanc

fore, When the cigarette is lightened, the cigarette ash cannot

be held properly While smoking. It is a hassle for the smoker to hold the cigarette steadily to prevent the cigarette ash from falling everyWhere. In other Words, if the cigarette ash can be
20

ing the portability of the cigarette tube injector.

2. Description of Related Arts

The cigarettes consumed by people are normally manufac

tured by factories and are sold in market. A cigarette is a paper

Wrapped tube stuffed With ?nely cut tobacco leaves. Gener ally the tobacco leaves are cured and processed With addic tives. There are many tastes and brands of cigarettes people can select because of the different types of tobacco leaves,
different cure processes and addictives. But still some people
Want to smoke their oWn tobaccos.

held properly by not shredding the cigarette leaves in the cigarette paper tube, the smoker can easily and precisely ?ick the cigarette ash in the ashtray.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

25

For those people using their oWn tobaccos, they have to prepare their oWn cigarettes by rolling the paper to Wrap their cut tobacco leaves inside. Doing this by hands takes a lot of time, and it is also dif?cult to stuff the tobacco leaves With a uniform and proper compactness. If the tobacco leaves are Wrapped too compressed, it is dif?cult to smoke; if the tobacco leaves are Wrapped too loose, it is easy to drop the

30

tobacco leaves 40, and get the cigarette extinguished.

Currently there are machines can help people to make cigarettes With their oWn tobaccos, but there are some prob

35

lems preventing these machine be used conveniently. Some of

these machines still need the user to use hands. For example,

An object of the present invention is to provide an auto matic cigarette tube injector, Which is an automatic crank type cigarette maker to pack the tobacco leaves Within the holloW cigarette paper tube With a uniform and proper compactness. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector, Which can load the tobacco leaves Within the holloW cigarette paper tube Without shred ding the tobacco leaves. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector Which can make a tight and even injection to have a better quality of cigarettes. Another object of the present invention is to provide an

automatic cigarette tube injector Which is portable.

40

a manual crank-type machine can be operated manually by ?lling the tobacco leaves into the crank noZZle such that When the crank noZZle is inserted into the cigarette paper tube, the tobacco leaves loaded therein. The advantage of the manual crank-type machine is that the tobacco leaves Will not be shred When the tobacco leaves are loaded in the cigarette paper tube. HoWever, one of the draWbacks of the manual crank-type machine is that the injection is not automatic. The
user has to use both hands and provides force. It is not con venient to use. Another draWback is that the tobacco leaves

Another object of the present invention is to provide an

automatic cigarette tube injector Which injects tobacco leaves

automatically.
45

cannot be evenly loaded Within the cigarette paper tube such that compactness of the cigarette is not uniform. Some machines are driven by electric poWer. The tobacco leaves are injected automatically. But the problem is the siZe of this kind of machine is large. Particularly, the length of this
kind of machine has to be more tWo times of the length of a

50

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector having a small siZe. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector Which length is close to the length of a cigarette. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector Which compresses the tobacco leaves before injection. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic cigarette tube injector Which provides a feeding
member to remove an excess tobacco and a motor-poWered

55

cigarette. For example, such automatic machine generally has

a chamber to contain tobaccos Which Will be injected into the

feeding crank to inject the tobacco directly into the cigarette tube Without damaging it, resulting that tobacco is tightly and evenly injected and held in the tube to provide a better quality of cigarettes.
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present inven tion provides an automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a holloW cigarette paper tube, comprising:
a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves

cigarette paper tube. In order to ful?ll the cigarette paper tube,

the volume of the chamber is the same or little larger than the

cigarette paper tube, and the length of the chamber is the same or a little longer than the length of the cigarette paper tube. At
one end of the chamber is a noZZle Which is inserted into one

60

open end of the cigarette paper tube. At the other end of the chamber is a piston to inject the tobaccos inside the chamber

into the paper tube through the noZZle. The piston is driven by
a driving shaft, for example, as Worm shaft. Because the piston Will slide through the chamber from one end to another

65

disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, Wherein a length of the housing is lesser than tWo cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube;
an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the

housing; and

US 8,261,752 B2
3
a cigarette ?lling arrangement, Which is driven by the elec tric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the

