US20030029465A1

US20030029465A1 - Artificial cigar device

Info

Publication number: US20030029465A1
Application number: US10/180,356
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard Strickland; Linda Strickland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-27
Filing date: 2002-06-26
Publication date: 2003-02-13

Abstract

An Artificial Cigar Device designed and configured to have the appearance and feel of an actual cigar, but actually is artificial, contains no chemicals, and acts as a pacifier for individuals wishing to quit smoking. The Artificial Cigar Device is structured and configured to depict an actual cigar and is fabricated from a soft, chewable, washable and durable material such as medical grade liquid silicone rubber comprised of an approximate range of forty-sixty durometer with a pleasant scent. Said scent ingredients such as vanilla or the like of said non-toxic semi-rigid polymeric material for the artificial cigar shaft member are also absorbed into said absorbent material. The Artificial Cigar Device is also comprised of a cylindrical band affixed around the front end of said shaft member thereby simulating the appearance of an actual cigar wrap. In addition, each Artificial Cigar Device will be packaged in it's own reusable container for storage. The Artificial Cigar Device may be also chewed and washed with warm soapy water and rinsed thoroughly prior to reuse and is dishwasher safe.

Description

This is a File Wrapper Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/472,457 filed on Dec. 27, 1999.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an artificial cigar device and more particularly to an artificial cigar device designed and configured to have the appearance and feel of an actual cigar, but actually is artificial, contains no chemicals, and acts as a pacifier for individuals wishing to quit smoking.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has long been recognized that smoking is an addicting habit which has proven to be dangerous to one's health. Studies have consistently shown that smoking not only adversely affects the individual, but can also be potentially dangerous to those around the particular smoker. For various health reasons addicted smokers have sought methods to successfully quit “The Habit”.

About forty-seven million Americans now smoke cigarettes or cigars, and it is estimated that roughly fifty percent of these smokers will eventually die from smoking related causes at a rate of nearly 500,000 a year. Studies have indicated that threequarters of these smokers want to quit, but only an estimated five percent are able to quit on their own. Cigars are as deadly as cigarettes to the smoker. Regular cigar smoking has been well documented to cause an increased risk of mouth, throat and lung cancer.

Many apparatus exist to aid the smoker in his quests for quitting the smoking habit. One particular device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,979 issued to Chase. In this patent there is disclosed an elongated tube, having a substantially same shape as a cigarette, and including one or more lumens. At least one lumen contains a mixture to reduce the desire for tobacco, and hence includes a mixture of nicotine, or the like, an edible carrier substance, and a flavoring substance. This device is designed and configured to allow the smoker to chew on the product. The lumen is an edible substance, yet difficult to chew to ultimately discourage the smoker from smoking a cigarette. This device still allows for the user to be exposed to some amount of nicotine, which has been proven to be addictive and can be dangerous to his health.

Yet another device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,544 issued to Mascarelli et al. In this patent there is disclosed a cigarette substance having an edible end and containing a small amount of nicotine to satisfy the smoker. This device uses the same approach as Chase and therefore, does not address the user's true desire to quit the habit, but still allows the individual to be exposed to nicotine, a substance known for being potentially hamful and addictive.

As evidenced by the above patents, various apparatuses exist to aid the user in quitting the smoking habit. None of these efforts, however, provide the benefits intended with the present invention. Additionally, prior techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements as disclosed and claimed herein.

Accordingly, it is seen that there exists a need to provide for a product which will aid in the process of terminating the process of smoking. Such a device should not contain any hazardous substances.

As will be seen, the present invention achieves its intended purposes, objectives and advantages, by accomplishing the needs as identified above, through a new, useful and unobvious combination of component elements, which is simple to use, with the utilization of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, assemble, test and by employing only readily available materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for an artificial cigar device designed and configured to simulate an actual cigar. The present invention is designed to act as a pacifier for individuals wishing to quit smoking, without providing the chemicals or byproducts generally associated with a conventional cigar.

The artificial cigar of the present invention is an elongated shaft having a front end and a rear end. The exterior of the shaft is designed, structured and configured to depict an actual cigar. Hence, the artificial cigar of the present invention will be substantially the same shape, size and color of conventional cigars.

To avoid any dangerous chemicals, the artificial cigar is fabricated from a soft, washable and durable material such as medical grade liquid silicone rubber with a pleasant vanilla scent. This will provide for the final product to act as a pacifier for the user, rather than providing for a chemical stimulation.

Hence, the present invention renders an artificial cigar, which will provide the manual as well as the oral stimulation to the user. This manual stimulation will enable the individual to use the artificial cigar as if it were an actual cigar. Since this device is fabricated from medical grade liquid silicone rubber, it is not harmful to the user and will not cause irritation nor be damaging to one's health.

In an optional embodiment, this device can be depicted as a cigar, so as to allow for one end to be chewed. Since, the final product is made from a resilient material, it will not be damaged, hence, providing a final product which is reusable.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide for an artificial cigar which will assist an individual trying to quit smoking and that is free from nicotine or any derivative thereof, so as to provide for a final product which is free from any type of addicting or hazardous substance.

