Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02487941 2004-11-19
PORTABLE SMOKING ROOM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of smoking enclosures, and more
particularly, it relates to a portable smoking room.
Background of the Invention
In recent years, smoking has been prohibited in most public places including
office buildings, restaurants and bars, sports arenas and theatres, and
airports, mainly due to
the adverse health affects associated with inhaling second hand smoke. Certain
establishments
have set up designated smoking areas or enclosures to allow smokers to smoke
without having
to step outside. However, such designated smoking areas are diminishing in
numbers and the
smoking enclosures currently available can be very smoke laden despite the
presence of
exhaust vents to remove smoke particles from the enclosures. Although the
number of
smokers has decreased substantially, there still exists a need for a smoking
facility to
accommodate the needs of smokers.
Various smoking or air cleaning modules are available in the art. For example,
U.S. Patent No. 4,732,592 to Spengler describes a portable environmental clean
air facility
comprising a frame wherein clear plastic sheeting material maybe draped over
to form a clean
air section enclosure. A bypass damper is provided for controlling the air
flow velocity and
for producing negative pressure in the enclosure, withdrawing contaminated air
from the clean
air enclosure by the blower motor. U.S. Patent No. 5,537,787 to Abraham
describes a portable
smoking booth including an enclosure defining a smoking area and a purifier
system that
draws air from the enclosure and exhausts the air outside the enclosure. The
booth is movable
from one location to another location as an assembled unit and the wall and
door of the booth
is clear to enable a prospective user of the booth to view activity outside
the booth. However,
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CA 02487941 2004-11-19
none of the smoking or clean air modules provides an easily transportable
smoking room that
enables a user to smoke a cigarette virtually wherever and whenever the user
desires.
Consequently, there exists a need for a portable and collapsible smoking room
to enable a user
to conveniently transport and assemble such room so that the user may smoke a
cigarette at an
appropriate indoor location.
Summar,~of the Invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable
smoking
room wherein the smoking room may be disassembled and conveniently transported
to a
different location where the portable smoking room may be reassembled for use.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable smoking
room having a flexible enclosure detachably mounted to a frame, the flexible
enclosure
defining a room having a door. A first flexible duct is detachably mounted to
the frame such
that air within the flexible enclosure may be transported outside of the
flexible enclosure. A
fan detachably mounted to the first air duct creates negative pressure within
the flexible
enclosure such that air within the flexible enclosure may be drawn out though
the first flexible
duct. The frame may be disassembled when the flexible enclosure and the first
duct are
detached from the frame such that the flexible enclosure, the frame, the fan,
and the first duct
may be conveniently transported and reassembled at a different location.
The portable smoking room may also include a first mounting bracket
detachably secured to the frame such that a first end of the first flexible
duct may be
detachably mounted to the mounting bracket. A second end of the first flexible
duct is
detachably mounted to an intake end of a fan such that the fan may withdraw
smoke laden air
from the enclosure. Preferably, the fan is an inline fan. A first end of a
second flexible duct is
detachably mounted to an exhaust end of the fan such that smoke laden air
within the flexible
enclosure may be directed outside the flexible enclosure. Preferably, the
second end of the
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second duct is detachably mounted to a second mounting bracket which is
detachably mounted
to a window such that the smoke laden air within the flexible enclosure may be
transported
outdoors.
In an embodiment of the invention, the door of the enclosure defines a
plurality
of apertures such that the fan may draw ambient air outside the flexible
enclosure into the
flexible enclosure. Preferably, the door is at least partially transparent
such that a user inside
the enclosure may view activity outside the flexible enclosure. The flexible
enclosure also
defines an aperture such that the first end of the first duct may be inserted
through the aperture
so that it may be detachably mounted to the first mounting bracket.
In another embodiment of the invention, the frame, the enclosure, the first
and
the second ducts, the fan, and the first and said second mounting brackets may
be disposed
within a container such that the portable smoking room may be conveniently
transported to
another location for reassembly.
