Abstract:
A flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette which aims to contain the combustion process to the cigarette. The flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette has a filter that is aligned with a tobacco body. A flame-retardant and fireproof covering is positioned over at least a portion of the tobacco body and isolates the open fire associated with the consumption of the tobacco during the course of smoking or burning the cigarettes. Such a cigarette reduces the risk of undesired, inadvertent, and latent ignition of adjacent materials.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Application 200810115555.5 filed on Jun. 25, 2008, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a kind of cigarette, especially to a kind of self-extinguishing, flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette which can reduce the possibility of fire caused by a burning cigarette end. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     At present, as to fire accidents caused by various reasons, those accidents caused by burning ends of cigarettes that are abandoned at will has increased in frequency hundreds and thousands times than fire accidents caused by other reasons. At least one reason of this fact is that although the governments of various countries work hard to dissuade people from smoking, the number of people who smoke is still very large. Smokers may smoke at any places except non-smoking areas and tend to throw away cigarette ends anywhere at will. Additionally, falling asleep with a lit cigarette can also result in unintended ignition of nearby combustible materials. Such careless disposal or inattention can result in the undesired igniting of the somewhat inflammable substance such as beddings, clothing, paper, trees, and etc. by burning cigarettes ends, so as to cause fire accidents. 
     Therefore, it is a preferable option for reducing such fire accidents to provide a cigarette or other product that is commonly consumed by combustion/heat which can reduce the potential of unintended ignition of other combustible materials, so as to reduce the number of fire accidents caused by the use of such products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a kind of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette intended to reduce the incidents of undesired combustions caused by discarded or inappropriately attended cigarette ends and/or smoking processes. 
     The present invention aims at overcoming the defect that existing cigarette may result in unintended open fires. Its principle is to arrange a means in a cigarette to isolate open fire of its cigarette end or a means to isolate open fire of a cigarette during the entire course of smoking. Since the present invention can effectively isolate open fire of a burning cigarette or a cigarette end, the risk of fire accidents caused by smoking can be reduced. 
     The basic structure of the flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to one aspect of the invention includes a filter, a bar-shaped cigarette body of tobacco that is connected or end-to-end joined to the filter, and a flame-retardant and fireproof covering that covers or partially covers the bar-shaped cigarette body. 
     Another aspect of the invention includes a flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette that has a filter core, a tobacco body which is end-to-end joined to the filter core, and a flame-retardant and fireproof covering which wraps a part of the tobacco body and connects to the filter core in a muff coupling way or a sleeve joint way. Preferably, a filter paper casing wraps the filter core being connected to the flame-retardant and fireproof covering. A cigarette paper casing wraps the rest part of the tobacco body and a part of the flame-retardant and fireproof covering. 
     Another aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes an external casing that wraps the internal core, so that the filter paper casing wraps the filter core, and the flame-retardant and fireproof covering and the cigarette paper casing wrap the tobacco body. 
     A further aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes providing a number of pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering which are mutually separated and wrap the tobacco body. Adjacent coverings are adjoined and are bond by the cigarette paper casing. The flame-retardant and fireproof covering adjacent to the filter core is connected to the filter core in a muff coupling way or sleeve joint way. A filter paper casing which wraps the filter core is connected to the flame-retardant and fireproof covering in a muff coupling way or sleeve joint way. 
     A further aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the above aspects includes proving a number of pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering which are mutually separated and which are joined by a number of cigarette paper casings. 
     Preferably, in accordance with one or more of the aspects above, the flame-retardant and fireproof covering is in the shape of sleeve and made of flame-retardant materials. Preferably, the covering is divided into a cover area for covering the cigarette end, a ventilated area for ventilating or airing, and a flame-retardant area for stopping or retarding flame. Preferably, a number of perforations, long cuttings, or slits are distributed over the cover area and a number of perforations, short cuttings, or slits are distributed in the ventilated area. 
     A further aspect of the invention usable with one or more of the aspects above includes providing a tooth-shaped sealing part for binding up the top end of the tobacco body which locates in the front of the tobacco body. 
     In addition to any of the aspects above, it is a further aspect that the flame-retardant and fireproof covering can be made of aluminum foil, copper foil or gold foil. 
