DEVICE FOR ACTIVE AND PASSIVE EXTINGUISHING OF A CIGARETTE

Abstract

A cigarette extinguishing device, including a tubular fluid receptacle configured to be disposed within a filter of a cigarette, the fluid receptacle having enclosed therein sufficient fluid to extinguish the cigarette, the fluid being under pressure from compressed air within the fluid receptacle, a diaphragm disposed at an end of the tubular fluid receptacle, the diaphragm being configured to be ruptured by at least one of pressure and heat and being more susceptible to pressure and heat than side walls of the tubular receptacle, and a tube connected to the diaphragm and extending through a tobacco region of the cigarette until a distal end of the cigarette, wherein, when the diaphragm is ruptured, the fluid flows from the fluid receptacle via the tube to a burn region of the cigarette, thereby extinguishing the cigarette.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application gains priority from Israel Patent Application Number 229341 filed Nov. 10, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to the field of cigarettes, and more particularly to methods and devices for preventing fire damage caused by smokers discarding lit cigarettes.

Every year tens of thousands of fires are caused by people discarding unextinguished cigarettes or cigarette butts. According to a report entitled “The Smoking Material Fire Problem” issued in 2007 by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires caused by discarded cigarette butts are a greater cause of death than fires caused by any other means. The report also stated that in the year 2001, 31,200 fires in the U.S. were caused by discarded cigarette butts, resulting in 830 civilian deaths, 1770 civilian injuries, and 386 million dollars in direct property damage.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0132382 discloses cigarette paper with a coating material for Low Ignition Propensity and a fire safe cigarette using such paper. Pre-determined areas 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 predetermined area of the paper. However, such a cigarette may only be extinguished by the burn region reaching the suitable area of the paper, and cannot be actively extinguished by the smoker at will.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to the field of cigarettes, and more particularly to methods and devices for preventing fire damage caused by smokers discarding lit cigarettes.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the teachings herein there is provided a cigarette extinguishing device, comprising:

a tubular fluid receptacle configured to be disposed within a filter of a cigarette, the fluid receptacle having enclosed therein sufficient fluid to extinguish the cigarette, the fluid being under pressure from compressed air within the fluid receptacle;

a diaphragm disposed at an end of the tubular fluid receptacle, the diaphragm being configured to be ruptured by at least one of pressure and heat and being more susceptible to pressure and heat than side walls of the tubular receptacle; and

a tube connected to the diaphragm and extending through a tobacco region of the cigarette until a distal end of the cigarette,

wherein, when the diaphragm is ruptured, the fluid flows from the fluid receptacle via the tube to a burn region of the cigarette, thereby extinguishing the cigarette.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm is configured to be ruptured by a smoker actively applying pressure to the filter, thereby increasing the pressure in the tubular fluid receptacle and rupturing the diaphragm, and as a result of rupturing the diaphragm and due to the pressure within the tubular fluid receptacle, the fluid in the tubular fluid receptacle is injected through the diaphragm and the tube to the burn region regardless of the length of the cigarette when the diaphragm is ruptured.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm is configured to be ruptured by elevated burn temperature in the vicinity of the diaphragm and as a result of rupturing the diaphragm and due to the pressure within the tubular fluid receptacle, the fluid in the tubular fluid receptacle is passively injected through the diaphragm and the tube to the burn region, such that the fluid receptacle is emptied.

In some embodiments, the tubular fluid receptacle comprises a syringe including a compressed spring configured to withstand pressure applied by the fluid in the fluid receptacle, the compressed spring being connected at one end thereof to the diaphragm, and pressure applied by a smoker to the filter of the cigarette causes the compressed spring to be released, thereby rupturing the diaphragm and releasing the fluid via the ruptured diaphragm and the tube to the burn region.

In some embodiments, the diaphragm is configured to be ruptured by elevated burn temperature in the vicinity of the diaphragm, resulting in release of the compressed spring, and as a result of rupturing the diaphragm and due to release of the compressed spring, the fluid in the tubular fluid receptacle is injected through the diaphragm and the tube to the burn region.

In some embodiments, a volume of the compressed air in the tubular fluid receptacle is not greater than 25% of a volume of the tubular fluid receptacle.

