Patent Publication Number: US-4841994-A

Title: Mouth-piece for filtering the smoke of cigarettes and the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved mouthpiece for filtering the smoke of cigarettes and the like. 
     The number and the nature of the damages which the habit of smoking causes to the body are well known. 
     Countless attempts have been made to devise filters which can significantly reduce the amount of nicotine, tobacco and other products of combustion which are inhaled by smokers and become deposited throughout the respiratory tract. 
     The prior art has produced paper filters which have been included at one end of the cigarettes, yielding, however, a very small filtering capacity. 
     Other types of filters, the so-called mouthpieces, have partly improved the filtering capacity, but, in contrast, have some disadvantages, among which one can mention the inability to reduce the temperature of the inhaled fumes, which is the primary cause of damage to the larynx, the need for frequent replacements due to the significant reduction of the filtering ability according to the number of cigarettes smoked, the accidental outlet of drops of condensate which bear combustion products in suspension, with the consequent production of bad tastes in the smoker&#39;s mouth or of stains on the clothing if the mouthpieces are stored in the pocket and, finally, the dimensions of the mouthpieces themselves, which do not currently allow for the acquisition of a large number thereof since the same would give rise to a considerable mass to be stored. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim proposed by the present invention is to eliminate the above described disadvantages by providing an improved mouth-piece with very small dimensions which has a good filtering capacity even if it is used for many cigarettes, does not give rise to the loss of condensate, significantly reduces the temperature of the inhaled smoke, and which, at the same time, has very small dimensions, so that it is convenient and easy to use and store. 
     This aim, and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an improved mouth-piece for filtering the smoke of cigarettes and the like, comprising a tubular body which accommodates a filter element, means being provided to secure said filter element, characterized in that the outer walls of said filter element and the inner walls of said tubular body define a first collection chamber for the combustion and condensation products, and in that a second collection chamber for the condensation products is defined by the inner walls of said tubular body and of a slot which projects into said tubular body, said slot being axially traversed by a conduit which communicates with the outside of said tubular body. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of two preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an improved mouth-piece, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section view of a first embodiment of the mouthpiece according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section view along the plane II--II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the same mouthpiece of FIG. 1 with partial views into the interior; 
     FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are partial cross-section views of a monolithic filter element of second aspect of the mouthpiece according to the invention, each rotated with respect to each other by a right angle; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic and partial cross section view of the ends of the tubular body of the mouthpiece in the second aspect of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a detail cross section view of the complete mouthpiece in the second aspect of the invention; and 
     FIG. 9, finally, is a perspective view of some internal cross sections of the tubular body and of the filter assembly of the same mouthpiece of FIG. 8. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, the reference numeral 1 indicates an improved mouthpiece with very small dimensions which comprises a short tubular body 2, in which is insertable, by pressing, until it abuts against related securing elements 3, a shaped filter element 4 which defines, between its own outer surface and the inner walls of the body 2, a first collection chamber 5 for the combustion products. 
     A second chamber 6 for collecting and containing condensation products is defined between a larger base 4a of the element 4 directed towards the smoker and matching inner cavities 6a of the tubular body 2. 
     The securing elements 3 are composed of a sort of projecting step 3a which protrudes inwards from the wall of the tubular body 2 from a region placed substantially in the middle thereof. 
     The filter element 4 is composed of a nucleus 4b with the shape of a truncated cone, which is positioned coaxially to the tubular body 2; the smaller base is directed towards the inlet of the smoke produced by a cigarette 7 and is connected to a sort of small disk 4c the diameter of which coincides with the inner one of the tubular body 2 and has the face 4d, directed towards said cigarette 7, affected by a slight concavity. 
     The nucleus 4b is affected by a transverse slit 8, parallel to the larger base 4a and arranged proximate thereto; it communicates with an axial aspiration conduit 9 which traverses the nucleus 4b, which conduit has two different diameters, the smaller of which is proximate to said slit 8. 
     A tab 10 extends from the outer surface of the nucleus 4b until it touches the inner walls of the tubular body 2, which tab is longitudinally traversed by a plurality of grooves 10a parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the element 4, for the passage of the inhaled smoke directed towards the second chamber 6. 
     The latter is partially traversed by the tubular wall means including a cylindrical wall 11 which extends from the interior of the tubular body 2 longitudinally and centered, directed towards the larger base 4a, and is axially traversed by a conduit 12 which communicates with the outside of the tubular body 2. 
     The operation of the invention is as follows: once the cigarette has been inserted in the initial portion 1a of the mouthpiece 1, it is pushed until it abuts with the face 4d of the small disk 4c; the concavity which affects it prevents the complete contact between the cigarette itself and the face 4d, thus allowing an easier flow of the inhaled smoke, which thus penetrates into the axial conduit 9 directed towards the slit 8; in this motion it is subject to an acceleration, due to the reduction of the diameter of said conduit 9, and then collides with the walls of the slit 8, thus losing kinetic energy and temporarily reversing its direction; simultaneously, the particles of combustion products present therein deposit in the first chamber 5. 
     As the inhaling action of the smoker continues, the smoke once more moves towards the outlet, passing between the grooves 10a of the tab 10. 
