US2827905A - Smoking device - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1958 A. J. GEoFFRloN SMOKING DEVICE Filed Oct. l5, 1954 n www INVENTOR United -States Thislinventionrelates to smoking devices and more par ticularly relates to a smoking device which permits the user toelirninate `or diminish at his election the eect of entryof y.smoke from burning tobacco into the mouth Atindlloraltlpassages of the user. y

AIt-,ispan object lof this invention to provide an improved smoking device .whereby an habitual smoker can go Vthrough the jmotions of lighting or puffing on a cigarette orother article tobe smoked and thereby pacify the im pulsesvresulting `from habit without, however, having the sinokeenter mouth or whereby the smoker can degreasethe amountof smoke entering his mouth as compared to the amount of smoke which would be drawn intlthe .mouth `if the device of this invention were not used.

,Itphas yheretofore been `proposed to provide a smoking device comprising a holder for a cigarette, cigar or the like, a mouthpiece and smo'ke passage means therebetween comprisinga chamber which is separated by a diaphragm .into a zlirst compartment in communication with the holder anda second compartment in communication with themouthpiece, the diaphragm being made of readily deformable material and 'being resiliently maintained to resliently oppose suction applied to the second compartment fromfthe mouthpiece whereby when such suction is applied it is communicated to the iirstV compartment f or'fdrawing `smoke thereinfrom the holder and whereby upon release Vof the suction the diaphragm returns to its normal `positionwith expulsion of smoke from the rst compartment. VIn addition to the smoke passage providing V communication rbetween the holder and the iirst compartment, there maybeva separate outlet passage from the first .compartment Ato the atmosphere and suitable oneway vvalve means for the passages so that smoke may alternately be sucked into the rst compartment through onefpassage and ejected to the atmosphere through the other. yIt is an object `of the invention to provide improvements on smoking devices of this kind.

Featuresof this invention relate to the provision of a by-pass through or about the barrier member whereby, if desired, a controlled amount of smoke drawn into the device `:may be permitted to pass through the device into the mouth of the user. Preferably the amount of smoke whichds thus by-passed may be adjusted according tothe desireof Vthe user at the time.

t According to another feature of this invention, when the, barrier member reaches the extremity of its rearward movement a relief -valve is caused to be opened for admission of air `into the rear compartment so that the user maycontinue Vto apply suction after the barrier member has reached the extremity of its rearward movement without having the flow of air or smoke from the device suddenly cutoff. In this way-the device is accommodated to Itaking either .short pulfs or longer puffs even though the overall size of lthe device is held down to one which is light in Aweight and convenient to handle.

Another 'feature' of this invention resides in the provision of -the barrier member in the form of a piston and in that means is provided whereby the t of the piston within the chamber in the body portion of the device is adjustable so that the user may regulate its response to suction according to individual preference. Moreover, the device may be readily disassembled for making adjustmenu 91 .for leaninst nother feature of this invention resides in the proatent 'ice vision in thepassage for exhausting smoke to the atmosphere from the forward compartment of an exhaust valve box within the device -wherein the exhaust valve for the exhaust passage islocated. Other features of this invention reside in the valve compartment for controlling the inlet and outlet passages for the "forward compartment and in the use therein of ported parts and ap valve means for controllingthe ports. Other `features relate to the provision of means wherebytsmoke emitted from the forward compartment is discharged intothe atmosphere ad jacent the mouth of the user in very much the same way as though the smokehad been drawn into the mouth of the user.

The foregoing and other objects, 'features and advantages of thisinventionwillbe apparent in connection with the following description of the illustrative embodiments of this invention which are -shownin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a llongitudinal cross section of a smoking device embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a section similar to'Fig. 1 of the forward end of the smoking device showing the parts on a larger scale;

Figs. 3 to 9 are transverse sectionstaken on the correspondingly numbered lines `shown in Fig. 2, the scale, however, being that of Fig. `1;

Fig. l0 is a front elevation of the piston; and

Fig. l1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section showing an alternative type of relief valve means ywhich may be employed according to this invention.

