WO2018146666A1

WO2018146666A1 - Device for extinguishing a smoking item

Info

Publication number: WO2018146666A1
Application number: PCT/IL2017/050155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tzvi DERI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-02-08
Filing date: 2017-02-08
Publication date: 2018-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-08
Also published as: US20200029617A1; WO2018146668A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for extinguishing a smoking item such as a cigarette or a cigar. The device includes a container adapted to store a fire extinguishing agent. An opening of the container is covered with a frangible membrane. The filter further includes one or more prongs that are configured to move from a first position in which the prongs do not pierce the membrane, and a second position in which the prongs pierce the membrane. Movement of the prongs from the first position to the second position can occur by applying pressure to the smoking item containing the device. Upon piercing of the membrane, the extinguishing agent is expelled from the container into the burn region of the smoking item to extinguish the smoking item.

Description

DEVICE FOR EXTINGUISHING A SMOKING ITEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices and methods for extinguishing a smoking item such as a cigarette or a cigar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various devices are known for use with of smoking items, such as a cigarette or a cigar, to extinguish the smoking item.

For example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0132382 discloses cigarette paper with a coating material for low ignition propensity. Parts of the paper are coated with a coating material which lowers the porosity of the cigarette paper, resulting in extinguishing of the cigarette when the burn region reaches the coated areas of the paper

US Patent 4,436, 101 teaches a filter-tip cigarette having a compressible enclosed vessel inside the filter-tip and extending into the compacted tobacco of the smoking item. The cigarette has a spout ending in a small wax -plugged hole. The plugging-wax is ejected under pressure of created by either decomposed carbonic acid and/or by resulting carbon dioxide gas and compacting pressure on the exterior walls of the enclosed vessel resulting from compressing pressure applied to exterior walls of the filter-tip.

US Patent 4,226,249 discloses a cigarette fire extinguishing burnable insert disposed within a cigarette. An elongated tube is connected with a fluid filled reservoir adjacent the filter end of the cigarette. A frangible wall separates the reservoir from the elongated tube. Manually collapsing the cigarette at the reservoir end ruptures the frangible wall and exhausts the liquid through the tube to quench the cigarette fire cone.

International Patent Publication WO 2015/068170 discloses a cigarette extinguishing device having a tubular fluid receptacle configured to be disposed within a filter of a cigarette and enclosing fluid to extinguish the cigarette. The fluid may be under pressure from compressed air within the fluid receptacle. A diaphragm disposed at an end of the tubular fluid receptacle is rupturable by pressure and/or heat. When the diaphragm is ruptured, the fluid flows from the fluid receptacle to a burn region of the cigarette, thereby extinguishing the cigarette.

SUMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, in one of its aspects, the invention provides a device for extinguishing a smoking item, the device being configured for attachment to a smoking item, the device comprising:

(a) a container configured to contain an extinguishing agent;

(b) a frangible membrane covering an opening of the container; and

(c) one or more prongs, each of the one or more prongs being

movable from a first position in which the prong does not pierce the membrane to a second position in which the prong pierces the membrane.

The device device of the invention may be embedded in a filter for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar. The membrane may be configured to withstand pressure applied to the membrane by the extinguishing agent. The device may further contain an extinguishing agent in the container. The container may be a slender tube.

At least one of the prongs may be in the form of a needle. The container may be a slender tube with the needle is located inside the tube. In which case, the device may further comprise: (a) a pusher inside the tube surrounding the needle configured to slide along the needle inside the tube and form a fluid tight seal between the needle and an interior wall of the tube; and

(b) an annular stop immobilized inside the tube.

The device may contain an extinguishing agent stored in the tube between the stop and the membrane. The device may further comprise a first spring between the stop and the pusher. The device may further comprise a second spring between a knob on the needle and the stop.

The device when a prong is the form of a needle, the needle may be a hollow needle with an eyelet is present in a wall of the needle.

The one or more prongs may be configured to move from the first position to the second position upon application of pressure to an end of the filter. The one or more prongs may be configured to move from the first position to the second position upon squeezing of the device.

One or more of the prongs may be attached to the container. In which case, the one or more prongs may be configured to move from the first position to the second position upon squeezing the device or squeezing a filter containing the device or squeezing a smoking item to containing the device. The prongs in the first position may be outside the membrane or have tips located inside the membrane when the prongs are in the first position.

In the device of the invention, the membrane may ruptured spontaneously prior to contact of the burn region of the smoking item containing the device with the prongs.

