US3612068A

US3612068A - Smoking device and method

Info

Publication number: US3612068A
Application number: US883868A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Higbee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-12-10
Filing date: 1969-12-10
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12

Abstract

A holder with a mouthpiece adapted to wholly contain a burning cigarette and its ashes. The cigarette is disposed with its burning end adjacent the mouthpiece and its other end remote from but in communication with the latter via passageways which house filtering material whereby smoke drawn through the mouthpiece is rendered cool and mild. A cover over the cigarette has a hole for igniting the cigarette and is operable to guide smoke rising from the burning cigarette away from the mouthpiece.

Description

United States Patent James 11. Higbee [72] inventor Banning, Calif. [21] Appl. No. 883,868 [22] Filed Dec. 10, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Marjorie L. Higbee Banning, Calif. a part interest [54] SMOKING DEVICE AND METHOD 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. 52 us. on 1311115, 131/193,131/218 [51] Int. Cl A24d 01/12 [50] Field of Search 131/4 A, 174, 175,197,213,218, 193 [56] References Cited UN TTED STATES PATENTS 239,453 3/1881 Corr 131/175 568,461 9/1896 Sjolander 131/193 X 1,744,615 1/1930 Crosthwait 1,770,616 7/1930 Kean 131/4A 2,108,218 2/1938 Stultz 131/175 2,170,430 8/1939 Schnaier..... 131/213 X 2,183,658 12/1939 Schnaier 131/213 2,754,828 7/1956 Swain 131/4 A 2,816,554 12/1957 Blodgett et al 131/175 3,303,849 2/1967 Am01d,Jr. et al.. 131/193 X 3,336,929 8/1967 Williams 131/193 X Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-John H. Crowe PATENTEBHEI 121971 13,612,068

20 FIG. 3. 2 2 44 42 /N VE N TOR JAMES H. H/GBEE AGENT 1 SMOKING DEVICE'AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention is related to cigarette smoki'ng and more particularly to a device and method for smoking a cigarette or the like in such manner that the cigarette is wholly contained in a holder while it is burning, to thereby obviate the need for an ash tray, and the smoke drawn into the smokers mouth is caused to follow a lengthy path through a filter means to cool it and render it mild, whereas smoke rising from the burning end of the cigarette is guided away from the smoker.

The smoking of cigarettes is substantially widespread and habitual users of cigarettes derive a degree of pleasure from the taste of cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoking is also relaxing:- and serves as an outlet for nervous tension, at least for many persons. Such smoking also curbs theappetite for food and thereby serves to keep the smokers weight down. Health authorities, however, point out that smoking is a health hazard and that as between cigarettes and pipe smoking, the latter is less hazardous. This is no doubt true, at least .in part, because of the longer path the pipe tobacco smoke travels, which provides good cooling for the smoke and a better opportunity for nicotine, tars and other contaminants therefrom to settle, or condense. In any case, there are good reasons for moderation in smoking. In sum, the benefits to be derived by the habitual smoker from the use of tobacco can sometimes outweigh the resulting hazards to his health, if the smoking is moderate and the health hazards thereby minimized. Although pipe smoking is, for reasons indicated above, preferable to cigarette smoking, it has the disadvantage of untidiness as a result of loose tobacco particles, flying sparks, etc.; Both pipe' and cigarette smoking, moreover, create a nuisance (sometimes dangerous) of strewn ashes, even where ample ash tray facilities are provided.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention involves a cigarette holder having a mouthpiece at one end and a cavity or'recess'in longitudinal alignment therewith. A bore is provided at the end of the cavity remote from the mouthpiece into which the mouth or filter end of acigarett'e fits so that the remainder of the cigarette is disposed longitudinally in said cavity and its other (free) endis positioned adjacent the mouthpiece. The bore and mouthpiece are in communication with an elongate passageway adapted to house a filter. when the free end of the cigarette is lit and suctionis applied to the mouthpiece, smoke is drawn through the cigarette and the filter. As a result, the smoke is cooled and a substantial amount of nicotine, tars and other contaminants removed therefrom to render it-very mild. The elongate passageway is provided with an end plug, or other closure, which is removable to permit the filter to be changed as necessary. Transverse holes are provided in the holder which admit ambient air to the cavity for combustion or burning of the cigarette. An elongate, removable cover is disposable over the cavity whereby enclosure of the cigarette, including its ashes, is achieved to obviate the need for an ash tray. The cover has a hole for lighting the free end of the cigarette and is open at each end, the surface between the ends being inclined so that smoke rising from the burning cigarette in the cavity is guided away from the mouthpiece end of the holder.