Referring to the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. `1 to 10, the smoking device comprises a body portion 10 which has a cylindrical inner surface 11 that provides a smoke'chamber within which there is a slidable piston 12. Secured to the forward end of the body portion 10 there is the nose piece 13 which includes a socket suitable for iholdinga cigarette 14. The socket at the forward end of the nose piece in which the cigarette is inserted preferably is provided with `a metal ferrule 15. While thedevice is .intended primarily for use in smoking cigarettes, nevertheless by suitable change in the congurationof the socket inthe nose piece the device could be used vfor holdingacigan Moreover, by enlarging the cavity at the'forwardend of the nose piece tobacco which has ,not beenpreformedinto a cigar, cigarette or the like could be inserted for smoking. Accordingly, the smoking device of this invention may be lused in the smoking of any type of bodyof tobacco or tobacco substitute.

The nose piece 13 is secured to the body portion 10 by threading 16. An ornamental ring 17 is employed at the regionA of the juncture of the external surfaces of the body portion and nose piece. Any other securing means may likewise .be employed, -such as frictionally engaged telescoping surfaces.

At the rearward `end Aof the device there is secured to the body portion amouthpiece 18 which has a conduit 19 extending therethrough. When suction is applied by the user through the `conduit 19 t`o the rearward compartment of the smoke chamberthis tends to draw the piston 12 rearwardly. The piston 12 is Knormally urged toward the forward en d .of `the smoke. chamber by suitable resilient means such 'as la very 'light spring 20 that has sufficient force for moving the piston 12 forwardly without increasing substantially the Vamount of `suction that is normally employed :in drawing smoke through a cigar or cigarette.

When the piston 12 is retracted, smoke is drawn into the forward compartment in front of the piston. When the piston -is permitted to return to its original forward position under the inuence of the spring 20 the smoke is exhausted `to .the atmosphere. VThe smoke is selectively drawn into the forwardcompartment and exhausted to the atmosphere by suitable one-way valve means for con trolling the passage means4 .through which the smoke is' directed. In the preferred. form thereof smoke from the cigarette or other body of tobacco is drawn from the base of the socket in the nose piece through the passage 21. AThe rearwardend of the nose piece is ,recessed tolreceive a spacing ringp22` fot-,holding a. filtering screen 23 in spaced relationtothe` forward end ofthe recessed por.- `tion so'that ,srnokemay be distributed about the screen 23 for passage therethrough. The, spacing ringV 22 Vand the screen 23 are shown separatelyinFigs. 3 and 4 respectively.

After having passed through the screen 23 the smoke passes through thefopening 24 in a disc 25 shown in Fig. 5. Contiguous with the disc 25 there is the valve disc 26 which includes .a flap Vmember27, the terminalV end of Vwhich is adapted to overlie the opening or port 24 in the disc 25. The valve disc 26, or at least the ap'member 27V thereof, is'composed of easily liexed material such as rubber or soft'plastic material. The member 27. is free to move rearwardly'wlien'the piston 12 is retracted so that smoke can readily be admitted through the opening 24. However, when the piston 12 is moved forwardly under the influence of the spring 20, the Hap member 27 closes the opening 24 so as to prevent the smoke from being expelled' through' the passage 21 to the holding means for the cigarette or the like. The -ap disc 26 is shown separately in Fig. 6.

Rearwardly of the valve disc 26 there is disposed a ring 28 which has'a transverse partition 29.that divides this portion of the device into an inlet exhaust valve box and an outlet exhaust valve box. The ring 28 fits within the side wall of the cup-shaped part 30 which is slidably disposed within and adjacent the forward vend of the recess in the nosepiece and with its transversely disposed closed end o1 bottom plate substantially spaced from the forward end of the recess. Between the bottom of the cup-shaped part 30 and the ring 28 there is disposed an exhaust valve disc 31 having a flap member 31' similar to flap member 27. The exhaust valve disc 31 has a port 32 therein which is in registration with the port 33 in the transversely disposed bottom plate of the cup-shaped part 30 so that smoke may freely pass from the inlet exhaust box which is provided by the ring 28, the partition 29 and the parts 25 and 39 on the opposite sides, respectively, of the ring 28 in the region above the partition 29 when the device is in the position shown in Figs. l and 2. The cup-shaped part 39 has a port 34 therein and the ap member 31 of the exhaust valve disc 31 is adapted to overlie the port 34 within the exhaust valve' box that is provided bythe ring 28, the partition 29 and the parts 25 and 30 on the opposite sides, respectively, of kthe ring 28 in the region below the partition 29 when the device is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the piston 12 is urged forwardly under the influence of the spring 20, the flap member 31' permits the smoke to pass through the port 2,827,905 f i* f Y, f l