The device of the invention may comprise: (a) a triangular knob at a proximal end of the needle, and (b) a pair of wedges, the wedges being configured to move towards the triangular knob when the device is squeezed to cause the needle to move distally and pierce the membrane.

The device of the invention may comprise a pair of levers attached to or coupled with a the needle near a proximal end of the needle , the levers being configured to move towards each other when the device is squeezed to cause the needle to move distally and pierce the membrane. The membrane may be configured to rupture from heat from a burn region of a smoking item.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a filter comprising a device of the invention.

In yet another of its aspects, the invention provides a system comprising a filter comprising a device of the invention and a smoking item attached to the filter. The smoking item may be provided with a channel extending along a length of the smoking item. The channel may have a wall made from tobacco or paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a filter containing a device for a smoking item in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the filter of Fig. 1 after loading with an extinguishing agent;

Fig. 3 shows the ring of the filter of Figs 1 and 2 in greater detail;

Fig. 4 shows the filter of Figs. 1 and 2 after mounting onto a smoking item;

Fig. 5 shows the filter of Figs. 1 and 2 after attachment onto a smoking item and release of the extinguishing agent into the smoking item;

Fig. 6 shows spontaneous extinction of a smoking item attached to the filter of Figs 1 and 2;

Fig. 7 shows a filter containing a device for a smoking item in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows the filter of Fig. 7after loading with an extinguishing agent;

Fig. 9 shows the filter of Figs. 7 and 8 after mounting onto a smoking item;

Fig. 10 shows the filter of Figs. 7 and 8 after attachment onto a smoking item and release of the extinguishing agent into the smoking item;

Fig. 11 shows spontaneous extinction of a smoking item attached to the filter of

Figs 7 and 8; Fig. 12 shows a filter containing a device for a smoking item in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 shows the filter of Fig. 12 after loading with an extinguishing agent;

Fig. 14 shows the filter of Figs. 12 and 13 after mounting onto a smoking item;

Fig. 15 shows the filter of Figs. 12 and 13 after attachment onto a smoking item and release of the extinguishing agent into the smoking item;

Fig. 16 shows spontaneous extinction of a smoking item attached to the filter of Figs 12 and 13;

Fig. 17 shows a filter containing a device for a smoking item in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 18 shows the filter of Fig. 17 after loading with an extinguishing agent;

Fig. 19 shows the filter of Figs. 17 and 18 after mounting onto a smoking item;

Fig. 20 shows the filter of Figs. 17 and 18 after attachment onto a smoking item and release of the extinguishing agent into the smoking item; and

Fig. 21 shows spontaneous extinction of a smoking item attached to the filter of Figs 17 and 18;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figs. 1 and 2 show a filter 2 for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar including a device adapted to extinguish a burning smoking item to which it is attached, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The filter 2 is shown in Fig. 1 prior to loading the filter 2 with an extinguishing agent, and Fig. 2 shows the filter 2 after loading with an extinguishing agent.

The filter 2 has a cylindrical shell 4 made for example, from paper, having a proximal end 6 and a distal end 8. The cylindrical shell 4 surrounds a lumen filled with a filter material 10. The filter material 10 may be, for example, any material commonly used in filters for smoking items, such as cellulose acetate fiber, paper, activated charcoal, macroporous phenol-formaldehyde resins or asbestos.

Inside the filter material 10 is a slender tube 12. The tube 12 terminates at it its proximal end a distance from the proximal surface of the filter material 10, so that the proximal end of the tube 12 is not visible from outside the filter 2. The tube 12 terminates at distal end 8 in a nozzle 9. The tube 12 may have a circular cross-section having a diameter of less than 3 mm so as not to interfere with the smoking of the smoking item to which the filter 2 is attached. The tube 12 may be formed from any suitable material such as nylon. The thickness of the tube wall may be, for example, about 0.5 mm. A stop 14 having an annular shape is immobilized inside the tube 12 so as to divide the tube 12 into a proximal section 16 and a distal section 18. A needle 20 extends inside the tube 12 passing through a central hole 22 in the annular stop 14. At the proximal end of the needle 20 is a knob 24, and the distal end of the needle 20 terminates in a sharp point 26. The needle 20 may be a hollow needle, in which case, an eyelet 27 may be present in the wall of the needle 20 near the distal end of the tube 12. The needle 20 may have any desired profile, and the point 26 of the needle 20 may have any shape.

