GB2511302A

GB2511302A - A smoking device

Info

Publication number: GB2511302A
Application number: GB201303432A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John SAMPSON; Rabya Khan-Dar; Joseph Sutton; Simon Rucker; Charles Dillon; Simon James Smith; Iain Smith; Jonathan Hugh Wilkins
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; British American Tobacco Co Ltd
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd
Priority date: 2013-02-27
Filing date: 2013-02-27
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Also published as: GB201303432D0

Abstract

A cigar/cigarette holder smoking device 10 comprises a body with a first open end to removeably receive a cigar/cigarette 13 and a second open end 12, through which a user may draw smoke. A ventilation control means allows ambient air into the device to mix with and dilute the smoke. The smoke flow path is directed away from the ventilation control means such that at least some smoke drawn through the device does not contact the ventilation control means.

Description

A Smoking Device

Field

In this specification there is described a smoking device for use with a combustible component such as a rod of smokeable materia', and in which supplementary ventilation air flow may be provided.

Background

Cigarette holders are known which comprise a body configured to receive a cigarette io and through which the cigarette may be smoked. Such devices may include one or more ventilation apertures to allow ambient air into the device to mix with the smoke stream drawn through the device.

Suniinary i In this specification there are described embodiments of a smoking device configured to hoki a replaceable combustib'e tobacco rod to be smoked through the device, comprising a body having a first open end configured to removably receive a tobacco rod and, a second open end in fluid communication with the first open end and through which a user may draw smoke from combustion of the tobacco rod, wherein a smoke flow path is defined within the smoking device for smoke to pass from a tobacco rod received in the device to the second open end of the device, and a ventilation contr& mechanism configured to a&w ambient air into the device to mix with and dflute the smoke stream, svherein the smoke flow path is directed away from the ventilation control mechanism such that at east some of the smoke drawn through the device does not contact the ventilation control mechanism.

The ventilation control mechanism may be configured to mix ambient air with the smoke stream within the device after the smoke stream exits the end of the tobacco rod held within the device.

The smoking device may be configured such that the point at which ambient air mixes with the smoke stream is longitudinally displaced relative to the device in a direction downstream of the ventilation contr& mechanism.

The ventilation control mechanism may include at least two components moveable relative to each other which are disposed upstream of point at which the ambient air mixes with the smoke stream within the device.

The moveable components may comprise a blocking element configured to open or close a ventilation air flow path through which ambient air can pass to mix with the smoke stream.

The smoke flow path may bypass the ventilation control mechanism. I0

The smoking device may comprise an aperture to receive and retain a dista' end of a tobacco rod to be smoked, and the smoke flow path may extend from the aperture to the second open end of the device.

The ventilation control mechanism may be disposed upstream of the aperture.

A ventilation path may be defined within the smoking device which bypasses the aperture.

The ventilation path may extend to a mixing chamber downstream of the aperture, in which ambient air may mix with the smoke stream.

The ventilation path may extend from a ventilation space defined within the body upstream of the aperture.

The ventilation space within the device may be continually open to atmosphere.

The ventilation control mechanism may be disposed downstream of the aperture.

A duct may extend from the aperture to the second end of the device defining the smoke flow path within the duct.

The smoking device may comprise a ventilation path defined within the smoking device which extends around the duct.

The smoking device may further comprise a mouthpiece at the second end of the body, wherein the device may be configured such that ambient air introduced through the ventilation control mechanism mixes with the smoke stream in the mouthpiece.

A portion of the duct may be formed integrally with the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be detachable from the body.

