SMOKING CONTAINMENT AND FILTER SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A smoking containment and filter system for a cigarette, having an upward and downward orientation, the smoking containment and filter system comprising: (i) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking; (ii) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector; (iii) at least one filter element placed within said filter shell; (iv) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector; (v) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports; (vi) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector; (vii) a battery mounted within said power-control shell; (viii) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell; (ix) a switch mounted through said power-control shell; (x) a controller mounted within said power-control shell; (xi) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch; (xii) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette; (xiii) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and (xiv) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use.

2. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 1, where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises at least two filter elements.

3. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 1, where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises more than two filter elements.

4. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 1, where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises three filter elements.

5. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 1, where said battery mounted within said power-control shell further comprises a rechargeable battery.

6. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 1, where said charge port mounted through said power-control shell further comprises a USB-type connector.

7. A smoking containment and filter system for a cigarette, having an upward and downward orientation, the smoking containment and filter system comprising: (i) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking; (ii) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector; (iii) at least two filter elements placed within said filter shell; (iv) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector; (v) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports; (vi) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector; (vii) a battery mounted within said power-control shell; (viii) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell; (ix) a switch mounted through said power-control shell; (x) a controller mounted within said power-control shell; (xi) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch; (xii) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette; (xiii) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and (xiv) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use.

8. The smoking containment and filter system of claim 7, where said at least two filter elements placed within said filter shell further comprises three filter elements.

9. A smoking containment and filter method comprising: (i) providing a smoking containment and filter system comprising: (a) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking; (b) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector; (c) at least one filter element placed within said filter shell; (d) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector; (e) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports; (f) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector; (g) a battery mounted within said power-control shell; (h) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell; (i) a switch mounted through said power-control shell; (j) a controller mounted within said power-control shell; (k) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch; (l) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette; (m) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and (n) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use; (ii) removing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body from said shell top; (iii) placing a cigarette into said cigarette holder; (iv) replacing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body into said shell top; (v) pressing said mouthpiece body downward with slight mouth pressure; (vi) exposing the cigarette through said mouthpiece flap; (vii) moving said lighter slider and said lighter element upward toward the cigarette; (viii) activating said lighter element by operation of said lighter switch; (ix) lighting the cigarette; (x) returning said lighter slider and said lighter element to a fully down position; (xi) deactivating said lighter element by operation of said lighter switch; (xii) activating said fan by manipulation of said switch; (xiii) smoking the cigarette; (xiv) inhaling from the cigarette with said mouthpiece body in a downward position; (xv) allowing said mouthpiece body to return to an upward position by operation of said mouthpiece spring; (xvi) exhaling into said mouthpiece body in an upward position; (xvii) deactivating said fan by manipulation of said switch; (xviii) removing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body from said shell top; and (xix) removing the cigarette from said cigarette holder.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective first view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective second view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a side view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a cutaway exploded view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

[0043] FIG. 5 is a cutaway underside perspective view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention;

[0044] FIG. 6 is a section view of the top portion of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during inhaling;

[0045] FIG. 7 is a section view of the top portion of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during exhaling;

[0046] FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use before lighting the cigarette;

[0047] FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of the smoking containment and filter system of the invention in use during lighting the cigarette;

[0048] 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

[0049] 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

[0050] 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.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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.

[0054] 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] 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.

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] 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.

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.