The portion of the ring 28 in theregion of the exhaust valve box has a port 35 therein Vwhichis in registration 34 into the exhaust valve box. However, when the piston suitable means may be employed such as the key ridge 61 which protrudes from the inner surface of the recess in the nose piece 13 and which coacts with the notch 62 in the disc -25,the notch 63 in the valve disc 26 and the notch in the external surface of thecup-shaped part 30. The inner surface of the side wall ofthe cup-shaped part 30 is provided with the key ridge 65 which coacts with the e Ynotch 66 inthe valve disc 31 and the notch 67V in the peripheral surface of vthe ringr28. A

with the port 36 in the side wall of the cup-shaped member 30 and these ports likewise are in registration with the port 37 in the side wall of the nose piece 13. Smoke is', therefor free to be exhausted to the atmosphere from the exhaust valve box throughthese ports. y Ifv desired, the smoke may be released to the atmosphere where 'these ports are located. A conduit or passage means 38 is provided whereby smoke expelled from the forward compart- 'ment of the smoke chamber lmay be directedso'asto be 4released adjacent the mouthpiece. ,This conduit may have a hook or harblike part 39 adjacent the 'rearwand end thereof which is adapted to be hookedinto a corresponding recess in the mouthpiece 18 so thatwhenthetube" 38 is so heid the forward end 40 thereof may be snapped into the port 37 in the side wall of the nose piece 13; When the tube 38 has thus been secured in place smoke expelled from the device will emerge from the curved' rearward end 41 thereof adjacent the mouthpieceV in very much the same way as though the smoke had been ta'ken into the mouth of the user and expelled while pufng on ajciga'- rette.

The piston 12 preferably is such that-the sizeof its circumference is adjustable. The external surface of thepis'- ton is providedby the skirt of the part 42. The part 42 also includes a central portion 43 which is both internally and externally threaded. The centralportion 43 has an opening 44 therein. The cup-shaped part 45 has a tapered annular side wall 69, the inner surface of which is threaded for threaded engagement with the external threading of vthe Central portion 43 of the part 42. The rear surface ofV a part 45 has a slot 46 by which the part 45 may berotated by using a dime as a tool. However, any other device for engagement with a suitable toolmay be used.y fBy; rotat,A ing the part 45 relative to the'part 42 the skirt of thepart 42. may be expanded and contracted so thatitscircum'-V ference may be adjusted for providingthe desired Ytit-with the inner cylindrical surface 11 of the bodylportionv 10 of the smoking device. In this way the freedom 4with which the piston is slidable within the cylindrica-l'surface 1l may be adjusted as desired in an attemptto prevent'any substantial passage of smoke between the external surface of the skirt of the piston and the inner cylindrical'lsurface 11. Y Y rn When it is desired that at least some' of "the smoke which is drawn into the device shall.Y pass'intothe' rear compartment and thence through the V conduit 19 into-fthe mouth of the user, suitable by-passmeansl is-provi'dedfsin` the piston itself. This by-pass meanscomprises the ,open-j ing 44 in the central portion 43 of the part 42, theopening 47 in the part 45 and the ducts 48 in the plug 49 which is'in Y threaded engagement with the internal threadingofV the central portion 43 of the part 42. For the purpose `of making the by-pass means adjustable ythe plug 49 is lprovided with the tapered projection 50 which coacts-With the Vopening 44 to provide a needle'valve that is capableof adjustment-by rotation of the plug 49 relatively to the part 42. So that this adjustment may be readily made the plug 49 is provided with a dime slot 51. By `suitably adjusting the needle valve by rotation of the plug 49 any desired amount of smoke within limits may be permittedl to pass through `the piston` so as to be carried through- As shown in Figj l0,A

