Abstract:
A tobacco smoke containment apparatus and method therefor having the characteristics of limiting the exhaust of harmful smoke particles as well as reducing the overall risk of accidental fire by containing a smoking tobacco product inside a closed receptacle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to tobacco products and, more specifically, to a tobacco smoking containment apparatus and method therefor having the characteristic of reducing harmful particle exhaust and decreasing the incidence of accidental fire. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many life-threatening dangers associated with smoking. The most notable is the threat of cancer. Most medical evidence points to a higher incidence of cancer among those who smoke as compared to those who do not smoke. Alarmingly, those who do not smoke but spend large amounts of time with smokers, have a higher incidence of cancer than other non-smokers. Many scientists attribute this result to “second hand smoke,” which is the name given for the smoke inhaled by non-smokers who are in the vicinity of smokers. The health risks caused by tobacco smoke are therefore felt not only by those who choose to smoke, but quite often by those who do not. As a result or this situation, many jurisdictions throughout the United States and the rest of the world have passed laws which prohibit smokers from smoking in public areas. This situation has created, social tension between those who smoke and those who do not smoke with each group often feeling as though the other group is infringing on their rights. The smokers often feel that anti-smoking laws prevent them from excersising their free will, whereas the non-smokers often feel that by smoking, the smokers infringe on the non-smokers&#39; right to breathe clean air. 
     Accidental fires are another adverse effect of smoking. A flaming cigarette, cigar, pipe, or the like if left unattended can lead to an accidental fire. Many smoking related fires occur when a smoker falls asleep with a lit tobacco product in his or her hand. The tobacco product then comes to rest on a couch, a bed, or other flammable surface and ignites a fire. As with second-hand smoke, accidental fire is a problem that clearly has negative consequences to both smokers and non-smokers alike. 
     A need therefore existed for a tobacco smoke containment apparatus capable of limiting the exhaust of harmful smoke particles as well as reducing the overall risk of accidental fire 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco smoke containment apparatus capable of reducing the overall risk of accidental fire. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tobacco smoke containment apparatus coupled to a filter device to prevent the exhaust of harmful smoke particles while at the same time reducing the overall risk of accidental fire. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a tobacco smoke containment apparatus comprising a receptacle coupled to a filtering chamber to prevent the exhaust of harmful smoke particles while at the same time reducing the overall risk of accidental fires. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a compact tobacco smoke containment apparatus comprising a receptacle and a filtering chamber dimensioned to receive the receptacle to prevent the exhaust of harmful smoke particles while at the same time reducing the overall risk of accidental fire. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a tobacco smoke containment apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the closed end defines an aperture therethrough, a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, the cap defines a first opening and a second opening, an inhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke from a tobacco product to a smoker and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the first opening of the cap, the second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and the second end or the inhale tube is adapted to be removably coupled to a tobacco product, an exhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the second opening of the cap, the second end of the exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle, an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from the receptacle and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the exhaust tube is coupled to the closed end of the receptacle through the aperture of the closed end and the second end of the exhaust tube extends away from the closed end of the receptacle, and a filtering chamber having a first end and a second end, the first end of the filtering chamber is coupled 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. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a tobacco smoke containment apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end a closed end, the closed end defines an aperture therethrough, a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, the cap defines a first opening and a second opening, an inhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke from a tobacco product to a smoker and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the first opening of the cap, the second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and the second end of the inhale tube is adapted to be removably coupled to a tobacco product, an exhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the second opening of the cap, the second end of the exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from the receptacle and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the exhaust tube is coupled to the closed end of the receptacle through the aperture of the closed end and the second end of the exhaust tube extends away from the closed end of the receptacle. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a tobacco smoke containment apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the closed end defines an aperture therethrough, a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, the cap defines a first opening and a second opening, an inhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke from a tobacco product to a smoker and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the first opening of the cap, the second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and the second end of the inhale tube is adapted to be removably coupled to a tobacco product, an exhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the second opening of the cap, the second end of the exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle, an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust or smoke from the receptacle and having a first end and a second end, the first end of the exhaust tube is coupled to the closed end of the receptacle through the aperture of the closed end and the second end of the exhaust tube extends away from the closed end of the receptacle, and a filter screen coupled to the closed end of the receptacle and adapted to limit a passage of harmful particles generated by smoke from being exhausted through the exhaust tube. