AU2006201296A1

AU2006201296A1 - Tobacco Smoking Apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2006201296A1
Application number: AU2006201296A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Victor Ree
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2006-03-28
Publication date: 2006-10-19

Description

28.Mar. 2006 19:12 Wa lington-Dum er Sydney No 477 B P 3 P/00/009 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: TOBACCO SMOKING APPARATUS The invention is described in the following statement together with the best method of performing it known to us: Our Reference: 062004 COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:12 Wal I ngton-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 4 2 0 0 C' TOBACCO SMOKING APPARTUS The present invention relates to apparatus and method 00 for filtering toxic compounds of tobacco smoke and, more cN particularly for reducing the tar content of smoke passing Va from a tobacco to a user.

ci 0 BACKGROUND ci o It is now well known that the smoking of tobacco is 0 Ci 10 harmful to the health of both active and passive smokers, and that the agent most responsible for that harm for the smoker is the tar content of the smoke which is inhaled and, for passive smokers, the smoke that is then exhaled.

So-called low tar cigarettes have been developed, which although perhaps decreasing the danger, are still injurious to the human body and moreover, these have a concomitant reduced level of nicotine offering a lower level of satisfaction. Various filtration means, such as cork tipped cigarettes, cigarette holders and water filtration in hookah devices are known but have done little to reduce the level of tar, which ultimately finds its way into the lungs of smokers. Other forms of tobacco use, such as in "roll your own", the plugs of tobacco used in pipes and water pipes or hookah-like devices, generally provide no means of filtering tar compounds from tobacco smoke.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wallinston-Dumuer Sydney No.4778 P. -3o It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages, by reducing the tar content of inhaled tobacco smoke, whether 00 that be from a high or low nicotine tobacco.

Ni INO BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad formt of the invention, there is ciprovided a tobacco smoking apparatus comprising a o container at least partly filled with an oil-based tar attracting liquid; said container provided with a holder at an inlet end and a mouth piece at an exit end; said container further provided with a filter element interposed between said holder and said mouthpiece; said filter element comprising a body of porous solid material at least partially immersed in said tar attracting liquid, and wherein smoke from tobacco supported in said holder is drawn through said filter element and said tar attracting liquid.

Preferabl~y, said filter element is one of a selection of filter elements of different sizes and of different degrees of tar reduction.

Preferably, said tar attracting liquid is an oil.

PceEecably, said tar attracting liquid is a vegetable oil.

Preferably, said tar attracting liquid is olive oil.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by II' Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wallinston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 6 -4- 0 o Preferably, said tar attracting oil is augmented with a ci fragrant substance.

Preferably, apparatus further comprising a smoke 0 conducting member supported in an aperture in a wall of said container; said smoke conducting member extending Sfrom said aperture outwardly to an outer upper end and ci e-H inwardly to an inner lower end; said holder supported at Ci said outer upper end and said filter element supported at

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Ssaid inner lower end.

ci Preferably, said holder is one of a selection of interchangeable holders.

Preferably, one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a cigarette.

Preferably, one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a cigar.

Preferably, one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a plug of pipe tobacco.

Preferably, one of said interchangeable holders comprises a heated holder for a volume of tobacco.

Preferably, said smoke conducting member comprises an elongate tubular member; said elongate tubular member releasably supported in said aperture in said wall of said container.

Preferably, said filter element is releasably held at said inner lower end of said elongate tubular member; the COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wall inston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 7 5 0 o arrangement being such as to allow access to said filter ci element for removal and exchange.

Preferably, said elongate tubular member is provided 0 with an internal resilient sleeve at said inner lower end; said filter element retained in said resilient Ssleeve as a friction fit.

ci v- Preferably, said elongate tubular member is provided Cl with an internal thread at said inner lower end; said

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Sfilter element releasably retained in said inner lower end by mating external thread of said filter element.

Preferably, said filter element is releasably. retained in said lower end of said smoke conducting member as a snap-fit.

Preferably, said filter element is formed of porous stone.

Preferably, said filter element is formed of a pumice stone.

Preferably, said filter element is formed of a ceramic material.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a filter for removing at least a portion of suspended tar compounds from smoke passing from tobacco to the mouth of a user; said filter comprising a volume of a solid porous material at least partially immersed in an oil-based tar attracting liquid.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wall nston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 8 6 Va 0 o In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of reducing suspended tar compounds from smoke )passing from burning tobacco to a smoker by use of the 00 apparatus of any preceding claim; said method including c the steps of: Va fitting said tobacco into said holder, securing said holder to said outer upper end of 0 C] said tubular member,

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drawing said tobacco smoke through said filter C 10 element and said tar attracting liquid.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the reduction of suspended tar compounds in smoke passing from burning tobacco to a smoker by means of an oil filter; said method including the steps of: suspending a volume of a porous solid material in a bath of an oil-based tar attracting liquid, retaining said volume of porous solid material and said bath of said tar attracting liquid in a containing apparatus, provided said apparatus with a holder for said tobacco and a mouthpiece arranged such that smoke from said tobacco passes through said volume of porous material to said mouthpiece.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wallinglon-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 9 -7- BRIEF DESCRIPTION Or DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be 00 5 described with reference to the accompanying drawings Ni wherein: INO Figure 1 is an elevation view of a tobacco smoking apparatus according to preferred embodiment of the Ci invention.