Another object of the present invention, to be specifically enumerated herein, is to provide an artificial cigar in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that would be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

Although there have been many inventions related to artificial cigars, none of these inventions have been designed to be free from nicotine or the like, and none will successfully deter an individual from smoking, and none are reliable enough to become commonly used, as a smoking alternative. The present invention meets the requirements of a simplified design, compact size, low initial cost, low operating cost, durable and washable, and requires only a minimal amount of training to successfully employ the invention.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and application of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial cigar of the present invention. [0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The instant invention is an artificial cigar designed and configured to have the appearance and feel of an actual cigar, but contains no chemicals and is designed to act as a pacifier for smokers who wish to quit the habit. [0022]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial cigar of the present invention showing the inedible, [0023] elongated shaft 10 having a front end 11 and a rear end 12. The exterior of the shaft 10 is designed, structured and configured to depict an actual cigar. Thus, the cigar of the present invention will be substantially the same shape and size as that of conventional cigars.
The artificial cigar of the present invention showing the inedible, [0024] elongated shaft 10 is fabricated from a soft, washable and durable, high tear, transparent medical grade liquid silicone rubber material comprised of an approximate range of forty-sixty durometer and a vanilla or coconut, strawberry, chocolate, peach, cherry, raspberry, grape and mint scent. Said scent ingredients of said non-toxic semi-rigid polymeric material for the shaft member are also absorbed into said absorbent material.
The artificial cigar of the present invention is also comprised of a cylindrical band affixed around the front end of said shaft member thereby simulating the appearance of an actual cigar wrap. In addition, each artificial cigar of the present invention will be packaged in it's own reusable container for storage when not in use. The instant invention may also be washed with warm soapy water and rinsed thoroughly prior to reuse and is dishwasher safe. [0025]
A method of fabricating the present invention of a range of forty-sixty durometer, transparent, high tear liquid silicone rubber comprising the following steps of vulcanized by mixing part A with part B in a ratio of 1:1 with the application of heat. Cure initiation is exhibited at 118° C. [0026]
The artificial cigar of the present invention features a color which mimics the color of an actual cigar and also features said scents as discussed above and is therefore comprised of: [0027] Titanium Dioxide 10 mg/M3 to 15 mg/M3, Carbon Black 3.5 mg/M3 to 3.5 mg/M3, Red Iron Dioxide 5 mg/M3 to 5 mg/M3, Yellow Iron Dioxide 10 mg/M3 to 15 mg/M3, Vanillin 97+%, and Divinyl Silicone Fluid.
The foregoing description and drawings illustrate a number of preferred embodiments of this invention. As is apparent to one skilled in the art, various changes may be made in the configurations, sizes and arrangements of the components illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the specific illustrations herein above are intended only as illustrative of an inventor's concept, and not intended as delineating its scope. [0028]

Claims

I claim:

1. A simulated cigar anti-smoking device for non-burning use which does not depend on the use of oxygen or the use of mouth-operated valve assembly for dispensing oxygen, or the use of tobacco flavor and is not a toy nor does it have the open end surface of a toy cigar.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior of said shaft member is designed, structured and configured to have the same size, shape, color and feel of a cigar but contains no chemicals so as to simulate the appearance of a conventional cigar.

3. The simulated cigar anti-smoking device of claim 1, wherein said device excludes a closure at the front end of said device to facilitate the charging of a container with powdered material and excludes the use of powdered material.

4. The simulated cigar anti-smoking device of claim 1, wherein said non-toxic semi-ridgid polymeric material for the shaft member is selected from the group consisting essentially of:

a soft, washable and durable medical grade liquid silicone rubber comprised of an approximate range of forty-sixty durometer, transparent, high tear, liquid silicon rubber.

5. The simulated cigar anti-smoking device of claim 1, wherein said scent ingredients of said non-toxic semi-rigid polymeric material for the shaft member are also absorbent material.

6. The group consisting of claim 3, wherein said scent ingredients are selected from the group consisting of;

vanilla, or coconut, strawberry, chocolate, peach, cherry, raspberry, grape and mint scent.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising,

A cylindrical band affixed around the front end of said shaft member, said band being adapted to simulate the appearance of a cigar wrap.

8. The device of claim 5, further comprising;

A feature of said shaft member which is chewable and washable as well as dish washer safe.

9. A simulated cigar container device comprising an individual package with a sealed plug type tube featuring a printed label on said container.

10. A method of fabricating forty-sixty durometer, transparent high tear liquid silicone rubber comprising the steps of;

Vulcanized by mixing part A with part B in a ratio of 1:1 with the application of heat. Cure initiation is exhibited at 118° C.

11. The method as in claim 9 wherein said scent and said coloring ingredients of said nontoxic semiridgid liquid silicone rubber for the shaft member are also absorbed into said absorbent liquid silicone rubber consisting essentially of Titanium Dioxide comprising about 10 mg/M3 to 15 mg/M3;

and Carbon Black 3.5 mg/M3;

Red Iron Oxide 5 mg/M3;

Yellow Iron Oxide 10 mg/M3 to 15 mg/M3;

Vanilla 97+%

Divinyl Silicone Fluid.