A helical spring 28 surrounds the needle 20 in the distal section 18 of the tube 12. The proximal end of the spring 28 abuts with the distal surface of the stop 14. The distal end of the spring 28 abuts a pusher 30. The pusher 30 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. The pusher 30 has a central hole 32 through which the needle 20 passes. Circumferential ribs 34 around the exterior surface of the pusher 30 create a fluid tight seal between the pusher 30 and the interior surface of the tube 12, even as the pusher 30 slides in the distal section 18 of the tube 12, as explained below. Inner ribs 36 around the hole 32 create a fluid tight seal between the wall of the hole 32 and the needle 20, even as the pusher 30 slides along the needle 20 in the distal section 18 of the tube 12.

The distal section 18 of the tube 12 serves as a reservoir for a fire extinguishing agent. The fire extinguishing agent may be any known extinguishing agent, such as water, potassium bicarbonate, or sodium bicarbonate. Prior to filling the distal section 18 of the tube 12 with the fire extinguishing agent (Fig. 1), the spring 28 is at its resting length and extends from the stop 14 to the pusher 30. An extinguishing agent is introduced into the distal section 18 of the tube 12 though the nozzle 9 under pressure. As the extinguishing agent enters the distal section 18 of the tube 12, the pusher 30 is forced to slide proximally along the needle 20 causing the spring 28 to be compressed between the stop 14 and the pusher 30, as shown in Fig. 2. The extinguishing agent 38 (indicated by hatching in Fig. 2) is stored in the distal section 18 of the tube 12 between the pusher 30 and the distal end of the tube 12. After filling the distal section 18 with the extinguishing fluid, the nozzle 9 is covered with a frangible membrane 40 to prevent escape of the extinguishing agent through the nozzle 9. The membrane 40 can be made from any frangible material capable of withstanding the pressure applied to the membrane by the extinguishing agent. When completely filled, the distal section 18 of the tube 12 should contain sufficient extinguishing agent to extinguish the burn region of the smoking item 42 to which it is to be attached, depending on the size of the smoking item. For an average cigarette, for example, the distal section 18 of the tube 12 may contain about 0.05-0.2 ml of the extinguishing agent. As a specific example, the distal section 18 of the tube 12 may contain about 0.15 ml.

The filter 2 is attached to a smoking item 42 such as a cigarette or cigar, as shown in Fig. 4. The smoking item 42 has a central channel 44 that is coaxial with the tube 12 of the filter 2 when the filter 2 is attached to the smoking item. The wall of the central channel 44 may be formed, for example, from a dense layer of tobacco. As shown in Fig. 5, when it is desired to extinguish the smoking item 42, pressure is applied to the proximal end 6 of the filter 2. The pressure is transferred from the proximal end 6 of the filter 2 to the knob 24 at the proximal end of the needle 20. This causes the needle 20 to slide distally inside the tube 12 until the distal end of the needle 20 contacts the frangible membrane 40 and pierces the membrane 40. Piercing of the membrane 40 allows the compressed spring 28 to expand. Expansion of the spring 28 pushes the pusher 30 distally along the needle 20 so as to expel the extinguishing agent through the nozzle 9 into the channel 44 of the smoking item 42 (Fig. 5). The extinguishing agent flows though the central channel 44 into the burn region 46 of the smoking item 42 and disperses throughout the burn region 46 to extinguish the burn region 46 of the smoking item. If the needle 20 is a hollow needle, and an eyelet 27 is present in the wall of the needle 20, the extinguishing agent may also escape from the distal section 18 of the tube 12 by passing through the eyelet 27 into the interior lumen of the needle and out through the distal end of the needle.

As shown in Fig. 6, the membrane 40 may spontaneously tear when the burn region of the smoking item approaches the membrane 40. Heat in the burn region can cause the membrane 40 to rupture resulting in release of the extinguishing agent into the burn region. This can prevent a fire from developing when, for example, an unextinguished cigarette butt is tossed onto flammable material, such a forest floor or a mattress.

Figs. 7 to 11 show a filter 50 for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar containing a device adapted to extinguish a burning smoking item to which it is attached, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. The filter 50 has several components in common with the filter 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, and components in the filter 50 similar to corresponding components in the filter 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals without further comment. The filter 50 is provided with a second helical spring 52 that surrounds the needle 20 in the proximal region 16 of the tube 12. The filter 50 is shown in Fig. 7 prior to loading the filter 50 with an extinguishing agent and Fig. 8 shows the filter 50 after loading with an extinguishing agent and sealing with the frangible membrane 40. Fig. 9 shows the filter 50 after attachment to a smoking item prior to release of the extinguishing agent from the tube 12, and Fig. 10 shows the filter 50 after release of the extinguishing agent from the tube 12. .

