AU688546B2

AU688546B2 - Smokers ventilation apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU688546B2
Application number: AU30384/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Petrovic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-28
Filing date: 1995-08-31
Publication date: 1998-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-31
Also published as: AU3038495A

Description

Our Ref: 557241 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT r r c Applicant(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Paul Petrovic Lot 5 Sunny Corner Road Meadow Flat New South Wales 2795

AUSTRALIA

DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Smokers ventilation apparatus The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 -1- SMOKERS VENTILATION APPARATUS The present invention relates to a smokers ventilation apparatus.

It is now widely recognised in the community and documented in medical literature that passive smoking can be detrimental to human health. For this reason, it is becoming common for smoking to be prohibited in enclosedc spaces such as for example, work-places, restaurants and hotels, public buildings and transport vehicles. It is also becoming increasingly common for smoking to be prolhibited in outdoor areas which may be frequented by many people, such as for example sporting venues.

•This smoking prohibition however results in further problems as those persons who smoke are forced to go elsewhere in order to do so. While this may be inconvenient V for smokers it is also quite costly for employers who are obliged to allow employees 15 periodic breaks from their work during which time they can smoke, normally in a designated area.

It is therefore with these problems in mind that the present invention has been conceived, and it is an object of tile present invention to provide an apparatus which will allow smokers to smoke without allowing substantial amounts of smoke to emanate into the air space surrounding the smoker.

It is also an object of the present invention to address some of the problems associated with passive smoking, as referred to above.

Therefore, according to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a smokers ventilation apparatus comprising a smoke chamber, a conduit and a vent, which when in use in an area will allow a person to smoke while substantially preventing smoke emanating into said area; said smoke chamber being adapted to receive said conduit such that a distal portion of said conduit is contained within said smoke chamber and such that a proximal, mouthpiece portion of said conduit protrudes from said smoke chamber; said smoke chamber also provided with closable access means; said conduit provided with engaging means for smokers combustibles or a receptacle adapted to contain the smokers b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb\557241\mkr:24.08.95 -2combustibles, which in association with an air inlet means located on said distal portion of said conduit, also being provided with an air outlet means equipped with valve means to prevent air entering said conduit therethrough; said vent being connected to said smoke chamber to allow passage of air from said smoke chamber to another area.

The present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of the smokers ventilation apparatus according to the present invention; ,,FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the smoke chamber of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the smoke chamber of the present invention showing the access means in the open position and the ash removal means S "removed from its position within the smoke chamber; FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of a distal portion of the conduit; FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the valve means associated with the air outlet means; FIG. 6 is a cutaway side view of the proximal or mouthpiece portion of the conduit; FIG. 7 is a side view of the conduit; FIG. 8 is a side view of the receptacle adapted to contain smokers combustibles.

Referring to Fig. 1 it can be seen that the smokers ventilation apparatus 1 of the present invention consists of a smoke chamber 2, a conduit 3 which can be fitted within the smoke chamber 2 and a vent 4 which allows smoke within the smoke chamber 2 to be transferred away from the vicinity of the smoker.

b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb\557241\mkr:24.08.95 -3- Referring also to Figs 2 and 3 it can be seen that the smoke chamber 2 comprises a chamber which can be of any desired shape or configuration, although the example of the smoke chamber 2 shown in Figs 2 and 3 has four sides a top and a base. The smoke chamber 2 requires a communication or join with the vent 4 which is preferably located at an upper region of the smoke chamber 2. In a preferable situation the smoke chamber 2 is also equipped with one or more apertures 5 such that when a smokers combustible is combusted within the smoke chamber 2 a convectional air current can be set up by allowing warm smokey air to exit the smoke chamber 2 through the vent 4 and cool air to enter the smoke chamber 2 through the apertures 5 which are located at a lower region of the smoke chamber 2.

The smoke chamber 2 must also be provided with a hole 6 through which a proximal portion 7 of the conduit 3 can penetrate. It is possible when the conduit 3 is Sretained within the smoke chamber 2 that if there is enough air space at the hole 6 that 15 it will not be necessary to have apertures 5 as the hole 6 would satisfactorily perform this function.

The smoke chamber 2 is also equipped with a means for receiving or supporting the conduit 3. In the case of the example shown in Figs 2 and 3 this receiving and 20 supporting function is carried out by a shelf 8 which extends from a side of the smoke chamber 2. It is of course possible for the receiving or supporting function to be carried out in any number of ways such as for example by an indentation within the wall of the smoke chamber 2 or other suitable means.

