SMOKING CONTAINMENT AND FILTER SYSTEM AND METHOD

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a smoking containment and filter system and method for containment of smoke generated by a cigarette, and filtering of the generated smoke before release of filtered air into the environment.

For persons who smoke cigarettes it has become increasingly important that “secondhand” smoke should not be released into the air of everyone else's environment. In some cases, even smoking outdoors is prohibited or is impractical or uncomfortable. And some smokers do not have the opportunities to leave their responsibilities indoors in order to go outdoors for a smoke.

Existing smoke-containment devices have disadvantages, including a lack of portability and the related disadvantage of being too conspicuous, a lack of provisions for cleaning the device, insufficient and inadequate filtering of the air, awkward and uncomfortable usability, and high expense.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,176 for a “Tobacco Smoke Containment Apparatus and Method Therefor,” issued on Aug. 13, 2002 to inventor Hiram Allen Rice, discloses a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, in which an opening is made. The receptacle has a filter screen, which is adapted to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by tobacco smoke. A cap with two openings is detachably secured on the open end of the receptacle. An inhale tube admits smoke from a tobacco product to a smoker. The second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle, while the second end or the inhale tube is adapted to be removably coupled to a tobacco product. An exhale tube securable to the cap directs smoke exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle. The second end of the exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle. A filtering chamber is connected to the second end of the exhaust tube and the second end of the filtering chamber is coupled to an exit tube, the filtering chamber is adapted to limit a passage of harmful particles generated by tobacco smoke from exiting the filtering chamber through the exit tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,625 for a “Filter for Secondary Smoke and Smoking Articles Incorporating the Same,” issued on Feb. 12, 2002 to inventor Kar Eng Chew, discloses a filter sleeve for filtering exhale smoke. Inlets are provided along the periphery of the downstream transverse wall for receiving inhale smoke from a smoking article. The inlet openings are connected in flow communication to outlets provided along the periphery of the upstream transverse wall by a plurality of tubular inhalation flow paths that longitudinally inside the elongate hollow sleeve. In addition to channeling inhale smoke, the inhalation flow paths may also provide support for the wall of the sleeve. A central opening in the upstream transverse end receives exhale smoke, which may be filtered through filter materials embodied in the wall of the sleeve. Filtered air is discharged from the filter materials directly into the ambient environment. A one-way valve is provided along the exhalation flow path immediately downstream of the upstream inlet for checking the flow of ambient air into and through the exhalation flow path.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,530 for “Hand-Held Smoker's Device for Sidestream Smoke Control,” issued on Dec. 12, 2000 to inventors Larry Bowen et al., discloses a cigarette combustion unit for the use in a hand-held cigarette smoke filtering device for filtering sidestream smoke emitted from a cigarette burning in the unit. The device has an elongate closed combustion chamber for a burning cigarette, a lower wall portion of the combustion chamber is porous to permit air to enter the combustion chamber. The device is provided with a cigarette holder such that the burning end of the cigarette is spaced from chamber interior wall surfaces. The filter element extends beyond the device to allow a user to puff on the cigarette. A mouthpiece may be rotated 180 degrees to allow a user to place readily their mouth on the mouthpiece and exhale into the device so that exhaled smoke is filtered. Batteries for powering the fan used to withdraw sidestream smoke from the combustion chamber are contained in the device. A vent is provided in the body portion above the combustion chamber to allow outside air to rise over the liner in the chamber to provide additional cooling.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,459 for an “On-Board Lighter System for Smoker's Accessory,” issued on Jan. 11, 2000 to assignee 1149235 Ontario Inc., discloses a hand-held cigarette smoking device for capturing sidestream smoke with an on-board cigarette lighter. The device has a cigarette combustion chamber, a sidestream smoke filtration chamber, a plenum for conducting sidestream smoke from a lit cigarette in the combustion chamber into the sidestream smoke filtration chamber, an electric fan for drawing sidestream smoke from the combustion chamber through the plenum and into the sidestream smoke filtration chamber and a controller for the fan. The on-board cigarette lighter comprises a lighter filament, flexible wire for supplying electric current to the filament, a reciprocal mounting device for the lighter filament positioned in the combustion chamber, a detent for locating the lighter filament at predetermined cigarette positions to locate the filament at a respective cigarette tip end when inserted in the combustion chamber for smoking, the flexible wire being of a length to accommodate such position of the filament.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,757 for a “Cigarette Holder,” issued on Dec. 28, 1999 to inventor Edward Lichtenberg, discloses a device, which completely encloses the lit end of a cigarette providing purification for both sidestream smoke and mainstream smoke. The device has two concentric tubes with the lit cigarette placed in the inner tube and purifying agent placed in the annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube. A chimney effect is produced wherein air flows through an air port past the lit cigarette to keep it burning. The sidestream smoke passes through the filter and is discharged into the environment. The filter tip of the lit cigarette extends through a mouthpiece and the smoker exhales smoke through openings in the same mouthpiece. The mainstream smoke passes through the same purifying agent, in a direction opposite to the flow of the sidestream smoke, and is then discharged into the environment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,479 for a “Filter Device to Reduce Cigarette Smoke,” issued on Jun. 1, 1999 to inventor Brian Wampole, discloses a cylindrical body defining a first chamber adapted to hold a cigarette, a solid end cap closing off one end of the device, and a front end cap closing off the front end of the device, with the cigarette therein. An inner layer of air permeable expanded metal defines the outside of the first chamber, an inner cylinder of microfiber filter material is positioned outside of the inner metal layer. A first intermediate layer of air permeable expanded metal defines the inside of a second chamber, a second intermediate layer of air permeable expanded metal, with the first intermediate layer defining the outer limits of the second chamber. Openings are formed in the front end cap in communication with the second chamber, an outer cylinder of microfiber filter media outside the second intermediate metal layer, a cylinder of air permeable plastic fibers outside said outer cylinder and an outer air permeable layer of expanded metal.