The smoke flow path may be isolated from the ventilation control mechanism such that the smoke drawn through the device does not contact the ventilation control Jo mechanism.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of a smoking device will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a smoking device of a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows an end view of the smoking device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross-section view along the line X-X of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the smoking device of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a perspective cross-section view along the line X-X of Figure 2 but with the tobacco rod removed; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the ventilation control sleeve of the smoking device of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the cylindrical housing of the smoking device of Figure 1; Figure 8A shows a side view and a cross-sectional view along the line Y-Y, of the smoking device of Figure 1 in a first ventilation level configuration; Figure 8B shows a side view and a cross-sectional view along the line Y-Y of the smoking dcvicc of Figurc 1 in a sccond vcntilation lcv& configuration; Figure 8C shows a side view and a cross-sectional view along the line Y-Y, of the smoking device of Figure 1 in a third ventilation level configuration; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a combustible tobacco rod for use with the smoking device of Figure 1; Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a smoking device of a second embodiment; Figure ii shows an exploded view of the smoking device of Figure 10; Figure 12 shows an enlarged view of the ventilation control sleeve and control ring of the smoking device of Figures 10 and 11; Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a smoking device of a third embodiment; Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional side view of the smoking device of Figure 13 athng the lineZ-Z; Figure 15 shows a cut-away view of a portion of the smoking device of Figure 13 in a first position; and Figure i6 shows a cut-away view of a portion of the smoking device of Figure 13 in a second position. I0

Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 -8, a first embodiment of a smoking apparatus 10 comprises a controller body ii and a mouthpiece 12. The controller body ii comprises a first (downstream, mouth) end na and, a second (upstream, tobacco rod) end iib opposite to the first end na. The first and second ends are open and are in fluid communication with each other. A combustible tobacco rod 13 is receivable in an aperture in the second end nb of the controfler body ii.

In use, the tobacco rod 13 is inserted into the second end iib of the controller body ii and ignited. A user inhales through the mouthpiece 12 and smoke is drawn through the tobacco rod 13, through the controller body ii and out of the mouthpiece 12 as the tobacco rod 13 is combusted. When the user has finished smoking, the remaining portion of the combusted tobacco rod 13 is ejected and discarded, and a new tobacco rod 13 is inserted for each subsequent use of the apparatus 10.

The controller body 11 is a multi-use component of the apparatus 10, that is, it can be used for the smoking of multiple tobacco rods 13. The mouthpiece 12 is also a multi-use component although can be removed from the controller body ii and replaced with a new mouthpiece 12 when required.

The controller body ii indudes an ejection mechanism configured to eject the spent tobacco rod. The ejection mechanism is actuated by a "stubbing" action, that is, by applying a force on the tobacco rod 13 in a thngitudinal direction of the controller body 11 and tobacco rod 13, towards the mouthpiece 12, shown by arrow A' in Figure 1.

The controller body 11 comprises a generally cylindrical housing 14 containing a ventilation control sleeve 15 rotatably mounted therein, and a collar 38. An ejection tube 16 is sUdably mounted within the ventilation control s'eeve 15. The cylindrical housing 14 comprises a first portion ia at a tobacco rod end, and a second portion 14b of a smaller diameter than the first portion at a mouth end, extending from the first portion ida. The first portion ia transitions to the second portion 14b at an annular wall 17 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical housing 14. The collar 38 is attached to the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14, and the mouthpiece 12 is attached to the collar 38. I0

A coil spring 18 is disposed within the cylindrical housing 14 and has a first end that abuts an inwardly-extending flange 32 of the ventilation control sleeve (described in more detail below) and an opposite end that abuts an end of the ejection tube i6. The spring 18 biases the ejection tube 16 in a direction away from the annular wall 17.

The ejection tube 16 comprises a rectangular raised boss 19 on an outer surface thereof that has a recessed cam track 20 formed therein. The ventilation control sleeve i includes a cut out section 21 from its outer wall 22 to accommodate the projecting boss 19 of the ejection tube 16. The cut out section 21 is configured to allow the ejection tube i6 to slide within a predefined range of movement, limited by the ends of the boss 19 abutting the respective edge of the cut out section 21, and also to allow rotation of the ventilation control sleeve 15 within the cylindrical housing 14. The ejection tube 16 is moveable between a holding position, in which an end 16a of the ejection tube 16 lies flush with the end face isa of the ventilation control sleeve 15 (as shown in Figures 1 and 3) and an ejection position in which the end i6a of the ejection tube i6 projects beyond the end face ia of the ventilation control sleeve 15.

