Abstract:
A cigarette protector device used by a person smoking a tobacco cigarette. The device is comprised of a double-walled cylindrical tubular element having a plurality of small apertures and a mouthpiece portion. The device completely encases the smoker&#39;s cigarette. The cylindrical encasement reduces the distribution of ash from the cigarette and, further, serves to keep the hot ash or smoldering tip of the cigarette from contacting any flammable or injurable surfaces in the smoker&#39;s environment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to cigarette holders and protectors, and, more particularly, to a new and improved cigarette holder with various beneficial features. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A substantial number of the world&#39;s population engages in the use of tobacco products. Tobacco comes in many forms, but cigarettes are frequently the tobacco product of choice. Trillions of cigarettes are produced and smoked annually. Recent statistics have shown that almost twenty percent (20%) of the United States population currently smokes. 
         [0003]    In order to smoke a cigarette, one end of the cigarette is initially ignited and the burning cigarette generates smoke which is inhaled by the smoker. Since the cigarette is burning or smoldering while lit, it presents a potential fire hazard if ever placed on a flammable surface or item. Indeed, cigarettes are a frequent source of fires in homes. A need therefore exists for a cigarette protective device which minimizes or reduces this fire risk. 
         [0004]    A further inconvenience caused by a burning or smoldering cigarette is the presence of ash. A cigarette produces a steady stream of ash which must be deposited somewhere. A need therefore also exists to limit or control the distribution of such ash. 
         [0005]    Finally, the cigarette must continue to burn or smolder in order to be smoked. Smoking is often difficult in locations where a moderate to high wind is present, e.g., in a moving automobile with open windows. A need therefore also exists for a device to facilitate smoking in windy environments. 
         [0006]    Most cigarettes are of one of two generally uniform diameters, either standard or thin. A need therefore exists for a cigarette holder which provides the aforementioned benefits for users of both standard and thin cigarettes. 
         [0007]    The prior art includes numerous cigarette holder designs. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,645 (Hagman) discloses a safety cigarette holder. The Hagman device purportedly offers a safety feature such that if the holder is dropped on the ground the holder will not roll and the tip of the cigarette will remain off of the ground. The Hagman device, however, still leaves the tip exposed. Therefore, this exposed tip can still come into contact with exposed skin or flammable substances if the holder is dropped. Another example in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,930 which encloses the entire cigarette in a protective enclosure; however, this enclosure is of a wire or mesh nature. The wire enclosure fails to provide adequate heat resistance, ash containment, and fire prevention properties. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the invention to provide a cigarette holder device which provides several advantages to a smoker, including, but not limited to, reduction of fire risk in cases where the cigarette is dropped, placed, or falls on flammable matter and substantial containment of ash while the cigarette is being smoked. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention discloses a cigarette holder device composed of a first portion, or encapsulating tubular portion, and a second portion, or holder body. The first portion is a double-walled cylindrical tube having a plurality of holes. The second portion includes an end to secure a cigarette, a passageway for the transmission of smoke, and an opening to allow the smoke to pass into the mouth of the smoker. In operation, the first portion is removably engaged with the second portion and a cigarette is contained in the cylinder while being smoked. The device offers several benefits over simply holding a cigarette by hand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the device. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mouthpiece. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the mouthpiece. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view of the mouthpiece along the axis of the central passageway. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is cross-sectional view of the device employed with a standard cigarette. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the device employed with a thin cigarette. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is perspective view of the device including ash as when in use. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the encapsulating portion. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is view of the first end of the cylinder. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the double-walled cylinder. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The invention disclosed herein is cigarette holder device which holds or encases a cigarette. The device is designed to accommodate a single cigarette, of varying proportions, at a time. The device provides several benefits to a smoker, including greater control of ash distribution, reduction of fire risk, the ability to smoke in drafty or windy environments, and aesthetic appeal. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cigarette holder  10  disclosed herein. The cigarette holder  10  includes a first portion being an encapsulating tubular element of substantially circular cross-section  15  and a second holder body portion  20 . The encapsulating portion  15  is a hollow double-walled cylindrical tube composed of ceramic material. In a preferred embodiment, the tube  15  is open on both a first-end  25  and a second end  30 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 11 . It will also be noted that the tube  15  may be composed of any suitable material, e.g., ceramic or glass, which exhibits sufficient heat-resistant properties and possesses adequate structural strength. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the double-walled tube  15  is comprised of an exterior wall  35  and an interior wall  40 . A space exists between the exterior  35  and interior  40  walls such that the walls are not in direct contact with one another. In a preferred embodiment, the tube  15  includes a plurality of holes  45  which pass through the exterior walls  35  of the tube  15 . In this embodiment, the holes simply pass through the exterior wall  35  of the cylinder  15  and do not interface with the interior of the cylinder  15 , i.e., the holes  45  are not present in the interior wall  40 . Preferred embodiments would include two or four rows of such holes  45 . In this configuration, the holes  45  serve a cooling function for the tube  15 . In an alternate embodiment one or more of the holes  45  pass only through the exterior wall  35  and one or more of the holes  45  pass through both the exterior wall  35  and the interior wall  40 . In this alternate embodiment, the plurality of holes  45  facilitate cooling of the cylinder and also allow ventilation and gas exchange between the interior of the tube  15  and the user&#39;s environment. In this alternate embodiment, the holes  45  in the interior wall  40  are to be of such size as to prevent or impede the travel of ash or other particulate through such holes. 