VaO 01 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED ENEOD3INNTS With reference to Fig. 1, a filter element 100 of a tobacco smoking apparatus 110, is imnmersed in a tar attracting oil-based liquid 102 retained in the main body 104 of a hookah-like apparatus 110. Filter element 100 comprises a cylindrical volume of a porous ceramic, a stone such a pumice or some other porous solid material, wherein the interstices of the element retain the tar attracting liquid.

The apparatus is provided with a holder 206, which in this form of the embodiment comprises an elongate tube lOB, preferably angled upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. An interchangeable fitting 112 may be inserted at the mouth end 114 of holder 106 adapted to hold a cigarette 113, or a cigar (not shown) or plug of tobacco as for a pipe respectively by replacing fitting 112 with fittings 112A or 1123 respectively. Yet again the interchangeable fitting COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by P1 Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:13 Wallington-Dummer Sydney No-477B P. o may incorporate a heating element (not shown) as commonly used in some hookah devices, for heating a volume of tobacco.

00 Filter Element 100 is releasably retained at the lower end 2.16 of elongate tube 100 by a sleeve 120. Sleeve 220 IND may be of elastomer or some other resilient material adapted to retain filter element 100 as a light friction Clfit. Elongate tube 108 is itself retained in the body 104 o of the apparatus by a grommet 122, also of an elastomer or other suitable sealing material.

The upper end 124 of main body 104 of the apparatus 110 may be fashioned into a mouthpiece 125, or may provide connection for a flexible tube 128 and mouthpiece 130 as well known in the art of water pipe or hookah-like smoking apparatus.

Filter element 100 may be replaced as required by firstly withdrawing the elongate tube 108 from grommet 122 and pulling the element 100 from the lower end 116 of the tube. For this purpose filter element 100 may be provided with a protruding ring 126, or other graspable element.

In use, the appropriate fitting 112 or 122A or 112B, is inserted into holder 106 and retained as a friction fit or by means of mating internal and external threads. After lighting the tobacco in either a cigarette, a cigar, or-the pipe plug or some other form, suction by a user on the mouthpiece will draw smoke from the tobacco downwardly COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:14 Wa ll inston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 11 9

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0 o through passage 114 and thence upwardly after passage ci thrtough the filter element 100. The liquid-filled ct interstices of the filter element 100 maximise the contact 00 and interaction of the smoke stream with the tar attractant ci liquid, thereby significantly reducing the tar content of Sthe smoke drawn into the mouth and lungs of the user.

ci In at least one preferred form as shown in the inset 0 l of Figure 1, filter element 100 is retained in the lower Va

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o end of elongate tube 108 by mating internal thread 117 of Cl tube 108 and external thread 119. It will be appreciated that, apart from the elastomer sleeve method described above and the engaging thread method shown in Figure 2, filter element 100 may be retained in elongate tube 108 by other means, such as a snap-fit or bayonet type coupling.

Application The effectiveness of t+ the present invention is a function of the exposure of the tar laden tobacco smoke to the tar attracting liquid and the interaction between them.

To this end, the size and distribution of interstices in the porous solid material, as well as the volume of the filter, are directed to maximising this exposure and interaction. The choice of these parameters of the porous material also provide a means for adjusting the degree of tar reduction offered by the filter of the present invention. Thus the "strength" of the taste of a cigarette (or any of the other configurations of tobacco for which COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:14 Wa llinston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 12 10 0 o the present apparatus may be used) due to the tar content ci of the smoke passing to the smoker, may be adjusted to suit smoker's preferences.

OO In addition, the filter element of the invention may be offered in a graduated series, ranging from a porous IN solid with relatively large pores to allow a maximum ci e-i strength of taste, down to an element with interstices 0 which greatly reduce the tar content and thus the taste

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Spassing to the smoker. By this means of reducing both the ci addictive degree of tar and taste, the filter elements of the invention may be adapted to assist a user to gradually reduce the risk to health, and ultimately to cease smoking altogether.

As noted above, good results have been obtained using vegetable oils and, in particular olive oil. The filter of the present invention traps a significant amount of the oil-based tar produced by the burning tobacco but allows the passage of water-based nicotine with little impedance.

