The present invention is directed to smokers' articles and, more particularly, to a simulated cigarette device which does not contain tobacco, which is not lit, but which is intended to assist cigarette smokers to quit the habit.
For some thirty years, the public has been made increasingly aware of the dangers and risks of smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products. Once the cigarette habit is obtained, it is very difficult to discontinue. A large percentage of cigarette smokers have been unable to eliminate the habit. As a result, various types of devices and techniques have developed for assisting cigarette smokers to discontinue the potentially harmful practice.
Such approaches include seminars in behavior modification, psychological counseling, hypnotism, lozenges, gum, and other nicotine substitutes. However, there are apparently certain psychological factors which are acquired after years of smoking cigarettes, which cannot be easily satisfied by a lozenge, gum, or other nicotine substitutes. A habitual cigarette smoker enjoys holding the cigarette, putting it in his mouth, and sucking or drawing on it. Medical experts agree that deep breathing provides relief from tension. All of these factors contribute to the enjoyment of the cigarette experience.
There have been some attempts to provide cigarette-like devices for assisting cigarette smokers to discontinue smoking. For example, in the Rosenblatt U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,840, there is disclosed a cigarette-like device which includes a plastic barrel with a removable tip. The tip is actually a molded lozenge and, when it is dissolved by the user, a new lozenge tip is emplaced on the plastic barrel.
The O'Neil, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,936 is an example of an actual cigarette which has tobacco and is lit. An air impermeable block is placed between the combustible material and the filter to prevent the inhalation of any smoke. While this device allows the user to fondle, feel and place the cigarette-like device in his mouth, there is no sensation of sucking, drawing, or puffing on the cigarette. There also appears to be a problem in causing the device to burn.
The Ray U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,089 is exemplary of a device having the approximate dimensions of a cigarette, through which air is drawn, and in which a source of vaporizable nicotine is placed. There is, however, no way to prevent inhalation of smoke, flame, or hot gases should this device be accidentally lit.
In the present invention, however, an attempt is made to provide a cigarette-like device which satisfies the aforesaid psychological factors of holding, fondling, placing the cigarette device between the lips of the user, and sucking, puffing or drawing. The sensation of drawing air into the mouth is accomplished by transverse openings in the simulated filter/regulator or tip which communicate with a longitudinal passageway. There is thus provided for the passage of air through the sides of the regulator and through the longitudinal passageway into the mouth. However, the regulator and barrel are separate components. A sealing means is provided between the longitudinal passageway and barrel to prevent the passage of air from the barrel through the filter into the mouth. Therefore, should the cigarette-like device be lit accidentally, flames, smoke, or hot gases cannot pass through the air regulator into the mouth of the user. The barrel is formed of a non-toxic, self-extinguishing polymeric material so that, even if a match is applied, it is soon extinguished and is therefore not dangerous.
From the standpoint of manufacture, the most economical approach is to extrude a tubular filter/regulator or a cylindrical member having a profile shape extending therethrough. The profile shape can be formed by extruding, then cutting, lengths from continuous stock. One end of the regulator is reduced in diameter to form a cylindrical projection that fits into the barrel. A peripheral groove is cut further into the projection or into another portion of the barrel to intersect the profile and provide a vent means into the core. The end of each filter/regulator adjacent the barrel is then sealed. Alternatively, the filter/regulator can be injection-molded where manufacturing economies warrant the construction of the more expensive die.
In the preferred embodiment, the peripheral groove which provides communication with the hollow profile is formed at the interface between the barrel member and the filter/regulator. The tip is slid longitudinally or rotated within the barrel to adjust the opening to the central core or flue. Thus, the user may adjust the amount of draft he/she receives with each draw.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simulated cigarette that contains no tobacco and is not intended to be lit. Rather, it allows for drawing in a deep breath of air with the potential to provide relief from tension.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated cigarette of the type described which prevents passage of air from the barrel through the tip portion (filter/regulator) to prevent inhalation of flame.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simulated cigarette in which the barrel is formed of non-toxic material.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simulated cigarette which includes air passages in the filter/regulator that allow air to enter transversely and then travel along an interior longitudinal passageway to provide the feel of puffing or drawing the cigarette.