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,853 for an “Ignition Device and Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Side-Stream and Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke,” issued on Feb. 4, 1997 to inventor Jon Hyre, discloses an ignition-filtering system that has a gravitationally activated ignition device to permit complete isolation of the lighting and smoking process. The ignition-filtering system filters second-hand smoke exhaled by a smoker, side-stream smoke, which is evolved from the burning tip of a cigar or cigarette, and initial combustion smoke and gases. The ignition device is battery powered and includes an electrical ignition coil. The multi-stage filtering apparatus has an enclosure that surrounds a cigarette and a base with a filter. A catalytic converter surrounds the cigarette inside the enclosure. The filters inside the assembly may include a condensation filter, a smoke-absorbing filter, a desiccating filter, a bacteriostatic filter, and a deodorizing filter. Two concentrically disposed smoke conduits provide passage for smoke to be inhaled by the user, and then exhaled back into the enclosure, where the smoke is dried, filtered, and catalytically decontaminated.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,078 for a “Smoker's Box,” issued on Jun. 25, 1996 to inventors Miles R. Rehder et al., discloses a device for reducing pollution caused by smoking a cigarette. A housing has a first and second portion, the first portion defining a cavity, and the second portion defining a fan chamber. A venting channel allows gases to pass between the first and second housing portions. A lighter is provided to light a cigarette within the cavity. A mouthpiece and a cigarette sleeve for holding a cigarette define an inhalation channel open to the surrounding atmosphere. A replaceable cartridge includes a burn chamber in which the cigarette burns, a smoke treatment chamber adjacent to the burn chamber, a particulate filter between the burn chamber and the smoke treatment chamber, and smoke-absorbing material for absorbing exhaled smoke passing within the smoke treatment chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,501,234 for an “Apparatus for Filtering and Purifying Side-Stream and Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke,” issued on Mar. 26, 1996 to inventor Jon J. Hyre, discloses a multi-stage tobacco smoke filtering apparatus which filters both second-hand smoke exhaled by a smoker, and side-stream smoke which is evolved from the burning tip of a cigar or cigarette. An enclosure surrounds a cigarette and fits into a base that has a filter assembly. A catalytic converter surrounds the smoking product within the enclosure. The filters inside the assembly may include a condensation filter, a smoke-absorbing filter, a desiccating filter, a bacteriostatic filter, and a deodorizing filter. Two concentrically disposed smoke conduits provide passage for smoke to be inhaled by the user, and then exhaled back into the enclosure, where the smoke is dried, filtered, and catalytically decontaminated.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,595 for a “Second-Hand Smoke Filtering Device,” issued on Feb. 14, 1995 to inventor Gary A. Shafer, discloses a device that has a hollow body, a cigarette holder disposed within the body, and a holding chamber for the dual purpose of accepting a cigarette therein and for holding second-hand smoke. A lighter is positioned within the holding chamber. A mouthpiece extends from the body for receiving smoke from the cigarette holder or holding chamber and transmitting second-hand smoke. A filter is positioned in the body for removing second-hand smoke, while a valve is mounted between the cigarette holder, mouthpiece, holding chamber, and filter compartment for controlling communication between the holding chamber, mouthpiece, cigarette holder, and filter compartment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,508 for an “Apparatus and Method for Eliminating Cigarette Sidestream,” issued on Feb. 18, 1992 to inventor Steven A. Duncan, discloses an apparatus for eliminating sidestream smoke from a cigarette or other smoking article. The apparatus includes a smoke collecting chamber adapted to collect sidestream smoke from the lit end of the smoking article along with air for combustion of the sidestream smoke and to direct the mixture of sidestream smoke and air to a combustion area associated with the smoke collecting chamber. An ignition device is included in the apparatus for igniting at least a portion of the sidestream smoke received in the combustion area by heating the smoke in the combustion area to an ignition temperature. The preferred ignition device includes a heat source for constantly producing a flame in the combustion area. The apparatus may also include a smoke particle capturing arrangement in a capture chamber connected to the smoke collecting chamber. The smoke particle capturing arrangement is adapted to remove smoke particles from the sidestream smoke or to capture smoke particles in the combustion area on a suitable ignition surface so that the igniting device may ignite the captured smoke particles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,545 for a “Smoking Device,” issued on Sep. 17, 1991 to Seiichi Takagi et al., discloses a housing having a cylindrical inhale section, an air blowing section, a storage section, and a pipe for connecting these sections. An opening is formed at one end of the inhale section and serves as a mouthpiece, with an edge portion of the opening being covered with a soft rubber cushion. The inhale section has, at the other end, a portion with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the connecting pipe, so that the inhale section can be fitted in the pipe. The inhale section has a support member for supporting a cigarette, and a fire extinguishing device for putting out the cigarette when the length of the cigarette is reduced to a predetermined value. The fire-extinguishing device holds both sides of the cigarette and pinches it at high temperature. An ashtray section for receiving ash of the cigarette is arranged below the inhale section; the ashtray section can rotate about a movable fixing member for disposal of the ash. An opening in the bottom of the inhale section, which is located above the ashtray section allows ash of the cigarette to fall on the ashtray section.