ES1061110U - Warning device for the control of cigarette consumption (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Warning device for the control of cigarette consumption, conceived and designed to be coupled to any of the surfaces offered by the different sides of a cigarette box, characterized in that it comprises an electronic circuit in charge of measuring the time between consecutive openings of the cigarette. Lid (14) of a pack of cigarettes, the aforementioned electronic circuit incorporating the following components: a microprocessor (1) in charge of controlling time and communication with the consumer; a sound component (2), such as a loudspeaker or a buzzer, activated by the microprocessor; various luminous elements (3), leds or the like, preferably of various colors, activated by the microprocessor (1) and indicative of both the state of the circuit and the opening actions of the lid (14) of the package; a protected button (5), activator of the mode function, arranged in a lowered position with respect to the support (11, 11 ", 12, 12") in which the circuit is contained, and therefore operable only with the help of a pricking object through a corresponding opening made in the support (11, 11 ", 12, 12") of the circuit; a battery (6) provided for the electrical power supply of the assembly, housed in a support housing that is closed externally by means of a cover (7); a main button (4), associated with the microprocessor (1) and through which the user sets the desired time between successive openings of the lid (14) of the package; an on/off switch (8), and a light-gathering element (9, 9''), such as an ldr cell or the like (or in its case the mechanical switch replacing said cell), mounted on the support in a position such that it is protected from light (or the mechanical switch deactivated) until an opening of said cover (14) occurs. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Warning device for consumption control of cigarettes

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a device  warning for the control of cigarette consumption, which provides essential novelty features and remarkable advantages with regarding the means known and used for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

More particularly the invention proposes the development of a warning device through which you can control of cigarette consumption based on moment in which the opening of the container box occurs of cigarettes, being the configuration device and variable sizes, with the possibility of being coupled in positions different from said pack of cigarettes, being constituted essentially by an electronic circuit based on microprocessor, capable of being programmed in terms of periods of time between successive openings of the packet, and trained to emit sound warning signals and / or bright when such periods have elapsed or in case of breach of them. The invention is also susceptible application to cigarette cases or any other type of box or case designed to contain cigarettes.

The field of application of the present invention corresponds to the industrial sector dedicated to the manufacture of electronic warning devices in general, and control in particular.

Background and summary of the invention

The existence of  innumerable methods developed to help people who They make great efforts to get rid of smoking, or by less to reduce cigarette consumption when a amount that is considered as certainly dangerous or that, of somehow, it is verified that it is affecting, in major or minor measure, to any of the vital organs of the consumer; by mention some of these methods, reference could be made to the  use of nicotine patches, which adhere to the skin in predetermined places of the body, they release nicotine which is absorbed by the body of the consumer instead of the one acquires when smoking; also the pills or chewing gum, which when consumed provide a quantity of nicotine, thereby decreasing consumer cravings for smoking, and also other procedures that each individual person chooses  as the most appropriate means for controlling this habit. How I know You know, these methods are less aggressive than the direct consumption of cigarettes, and are designed for the consumer to lose, or reduce smoking, but it is not always possible to achieve desired results.

The present invention has been proposed as main objective the fact of providing a device capable of being programmed by the user at will, trained to notify the latter, at all times, about the status of device and on compliance or non-compliance with deadlines planned consumption, in order to serve as a means of help and consumer notice of whether the programming of initial time The stated objective has been fully achieved by the device of the invention to be described in what which follows, and whose main characteristics are included in the characterizing part of the appended claim 1.

In essence, the device proposed by the invention has been conceived, designed and constructed so that It can be attached to the package itself in which they are packaged factory cigarettes, said device being constituted by an electronic circuit structured around a microprocessor trained to control the scheduled time at willingness for the consumer, and capable of acting on a medium sound and / or light warning in case the packet before the scheduled time as an interval between the consumption of one cigarette and another, so that the user is  warned that the time interval has not yet elapsed programmed since he consumed the previous cigarette. If you have after that period of time scheduled between cigarettes Consecutive, the device also generates a warning signal, preferably a light signal warning of that circumstance. Preferably, the sound warning means consist of the incorporation of a loudspeaker or a buzzer, while that the light warning means consist of the provision of LEDs,  of different colors (for example, red and colored green), which will light up as an indication of the different states through which the circuit goes through.