In accordance with an aspect of another embodiment of the teachings herein, there is provided a method for fabricating a cigarette, the method comprising:

inserting a tubular fluid receptacle into a cigarette filter, such that the fluid receptacle extends from the proximal area of the filter, through the length of the filter and into a portion of a tobacco region of the cigarette, at the center of the filter;

filling the tubular fluid receptacle with a fire-extinguishing fluid while compressing air within the fluid receptacle, such that the compressed air applies pressure to the fluid within the fluid receptacle;

placing a diaphragm at a distal end of the tubular fluid receptacle, the diaphragm configured to be ruptured by at least one of pressure and heat, the diaphragm being more susceptible to pressure and heat than side walls of the tubular fluid receptacle; and

connecting a tube to the diaphragm distally to the fluid receptacle, such that the tube extends through the tobacco region of the cigarette and enables, when the diaphragm is ruptured, passage of the extinguishing fluid from the fluid receptacle to a burn region of the cigarette thereby to extinguish the cigarette.

In some embodiments, the placing a diaphragm comprises placing a diaphragm configured to be ruptured by at least one of application of pressure to the filter or exposure to elevated temperature caused by burning, such that when the diaphragm is ruptured, due to pressure applied to the fluid by the compressed air in the fluid receptacle, the fluid is injected through the diaphragm and the tube to the burn region and the fluid receptacle is emptied.

In some embodiments, the method also comprises inserting a compressed spring into the tubular fluid receptacle in addition to the fluid, the compressed spring being configured to withstand pressure applied by the fluid in the receptacle and being connected at a distal end thereof to the diaphragm, wherein pressure applied to the filter results in release of the compressed spring and in rupturing of the diaphragm, thereby releasing the fluid in the fluid receptacle to flow via the ruptured diaphragm and the tube to the burn region regardless of the length of the cigarette when the diaphragm is ruptured.

In some embodiments, the placing a diaphragm comprises placing a diaphragm configured to be ruptured by exposure to elevated temperature caused by burning, such that when the diaphragm is ruptured the compressed spring is released and the fluid is injected through the diaphragm and the tube to the burn region.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. In case of conflict, the specification, including definitions, will take precedence.

As used herein, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “having” and grammatical variants thereof are to be taken as specifying the stated features, integers, steps or components but do not preclude the addition of one or more additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof. These terms encompass the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”.

As used herein, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” mean “at least one” or “one or more” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, when a numerical value is preceded by the term “about”, the term “about” is intended to indicate +/−10%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the accompanying figures. The description, together with the figures, makes apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art how some embodiments of the invention may be practiced. The figures are for the purpose of illustrative discussion and no attempt is made to show structural details of an embodiment in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. For the sake of clarity, some objects depicted in the figures are not to scale.

In the Figures:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic partial cut-away views of an embodiment of a device for extinguishing a cigarette according to an embodiment of the teachings herein, in a rest state and in an extinguishing state, respectively; and

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic partial cut-away views of another embodiment of a device for extinguishing a cigarette according to an embodiment of the teachings herein, in a rest state and in an extinguishing state, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention, in some embodiments, relates to the field of cigarettes, and more particularly to methods and devices for preventing fire damage caused by smokers discarding lit cigarettes.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic partial cut-away views of an embodiment of a device for extinguishing a cigarette according to an embodiment of the teachings herein, in a rest state and in an extinguishing state, respectively. The embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B provides for active and passive extinguishing of a cigarette, based on pressured release of a fire-extinguishing fluid.

As seen, a cigarette 10 having a filter 11 and a tobacco region 12 has a tubular fluid receptacle 14 disposed in filter 11. Receptacle 14 typically has a diameter smaller than 3 mm, and has a length suited to the length of the filter 11 of the specific cigarette. Typically, fluid receptacle 14 is placed in the center of filter 11 approximately half a cm from the proximal end of filter 11 such that a proximal end of the fluid receptacle is hidden within filter 11, and has a distal end extending approximately half a cm into tobacco region 12.

The receptacle 14 may be inserted into the filter 11 during manufacturing of the cigarette 10, or may be injected into the filter 11 once the filter is constructed. Receptacle 14 is placed such that it does not interfere with the smoker inhaling the burning tobacco. The receptacle 14 may be formed of any suitable material having any suitable thickness, but in some embodiments is fabricated of nylon having a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm. Receptacle 14 is sealed by a diaphragm 15, as described hereinbelow.