     It thus enters the second chamber 6, depositing therein the condensated substances, which, by cooling, change density, so that they can no longer accidentally leave the mouthpiece 1 through the conduit 12 of the cylindrical wall 11, as instead does the smoke, by then purified of a very large part of its harmful substances. It should be noted that the intentionally convoluted path which the smoke has to follow causes the same to have, at the outlet, a temperature which is significantly lower than at the inlet, to the full advantage of the protection of the larynx. 
     Furthermore, the extremely small dimensions of the entire invention make its use simple and make its storage and accumulation comfortable, as well as the possible use with a packet of cigarettes. 
     FIGS. 4-9 illustrate a second embodiment of the mouthpiece according to the invention, generally indicated with the reference numeral 101, which comprises a filter element 103 which is at least partially accommodated, in a tubular body 102 and is rigidly coupled with a second element 105, or capsule, to accommodate a cigarette 106. 
     In said filter element 103 it is substantially possible to identify a first element 103a and a second element 103b, which define between their shaped outer surfaces and the inner walls of the tubular body 102 a first chamber 107 and a third chamber 108 adapted to contain and deposit the filtered substances. 
     A second collection chamber 109 is provided between the end of the filter assembly 103, directed towards the outlet of the smoke, and the matching end of the tubular body 102 directed towards the smoker. 
     Between the end of the tubular body 102 directed towards the capsule 105 and the latter, means 110 are provided of the spring-latch type, for blocking the axial motion of the filter assembly 103 with respect to the body 102 itself. 
     Of said elements which constitute the filter body 103, the first element 103a has a substantially truncated cone shape, with the tapered end directed towards the inlet of the smoke and furthermore has its lateral surface affected by a transverse slit 111 arranged proximate to the larger base 103c and parallel thereto, which communicates with an axial conduit 112 for aspirating the smoke which has two diameters, the smaller of which is proximate to the same slit 111. 
     A projecting tab 113 extends from said lateral surface of the first element 103a, the outer surface 113a of which tab slideably contacts the inner walls of the tubular body 102 and is traversed by grooves 113b parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the same element 103a. 
     The third element 103b is connected, at one end thereof, to the first element 103a, with the interposition of a small-diameter cylindrical spacer 114, and also has a cylinder-like shape, with each base composed of small disks 115a, 115b perpendicular to the axis of the body 102, which disks have a diameter which is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the third chamber 108 and are connected to each other by two shaped straps 116 which face each other. 
     A through hole 117 is furthermore provided in the disk 115a which is directed towards the outlet of the smoke. The filter element 103 is associated to the tubular body 102 by support means 104 which comprise, at the smoke outlet end, tubular wall means forming a throat 118 which is axially hollow and communicates with the outside through a related conduit 119 which projects from the body 102, internally and coaxially thereto towards the interior of the second collection chamber 109, and the tip 118a of which can be tightly inserted into said through hole 117 until it interposes itself between the straps 116. 
     At the opposite end of the filter element 103, directed towards the inlet of the smoke, said support means 104 comprise a cylindrical collar 120, rigidly associated with said capsule 105, which has its lateral surface affected by parallel grooves 120a. 
     In these grooves said spring-latch means 110 engage, which means comprise a plurality of rings 110a, preferably in a number equal to the one of the grooves 120a, which extend protrudingly from the inner wall of the end of the tubular body 102 directed towards the capsule 105. 
     The opeation of the mouthpiece is as follows: once a lit cigarette has been inserted into the capsule 105, by inhaling the smoke thereof from the other end, this smoke penetrates into the axial conduit 112 and, once it is proximate to the slit 111, where its cross section has a narrowing, it acquires speed and then collides against the vertical wall 111a of the same slit and thus reverses its direction and penetrates into the first chamber 107, in which a large percentage of the combustion particles contained in the smoke is already deposited. 
     The latter, again under the effect of the inhaling, proceeds towards the outlet of the mouthpiece 101, passing through the grooves 113b as well as between the minimal interspaces which exist between the disc 115b and the inner walls of the body 102, to penetrate into the third chamber 108, in which it further loses the residual solid particles in suspension, as well as that part of the condensate which has formed therein, which condensate, by adhering to the walls of the body 102, transfers, and accumulates, inside the second chamber 109, thus being deprived of the possibility of leaking-out or of returning into the third chamber 108 since, in said transfer and accumulation, it changes density and cools, and the disk 115 forces it into said second chamber 109. 
     The smoke thus purified leaves through the axial conduit 119 of the stem or throat 118 and the related tip 118a to move towards the smoker. 
     When the first chamber 107, after a certain number of smoked cigarettes, is partly occupied by the residuals of the first deposit, by rotating the filter assembly 103 with respect to the body 102 the tab 113 scrapes the walls of said first chamber, cleaning them satisfactorily so as to offer, by accumulating in one point the residuals thus collected, new space available for further deposits of particles and consequently prolonging the operating cycle thus described for a further number of smoked cigarettes, and furthermore extending the lifespan of the mouthpiece 101. 
     It should be noted that, if required, it is also possible to extract the filter element 103 from the body 102 to clean it more accurately and completely. 
     In practice, it has been observed that the invention thus described achieves the intended aims, in that it significantly purifies the smoke inhaled from the cigarettes being smoked and, at the same time, does not give rise to accidental losses of condensation liquids, also offering a longer useful life. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. 
     Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements, without thereby departing from the scope of the protection of the following claims.