According to an embodiment preferred, the device of the invention, may adopt formal and dimensional characteristics similar to those of a cigarette, with the capacity to be introduced in the package itself or pack, being in this case the version that incorporates a minor number of light indications due, on the one hand, to the lower available surface, and on the other hand, because being normally inside the pack, such indications do not they will be visible until the opening of the pack.

According to other embodiments, the  circuit may be built on a suitable support for this type of assembly, configured as pleasant that can be anchored, either to the top of the pack, or to the walls front or side of it, with the programming means and Notice available to the user. For this purpose, the support includes the less a constitutive pin of the anchoring means, and designed in correspondence with various configurations (type L, U or clip), in function of the position in which you want to do your coupling in the packs.

The dimensions of the proposed device have designed so that they do not impede the comfortable at all portability of the pack of cigarettes where you have for custom the consumer, although some versions, as said above, they are located outside of said pack.

As will be understood, all versions of the device present the peculiarity that can be changed from one pack to another, as they run out, with the same performance and equal utility in all of them.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other features and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the description detailed that follows in a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view, in side elevation of a warning device according to the invention, corresponding to the version that takes the form of cigarette, being appreciable the various components that they integrate the circuit;

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of circuit components mounted on a bracket;

Figure 3 shows a view, in side elevation, of a version of the warning device built as a model external upper clamp, configured in a "U" shape;

Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the device shown in figure 3;

Figure 5 illustrates a side elevation view of a device version built as an external model with lateral support type L, together with a detail (A) in representation frontal;

Figure 6 represents an elevation view side of a device version built as a model external with clip-like front fastening;

Figure 7 represents a schematic view in perspective of the embodiment of the device shown in the figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates, by means of a view schematized in perspective, the coupling device front, clip type, mounted in the box;

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the "L" type embodiment for side coupling, mounted on the pack, and

Figures 10 and 11 represent two views in perspective and front with the lid open, respectively, of a device built according to the "U" type version and coupled to the pack.

Description of a preferred embodiment

As indicated above, the detailed description of the warning device for the control of the cigarette consumption proposed by the invention, will be carried out in the following with the help of the representation that they appear in the figures of the drawings, and with the use of numerical references to indicate each of the various parts that integrate them.

As can be seen, the warning device of the invention has been built based on an electronic circuit, composed of various elements mounted on a support that in depending on the realization in question, you can adopt various configurations, but which, in all cases, goes to the same purpose: to serve as a means of warning so that the consumer can control the time that elapses successive cigarettes.

In the embodiment example that appears shown in figure 1, a device with some formal and dimensional characteristics similar to those of a cigarette itself, being therefore able to be placed inside the same pack as cigarettes, in the space left by the first cigarette extracted from it. In this case, it is appreciated that throughout the configuration adopted by this embodiment, the circuit components, including an element 1 microprocessor in charge of time control functions in accordance with the programming carried out by the interested party, a half sound player such as, for example, a small loudspeaker or buzzer 2, light warning means materialized to via leds 3, a main button 4, a button "protected" 5 which is located in a lowered position with with respect to the surface level of the support 11 and therefore needs the user uses a pointed element (for example, a pen) to access it, making it happen to through an opening or slit made for the purpose in the support 11 of the circuit, a battery 6 for power supply of the set, located on bracket 11 in a closed position by means of a removable cover 7 for replacing said battery, an on / off switch 8, and a pickup component of light that preferably consists of a cell 9 of type LDR, or where appropriate by a mechanical switch, and that in this way of realization, occupies an extreme position in the support and should be positioned so that when the lid of the pack is opened, the light Directly influence this component.

