US20030110639A1

US20030110639A1 - Cigarette air hole puncher

Info

Publication number: US20030110639A1
Application number: US10/025,416
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence Zimmerman III
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-17
Filing date: 2001-12-17
Publication date: 2003-06-19

Abstract

A cigarette air hole puncher composed of a cage (2) and cutting tooth bracket (8). The cage (2) contains a center hole (6) and push button holes (4). The cutting tooth bracket (8) containing springs (10), cutting teeth (16), bump stops (14), and push buttons (12)

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to items that help people quit smoking, specifically to those operated by human influence.

BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Although items that help people quit smoking have been around since the beginning of cigarettes that does not necessarily mean that they are adequate in helping people quit smoking.

a) One example of a product that helps people quit smoking is nicotine gum. The gum provides the user with a dose of nicotine, somewhat similar to that of a cigarette. This in turn lessens the users craving for nicotine therefore reducing the likelihood that they would smoke. However, this is great in that it supplies the user with their needed nicotine however it does not provide them with the sensation of smoking.

b) Another example of a product that lessens a smokers craving but doesn't fulfill all of their needs is the nicotine patch. The patch as with the gum is designed to supply the user with a small amount of nicotine, similar somewhat to the amount that would be found in a cigarette. This as seen before with the nicotine gum is a great idea but it doesn't fulfill the smokers every wants. It leaves the smoker wishing that they still had a cigarette because they miss the action or task of actually smoking the cigarette.

SUMMARY

My cigarette air hole puncher is a device composed of a cutting tooth bracket and a cage. It is also a stop smoking aid that's effectiveness is totally user determined.

Objects and Advantages

Several advantages of my cigarette air hole puncher are:

a) The cigarette air hole puncher that I have created helps a person quit smoking by allowing them to manually govern the ratio of air to smoke that they are inhaling. The user has the ability to customize their cigarette to their liking and to their smoking habits.

b) Since this cigarette air hole puncher is totally user controlled it gives the user all the control over how much nicotine they are inhaling with each cigarette inhalation. This produces a smoke that is more enjoyable because it gives the user the option. It allows the user to customize the cigarette to their own liking or their own smoking habits.

c) Another benefit of this cigarette air hole puncher is that it lessens the amount of cigarette chemicals and additives inhaled with each breath. Therefore creating a cigarette that is safer for the user, and provides them with a smoother smoke.

d) This cigarette air hole puncher is also very versatile in that it allows a smoker to smoke, but at the same time cut back on the amount of tar and smoke that are actually inhaled. This is great in that it allows the smoker to experience the best of both worlds, the ability to smoke, but at the same time know that they are actually cutting back, its all controlled by the user.

DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawings. [0013]
FIG. 1 shows an example of the cigarette air hole puncher cage. [0014]
FIG. 2 shows an example of the cigarette air hole puncher cutting tooth bracket. [0015]
FIG. 3 shows an example of the cigarette air hole puncher cutting tooth bracket closed. [0016]

