U.S. patent application number 13/341906 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-04 for cigarette protector.
The applicant listed for this patent is Rabih Al-Aawar. Invention is credited to Rabih Al-Aawar.
Application Number | 20130167850 13/341906 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48693849 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130167850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Al-Aawar; Rabih |
July 4, 2013 |
CIGARETTE PROTECTOR
Abstract
A cigarette protector device used by a person smoking a tobacco
cigarette. The device is comprised of a double-walled cylindrical
tubular element having a plurality of small apertures and a
mouthpiece portion. The device completely encases the smoker's
cigarette. The cylindrical encasement reduces the distribution of
ash from the cigarette and, further, serves to keep the hot ash or
smoldering tip of the cigarette from contacting any flammable or
injurable surfaces in the smoker's environment.
Inventors: |
Al-Aawar; Rabih; (Richmond,
VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Al-Aawar; Rabih |
Richmond |
VA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48693849 |
Appl. No.: |
13/341906 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 13/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/175 |
International
Class: |
A24F 13/14 20060101
A24F013/14 |
Claims
1. A protective device for a cigarette comprising: a first portion;
said first portion being tubular with a substantially circular
cross-section having a first end and a second end; said first
portion having an outer wall and an inner wall and being open at
both said first end and said second end; a second portion; said
second portion being removeably engagable with said first portion;
said second portion having an internal space defined by a first
aperture disposed to receive the end of a cigarette, a second exit
aperture, and a passageway between said first aperture and second
aperture, wherein a cigarette may be completely enclosed within
said device.
2. The protective device of claim 1 wherein said first portion
includes one or more apertures in said outer wall.
3. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said first portion
includes one or more apertures in said inner wall; said apertures
in said inner wall being of such size so as to impede the flow of
ash through said apertures.
4. The protective device of claim 3 where said apertures in said
outer wall are axially aligned with said apertures in said inner
wall.
5. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said internal space
includes a set of broad shoulders and a set of narrow
shoulders.
6. The protective device of claim 2 wherein the opening on said
first end of said first portion is of a size less than that of the
substantially circular cross-section.
7. The protective device of claim 2 further comprising a
ventilation plug positioned in said opening on said first end; said
plug being a concave projection into said opening on said first end
and terminating in an aperture.
8. The protective device of claim 2 wherein said outer wall or said
inner wall or both said outer and inner walls extend to form a
concave projection into said first portion; said concave projection
having a centrally located aperture.
9. A cigarette protective device comprising: a holder body disposed
to receive a cigarette; said holder body having a central
passageway with openings at both ends; and a cylindrical portion;
said cylindrical portion of double-walled construction and having a
first end and a second end; said cylindrical portion being open on
said second end and further possessing at least one aperture on the
long axis of the double walled cylindrical portion; said holder
body and said cylindrical portion being removeably engagable with
one another.
10. The cigarette protective device of claim 9 wherein said first
end of said cylindrical portion includes an opening; said opening
being of a size less than that of the diameter of said cylindrical
portion.
11. The cigarette protective device of claim 9 wherein said first
end includes a concave barrier element having a centrally located
aperture.
12. The cigarette protective device of claim 9 wherein at least a
portion of said central passageway of said holder element is of
sufficient size to accommodate a tobacco cigarette.
13. The cigarette holder of claim 12 wherein said central
passageway includes a first set of shoulders which impede the
progress of a tobacco cigarette of a first size within at least a
portion of said passageway.
14. The cigarette holder of claim 13 wherein said central
passageway includes a second set of shoulders which impede the
progress of a tobacco cigarette of a second size within at least a
portion of said passageway.
15. A cigarette holder comprising: a cylindrical portion; said
cylindrical portion having a double-walled construction including
an outer wall and an inner wall; said cylindrical portion being of
sufficient dimensions so as to completely encase a cigarette; and a
mouthpiece portion removably engageable with said cylindrical
portion; said mouthpiece portion having an internal space; said
internal space having a first set of shoulders and a second set of
shoulders, whereby a cigarette may be secured in said holder and
smoked by a user.
16. The cigarette holder of claim 15 wherein said outer wall
includes a plurality of apertures.
17. The cigarette holder of claim 16 wherein said inner wall
includes a plurality of apertures.
18. The cigarette holder of claim 17 wherein said apertures are of
such size as to prevent the flow of ash or other particulate matter
through such apertures.
