Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CA 02487706 2004-11-12
A DISPOSABLE FILTER MEANS FOR SMOKING
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to smoking and smoking devices. The present
invention has particular but not exclusive application to disposable
accessories and
parts for pipe and cigarette holders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When smoking tobacco from either a pipe, cigarette holder or cigarette, the
smoke includes nicotine, moisture, tar and other burnt tobacco byproducts. The
pipe
and holder usually includes a filter in the stem to limit the amount of burnt
byproducts
being inhaled by the smoker. With the pipe and holder, the elongate stem also
assists in limiting the amount of burnt byproducts reaching the smoker,
because the
smoke loses heat and the suspended waste changes from a gaseous phase to a
solid or liquid phase and consequently is trapped by the filter.
With time, the waste byproducts clog the pipe preventing smoke from passing
through the internal passage. Consequently, the pipe. and cigarette holder
require
regular cleaning. The cleaning of pipes and cigarette holders is a laborious
task
repeated on a regular basis. Furthermore, the cleaning of pipes and cigarette
holders usually leaves some waste thereby contaminating subsequent smoke
passing through the stem and lessening the enjoyment derived from smoking.
In addition, the area immediately in communication with the exit portal of the
burning chamber is often burnt as a consequence of the high temperature of the
smoke reducing the ability of the area to filter the smoke. Eventually the
pipe or
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holder must be replaced because of the damaged area adjacent the burning
chamber.
These problems are an ongoing source of frustration to smokers as effective
filtering of the smoke is reduced. Where filtering is reduced over a period of
time,
the smoker's health can be adversely affected. As well, the regular ongoing
requirement to clean the pipes and holders before a person can enjoy having a
smoke often turns the person away from using such smoking devices.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative smoking
filter
means that overcomes at least in part one or more of the abovementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a disposable receiving
member for use within a pipe or holder to receive smoke from a burning chamber
or
area and collect waste from passaged smoke and other end products.
The disposable receiving member for use within a pipe or holder to receive
smoke from a burning chamber or area and collect waste from passaged smoke and
other end products is preferably made of ceramics, metal or a combination
thereof to
withstand the high temperatures associated with the burning chamber and smoke.
In one preferred embodiment, the disposable receiving member has at least
an inner ceramic layer for absorbing moisture and some exudates. In an
alternate
embodiment, the disposable shank is made of timber and a charcoal inner liner
is
formed after the timber has been burnt from the passaging hot smoke.
I
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Preferably the receiving member can be made of any suitable material
including ceramic, clay, wood, glass, heat resistant plastics material and
metal or
combinations thereof.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a disposable
receiving member for use within a pipe or holder and has a carbon filter,
paper or
gauze filter or other similar filter means for removing particulates from the
smoke.
Other filter material include filter materials, balsa wood, silica gel
crystals, fibrous
material, charcoal pellets and absorbent paper.
In another embodiment the disposable receiving member is shaped to trap
moisture and exudate within the receiving member by means of a liquid trap
within
the passage through which smokes passes from the burning chamber to the stem.
The receiving member is preferably shaped to resist burning from the high
temperatures and embers generated from the burning product.
The receiving member is preferably made of temperature resistant materials
to prevent the burning of the receiving member from high temperatures
associated
with the burning chamber and smoke and the production of embers from the
burning
product. In a preferred embodiment, the receiving member has an outer metal
casing and an inner ceramic layer.
Preferably the receiving member has a passage that allows smoke to enter at
or adjacent to one end of the receiving member and exit adjacent another end
of the
receiving member.
In one preferred embodiment the receiving member is shaped so that its outer
surface facilitates heat exchange. In one preferred form the outer surface of
the
receiving member has one or more laterally extending fins. In one preferred
form the
outer surface of the receiving member is elongate and may include laterally
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extending fins. The ability to lower the temperature of smoke passing through
the
receiving member increases the amount of waste cooled to solid or liquid form
that
may be trapped by the receiving member.
The disposable receiving member may be inserted as part of a bowl member
or be part of a stem portion of a pipe or cigarette holder.
The disposable receiving member may be retrofitted to suitable pipes and
cigarette holders.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a disposable
receiving member and a stem portion for use within a pipe or holder, said
receiving
member and filter means forms a single disposable unit for filtering smoke.