In another embodiment of the invention, the portable smoking room includes a
light fixture detachably mounted to the frame. An actuator for activating the
fan and the light
fixture may be detachably mounted to the frame.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present
invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood
when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the smoking room according to the
present invention;
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Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the smoking room shown in Figure 1
wherein the door is selectively accessible;
Figure 3 is an exploded side perspective view of the flexible duct attached to
the fan;
Figure 1;
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the frame of the smoking room shown in
Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the frame of the smoking room shown in
Figure 6 is an exploded side view of the flexible duct and the mounting
bracket.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
With reference to Figures 1 to 6 wherein similar characters of reference
denote
corresponding parts in each view, the portable smoking room according to the
present
invention includes a flexible enclosure 10 detachably mounted on a frame 20.
Frame 20 may
be disassembled for convenient and compact transport or storage when flexible
enclosure 10 is
detached from frame 20. A first flexible air duct 30 is detachably secured to
frame 20 at a first
end and detachably mounted to an intake end of fan 40 at a second end such
that negative
pressure may be created within enclosure 10 to withdraw smoke laden air from
enclosure 10.
A first end of a second flexible air duct 50 is detachably mounted to an
exhaust end of fan 40
such that air withdrawn from within enclosure 10 through first air duct 30 due
to the negative
pressure maybe transported outside enclosure 10 into the open air outdoors.
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In an embodiment of the invention, the smoking room is generally rectangular
in shape and sized to accommodate at Ieast one user, although the smoking room
may be any
shape and constructed to accommodate a plurality of users. In an embodiment of
the
invention, the smoking room measures seven feet in height and three and a half
feet in width
and in depth. Frame 20 may be made of any lightweight and durable material
such as
aluminium, steel, or plastic. In an embodiment of the invention, frame 20 is
made of plastic
tubing having a plurality of frame sections 22 that may be detachably joined
to each other to
form frame 20. Frame sections 22 may be detachably joined by any connecting
means such as
conventional slip fit joints 24 wherein ends of frame sections 22 may be
detachably inserted
into joints 24 for ease of assembly and disassembly. Joints 24 may be formed
integrally at the
ends of frame sections 22 or joints 24 may be independent members. Preferably,
all the frame
sections 22 may be detached from each other such that frame 20 may be fully
disassembled
and conveniently and compactly disposed within a container for transport
and/or storage.
Frame 20 may also include a plurality of support sections 26 that may be
detachably joined to
frame sections 22 by similar connecting means described above to provide
additional structural
support to frame 20.
Frame 20 further includes a mounting bracket 32 that may be detachably
secured to frame 20 such that the first end of first air duct 30 may be
detachably attached to
mounting bracket 32. Mounting bracket 32 may be positioned in between and
detachably
secured to any of the frame sections 22 and support sections 26 by
conventional securing
means such as screws or clamps. In an embodiment of the invention, mounting
bracket 32
includes three sleeves configured to frictionally engage frame section 22 and
support sections
26 in a snap on manner. Mounting bracket 32 may be made of the same material
as frame 20.
An annular flange 34 on mounting bracket 32 defines an aperture 36
corresponding to the
circumference of first air duct 30 such that the first end of first air duct
30 may be detachably
mounted in mating engagement with annular flange 34. Mounting bracket 32 may
include a
plurality of retaining means such as clips to assist in securing first air
duct 30 to mounting
bracket 32.