The cylindrical housing 14 includes a window 23 aligned with the boss 19 of the ejection tube 16. A resilient spring arm 24 is positioned on the outside of the cylindrical housing 14 and has a first end 24 bent at 90 degrees which extends through the window 23 and ocates in the recessed cam track 20 of the boss 19 to act as a cam follower. The opposite end 24b of the spring arm 24 is fastened to a cover plate 25 which is secured to the cy'indrical housing 14 to cover the window 23. The spring arm 24 is configured such that the cam follower 24 is moveable laterally with respect to the cylindrical housing 14 but is elastically biased back to a central neutral position. The cam track 20 of the boss 19 comprises a closed loop within which the cam follower 24a travels to define the holding and ejection positions and the movement of the ejection tube 16 therebetween. In an embodiment in which the cut out section 21 in the ventilation control sleeve 15 is larger than required to limit longitudinal movement of the ejection tube 16, the first end 24 of the spring arm 24 ocated in the recessed cam track 20 of the boss 19 can act to limit the longitudinal movement of the ejection tube 16.

The annular wall 17 of the cylindrical housing 14 includes a plurality of ventilation holes 28, as shown in Figures 5 and 7. Ventilation channels 29 are formed in the second io portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 and extend from the ventilation holes 28 to the end of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14. The cyhndrical housing 14 also includes a plurality of air inlet slots 30 formed through the outer wall of the first portion ida, as shown in Figure 4.

is A space 27 is defined within the first portion a of the cylindrical housing 14 around the outside of the tobacco rod 13. This ventflation space 27 is open to ambient atmosphere via the air inlet slots 30, and the ventilation holes 28 in the annifiar wall 17 open to the ventilation space 27.

The ventilation control sleeve 15 includes a ridged grip 31 at one end thereof and an inwardly-extending flange 32 at an opposite end thereof. The flange 32 does not extend around the entire circumference of the opposite end of the ventilation control sleeve 15, but instead includes an open section 33 which is adjacent a corresponding recess 34 in the side wall 21 of the ventilation control sleeve 15. The flange 32 abuts against the annular wall 17 and is configured such that it may block one or more of the ventilation holes 28, or the ventilation control sleeve 15 may be rotated so that the open section 33 is aligned with the ventilation holes 28 so that they are open to the ventilation space 27.

A gasket 52 (see Figure 4) may be disposed between the flange 32 and the annular wall 17 to ensure effective blocking of the ventilation holes 28 when the ventilation control s'eeve 15 is appropriatdy positioned. Akhough a gasket 52 is shown and described, this may be omitted so that the flange 32 seals directly against the annular wall 17, or other sealing means may be used, such as a washer, additional flange or sealant coating on the flange 32, to provide effective blocking of the ventilation holes 28.

The ventilation control sleeve 15 includes a slot 35 around a portion of the circumference of the side wall 21 adjacent the ridged grip 31 that receives the end of a locking post 36 though the wall of the cylindrical housing 14. The locking post 36 prevents the ventilation control sleeve 15 from sliding out of the cylindrical housing 14 but enabks ventilation contr& s'eeve 15 to rotate over a range of movement determined by the length of the slot 35. The slot includes detents 37 to define stable rotational positions of the ventilation control sleeve 15.

The collar 38 is a hollow cylindrical component secured around the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 with an 0-ring seal 39 disposed between the collar 38 and outside of the annular wall 17 of the cylindrical housing 14. The collar 38 is secured in io pthce by a pair of retaining pins 40 which locate in peripheral groove 41 in the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14. The end of the collar 38 remote from the cylindrical housing 14 includes a projecting portion 42 of reduced diameter with a shaped cam-groove 43 formed therein. The mouthpiece 12 is connected to the collar 38 around the projecting portion 42 by a cam pin 44 extending through the mouthpiece is wall and locating in the cam-groove 43. An 0-ring 45 is disposed between the mouthpiece 12 and collar 38 to form an airtight seal therebetween.