4
holder 121 has a sharpened shape so it is easy to be inserted into the opening of a cigarette paper tube 50. When the open ing of a cigarette paper tube 50 encircles the tubular holder 121, the tobacco leaves 40 inside the tobacco cavity 11 can be

housing.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention Will become apparent from the folloWing

pushed into the cigarette paper tube 50. The housing 10 also
has a tube retainer 122 transversely extended to bias against the tubular holder 121 by means of spring force to retain the cigarette paper tube 50 on the tubular holder 121 during

detailed description, the accompanying draWings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

injection.
The electric motor 20 is received in the housing 10 to

provide driving poWer for tobacco injection. The electric

FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of a cigarette tube injector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional vieW of the cigarette tube injector according to the above preferred embodiment of the present
motor 20 also comprises an output shaft 21 for generating a

rotational poWer thereat to drive the cigarette ?lling arrange

ment 30. In a preferred embodiment, the electric motor 20

invention, illustrating the feeding member at the initial posi

tion. FIG. 3 is a sectional vieW of the cigarette tube injector

also comprises a gearbox 22 to adjust the rotational speed of the output shaft 21 for better performance. The electric motor 20 is poWered by a poWer cable 23, or alternatively by a battery 24 to be portable. In other Words, once the battery 24

according to the above preferred embodiment of the present

is charged, the cigarette tube injector is portable to load the

20

invention, illustrating the feeding member being slid toWards

the tobacco feeder. FIG. 4 is a partially sectional vieW of the feeding member

loading tobacco leaves 40 into a cigarette paper tube 50.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the cigarette ?lling arrangement

30 is driven by the output shaft 21 of the electric motor 20, and is adapted to automatically feed the tobacco leaves 40 from the tobacco cavity 11 to the cigarette paper tube 50 via the
25

and the tobacco feeder of the cigarette tube injector according

to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional vieW of the tobacco feeder according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the tobacco feeder at the ?rst position. FIG. 6 is a sectional vieW of the tobacco feeder according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the tobacco feeder at the second position. FIG. 7 is a perspective vieW of the cigarette tube injector

feeding opening 12 automatically. The cigarette ?lling

arrangement 30 comprises a tobacco feeder 31, an arc-shaped feeding member 32, a reciprocating unit 33, and a manual
actuator 34.

30

The tobacco feeder 31, Which is a feeding crank, is adapted to push the tobacco leaves 40, and it further comprises a

according to the above preferred embodiment of the present

driving member 311 Which is slidably supported by the slid ing compartment 13. The driving member 311 is driven by the
35

invention, illustrating the cigarette tray detachably coupling

With the housing.
FIG. 8 is a side vieW of the cigarette tube injector according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the position sensor incorporating With the handle
member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
40

reciprocating unit 33 to make a reciprocating movement betWeen a ?rst position and a second position. The ?rst posi tion is located at one end of the sliding compartment 13 Which is also at the transverse edge of the tobacco cavity 11, and the

second position is located at the opposite end of the sliding

compartment 13 Which is also at the other transverse edge of the tobacco cavity 11. The second position is also Where the

feeding opening 12 locates. Because the sliding compartment

13 is at one longitudinal edge of the tobacco cavity 11, the

driving member 311 is guided and supported by the sliding

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the draWings, the cigarette tube injector according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, Wherein the cigarette tube injector is adapted for loading tobacco leaves 40 into a cigarette paper tube 50. The cigarette tube injector comprises a housing 10,
an electric motor 20, and a cigarette ?lling arrangement 30. The housing 10 further comprises a tobacco cavity 11 for tobacco leaves 40 disposing thereat. The length of the tobacco

compartment 13 to slide betWeen the ?rst position and the

second position back and forth linearly along the longitudinal

45

50

cavity 11 is around the length of the cigarette paper tube 50. Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, along one longitudinal side of the tobacco cavity 11, the housing 10 comprises a sliding com
partment 13. This sliding compartment 13 locates at one

