US3508558A - Cigarette filter - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1970 B. M. SEYBURN CIGARETTE FILTER Filed March 19, 1969 II \Q I IIAI' II/IAI'II/III INVENTOR BERNARD M. SEYBURN I flvm 4/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent O US. Cl. 131261 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A smoke filtering element for cigarettes comprises a water filled resilient inner capsule substantially but not completely filling the interior of a resilient outer capsule. The outer capsule has a smoke inlet port at one end and a smoke outlet port at the other end, these ports being eccentrically located on diametrically opposite sides of the outer capsule axis, to create a swirling flow pattern to the smoke as it passes through the annular space between the two capsules. The water may be released at the time the cigarette is lit by squeezing together the sides of the two capsules, thus forcing water out of tiny orifices in the inner capsule to coat the interior surface of the outer capsule and the exterior surface of the inner capsule. Upon squeezing, the capsules are temporarily deformed and return to their original shape thereafter for repeated squeezing and release of additional water as desired.

This invention relates to water type smoke filters for cigarettes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional cigarette provided with the filter of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the filter of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the filter of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filter of FIG. 2, viewed in the direction of arrows 44 of FIG. 2.

vFIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the outer capsule of a modified filter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a cigarette having the improved filter 12 of this invention at one end, with the substantial portion of the length of the cigarette being packed with tobacco 14. The entire assembly is wrapped in conventional cigarette paper 16, with an adhesive bonding the filter 12 to the paper to retain it within the cigarette. A thin porous separator disk 18, fabricated of paper or sponge or any other suitable material, separates filter 12 from tobacco 14.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, filter 12 generally comprises a hollow cylindrical outer capsule 20, the interior of which is substantially but not entirely occupied by a hollow inner capsule 22 filled with water 24. The ends of outer capsule are enclosed by end walls 26, each of which has an elongated port 28 of small diameter formed therein. In the illustration the left end would represent the smoke inlet port and the right end the smoke outlet port. It will be now understood that porous disk 18 prevents any tobacco from blocking smoke inlet port 28. Typical overall dimensions for the body of outer capsule 20 could be about A" diameter and 1 in length.

Inner capsule 22 has a series of small projections spaced around and along its exterior, to preserve the concentricity between the two capsules, so that a fully open annular space is maintained between the two capsules. Inner capsule 22 is further provided with a plurality of tiny orifices 32, shown in exaggerated proportion in FIGS. 2 and 4, which are sufficiently small that the surface ten- "ice sion of the water effectively blocks the orifices to normally prevent leakage or evaporation of water from the inner capsule.

Both the inner and outer capsules are fabricated of a substantially rigid but resilient material, such as vinyl. The resiliency is necessary so that when the side walls of outer capsule 20 are squeezed together at the time of use, thus partially collapsing the side walls of both capsules, both capsules will return to their original shape and position after release of pressure, so as to re-establish the necessary annular space between the two capsules. A material such as vinyl is soft enough that tiny orifices actually effectively reseal themselves following puncture during fabrication thus further assuring the normal seal prior to activation by squeezing.

In use, the smoker squeezes together or bites the filter end of the cigarette immediately prior to lighting up. This collapses the side walls of outer capsule 20, with this deformation being transmitted to the side walls of inner capsule 22 by means of projections 30. As inner capsule 22 collapses, the water is forcefully expelled through the minute orifices 32. The water sprays out and coats at least some of the inner surface of outer capsule 20 and at least some of the outer. surface of inner capsule 22. There is little tendency for the water to escape from outer capsule 20 via inlet or outlet port 28, because the surface tension of the water effectively blocks such ports due to their small diameter and relatively large length. Thus, there is no danger of the water soaking the tobacco or leaking out into the smokers mouth.

Once the cigarette is lit, the inhaling action by the smoker draws the smoke through port 28 at the left end of filter 12 and into the interior of outer capsule 20. The smoke flows through the annular space between the capsules, and out through the outlet port 28 at the right end of the filter.