19. The cigarette holder of claim 16 wherein said cylindrical
portion includes a ventilation opening; said ventilation opening
being formed by a concave projection into one end of said
cylindrical portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to cigarette holders and
protectors, and, more particularly, to a new and improved cigarette
holder with various beneficial features.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A substantial number of the world's population engages in
the use of tobacco products. Tobacco comes in many forms, but
cigarettes are frequently the tobacco product of choice. Trillions
of cigarettes are produced and smoked annually. Recent statistics
have shown that almost twenty percent (20%) of the United States
population currently smokes.
[0003] In order to smoke a cigarette, one end of the cigarette is
initially ignited and the burning cigarette generates smoke which
is inhaled by the smoker. Since the cigarette is burning or
smoldering while lit, it presents a potential fire hazard if ever
placed on a flammable surface or item. Indeed, cigarettes are a
frequent source of fires in homes. A need therefore exists for a
cigarette protective device which minimizes or reduces this fire
risk.
[0004] A further inconvenience caused by a burning or smoldering
cigarette is the presence of ash. A cigarette produces a steady
stream of ash which must be deposited somewhere. A need therefore
also exists to limit or control the distribution of such ash.
[0005] Finally, the cigarette must continue to burn or smolder in
order to be smoked. Smoking is often difficult in locations where a
moderate to high wind is present, e.g., in a moving automobile with
open windows. A need therefore also exists for a device to
facilitate smoking in windy environments.
[0006] Most cigarettes are of one of two generally uniform
diameters, either standard or thin. A need therefore exists for a
cigarette holder which provides the aforementioned benefits for
users of both standard and thin cigarettes.
[0007] The prior art includes numerous cigarette holder designs.
For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,645 (Hagman) discloses a safety
cigarette holder. The Hagman device purportedly offers a safety
feature such that if the holder is dropped on the ground the holder
will not roll and the tip of the cigarette will remain off of the
ground. The Hagman device, however, still leaves the tip exposed.
Therefore, this exposed tip can still come into contact with
exposed skin or flammable substances if the holder is dropped.
Another example in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,930 which
encloses the entire cigarette in a protective enclosure; however,
this enclosure is of a wire or mesh nature. The wire enclosure
fails to provide adequate heat resistance, ash containment, and
fire prevention properties.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a cigarette
holder device which provides several advantages to a smoker,
including, but not limited to, reduction of fire risk in cases
where the cigarette is dropped, placed, or falls on flammable
matter and substantial containment of ash while the cigarette is
being smoked.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention discloses a cigarette holder device
composed of a first portion, or encapsulating tubular portion, and
a second portion, or holder body. The first portion is a
double-walled cylindrical tube having a plurality of holes. The
second portion includes an end to secure a cigarette, a passageway
for the transmission of smoke, and an opening to allow the smoke to
pass into the mouth of the smoker. In operation, the first portion
is removably engaged with the second portion and a cigarette is
contained in the cylinder while being smoked. The device offers
several benefits over simply holding a cigarette by hand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of
the device.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a view of the mouthpiece along the axis of the
central passageway.
[0015] FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of the device employed with a
standard cigarette.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the device employed with
a thin cigarette.
[0017] FIG. 8 is perspective view of the device including ash as
when in use.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a side view of the encapsulating portion.
[0019] FIG. 10 is view of the first end of the cylinder.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the double-walled
cylinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The invention disclosed herein is cigarette holder device
which holds or encases a cigarette. The device is designed to
accommodate a single cigarette, of varying proportions, at a time.
The device provides several benefits to a smoker, including greater
control of ash distribution, reduction of fire risk, the ability to
smoke in drafty or windy environments, and aesthetic appeal.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cigarette
holder 10 disclosed herein. The cigarette holder 10 includes a
first portion being an encapsulating tubular element of
substantially circular cross-section 15 and a second holder body
portion 20. The encapsulating portion 15 is a hollow double-walled
cylindrical tube composed of ceramic material. In a preferred
embodiment, the tube 15 is open on both a first-end 25 and a second
end 30, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 11. It will also be noted that the
tube 15 may be composed of any suitable material, e.g., ceramic or
glass, which exhibits sufficient heat-resistant properties and
possesses adequate structural strength.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the double-walled tube 15 is comprised
of an exterior wall 35 and an interior wall 40. A space exists
between the exterior 35 and interior 40 walls such that the walls
are not in direct contact with one another. In a preferred
embodiment, the tube 15 includes a plurality of holes 45 which pass
through the exterior walls 35 of the tube 15. In this embodiment,
the holes simply pass through the exterior wall 35 of the cylinder
15 and do not interface with the interior of the cylinder 15, i.e.,
the holes 45 are not present in the interior wall 40. Preferred
embodiments would include two or four rows of such holes 45. In
this configuration, the holes 45 serve a cooling function for the
tube 15. In an alternate embodiment one or more of the holes 45
pass only through the exterior wall 35 and one or more of the holes
45 pass through both the exterior wall 35 and the interior wall 40.