direction of the tobacco cavity 11. The longitudinal direction is also the injection direction. Referring to FIG. 4, the driving member 311 further com prises a front pusher Wall 312. The front pusher Wall 312 has a round ?at surface facing the feeding opening 12 at the second position. When the driving member 311 is moving from the ?rst position to the second position, the front pusher Wall 312 can push the tobacco leaves 40 toWards the feeding opening 12 Without shredding the tobacco leaves 40. The
diameter of the front pusher Wall 312 is the same as the height of the tobacco cavity 11. The driving member 311 also com prises an arc-shaped retention member 313. Referring to FIG. 4, the retention member 313 is extended from a circumferen tial side of the front pusher Wall 312 toWards the feeding

longitudinal edge of the tobacco cavity 11. The housing 10

also comprises a guiding compartment 14. This guiding com partment 14 de?nes the height of the tobacco cavity 11 Which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cigarette paper tube 50. A longitudinal length of the housing 10 is lesser than tWo cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube 50. The tobacco cavity 11 has an opening on top for deposing
the tobacco leaves 40. It also comprises a cutting edge 111 on one side of the opening Which is adapted to trim the tobacco leaves 40. The housing 10 also has a feeding opening 12

55

opening 12 along the injection direction. The arc-shape of the

60

retention member 313 is in a semicircular shape. The diam eter of the outer Wall of the retention member 313 is the same as the front pusher Wall 312. The length of the retention member 313 is the same as the length of the sliding compart ment 13. The inner Wall of the retention member 313 can

Which is communicatively connected With the tobacco cavity

11. The feeding opening 12 has a tubular holder 121 Which is

65

coaxially extended from the feeding opening 12. The tubular

retain the tobacco leaves 40 Within the tobacco cavity 11, and When the driving member 311 is moving to the second posi tion, the retention member 313 Will pass through the feeding

US 8,261,752 B2
5
opening 12, and enter into the cigarette paper tube 50 With the tobacco leaves 40. It is Worth mentioning, the arc-shaped
retention member 313 has a small thickness so it Will not take

6
along the injection direction to push all the tobacco leaves 40 in the tubular chamber 35. Accordingly, the tobacco leaves 40 Will not be shredded into pieces When the feeding member 32 is slid to couple With the retention member 313. In addition, When feeding member 32 is slid to couple With the retention
member 313, the tobacco leaves 40 Will have a uniform com

much tobacco space inside the cigarette paper tube 50. It is Worth mentioning, When the driving member 31 is at

the ?rst position, referring to FIG. 5, the Whole length of the cigarette tube injector is a little longer than the length of a cigarette but lesser than tWice of the length of a cigarette. Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, a portion of the driving member 311 is extend out of the sliding compartment 13, and is mechanically connected With the reciprocating unit 33. The
reciprocating unit 33 is adapted to transmit a rotational poWer of the output shaft 21 to a sliding movement of the driving member 311 of the tobacco feeder 31. The reciprocating unit 33 comprises a transmission Wheel 331 Which is coaxially coupled With the output shaft 21 of the electric motor 20. So the output shaft 21 can drive the transmission Wheel 331 to
rotate. The transmission Wheel 331 also comprises an eccen

pactness Within the tubular chamber 35. In other Words, the tobacco leaves 40 are loaded Within the holloW cigarette paper tube With a uniform and proper compactness by the present invention.

The edge of the feeding Wall 321 is sharp. Also, the opening
of the tobacco cavity 11 has a sharp cutting edge 111. So When the feeding member 32 is slid to couple With the retention member 313, the sharp cutting edge 111 Will trim the tobacco
leaves 40. The manual actuator 34 is for the user to push the feeding

member 32 toWards the driving member 311 manually. It

further comprises a handle member 341 and a pusher unit
20

tric shaft 3311 Which is located on the edge of the transmis sion Wheel 331.

342. The handle member 341 is pivotally coupled With the housing 10. The pusher unit 342 is pivotally connected With
the handle member 341 at one end, and is pivotally connected With the feeding member 32 at the other end. So When the user presses the handle member 341 doWnWard, the handle mem ber 341 drives the feeding member 32 to slide toWards the

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the reciprocating unit 33 also

comprises a connecting arm 332, and a transmission arm 333.