A chamber 26 is defined within the collar 38 adjacent the end of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14, into which smoke flows when drawn through the tobacco rod 13. Furthermore, the ventilation channels 29 extending from the ventilation holes 28 open into the chamber 26. Therefore, in use, the chamber 26 acts as a mixing chamber for smoke drawn through the tobacco rod 13 and ventilation air introduced via the ventilation holes/channels 28/29.

The combustible tobacco rod 13 used with the smoking apparatus 10 is shown in Figure 9 and comprises a cylinder of smokeable material 46 such as tobacco and a plug of filtration material 47, contained in a wrapper 48. A plurality of ventilation holes 49 are formed through the outer surface of the wrapped cylinder at the portion that surrounds the filter material 47, to aflow flow of ventilation air to pass from the ventilation space 27 into the filter 47 through the wrapper 48 and mix with smoke drawn therethrough in use. The tobacco rod 13 includes an outer sleeve o which extends over part of the length of the wrapped tobacco cylinder and stops short of the filter end to provide a perimeter step 51.

In use, with the ejection tube 16 in the extended ejection or release' position, a user inserts a tobacco rod 13 into the controller body 11 so that the filter end extends through the ventilation control sleeve 15 and ejection tube 16. As the tobacco rod 13 is inserted into the controller body ii, the step 51 abuts the end of the ejection tube 16 and pushes it into the ventilation contr& s'eeve 15 against the force of the spring 18 and the ejection mechanism retains the ejection tube 16 in the h&ding position. The filler end of the tobacco rod 13 makes an interference friction fit within the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 and is thereby held in place. This friction fit creates a seat to substantially prevent any airflow between the surface of the tobacco rod 13 and the inner surface of the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14. Therefore, smoke exiting the filter end of the tobacco rod 13 is unable to Jo pass back upstream between the tobacco rod 13 and the bore 54 of the second portion 14b into the ventilation space 27, and Ukewise, air within the ventflation space 27 is unable to pass between the tobacco rod 13 and the bore 54 of the second portion 14b into the mixing chamber 26. The distance over which the ifiter end of the tobacco rod 13 is received within the second poition 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 is shown as dimension d' in Figure 3.

The user is able to vaiy the amount of ventflation air that is mixed with the smoke stream during smoking of the tobacco rod 13 and thus control the smoking sensory experience. This variable ventilation air is referred to as bypass ventilation since it is introduced into the device upstream of the filter end of the tobacco rod from which the smoke stream exits, bypasses the tobacco rod 13 and is introduced into the smoke stream downstream of the filter end of the tobacco rod 13. Referring to Figures 8A to 8C, the ventilation control sleeve 15 may be moved between three different ventilation positions. These three positions correspond to detents 37 in the slot 35 to define stable rotational positions of the ventilation control sleeve 15. Figure 8A shows the ventilation control sleeve 15 in a first position, in which the flange 32 covers all ventilation holes 28 in the annu'ar wall 17 and so no bypass ventilation air is permitted to pass therethrougli.

Figure 8B shows the ventilation contr& s'eeve 15 in a second position, in which the open section 33 of the ventilation contr& s'eeve is afigned with one of the ventilation h6les 28 in the ann&ar wafl 17, the other ventflation h&es 28 remaining blocked by the flange 32. Therefore, when user draws on the mouthpiece and a negative pressure is created in the mixing chamber 26, as well as smoke being drawn through the tobacco rod 13, air is drawn from the ventilation space 27, through the one exposed ventilation hole 28 and corresponding ventilation channel 29 and into the mixing chamber 26 where it mixes with the smoke drawn through the tobacco rod 13. This additional ventilation air dilutes the smoke stream and thus provides a different smoking sensory experience to the user for each inhalation compared to the situation described above where no bypass ventilation is permitted.

Figure 8C shows the ventilation control sleeve 15 in a third position, in which the open section 33 of the ventilation control sleeve is aligned with a plurality of the ventilation holes 28 in the annular wall 17. When user draws on the mouthpiece, air is drawn from the ventilation space 27, through the plurality of exposed ventilation holes 28 and Jo corresponding ventilation channds 29 and into the mixing chamber 26 where it mixes with the smoke drawn through the tobacco rod 13. This increased flow of ventilation air over the situation described above and shown in Figure 8B, results in a greater dilution of the smoke stream and thus provides a yet further different smoking sensory experience to the user for each inhalation.