An important feature of this invention is that the smoke establishes a swirl or spiral flow pattern through this annular space. This attern is assured by reason of the unique design of this filter. In the first place, inlet and outlet ports 28 are eccentrically located relative to the central longitudinal axis of outer capsule 20', and are located on diametrically opposite sides of such axis. Secondly, inner capsule 22 is long enough to substantially fill the length of outer capsule 20. Thus, when smoke enters the inlet port, it immediately strikes the left end of inner capsule 22, and is deflected to the annular space between the two capsules. Since the smoke must exit on the diametrically opposite side of this annular space, the smoke assumes a spiral swirling pattern around the outside of inner capsule 22. Since some of the exterior surface of inner capsule 22 and some of the inner surface of outer capsule 20 are both coated with a film of water, the smoke is in effect washed by this water as it travels through this annular gap, thus removing a substantial portion of the nicotine and tars therefrom.

The filtering and coating process begins immediately as the smoke enters the filter. The hot smoke strikes the water-coated surfaces of the interior of the outer capsule, causing a substantial immediate deposition of nicotine and tars and a substantial cooling of the smoke. Continued deposition and cooling occurs as the smoke swirls along the length of the filter.

Not only is the smoke cooler but it is also humidified prior to entering the smokers mouth. Since conventional filters generally reduce smoke humidity, and since the smoking process bypasses the humidifying function of the human nose, this feature of the filter of this invention substantially reduces the irritation caused by the smoke.

While liquid-filled cigarette filters are not new, the improvement of the present invention lies in the completeness of the washing, filtering, cooling andlhumidifying action. These results are enhanced by the fact that the water is exposed directly to the smoke, over a large area, rather than in the form of a moisture laden absorbent medium.

The relatively small size of inlet and outlet ports 28 and the relatively small cross-sectional area of the annular space within the outer capsule combine to reduce the volume of smoke entering the smokers mouth, without unduly increasing the difficulty of drawing.

By way of minor modifications of the above described embodiment, projections 30 could alternatively be formed on the inner surface of outer capsule 20, the important factor being only the establishment and maintenance of a full annular gap. Also, some type of supplementary thin disc-like wad could close off the right end of the cigarette, to conceal filter 12. Furthermore, the water or other liquid in the inner capsule can be flavored or scented if desired. Rather than utilizing minute orifices in the inner capsule to normally seal the capsule, a frangible or rupturable construction could be used, designed to rupture when squeezed.

A modified version of the improved filter 34 is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the left end of outer capsule 36 is illustrated, the right end being similarly constructed. End wall 38 is provided with inlet port 40, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. The inner capsule (not illus- 1 trated) would be identical to that of the above described capsule.

This invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims. Accordingly, the above specification is to be interpreted as illustrative of only two operative embodiments of this invention, rather than in a strictly limited sense.

I now claim: 1. A tobacco smoke filtering element for use in a cigarette or the like, comprising:

an elongated hollow cylindrical outer capsule having enclosing end walls at its respective ends, each end wall having a single entry port to permit fiow of smoke through said outer capsule, the diameter of said ports being small relative to the inner diameter of said outer capsule, and said ports being eccentrically located on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said outer capsule;

an elongated hollow cylindrical inner capsule disposed within said outer capsule and dimensioned so as to substantially but not completely fill both the inner diameter and inner length of said outer capsule, said inner capsule having releasably sealed openings and being normally filled with water normally sealed therein, said water being selectively and repeatedly manually releasable therefrom; spacer means within said filtering element to maintain said inner capsule concentric with said outer capsule to establish a full annular space between the outer surface of said inner capsule and the inner surface of said outer capsule; said inner and outer capsules being both fabricated of resilient material, whereby the application of a radial squeezing force on the sides of said outer capsule causes local and temporary inward deformation of said outer capsule, the collapse of which in turn similarly applies a squeezing and temporary deforming force to said inner capsule to expel the water therefrom through said releasably sealed openings and cause said water to coat at least a portion of the inner Walls of said outer capsule and a portion of the outer walls of said inner capsule, both capsules returning to their original shape thereafter for subsequent squeezing and release of additional water as desired. 2. The filtering element of claim 1 wherein said inner capsule releasably sealed openings comprise a plurality of minute orifices spaced along its side walls, said orifices being small enough to normally prevent leakage or evaporation of water from said inner capsule.

3. The filtering element of clair 1 wherein the surfaces of at least one of the capsules defining said annular space are helically grooved.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,614 7/1891 Gonzalez.

3,125,100 3/1964 Jany.

3,297,038 1/1967 Homburger 13110.5 3,334,636 8/1967 Zuber 13110.1 3,366,121 1/1968 Carty 131l0.1 3,388,707 6/1968 Harris 131261 3,428,049 2/ 1969 Leake et a1. 1319 X SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner J. H. CZERWONKY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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