US3552399A

US3552399A - Air-smoke homogenizing filter

Info

Publication number: US3552399A
Application number: US830188A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred Andreas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-09-15
Filing date: 1969-05-19
Publication date: 1971-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-05

Abstract

An air-smoke homogenizing filter having longitudinal channels with a mouth end and an end opposite to the mouth end with a closed central portion adapted for abutting relationship with the end of the tobacco or the mouthpiece of a cigarette. A plurality of spaced longitudinal channels is disposed around a central axis channel and may be of a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the center axis channel. A plurality of transverse channels are provided which pass through the filter with the outward extremities thereof communicating with the ambient air and the inward extremities communicating with the central and/or the longitudinal channels, the diameter of the transverse and longitudinal channels preferably being less than that of the central channel. The homogenizing filter may be positioned at the smoke discharge end of the column of tobacco making up the cigarette and may have a conventional filter placed before or after the homogenizing filter and may be used with or without a hollow mouthpiece. The filter may be integrally made or made up of interfiltering constituent elements. Likewise the filter can be positioned in a cigarette holder.

Description

United States Patent Alfred Andreas 141 Lexington Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016 [21] Appl. No. 830,188

[22] Filed May 19,1969

[45 Patented Jan. 5, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 667,955, Sept. 15, 1967, now abandoned.

[72] inventor [54] AIR-SMOKE HOMOGENIZING FILTER 9 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

2,337,574 12/1943 SloanetaL. ....(13l/261BUX) 2,695,617 11/1954 Wamberg... l3l/10.5 3,043,314 7/1962 Bartolmeo.. 13 l/l0.5X 3,045,680 7/1962 Smith 13 l/l0.5 3,389,705 6/1968 Levavi.. l3l/10.5 3,409,019 ll/l968 Chun l31/9X FOREIGN PATENTS 839,706 6/1960 Great Britain l3l/26l(B) 577,635 6/1958 ltaly 131/9 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Tennes l. Erstad ABSTRACT: An air-smoke homogenizing filter having longitudinal channels with a mouth and and an end opposite to the mouth end with a closed central portion adapted for abutting relationship with the end of the tobacco or the mouthpiece of a cigarette. A plurality of spaced longitudinal channels is disposed around a central axis channel and may be of a smaller cross-sectional dimension than the center axis channel. A plurality of transverse channels are provided which pass through the filter with the outward extremities thereof communicating with the ambient air and the inward extremities communicating with the central and/or the longitudinal channels, the diameter of the transverse and longitudinal channels preferably being less than that of the central channel. The homogenizing filter may be positioned at the smoke discharge end of the column of tobacco making up the cigarette and may have a conventional filter placed before or after the homogenizing filter and may be used with or without a hollow mouthpiece. The filter may be integrally made or made up of interfiltering constituent elements. Likewise the filter can be positioned in a cigarette holder.

PATENTEDJAN 51911 P 3.552.399

sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOR ATrokA/EY ATENTE JAN 51971 3.552.399

SHEET 3 0F 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY AIR-SMOKE IIOMOGENIZING FILTER This application is a continuation-in-part of 'my previous application, Ser. No. 664,955the filed $ept. 15, 1967, now abandoned, in the name of Alfred Andreas as inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION These patents describe structures which do not make possible the uniform mixing of tobacco smoke with air through the entire cross section or diameter of the smoke discharge and of the filter. They thus neither appreciably and uniformlydilute the smoke with air nor in most cases do they separate out nicotine and other products of tobacco combustion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of this invention is -to provide a novel filter based on an air-smoke mixing and homogenizing principle not ture of the smoke drawn throughthe cigarette before reaching the smokers mouth is lowered'and the nicotine content and other objectionable products of tobacco combustion are separated and diluted while at the same time not increasing the draw resistance through'the cigarette. This results in a cooler, lighter smoke and the end of the cigarette filte'r'has a lighter and more uniform discoloration because of the dilution andhomogenization. An equally important object of my invention is to provide a filter for cigarettes and the like, which is capable of diluting gases such as carbon monoxide before they reach the smokers mouth.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved filter of the character described, which can also serve as a cigarette holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understood and the objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, wherein typical embodiments of the invention are described in conjunction with thedrawing, wherein like reference numbers indicate like parts, and wherein FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sideview of one embodiment of my novel construction.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sideview of my filter.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the entrance end of my filter.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the discharge end of my filter.