It will be appreciated that the above-described variable ventilation contr& is separate to the filter ventilation provided by the ventilation holes 49 formed in the filter end of the tobacco rod 13. Also, although only three separate ventilation positions are shown and described, the first embodiment is not intended to be limited to such a configuration and other numbers of ventilation positions may be provided.

Furthermore, the bypass ventilation may be continually variable instead of having discrete ventilation settings. For example, an arcuate slot may be provided in the annular wall 17 instead of discrete ventilation apertures 28, the slot being exposed or occluded by rotation of the ventilation control sleeve 15.

It will also be appreciated that since the tobacco rod 13 makes an air tight seal with the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the housing 14, smoke exiting from the end of the tobacco rod 13 may only flow from that point downstream towards the mouthpiece 12 and cannot enter the ventilation space 27 upstream of that point. The suction by a user which draws the smoke stream (and also ventilation air) through the device also acts to mitigate smoke migrating back upstream though the ventilation holes 28. Therefore, the smoke stream is generally directed away from, and thus substantially avoids, coming into contact with any of the moving parts of the ventilation confr& mechanism.

The moving parts of the ventilation control mechanism are thus substantially isolated from the smoke stream. Therefore build up of any deposits contained in tobacco smoke on these moving parts, or staining or tainting by smoke odour, is prevented. This -10-improves the operational longevity of the device and also hygienic operation of the device, avoiding tobacco or smoke deposit odours which may otherwise accumulate if these parts were in contact wfth the smoke stream. This is particularly important as the device is a mifiti-use component intended to be used over an extended period of time, such as a number of months, up to and maybe over a year, for smoking multiple tobacco rods, and so this hygienic configuration enables extended periods of use of the device.

When the user has finished smoking, the tobacco rod 13 can be extinguished by io stubbing the end which causes the ejection tube 16 to be pushed inwards against the force of the spring 18 and the cam follower 24a/cam track 20 co-operate to move the ejection tube i6 into the ejection position and, as the ejection tube i6 abuts against the step 51 of the tobacco rod 13, the tobacco rod 13 is pushed out of frictional engagement with the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 and so the remaining stub of the tobacco rod 13 is released from the controller body 11. The spring 18 may also provide an ejection force on the tobacco rod 13 to ensure it is ejected from the controller body 11 once it is pushed clear of frictional engagement with the bore 54 of the cylindrical housing 14. However, once the tobacco rod 13 has been pushed free from frictional engagement with the bore 54 of the cylindrical housing 14, the tobacco rod 13 is free to drop out of the controller body ii under gravity.

The friction fit of the end of the tobacco rod 13 in the cylindrical housing 14 can be provided by the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 being of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the end of the tobacco rod 13. For example, the bore 54 of the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 may be.mm in diameter and the diameter of the end of the tobacco rod 13 may be.mm. Also, to effectively retain and then release the tobacco rod 13 from the controller body ii, the axial distance over which the tip of the tobacco rod 13 is held in second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14 (shown as dimension "d" in Figure 3) must be less than the travel of the ejection tube 16 between its h&ding and release positions. For example, distanced may be mm and the ejection tube 16 travel between h&ding and release positions may be 4mm.

In one embodiment, the filter end of the tobacco rod 13 includes a large number of ventilation holes 49 around the filter end, which render the tobacco rod un-smokeable on its own as a normal cigarette, as the excessive filter ventilation prevents sufficient air -11 -being drawn through the length of the tobacco rod for any appreciable degree of smoke to be drawn through the tobacco rod. However, when the tobacco rod 13 is inserted in the smoking device 10, a large number of the ventilation holes 49 (over the length d' of the tobacco rod 13) are blocked by virtue of the interference fit of the tobacco rod 13 within the second portion 14b of the cylindrical housing 14. This permits more air to be drawn along the length of the tobacco rod 13 when the user inhales and provide an acceptable smoke stream. Although not necessarily shown to scale in the figures, the length d' could be increased to cover the entirety of the filter portion, and possibly part of the tobacco portion, of the tobacco rod 13, so that all or many of the tobacco rod io ventilation apertures 49 are covered when the tobacco rod is received in the bore 54 of the controller body 11, to further ensure the tobacco rod 13 would not be smokeable as a conventional cigarette without the rest of the smoking apparatus.