The connecting arm 332 is rotatably connected With the driv ing member 311 and the transmission arm 333 respectively through tWo pivots. The transmission arm 333 is located over the transmission Wheel 331, and has one end pivotally con nected With the housing 10, and the other end pivotally con
nected With the connecting arm 332. The transmission arm

25

driving member 311 of the tobacco feeder 31 though the pusher unit 342. When doing this, the feeding member 32 can push the tobacco leaves 40 disposed inside the tobacco cavity 11 toWards the driving member 311 and form a tobacco cyl
inder. The cigarette tube injector also comprises a start button 15 and a control circuit 16. During operation, the driving mem ber 311 is initially at the ?rst position. The user ?rst load the holloW cigarette paper tube 50 onto the tubular holder 121,

333 also has a transmitting slot 334 Which is slidably coupled With the eccentric shaft 3311. When the transmission Wheel 331 is driven by the output shaft 21 to rotate, the eccentric shaft 3311 Will drive the transmission arm 333 to sWing

30

reciprocatingly through the eccentric shaft 3311 and the

transmission slot. Then the transmission arm 333 Will drive

then dispose tobacco leaves 40 into the tobacco cavity 11. By

35

the driving member 311 to move along the sliding compart

ment 13 to move linearly. In this manner, the rotating move ment of the output shaft 21 is transmitted into a linear move

ment of the driving member 3 1 1 betWeen the ?rst position and

pressing the handle member 341, the user can pushes the tobacco leaves 40 toWards the driving member 341 of the tobacco feeder 34 through the feeding member 32 to form a tobacco cylinder. Then the user press the start button 15 to
start the electric motor 20 to rotate the transmission Wheel 331

the second position. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the arc-shaped feeding member
32 is adapted to push the tobacco leaves 40 toWards the arc-shaped retention member 313 and to form a tobacco cyl inder, so the front pusher Wall 312 of the driving member 311 can push the tobacco cylinder into the cigarette paper tube 50.

40

via the output shaft 21. The control circuit 16 controls the electric motor 20 to rotate the transmission Wheel 331 only one revolution. In a preferred embodiment, the control circuit
is a contact sensor, When the transmission arm 333 is driven

back by the transmission Wheel 331 after injecting the

45

The feeding member 32 is slidably supported by the guiding

compartment 14. The height of the feeding member 32 is the
same as the height of the tobacco cavity 11 Which is de?ned

tobacco leaves 40, the transmission arm 333 Will disconnect the contract sensor, then the electric motor Will be shut doWn. In this Way the driving member 341 is driven to slide from the

by the guiding compartment 14. The feeding member 32 is

also driven by the manual actuator 34 to slide along the guiding compartment 14 in a direction perpendicular to the
50

?rst position to the second position to push the tobacco leaves 40 into the cigarette paper tube 50, and then WithdraWn from the second position to the ?rst position, and stopped there

injection direction.
The arc-shaped feeding member 32 has a feeding Wall 321 facing the arc-shaped retention member 313 of the tobacco feeder. The feeding Wall 321 is also in a semicircular shape Which is matched With the retention Wall. When the feeding member 32 is push to the driving member 311 of the tobacco feeder, the feeding Wall 321 of the feeding member 32 and the retention member 313 of the driving member 311 Will be coupled edge-by-edge to form a tubular chamber 35. The
tobacco leaves 40 inside the tubular chamber 35 is formed

Waiting for next injection.

As shoWn in FIG. 7, the cigarette tube injector, as a modi

55

60

?cation of the preferred embodiment, further comprises a cigarette tray 60 extending from the bottom of the housing 10 Where the feeding opening 12 is located such that the cigarette tray 60 is positionedbeneath the tubular holder 121 for receiv ing the injected cigarette paper tubes 50. In a preferred embodiment, the cigarette tray 60 is detachably attached on the housing 10 such that the cigarette tray 60 can be detached from the housing 10 When the cigarette tube injector is not in
use so as to enhance the portability of the present invention. It

into a tobacco cylinder Which Will be pushed into the cigarette paper tube 50 by the front pusher Wall 312 and the retention member 313 of the driving member 311. This tubular cham

is appreciated that the cigarette tray 60 can be slidably engaged With the housing 10 such that the cigarette tray 60
can be slid into the housing 10 for storage or can be slid out
65

ber 35 is coaxially aligned With the feeding opening 12.

