Improvements in the Stems of Tobacco Pipes, Cigar Holders and Cigarette Holders.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1897-Accepted 17th July 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Stems of Tobacco Pipes, Cigar Holders and
Cigarette Holders.
I, HAROLD MASON, of 102 Vassall Road, London, S.W., in the County of Surrey,
Insurance Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the stems of tobacco pipes, cigar holders
and cigarette holders by means of which certain advantages are obtained.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated, by
way of a type or example, one form of my invention in the accompanying drawing,
the said drawing representing a cigarette or cigar holder but illustrating the principle
of my invention as it may be applied to a tobacco pipe.
The main feature of my invention consists of a stem-plug 1 which may be made of
wood, meerschaum or other convenient material and which is designed to be enclosed
by the stem-tube 2. The said stem-plug instead of having a perforation extending
along its geometric axis to constitute the smoke-duct, as in the case of existing forms
of tobacco pipes, cigar holders or cigarette holders, has a helical groove cut on its
surface and this helical groove it is which constitutes the smoke-duct of my
invention. In the section of the stem illustrated in the drawing the course of the
helical smoke-duct is represented by the dotted lines and the duct itself is shown in
cross-section at the parts 3, 3 where it will be seen that the duct is somewhat
D shaped in cross section, the curved wall being constituted by the material of the
stem-plug and the flat wall by the inner surface of the stem-tube 2.
At the inner,
or mouthpiece end, of the stem-plug it will be seen that the smoke duct is continued
in a helical direction to the extreme end where it opens direct into a smoke space 4
whilst at its other, or outer end, it will be seen that the duct consists of a straight
orifice 5 drilled straight through from the smoke space 6 to meet a helical part, of
the duct, 3ª. In practice I may adopt either of these methods and at either end of
the stem plug: but I prefer the method illustrated with respect to the inner or
mouthpiece end in the case illustrated, as in that case less tooling is required and an
equally good result is obtained.
The object of my invention is to render the smoke-duct as easily cleaned out as
possible; and it will be seen that I accomplish this, for all that it is necessary to do
to clean the smoke-duct is to withdraw the stem-plug 1 from the stem-tube 2 when
the length of the duct is exposed and can easily be cleansed by means of a rag or
otherwise and again inserted. The act of withdrawing the stem-plug serves in a
large measure to clean out the stem-tube 2; but if the said stem-tube is not
sufficiently cleaned thereby it can easily be further cleaned, being of large diameter,
in any of the usual well known ways.
It will be seen that in the case illustrated in the drawing the stem-plug 1 is
screwed into the stem-tube 2 and held therein by means of the screw thread 7: but
this is not an essential of my invention as it is obvious that if the parts be turned
true the stem-plug can easily be held within the stem-tube by friction.
8 is a mouthpiece as in ordinary forms of pipes and holders and is no part of my

page_text: invention. When desired such a mouthpiece may be dispensed with and the inner
end of the stem-tube be formed into a mouthpiece of any convenient known
form.
The drawing illustrates the application of my invention in the case of a cigarette
holder or cigar holder the end of the cigarette or cigar being inserted into the flared
opening 9. This part of the holder is illustrated as being integral with the stem-plug
but when desired it may be a separate part attached either to the stem-plug or to the
stem-tube in any of the convenient ways known in the art.
I do not illustrate my invention as applied in the case of a tobacco pipe for it is
obvious that the only difference would be that the space 9 instead of being as in the
case illustrated adapted for the end of a cigar or cigarette would be turned upwards
and adapted for the insertion of cut tobacco.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what inanner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In the stem of a tobacco pipe, cigar holder or cigarette holder the employment of
a stem-plug having a helical groove on the surface thereof, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. In the stem of a tobacco pipe, cigar holder or cigarette holder the combination
of a stem-plug with a helical groove cut thereon and a stem-tube fitting over the said
stem-plug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dared this 11th day of June 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.;
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.