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a tobacco smoke containment apparatus is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the closed end defines an aperture therethrough, a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, the cap defines a first opening and a second opening, an inhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke from a tobacco product to a smoker and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the first opening of the cap, the second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle and the second end of the inhale tube is adapted to be coupled to a tobacco product, an exhale tube adapted to permit a passage of smoke exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle and having a first end and a second end and coupled to the cap through the second opening of the cap, the second end of one exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle, and a filtering chamber having at least one exhaust opening and dimensioned to receive the receptacle and adapted to permit a passage of smoke from the aperture of the closed end of the receptacle to the filtering chamber and adapted to limit a passage of harmful particles generated by smoke from exiting the filtering chamber through the at least one exhaust opening of the filtering chamber. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for containing tobacco smoke is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, the closed end defines an aperture therethrough, providing a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, the cap defines a first opening and a second opening, coupling the cap to the open end of the receptacle, providing an inhale tube having a first end and a second end, the second end of the inhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap is coupled to the receptacle, coupling the inhale tube to the cap through the first opening of the cap, coupling the second end of the inhale tube to a tobacco product, inhaling smoke through the first end of the inhale tube from the tobacco product, providing an exhale tube having a first end and a second end, the second end of the exhale tube extends inside the receptacle when the cap if coupled to the receptacle, coupling the exhale tube to the cap through the second opening of the cap, exhaling smoke through the first end of the exhale tube from a mouth of a smoker, providing an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from the receptacle and having a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the exhaust tube to the closed end of the receptacle through the aperture of the closed end, the second end of the exhaust tube extends away from the closed end of the receptacle, providing a filtering chamber having a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the filtering chamber to the second end of the exhaust tube, and coupling the second end of the filtering chamber 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. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention a method for decreasing an incidence of fire from a tobacco product is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of, providing a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, said closed end defines an aperture therethrough, providing a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, said cap defines a first opening and a second opening, coupling said cap to said open end of said receptacle, providing an inhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said inhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said inhale tube to said cap through said first opening of said caps coupling said second end or said inhale tube to a tobacco product, inhaling smoke through said first end of said inhale tube from said tobacco product, providing an exhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said exhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said exhale tube to said cap through said second opening of said cap, exhaling smoke through said first end of said exhale tube from a mouth of a smoker, providing an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from said receptacle and having a first end and a second end, and coupling said first end of said exhaust tube to said closed end of said receptacle through said aperture of said closed end, said second end of said exhaust tube extends away from said closed end of said receptacle. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for containing tobacco smoke is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, said closed end defines an aperture therethrough, providing a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, said cap defines a first opening and a second opening, coupling said cap to said open end of said receptacle, providing an inhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said inhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said inhale tube to said cap through said first opening of said cap, coupling said second end of said inhale tube to a tobacco product, inhaling smoke through said first end of said inhale tube from said tobacco product, providing an exhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said exhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said exhale tube to said cap through said second opening of said cap, exhaling smoke through said first end of said exhale tube from a mouth of a smoker, providing an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from said receptacle and having a first and and a second end, coupling said first end of said exhaust tube to said closed end of said receptacle through said aperture of said closed end said second end of said exhaust tube extends away from said closed end of said receptacle, providing a filter screen, and coupling said filter screen to said closed end of said receptacle, said filter screen is adapted to limit a passage of harmful particles generated by smoke from being exhausted through said exhaust tube. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for containing tobacco smoke is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, said closed end defines an aperture therethrough, providing a cap dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end of the receptacle, said cap defines a first opening and a second opening, coupling said cap to said open end of said receptacle, providing an inhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said inhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said inhale tube to said cap through said first opening of said cap, coupling said second end of said inhale tube to a tobacco product, inhaling smoke through said first end of said inhale tube from said tobacco product, providing an exhale tube having a first end and a second end, said second end of said exhale tube extends inside said receptacle when said cap is coupled to said receptacle, coupling said exhale tube to said cap through said second opening of said cap, exhaling smoke through said first end of said exhale tube from a mouth of a smoker, providing an exhaust tube adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke from said receptacle and having a first end and a second end, coupling said first end of said exhaust tube to said closed end of said receptacle through said aperture of said closed end, said second end of said exhaust tube extends away from said closed end of said receptacle, providing a filtering chamber having at least one exhaust opening and dimensioned to receive said receptacle, and coupling said receptacle to said filtering chamber, said filtering chamber is adapted to permit a passage of smoke from said aperture of said closed end of said receptacle to said filtering chamber and adapted to limit a passage of harmful particles generated by smoke from exiting said filtering chamber through said at least one exhaust opening of said filtering chamber. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top cross-sectional view of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of FIG. 1, taken along line  3 — 3 , showing the filter device. 
     FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view or another embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 reference number  10  refers generally to one embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus of the present invention. The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  comprises a receptacle  12  having an open end  14  (shown in FIG. 2) and a closed  16  The closed end  16  defines an aperture  18  (shown in FIG. 2) therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle  12  comprises a filter screen  13  (shown in, FIGS.  2  and  3 ), which is adapted to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by tobacco smoke  11 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the tobacco smoke contentment apparatus  10  which lacks a filter screen  13 . In the event that the tobacco smoke contentment apparatus  10  is configured without a filter screen  13 , the receptacle  12  is still useful in its ability to decrease the incidence of accidental fire by containing a smoking tobacco product  32 . Preferably, the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  is constructed of a flame-retardant material in order to prevent the smoking tobacco product  32  from coming into contact with a flammable surface and igniting a fire. 
     Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  further comprises a cap  20  dimensioned to be removably coupled to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12 . The cap  20  defines a first opening  22  and a second opening  24 . The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  further comprises an inhale tube  26  having a first end  28  and a second end  30  (shown in FIG.  2 ). The inhale tube  26  is coupled to the cap  20  through the first opening  22 . The second end  30  of the inhale tube  26  extends inside the receptacle  12  when the cap  20  is coupled to the receptacle  12 . The inhale tube  26  is adapted to permit a passage of smoke  11  from a tobacco product  32  (shown in FIG. 2) to a smoker (not shown). The second end  30  of the inhale tube  26  is adapted to be removably coupled to a tobacco product  32 . It should be understood that the tobacco product  32  could be in the form of a cigarette, a cigar, pipe tobacco or other smokeable substances. For example, the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  could therefore be configured in different sizes with one size designed with a wide inhale tube  26  to accommodate a cigar and another size designed with a narrow inhale tube  26  to accommodate a cigarette. Similarly, other configurations of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  could be designed to accomodate different sized tobacco products  32  or other smokeable sources. 
     The tobacco smoke contentment apparatus  10  further comprises an exhale tube  34  having a first end  36  and a second end  35  (shown in FIG.  2 ). The exhale tube  34  is coupled to the cap  20  through the second opening  24  of the cap  20 . The second end  38  of the exhale tube  34  extends inside the receptacle  12  when the cap  20  is coupled to the receptacle  12 . The exhale tube  34  is adapted to permit a passage of smoke  11  exhaled by a smoker into the receptacle  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the cap  20 , the inhale tube  26  and the exhale tube  34  together comprise a one-piece assembly, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  in which the cap  20 , the inhale tube  26  and the exhale tube  34  are separate components, so long as they can be securely coupled together. 
     Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  further comprises an exhaust tube  40  having a first end  42  and a second end  44 . The first end  42  of the exhaust tube  40  is coupled to the closed end  16  of the receptacle  12  through the aperture  19  of the closed end  16 . When coupled, the exhaust tube  40  extends away from the closed end  16  of the receptacle  12 . The exhaust tube  40  is adapted to permit an exhaust of smoke  11  from the receptacle  12 . 