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,435 for a “Smoking Accessory,” issued on Feb. 19, 1991 to inventor Steven McCann, discloses a case that can completely contain a lighted cigarette. The cigarette foot end extends out of the case, and the smoker exhales smoke into a mouthpiece on the case that conducts the exhaled smoke into a filter chamber to be filtered before it is exhausted to the environment. The case includes an ash chamber next to a cigarette containing chamber, and a filter chamber is located adjacent to the cigarette containing chamber. A flexible hose having two passages can be connected to the case.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,646 for a “Device for Use by Smokers to Enable Smoking in Public Places,” issued on Feb. 28, 1989 to inventor Raphael Sahar, discloses a container which consists of two hingedly connected halves. Within the container extends a partition which is fixed to one of the halves. From one small end of container extends an elongated mouthpiece with two substantially parallel conduits. These conduits are open to the atmosphere at the free end of the mouthpiece. The container is seated on a disc-shaped base, through which both conduits are led. A short sleeve rises from the base and serves as a holder for a cigarette. The sleeve is in communication with a conduit. Another conduit passes through the base to branch off into two outlets—one outlet leads into the open (but can be sealed by a flap which is openable at will from the exterior by a knob) and another of which leads into a bladder. Non-return valves placed in the two conduits to permit flow of a gas in one direction only.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,332 for a “Smoke Eliminator for Cigarette Smokers,” issued on Dec. 13, 1988 to inventor Fred E. Wallace, discloses a cigarette package-sized device that completely encloses a cigarette while it is being smoked and provides two mouthpieces, one for inhaling and the other for exhaling smoke into the device. All smoke passes through two filters, a particulate filter and an odor filter, before being discharged into the ambient atmosphere.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,244 for a “Smoking Device,” issued on Jul. 8, 1980 to inventor Shane Williams, discloses a smoke receiving apparatus for selective attachment to the discharge port of conventional smoke generators used with cigarettes and similar tobacco and tobacco-like products. The apparatus includes a container or chamber having side walls which form a sloped or tapered housing which has a lid disposed across one end thereof and a mounting portion adjacent the opposite end. The mounting portion is formed so as to be selectively mounted or received about the discharge spout or port of the smoke generator. A check valve and screen are provided along the mounting portion so that smoke discharged from the smoke generator can pass through the mounting portion of the container and thereafter be diffused by the screen as it passes into the tapered main body or chamber of the apparatus. A plurality of small air vents are provided in the lid or top so as to permit relatively clear air to be exhausted from the chamber as the smoke is discharged therein from the smoke generator. An elongated smoke inhaling tube is disposed through the lid portion and into the tapered chamber so that the inlet is positioned at the base of the converging walls of the chamber where the cooled smoke is concentrated.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,114 for a “Smoking Appliance,” issued on Apr. 29, 1980 to inventor Howard W. Waite, discloses a device composed of a face piece fitted to the smoker, a combustion chamber containing burning tobacco or the like, and an intermediate section with a series of check valves and passageways. Air for normal breathing is drawn in through one check valve into the face piece, and exhaled through a second check valve into the combustion chamber. Both exhaled air and smoke are then forced through a third check valve and a filter before exiting into the atmosphere. A mixture of smoke and air may also be drawn through a fourth check valve into a mouthpiece in the face piece. The mixture is then blown back into the combustion chamber either through the aforementioned second check valve or through a fifth check valve, and then exited to the atmosphere through the third check valve and filter. A contoured edge of the face piece together with a soft rim provide an airtight seal between the internal passageways and chambers of the appliance and the surrounding atmosphere. The device provides for circulation of air for breathing and for combustion, and filters both products of combustion and the exhalation from the user of the appliance so as to remove smoke and odor before release to the surrounding atmosphere.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,230 for an “Automatic Smoking Device,” issued on Aug. 14, 1979 to inventor Walter Pearlman, discloses a beverage can having a smoking bowl seated in the top centered above a platform beneath a fan chamber carrying a flat rotating fan blade about 11/4″ long by ½″ high facing a stem at the same height that fits in an opening in the can wall and is an alligator clip insulating boot. The platform separates the flat rotating fan blade above from an electric motor below whose shaft carries the flat rotating fan blade. The compartment below the platform also encloses a battery for powering the motor and a push-button switch for coupling current from the battery to the motor when the switch is pushed to rotate the fan blade.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,669 for a “Combination Cigarette Holder, Lighter and Smoke Purifier, Filter, and Cooler,” issued on Mar. 14, 1961 to inventor Robert Ellis, discloses a rectangular smoke cooling element made up of two equal portions. A partition defines a passage for the purified smoke. One or more heat-absorbing fins are fitted in the passage, as well as a plurality of outer fins to facilitate heat dissipation. A spring is attached to a tubular member for holding a cigarette secure with the housing.