admission of air into the rear compartment whenthe pisj; ton 12 hasbeen fully retracted..v For' this'V purpose the `embodiment shown in Figs. 1 tolO includes a duct 53 having a valve 54 therein that normally, is held in closed position by a spring 55 to control the .admission of air through the duct 53 into the rear compartment. When the piston 12 is fully retracted the back of the piston strikes the forwardly projecting end of the valve 54 so as to open the valve and thereby permit the admission of air through the duct 53 so that the user can continue to draw through the conduit 19 in the mouthpiece air or air commingled with smoke. i

ln Fig. 1.1 alternative air valve means is shown in the form of a ring 56 which is slidable within the cylindrical inner surface lll-of the body portion and which is normally held slightly spaced forwardly of the rearward end of the cylindrical surface 11 by the easily compressible spring member 57 so as to close off the port 58 which leads to the outer atmosphere. As with the type of valve shown in Fig. 1, the modified form of valveshown in Fig. 11 is operable by the back of the piston striking the ring 56 so as to wholly or partially uncover the port 58. In order to hold the ring 56 in position for normally covering the port 5S any suitable means may be used such as oneor more pins 59 removably held by the side wall of the body portion and the inner end of which is freely slidable in the slot 60 in the ring 56 to the extent determined by the rearward end ofthe slot.

While the device may include the screen 23 in the position shown and hereinabove described, a smoke filtering screen may, if desired, be employed at the base of the socket in the nose piece 13 as illustrated by the screen 68 which also is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Similarly other modifications in the smoking device of this invention may be made as compared with the particular device that has been discled in the accompanying drawings and in the foregoing description thereof without departing from the scope of this invention.

In use, when a cigarette, for example, is placed in the socket it may be lighted in the usual way while the user applies suction with his mouth at the mouthpiece to aid in getting it lighted. When the passage through the piston is completely closed the resulting smoke will merely till the smoke chamber yduring retraction of the piston and when the suction is discontinued the smoke` will be expelled by the normal tendency of the piston to return to its original position. Uponl thereafter intermittently sucking on the device in the usual way during smoking, the action will be repeated and the cigarette will be consumed in substantially the same manner and with substantially the same appearance as though the smoke actually entered the users mouth.

On the other hand, if the passage through the piston is adjusted so as to be in fully opened position, the device may be used as a conventional cigarette holder with the smoke passing therethrough tothe mouth of the user and with little or no incidental movement of the piston. Thus one is enabled, if he should desire to do so, to smoke during a particular day a stated number of cigarettesl in the conventional way and then, by making a simple adjustment, continue to smoke without, however, having the smoke enter his mouth.

Alternatively, the device may be used to Vpermit some smoke, but only a portion thereof, to enter the mouth ofthe user and the device is capable of adjustment for any proportion desired between when no smoke passes through to the users-rnouth and when all the smoke that is drawnv through the cigarette passes through to the users mouth. In such a case, the smoke permitted to pass through to the users mouth may be mixed with air, and the piston will be partially or wholly retracted depending on the duration of the drag and the proportion of the smoke that `is permitted to pass through the piston. In this way the user may reduce under predetermined control and to any desired extent the amount of smoke permitted to enter his mouth. Of course, each time the applied suction -is discontinued and the piston returns to its original position smoke in the forward compartment will be pushed `out of the device except for a very small amount that may pass through the passage in the piston while the piston is returning to its origina-l position. v

During any of the foregoing ways of using the device of this invention the duration of suction or drag may be effected according to whatever is natural to the user for, as aforesaid, if the piston becomes fully retracted before the applied suction is discontinued the passage to the atmosphere becomes automatically opened so that suction of air, or smoke and air, may continue.