As shown in Fig. 10, depression of the distal end of the filter 50 causes the needle

20 to slide distally inside the tube 12 to pierce the membrane 40 and release the extinguishing agent from the tube 12 into the burn region 46 of the smoking item 42 as described above with reference to the filter 2. As the needle slides distally, the spring 52 is contracted. After releasing the pressure from the distal end 6 of the filter 50, the spring 52 causes the needle 20 to slide back proximally and regain its original position as in Figs. 8 and 9, so that the distal end of the needle 20 is retracted back into the tube 12 and does not protrude into the smoking item.

As shown in Fig. 11, with reference to the filter 50, the membrane 40 may spontaneously tear when the burn region of the smoking item approaches the membrane 40. Heat in the burn region can cause the membrane 40 to rupture resulting in release of the extinguishing agent into the burn region. This can prevent a fire from developing when, for example, an unextinguished cigarette butt is tossed onto flammable material, such a forest floor or a mattress.

Figs. 12 to 16 show a filter 60 for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar adapted to extinguish a burning smoking item to which it is attached, , in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. The filter 60 has several components in common with the filter 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, and components in the filter 60 similar to corresponding components in the filter 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals without further comment. The filter 60 is provided with a triangular knob 62 that replaces the knob 24 of the filter 2. On both sides of the knob 62 is short wedge 64. The filter 60 is shown in Fig. 12 prior to loading the filter 60 with an extinguishing agent and Fig. 13 shows the filter 60 after loading with an extinguishing agent and sealing with the frangible membrane 40. Fig. 14 shows the filter 60 after attachment to a smoking item prior to release of the extinguishing agent from the tube 12.

As shown in Fig. 15, squeezing the proximal end 6 of the filter 60 shifts the wedges 64 towards each other. Bringing the wedges 64 closer to each other results in a depression of the knob 62 and sliding of the needle 12 in the distal direction. The needle 20 pierces the membrane 40 to release the extinguishing agent from the tube 12 into the burn region 46 of the smoking item 42 as described above with reference to the filter 2.

As shown in Fig. 16, with reference to the filter 60, the membrane 40 may spontaneously tear when the burn region of the smoking item approaches the membrane 40. Heat in the burn region can cause the membrane 40 to rupture resulting in release of the extinguishing agent into the burn region. This can prevent a fire from developing when, for example, an unextinguished cigarette butt is tossed onto flammable material, such a forest floor or a mattress.

Figs. 17 to 21 show a filter 70 for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar containing a device adapted to extinguish a burning smoking item to which it is attached, , in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention. The filter 70 has several components in common with the filter 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, and components in the filter 70 similar to corresponding components in the filter 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals without further comment. The filter 70 is provided with a pair of prongs 62 attached to the outer surface of the nozzle 9. The filter 70 is shown in Fig. 17 prior to loading the filter 70 with an extinguishing agent and Fig. 18 shows the filter 70 after loading with an extinguishing agent and sealing with the frangible membrane 40. Fig. 19 shows the filter 70 after attachment to a smoking item 42 prior to release of the extinguishing agent from the tube 12. As shown in Fig. 20, squeezing the proximal end of the smoking item 42 around the prongs 62 causes the prongs 62 to move towards the membrane 40 so as to pierce the membrane 40. The prongs 62 may pass over the membrane 40 and pierce the membrane 40 from the outside, or pass under the membrane 40 prior to piercing and pierce the membrane from the inside. The prongs 62 may be configured to pierce the membrane 40 at the center of the membrane 40. This causes release the extinguishing agent from the tube 12 into the burn region 46 of the smoking item 42 as described above with reference to the filter 2.

As shown in Fig. 21, with reference to the filter 70, the membrane 40 may spontaneously tear when the burn region of the smoking item approaches the membrane 40. Heat in the burn region can cause the membrane 40 to rupture resulting in release of the extinguishing agent into the burn region. This can prevent a fire from developing when, for example, an unextinguished cigarette butt is tossed onto flammable material, such a forest floor or a mattress.

Figs. 22 to 26 show a filter 80 for a smoking item such as a cigarette or cigar containing a device adapted to extinguish a burning smoking item to which it is attached, , in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. The filter 80 has several components in common with the filter 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 6, and components in the filter 80 similar to corresponding components in the filter 2 are indicated with the same reference numerals without further comment. The filter 80 is provided a pair of levers 72 attached to, or coupled with, the outer surface of the needle 20 near the proximal end of the needle 20. The filter 80 is shown in Fig. 22 prior to loading the filter 80 with an extinguishing agent and Fig. 23 shows the filter 80 after loading with an extinguishing agent and sealing with the frangible membrane 40. Fig. 24 shows the filter 80 after attachment to a smoking item prior to release of the extinguishing agent from the tube 12.

