Novelty Smoking Apparatus

Abstract

A novelty smoking apparatus which includes a generally hollow housing within which is mounted a bellows for applying suction to a smoking device, such as a cigarette or the like, received in an aperture in the housing. Smoke is drawn from the cigarette on expansion of the bellows and is exhausted from the housing through a second aperture on contraction of the bellows. The bellows is actuated by a battery operated motor mounted within the housing. The motor operates a sound reproducing apparatus for producing coughing sounds as the cigarette is smoked by the bellows. The sound reproducing apparatus also is mounted within the housing to provide a self-contained unit.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to novelty devices and particularly to a novelty smoking apparatus for smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or the like.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a new novelty smoking apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novelty smoking apparatus of the character described wherein a cigarette, or like smoking device, is smoked by the apparatus while at the same time a sound reproducing means reproduces audibly a continuous series of coughing sounds during the smoking procedure.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a generally hollow housing is provided in the shape of at least the face portion of a simulated human head, with an apertured mouth portion thereof providing means for receiving one end of a smoking device, such as a cigarette or the like. An apertured nose portion of the face comprises exhaust means through which smoke drawn into the housing from the smoking device is exhaled back to the atmosphere. A bellows type smoking means is operated by a battery type motor both of which are mounted within the hollow housing. Th bellows is in operative communication with the receiving and exhaust apertures of the hollow housing for applying suction to the one end of the smoking device to draw smoke into the housing through the receiving aperture on expansion of the bellows and exhale the smoke from the housing through the exhaust aperture on contraction of the bellows. A check valve is disposed at the receiving means for the smoking device to prevent the smoke from being forced back through the receiving aperture. A switch, having a portion thereof exposed exteriorly of the housing for manipulation by a user of the apparatus, is provided to actuate the motor for selectively causing expansion and contraction of the bellows. Sound reproducing means is mounted within the housing and is actuated by the motor when the smoking means is actuated. The sound reproducing means includes a sound record with a sound track having recorded thereon for audible reproduction a continuous series of coughing sounds. Return means is provided for bringing a pick-up unit of the sound reproducing means automatically back to the beginning of the sound track when the pick-up unit reaches the end of the sound track.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a novelty smoking apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ash tray portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the smoking means and sound reproducing means mounted within the hollow housing of the smoking apparatus, with the hollow housing broken away to facilitate the illustration;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary broken away top plan view of the operative end of the tone arm in relation to the sound record, showing the operation of the return mechanism for the tone arm;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary broken away vertical section through the inner or pivoted end of the tone arm shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary broken away perspective view of the receiving means for a smoking device, such as a cigarette, or the like shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the novelty smoking apparatus of the present invention is shown in front perspective in FIG. 1 and includes a three-dimensional generally hollow housing or support means, generally designated 10, the front of which is shaped in the form of the face portion of a simulated human head. A receiving means, generally designated 12 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 9), is provided with an aperture 12a at the mouth portion of the simulated human head for receiving one end of a smoking device 13, such as a cigarette, cigar, pipe or the like. The cigarette abuts against an annular shoulder 12c. One or more apertures 14 are formed through the housing 10 simulating nostrils of a nose portion of the simulated human head. The apertures 14 provide exhaust means through which smoke drawn into the housing from the smoking device 13 through the receiving means 12 may be exhaled back from the housing to the atmosphere. Before going into further details on the invention, it is to be understood that within the head shaped hollow housing 10 is provided smoking means, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, operatively associated with the receiving means 12 and the exhaust apertures 14 for applying suction to the end of the smoking device 13 received in the receiving aperture 12a to draw smoke into the housing, particularly chamber 16 (FIGS. 5 and 6), and exhale the smoke from the housing through the exhaust apertures 14 to effectively smoke the smoking device when lit by a flame. Sound reproducing means, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, also is provided within the head shaped hollow housing 10 for audibly reproducing coughing sounds when the smoking means for the smoking device 13 is actuated. The smoking means and sound reproducing means are actuated by a battery operated motor (also to be described in greater detail hereinafter). An actuating means also is mounted within the hollow housing 10, with a switch portion exposed exteriorly thereof. Thus, a self-contained unit is provided not only for effectively smoking the smoking device 13 but for rendering sounds as the device is smoked.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the chin portion 18 of the head shaped hollow housing 10 is raised, at least in part, from a supporting surface 20 (FIG. 5), such as a tabletop or the like. An ash tray 22 may be positioned under the chin portion 18 for receiving ashes from the smoking device 13. The ash tray may be designed as shown in the drawings to compliment the head shaped hollow housing 10 by providing a simulated bow tie 24 surrounding the ash tray and mating with the underside of the chin portion.