It is Worth mentioning, the diameter of the feeding Wall 321
is the same as the diameter of the front pusher Wall 312, so the

from the housing 10. As shoWn in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cigarette tube injector may
further comprise a position sensor 17, as an optional acces

front pusher Wall 312 can slide Within the feeding Wall 321

US 8,261,752 B2
7
sory, for detecting the corresponding position of the manual
actuator 34. Accordingly, the position sensor 17 is provided on the top side of the housing 10 at a position adjacent to the handle member 341 and is arranged in such a manner that When the handle member 341 is pivotally moved to drive the

8
a housing having a tobacco cavity for said tobacco leaves

disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for said ciga

rette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, Wherein a longitudinal length of said housing is lesser than tWo

cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper tube;

an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in said

feeding member 32 for pushing the tobacco leaves 40 toWards the driving member 311, the position sensor 17 is activated to
start the electric motor 20. In other Words, the position sensor 17 is electrically linked to the control circuit 16 to activate the electric motor 20 such that the position sensor 17 functions as

housing; and
a cigarette ?lling arrangement, Which is driven by said electric motor via said output shaft for automatically feeding said tobacco leaves to said cigarette paper tube

the start button 15 to automatically operate the cigarette ?ll ing arrangement 30. Preferably, the position sensor 17 is an
optic sensor or a contact sensor to detect the position of the

through said feeding opening of said housing, Wherein

said cigarette ?lling arrangement comprises:

a tobacco feeder, Which is a feeding crank, longitudinally

handle member 341. Therefore, the user is able to automati

cally operate the cigarette tube injector through the position

sensor 17 instead of manually pressing the start button 15 to activate the electric motor 20. A reset control 18 is further provided to operatively link to

supported in said housing and driven by said output shaft

at a longitudinal direction Which is an injection direc

tion;
a retention member for retaining said tobacco leaves from
20

the cigarette ?lling arrangement 30 and to electrically link to

the control circuit 16, Wherein the reset control 18 can be a

said tobacco cavity; a feeding member sildably supported in said housing along
a direction perpendicularly to said injection direction, Wherein said tobacco feeder is able to be slid to couple
With said retention member to form a tubular chamber

reset button provided at the top side of the housing 10. Accordingly, the reset control 18 is arranged to reset the initial status of the electric motor 20 When the tobacco feeder

31 is stuck or stopped during the operation. More particularly, When the driving member 311 is driven by the reciprocating
unit 33 and is stuck betWeen the ?rst position and the second position, the reset control 18 is actuated to force the electric
motor 20 to drive the eccentric shaft 3311 in one complete
revolution so as to move the eccentric shaft 3311 back to its

25

for holding said tobacco leaves therein such that said tobacco feeder is able to be driven to push toWards said

feeding opening of said housing for feeding said tobacco

leaves into said cigarette paper tube; and
a reciprocating unit for transmitting a rotational poWer of said output shaft to a sliding movement of said tobacco
30

initial position. Therefore, the driving member 3 1 1 Will return back to its original position. In addition, the reset control 18 further operatively links to the position sensor 17 for ensuring the operation of the ciga
rette ?lling arrangement 30 in a safety manner. As it is men

feeder, Wherein said tobacco feeder is linearly moved at

tioned above, the position sensor 17 is used for activating the electric motor 20 When the handle member 341 is pivotally and doWnWardly moved to drive the feeding member 32 for pushing the tobacco leaves 40 toWards the driving member 311. Accordingly, When the handle member 341 is pivotally

35

said longitudinal direction out of said feeding opening for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube and is longitudinally received in said housing to minimize said longitudinal length of said housing Which is lesser than tWo cigarette lengths of said cigarette paper
tube. 2. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim

1, Wherein said tobacco feeder comprises a driving member,

having a front pusher Wall, being reciprocatingly driven by

40

and upWardly moved during the operation of the feeding

member 32, the position sensor 17 Will detect the operation as a false operation. Therefore, the position sensor 17 Will send signal to the reset control 18 through the control circuit 16 to
deactivate the electric motor 20 and to force the electric motor 20 to drive the eccentric shaft 3311 in one complete revolu tion.