Tubular fluid receptacle 14 has contained therein a fire-extinguishing fluid 16 in a volume sufficient for immediate extinguishing of a cigarette when the fluid engages the burn region of the cigarette, such as, for example, 0.05-0.2 ml or approximately 0.15 ml. The fluid 16 in the receptacle 14 may be any suitable fire extinguishing fluid, such as water, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or any other suitable fire extinguishing fluid. The fluid 16 is inserted into receptacle 14 while compressing air 18 within the receptacle 14, such that the pressure within receptacle 14 is greater than the atmospheric pressure and enables pushing of the fluid 16 from receptacle 14 to the distal end of the cigarette 10, upon activation of the extinguishing mechanism. The pressure to be reached within receptacle 14 is computed based on the ideal gas equation as well known in the art, at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure. In some embodiments, the air pressure within receptacle 14, when filled, is in the range of 2-3 atmospheres. In some embodiments, the compressed air 18 is disposed proximally to fluid 16 within receptacle 14, such that compressed air 18 applies pressure to fluid 16, and when the pressure in receptacle 14 is released compressed air 18 pushes fluid 16 distally toward the burn region of the cigarette 10. In some embodiments, the compressed air 18 fills approximately 25% of the volume of receptacle 14, such that it can apply sufficient pressure to fluid 16, while not applying too much pressure on receptacle 14 and not escaping through the walls of the receptacle 14, through the filter 11, or through other portions of cigarette 10.

Diaphragm 15 disposed at the distal end of receptacle 14 for sealing thereof typically has a generally conical shape, and is sensitive to pressure and to heat, such that application of sufficient pressure and/or heat to diaphragm 15 ruptures the diaphragm and releases the pressure within receptacle 14. In some embodiments, diaphragm 15 is fabricated of very thin nylon, such as nylon having a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm, and is fabricated of a thinner material than the fluid receptacle 14. Due to the thinness of the nylon forming diaphragm 15, increased pressure on receptacle 14 or on diaphragm 15, or an elevated temperature in the vicinity of diaphragm 15, such as the temperature in or adjacent to the burn region of a cigarette, results in rupturing of the diaphragm 15. Due to the fact that diaphragm 15 is fabricated of thinner material than tubular receptacle 14, increased pressure on the receptacle 14 would result in rupturing of diaphragm 15 prior to any damage being caused to the receptacle 14.

A hollow tube 19 is disposed distally to diaphragm 15, and extends through tobacco region 12 from diaphragm 15 toward the end of cigarette 10. Tube 19 typically terminates a short distance from the distal end of the cigarette 10, for example approximately 0.5 cm from the end of the cigarette, such that tube 19 is not visible from the distal end of cigarette 10. In some embodiments, hollow tube 19 is connected to the distal end of tubular receptacle 14 or to the distal end of diaphragm 15. Typically, hollow tube 19 is fabricated to allow fluid 16 to flow therethrough without being absorbed by the tobacco in tobacco region 12. As such, when diaphragm 15 is ruptured, the fluid from receptacle 14 flows through the diaphragm 15 and through hollow tube 19 to the burn region of the cigarette for extinguishing thereof.

In some embodiments, hollow tube 19 is formed of the same tobacco as the tobacco in tobacco region 12, but comprises tobacco that is more dense and/or compressed than the rest of the tobacco, such that the presence of tube 19 in the tobacco region 12 does not affect the taste or smell of the cigarette, and such that any cigarette manufacturer can fabricate the tube 19 from the tobacco used to fabricate the cigarette. In some embodiments, hollow tube 19 is formed of a paper, similar to the paper used to wrap the cigarette. That being said, hollow tube 19 may be formed of any non-toxic material which would prevent the fluid from being absorbed in the tobacco in tobacco region 12.

In use, the cigarette 10 may be extinguished actively by action taken by the smoker, or may be extinguished passively even without human involvement.

When the smoker wishes to actively extinguish cigarette 10, and cannot find a suitable place for doing so, such as an ashtray or the like, the smoker may apply pressure to the center of filter 11 as indicated in FIG. 1B. The pressure applied to the filter 11 increases the pressure within fluid receptacle 14, resulting in rupturing of diaphragm 15 and in release of fluid 16 from receptacle 14 into tube 19. Under the pressure applied by compressed air 18, the released fluid reaches the burn region of cigarette 10 and extinguishes the cigarette, regardless of the length of the cigarette when it is being extinguished. Thus, the smoker can immediately extinguish the cigarette 10 using a single-handed motion and prevent the cigarette from being discarded while burning and constituting a fire hazard.