A smoking device 110 of a second embodiment is shown in Figures 10 to 12, and is largely the same as the first embodiment described above, and Bke features retain the same reference numerals. One difference in the second embodiment is the configuration of the ventilation control sleeve 115. As shown in detail in Figure 12, a ventilation control sleeve 115 of the second embodiment is not formed integrally with an inward flange 32, as with the ventilation control sleeve 15 of the first embodiment.

The ventilation control sleeve 115 of the second embodiment comprises a hollow cylindrical body with a slot 115a formed in the side wall thereof.

A control ring 117 is rotatably mounted within the first portion ia of the housing 14 and includes a plate 118 extending in an axial direction from a section of the perimeter of the control ring 117. The plate ii8 is received within the slot iia in the ventilation control sleeve 115 such that rotation of the ventilation control sleeve 115 causes the control ring 117 to rotate. The control ring 117 abuts against the inside of the annular wall 17 of the housing 14, but includes a section of reduced thickness 119 around a portion of the circumference thereof which is spaced from the annular wall 17.

The coil spring 18 is disposed within the cylindrical housing 14 between the control ring 117 and an inner rim iib of the ventilation contr& s'eeve ii. The spring i8 biases the contrcil ring 117 against the annular wall 17 of the housing 14 and thereby improves the seal that the control ring 117 makes over the ventilation holes 28 in the annular wall 17.

-12 -As with the first embodiment, the ventilation control sleeve 115 can be adjusted to control an amount of ambient air that is drawn into the smoking device 10 to mix with the smoke stream as a user draws on the mouthpiece 12. In a first position of the ventilation control sleeve n5, the control ring 117 covers and blocks all of the ventilation holes 28 and so air within the ventilation space 27 is prevented from passing though the annular wall 17 and mixing with the smoke stream. The spring 18 biasing the control ring 117 into contact with the annular wall 17 ensures the seal is secure.

Rotation of the ventilation control sleeve 115 to a second position moves the plate ii8 io and control ring 117 such that the section of reduced thickness 119 aligns with one of the ventilation h&es 28 to provide a gap between the ventilation hole 28 and the control ring 117. Air within the ventilation space 27 is then able to pass though the annular wall 17 via the one exposed ventilation hole 28, pass along the corresponding ventilation channel 29, and mix with the smoke stream within the mixing chamber 26, to provide a first degree of smoke ventilation and dilution.

Further rotation of the ventilation contr& sleeve 115 to a third position moves the plate 118 and control ring 117 such that the section of reduced thickness 119 aligns with more of the ventilation holes 28 to provide a gap between the additional ventilation holes 28 and the control ring 117. Air from the ventilation space 27 is then able to pass though the annular wall 17 via the plurality of exposed ventilation holes 28, pass along the corresponding ventilation channels 29, and mix with the smoke stream within the mixing chamber 26, providing an increased level of smoke ventilation and dilution.

As with the first embodiment, the degree of external ventilation air that is introduced into the smoke stream is variable, thereby varying sensory intensity of the smoking experience. Also as with the first embodiment, although only three separate ventilation positions are shown and described, the second embodiment is not intended to be limited to such a configuration and other numbers of ventilation positions may be provided, or the bypass ventilation maybe continually variable be provision of an arcuate slot instead of discrete ventilation apertures 28, as descnbed above.