said output shaft of said electric motor to slide at said housing betWeen a ?rst position and a second position along said

injection direction through said feeding opening of said hous ing, and an arc-shaped retention member frontWardly
extended from said front pusher Wall of said driving member
45

for retaining said tobacco leaves at an inner Wall of said

retention member from said tobacco cavity; Wherein said

Accordingly, the crank type cigarette tube injector of the

present invention not only can make a tight and even injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a reduce

feeding member is an arc-shaped feeding member slidably supported in said housing along said direction perpendicu larly to said injection direction, Wherein said feeding member
50

dimension and improved portability. The length of the ciga

rette tube injector is less than tWo times of the length of a

cigarette.
One skilled in the art Will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shoWn in the draWings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be
55

is slid to couple With said retention member at said ?rst position to form said tubular chamber Within said inner Wall of said retention member and an inner Wall of said feeding member for holding said tobacco leaves Within said tubular chamber, such that When said driving member is driven to slide at said second position, said front pusher Wall of said

limiting.
It Will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention

have been fully and effectively accomplished. lt embodi

ments have been shoWn and described for the purposes of

driving member is driven to push toWards said feeding open ing of said housing for feeding said tobacco leaves into said cigarette paper tube.
60

illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change Without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modi?cations encompassed Within the spirit and scope of the

folloWing claims.
What is claimed is:
65

1. An automatic cigarette tube injector for injecting tobacco leaves into a holloW cigarette paper tube, comprising:

3. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 2, Wherein each of said inner Walls of said retention member and said feeding member is formed in a semi-circular shape that When said feeding member is coupled With said retention member to form said tubular chamber, said tubular chamber has a circumferential siZe corresponding to cigarette paper tube. 4. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 2, Wherein at said second position, said retention member is

US 8,261,752 B2
10
slidably pushed out of said feeding opening of said housing
into said cigarette paper tube for loading said tobacco leaves
therein. 5. The automatic cigarette tube inj ector, as recited in claim

member is slidably pushed out of said feeding opening of said housing into said cigarette paper tube for loading said tobacco
leaves therein. 13. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in

2, Wherein said reciprocating unit comprises a transmission

Wheel, having an eccentric shaft, coaxially coupling With said output shaft, a connecting arm rotatably coupling With said
driving member, and a transmission arm, having a transmit

claim 12, Wherein said housing further has a sliding compart ment communicating With said tobacco cavity for said tobacco feeder being slidably supported at said sliding com partment, such that When said tobacco leaves are disposed
Within said tobacco cavity, said tobacco leaves are ?lled at said inner Wall of said retention member. 14. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in

ting slot slidably coupling With said eccentric shaft, rotatably

coupling With said connecting arm, such that When said elec tric motor generates said rotational poWer at said output shaft,
said connecting arm and said transmission arm are driven to move reciprocatingly through said transmission Wheel so as

claim 12, Wherein said cigarette ?lling arrangement further

comprises a manual actuator for actuating said feeding mem

to reciprocatingly drive said tobacco feeder to slide betWeen

ber being shifted Within said tobacco cavity to couple With

said retention member, Wherein said manual actuator com

said ?rst and second position. 6. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 2, Wherein said housing further has a sliding compartment communicating With said tobacco cavity for said tobacco

prises a handle member pivotally coupled With said housing

and a pusher unit Which is coupled betWeen said handle member and said feeding member and is arranged in such a manner that When said handle member is manually actuated, said feeding member is driven to slide toWards said retention

feeder being slidably supported at said sliding compartment,

such that When said tobacco leaves are disposed Within said tobacco cavity, said tobacco leaves are ?lled at said inner Wall of said retention member. 7. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim

20

member through sad pusher unit.

15. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 14, Wherein housing further comprises a guiding com partment longitudinally extended from said tobacco cavity to guide said feeding member to slide toWards said retention member. 16. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 12, Wherein an opening of said tobacco cavity forms a sharp cutting edge that When said feeding member is slid to

2, Wherein said cigarette ?lling arrangement further com prises a manual actuator for actuating said feeding member being shifted Within said tobacco cavity to couple With said retention member, Wherein said manual actuator comprises a handle member pivotally coupled With said housing and a pusher unit Which is coupled betWeen said handle member and said feeding member and is arranged in such a manner that When said handle member is manually actuated, said feeding member is driven to slide toWards said retention

25

30

couple With said retention member, said sharp cutting edge is

adapted for trimming said tobacco leaves to receive in said tubular chamber. 17. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 12, Wherein said housing further comprises a tubular

member through sad pusher unit.

8. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim

35

7, Wherein housing further comprises a guiding compartment longitudinally extended from said tobacco cavity to guide
said feeding member to slide toWards said retention member. 9. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 2, Wherein said retention member is integrally extended from a circumferential side of said driving member such that When
said tobacco leaves are retained at said inner Wall of said
40

holder coaxially extended from said feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube encirclingly retaining With said tubular
holder. 18. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 12, Wherein said reciprocating unit comprises a trans

mission Wheel, having an eccentric shaft, coaxially coupling

With said output shaft, a connecting arm rotatably coupling
With said driving member, and a transmission arm, having a

transmitting slot slidably coupling With said eccentric shaft,

rotatably coupling With said connecting arm, such that When
45

retention member, said front pusher Wall of said driving mem ber is driven to push said tobacco leaves toWards said feeding

opening of said housing.

10. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 9, Wherein each of said inner Walls of said retention member and said feeding member is formed in a semi-circu

said electric motor generates said rotational poWer at said output shaft, said connecting arm and said transmission arm are driven to move reciprocatingly through said transmission
Wheel so as to reciprocatingly drive said tobacco feeder to

lar shape that When said feeding member is coupled With said
retention member to form said tubular chamber, said tubular chamber has a circumferential siZe corresponding to cigarette paper tube. 11. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 10, Wherein said reciprocating unit comprises a trans

50

slide betWeen said ?rst and second position. 19. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 18, Wherein said housing further has a sliding compart ment communicating With said tobacco cavity for said tobacco feeder being slidably supported at said sliding com partment, such that When said tobacco leaves are disposed
Within said tobacco cavity, said tobacco leaves are ?lled at said inner Wall of said retention member. 20. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 19, Wherein an opening of said tobacco cavity forms a

55

mission Wheel, having an eccentric shaft, coaxially coupling

With said output shaft, a connecting arm rotatably coupling
With said driving member, and a transmission arm, having a

transmitting slot slidably coupling With said eccentric shaft, rotatably coupling With said connecting arm, such that When
said electric motor generates said rotational poWer at said output shaft, said connecting arm and said transmission arm are driven to move reciprocatingly through said transmission
Wheel so as to reciprocatingly drive said tobacco feeder to

60

sharp cutting edge that When said feeding member is slid to couple With said retention member, said sharp cutting edge is
adapted for trimming said tobacco leaves to receive in said tubular chamber. 21. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in

claim 19, Wherein said cigarette ?lling arrangement further

65

slide betWeen said ?rst and second position. 12. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 10, Wherein at said second position, said retention

comprises a manual actuator for actuating said feeding mem

ber being shifted Within said tobacco cavity to couple With

said retention member, Wherein said manual actuator com

US 8,261,752 B2
11
prises a handle member pivotally coupled With said housing
and a pusher unit Which is coupled between said handle member and said feeding member and is arranged in such a manner that When said handle member is manually actuated, said feeding member is driven to slide towards said retention

12
couple With said retention member, said sharp cutting edge is
adapted for trimming said tobacco leaves to receive in said tubular chamber. 24. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in

member through sad pusher unit.

22. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 21, Wherein housing further comprises a guiding com partment longitudinally extended from said tobacco cavity to guide said feeding member to slide toWards said retention member. 23. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in claim 22, Wherein an opening of said tobacco cavity forms a sharp cutting edge that When said feeding member is slid to

claim 23, Wherein said housing further comprises a tubular holder coaxially extended from said feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube encirclingly retaining With said tubular
holder. 25. The automatic cigarette tube injector, as recited in

claim 1, Wherein said housing further comprises a tubular holder coaxially extended from said feeding opening for said cigarette paper tube encirclingly retaining With said tubular
holder.

EXHIBIT B

EXHIBIT C

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL COVER SHEET

VIII. VENUE: Your answers to the questions below will determine the division of the Court to which this case will most likely be initially assigned. This initial assignment is subject to change, in accordance with the Court's General Orders, upon review by the Court of your Complaint or Notice of Removal.
Question A: Was this case removed from state court? Yes No If "no, " go to Question B. If "yes," check the box to the right that applies, enter the corresponding division in response to Question D, below, and skip to Section IX. STATE CASE WAS PENDING IN THE COUNTY OF: Los Angeles Ventura, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo Orange Riverside or San Bernardino Question B: Is the United States, or one of its agencies or employees, a party to this action? Yes No INITIAL DIVISION IN CACD IS: Western Western Southern Eastern

If the United States, or one of its agencies or employees, is a party, is it: A PLAINTIFF?
Then check the box below for the county in which the majority of DEFENDANTS reside.