US Publication No. 2008/0060664 for a “Device for Filtering Second-Hand Smoke,” published on Mar. 13, 2008 by inventor Wilbur Richards, discloses a first chamber for receiving the lit end of the tobacco product. Users of the device can inhale smoke from the tobacco product through a first aperture in the first chamber, while a filter communicating with the first chamber filters smoke from the burning end of the tobacco product. A second chamber is configured to receive smoke and air exhaled by the user. The smoke is filtered by the second filter and the filtered air is passed through to the surrounding environment.

US Publication No. 2007/0204868 for a “Tobacco Smoking Apparatus,” published on Sep. 6, 2007 by inventors Christopher N. Bollinger et al., discloses an enclosure that is configured for enclosing tobacco combustion activity in a chamber. The enclosure houses one or more filters. An inhale/exhale conduit is configured to enable a person to inhale substances from a cigarette in the chamber. An air input port that is configured to input atmospheric gases residing outside of said enclosure when an internal gas pressure of internal gases residing inside of said enclosure is less than an atmospheric pressure of said atmospheric gases residing outside of said enclosure by a sufficient negative pressure value. A gas output port allows escape of internal gases and other combustion products from the enclosure when an internal gas pressure is greater than the atmospheric pressure by a sufficient positive pressure value.

US Publication No. 2006/0107965 for a “Respiration Containment Device,” published on May 25, 2006 by inventor Jeremy S. Marshall, discloses a detachable and contained combustion chamber that contains smoke using a positive air pressure. A filter or scrubber, an air propulsion system, or a one-way valve contains residual smoke, vapor, and odor from escaping the chamber. The combustion chamber comprises a bowl resembling a cylinder, cone, or dome with, or without, a screen which is encased by a shield made of glass, metal, plastic, or other material that is impermeable to smoke, vapor, or odor, to contain the bowl. The combustion chamber is designed to contain any kind of heat that is applied to combust or volatilize a material creating smoke, vapor, or odor. The combustion chamber is combined with, or without, a respirator mask to contain smoke, vapor, and odor from entering the environmental surrounding using a pollutant scrubber.

Korean Publication No. 10-2012-0080040 for a “Cigarette Smoke Cleansing Device,” published on Jul. 16, 2012, discloses a device for cleansing cigarette smoke, where the device comprises a main body, a cigarette insulting part, a smoking suction part, a cleansing filter, and a power supply part. In the main body, a plurality of inflow hole and an insert hole is formed.