     In one preferred aspect, the flame-retardant and fireproof covering have been arranged in the back end of the cigarette. When the cigarette burns up to a cigarette end, the cover area of the flame-retardant and fireproof covering binds up the cigarette end so as to isolate the open fire of the cigarette end. Alternatively, the length of the flame-retardant and fireproof covering is equivalent to that of the cigarette body. The open fire of the cigarette body will be isolated from the outside in the entire course of smoking, so as to relative completely avoid the fire accident caused by smoking. Another aspect usable with one or more of the aspects above includes providing the flame-retardant and fireproof coverings as several discriminate pieces, which will diminish gradually with shortening of the cigarette body. Therefore, the flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to present invention will basically keep the feature of a cigarette being burned out and shortened little by little. 
     In accordance with each of the aspects above, it is envisioned that the flame-retardant and fireproof covering directly wrap the tobacco body such that there is no cigarette paper casing between the flame-retardant and fireproof coverings and the tobacco. 
     It is envisioned that a cigarette constructed in accordance with one or more of these aspects will appreciate the advantages of a reduced rate of unintentional combustions caused by cigarette ends, that cigarettes constructed in accordance with present invention can be manufactured with existing equipment without increasing equipment cost, and that the flame-retardant materials, such as aluminum foil, copper foil or gold foil, can be adopted as substitute for conventional cigarette paper so as to avoid the undesirable smell caused by burning or insufficient burning of cigarette papers. 
     Further explanation of the invention will be provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a cigarette according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of a cigarette generally similar to that shown in  FIG. 2A  but constructed according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a cigarette according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a side view of a portion of any of the cigarettes shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and shows a crushable cover area thereof; 
         FIG. 4B  is an end view of the cover area of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side view of a cigarette according to yet another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is an elevational view of an ignition end of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a cigarette according to a further embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a cigarette according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The technical terms relating to the present invention shall be defined before explanation in details. With respect to the figures collectively, the following reference numbers are commonly associated with the structure of the cigarettes as follows:  1 —filter;  11 —filter core;  12 —filter paper casing;  2 —flame-retardant and fireproof covering;  21 —flame-retardant area;  22 —ventilated area;  23 —cover area;  24 —tooth sealing part;  3 —internal core;  4 —tobacco body;  5 —cigarette body;  51 —cigarette paper casing; and  6 —external casing. As used herein, a cigarette body is a substance with an internal core of tobacco and an external layer of cigarette paper, wherein the cigarette paper is also called cigarette paper casing. Tobacco body is a block of tobacco mass without a cigarette paper, in other word, a bar shaped substance composed of tobacco. Cigarette is the joint name of the cigarette body and the tobacco body, which can be either an individual cigarette body or an individual tobacco body, or the combination of a cigarette body and a tobacco body, i.e., a combination including the cigarette body and the tobacco body. 
     Generally, the flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention comprises: a filter  1 , a bar-shaped cigarette that is connected to or joins the filter  1  in an end-to-end way, and a flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  that integrally or partially covers the bar-shaped cigarette. 
     The following gives a detail explanation of a first, second and third type of cigarette constructed in a flame-retardant or fireproof manner in accordance with the present invention by making a reference to drawings. As used herein, flame retardant and/or fireproof are used synonymously and refer to the cigarette being constructed so as to resist propagation or combustion of materials adjacent the cigarette as compared to the cigarette itself. Whereas the cigarette can be consumed in the customary manner, the construction of the cigarette resists ignition of combustibles that may be adjacent thereto. 
     Structures of the first type flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the first type flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette comprises a filter  1 , a flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  that adjoins the filter  1  and/or cigarette body  5  that adjoins the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . 
     The first embodiment of the first type flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention is shown in  FIG. 2A . As shown therein, the cigarette includes a filter core  11  and a tobacco body  4  which is joined end-to-end to the filter core  11 . A flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  wraps at least one part of the tobacco body  4  and is connected to the filter core  11  in a muff coupling way or in a pipe connection fashion. 
     A filter paper casing  12  wraps about the filter core  11  and is joined to the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . A cigarette paper casing  51  wraps another part of the tobacco body  4  and overlaps a part of the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . 
     Referring now to the second embodiment of a flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention, the cigarette includes an internal core  3  having a filter core  11  and a tobacco body  4  that are aligned with one another in an end-to-end fashion. The cigarette includes an external casing  6  formed of a filter paper casing  12 , a flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2 , and a cigarette paper casing  51  that are bonded or stuck together. The external casing  6  wraps the internal core  3  so that the filter paper casing  12  wraps the filter core  11 , and the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  and the cigarette paper casing  51  wrap the tobacco body  4 . 
       FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the invention that is generally similar to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B. With respect to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  of the flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette is shorter than the covering  2  of the cigarettes shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B. Covering  2  of the embodiment of the cigarette shown in  FIG. 3  includes only one group of short cuttings are distributed in ventilated area  22  as compared to the several groups of short cuttings distributing in the ventilated area  22  of the cigarettes shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B. 
     Flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  are arranged in the cigarette to avoid exposure of an open flame so as to prevent inducing incidental, accidental, or unintentional fire accidents. Although the length of the flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  is shorter than that of the cigarette body  5 , as described further below, flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  can extend a greater length of the cigarette and could a length generally equal to that of the cigarette body  5 . 
     Each flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  is in the shape of a sleeve and is made of flame-retardant or resistant materials such as aluminum foil, copper foil or gold foil. Each of these materials is generally impermeable to air, tobacco  4  would combust in a less than desired manner or prematurely extinguish were covering  2  formed as a generally continuous sheet of such materials. With respect to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , it is envisioned that covering  2  can be roughly divided into a cover area  23  for covering nearer an ignition end of the cigarette, a ventilated area  22  for ventilating or airing, and a flame-retardant area  21  for stop burning or inflammation. The cover area  23 , the ventilated area  22 , and the flame-retardant area  21  wrap a part of the tobacco body  4  directly, wherein the flame-retardant area  21  connects to the filter core  11  in a muff coupling or in a sleeve joint way. The filter paper casing  12  of the filter  1  covers the filter core  11  and a part of the flame-retardant area  21 , and the cigarette paper casing  51  of the cigarette body  5  covers the remaining part of the tobacco body  4  and a part of the cover area  23 . Of course, the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  may also be bonded or stuck directly onto the cigarette body  5  and the filter  1 . 
     There are a number of perforations  41 , such as long cuttings or slits  42  distributing in the cover area  23  so that any of the cigarettes shown in accompanying drawings can attain an end shape similar to that shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  when the cigarette is crushed or stubbed out. Perforations  41  allow the expansion of cover  2  such that the open fire of the cigarette end will be in near complete isolation to areas outside cover  2  or atmosphere. The cuttings or slits  42  are in the shape of elongated slots that do not extend to the end of the cover area  23 . 
     A number of short ventilating slits  44  are distributed in the ventilated area  22  so as to promote burning of the cigarette body  5  and to diffuse or dissipate some heat energy to limit the temperature in the cigarette body  5 . 
     The flame-retardant area  21  of cover  2  adjoins the ventilated area  22  and is located near the filter  11 . Since, under most circumstances, this is the position of the burning tobacco when most smokers discard a cigarette; this is the most applicable location to form the cigarette end as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  wherein the flame-retardant area  21  can be completely separated from open fire of the cigarette end. In fact, slits in the cover area  23  and the ventilated area  22  are quite tiny and are sufficiently sized to isolate open fire of the cigarette body  5 . However, theoretically, the separation function of open fire in cover area  23  is not as complete or thorough as that of the flame-retardant area  21 . 
     The multiple ventilating slits  44  distributing in the ventilated area  22  are in the shape of a bar or a strip, the length of which is shorter than that of the cuttings or slits  42  in the cover area  23 . These ventilating slits may also be arranged in array. 
       FIGS. 5A-6  show another flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention. A substantial difference of the cigarette shown in  FIGS. 5A-6  as compared to those previously discussed is that flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  extends near the entire length of the tobacco so as to cover the entire tobacco body  4 . It is envisioned that this second type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette can be carried out via at least two distinct embodiments although more are envisioned. 
     The first embodiment of the second type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette includes a filter core  11 , a tobacco body  4  which is end-to-end joined to the filter core  11 , a flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  which wraps the entire tobacco body  4  and is cup-joined to the filter core  11 , and a filter paper casing  12  which wraps the filter core  11  being cup-jointed to flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2 . 
     The second embodiment of the second type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette includes an internal core  3  which possesses an end-to-end jointed filter core  11  and a tobacco body  4 . An external casing  6  possessing a filter paper casing  12  and a flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  that are bonded to each other wraps the internal core  3 , so that the filter paper casing  12  wraps the filter core  11 , and the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  wraps the tobacco body  4 . 