         [0024]    It will be noted, however, that the total number of holes and the placement of the holes may vary so long as the function of the holes is maintained. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, a circular ventilation plug  50  is positioned in the aperture in the first end  25  as seen in  FIG. 1 . The ventilation plug  50  has an exterior surface  55  and an interior surface  60 . It will be noted that the terms exterior surface and interior surface are used in this context to define an interior and exterior relative to the encapsulating portion  15 . A ventilation passageway runs along the central axis of the plug  50  between an exterior opening  70  and an interior opening  75 . The exterior surface  55  of the plug is generally flat with the exterior opening of the passageway  70  being in the center of the plug  50 . The interior surface  60  is concave and projects into the tube  15 . The interior surface  60  terminates with the interior opening  75 . The concave portion generally has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the tube  15 . Indeed, in a preferred embodiment, the maximum diameter of the concave portion (at any point other than the base) is no greater than ninety (90%) of the diameter of the tube  15 . The concave projection is, as noted, centered in the tube  15 . As a result, the projection creates an ash-catching space around the perimeter of the projection within the tube, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The ventilation plug  50  is positioned within the aperture  70 . It must therefore be noted that the portion of the plug  50  which lies directly within the exterior opening  70 , and a portion immediately adjacent to said opening  70 , will be of a diameter which is of a sufficient size to insure a proper fit of the plug  50  within the cylinder  15 . 
         [0026]    The plug  50  may be secured by a variety of conventional means, e.g., adhesives, interference fit, or a snap-like mechanism or, alternatively, the plug structure may be of unitary construction with the tube  15 . In an alternate embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the ventilation plug is formed as an integral part of the tube. In this embodiment, the exterior surface is not flat; rather it is an aperture which progresses into a concave enclosure and culminates with an interior opening. It will be further noted that regardless of whether the plug is a separate component or an extension of the tube itself, the exterior surface can be flat, as in  FIG. 1  or concave, as in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0027]    The interior of the cylindrical tube  15  is circumscribed by a projection or lip or a depression or notch at a point proximal to the second end  30 . This projection or depression is designed to engage an appropriate projection or depression on the second portion in order to secure the first and second portions together. 
         [0028]    The second portion or holder body  20  comprises a seating portion  80  and a mouthpiece portion  85  and includes a central passageway  90  which runs the length of the body  20 . More specifically, the second portion  20  comprises a body having a generally circular inbound end including an entrance aperture  95 , and an outbound end including an exit aperture  100 . The passageway  90  is centrally disposed within said body between said entrance aperture  95  and said exit aperture  100 . The seating portion  80  includes a broad section having a first set of shoulders  110  and a narrow section having a second set of shoulders  115  which effectively reduce the size of the passageway  90  as it extends from the entrance aperture  95  to the exit aperture  100 . The shape of the passageway  90  may vary as it progresses from the second set of shoulders to the exit aperture  100 . Commensurately, the exterior of the mouthpiece section  85  may be of a variety of shapes. The passageway  90  and breathing portion  85  can, for instance, be of an elongated/flattened nature as shown in  FIG. 3 . This flattened shape is potentially more comfortable in a user&#39;s mouth. Alternately, this portion of the passageway and mouthpiece section could be circular in nature or any other such shape. 