As stated, the embodiment that appears in Figure 1 has been designed for introduction into the Inside a pack. For the activation of the set, the user brings switch 8 to the on position, and acting on the "protected" button 5, as stated with the help of an object with a tip, one of the 3 LEDs warns you of which is in programming mode, so that with the button main 4 marks the time you want to set as a period between successive cigarettes This time is stored after the user presses the "protected" button again 5.

With the set introduced inside the packet, the light sensitive component 9 or, where appropriate, the mechanical switch, does not receive lighting, but when it occurs the opening of the pack and the light affects this component, the device interprets that there has been an opening for the acquisition of a cigarette inside the pack, of so that, if the opening occurs after there is after the established period of time, circumstance that may be indicated, if applicable, by any of the 3 leds, then no warning will occur and time will start counting from again once the pack has been closed again; yes for him otherwise, the opening occurs before the end of the programmed time period, then the system is triggered warning, bright and / or loud, indicating that circumstance, from from which moment a short period of time begins during which the flashing of any of the 3 LEDs is indicated indicating this period of time during which the main button can be used 4, so that if you act on this button, time will continue counting from the moment the count was interrupted when the package was opened, but if the warning is ignored and it is not act on that button while the led flashes, the time will start counting from 0.

As will be understood, the space offered by the surface of a cigarette-like embodiment, for the incorporation of the different components of the circuit, is certainly reduced, so the circuit will be limited to those essential components for its proper functioning. However, when more space is available, as is the case of a support 11 of the type indicated in general in Figure 2, the space available is larger, and therefore, the incorporation of a greater number of components, distributed over the surface of the support according to agree. For example, you can increase the number of LEDs 3, to allow the possibility of different colors (for example, reds and greens), and that each one of them is associated with a specific function.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representation of the Figure 2 is only a general graphic expression that shows a distribution of the components equivalent to those described in the Figure 1, whose distribution has been chosen by way of illustration, but that obviously when it materializes in realizations preset for coupling anywhere in the pack of cigarettes, the distribution may vary, and by of course, the support 11 on which the components, will adopt the most appropriate configuration so that coupling possible.

In this sense, if you look at Figures 3 and 4, respective views can be seen in side elevation and in front elevation, of a preferred embodiment of the device of the invention, prepared for coupling to the packet of tobacco on the outside of it, but so that the support 12 adopts a "U" shape with a body prepared for be positioned externally to the pack, in which components such as 3 'LEDs are mounted, the corresponding battery closed externally by means of the cover 7 ', the "protected" button 5, or the switch 8 of on / off, and with a branch 10 of the "U" prepared for stay inside the pack, in which it is located Built-in cell 9 'light collector, or switch mechanical, when the opening of the pack occurs. This form of assembly corresponds, for example, with the representation of Figures 10 and 11, which show the device, indicated in general as 12 ', properly sized to allow a coupling to the upper face of the flip cover 14 of a pack of 13 cigarettes. As can be seen, the position of the support 12 'is adjacent to the surface plane of the lid, being made this coupling so that the light detector 9 ' (or in its case the substitute mechanical switch) is locked in the interior space of the pack. In this way, the detector 9 'light will not receive light, or the mechanical switch will not will activate, until the box is opened, as shown in the representation of Figure 11, at which time it is detected that the user will extract a cigarette, and it is generated, as has been described above, the corresponding warning signal in function that the programmed time has elapsed or not.

The embodiment of Figure 5 has been conceived with the help of a support 11 configured in "L", prepared to be coupled to one side of the base 13 of the pack of cigarettes, surrounding the lower corner of that side by a wing portion 10 'extending from the support 11 forming right angle. The 9 'light detector component, or the mechanical switch, occupies an extreme position in the support 11, arranged in a sheet section of said support, as shown the "A" detail that appears in that same Figure, so that The position of this component is such that it will be susceptible to be hidden by the side of the lid 14 of the pack when it is closed. The provision corresponds to the representation of Figure 9, in which the cover 14 is shown open, and therefore, the 9 'cell exposed, receiving light, or if necessary the mechanical switch activated, informing by so much that there has been an opening.