     In the second embodiment of the second type flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette, because the external casing  6  can directly wrap the internal core  3 , the manufacturing process of the flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette is greatly simplified as compared to those embodiments previously discussed. 
     In the second type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette, as shown in  FIG. 5B , there is a tooth sealing part  24  in the flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  in the front of the tobacco body  4  to close up or bind up the top end of the tobacco body. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the tooth sealing part  24  is located near the front end of the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . In the course of manufacture, pressure is applied about the sealing part  24  so that the tooth opening of the flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  closes up or binds up the tobacco body  4  therebehind. The flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2  completely close up the tobacco body  4  so as to further improve the flame-retardant and fireproof effect of the cigarette. 
     The flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  of the second type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette is in the shape of sleeve and is made of flame-retardant materials similar to the cover discussed above. It is divided in order into the ventilated area  22  for ventilating, and flame-retardant area  21  for stopping or retarding the flame or combustion associated with the consumption of the cigarette. The ventilated area  22  includes a number of short cuttings or slits  41  that are distributed throughout the ventilated area  22 . 
     Since the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  covers the entire tobacco body  4 , it is a kind of cigarette which is absolutely flame-retardant and fireproof. That is, any flame associated with the combustion of tobacco  4  is enclosed such that no open fire is exposed when tobacco is burning in the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . In this way, commonly inflammable materials such as bedding, clothing, furniture, furniture coverings, or the like, can not be ignited even if the inflammable object is put in close or touching proximity relative to a burning cigarette. 
       FIGS. 7-9  show a third type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to another embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , tobacco body  4  is wrapped by a number of pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  that are mutually isolated. The total length of the cigarette will gradually shorten little by little as the tobacco is consumed during combustion. As described below, it is envisioned that the third type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette according to the present invention can also be realized in at least two different embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first embodiment of a cigarette constructed in accordance with the third type flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette embodiment includes a filter core  11 , a tobacco body  4  which is end-to-end joined to the filter core  11 , and a number of pieces of mutually separated flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . The covering  2  cooperates to wrap the tobacco body  4 . Adjacent flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  is mutually separated and is cup-joined by cigarette paper casing  51 . The flame-retardant and fireproof covering adjacent to the filter core  11  is cup-joined to the filter core  11 . The filter paper casing  12  that wraps the filter core  11  is cup-jointed to the nearest flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a cigarette constructed according to a second embodiment of the third type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette includes an internal core  3  which possesses a filter core  11  and a tobacco body  4  which are end-to-end jointed. An external casing  6  is positioned about the internal core  3  and includes a filter paper casing  12 , a number of pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  that are mutually separated, and a number of cigarette paper casings  51  disposed between adjacent covering  2 . The filter paper casing  12  is bonded or stuck to the piece of flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  that is adjacent to it. A number of pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  are bound together by means of a number of cigarette paper casings  51 . The external casing  6  wraps the internal core  3  of the cigarette, so that the filter paper casing  12  wraps the filter core  11 , and the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  which is bonded or stuck together by means of the cigarette paper casings  51  wrap the tobacco body  4 . 
     Pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  of the third type of flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette are in the shape of sleeves and are made of the non-combustible or flame-retardant materials. The flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  adjacent to the filter core  11  is divided into a cover area  23  for covering the cigarette end, a ventilated area  22  for ventilating and airing the tobacco, and a flame-retardant area  21  for stopping or retarding flame. However, there is only a cover area  23  in other pieces of flame-retardant and fireproof coverings  2 . 
     Wherein, there are a number of long cuttings or slits distributing in the cover area  23 , and there are a number of short cuttings or slits distributing in the ventilated area  22 . 
     One important advantage of the present invention lies in that the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2  wraps the tobacco body  4  directly rather than wraps the tobacco body  4  via cigarette paper casing. Such a construction avoids or mitigates the peculiar smell associated with the burning or non-sufficient burning of the cigarette paper casing in the flame-retardant and fireproof covering  2 . 
     Although the present invention is explained in details hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the above description. The person skilled in the art may make various amendments or modifications to the present invention without departing from the principle of the present invention. Consequently, any amendment or modification in the principle of this invention shall be understood to be covered by the scope of protection afforded the following claims.