Reference Numerals In Drawings

2 Cage 4 Cutouts

6 Through Hole 8 Cutting Tooth Bracket

10 Spring 12 Sidewalls

14 Bump Stops 16 Cutting Teeth

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1, 2, 3

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the cage of the cigarette air hole puncher. In FIG. 1 a [0017] cage 2 represents the shell or cage for the cigarette air hole puncher. We refer to 2 as a cage because it contains or holds the other component needed for the cigarette air hole puncher. As can be seen from FIG. 1 push button holes 4 are cut outs in the cage 2. These push button holes 4 allow the user to access the push buttons. A hole 6 can be seen in the center of the cage 2. This allows access for the cigarette air filter.
FIG. 2 shows an example view of the cutting tooth bracket in an open state. In FIG. 2 a cutting tooth bracket [0018] 8 (cutting tooth bracket would be produced as a single piece, all features are part of the said cutting tooth bracket) represents the entire cutting tooth bracket 8 unit. The cutting tooth bracket 8 uses springs 10 to produce a resistant force against push buttons 12. Bump stops 14 are used to stop the cutting tooth bracket 8 from moving inward when closed. Cutting teeth 16 (cutting teeth are shown in the shape of teeth for visual ease, they could actually be spikes or something similar.) are used to puncture the cigarette filter.
FIG. 3 shows an example view of the cutting tooth bracket in a closed state. In FIG. 3 a [0019] cutting tooth bracket 8 represents the entire cutting tooth bracket 8 unit. The cutting tooth bracket 8 uses springs 10 to produce a resistant force against push buttons 12. Bump stops 14 are used to stop the cutting tooth bracket 8 from moving inward when closed. Cutting teeth 16 are used to puncture the cigarette filter.
In order to produce a fully working cigarette air hole puncher the [0020] cutting tooth bracket 8 would be inserted inside the cage 2.
Advantages [0021]
From the description above, a number of advantages of my cigarette air hole puncher become evident: [0022]
(a) This cigarette air hole puncher does not use added chemicals, unlike gum or patches this is safer for the body. This gives my cigarette air hole puncher an advantage over the prior art because it allows the user to manage the effectiveness of the product. All the user has to do is place more air holes into a cigarette to produce a less harmful cigarette. [0023]
(b) It is apparent that by using my cigarette air hole puncher will increase the amount of air to smoke ratio, resulting in a cigarette that produces less smoke. This in turn produces a cigarette that is less harmful for the user. [0024]
(c) By allowing the user the option to decide how effective the cigarette air hole puncher is it allows them to govern their own progression while trying to quit smoking. [0025]
(d) This cigarette air hole puncher is also very versatile in that it allows a smoker to smoke, but at the same time cut back on the amount of tar and smoke that are actually inhaled. This is great in that it allows the smoker to experience the best of both worlds, the ability to smoke, but at the same time know that they are actually cutting back, its all controlled by the user. [0026]
(e) The cigarette air hole puncher is easy to use and operate, considering that it consists of only two parts. These parts being a cage and a cutting tooth bracket. This overall producing a product that is easy to use and operate, while at the same time dependable. [0027]
This overall producing a cigarette air hole puncher that is very affective, easy to use, and dependable. [0028]
Operation—FIGS. 1, 2, [0029] 3
The entire cigarette air hole puncher consists of two main parts a [0030] cage 2 FIG. 1 and a cutting tooth bracket 3 FIG. 2. The cage 2 contains a center hole 6 and two push button holes 4. When the cutting tooth bracket 8 is inserted into the cage 2 it produces a complete cigarette air hole puncher. Once inserted the pushbuttons 12 are accessible through the push button holes 4. This allows the user to operate the cigarette air hole puncher by compressing the push buttons 12 inward. When the push buttons 12 are compressed inward it bends the springs 10 allowing the entire cutting tooth bracket 8 to move inward until stopped by the bump stops 14. Once the cutting tooth bracket 8 is compressed inward the cutting teeth 16 are accessible through the cage 2 center hole 6.
So when a user uses the cigarette air hole puncher they insert a cigarette filter into the [0031] cage 2 center hole 6. The user would then compress the push buttons 12 inward through the push button holes 4 until bump stops 14 stop the inward movement. By doing this it would cause the springs 10 to compress, allowing the cutting teeth 16 to move inward puncturing the cigarette filter. Once the push buttons 12 are released the springs 10 return to their natural open state as seen in FIG. 2. By releasing the push buttons 12 it would also retract the cutting teeth 16 from the cage 2 center hole 6, and would return the push buttons 12 to their operating position inside the cage 2 ready for access by push button holes 4.
Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope [0032]
Accordingly, the reader will see that my cigarette air hole puncher has many advantages over the prior art. The most important of the advantages being that it allows the user to personally manage the amount of smoke and chemicals inhaled during smoking. Another great advantage of the cigarette air hole puncher is that it allows the smoker to continue to smoke while at the same time cutting back on smoke inhalation and tar. My cigarette air hole puncher is also very easy to operate and maintain, as easy as flip-click-smoke. This in overall is a cigarette air hole puncher that is very versatile, easy to use, dependable, and user friendly. Furthermore, my cigarette air hole puncher has the additional advantages in that: [0033]
It permits the user to manage the amount of air holes that are needed for an enjoyable smoke; [0034]
It has the ability to be molded into existing lighters, or can be used as a stand alone unit; [0035]
It has the ability to be produced out of either plastic or metal; [0036]
It has the ability to be formed differently in order to improve ergonomic form; [0037]
It has the ability to be produced in a variety of colors, color not affecting operation; [0038]
It has the ability to be changed in form to perform the same task, inserting holes into a cigarette filter; [0039]
It also has the ability to use a cover so as to protect children from accidents. [0040]
Although the above description contains many advantages, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. [0041]

Claims

I claim:

1. A said cigarette air hole puncher composed of said cage, and tooth bracket, effectiveness being user determined.