The smoking means of the present invention includes a bellows 26 (FIGS. 3 and 6) closed at one end 26a thereof and open at the opposite end 26b. A coupling 28 and conduit 30 maintains the open end 26b of the bellows in communication with the chamber 16 which is disposed in back of and surrounds the receiving means 12 and the exhaust apertures 14. A motor 32 is mounted by a frame structure 32a within the hollow housing 10 and is operatively associated with the bellows 26 to cause expansion and contraction thereof. More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 4, the motor 32 has a downwardly depending rotating shaft 32b. A flexible belt 34 is wrapped about the rotating shaft 32b and about a pulley 36 fixed to a pulley shaft 36a for rotation therewith. A crank 38 (FIGS. 3 and 6) is connected to the closed end 26a of the bellows 26 and is eccentrically connected by a pin 40 to a disc 42 fixed to a shaft 44 (FIG. 4). The eccentric shaft 44 and the pulley shaft 36a are operatively connected for simultaneous rotation in response to operation of the motor 32 by means of a gear train, generally designated 46 (FIGS. 4 and 6).

Thus, it is apparent that upon actuation of the motor 32, its shaft 32b will rotate, causing the belt 34 to rotate the pulley 36 and its shaft 36a which, in turn, causes rotation, through the gear train 46, of the shaft 44 and disc 42 to cause oscillation of the crank 38 generally in the direction of the double-ended arrow A (FIG. 3). Oscillation of the crank 38, causes the bellows 26 to expand and contract. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, expansion of the bellows 26 in the direction of arrow B will create a suction in the chamber 16 to apply suction to the inner end of the smoking device 13. The suction draws smoke into the chamber 16 through the receiving means 12, particularly through a valve aperture 12b. The valve aperture 12b, as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, is covered at its inner end thereof by a flexible flap 48 which may be glued along one edge thereof, as at 48a (FIG. 9), to one side of the valve aperture 12b.

The flexible flap 48 comprises a check valve which permits smoke to be drawn from the smoking device 13 past the flexible flap 48 into the chamber 16, on expansion of the bellows 26 in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 6). However, contraction of the bellows in a direction opposite arrow B will cause the smoke drawn into the chamber 16 from the smoking device 13 to be exhaled out of the chamber through the exhaust apertures 14. The flexible flap 48 prevents the smoke from being forced back through the valve aperture 12b, through the receiving means 12 and the smoking device 13. Thus, it can be seen that expansion and contraction of the bellows 26, through the structure described above, effectively smokes the smoking device 13 which is received in the mouth of the simulated head shaped housing 10 and exhales the smole through the nostrils of the nose portion of the head as defined by the apertures 14.

The motor 32 is connected by a lead wire 50 (FIG. 3) to one end of a battery 52, through a portion 54 of a conductive battery holding clamp mounted within the housing 10. A second lead wire 56 leads from the motor 42 to a conductive switch strip 58 which is mounted for oscillation in the direction of the double-ended arrow C (FIG. 3). The switch strip 58 is mounted for movement into engagement with the opposite end 60 of the conductive battery clamp to complete a circuit through the battery and motor to operate the motor and actuate the bellows 26. As seen in FIG. 6, a switch button 62 is fixed to the switch strip 58 and is exposed exteriorly at the rear of the hollow housing 10 for manipulation by a user of the apparatus to complete the circuit, as described above.

The sound reproducing means of the present invention includes a turntable 64 (FIG. 4) on which is mounted for rotation therewith a sound record 66 having a sound track 66a (FIG. 3) recorded thereon for audible reproduction a continuous series of coughing sounds. Of course, other sounds may be recorded thereon. The turntable 64 and record 66 are mounted within the hollow housing 10 for free rotation on a spindle 68. As with the bellows 26, the turntable 64 and record 66 are actuated by the battery operated motor 32. More particularly, the perimeter of the turntable 64 in essence comprises a pulley about which a flexible belt 70 is wrapped. The belt 70 is wrapped about the lower end of the rotating motor shaft 32b, as best seen in FIG. 4.

The sound reproducing means includes a pick-up unit which includes a tone arm 72 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 7) which has a hub portion 72a slidably journalled on a vertical pin 74 fixed to the rear wall of the hollow housing 10. Tone arm 72 has a stylus 76 which is gently pressed against sound record 66 by the downward pressure of a speaker cone or diaphragm 78 carried in a frame portion 80 fixed by screws or bolts 82 (FIG. 3) to the hollow housing 10. Speaker cone or diaphragm 78 has an apex or contact area 78a which is properly positioned and is sufficiently large in the direction of swinging movement of the tone arm 72 to insure firm but yielding contact of stylus 76 with the sound record 66. A coil spring 84 which is positioned on pin 74 beneath hub 72a urges the pivot portion of tone arm 72 in a direction away from the sound record 66 and thereby cooperates with speaker cone or diaphragm 78 in providing a predetermined amount of pressure between stylus 76 and record 66. A tone arm boss 85 (FIG. 5) may be formed on top of the tone arm 72 for engagement with the contact area 78a of the speaker cone 78.