A DEFENDANT?
Then check the box below for the county in which the majority of PLAINTIFFS reside.

INITIAL DIVISION IN CACD IS:

If "no, " go to Question C. If "yes," check the box to the right that applies, enter the corresponding division in response to Question D, below, and skip to Section IX.

Los Angeles Ventura, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo Orange Riverside or San Bernardino Other

Los Angeles Ventura, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo Orange Riverside or San Bernardino Other C. Orange County D. Riverside or San Bernardino Counties

Western Western Southern Eastern Western E. Outside the Central District of California F. Other

A. Question C: Location of Los Angeles County plaintiffs, defendants, and claims? Indicate the location in which a majority of plaintiffs reside: Indicate the location in which a majority of defendants reside: Indicate the location in which a majority of claims arose:

B. Ventura, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo Counties

C.1. Is either of the following true? If so, check the one that applies: 2 or more answers in Column C only 1 answer in Column C and no answers in Column D Your case will initially be assigned to the SOUTHERN DIVISION. Enter "Southern" in response to Question D, below. If none applies, answer question C2 to the right.

C.2. Is either of the following true? If so, check the one that applies: 2 or more answers in Column D only 1 answer in Column D and no answers in Column C Your case will initially be assigned to the EASTERN DIVISION. Enter "Eastern" in response to Question D, below. If none applies, go to the box below.

Your case will initially be assigned to the WESTERN DIVISION. Enter "Western" in response to Question D below.

Question D: Initial Division? Enter the initial division determined by Question A, B, or C above:

INITIAL DIVISION IN CACD

WESTERN DIVISION

CV-71 (09/13)

CIVIL COVER SHEET

Page 2 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL COVER SHEET IX(a). IDENTICAL CASES: Has this action been previously filed in this court and dismissed, remanded or closed?
If yes, list case number(s):

NO

YES

IX(b). RELATED CASES: Have any cases been previously filed in this court that are related to the present case?
If yes, list case number(s): Civil cases are deemed related if a previously filed case and the present case: (Check all boxes that apply) A. Arise from the same or closely related transactions, happenings, or events; or B. Call for determination of the same or substantially related or similar questions of law and fact; or C. For other reasons would entail substantial duplication of labor if heard by different judges; or

NO

YES

D. Involve the same patent, trademark or copyright, and one of the factors identified above in a, b or c also is present.

X. SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY (OR SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT):

DATE: November 25, 2013

Notice to Counsel/Parties: The CV-71 (JS-44) Civil Cover Sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required pursuant to Local Rule 3-1 is not filed but is used by the Clerk of the Court for the purpose of statistics, venue and initiating the civil docket sheet. (For more detailed instructions, see separate instructions sheet). Key to Statistical codes relating to Social Security Cases: Nature of Suit Code 861 862 Abbreviation HIA BL Substantive Statement of Cause of Action All claims for health insurance benefits (Medicare) under Title 18, Part A, of the Social Security Act, as amended. Also, include claims by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, etc., for certification as providers of services under the program. (42 U.S.C. 1935FF(b)) All claims for "Black Lung" benefits under Title 4, Part B, of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. (30 U.S.C. 923) All claims filed by insured workers for disability insurance benefits under Title 2 of the Social Security Act, as amended; plus all claims filed for child's insurance benefits based on disability. (42 U.S.C. 405 (g)) All claims filed for widows or widowers insurance benefits based on disability under Title 2 of the Social Security Act, as amended. (42 U.S.C. 405 (g)) All claims for supplemental security income payments based upon disability filed under Title 16 of the Social Security Act, as amended. All claims for retirement (old age) and survivors benefits under Title 2 of the Social Security Act, as amended. (42 U.S.C. 405 (g))

863 863

DIWC DIWW

864 865

SSID RSI

CV-71 (09/13)

CIVIL COVER SHEET

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