Figures 13-16 show a smoking device 210 of a third embodiment comprising a controller body 211 configured to receive a combustible tobacco rod 13 as described previously. The controller body 211 comprises a housing 214 and a mouthpiece 212 attached to an end thereof opposite the tobacco rod 13 end. The housing 214 contains a -13 -holding tube 216 which is slidable within the housing 214 and is configured to receive the end of a tobacco rod 13. The holding tube 216 includes a pawl 217 which is receivab]e in an aperture 218 in the housing 214. A push button 219 is provided on the housing over the aperture 218 to push the paw] 217 out of engagement with the edge of the aperture 218 to allow the holding tube 216 to slide within the housing 214. A spring 220 5 disposed within the housing against a first end of the holding tube 216 and biases the holding tube 216 in a direction out of the housing 214. The pawl 217 is configured to retain the holding tube 216 in a retracted position within the housing against the force of the spring 220. I0

A duct 221 extends from the first end of the holding tube 216 and couples to a duct 222 in the housing 214 when the holding tube is in the retracted position (see Figure 14).

A flavour control cartridge 223 is provided within the mouthpiece 212 and the end of the housing 214, and comprises a central conduit 224 and a rotatable collar 225 around the outside of the conduit 224. The conduit 224 is fluid]y coup]ed to the duct 222 in the housing 214 and thereby to the duct 221 in the holding tube 216. The co]lar 225 includes a plurality of passages 226 extending in an axial direction through the collar 225. A blocking plate 227 is provided around a portion of the outer perimeter of the conduit 224 and is configured to block the flow path though one of the passages 226 when it is aligned with the blocking plate 227.

An actuator button 228 projects from the outer surface of the collar 225 through a slot 229 in the side wall of the mouthpiece 212 such that the collar 225 can be rotated within the mouthpiece 212 between a first position and a second position by sliding the actuator button 228 along the slot 229. An outer wall of the mouthpiece 212 includes a ventilation hole 230 through which ambient air can pass into the area of the mouthpiece 212 behind the collar 225 of the flavour control cartridge 223 and around tim outside of thc conduit 224.

An inside wall of one of the passages 226a includes a coating of an organoleptic materia] 231, which may comprise flavourant compound, such that as air flows through the coated passage 226a, flavourant is imparted to the airflow as it sweeps over the organoleptic material 231. When the collar 225 is in the first position as shown in Figure 15, the coated passage 226a with the organoleptic material 231 is located behind the blocking plate 227 and so airflow through the coated passage 226a is prevented.

When the collar 225 is in the second position as shot in Figure 16, the coated passage 226a is rotated away from the blocking plate 227 such that air may flow therethrough.

If a user uses the smoking device 210 to smoke a tobacco rod 13 with the collar 225 in the first position, when the user draws on the mouthpiece 212, smoke is drawn through the tobacco rod 13, through the duct 221 in the holding tube 216, through the duct 222 in the housing 214 and through the conduit 224 in the mouthpiece 212, as shown by arrow S in Figure 15. Simultaneously, ambient air is drawn through the ventilation hole 230, though the passages 226 in the collar 225 and into the mouthpiece 212, as shown io by arrow V in Figure 15, where the ventilation air V mixes with the smoke stream S. As the coated passage 226a is aligned with the blocking pthte 227, the ventilation airflow cannot pass therethrough and so no flavourant is imparted to the ventilation airflow.

If, however, the collar 225 is moved to the second position, smoke is drawn into the mouthpiece 212 as described above, shown by arrow S in Figure 16, but the ambient air drawn through the ventilation h&e 230 is able to pass through the coated passage 226a since it has moved out of alignment with the blocking pthte 227, and so the ventilation airflow V passes through the coated passage 226a and flavourant is imparted to the ventilation airflow as it sweeps over the organoleptic material 231, shown by arrow F in Figure 16. Thereafter, the flavoured airflow F and smoke stream S mix in the mouthpiece 212.

The configuration of the smoking device 210 of the third embodiment is such that the smoke stream S and the ventilation airflow V, F are kept separate and only mix in the final portion of the mouthpiece 212 just prior to delivery to the mouth. Furthermore, it is only the ventilation air V, which bypasses the smoke stream 5, that encounters the organoleptic material 231, and so the various control surfaces of the ventilation and flavour control mechanism do not encounter the smoke stream S. This arrangement prevents build up of deposits from the smoke stream on the ventilation/flavour control surfaces, with the inherent hygiene benefits and improved mechanism longevity as described above with the first and second embodiments.