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Flexible enclosure 10 may be made of any lightweight fabric or sheeting
material such as nylon or vinyl. The lightweight fabric or sheeting material
may be detachably
mounted on frame 20 by conventional attaching means such as snap fasteners or
VELCRO
hook and loop strip fasteners to form a sealed enclosure. In an embodiment of
the invention
flexible enclosure 10 is made of canvas and includes a rear panel 12, opposing
side panels 14
and 16, a top panel 18, and a front panel 19. Preferably, rear panel 12,
opposing side panels 14
and 16 and top panel 18 are made of the same material and front panel 19 is
made of a
transparent plastic sheeting to enable the user within flexible enclosure 10
to see outside the
smoking room. Alternatively, rear panel 12, opposing panels 14 and 16, top
panel 18 and front
panel 19 may all be made of the same material. In an embodiment of the
invention, front panel
19 is a door that may be selectively accessed to enable a user to step into
flexible enclosure 10.
Preferably, front panel 19 includes a plurality of apertures 13 such that
ambient air outside
flexible enclosure 10 may be drawn inside flexible enclosure 10 by fan 40.
Preferably, top
panel 18 has or defines an aperture 17 wherein the first end of first air duct
30 maybe
insertable through aperture 17 so that first end of first air duct 30 may be
detachably mounted
to mounting bracket 32 on top of frame 20. Alternatively, opposing panel 14 or
16 may define
aperture 17 such that first end of first air duct 30 may be detachably mounted
to the side of
frame 20. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of
opposing panel 14
and/or 16 and/or rear panel 12 may include windows 15 made of the same
transparent plastic
sheeting as door 19 to enable the user within flexible enclosure 10 to see
outside the smoking
room. In another embodiment of the invention, additional panels of the same
lightweight
fabric or sheeting material as enclosure 10 may be detachably mounted by
similar attaching
means described above to the interior of frame 20 such that frame 20 may not
be seen by the
user when the user is inside the smoking room.
In an embodiment of the invention, fan 40 is an inline fan which may be
positionable anywhere outside enclosure 10 so long as, in cooperation with
duct 30, the fan
creates negative pressure within enclosure 10 such that smoke laden aar within
enclosure 10
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may be drawn out through first air duct 30 and released outdoors through
second air duct 50.
Outdoors is herein defined as the open air outside any building or enclosure
wherein the
smoking room may be positioned. Negative pressure exists when less air is
supplied to a space
than is exhausted from the space. The plurality of apertures 13 defined by
front panel 19
enables air outside of enclosure 10 to flow into enclosure 10. When fan 40 is
activated,
enclosure 10 becomes a negatively pressurized space because less air is
flowing into enclosure
through apertures 13 than is being exhausted from enclosure 10 through first
air duct 30
and second air duct 50. Fan 40 places a slight suction within enclosure 10 and
draws fresh air
in through apertures 13 on front panel 19 to replace the extracted
contaminated air. Preferably,
10 fan 40 may be actuated by a switch 42 detachably mounted to frame 20 inside
enclosure 10.
First air duct 30 and second air duct 50 may be any conventional flexible air
duct available in the art capable of performing low to high pressure
residential or commercial
applications. The length of first and second air ducts 30 and 50 may vary
depending on where
the user wants to position the smoking room. The second end of first air duct
30 is preferably
configured such that it may be detachably mounted in mating engagement with
the intake end
of fan 40. Similarly, the first end of second air duct SO is preferably
configured such that it
may be detachably mounted in mating engagement with the exhaust end of fan 40.
Securing
means such as detachable clips, clamps, and screws may be provided to help
secure the second
end of first air duct 30 and the first end of second air duct 50 to the intake
and exhaust end of
fan 40, respectively. In an embodiment of the invention, a second mounting
bracket similar to
first mounting bracket 32 may be provided. The second mounting bracket may be
secured to a
window frame such that the second end of second air duct 50 may be detachably
mounted to
the second mounting bracket to direct the smoke laden air outdoors.
In another embodiment of the invention, the top of frame 20 includes a
conventional light fixture 38 for illuminating the interior of enclosure 10.
Light fixture 38
may be detachably mounted to frame 20. Preferably, light fixture 38 is
configured such that
light fixture 38 and fan 40 may be simultaneously actuated by switch 42.
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As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention is
to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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