As shown in Fig. 25, squeezing the proximal end 6 of the filter 80 shifts the levers 72 towards each other causing a distal movement of the needle 20. The needle 20 pierces the membrane 40 to release the extinguishing agent from the tube 12 into the burn region 46 of the smoking item 42 as described above with reference to the filter 2. The levers 72 may be attached to the surface of the needle 20. Alternatively, movement of the levers 72 may be coupled to movement of the needle 20 without attachment of the levers 72 to the needle. For example, two or more protrusions 75 can be affixed onto the outer surface of the needle 20. Squeezing the levers 72 will result in pressing the protrusions 75 causing the needle 20 to move distally. The protrusions 75 would also limit the distal movement of the needle 20 when the protrusions 75 contact the stop 14, as shown in Fig. 24.

As shown in Fig. 26, with reference to the filter 80, the membrane 40 may spontaneously tear when the burn region of the smoking item approaches the membrane 40. Heat in the burn region can cause the membrane 40 to rupture resulting in release of the extinguishing agent into the burn region. This can prevent a fire from developing when, for example, an unextinguished cigarette butt is tossed onto flammable material, such a forest floor or a mattress. The prongs 62 may be configured so that rupture of the membrane 40 occurs prior to contact of the burn region with the prongs.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for extinguishing a smoking item, the device being configured for

attachment to a smoking item, the device comprising:

(a) a container configured to contain an extinguishing agent;

(b) a frangible membrane covering an opening of the container; and

(c) one or more prongs, each of the one or more prongs being movable from a first position in which the prong does not pierce the membrane to a second position in which the prong pierces the membrane.

2. The device according to claim 1 embedded in a filter for a smoking item or in a smoking item.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the membrane is configured to withstand pressure applied to the membrane by the extinguishing agent.

4. The device according to any one of the previous claims further containing an extinguishing agent in the container.

5. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein the container is a slender tube.

6. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein at least one prong is in the form of a needle.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the container is a slender tube and the needle is located inside the tube.

8. The device according to claim 7 further comprising:

(a) a pusher inside the tube surrounding the needle configured to slide along the needle inside the tube and form a fluid tight seal between the needle and an interior wall of the tube; and

(b) an annular stop immobilized inside the tube.

9. The device according to claim 8 further containing an extinguishing agent stored in the tube between the stop and the membrane.

10. The device according to claim 8 or 9 further comprising a first spring between the stop and the pusher.

11. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 10 further comprising a second spring between a knob on the needle and the stop.

12. The device according to any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein the needle is a hollow needle and an eyelet is present in a wall of the needle.

13. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein the one or more prongs are configured to move from the first position to the second position upon application of pressure to an end of the filter.

14. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein the one or more prongs are configured to move from the first position to the second position upon squeezing of the device.

15. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein one or more of the prongs are attached to the container, and the one or more prongs are configured to move from the first position to the second position upon squeezing the device or squeezing a filter containing the device or squeezing a smoking item to containing the device.

16. The device according to claim 15 wherein the prongs in the first position are outside the membrane.

17. The device according to claim 15 wherein the prongs have tips located inside the membrane when the prongs are in the first position.

18. The device according to any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the membrane is ruptured prior to contact of the burn region with the prongs from heat from a burn region of a smoking item..

19. A device according to claim 3 further comprising: (a) a triangular knob at a

proximal end of the needle, and (b) a pair of wedges, the wedges being configured to move towards the triangular knob when the device is squeezed to cause the needle to move distally and pierce the membrane.

20. A device according to claim 3 further comprising a pair of levers attached to or coupled with the needle near a proximal end of the needle , the levers being configured to move towards each other when the device is squeezed to cause the needle to move distally and pierce the membrane.

21. The device according to any one of the previous claims wherein the membrane is configured to rupture from heat from a burn region of a smoking item.

22. A filter comprising a device according to any one of the previous claims.

23. A system comprising a filter according to claim 20 and a smoking item attached to the filter.

24. The system according to claim 21 wherein the smoking item is provided with a channel extending along a length of the smoking item.

25. The system according to claim 22 wherein the channel has a wall made from tobacco or paper.