The filter
means is preferably a filter housing and filter insertable within the stem
portion of a
pipe or cigarette holder.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a device for
smoking including
a bowl member having a burning chamber with an exit portal for providing an
outlet for smoke;
a disposable receiving member in communication with the exit portal of the
burning chamber, said receiving member is adapted to collect waste from
passaged
smoke and other end products from a burning product in the burning chamber;
a stem portion in communication with the receiving member; wherein in use
smoke passes from the burning chamber through the receiving member and to the
stem portion.
Said disposable receiving member preferably serves as a trap to collect
moisture, exudates and or particulate matter from the burnt product.
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Said disposable receiving member preferably comprises of ceramics, metal or
a combination thereof to withstand the high temperatures associated with the
burning chamber and smoke. In one preferred embodiment, the disposable
receiving member has at least an inner ceramic layer for absorbing moisture
and
5 some exudates. In other embodiments, the disposable receiving member has a
carbon filter, paper or gauze filter or other similar filter means for
removing
particulates from the smoke. In another embodiment the disposable receiving
member is shaped to trap moisture and exudate within the receiving member by
means of a liquid trap within the passage through which smokes passes from the
burning chamber to the stem.
The receiving member is preferably shaped to resist burning from the high
temperatures and embers generated from the burning product. The receiving
member is preferably made of temperature resistant materials to prevent the
burning
of the receiving member from high temperatures associated with the burning
chamber and smoke and the production of embers from the burning product. In a
preferred embodiment, the receiving member has an outer metal casing and an
inner
ceramic layer. In a preferred embodiment the receiving member has a passage
that
allows smoke to enter at or adjacent to one end of the receiving member and
exit
adjacent another end of the receiving member.
The disposable receiving member may be inserted as part of the bowl
member. The disposable receiving member may alternatively be part of the stem
portion.
In one preferred form the receiving member is shaped so that its outer surface
facilitates heat exchange. In one preferred embodiment the outer surface of
the
receiving member has one or more laterally extending fins. In one preferred
form the
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outer surface of the receiving member is elongate and may include laterally
extending fins. The ability to lower the temperature of smoke passing through
the
receiving member increases the amount of waste cooled to solid or liquid form
that
may be trapped by the receiving member.
The bowl member, receiving member and stem portion may be a single
disposable unit. Preferably the device is an assembly of components. More
preferably the device includes a bowl, stem portion and cover and a disposable
shank trap and filter. The shank trap and filter may be formed as a single
unit or are
separate components.
The term product includes tobacco and any other substance that may be
suitably smoked.
The device may also include an absorbent filter means within the disposable
receiving member. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes an absorbent
acetate paper filter within the disposable receiving member.
Alternately or in addition the stem portion may include suitable filter means.
The stem portion preferably includes a mouth portion from which a smoker can
inhale the smoke. Preferably there is an absorbent paper filter within the
stem
portion to filter particulate matter from the smoke.
The absorbent paper filter is preferably elongate with fluted outer surface to
provide increased surface area for filtering purposes. The absorbent paper
filter is
preferably removable for disposal or cleaning purposes. The absorbent paper
filter
is more preferably disposable.
The mouth portion may include a filter means to further filter the smoke.
The bowl member is preferably in the shape of a conventional pipe bowl that
is engageable with the receiving member and stem portion so that there is a
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passage from the burning chamber through the exit portal receiving member and
stem portion. In another embodiment the bowl member is preferably shaped to
receive a stick shaped smoking product such as a butt-less cigarette. In this
way the
device serves as a holder and though the product may be burnt outside of the
bowl
member, smoke nevertheless passes through the bowl member.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a device for
smoking including
a bowl member having a burning chamber with an exit portal for providing an
outlet for smoke;
a disposable receiving member for use within a pipe or holder to receive
smoke from a burning chamber or area and collect waste from passaged smoke and
other end products and made of ceramics, metal or a combination thereof to
withstand the high temperatures associated with the burning chamber and smoke,
said disposable receiving member is adapted to filter moisture, exudates and
or
particulate matter from the burnt product; and
a stem portion in communication with the receiving member; wherein in use
smoke passes from the burning chamber through the receiving member and to the
stem portion.