I claim:

l. In a smoking device comprising a body portion having a hollow interior providing a smoke chamber, holding means secured to said body portion adjacent the forward end thereof for holding a body of tobacco, a mouthpiece secured to said body portion at the rearward end thereof, a barrier member which divides said chamber into a forward compartment and a rear compartment and which is movable relative to said chamber for varying the capacity of said compartments, a conduit extending through said mouthpiece providing communication between said rear compartment and an aperture adjacent the rearward end of said mouthpiece, rst passage means providing a passage for smoke from said holding means into said forward compartment, one-way valve means for permitting passage of smoke from said holding means into said forward compartment through said first passage means and for preventingtpassage of smoke from said forward compartment to said holding means, second passage means providing a passage for smoke from ysaid forward compartment to the atmosphere, one-way valve means in said second passage means for permitting passage of smoke from said forward compartment to the atmosphere and for preventing passage of air in the lopposite direction through said second passage means into said forward compartment, and resilient means that normally urges said barrier means for diminishing the capacity of said forward compartment with expulsion of smoke through said second passage means and that is yieldable responsive to suction applied through said conduit for increasing the capacity of said forward compartmena and thereby drawing smoke therein from said holding means through said first passage means, the improvement comprising duct means providing communication betweentthe atmosphere and the interior of said rear compartment, valve means which controls passage of air from the atmosphere through said duct means, means for maintaining said valve means normally closed and means for opening said valve means responsive to movement of said kbarrier means in the direction for diminishing the capacity of said rear compartment when said barrier means is adjacent the extremity of such movement for permitting the drawing of air through said duct means and said conduit into the mouth of a user.

2. In a smoking device comprising a body portion having a hollow interior providing a smoke chamber, holding means secured to said body portion at the forward end thereof for holding a body of tobacco, a mouthpiece secured to said body portion at the rearward end thereof, a barrier member which divides said smoke chamber into a forward compartment and a rear compartment and which is movable relative to said chamber for varying the capacity of said compartments, a conduit extending through said mouthpiece providing communication between said rear compartment of said chamber and an aperture adjacent the rearward end of said mouthpiece, first passage means providing a passage for smoke from said holding means into said forward compartment, oneway valve means in said first passage means for permitting passage of smoke from said holding means into said forward compartment and for preventing passage of smoke from said forward compartment to said holding means, second passage means providing a passage for smoke from said forward compartment to the atmosphere, one-way valve means in said second passage means for permitting passage of smoke from said forward corn- Apartment to theatmosphere and preventing passage of air in the opposite direction through said second passage means into said forward compartment, resilient means that normally urges said barrier means for diminishing the capacity of said forward compartment with kexpulsion of smoke through said second passage means andthat is yieldable responsive to suction applied through said conduit for increasing the capacity of said forward compartment for drawing smoke therein from said holding means through said first passage means, the improvement comprising a by-pass passage communicating between said forward compartment and said rear compartment whereby a portion of the smoke drawn from said holding means into said forward compartment passes through said by-pass into said rear compartment and thence into the mouth of a user.

3. In a smoking device having a holder for a body of tobacco and a mouthpiece at opposite ends, smoke passage means therebetween and smoke control means in Vsaid passage means, the improvement wherein said smoke control means comprises a wall enclosing an elongated chamber in said smoke passage means, a piston slidably mounted within said chamber which divides said charnber into a forward compartment in communication with ksaid holder and a rear compartment in communication with said mouthpiece, resilient means which normally maintains said piston adjacent the forward end of said chamber and which is yieldable responsive to suction applied from the mouth of a smoker, one-way valve means in said smoke passage means which permits the passage of smokefrom said holder into said forward compartment and prevents passage of smoke in the opposite direction, outlet passage vmeans for the passage of smoke from said forward compartment to the atmosphere, and one-way Valve means in-said outlet passage means which permits passage of smoke from said forwardV compartment to the atmosphere and prevents passage of air in the opposite direction.

4. A smoking device according to claim 3 wherein said piston has a passage therethrough for permitting smoke from said forward compartment to pass to said rear compartment and adjusting means for adjusting the capacity of said passage for smoke passing therethrough.

5. A smoking-deviceaccording to claim 4 wherein said adjusting means has a scale associated therewith indicative of different amounts of smoke passing therethrough at different settings thereof. Y

6. A smoking devicev according to claim 3 which includes aV duct for admitting air into said rear compartment, valve means for controlling passage of air through said duct, means for maintaining said valve means normally closed, and means for opening said valve means responsive to rearward movement of said piston-when said piston is adjacent the rearward extremity of its rearward movementfor admitting air into said rear compartment. Y

7. A smoking device according to claim 6 wherein said piston comprises a skirt member and means for adjusting said skirt member for obtaining desired sliding contactvwith the inner surface of said chamber.