Although the smoking device 210 of the third embodiment is descnbed as having one coated passage 226a in the collar 225, variations to this configuration are intended, and the collar 225 may comprise a plurality of coated passages 226a. In such a variation, the flavour control cartridge 223 would include a corresponding plurality of blocking plates 227 such that all coated passages 226a are blocked in the collar's first position -15 -and are exposed for ventilation airflow to pass therethrough in the collar's second position.

It is intended in an ahernative variation of the smoking device 210 of the third embodiment that a mechanism maybe included to selectively open or close the ventilation hole 230 such that a user may select no ventilation air to be mixed with the smoke stream, as well as selecting whether the ventilation air is flavoured or not.

As used herein, the terms flavour' and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where io local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste or aroma in a product for adult consumers.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior smoking apparatus. The advantages and features of the disdosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exchisive. They are presented on'y to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

Claims 1. A smoking device configured to hold a repthceable combustible tobacco rod to be smoked through the device, comprising a body having a first open end configured to removeably receive a tobacco rod and, a second open end in fluid communication with the first open end and through which a user may draw smoke from combustion of the tobacco rod, wherein a smoke flow path is defined within the smoking device for smoke to pass from a tobacco rod received in the device to the second open end of the device, and a ventilation Jo co]ltr& mechanism configured to a&w ambie]lt air into the device to mix with and dilute the smoke stream, wherein the smoke flow path is directed away from the ventilation control mechanism such that at least some of the smoke drawn through the device does not contact the ventilation control mechanism.
2. A smoking device according to daim 1 wherein the ventilation control mechanism is configured to mix ambient air with the smoke stream within the device after the smoke stream exits the end of the tobacco rod held within the device.
3. A smoking device according to claim 1 or claim 2 configured such that the point at which ambient air mixes with the smoke stream is longitudinally displaced relative to the device in a direction downstream of the ventilation control mechanism.
4. A smoking device according to claim 3 wherein the ventilation control mechanism includes at least two components moveable relative to each other which are disposed upstream of point at which the ambient air mixes with the smoke stream within the device. 3°
5. A smoking device according to daim 4 wherein the moveable components comprise a blocking element configured to open or dose a ventHation air flow path through which ambient air can pass to mix with the smoke stream -17-
6. A smoking device according to any preceding claim wherein the smoke flow path bypasses the ventilation control mechanism.
7. A smoking device according to any preceding daim comprising an aperture to receive and retain a distal end of a tobacco rod to be smoked, wherein the smoke flow path extends from the aperture to the second open end of the device.
8. A smoking device according to claim 7 wherein the ventilation control Jo mechanism is disposed upstream of the aperture.
9. A smoking device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein a ventilation path is defined within the smoking device which bypasses the aperture.
10. A smoking device according to daim 9 wherein the ventilation path extends to a mixing chamber downstream of the aperture, in which ambient air may mix with the smoke stream.
ii. A smoking device according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the ventilation path extends from a ventilation space defined within the body upstream of the aperture.
12. A smoking device according to claim ii wherein the ventilation space within the device is continually open to atmosphere.
13. A smoking device according to claim 7 wherein the ventilation control mechanism is disposed downstream of the aperture
14. A smoking dcvicc according to claim 7 of claim 13 wherein a duct extends from the aperture to the second end of the device defining the smoke flow path within the duct.
15. A smoking device according to daim 14 comprising a ventilation path defined within the smoking device which extends around the duct. -18-16. A smoking device according to claim 14 or claim 15 further comprising a mouthpiece at the second end of the body, wherein the device is configured such that ambient air introduced through the ventilation contr& mechanism mixes with the smoke stream in the mouthpiece.17. A smoking device according to claim 16 wherein a portion of the duct is formed integrally with the mouthpiece.iS. A smoking device according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the mouthpiece is detachable from the body.19. A smoking device according to any preceding claim wherein the smoke flow path is isolated from the ventilation contr& mechanism such that the smoke drawn through the device does not contact the ventilation control mechanism.