In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a device for
smoking including
a bowl member having a burning chamber with an exit portal for providing an
outlet for smoke;
a disposable receiving member for use within a pipe or holder to receive
smoke from a burning chamber or area and collect waste from passaged smoke and
other end products and made of ceramics, metal or a combination thereof to
w ={1 ..{ x r F 11 CA 02487706 2004-11-12
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withstand the high temperatures associated with the burning chamber and smoke,
said disposable receiving member substantially serves as a trap to collect
moisture,
exudates and or particulate matter from the burnt product; and
a stem portion in communication with the receiving member; wherein in use
smoke passes from the burning chamber through the receiving member and to the
stem portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put
into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the assembly of a first embodiment of the
smoking device wherein (a) shows stem and bowl, (b) shows filter housing and
(c)
shows shank trap;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of the smoking
device wherein (a) shows assembled device, (b) shows filter housing and (c)
shows
shank trap;
Figure 3 is an alternate view of the second embodiment of the smoking devise
wherein (a) and (b) show assembled device;
Figure 4 is a third embodiment of the smoking device wherein the bowl is
interchangeable and wherein (a) shows an assembled device, (b) shows stem and
bowl and (c) shows bowl;
Figure 5 is a fourth embodiment of the smoking device wherein the bowl can
be screwed into position and wherein (a) shows bowl fixed to stem, (b) shows
bowl
and (c) shows filter housing;
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Figure 6 (a) and (b) are diagrammatic views of another embodiment of the
invention showing a shank trap;
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a gasket for the shank trap;
Figure 8 (a) and (b) are diagrammatic views of the filter housing and
mouthpiece;
Figure 9 (a) and (b) are diagrammatic views of the filter housing and
mouthpiece;
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the filter housing with a paper filter;
Figure 11 is an exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the device; and
Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of a shank trap for a cigarette holder where
(a) is a cap, (b) is a filter portion and (c) shows an end view of the filter
portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to figure 1, there is shown an unassembled smoking device
including a receiving member in the form of a shank trap 11, a filter housing
12 with
a mouth piece 13, stem 14 and bowl 15. The shank trap 11 is attachable to the
filter
housing 12 at the opposing end to the mouth piece 13. The filter housing 12
has an
acetate paper filter 16 (shown in phantom) locatable within the housing 12.
The filter
housing 12 with the shank trap 11, when assembled forms a filter assembly
locatable
within stem 14. The bowl 15 is locatable on the stem 14. When assembled, the
burning chamber of the bowl 15 is in communication with the shank trap 11 and
the
filter housing 12. Smoke from the burning chamber passes into the shank trap
11 as
the smoker draws on the mouthpiece 13, the smoke then passes through the paper
acetate filter 16 within the filter housing 12 and is inhaled by the smoker.
The shank
trap 11 is shaped to collect moisture, tar and other end products while
allowing
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smoke to pass through pores 18 in the distal end 19 of the shank trap 11. The
acetate paper filter 16 serves to further filter particulates from the smoke
before it is
inhaled by the smoker. As the smoke passes from the burning chamber, it cools
and
some waste changes to particulate or liquid form. Some of the particulate and
liquid
5 waste is trapped within the shank trap 11. The shank trap 11 and the acetate
paper
filter 16 are disposable and can be easily replaced with a new shank trap and
filter
respectively. The shank trap 11 is preferably made of metal such as brass or
aluminium with an inner ceramic lining.
With reference to figures 2 and 3, there is shown a second embodiment of a
10 smoking device 20. The smoking device 20 has a bowl 21, stem 22, mouth
piece 23
and shank trap 24. The stem 22 includes two paper filters 25 (shown in
phantom).
The device 20 shown in figures 2 and 3 is very similar to the device shown in
figure 1
except with the device 20 the filter housing is part of the stem 22.
In figure 4 there is shown a smoking device 40 wherein the bowl 41 can be
removed and replaced by engaging and sliding into position on the stem 42. The
bowl 41 has engagement members 43 with inclined sides for sliding along a
channel
44 within the stem 42.
In figure 5, there is shown an exploded view of a further embodiment of a
smoking device 50 where the bowl 51 is removable by means of a screw thread
52.
The bowl 51 can be fixed to the stem 53 within a complementary thread in the
stem
53. The smoking device 50 has a filter means including a shank trap 54 and
paper
filter 55.