         [0029]    In a preferred embodiment, the first  15  and second  20  portions include a locking depression disposed to receive a locking projection so that the first portion and second portion can be removably secured. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the inbound end  80  includes a locking projection  120  which can be engaged with a locking depression found on the first portion  15 . In a preferred embodiment, the locking projection  120  is a lip which circumscribes the inbound end  80 . It will be recognized that the locking projection need not encompass the entire inbound end, and, in fact, could simply be a single tab or notch. Similarly, the locking depression would of such shape as to accommodate the locking projection. Further, the locking projection need not engage a locking depression in such fashion, rather, the portions could be secured by using two projections, e.g., a first projection on the body  20  is passed into the cylinder  15  and beyond a second projection on the cylinder  15  which then prevents the first projection from backward travel without the exertion of at least a minimal amount of force. Alternatively, the cylinder  15  could incorporate a locking projection which corresponds with a locking depression on the second portion  29 , i.e., the locking projection could project from the first portion and the locking depression could be integrated into the second portion. Indeed, no locking projection or depression need be included at all as the second portion and the first portion could, rather, be engaged via an interference or frictional fit between the inbound wall of the second portion and the cylinder wall of the first portion. Further, a seal of rubber or similar material may be used at the interface of the first and second portion. 
         [0030]    The entrance aperture  95  is of such size so as to accommodate a standard cigarette. Further, the broad section of the passageway in the body  20  has a circumference sufficient to accommodate a standard cigarette and the narrow section of the passageway is of a diameter smaller than the broad section and is sufficient to accommodate a narrow cigarette. 
         [0031]    In operation, the user unsnaps the holder and separates the first portion  15  from the second portion  20 . The user then inserts a cigarette into the entrance aperture  95 . The cigarette travels down the passageway and, depending on the size, ultimately rests on either the first set of shoulders  110  or the second set of shoulders  115 . The cigarette is held firmly in place via an interference fit or frictional engagement of the filter portion of the cigarette with the walls of the passageway  90 . The broad section is of such dimensions so as to permit frictional engagement of the walls of the broad section with the filter portion of a standard cigarette. The narrow section is of such dimensions so as to permit frictional engagement of the walls of the narrow section with the filter portion of a narrow cigarette. 
         [0032]    The mouthpiece side  85  is placed or held in the user&#39;s mouth and permits the user to inhale the smoke from the cigarette. The selection of heat-resistant or non-heat conductive materials, e.g., glass or ceramic, and the use of a double-walled cylinder helps to insure that the holder remains cool while in use. As noted supra, the entire cigarette, including the tip, is completely enclosed within the device. 
         [0033]    Ash normally falls from a cigarette as it burns. Further, miscellaneous burning particulate matter may be expelled from the cigarette while it is burning. The enclosure is designed to retain a substantial portion of such ash or other matter so that it does not hit the user and is not ejected into the user&#39;s environment. Rather, the ash  125  falls from the cigarette and is deposited around the length of the cigarette on the walls of the cylinder as seen in  FIG. 8 . Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , it will be noted that the cigarette is essentially suspended within the encapsulating tubular element  15 . As a result, there is additional space around the exterior of the cigarette for the accumulation of ash and other such material. 
         [0034]    The ventilation hole  75  is the principal exit for the ash from the cylinder. Since the ventilation hole  75  is of limited diameter, only a small portion of the ash will exit the cylinder via the hole, even if the holder is oriented such that the ventilation hole is facing the ground (i.e., down). Even when the holder is so oriented, a majority of the ash  125  or other matter will simply be distributed within the collection cavity and, therefore, retained within the holder. 
         [0035]    The heat-resistant nature of the cylinder, the enclosure of the cigarette tip, and the retention of the ash, all serve to improve smoking safety. That is, the design serves to reduce the risk of a burn or burns from the tip of the cigarette or ash and also serves to reduce the likelihood of igniting any flammable material by preventing contact with the tip of the cigarette and by reducing the likelihood that such material will come into contact with ash or other burning particulate matter. 
         [0036]    When the user has finished smoking the cigarette, due to the fact that cigarette has burned to the maximal extent possible, the user can simply put down the holder or place the holder in a storage location. When the user is prepared to smoke another cigarette, the user unsnaps the enclosure from the mouthpiece and removes the butt of the cigarette. The user would typically dump the ash or other matter in the enclosure at the same time. The user then inserts a fresh cigarette into the mouthpiece and snaps the mouthpiece, including the new cigarette, back into the enclosure. 
         [0037]    The device as a whole  10 , or simply the cylinder  15 , may also be stylized or designed to increase the aesthetic appeal of the item. For instance, the device may be painted a variety of colors or include specific graphics or drawings. 
         [0038]    While the invention has been described in reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications or variations may be made to the system without departing from the scope of invention claimed below and described in the foregoing specification.