GB2118425A

GB2118425A - Disposable cigarette filters

Info

Publication number: GB2118425A
Application number: GB08300239A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christos Theodoros Lolos
Original assignee: LOLOS KAI SIA
Current assignee: LOLOS KAI SIA
Priority date: 1982-01-15
Filing date: 1983-01-06
Publication date: 1983-11-02
Also published as: GB8300239D0; GB2118425B; GR68947B

Abstract

A disposable cigarette filter comprising a tube (10), preferably of transparent plastics material, having a cylindrical portion (12) at one end to accommodate a cigarette and a mouthpiece (11) at its other end. A barrier (15) with a plurality of small holes (17) therethrough is interposed between the ends of the tube. Drawing smoke through these holes causes tar and nicotine residues to be deposited on the barrier. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Disposable cigarette filter This invention relates to a disposable cigarette filter in the form of a cigarette holder with a mouthpiece wherein smoke from the cigarette is drawn through constrictions between the cigarette and the mouthpiece to reduce the content of harmful components in the smoke such as tars and nicotine.

Various types of cigarette holders incorporating filters are known, for example those having replaceable filter cartridges made of fibrous material which can be disposed of after use. Such holders tend to be relatively large and complicated and therefore expensive, and the present invention aims to provide a small, cheap and simple disposable holder.

The present invention provides a disposable cigarette filter comprising a tube having a cylindrical portion at one end to accommodate a cigarette and a mouthpiece at its other end, a barrier being interposed between said cylindrical portion and mouthpiece and having a plurality of small holes therethrough, whereby smoke is allowed to pass but tar and nicotine residues are deposited on the barrier.

The barrier is preferably provided by an insert in the tube, suitably comprising an elongate stem inserted longitudinally in the tube with an annular flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said small holes being formed through the annular flange.

To enable the user to see the build-up of residues on the barrier, the tube is preferably made from a transparent material. The preferred material is a rigid transparent thermosetting plastics material which can be injection moulded. The barrier is preferably in the form of an insert of a coloured plastics material, so that it can be easily seen inside the tube. The insert can be pressed into position against a shoulder formed on the inside of the tube, and either adhesively bonded or heat-bonded under pressure to secure it in position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a cigarette filter in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure 3A is a section similar to that of Figure 2 but with the insert removed; Figure 3B is a cross-section on the line B-B of Figure 3A; Figure 3C is an end elevation in the direction of arrow C in Figure 3A; and Figures 4A and 4B are respectively end and side elevations of the insert.

Referring first to Figure 1, the filter of the invention comprises a tube (10) made by injection moulding a rigid transparent thermosetting plastics material.

The tube is of essentially frusto-conical shape as can be seen more easily in Figure 2. A mouthpiece is formed buy a pair of parallel fiats 11A, 11 B. At the other end is a portion (12) having a diameter such as to accommodate a cigarette.

Inside the tube (10) is an insert generally indicated by (13), which is also made of a coloured plastics material and which can also be injection moulded.

As can best be seen in Figure 4, this insert comprises an elongate stem (14), an annular flange (15) with four small holes (17)therethrough and an abutment (16) on the opposite side of the flange from the elongate portion (14). As can best be seen in Figure 2, the tube (10) has at the base of the portion (12) coaxial annular shoulders (18) and (19) of differing diameters. The annular flange (15) of the insert rests against the shoulder (19) of larger diameter, and is heat-bonded under pressure to secure it in place.

The holes (17) open into an annular space defined between the flange (15) and the annular shoulder (18). The elongate stem (14) extends into a narrower portion of the tube, between the parallel flats forming the mouthpiece.

The abutment (16) prevents a cigarette from abutting directly against the flange (15), so that smoke from the cigarette collects first in an annular space formed between the end of the cigarette and the flange (15). In use, smoke is drawn through the holes (17) and the resultant cooling causes tar and nicotine residues to be deposited and collect on the surface of the flange (15). This deposit can be clearly seen by the user, so that when a substantial amount of deposit has collected around the holes (17) the filter can be thrown away. One filter should normally remain usable for up to twenty cigarettes.

The shape of the outer tube can be seen in more detail in Figure 3. It can be seen that the inside of the tube comprises five distinct portions, the widest being the portion (12) which accommodates the cigarette. Adjacent this a portion (20) of slightly smaller diameter into which the smoke passes from the holes (17). Then comes a portion (1 ) of further reduced diameter which accommodates the elongate stem (14) of the insert, a portion (22) of still narrower diameter and a widened portion (23) at the mouthpiece end.

The filter described above removes some of the more harmful components from cigarette smoke, without altering the taste or smell of the cigarette smoke.

1. A disposable cigarette filter comprising a tube having a cylindrical portion at one end to accommodate a cigarette and a mouthpiece at its other end, a barrier being interposed between said cylindrical portion and the mouthpiece and having a plurality of small holes therethrough, whereby smoke is allowed to pass but tar and nicotine residues are deposited on the barrier.

2. A cigarette filter according to Claim 1 wherein the barrier is in the form of an insert in the tube.

3. A cigarette filter according to Claim 2 wherein said insert comprises an elongate stem inserted longitudinally in the tube and an annular flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said small holes being formed through the annular flange.