The aforesaid holder thus not only cools cigarette smoke and removes contaminants therefrom, but does' away with the need for an ash tray and serves as an outlet for nervous tension, even when not actually being used for smoking purposes. It will be evident from the foregoing that use of my novel holder serves to minimize the consumption of cigarettes and thereby bring about moderation in smoking topermit the smoker to achieve certain benefits thereof without undue danger or hazard to his health.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS a mouthpiece forming part of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is shownin FIG. 1 a cigarette smoking'device l0 embodying the principles of the present invention. The device includes an elongated body member 12 having a mouthpiece 14 at one-end and a removable plug 16 (better seen in FIG. 2) at the other end. The body member is provided with transversely extending perforations l8 and has a removable cover 20 with a hole 22 therein, all for a purpose later appearing.

Inviting attention to FIGS. 3 and 4, the body member I2 is provided with a bore 24 at its end remote from the mouthpiece I4. Formed in the upper surface of the body member is a cavity or recess 26 which extends from the bore to the vicinity of the mouthpiece. The cover 20 is disposable over the cavity and therewith defines a chamber in which a cigarette 28 can be wholly received with one end fitted into the bore and its other end disposed below the hole 22 in the cover, all as indicated in FIG. 4. The cigarette, so positioned, can be lit through hole 22 in the cover with a burning match. The perforations 18 communicate outside ambient air to the cavity for combustion of the cigarette.

The body member 12 has an elongate, internal pasageway 30 with a longitudinal axis generally parallel to that of cavity 26 and is aligned with an opening 32 in which the removable plug 16 is insertable as a closure member. The passageway 30 is adapted to'house an elongated filter 34 and its ends are in communication with the mouthpiece l4 and the bore 24 by means of respectively connecting

passageways

36 and 38 The cover 20 isdesigned for friction-fit connection with the body member 12 and is dimensioned to provide vents or

openings

40 and 42 at'its ends with a narrow connecting surface 44 therebetween. The surface 44 is inclined in a direction extending away from the mouthpiece 14 so that smoke 46 rising from the smoldering cigarette 28 is guided toward the vent 42 and exits therethrough at some distance from the smokers face. Ashes 48 resulting from the burning of the cigarette are retained in the'holder for later removal, thereby obviating the need for an ash tray and permitting the cigarette to be smoked in a more tidy manner.

The body member 12 can be made of any suitable material which is nontoxic in its service environment and has relatively low heat conductivity. Such material can, for example, be hardwood, plastic, metal, clay or meerschaum but is preferably briarwood' or burl. The mouthpiece is made of nylon, but could be made of any other material suitable for the purpose, such as, for example, hard rubber, plastic material other than nylon, or ivory. Although mouthpiece 14 is shown to be removable for cleaning purposes, this is not a critical, but only a preferred, feature of my holder. Cover 20 of the holder is made of metal, as illustrated, but could be formed from pressed asbestos (and given a metallic finish) or any other suitable material. Filter 34 can be of any suitable type such as charcoal, crystal, cellulose fibers, or the like, which causes the cigarette smoke to travel a long, tortuous path, to permit it to cool, and provides large surface areas on which tars and other contaminants can be trapped so that the smoke finally reaching the smokers mouth is very cool and mild and of substantially purified character by comparison with its original condition.

The operation of the cigarette smoking device and method of the present invention are believed to be clearly understandable from the foregoing and are briefly summarized at this point. To begin with, the cigarette 28 is placed in cavity 26 with one end, in the case of a filter cigarette the filter end, fitted into bore 24 of the holder. The cover is set in place and mouthpiece 14 inserted in the smokers mouth. A lighted match is applied to the hole 22 and the smoker puffs on the mouthpiece to draw air through the cigarette and pull the flame from the match down to the free end of the cigarette to light it. The openings 18 provide The for the combustion of the cigarette which results in the accumulation of ashes 48 which are retained in the cavity. Smoke 46 rising from the cigarette when it is smoldering is guided by the inclined surface 44 of the cover away from the smoker and vented to the atmosphere through opening 42. The smoke drawn into the smokers mouth has travelled a lengthy path through filter 34 and been thereby rendered cool and mild' Between puffs, the mouthpiece can be held in the mouth or removed therefrom in the manner in which the bit of pipe is held in, or removed from, a smokers mouth, to provide the kind of pleasure and relaxation associated with pipe smoking without the untidiness resulting from the escape of ashes or tobacco particles from a pipe bowl.

There has thus been provided, by means of this invention, a cigarette smoking device and method with use consequences less hazardous to the smokers health than conventional cigarette smoking but including the benefit of relaxation inherent in such smoking while offering the smoker a mild, pleasant-tasting smoke for his enjoyment. It should be noted that the use of a filter cigarette in my holder results in double filtration of the smoke drawn into the smokers mouth and enhanced cooling and purification of the latter to the smokers benefit.