FIG. 5 is a section through line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a filter according to the invention modified to serve also as a cigarette holder.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS My improved filter 2 may be of any suitable material, such as cellulose paper, pith wood, balsa wood, metal or molded of plastic foamed or not, or other suitablematerial, as long as permanent perforations may be provided therein. It is positioned at the rear end of column of a cut cigarette length 1. It may be used with or without standard filters and mouthpieces. I have shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 how a standard filter 3 and mouthpiece 3a may be positioned at the discharge end of myimproved filter. A standard filter could also, if preferred, be positioned in front of my homogenizing improved filter inbetween my improved filter and the cut length 1 of cigarette rod. Likewise, my composite cigarette could have a hollow mouthpiece 3a and/or a conventional filter at the terminal end of the composite cigarette.

As usual, the tobacco 8 is contained in a paper tube 1. The filter 2 has a central channel 6 which has a stop or blockage in front of the entrance end of the filter 2. Surrounding the central channel 6 is a plurality of axially extending longitudinal channels 5.

A plurality of

transverse channels

4a and 4b passes through the filter 2 and are ginnegted wigllh fl imdimllannels 5 ne] 6 is of such size that when the air and the smoke from

radial channels

4a, 4b and 5 mix, there occurs a dilution and mixture of the smoke, including carbon monoxide, as well as a cooling homogenization of air and smoke. Such cooling facilitates the deposit of nicotine and other materials within the filter, thereby lessening the harmful effects of smoking, the smoke reaching the smokers mouth through exit 7 being cooler and milder. Anjirnportant' feature of the invention is that the size and the number of .the channels as well as the diameter of their orifices can be so sized as to provide a smoke FIG. 7 is an end view ofthe mouth end of athree piece fully assembled filter according to the invention.

FIG.8 is a side view of the filter shown in FIG. 7 wherein the filter assembly elements have been fully pushed together.

FIG. 8A is aside view of the filter shown in FIG. 7 wherein the component parts of the filter are completely assembled.

FIG. 8B is a side view of the filter shown in FIG. 7 in which part of theouter tubeis broken away to show the inner inserts;-

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken .along line 9-9 of FIG.

FIG.

FIG. 8.

FIG. FIG. 8.

FIG. I2 is a cross-sectional view'taken along line 12-12 of.

FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal side view of a cigarette holderequipped with a filter according to the invention.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of II is a cross-sectional view taken alongline 11-11 of which will taste as mild as desired. An advantageous material .for making the filter will be plastic which will not melt at the use temperatures, such as polyethylene, acetal resins, acrylic resins, nylon, polypropylene.

Advantageously, the diameter of the central channel of the filter is greater than that of the other channels. Thusthe dimension of the central channel suitably can range from 0.0410 to 0.0595 inches, while that of channels 4a'and 4b ranges from 0.0380 to 0.0420 inches and that of channels 5 ranges from 0.0225 to 0.0310 inches. In one embodiment of the invention, the diameter of channel six was 0.0420 inches; that of

channels

4a and 4b was 0.040 in'ches and that of channel 5 was 0.025 inches.

- It will occur to those skilled in the'art that there are-many ways of securing theclaimed filter to a cigaretteor to any other smoking article, such ways having already been devised for securing conventional filters or mouthpieces to columns of tobacco. Accordingly, it is not necessary to dwell to any extent on this technology. By way of example, however, it will be seen that a uniting band maybe used to secure the filter to a column of tobacco, the band being'adhererit and having been preperforated with perforations preferably aligned with the

transverse passageways

4a and 4b of the filter. Similarly, a filter containing only axial passages 6 and 5 can be inserted in a cigarette paper tube and

transverse channels

4a and 4b may be punched through the paper and the filter. Also, the filter may have a cigarette-receiving end of enlarged diameter in which the cigarette is received.

A readily made embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 7-13. It consists of an outer tube 20 into which is telescopically inserted an intermediate tube 22 shown in FIGS. and 12. Intermediate tube 22 has inner and outer longitudinal grooves 5 which are semicircular and constitute the previously mentioned longitudinal passageways once the filter is assembled by the intersection of the innermost tube 24 into the intermediate tube 22 and this subassembly is inserted into the outer tube 20. The outer periphery of the inner tube 24 cooperates with the inner grooves of intermediate tube 22. The outer grooves of intermediate tube 22 cooperate with the inner periphery of outer tube 20. It will readily be appreciated that the three tubes can be separately made by injection moulding or by extrusion or can be molded in a mould in which case the

radial passages

4a and 4b can be integrally made at the time of extrusion.