Inside the main body, a support part is formed. On the outer skin of the main body, a plurality of exhaust holes is formed. One end of the cigarette insulting part is opened to form an accepting space for accepting a cigarette. On the outer skin of the cigarette insulting part, a plurality of penetration holes connected to the accepting space is formed. The cigarette insulting part is inserted into the insert hole, and a support part, conducting combustion heat to the main body. The smoking suction part comprises a suction fan, sucking smokes, and a driving motor rotating the suction fan.

US Publication No. 2021/0169135 for an “Integrated Cigarette Filter,” published on Jun. 10, 2021 by inventor Tieshun Zeng, discloses an integrated cigarette filter that can light up, cut, and put out a cigarette, hold ash and butts, and filter smoke. It comprises upper and lower casings and is characterized by a smoke-collecting hood arranged on the upper casing and an inlet ventilator furnished inside the hood. The hood is snapped onto the upper casing in a detachable manner. The inlet ventilator is fixed to the upper casing with screws and snap-fasteners. The smoking device is inside the upper casing, while the purification device is inside the lower casing. There is a trimming between the upper and lower casings, and the two casings are connected with snap-fasteners. The device can eliminate passive smoking from the source, and directly purify harmful gases and particles in mainstream and sidestream smoke during use, without causing adverse effects or damage to people around smokers.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,122,894 for a “Cigarette and Cigar Container and Disposal Receptacle,” issued on Feb. 28, 2012 to inventor Penny K. Kilpatrick, discloses, in one embodiment, a container for storing cigarette or cigar ash that has a body, a mouthpiece opening with a connection surface, an end section with an igniting and a closure device, a secure and release device, a grip, and a filter. In another embodiment, a container includes an inner tube, a filter, an outer tube, a stopper and a handle, and connecting ends. In yet another embodiment, a disposal receptacle to store ash has a lid and a lower barrel where the lid includes an opening and a plate that covers the opening or exposes it, and all the components are made of non-flammable material including, but not limited to, non-flammable, hard plastic. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed that shows how a person uses the cigarette or cigar container and the disposal receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,109,276 for a “Device, Assembly and Method for Filtering Tobacco Smoke from a Cigarette,” issued on Feb. 7, 2012 to assignee Vituva Operations Limited, discloses a device for filtering tobacco smoke from a cigarette, in particular a filter cigarette, where the device comprises a portable housing provided with a combustion space in which the cigarette can burn, a filter unit for filtering the tobacco smoke of a burning cigarette, at least one discharge opening for discharging filtered tobacco smoke and one or more tobacco smoke displacing units for displacing the tobacco smoke via the filter unit to the discharge opening, wherein a mouthpiece is formed on the housing, the mouthpiece comprising a holding unit for holding the cigarette, wherein the holding unit comprises an opening along which the cigarette can be pushed partially into the housing from outside the housing, and the opening is formed to hold the cigarette clampingly in the partially inserted situation.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,320 for a “Tobacco-Containing Smoking Article,” issued on Jun. 1, 2010 to assignee R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, discloses a smoking article that may include a cigarette incorporated within an electrically powered aerosol generating device that acts as a holder for that cigarette. The smoking article possesses at least one form of tobacco. The smoking article also possesses a mouth-end piece that is used by the smoker to inhale components of tobacco that are generated by the action of heat upon components of the cigarette. A representative smoking article possesses an outer housing incorporating a source of electrical power (e.g., a battery), a sensing mechanism for powering the device at least during periods of draw, and a heating device (e.g., at least one electrical resistance heating element) for forming a thermally generated aerosol that incorporates components of tobacco. During use, the cigarette is positioned within the device, and after use, the used cigarette is removed from the device and replaced with another cigarette.

US Publication No. 2011/0240047 for a “Smoke and Odor Elimination Filters, Devices and Methods,” published on Oct. 6, 2011 by inventor Kelly J. Adamic, discloses a pipe comprising a combustion chamber with vents, the combustion chamber able to receive a cigarette; an inhalation path for drawing smoke from the combustion chamber through the bowl vents during inhalation; an exhalation filter; and an exhalation path for channeling exhaled smoke through the exhalation filter during exhalation.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,364,023 for a “Tobacco Smoking Holder,” issued on Jun. 14, 2016 to inventor Darrin J. Nicholson, discloses a tobacco smoking holder for smoking a cigarette and filtering the tobacco byproducts from the air before emitting the clear air from the holder. The holder enables a user to mount the cigarette within the holder, light the cigarette while in the holder, smoke the cigarette while in the holder isolating the combustion byproducts through a motorized filtering assembly housed within a housing, which removes the cigarette's byproducts from the air before exhausting the air, thereby protecting others from secondary smoke and other products produced during smoking. When finished smoking, the cigarette is then extinguished while in the housing by an extinguishing canister that encompasses the lit end of the cigarette.