4. A cigarette filter according to any preceding claim wherein the tube is made from a transparent

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Disposable cigarette filter This invention relates to a disposable cigarette filter in the form of a cigarette holder with a mouthpiece wherein smoke from the cigarette is drawn through constrictions between the cigarette and the mouthpiece to reduce the content of harmful components in the smoke such as tars and nicotine.

Various types of cigarette holders incorporating filters are known, for example those having replaceable filter cartridges made of fibrous material which can be disposed of after use. Such holders tend to be relatively large and complicated and therefore expensive, and the present invention aims to provide a small, cheap and simple disposable holder.

The present invention provides a disposable cigarette filter comprising a tube having a cylindrical portion at one end to accommodate a cigarette and a mouthpiece at its other end, a barrier being interposed between said cylindrical portion and mouthpiece and having a plurality of small holes therethrough, whereby smoke is allowed to pass but tar and nicotine residues are deposited on the barrier.

The barrier is preferably provided by an insert in the tube, suitably comprising an elongate stem inserted longitudinally in the tube with an annular flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said small holes being formed through the annular flange.

To enable the user to see the build-up of residues on the barrier, the tube is preferably made from a transparent material. The preferred material is a rigid transparent thermosetting plastics material which can be injection moulded. The barrier is preferably in the form of an insert of a coloured plastics material, so that it can be easily seen inside the tube. The insert can be pressed into position against a shoulder formed on the inside of the tube, and either adhesively bonded or heat-bonded under pressure to secure it in position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a cigarette filter in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Il-Il in Figure 1; Figure 3A is a section similar to that of Figure 2 but with the insert removed; Figure 3B is a cross-section on the line B-B of Figure 3A; Figure 3C is an end elevation in the direction of arrow C in Figure 3A; and Figures 4A and 4B are respectively end and side elevations of the insert.

Referring first to Figure 1, the filter of the invention comprises a tube (10) made by injection moulding a rigid transparent thermosetting plastics material.

The tube is of essentially frusto-conical shape as can be seen more easily in Figure 2. A mouthpiece is formed buy a pair of parallel fiats 11A, 11 B. At the other end is a portion (12) having a diameter such as to accommodate a cigarette.

Inside the tube (10) is an insert generally indicated by (13), which is also made of a coloured plastics material and which can also be injection moulded.

As can best be seen in Figure 4, this insert comprises an elongate stem (14), an annular flange (15) with four small holes (17)therethrough and an abutment (16) on the opposite side of the flange from the elongate portion (14). As can best be seen in Figure 2, the tube (10) has at the base of the portion (12) coaxial annular shoulders (18) and (19) of differing diameters. The annular flange (15) of the insert rests against the shoulder (19) of larger diameter, and is heat-bonded under pressure to secure it in place.

The holes (17) open into an annular space defined between the flange (15) and the annular shoulder (18). The elongate stem (14) extends into a narrower portion of the tube, between the parallel flats forming the mouthpiece.

The abutment (16) prevents a cigarette from abutting directly against the flange (15), so that smoke from the cigarette collects first in an annular space formed between the end of the cigarette and the flange (15). In use, smoke is drawn through the holes (17) and the resultant cooling causes tar and nicotine residues to be deposited and collect on the surface of the flange (15). This deposit can be clearly seen by the user, so that when a substantial amount of deposit has collected around the holes (17) the filter can be thrown away. One filter should normally remain usable for up to twenty cigarettes.

The shape of the outer tube can be seen in more detail in Figure 3. It can be seen that the inside of the tube comprises five distinct portions, the widest being the portion (12) which accommodates the cigarette. Adjacent this a portion (20) of slightly smaller diameter into which the smoke passes from the holes (17). Then comes a portion (1 ) of further reduced diameter which accommodates the elongate stem (14) of the insert, a portion (22) of still narrower diameter and a widened portion (23) at the mouthpiece end.

The filter described above removes some of the more harmful components from cigarette smoke, without altering the taste or smell of the cigarette smoke.

1. A disposable cigarette filter comprising a tube having a cylindrical portion at one end to accommodate a cigarette and a mouthpiece at its other end, a barrier being interposed between said cylindrical portion and the mouthpiece and having a plurality of small holes therethrough, whereby smoke is allowed to pass but tar and nicotine residues are deposited on the barrier.

2. A cigarette filter according to Claim 1 wherein the barrier is in the form of an insert in the tube.

3. A cigarette filter according to Claim 2 wherein said insert comprises an elongate stem inserted longitudinally in the tube and an annular flange extending radially outwardly therefrom, said small holes being formed through the annular flange.

4. A cigarette filter according to any preceding claim wherein the tube is made from a transparent material.

5. A cigarette filter according to Claim 4 wherein said transparent material is a plastics material.

5. A cigarette filter according to Claim 5 wherein the barrier is in the form of an insert of coloured plastics material inserted under pressure to bond it into the tube.

7. A cigarette filter according to any preceding claim which is of essentially frustoconical shape, the mouthpiece being formed by a pair of parallel flats extending from one end of the tube.

8. A cigarette filter substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.