WO2005074730A2

WO2005074730A2 - Apparatus for cessation of smoking

Info

Publication number: WO2005074730A2
Application number: PCT/IL2005/000153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yisrael Bar; Rafi Koren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-09
Filing date: 2005-02-07
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2006-08-09
Also published as: WO2005074730A3

Abstract

A smoker's article including a smoking element holder (114) and an air conduit (102) associated with the smoking element holder (114) and being adapted to be held in the mouth of a smoker so as to provide an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside, thereby interfering with inhalation on the smoking element (118).

Description

APPARATUS FOR CESSATION OF SMOKING

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/543,323, filed

February 9, 2004 entitled "APPARATUS FOR CESSATION OF SMOKING" the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby claimed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(a) (4) and (5)(i). FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smoker's articles generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following U.S. published patent documents are believed to represent the current state of the art: 6,769,436 and 6,257,242.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a smoker's article which is intended to reduce the health dangers of smoking. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a smoker's article including a smoking element holder and an air conduit associated with the smoking element holder and being adapted to be held in the mouth of a smoker so as to provide an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside, thereby interfering with inhalation on the smoking element. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the smoker's article also includes a lip mount onto which the smoking element holder and the air conduit are mounted. Preferably, the lip mount is formed as a longitudinal channel In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the air conduit is mounted directly onto the lip mount. Alternatively, the lip mount includes a top portion and the air conduit is formed within the top portion of the lip mount. In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention the air conduit is arranged perpendicular with respect to the lip mount. Alternatively, the air conduit is arranged at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the lip mount. Preferably, the air conduit is formed with a one-way filter which is adapted to prevent the smoker's mouth fluids from exiting the smoker's mouth via the air conduit. In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the smoking element holder is mounted onto the lip mount. Preferably, the smoking element holder includes a pair of arms configured so as to together define a split ring. There is also provided in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for inhalation prevention including providing a smoking element holder having an air conduit associated therewith and holding the smoking element holder and the air conduit in the mouth of a smoker thus providing an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside, thereby interfering with inhalation on the smoking element. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes providing a lip mount onto which the air conduit is mounted and placing the lip mount over the lower lip of the smoker, such that the air conduit prevents sealing of the user's lips by providing an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside. In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention the method also includes providing a one-way filter associated with the air conduit, the one way filter preventing the user's mouth fluids from exiting the mouth via the air conduit. BRΪEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken m conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operative orientation; Figs. 2 and 3 are respective end view and top view illustrations of the smoker's article of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operative orientation; Figs. 5 and 6 are respective end view and top view illustrations of the smoker's article of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operative orientation; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respective end view and top view illustrations of the smoker's article of Fig. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. 1 - 3, which illustrate a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operative orientation. As seen in Figs. 1 - 3, the smoker's article preferably is an integrally formed article, made of plastic, which includes a lip mount portion 100, preferably in the form of a longitudinal channel, onto which is mounted a hollow air conduit 102, preferably arranged at an angle with respect to the lip mount portion 100. Air conduit 102 preferably has a rear facing end portion 104 having a circumferential surface 106 formed with slots 108, forward of which is formed a one-way filter portion 109. Open rearward and forward ends 110 and 112 are additionally formed in air conduit 102. Integrally formed with lip mount portion 100 there is preferably provided a cigarette holder portion 114, comprising a pair of arms configured so as to together define a split ring 116 which is adapted to retain a cigarette 118. As seen in Fig. 1, the smoker's article is preferably employed by placing the lip 5 mount portion 100 over the lower lip of a user such that the air conduit 102 extends between the lips of the user and even between the user's teeth and prevents sealing of the user's lips. A cigarette 118 also extends inwardly between the lips of the user. It is appreciated that with the smoker's article in place as shown in Fig. 1, and the air conduit 102 providing an air channel between the interior of the user's mouth and 10 the exterior, the user is unable to inhale on the cigarette 118, since he cannot develop sufficient vacuum in his mouth due to the presence of the air channel defined by the air conduit. The one-way filter portion 109 ensures that saliva will not exit the user's mouth through air conduit 102. The inability to inhale on the cigarette is believed to significantly reduce health dangers of smoking. 15. Reference is now made to Figs. 4 - 6, which illustrate a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operative orientation. As seen in Figs. 4 - 6, the smoker's article preferably is an integrally formed article, made of plastic, which includes a lip mount portion 200, preferably in the form 20 of a longitudinal channel, onto which is mounted a hollow air conduit 202, preferably arranged perpendicularly with respect to the lip mount portion 200. Air conduit 202 preferably has a rear facing end portion 204 having a circumferential surface 206 formed with slots 208, forward of which is formed a one-way filter portion 209. Open rearward and forward ends 210 and 212 are additionally formed in air conduit 202. 25 Integrally formed with li mount portion 200 there is preferably provided a cigarette holder portion 214, comprising a pair of arms configured so as to together define a split ring 216 which is adapted to retain a cigarette 218. As seen in Fig. 4, the smoker's article is preferably employed by placing the lip mount portion 200 over the lower lip of a user such that the air conduit 202 extends 30 between the lips of the user and pushes against the user's teeth, forcing the lower lip forwardly and prevents sealing of the user's lips. A cigarette 218 also extends inwardly between the lips of the user. It is appreciated that with the smoker's article in place as shown in Fig. 4, and the air conduit 202 providing an air channel between the interior of the user's mouth and the exterior, the user is unable to inhale on the cigarette 218, since he cannot develop sufficient vacuum in his mouth due to the presence of the air channel defined by the air conduit. The one-way filter portion 209 ensures that saliva will not exit the user's mouth through air conduit 202. The inability to inhale on the cigarette is believed to significantly reduce health dangers of smoking. Reference is now made to Figs. 7 - 9, which illustrate a smoker's article constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in Figs. 7 - 9, the .smoker's article preferably is an integrally formed article, made of plastic, which includes a lip mount portion 300, preferably in the form of a longitudinal channel, including a rear wall portion 302 and a forward wall portion 304. Rear wall portion 302 is formed with a generally rectangular cutout 306 defined by a pair of side walls 308 and a forward facing wall 310 which extends parallel to forward wall portion 304 of the lip mount portion 300. In the center of rear wall portion 302 of lip mount portion 300 is formed a hollow air conduit 312, preferably arranged perpendicular with respect to the lip mount portion 300, which terminates at a rearward end thereof at forward facing wall 310 of rectangular cutout 306. Air conduit 312 preferably has a rear facing end portion having a circumference 314 as well as open forward end 316, and preferably includes at a rearward end thereof a one-way filter portion 318.