8. A smoking device according to claim 3 which includes a transversely disposed plate located at the forward end of said chamber and at the rear of a valve compartment disposed between said plate and said holder, said plate having therein an inlet port disposed in said smoke passage means lcommunicating with said holder and an outlet port disposed in said outlet passage means, and a partition in said valve compartment separating said smoke passage means from said outlet passage means, said oneway valve means in said smoke passage and in said outlet passage, respectively, being Within said valve compartment. Y

19. A smoking device according to claim 3 which includes a transversely disposed plate located at the for- Y ward end of said Vchamber' and at the rear of a valve compartment between said plate andl said holder, said plate having therein an inlet port disposed in said smoke passagemeans communicating with said holder and an outlet port disposed in said outlet passage means, an outlet ap valve comprising said outlet port and a exible ap member overlying said outlet port within said valve compartment, a second inlet port in said smo-ke passage means at the forward end of said valve compartment, an inlet iap valve comprising said second inlet port and a exible ilap member overlying said second inlet port Awithin said valve compartment, and means within said valve compartment for separating said outlet passage means from said smoke passage means.

1G. A smoking device according to claim 3 which includes a plate removable from the rear of said holder, a smoke ltering screen disposed between said plate and said holder leaving a smoke distributing space between it andthe rear of said holder, said smoke passage means communicating between said holder and said chamber comprising said screen and a port in said plate behind ysaid screen.

11,'A smoking device according toclaim 3 wherein said discharge passage comprises a conduit extending from adjacent the forward end of said forward compartment to said mouthpiece for discharge of smoke from the forward compartmentinto the atmosphere adjacent and infront of the mouth'of a user.

l2. A smoking device according, to claim 3 which comprises Va passage through said piston for permitting smoke from said forward compartment to pass to said rear compartment, adjustingmeans for adjusting the capacity of said passage for smoke passing therethrough, a skirt member comprised in said piston, means for adjusting said skirt member for obtaining desired sliding contact with the inner surface of said chamber, a duct for admitting air into said rear compartment, valve means for controlling passage of air through said duct, means for maintaining said valve means normally closed, means for opening said valve means responsive to rearward movement of said piston when said piston is adjacent the rear ward extremity of its rearward movement, arfirst plate member transversely disposed and removable from the rear of said holder, a smoke filtering screen between said plate member and said holder having a smoke distributing space between it and the rear of said holder, said smoke passage` means communicating between s aid holder and said chamber comprising said smoke ltering screen and a port in said iirst plate member behind said screen, said one-way valve in said smoke passage means comprising said port and a ilexible flap member covering said port on the rear, surface of said irst plate member, a second plate member disposed transversely substantially rearwardly spaced from said first plate member, said second plate member having an inlet port disposed in said smoke passage means and an outlet port disposed in said outlet passage means, and said one-way valve means in said ont- Vlet passage means comprising a flexible flap member adapted to cover said outlet port Vat the front surface Yof said second plate member, and partition means disposed between said first `'and second plates for separating said outlet passage meansfrom said smoke Vpassage means communicating between said holder and said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent f I Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 26,952' Great Britain 1903 UNITED STATES PATENT GEFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent Nd, 827,905 March 25, 195s Arthur J o Geoffrion It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of' the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 20, after "port 58.," insert the following sentence: es.: While any readily eompressible spring means may be used for providing the spring member 57, that shown in Fig, ll consists of" a ring of thine gauge zig-zag spring metal which is adapted to be flattened sufficiently to permit the opening of the port 58 when light pressure is applied thereto by the ring 56g, ee; column 6, line 43, strike out nmene" and insert de ment column '77, lines 63 and 64, strike out "includesH and insert instead e comprises ee.,

Signed and sealed this 19th dey of August 1958*,

een

Attest;

KARL H; AXLINE Attesting O'cer ROBERT C. WATSON Commissioner of Patents

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