Thus a smoker will derive the satisfaction offered by a high tar/nicotine level tobacco through the high level of inhaled nicotine, but not be exposed to the concomitant high level of tar, as would be the case for tobacco smoke inhaled via a conventional cellulose filter.

The capture of a significant proportion of tar in the tar attracting liquid trapped in the filter element, is of course of direct benefit to the inhaling active smoker. But.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:14 Wal I inston-Dummer Sydney No.4778 P. 13 11 0 Sit is also of benefit to the passive smoker since exhaled smoke will also have a reduced tar load.

The tar attracting liquid may be augmented by a OO fragrant substance, such as a mint or menthol for example, such that as tobacco smoke is drawn through the liquid and INO filter element, it is acquires the taste of the fragrant ci e-4 substance.

CAl The above describes only some embodiments of the

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Spresent invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28

Claims

28.Mar. 2006 19:14 Wal ington-Dummer Sydney No 477 8 P 14 12 0 CLAIMS ci 1. A tobacco smoking apparatus comprising a container at least partly filled with an oil-based tar attracting 00 liquid; said container provided with a holder at an inlet end and a mouth piece at an exit end; said VO container further provided with a filter element ci interposed between said holder and said mouthpiece; said filter element comprising a body of porous solid o material at least partially immersed in said tar attracting liquid, and wherein smoke from tobacco supported in said holder is drawn through said filter element and said tar attracting liquid. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter element is one of a selection of filter elements of different sizes and of different degrees of tar reduction. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said tar attracting liquid is an oil. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said tar attracting liquid is a vegetable oil. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein said tar attracting liquid is olive oil. 6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said tar attracting oil is augmented with a fragrant substance. 7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said apparatus further comprising a smoke conducting member COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:14 Wa lington-Dummer Sydney No.477B P. 13 0 Ssupported in an aperture in a wall of said container; said smoke conducting member extending from said aperture outwardly to an outer upper end and inwardly Sto an inner lower end; said interchangeable holder supported at said outer upper end and said filter INO element supported at said inner lower end. ci B 8 The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said holder is one of a selection of interchangeable Sholders. ci 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a cigarette. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a cigar. 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said interchangeable holders comprises a holder for a plug of pipe tobacco. 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein one of said interchangeable holders comprises a heated holder for a volume of tobacco. 13. The apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein said smoke conducting member comprises an elongate tubular member; said elongate tubular member releasably supported in said aperture in said wall of said container. COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:15 Wallington-Dummer SydneY No0,477 8 16 14 0 o 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said filter element is releasably held at said inner lower end of said elongate tubular member; the arrangement being such as ci to allow access to said filter element for removal and exchange. VO The apparatus of claim 13 or 14 wherein said elongate tubular member is provided with an internal resilient sleeve at said inner lower end; said filter element oretained in said resilient sleeve as a friction fit. 16. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14 wherein said elongate tubular member is provided with an internal thread at said inner lower end; said filter element releasably retained in said inner lower end by mating external thread of said filter element. 17. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14 wherein said filter element is releasably retained in said lower end of said smoke conducting member as a snap-fit. 18. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said filter element is formed of porous stone. 19. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said filter element is formed of a pumice stone. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said filter element is formed of a ceramic material. 21. A filter for removing at least a portion of suspended tar compounds from smoke passing from tobacco to the mouth of a user; said filter comprising a volume of a COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:15 Wa llinston-Dummer Sydney No.477B P. 17 15 solid porous material at least partially immersed in an oil-based tar attracting liquid. 22. A method of reducing suspended tar compounds from 00 smoke passing from burning tobacco to a smoker by use of the apparatus of any preceding claim; said method -N including the steps of: fitting said tobacco into said holder, Cil securing said holder to said outer upper end of Ssaid tubular member, drawing said tobacco smoke through said filter element and said tar attracting liquid. 16. A method for the reduction of suspended tar compounds in smoke passing from burning tobacco to a smoker by means of an oil filter; said method including the steps of: suspending a volume of a porous solid material in a bath of an oil-based tar attracting liquid, retaining said volume of porous solid material and said bath of said tar attracting liquid in a containing apparatus, provided said apparatus with a holder for said tobacco and a mouthpiece arranged such that COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28 28.Mar. 2006 19:15 Wal inston-Dummer Sydney No, 477 B P 18 16 smoke from said tobacco passes through said volume of porous material to said mouthpiece. 17. A tobacco smoking apparatus as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 28 March 2006 Victor Ree by his Patent Attorneys: WALLINGTON-DUMMER COMS ID No: SBMI-03157675 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:18 Date 2006-03-28