When the cigarette is burned down and the burn region reaches the area of the filter 11, the excessive heat in the vicinity of diaphragm 15 causes the diaphragm to rupture. Due to the force applied to fluid 16 by compressed air 18, the fluid 16 is released from receptacle 14 and is injected towards tube 19, where it flows until the burn region of the cigarette 10, resulting in automatic, self-caused extinguishing of the cigarette, without requiring active extinguishing of the cigarette by the smoker.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic partial cut-away views of an embodiment of a device for extinguishing a cigarette according to another embodiment of the teachings herein, in a rest state and in an extinguishing state, respectively. The embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B provides for active and passive extinguishing of a cigarette, based on release of a fire-extinguishing fluid under force applied by a compressed spring.

As seen, a cigarette 20 having a filter 21 and a tobacco region 22 has a tubular fluid receptacle 24 disposed in filter 21. Receptacle 24 typically has a diameter smaller than 3 mm, and has a length suited to the length of the filter 21 of the specific cigarette. Typically, fluid receptacle 24 is placed in the center of filter 21 approximately half a cm from the proximal end of filter 21 such that a proximal end of the fluid receptacle is hidden within filter 21, and has a distal end extending approximately half a cm into tobacco region 22.

The receptacle 24 may be inserted into the filter 21 during manufacturing of the cigarette 20, or may be injected into the filter 21 once the filter is constructed. Receptacle 24 is placed such that it does not interfere with the smoker inhaling the burning tobacco. The receptacle 24 may be formed of any suitable material having any suitable thickness, but in some embodiments is fabricated of nylon having a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm, or of a suitable plastic. Receptacle 24 is sealed by a diaphragm 25, as described hereinbelow.

Tubular fluid receptacle 24 has contained therein a fire-extinguishing fluid 26 in a volume sufficient for immediate extinguishing of a cigarette when the fluid engages the burn region of the cigarette, such as, for example, 0.05-0.2 ml or approximately 0.15 ml. The fluid 26 in the receptacle 24 may be any suitable fire extinguishing fluid, such as water, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, or any other suitable fire extinguishing fluid. Also disposed in receptacle 24, proximally to fluid 26 and to diaphragm 25, is a compressed coil spring 27, which is held compressed by the pressure of fluid 26. In some embodiments, a proximal end of spring 27 is disposed within receptacle 24 approximately 1 mm from the proximal end of the cigarette 20. A button 28 is connected to coil-spring 27 at a proximal end thereof, and is configured, when depressed, to release the coil spring 27. In some embodiments, the distal end of spring 27 is connected to the proximal end of diaphragm 25, such that receptacle 24, spring 27, and diaphragm 25 together form an injector or syringe.

Diaphragm 25 disposed at the distal end of receptacle 24 for sealing thereof typically has a generally conical shape, and is sensitive to pressure and to heat, such that application of sufficient pressure and/or heat to diaphragm 25 ruptures the diaphragm and releases the spring 27, thereby resulting in release of fluid 26 from within receptacle 24. In some embodiments, diaphragm 25 is fabricated of very thin nylon, such as nylon having a thickness of approximately 0.1 mm. Due to the thinness of the nylon forming diaphragm 25, pressure applied by release of coil spring 27 or an elevated temperature in the vicinity of diaphragm 25, such as the temperature in or adjacent to the burn region of the cigarette 20, result in rupturing of the diaphragm 25.

A hollow tube 29 is disposed distally to diaphragm 25, and extends through tobacco region 22 from diaphragm 25 toward the end of cigarette 20. Tube 29 typically terminates a short distance from the distal end of the cigarette 20, for example approximately 0.5 cm from the end of the cigarette, such that tube 29 is not visible from the distal end of cigarette 20. In some embodiments, hollow tube 29 is connected to the distal end of tubular receptacle 24 or to the distal end of diaphragm 25. Typically, hollow tube 29 is fabricated to allow fluid 26 to flow therethrough without being absorbed by the tobacco in tobacco region 22. As such, when diaphragm 15 is ruptured, the fluid from receptacle 24 flows through the diaphragm 25 and through hollow tube 29 to the burn region of the cigarette for extinguishing thereof.

In some embodiments, hollow tube 29 is formed of the same tobacco as the tobacco in tobacco region 22, but comprises tobacco that is more dense and/or compressed than the rest of the tobacco, such that the presence of tube 29 in the tobacco region 22 does not affect the taste or smell of the cigarette, and such that any cigarette manufacturer can fabricate the tube 29 from the tobacco used to fabricate the cigarette. In some embodiments, hollow tube 29 is formed of a paper, similar to the paper used to wrap the cigarette. That being said, hollow tube 29 may be formed of any non-toxic material which would prevent the fluid from being absorbed in the tobacco in tobacco region 22.