Korean Publication No. 10-2022-0118601 for a “Portable Device for Reducing Tobacco Smoke,” published on Aug. 26, 2022, discloses a portable cigarette smoke reduction device that reduces harmful substances emitted from cigarette smoke by igniting and smoking after inserting cigarettes when smoking, controls intake amount, collects cigarette ash, and filters harmful substances in cigarette smoke to reduce harmful substances generated during cigarette combustion. To this end, the device includes: a body constituting the outer shape of the device; a combustion chamber formed in a cylindrical shape having a size corresponding to each cigarette sheath within the body and receiving a cigarette sheath to be smoked through an open cigarette insert; a cigarette smoke filter unit installed at a cigarette smoke outlet of the combustion chamber; an ignition coil installed at the front end of the cigarette smoke filter unit in the combustion chamber, being in contact with the end of the cigarette sheath, heated by power supplied from a battery, and igniting the cigarette sheath; a harmful substance reduction coil wound along the lengthwise direction around the combustion chamber to burn tar and harmful substances in advance by burning around cigarette paper during smoking; a cigarette ash collector installed in the lower part of the combustion chamber; and an electronic module installed in the body to control battery power supplied to the ignition coil and the harmful substance reduction coil.

US Publication No. 2023/0145757 for a “Sidestream Smoke Removal Device and Control Method Thereof,” published on May 11, 2023 by applicant KT&G Corporation, discloses a sidestream smoke removal device and a control method thereof. The sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments includes a housing in which a smoking space is formed, an article insertion portion which is disposed at one end of the housing and forms an opening for insertion of a smoking article into the smoking space, an ignition portion which is configured to ignite the smoking article inserted into the smoking space, a sidestream smoke processing portion which is configured to process sidestream smoke generated from the smoking article inserted into the smoking space, and a cutting portion. The cutting portion may provide a cutting function for the smoking article inserted into the smoking space and thus ensure a convenient, safe extinguishing function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a smoking containment and filter system and method for containment of smoke generated by a cigarette, and filtering of the generated smoke before release of filtered air into the environment.

The smoking containment and filter system provides a smoke module enclosed by a smoke shell with a shell top, a filter module enclosed by a filter shell, a fan module enclosed by a fan shell having exhaust ports, and a power-control module enclosed by a power-control shell having a switch and a charge port. A cigarette holder and mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap and mouthpiece spring are removably mounted upon and through the shell top such that the butt or filter end of a cigarette placed through the cigarette holder into the smoke shell can be accessed by the smoker's mouth when the mouthpiece body is pressed down, and is covered and sealed when the mouthpiece body is in a raised position. A lighter slider mounted upon the smoke shell and joined to a lighter element within the smoke shell can be manipulated by the smoker to light the cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective first view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective second view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway exploded view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a cutaway underside perspective view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the top portion of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during inhaling;

FIG. 7 is a section view of the top portion of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during exhaling;

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use before lighting the cigarette;

FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during lighting the cigarette;

FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during re-lighting the shortened cigarette; and

FIG. 11 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during smoking the cigarette.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The smoking containment and filter system and method provide for the containment of smoke generated by a cigarette, and filtering of the generated smoke before release of filtered air into the environment. The smoking containment and filter system and method can also be used with other smokable products of similar size and configuration such as hand-rolled cigarettes, alternative cigarettes, and cigarillo-type cigars. Scaled to a slightly larger size, the smoking containment and filter system and method can be used with cigars. For the purpose of describing this invention, the term “cigarette” is intended to apply broadly to such cigarette-like smokeable products.