Finally, Figures 6 and 7 show another way of alternative embodiment in which the support 11 'takes form of "clip", with a rear wing 10 for use as fastener to the pack of cigarettes. In this way of embodiment, usable as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, with the wing 10 inserted inside the pack by coupling the clip to the upper edge of the front wall from the base 13 of the pack, it allows the detector cell 9 ' of light, or the substitute mechanical switch, is housed in the inside of the pack, and therefore protected against light (or mechanical switch off) while cover 14 remains closed As in the previous cases, the opening the lid will cause the light to strike cell, or the operation of the substitute mechanical switch, and the consequent activation of the warning mechanisms.

As will be understood, the device that has been described above, regardless of the form of practical realization adopted for it, and despite the simplicity with which it has been conceived, constitutes a tool really effective in helping smokers control the time they want to let pass between cigarettes consecutive, and with it, collaborate to a perfect control of the smoking habit

It is not considered necessary to make the content of the present description so that an expert in the matter can understand its scope and the advantages of it they are derived, as well as carrying out their practical realization.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and given that the description given corresponds only to a form of preferred embodiment, it will be understood that within the essentiality modifications of the invention may be made without implying any alteration of the basis of said invention, being able to affect such modifications, especially the shape, size and / or to the manufacturing materials of the set or its parts

Claims (5)

1. Warning device for the control of the consumption of cigarettes, conceived and designed to be coupled to any of the surfaces offered by the different faces of a pack of cigarettes, characterized in that it comprises an electronic circuit responsible for measuring the time between consecutive openings of the lid (14) of a pack of cigarettes, said electronic circuit incorporating the following components: a microprocessor (1) responsible for controlling time and communication with the consumer; a sound component (2), such as a loudspeaker or a buzzer, activatable by the microprocessor; several luminous elements (3), of the LED type or the like, preferably of various colors, activatable by the microprocessor (1) and indicative of both the state of the circuit and the opening actions of the lid (14) of the package; a protected button (5), activator of the mode function, arranged in a lowered position with respect to the support (11, 11 ', 12, 12') in which the circuit is contained, and therefore operable only with the help of a sharp object through a corresponding opening made in the support (11, 11 ', 12, 12') of the circuit; a battery (6) provided for the power supply of the assembly, housed in a housing of the support that is closed externally by means of a cover (7); a main button (4), associated with the microprocessor (1) and through which the user sets the desired time between successive openings of the lid (14) of the pack; an on / off switch (8), and a light pickup element (9, 9 '), such as an LDR cell or the like (or where appropriate the mechanical switch substitute for said cell), mounted on the support in a position such that it is protected against light (or the mechanical switch deactivated) until an opening of said cover (14) occurs. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (11) in which the circuit is mounted, adopts a longitudinal shape, configured and sized similarly to a cigarette, and therefore capable of being housed inside the pack. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (12) in which the circuit is mounted, adopts a "U" shape, with a rear wing (10) designed to be attached to the upper wall of the cover (14 ) of the package, and with the light detector element (9 ') (or the mechanical substitute switch) mounted on said wing (10). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (11) in which the circuit is mounted, takes the form of "L", with a lower wing portion (10 ') extended at right angles to the lower edge of said support, and with a flat, laminated upper portion, carrier of the light detector element (9 ') (or in its case of the equivalent mechanical switch), and prepared to be placed under the side of the lid (14) of the pack when It is closed. 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support (11 ') in which the circuit is mounted, takes the form of a clip, with a rear wing (10) dimensioned for coupling inside the box exceeding the upper edge of the front wall thereof, and with the light detector element (9 ') (or equivalent mechanical switch) mounted on said rear wing (10).