In this alternate embodiment, the plurality of holes 45 facilitate
cooling of the cylinder and also allow ventilation and gas exchange
between the interior of the tube 15 and the user's environment. In
this alternate embodiment, the holes 45 in the interior wall 40 are
to be of such size as to prevent or impede the travel of ash or
other particulate through such holes.
[0024] It will be noted, however, that the total number of holes
and the placement of the holes may vary so long as the function of
the holes is maintained.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, a circular ventilation plug 50 is
positioned in the aperture in the first end 25 as seen in FIG. 1.
The ventilation plug 50 has an exterior surface 55 and an interior
surface 60. It will be noted that the terms exterior surface and
interior surface are used in this context to define an interior and
exterior relative to the encapsulating portion 15. A ventilation
passageway runs along the central axis of the plug 50 between an
exterior opening 70 and an interior opening 75. The exterior
surface 55 of the plug is generally flat with the exterior opening
of the passageway 70 being in the center of the plug 50. The
interior surface 60 is concave and projects into the tube 15. The
interior surface 60 terminates with the interior opening 75. The
concave portion generally has a diameter that is less than the
diameter of the tube 15. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment, the
maximum diameter of the concave portion (at any point other than
the base) is no greater than ninety (90%) of the diameter of the
tube 15. The concave projection is, as noted, centered in the tube
15. As a result, the projection creates an ash-catching space
around the perimeter of the projection within the tube, as
illustrated in FIG. 8. The ventilation plug 50 is positioned within
the aperture 70. It must therefore be noted that the portion of the
plug 50 which lies directly within the exterior opening 70, and a
portion immediately adjacent to said opening 70, will be of a
diameter which is of a sufficient size to insure a proper fit of
the plug 50 within the cylinder 15.
[0026] The plug 50 may be secured by a variety of conventional
means, e.g., adhesives, interference fit, or a snap-like mechanism
or, alternatively, the plug structure may be of unitary
construction with the tube 15. In an alternate embodiment shown in
FIG. 2, the ventilation plug is formed as an integral part of the
tube. In this embodiment, the exterior surface is not flat; rather
it is an aperture which progresses into a concave enclosure and
culminates with an interior opening. It will be further noted that
regardless of whether the plug is a separate component or an
extension of the tube itself, the exterior surface can be flat, as
in FIG. 1 or concave, as in FIG. 2.
[0027] The interior of the cylindrical tube 15 is circumscribed by
a projection or lip or a depression or notch at a point proximal to
the second end 30. This projection or depression is designed to
engage an appropriate projection or depression on the second
portion in order to secure the first and second portions
together.
[0028] The second portion or holder body 20 comprises a seating
portion 80 and a mouthpiece portion 85 and includes a central
passageway 90 which runs the length of the body 20. More
specifically, the second portion 20 comprises a body having a
generally circular inbound end including an entrance aperture 95,
and an outbound end including an exit aperture 100. The passageway
90 is centrally disposed within said body between said entrance
aperture 95 and said exit aperture 100. The seating portion 80
includes a broad section having a first set of shoulders 110 and a
narrow section having a second set of shoulders 115 which
effectively reduce the size of the passageway 90 as it extends from
the entrance aperture 95 to the exit aperture 100. The shape of the
passageway 90 may vary as it progresses from the second set of
shoulders to the exit aperture 100. Commensurately, the exterior of
the mouthpiece section 85 may be of a variety of shapes. The
passageway 90 and breathing portion 85 can, for instance, be of an
elongated/flattened nature as shown in FIG. 3. This flattened shape
is potentially more comfortable in a user's mouth. Alternately,
this portion of the passageway and mouthpiece section could be
circular in nature or any other such shape.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the first 15 and second 20
portions include a locking depression disposed to receive a locking
projection so that the first portion and second portion can be
removably secured. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inbound
end 80 includes a locking projection 120 which can be engaged with
a locking depression found on the first portion 15. In a preferred
embodiment, the locking projection 120 is a lip which circumscribes
the inbound end 80. It will be recognized that the locking
projection need not encompass the entire inbound end, and, in fact,
could simply be a single tab or notch. Similarly, the locking
depression would of such shape as to accommodate the locking
projection. Further, the locking projection need not engage a
locking depression in such fashion, rather, the portions could be
secured by using two projections, e.g., a first projection on the
body 20 is passed into the cylinder 15 and beyond a second
projection on the cylinder 15 which then prevents the first
projection from backward travel without the exertion of at least a
minimal amount of force. Alternatively, the cylinder 15 could
incorporate a locking projection which corresponds with a locking
depression on the second portion 29, i.e., the locking projection
could project from the first portion and the locking depression
could be integrated into the second portion. Indeed, no locking
projection or depression need be included at all as the second
portion and the first portion could, rather, be engaged via an
interference or frictional fit between the inbound wall of the
second portion and the cylinder wall of the first portion. Further,
a seal of rubber or similar material may be used at the interface
of the first and second portion.