Although the smoking device of this invention has been herein shown and described in what are believed to be its most practical and preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein within the scope of the invention. One such modification, for example, would result from alteration of the illustrated device to a form suitable for use in the smoking of cigars. The use consequences of such an alteration would parallel those accruing from utilization of the device in its cigarette holding form.

lclaim:

l. A device for smoking a cigarette or the like comprising a holder having a chamber adapted to wholly contain said cigarette or the like and a mouthpiece adapted to communicate with said chamber;

said holder comprising an elongated member extending forwardly from the mouthpiece and having means providing an elongated recess in its upper side in substantially longitudinal alignment with said mouthpiece;

said holder having, additionally, a bore situated at the end of said recess remote from said mouthpiece and internal passageway means intercommunicating the bore and the mouthpiece;

said recess means defining part of said chamber and being adapted to receive a cigarette or the like with one end fitted in said bore;

the holder and mouthpiece cooperating to permit the buming of a cigarette or the like in said recess means with its burning end adjacent, and its other end remote from, the mouthpiece, so that pufiing on the mouthpiece causes cigarette smoke to be drawn therethrough, and the ashes of the burning cigarette or the like are retained in the recess means to thereby obviate the need for an ash tray for disposal of said ashes as they accumulate;

said device further including a cover disposable over the recess means, which cover has an opening positioned to permit lighting of a cigarette or the like in said recess means therethrough, said cover being open-ended and havin an upgler surface inclined away from the mout piece so at smoke rising fromabuming cigarette in said recess is guided away from the mouthpiece and the face of the smoker.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said internal passageway means includes an elongated portion having a longitudinal axis which is substantially parallel to said recess means, one end of said elongated portion is in communication with an opening in said holder adapted to receive a removable closure member, and said elongated portion is adapted to receive a filter substantially congruent therewith through said opening when said closure member is removed therefrom.

3. A device for smoking a cigarette or the like comprising a holder having a chamber adapted to wholly contain said cigarette or the like and a mouthpiece adapted to communicate with said chamber;

said holder comprising an elongated member extending forwardly from the mouthpiece and having walls defining a longitudinal cavity;

said holder having, additionally, a bore situated at one end of said cavity and internal passageway means intercommunicating the bore and the mouthpiece;

the walls of said cavity defining a space adapted to receive a cigarette or the like with one end fitted in said bore;

the holder and mouthpiece cooperating to permit the buming of said cigarette or the like in said cavity so that puffing on the mouthpiece causes cigarette smoke to be drawn therethrough, and the ashes of the burning cigarette or the like are retained in the cavity to thereby obviate the need for an ash tray for disposal of said ashes as they accumulate;

said device further including a cover over the cavity designed to guide smoke rising from a burning cigarette or the like therein away from said mouthpiece, said cover having a lighting hole through which that end of said cigarette or the like opposite to the end fitted in said bore when the cigarette or the like is positioned for smoking in said cavity can be lit.

4. The device of claim in which the elongated member is provided with a plurality of openings communicating said cavity with ambient air, said openings being spaced between the mouthpiece and the bore to provide combustion air for said burning cigarette or the like.

Claims

1. A device for smoking a cigarette or the like comprising a holder having a chamber adapted to wholly contain said cigarette or the like and a mouthpiece adapted to communicate with said chamber; said holder comprising an elongated member extending forwardly from the mouthpiece and having means providing an elongated recess in its upper side in substantially longitudinal alignment with said mouthpiece; said holder having, additionally, a bore situated at the end of said recess remote from said mouthpiece and internal passageway means intercommunicating the bore and the mouthpiece; said recess means defining part of said chamber and being adapted to receive a cigarette or the like with one end fitted in said bore; the holder and mouthpiece cooperating to permit the burning of a cigarette or the like in said recess means with its burning end adjacent, and its other end remote from, the mouthpiece, so that puffing on the mouthpiece causes cigarette smoke to be drawn therethrough, and the ashes of the burning cigarette or the like are retained in the recess means to thereby obviate the need for an ash tray for disposal of said ashes as they accumulate; said device further including a cover disposable over the recess means, which cover has an opening positioned to permit lighting of a cigarette or the like in said recess means therethrough, said cover being open-ended and having an upper surface inclined away from the mouthpiece so that smoke rising from a burning cigarette in said recess is guided away from the mouthpiece and the face of the smoker.

3. A device for smoking a cigarette or the like comprising a holder having a chamber adapted to wholly contain said cigarette or the like and a mouthpiece adapted to communicate with said chamber; said holder comprising an elongated member extending forwardly from the mouthpiece and having walls defining a longitudinal cavity; said holder having, additionally, a bore situated at one end of said cavity and internal passageway means intercommunicating the bore and the mouthpiece; the walls of said cavity defining a space adapted to receive a cigarette or the like with one end fitted in said bore; the holder and mouthpiece cooperating to permit the burning of said cigarette or the like in said cavity so that puffing on the mouthpiece causes cigarette smoke to be drawn therethrough, and the ashes of the burning cigarette or the like are retained in the cavity to thereby obviate the need for an ash tray for disposal of said ashes as they accumulate; said device further including a cover over the cavity designed to guide smoke rising from a burning cigarette or the like therein away from said mouthpiece, said cover having a lighting hole through which that end of said cigarette or the like opposite to the end fitted in said bore when the cigarette or the like is positioned for smoking in said cavity can be lit.