The cigarette smoke considered here includes smoke escaping from the lit end of the cigarette and smoke inhaled and exhaled by the smoker. The smoke includes particulate matter of relatively larger, medium, and smaller sizes, including particles of ash small enough to become airborne. The particulate matter can be physically blocked and filtered using appropriate filtering material. The smoke also includes gasses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which have substantially no particle size and therefore cannot be effectively physically blocked and filtered in the same way as with particles, but can be filtered by absorption into or adsorption onto a sorbent substance such as activated charcoal, resins, or zeolite, which are often coated onto the fibrous mesh structure of a filter or filter element, providing a combination of physical filtering of particulates with sorption of gasses and VOCs.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, the smoking containment and filter system 10 provides a smoke module 1 enclosed by a smoke shell 11 with a shell top 12, a filter module 2 enclosed by a filter shell 21, a fan module 3 enclosed by a fan shell 31 having exhaust ports 33, and a power-control module 4 enclosed by a power-control shell 41 having a switch 42 and a charge port 43. A cigarette holder 13 and mouthpiece body 14 having a mouthpiece flap 16 and mouthpiece spring 15 are removably mounted upon and through the shell top 12 such that the butt or filter end of a cigarette placed through the cigarette holder 13 into the smoke shell 11 can be accessed by the smoker's mouth when the mouthpiece body 14 is pressed down, and is covered and sealed when the mouthpiece body 14 is in a raised position, as treated in detail below. A lighter slider 52 mounted upon the smoke shell 11 can be manipulated by the smoker to light the cigarette, as treated in detail below.

The smoke shell 11, filter shell 21, fan shell 31, and power-control shell 41 can be made of a rigid plastic or polymer material such as a polycarbonate or an acrylic or polyacrylate polymer. Some or all of the shell sections can be made transparent or translucent, which allows for inspection of a mounted cigarette or checking the status of filter elements. The shell sections can be mounted to and dismounted from the other shell sections, as treated below. Preferably the smoke shell 11 and the filter shell 21 can be easily separated and cleaned by a method such as washing in a dishwashing machine.

Referring briefly to FIG. 4, the cigarette holder 13 mounted upon and through the shell top 12 is provided with protrusions, bumps, or ridges on its interior surface such that a cigarette placed into and through the cigarette holder 13 is held securely in place by the raised portions, leaving open channels for the passage of air and smoke around the raised portions and around the cigarette, as treated below.

Referring to FIG. 5, a smoke-to-filter connector 17, a filter-to-fan connector 25, and a fan-to-power connector 34 are provided for connecting the smoke module 1, filter module 2, fan module 3, and power-control module 4 each to the appropriate other. The connector types can be known types such as screw-thread, bayonet, snap, or magnetic. The connectors can optionally be permanently attached to or built into one or the other side of the connection.

A lighter unit 5 is provided within the smoke shell 11 of the smoke module 1. A lighter slider 52 attached to a lighter element 53 moves along a lighter track 51 having an up-and-down orientation. A return spring 54 returns the lighter slider 52 and lighter element 53 to a downward docked position after use. A lighter switch 55 shuts off the lighter element 53 when in the downward docked position, and either causes or allows activation of the lighter element 53 when the lighter slider 52 is moved upward by the smoker. Operation of the lighter unit 5 is treated in more detail below. Electric power for operation of the lighter element 53 can be provided by known means such as wires or conductive traces placed onto or incorporated into the smoke shell 11 and the lighter track 51. Known means of providing for connection and disconnection among the modules, such as wire connectors or alignment of conductive traces with the physical connection means chosen for connection among modules, can provide electric power without interfering with the mounting, dismounting, cleaning, and operation of the modules.

An ash filter 24 is provided below the smoke module 1 and above the filter module 2, as shown. The ash filter 24 catches larger flakes and clumps of ash from the cigarette, which can be easily removed and disposed of more often than deeper cleanings and changes of filters. The ashes stopped by the ash filter 24 to not travel on into the filter elements 22, and so do not contribute to saturation of those filter elements. One or more filter elements 22 are provided within the filter shell 21 of the filter module 2. Three filter elements 22 are shown in the illustrated preferred embodiment. The use of more than one filter element 22 in a stacked or consecutive configuration can provide cost and efficiency benefits in the following ways. Although a single filter unit or single element can be made which will filter all of the sizes of particulates and all of the gasses or VOCs from cigarette smoke, such a single unit is susceptible to becoming saturated or clogged, quickly becoming completely unusable and requiring complete replacement of the whole unit. For example, a single element having a mesh size to catch the smallest of particulates will quickly clog up with all of the particulates, large and small, which will additionally block the passage of gasses over the sorbent, which will render the single element useless and will require complete replacement. In a multi-element filter arrangement, for example, a first filter element 22 can provide a relatively coarse mesh trapping larger particulates and allowing smaller particulates and gasses to pass through to another filter element or other filter elements which provide a finer mesh and sorbents to trap the finer particulates and gasses. Such multiple elements are less likely to become completely clogged and blocked. And spent or exhausted elements can be cleaned or replaced individually, without requiring replacement of elements which are still functional.