Return means is provided to return the tone arm and stylus from the inner end of the sound track 66a to the outer end of the track. More particularly, as the turntable 64 and sound record 66 rotate under the power of motor 32, the tone arm 72 follows the grooves of the sound track 66a and moves from the outer perimeter of the sound record 66 towards the center thereof. When stylus 76 reaches or approaches the end of the record groove of the sound track 66a, it is contacted and raised out of the groove and away from the record 66 by an inclined end portion 86 of a return lever 88 (FIGS. 3 and 7). Lever 88 is pivoted on an upstanding pin 90 fixed on the turn-table 64 and sound record 66 and extends generally in the direction of rotation of turntable 64 to an extend such that end portion 86 is a substantial distance further from the turntable spindle 68 than is pin 90. Lever 88 is normally yieldably maintained against a hub 92, which embraces the spindle 68, by a light spring having an end portion 94 engaging a pin 96 on the lever 88 and an end portion 98 engaging and reacting agianst the hub 92. As the tone arm 72 moves toward the center of the sound record 66 and completes reproduction of the sounds thereon, the inclined free end 86 of lever 88 engages on the underside of the tone arm and raises the stylus and tone arm off the record. In this respect it will be noted that the vertical pressure on the end of the tone arm, exerted by engagement of the lever 88 therewith, causes the tone arm to pivot about its position of engagement with contact area 78a of the speaker cone 78 and in opposition to spring 84. The lever 88 engages the stylus 76, as seen in phantom in FIG. 7, the rotating movement of lever 88 is halted, and the lever is moved counterclockwise or opposite the direction of rotation of the record 66 as indicated by the arrow D (FIG. 7) toward the periphery of the record 66 against a tone arm stop 95. At this point, the end portion 86 of lever 88 escapes from beneath the stylus 76 to place the stylus in the starting groove on the record, as indicated by the full lines in FIG. 7, and spring portion 94 quickly returns the lever 88 to its position wherein it will not interfere with the normal operation of the stylus. This return action will continue when the tone arm reaches the inner end of the sound track as long as the turntable continues to rotate under the power of motor 32.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. A novelty smoking apparatus comprising, in combination: a generally hollow support means which at least in part is shaped in the form of at least the face portion of a simulated human head with a mouth portion and a nose portion, a receiving socket formed at said mouth portion for receiving one end of a smoking device, such as a cigarette or the like, said socket having an intake aperture through which smoke from said smoking device may pass, an exhaust aperture at said nose portion through which smoke may be exhaled, means defining a hollow smoke accumulation chamber within said support means behind and surrounding said socket and said exhaust aperture for maintaining the exhaust aperture in communication with the intake aperture in said socket, a one-way check valve at said intake aperture permitting smoke to be drawn therethrough into said chamber but preventing smoke to be discharged from the chamber outwardly through the intake aperture, smoking means including a bellows in operative communication with said chamber for drawing smoke from the smoking device through the intake aperture at said receiving socket past the check valve and into the chamber on expansion of the bellows and for discharging smoke from the chamber through the exhaust aperture at said nose portion on contraction of the bellows with the check valve blocking passage of smoke back through the intake aperture, actuating means operatively associated with said smoking means for selectively actuating the same, and sound reproducing means disposed within the generally hollow support means, said sound reproducing means being acutated by said smoke actuating means for audibly reproducing a sound whenever said smoking means is actuated.

2. The novelty smoking apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sound reproducing means includes means for producing a coughing sound throughout substantially the entire period during which said smoking means is actuated so that the coughing sound continues throughout the smoking of said smoking device.

3. The novelty smoking apparatus of claim 2 wherein said sound reproducing means includes a rotatable sound record with a sound track having recorded thereon for audible reproducing a continuous series of coughing sounds, and wherein said bellows is expanded and contracted by means of an eccentric crank means, said actuating means including a single motor having a drive shaft operatively associated with said sound record and said eccentric crank means for operating the same simultaneously in response to the single actuation of the motor.

4. The novelty smoking apparatus of claim 21 wherein said apparatus is adapted to be placed on a supporting surface such as a table top or the like, said simulated human head having a chin portion thereof raised slightly above the supporting surface, and an ash tray having one side thereof of a size and shape for mating with said support means on the underside of said chin portion for receiving ashes from a smoking device received at the mouth portion of the support means.

5. The novelty smoking apparatus of claim 4 wherein said ash tray has portions thereof simulating a necktie, or the like, which mates with said support means on the underside of said chin portion.