In figure 6 there is shown a preferred embodiment of the shank trap 60. The
shank trap 60 is composed of ceramic material able to absorb moisture and
other
smoke end products. The shank trap 60 has a bowl end 61 adapted to be fitted
to a
u
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bowl (not shown). The bowl end 61 has an opening 62 which is in communication
with the bowl and burning chamber exit portal (not shown) when fitted. To seal
the
fitting of the shank trap 60 to the bowl, a rubber gasket 63 (Figure 7) is
fitted around
the periphery of the opening 62 within the surrounding recessed portion 64.
The opening 62 is an entry into internal passage 65. Passage 65 has an
outlet 66 at the opposing end to opening 62. The outlet 66 has a wide mouth
portion
67 to accommodate positioning of a paper filter within the pipe or holder.
The shank trap 60 has an outer metal casing 68 for providing heat resistance
and a molded ceramic core 69 for withstanding high temperatures and absorbing
moisture and other liquid and gaseous end products.
The stem 80 shown in figures 8 and 9 have a filter housing 81 and
mouthpiece 82. The embodiment shown in figure 8 shows the mouthpiece 82 having
a recessed end 84 that fits within housing end 83. Alternately, the mouthpiece
82
can friction fit over one end 85 of the housing 81 (shown in figure 9).
Within filter housing 81 there is positioned an acetate paper filter 82 which
has
a substantially cylindrical form with a fluted outer surface 88 to provide an
increased
surface area for the filtering of smoke.
The shank trap 60 can fit substantially within the end 89 of the filter
housing
81 that is opposed to the mouthpiece 82. The shank trap 60 is then fitted to
the bowl
(not shown). The filter housing 81 is then friction-fitted to the bowl,
thereby encasing
the shank trap 60 in an operational position.
After use or when the pipe requires cleaning, the shank trap 60 and filter 82
is
replaced and the used parts disposed. In this way efficient filtering is
maintained and
the frustration of cleaning is avoided by using replacement parts.
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In figure 11, a further embodiment of the smoking device is shown with bowl
110, shank trap 111, filter housing 112 with mouth piece 113, stem 114 and
stem
cover 115.
In a further embodiment shown In Figure 12, a shank trap 90 can be fitted
(and retrofitted) Into a cigarette holder 91. The shank trap 90 has a U-shaped
bowl
92 for holding the cigarette in position so that smoke can be drawn through
the
cigarette and the shank trap 90 as the smoker Inhales. While at least the
initial
burning does not occur in the bowl 92, the bowl 92 Is required to hold the
cigarette
and enable smoke to be drawn through to the mouthpiece. When fitted to the
cigarette holder, the shank trap 90 has a filter portion 93 in the form of a
ceramic net
94 through which smoke passes and out through a covering cap 95 which is
locatable over the net 94. The covering cap 95 has a centrally located opening
97.
Smoke passes over the ceramic surfaces of the net 94 which filters the
moisture and
gaseous end products and then collects in chamber 96 formed by the cap 95 and
net
94. The collected smoke has cooled by the time It reaches the chamber 96 and
some smoke end products change phase to liquid and particulate matter and are
trapped in the chamber 96. Only smoke passes out of opening 97 In the cap 95.
Smoke can then pass through the mouth piece of the cigarette holder.
The fitting of the shank trap to a cigarette holder provides a means of
filtering
the smoke from a cigarette without using a conventional cigarette butt. The
shank
trap Is furthermore disposable and can be replaced with a new shank trap when
cleaning 18 required.
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ADVANTAGES
The present embodiment of the shank trap provides the advantage that it is
substantially heat resistant, can absorb moisture and other smoke end products
and
in some embodiments trap liquid waste and particulate end products and is
disposable avoiding the need to clean pipes and holders. In this way efficient
filtering of smoke can be maintained without ongoing cleaning problems.
Furthermore efficient use of tobacco can be achieved. With the shank trap for
the
cigarette holder, the entire cigarette can be smoked thus saving on costs and
wasting less tobacco. Furthermore there is no need for cigarette butts.
VARIATIONS
It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way
of
illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and
variations
thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall
within
the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.
Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise"
and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not
intended to
exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.