[0030] The entrance aperture 95 is of such size so as to
accommodate a standard cigarette. Further, the broad section of the
passageway in the body 20 has a circumference sufficient to
accommodate a standard cigarette and the narrow section of the
passageway is of a diameter smaller than the broad section and is
sufficient to accommodate a narrow cigarette.
[0031] In operation, the user unsnaps the holder and separates the
first portion 15 from the second portion 20. The user then inserts
a cigarette into the entrance aperture 95. The cigarette travels
down the passageway and, depending on the size, ultimately rests on
either the first set of shoulders 110 or the second set of
shoulders 115. The cigarette is held firmly in place via an
interference fit or frictional engagement of the filter portion of
the cigarette with the walls of the passageway 90. The broad
section is of such dimensions so as to permit frictional engagement
of the walls of the broad section with the filter portion of a
standard cigarette. The narrow section is of such dimensions so as
to permit frictional engagement of the walls of the narrow section
with the filter portion of a narrow cigarette.
[0032] The mouthpiece side 85 is placed or held in the user's mouth
and permits the user to inhale the smoke from the cigarette. The
selection of heat-resistant or non-heat conductive materials, e.g.,
glass or ceramic, and the use of a double-walled cylinder helps to
insure that the holder remains cool while in use. As noted supra,
the entire cigarette, including the tip, is completely enclosed
within the device.
[0033] Ash normally falls from a cigarette as it burns. Further,
miscellaneous burning particulate matter may be expelled from the
cigarette while it is burning. The enclosure is designed to retain
a substantial portion of such ash or other matter so that it does
not hit the user and is not ejected into the user's environment.
Rather, the ash 125 falls from the cigarette and is deposited
around the length of the cigarette on the walls of the cylinder as
seen in FIG. 8. Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, it will be
noted that the cigarette is essentially suspended within the
encapsulating tubular element 15. As a result, there is additional
space around the exterior of the cigarette for the accumulation of
ash and other such material.
[0034] The ventilation hole 75 is the principal exit for the ash
from the cylinder. Since the ventilation hole 75 is of limited
diameter, only a small portion of the ash will exit the cylinder
via the hole, even if the holder is oriented such that the
ventilation hole is facing the ground (i.e., down). Even when the
holder is so oriented, a majority of the ash 125 or other matter
will simply be distributed within the collection cavity and,
therefore, retained within the holder.
[0035] The heat-resistant nature of the cylinder, the enclosure of
the cigarette tip, and the retention of the ash, all serve to
improve smoking safety. That is, the design serves to reduce the
risk of a burn or burns from the tip of the cigarette or ash and
also serves to reduce the likelihood of igniting any flammable
material by preventing contact with the tip of the cigarette and by
reducing the likelihood that such material will come into contact
with ash or other burning particulate matter.
[0036] When the user has finished smoking the cigarette, due to the
fact that cigarette has burned to the maximal extent possible, the
user can simply put down the holder or place the holder in a
storage location. When the user is prepared to smoke another
cigarette, the user unsnaps the enclosure from the mouthpiece and
removes the butt of the cigarette. The user would typically dump
the ash or other matter in the enclosure at the same time. The user
then inserts a fresh cigarette into the mouthpiece and snaps the
mouthpiece, including the new cigarette, back into the
enclosure.
[0037] The device as a whole 10, or simply the cylinder 15, may
also be stylized or designed to increase the aesthetic appeal of
the item. For instance, the device may be painted a variety of
colors or include specific graphics or drawings.
[0038] While the invention has been described in reference to
certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications or
variations may be made to the system without departing from the
scope of invention claimed below and described in the foregoing
specification.
* * * * *