Optionally, one or more filter gaskets 23 can be provided, adapted to the characteristics of the specific filter elements 22 chosen for a specific embodiment.

A fan 32 is provided within the fan shell 31 of the fan module 3. The fan 32 draws smoke downward from the smoke module 1, through the ash filter 24 and filter elements 22 of the filter module 2, allowing cleaned air to be exhausted through the exhaust ports 33 of the fan shell 31.

Operation of the smoking containment and filter system 10 is controlled by the controller 45 provided within the power-control shell 41 of the power-control module 4. The controller can be implemented on a microcontroller or similar known electronic component. A battery 44, preferably a rechargeable battery such as is known in the art, provides operational power for the fan 32 and the lighter element 53. A charge port 43 provides for the charging of the battery 44. As illustrated, a USB-type connector, with related standard components and specifications, is suitable for use. Control of the charging and discharging of the battery 44 can be implemented either within the controller 45 or by discrete known standard components. A switch 42 provides for the smoker's control, through the controller 45, of the electronic operations of the smoking containment and filter system 10.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, in use, a cigarette is mounted into and through the cigarette holder 13, and is lit by the lighter element 53, as treated in detail below. When the smoker presses downward on the mouthpiece body 14, against the resistance of the mouthpiece spring 15, the mouthpiece flap 16 parts around the butt or filter end of the cigarette, exposing the end of the cigarette to the smoker's mouth and lips. The smoker inhales from the cigarette in the usual manner. When the smoker either removes the mouth from the mouthpiece body 14 or reduces the amount of downward force, the mouthpiece spring 15 moves the mouthpiece body 14 upward to a position covering the end of the cigarette. The mouthpiece flap 16 closes over the end of the cigarette, substantially reestablishing the seal around the cigarette. The smoker then exhales the smoke back into the mouthpiece body 14. The mouthpiece flap 16 slightly deforms to create a small gap in the seal, and the exhaled smoke travels through the cigarette holder 13, around the outside of the cigarette, and into the smoke module 1. The exhaled smoke is then drawn through the filter module 2 as treated above.

Referring to FIG. 8, in use, a cigarette is mounted into and through the cigarette holder 13, with the butt or filter end of the cigarette extending upward into the mouthpiece body 14, and the cigarette extending downward into the smoke shell 11 of the smoke module 1. In a preferred embodiment, the cigarette holder 13 is removably mounted to the shell top 12 of the smoke module 1, providing for removal of the mouthpiece body 14 and cigarette holder 13 as a unit, for separate cleaning and handling, and for convenience in installing and removing cigarettes. The lighter element 53 and the lighter slider 52, which move as a unit, are in the fully down position and are pulled downward by the return spring 54. The lighter switch 55 senses the fully down position and prevents electric power from being supplied to the lighter element 53. The mouthpiece body 14 is in an upward position, with the mouthpiece flap 16 covering and sealing the cigarette butt.

Referring to FIG. 9, in use, the mouthpiece body 14 has been pressed downward, with the mouthpiece flap 16 parted, making the butt end of the cigarette available to the smoker's mouth. The lighter slider 52 and lighter element 53 have been raised upward to contact or nearly contact the end of the cigarette. The movement of the lighter element 53 away from the fully down position turns on the flow of electric power to the lighter element 53, which lights the end of the cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 10, in use with a cigarette which has been previously smoked to a shorter length and then extinguished, the lighter slider 52 and lighter element 53 have been raised upward to contact or nearly contact the end of the shorter cigarette. The movement of the lighter element 53 away from the fully down position turns on the flow of electric power to the lighter element 53, which lights the end of the shorter cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 11, in use after lighting and during smoking of the cigarette, the lighter slider 52 and lighter element 53 have been returned to the fully down position by the return spring 54, and the lighter switch 55 has cut the electric power to the lighter element 53. The fan 32 continues to draw smoke-laden air through the filter elements 22 and exhausting the filtered air through the exhaust ports 33. After the cigarette has been finished, it can be removed from the cigarette holder 13. Optionally, the cigarette holder 13 and mouthpiece body 14 unit can be cleaned at such time, and loose ashes can be removed from the ash filter 24. Occasionally, the smoke module 1 can be separated and washed or cleaned thoroughly. Also occasionally, the filter module 2 can be separated, the filter shell 21 can be washed or cleaned, and the filter elements 22 can be cleaned or replaced as needed. Also occasionally, the battery 44 can be recharged through the charge port 43.

Many other changes and modifications can be made in the system and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.