Integrally formed with lip mount portion 300 there is preferably provided a cigarette holder portion 320, comprising a pair of arms configured so as to together define a split ring 322 which is adapted to retain a cigarette 324. As seen in Fig. 7, the smoker's article is preferably employed by placing the lip mount portion 300 over the lower lip of a user such that the air conduit 312 extends between the lip of the user and the user's teeth and prevents sealing of the user's lips. Typically, rear wall portion 302 engages a front surface of the user's teeth. A cigarette 324 also extends inwardly between the lips of the user. It is appreciated that with the smoker's article in place as shown in Fig. 7, and the air conduit 312 and cutout 306 providing an air channel between the interior of the user's mouth and the exterior, the user is unable to inhale on the cigarette 324, since he cannot develop sufficient vacuum in his mouth due to the presence of the air channel defined by the air conduit and the cutout. The one-way filter portion 318 ensures that saliva will not exit the user's mouth through air conduit 312. The inability to inhale on the cigarette is believed to significantly reduce health dangers of smoking. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove as well as modifications thereof which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing specification and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A smoker's article comprising: a smoking element holder; and an air conduit associated with said smoking element holder and being adapted to be held in the mouth of a smoker so as to provide an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside, thereby interfering with inhalation on said smoking element.

2. A smoker's article according to claim 1 and also comprising a lip mount onto • which said smoking element holder and said air conduit are mounted.

3. A smoker's article according to claim 2 and wherein said lip mount is formed as a longitudinal channel

4. A smoker's article according to either of claims 2 and 3 and wherein said air conduit is mounted directly onto said lip mount.

5. A smoker's article according to either of claims 2 and 3 and wherein said lip mount includes a top portion and said air conduit is formed within said top portion of said lip mount.

6. A smoker's article according to any of claims 2 - 5 and wherein said air conduit is arranged perpendicular with respect to said lip mount.

7. A smoker's article according to any of claims 2 - 5 and wherein said air conduit is arranged at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to said lip mount.

8. A smoker's article according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said air conduit is formed with a one-way filter which is adapted to prevent the smoker's mouth fluids from exiting the smoker's mouth via said air conduit.

9. A smoker's article according to any of claims 2 - 8 and wherein said smoking element holder is mounted onto said lip mount.

10. A smoker's article according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said smoking element holder comprises a pair of arms configured so as to together define a split ring.

11. A method for inhalation prevention comprising: providing a smoking element holder having an air conduit associated therewith; and holding said smoking element holder and said air conduit in the mouth of a smoker thus providing an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside, thereby interfering with inhalation on said smoking element.

12. A method for inhalation prevention according to claim 11 wherein said method also comprises: providing a lip mount onto which said air conduit is mounted; and placing said lip mount over the lower lip of said smoker, such that said air conduit prevents sealing of the user's lips by providing an airflow passageway extending between the interior of the smoker's mouth and the outside.

13. A method for inhalation prevention according to either of claim 11 and 12 and also comprising providing a one-way filter associated with said air conduit, said one way filter preventing the user's mouth fluids from exiting the mouth via said air conduit.