Passages

4a and 4b of inner, intermediate and outer tube can also be made alternatively by punching through the plastic or other constituent material after the 3 tubes have been assembled. Central channel 6 in inner tube 24 is closed in front of the entrance end of the assembled filter as in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 8 l have shown the filter subelements partially assembled and in FIG. 8A and 8B 1 have shown the filter completely assembled. In FIG. 88 part of the outer tube is broken away to show the inner tube.

It will be noted that the filter of the invention can be used with any smoking article such as a pipe or a cigarette holder.

Thus, in FIG. 14, the filter 2 is shown in a cigarette holder 26. Here, the filter may be made as part of the holder or may be inserted in a chamber provided in the holder.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the filter 2 is made with a cigarette-receiving end 16 whose inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of a cigarette. As in all embodiments of the invention, a conventional filter 3 may be positioned next to my improved filter before mouthpiece 3a but this is optional.

After my improved filter is joined to the end of a cigarette and used by the smoker, it can be either reused or thrown away at the discretion of the smoker.

My improved filter can be positioned in an empty chamber of a cigarette holder to receive smoke from a cigarette being smoked. For this use, the filter is made of permanent material such as plastic or light metal which can be readily cleaned of deposits with cleaning or lighter fluid.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

I claim:

1. Filter for homogenizing air and smoke at the mouth end of a smoking article, said homogenizing filter having a center axial passageway and a plurality of longitudinal passageways surrounding and extending parallel to the axis thereof, transverse passageways extending through said filter and having extremities connecting with said passageways and with the ambient air for diluting and homogenizing the air and smoke drawn through said smoking article and through said transverse passageways, said center axial passageway having an impervious obstruction at the end which abuts said smoking article to cause the smoke drawn from said article to move into said longitudinal air passageways surrounding said center axial passageway.

2. A filter according to claim I wherein some of said transverse passageways connect directly -with said center axial passageway and other transverse passageways connect the am-' I bient air with said passageways extending parallel to said center axial passageway.

3. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal surrounding passageways are individual channels and said central axial passageway is an individual passageway of larger cross section than said individual surrounding passageways.

4. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said center axial passageway has a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0410 and 0.0595 inches.

5. A filter according to claim I wherein said surrounding passageways have a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0380 and 0.0420 inches.

6. A filter according to claim I wherein said transverse passageways have a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0380 and 0.0420 inches.

7. A filter according to claim I wherein said center axial passageway has a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.0420 inches, the longitudinal passageways having a crosssectional diameter of approximately 0.025 inches, and the transverse passageways having a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.040 inches.

8. A filter according to claim I in combination with a cigarette holder.

9. A filter according to claim 1 consisting of a first outer tube, a second intermediate tube in said outer tube having radial grooves on the outer periphery thereof defining some of said longitudinal passageways in conjunction with said outer tube, said second tube having also internal grooves, a central tube closed at one end fitting in said second tube, the outer periphery of said central tube defining the other of said longitudinal passageways in conjunction with said internal grooves, said central tube having an end thereof closed to form said impervious obstruction.

Claims

2. A filter according to claim 1 wherein some of said transverse passageways connect directly with said center axial passageway and other transverse passageways connect the ambient air with said passageways extending parallel to said center axial passageway.
3. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal surrounding passageways are individual channels and said central axial passageway is an individual passageway of larger cross section than said individual surrounding passageways.
4. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said center axial passageway has a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0410 and 0.0595 inches.
5. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said surrounding passageways have a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0380 and 0.0420 inches.
6. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said transverse passageways have a cross-sectional diameter ranging between 0.0380 and 0.0420 inches.
7. A filter according to claim 1 wherein said center axial passageway has a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.0420 inches, the longitudinal passageways having a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.025 inches, and the transverse passageways having a cross-sectional diameter of approximately 0.040 inches.
8. A filter according to claim 1 in combination with a cigarette holder.
9. A filter according to claim 1 consisting of a first outer tube, a second intermediate tube in said outer tube having radial grooves on the outer periphery thereof defining some of said longitudinal passageways in conjunction with said outer tube, said second tube having also internal grooves, a central tube closed at one end fitting in said second tube, the outer periphery of said central tube defining the other of said longitudinal passageways in conjunction with said internal grooves, said central tube having an end thereof closed to form said impervious obstruction.