     The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  further comprises a filtering chamber  46  having a first end  48  and a second end  50 . The first end  48  of the filtering chamber  46  is coupled to the second end  44  of the exhaust tube  40 . The second end  50  of the filtering chamber  46  is coupled to an exit tube  52 . The filtering chamber  46  is adapted to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by tobacco smoke  11  from exiting the filtering chamber  46  through the exit tube  52 . In the preferred embodiment, the receptacle  12 , the filtering chamber  46 , the exhaust tube  40  and the exit tube  52  together comprise a one-piece assembly, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  in which the receptacle  12 , the filtering chamber  46 , the exhaust tube  40  and the exit tube  52  are separate components, so long as they can be securely coupled together. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 , hereinafter  100 , is shown. The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  is essentially the same as before, although the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  lacks a filtering chamber  46  or an exit tube  52 . The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  is substantially smaller and more compact in size than the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  Preferably, the receptacle  12  of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  comprises a filter screen  13  (shown in FIG.  4 ), which is adapted to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by tobacco smoke  11 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the tobacco smoke contentment apparatus  100  which lacks a filter screen  13 . In the event that the tobacco smoke contentment apparatus  100  is configured without a filter screen  13 , the receptacle  12  is still useful in its ability to decrease the incidence of accidental fire by containing a smoking tobacco product  32 . Preferably, the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  is constructed of a flame-retardant material in order to prevent the smoking tobacco product  32  from coming into contact with a flammable surface and igniting a fire. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternative embodiment of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 , hereinafter  200 , is shown. The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  200  is essentially the same as the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 , although the filtering chamber  46 , hereinafter  246  is dimensioned to receive the receptacle  12 . The filtering chamber  246  preferably has two exhaust openings  247  and  249 , although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the filtering chamber  245  in which as few as one exhaust opening  247  is used. The exhaust openings  247  and  249  in the filtering chamber  246  of the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  200  serve the same purpose as the exit tube  42  of the receptacle  46  in the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 . The tobacco smoke containment apparatus  200  is smaller in size and more compact than the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 . 
     STATEMENT OF OPERATION 
     In order to operate the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10 , a smoker first attaches an end of a tobacco product  32  to the second end  30  of the inhale tube  26 . The smoker then lights the tobacco product  32  and places his or her mouth on the first end  28  of the inhale tube  26  and begins to inhale in order to begin the flow of smoke  11  from the tobacco product  32  to the mouth of the smoker. The cap  20  is then coupled to the open end  14  of the receptacle  12  with the smoking tobacco product  32  inside the receptacle  12 . The smoker continues to inhale the smoke through the inhale tube  26 . After each inhaler the smoker than places his or her mouth on the first end  36  of the exhale tube  34  and exhales the recently Inhaled smoke. The receptacle  12  collects both the smoke  11  from the smoking tobacco product  32  and the smoke  11  exhaled by the smoker. 
     In several embodiments, the smoke  11  is then filtered through a filter screen  13  which is coupled to the closed end  16  of the receptacle  12 . With or without the filter screen  13 , the smoke  11  in the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  10  then travels down the exhaust tube  40  and to the filtering chamber  46 . The smoke  11  is then filtered by the filtering chamber  46  in order to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by the tobacco smoke  11  from exiting the filtering chamber  46  through the exit tube  52 . 
     In the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  a filter screen  13  may or may not be coupled to the closed end  16  of the receptacle  12 . If the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  comprises a filter screen  13  then the smoke  11  will be filtered. However, if the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  100  lacks a filter screen  13  then unfiltered smoke  11  will exit the receptacle  12  through the exhaust tube  40 . In this embodiment, the purpose of the receptacle  12  is not to filter the smoke  11  but rather to decrease the incidence of accidental fire by keeping the smoking tobacco product  32  enclosed and away from flammable surfaces. 
     In the tobacco smoke containment apparatus  200 , the smoke  11  travels through the aperture  18  of the closed end  16  of the receptacle  12  into the filtering chamber  246 . Once in the filtering chamber  246  the smoke  11  is then filtered to limit the passage of harmful particles generated by the tobacco smoke  11  from exiting the filtering chamber  246  through the exhaust openings  247  and  249 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without, departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.