In use, the cigarette 20 may be extinguished actively by action taken by the smoker, or may be extinguished passively even without human involvement.

When the smoker wishes to actively extinguish cigarette 20, and cannot find a suitable place for doing so such as an ashtray or the like, the smoker may depress button 28 as indicated in FIG. 2B. The pressure applied to button 28 causes the release of coil spring 27, which in turn ruptures the diaphragm 25 thereby releasing fluid 26 from receptacle 24 into tube 29. Under the pressure applied by released spring 27, the released fluid reaches the burn region of cigarette 20 and extinguishes the cigarette, regardless of the length of the cigarette when it is being extinguished. Thus, the smoker can immediately extinguish the cigarette 20 using a single-handed motion and prevent the cigarette from being discarded while burning and constituting a fire hazard.

When the cigarette 20 is burned down and the burn region reaches the area of the filter, the excessive heat in the vicinity of diaphragm 25 causes the diaphragm to rupture and coil spring 27 to be released. Due to the force applied to fluid 26 by released spring 27, the fluid 26 is released from receptacle 24 and is injected towards tube 29, where it flows until the burn region of the cigarette 20, resulting in automatic, self-caused extinguishing of the cigarette, without requiring active extinguishing of the cigarette by the smoker.

It is appreciated that in the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as in the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the extinguished cigarette may be discarded in any bin, without requiring an ashtray or removing the ash from the edge of the cigarette. The volume of fluid in the tubular fluid receptacle is sufficient to fully extinguish the cigarette even if a lot of ash remains on the edge of the cigarette, and the cigarette may be discarded without becoming a fire hazard.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the invention.

Section headings are used herein to ease understanding of the specification and should not be construed as necessarily limiting.

Claims

1. A cigarette extinguishing device, comprising: a tubular fluid receptacle configured to be disposed within a filter of a cigarette, said fluid receptacle having enclosed therein sufficient fluid to extinguish said cigarette, said fluid being under pressure from compressed air within said fluid receptacle;a diaphragm disposed at an end of said tubular fluid receptacle, said diaphragm being configured to be ruptured by at least one of pressure and heat and being more susceptible to pressure and heat than side walls of said tubular receptacle; anda tube connected to said diaphragm and extending through a tobacco region of said cigarette until a distal end of said cigarette,

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said diaphragm is configured to be ruptured by elevated burn temperature in the vicinity of said diaphragm, resulting in release of said compressed spring; and as a result of rupturing said diaphragm and due to release of said compressed spring, said fluid in said tubular fluid receptacle is injected through said diaphragm and said tube to said burn region.

6. (canceled)

7. A method for fabricating a cigarette, the method comprising: inserting a tubular fluid receptacle into a cigarette filter, such that said fluid receptacle extends from the proximal area of said filter, through the length of said filter and into a portion of a tobacco region of said cigarette, at the center of said filter;filling said tubular fluid receptacle with a fire-extinguishing fluid while compressing air within said fluid receptacle, such that said compressed air applies pressure to said fluid within said fluid receptacle;placing a diaphragm at a distal end of said tubular fluid receptacle, said diaphragm configured to be ruptured by at least one of pressure and heat, said diaphragm being more susceptible to pressure and heat than side walls of said tubular fluid receptacle; andconnecting a tube to said diaphragm distally to said fluid receptacle, such that said tube extends through said tobacco region of said cigarette and enables, when said diaphragm is ruptured, passage of said extinguishing fluid from said fluid receptacle to a burn region of said cigarette thereby to extinguish said cigarette, the method further comprising inserting a compressed spring into said tubular fluid receptacle in addition to said fluid, said compressed spring being configured to withstand pressure applied by said fluid in said receptacle and being connected at a distal end thereof to said diaphragm, wherein pressure applied to said filter results in release of said compressed spring and in rupturing of said diaphragm, thereby releasing said fluid in said fluid receptacle to flow via said ruptured diaphragm and said tube to said burn region regardless of the length of said cigarette when said diaphragm is ruptured.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. The method of claim 7, wherein placing a diaphragm comprises placing a diaphragm configured to be ruptured by exposure to elevated temperature caused by burning, such that when said diaphragm is ruptured said compressed spring is released and said fluid is injected through said diaphragm and said tube to said burn region.