Another feature of the smoke chamber 2 is an access means 9 whic!h is closable.

In Fig. 2 the access means is shown in its closed position while in Fig. 3 the access means is shown in an open position. The purpose of the access means is to allow both the conduit 3 to be removed and/or replaced within the smoke chamber 2 and also to allow smokers combustibles and/or a receptacle containing smokers combustibles to be fitted within the conduit 3 and/or lit when in place within the smoke chamber 2. In the example shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 the access means comprises a hinged door which is on the front side of the smoke chamber 2 and is hinged about the top of the smoke chamber 2. Of course, the invention is not limited to this particular arrangement of the bMdisc 03:wpdocs\rninb\557241\mkr:24.08.95 -4access means 9 so that the access means could in fact be a door or wing which swings about a side fitted hinge or could even be that a lower portion of the smoke chamber 2 is adapted to swing about a hinge or is detachable relative to an upper portion of the smoke chamber 2. Such arrangements are mentioned by way of example only however, and it is to be recognised that the access means 9 merely needs to carry out the functions of allowing the conduit 3 to be removed/replaced within the smoke chamber and to allow access to the conduit when fitted within the smoke chamber 2.

As shown in Figs 2 and 3, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the smoke chamber 2 has a front face 10 angled from its bottom to its top towards the smoke chamber 2. The front face 10 has a hinge 11 at its top which joins the front face 10 to the top of the smoke chamber 2. In this way, the front face 10 comprises the access :i means 9 which can be opened by drawing the front face 10 forward from its bottom. The access means 9 can then be closed easily by allowing gravity to draw the front face downwards. Gravity will also cause the front face to rest substantially flush against side walls of the smoke chamber 2 in order to prevent a substantial amount of air escaping from the smoke chamber 2 through joins between the front face 10 and the sides of the smoke chamber 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, sealing means will be provided in conjunction with joins between the front face 10 and sides of the smoke chamber 2. These sealing means may comprise for example ubberised or elastomeric strips attached to the front face or sides of the smoke chamber 2 at the contact points.

A further, preferred feature of the smoke chamber 2 according to the present invention is an ash removal means. In the examples of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the ash removal means comprises a tray or draw which sits within the bottom of the smoke chamber 2 and can be slidably removed therefrom. Fig. 3 shows the ash removal means 12 when removed from the smoke chamber 2. It is of course possible however, for the ash removal means 12 to be configured in a different manner such as for example having a bottom portion of the smoke chamber 2 which can hingably open or can be clipped on/off in order to remove ash from the smokers combustible which has been combusted within the smoke chamber 2. It is also possibie that the ash removal means 12 could be configured in such a way that it is really one and the same as the access means 9 as described above.

b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb\557241\mkr:24,08.95 In the example of the ash removal means 12 shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the ash removal means 12 is held fast in position and aided in its removal by rollers 13 which are fitted to the side walls of the smoke r;hamber 2 and which engage with an upper surface of the ash removal means 12. A handle 14 is also provided on the ash removal means 12 to aid its removal and insertion within the smoke chamber 2.

Figs. 4 to 7 are illustrative of the conduit according to the present invention. It can be seen from Fig. 7 that the conduit comprises a tube or pipe having a proximal mouthpiece portion 7 and a distal portion 16. Although in the example shown in the drawings the proximal portion 7 can be detached from the distal portion 16, it is also possible that the two components can be integral or in fact that the conduit 3 can be shaped quite differently as long as it allows the passage of air within and has a 2.mouthpiece opening 17, air inlet means 18 and an air outlet means 19. The air inlet means 18 and air outlet means 19 are to be located on the distal portion 16 of the conduit 3, in order that when the conduit 3 is fitted within the smoke chamber 2 the air inlet means 18 and air outlet means 19 will be contained within the smoke chamber 2.

Associated with the air inlet means 18 there must also be an engaging means 20. The engaging means 20 is adapted to receive a smokers combustible or a receptacle which is adapted to contain smokers combustibles. The engaging means 20 must fit flush about the smokers combustible or receptacle in order that air drawn through the air inlet means 18 will also be drawn through the smokers combustible or receptacle rather than between gaps surrounding the smokers combustible or receptacle within the engaging means This type of flush fitting can be achieved simply by sizing the engaging means 20 such that the smokers combustible or receptacle must be slightly distorted or compressed when being fitted within the engaging means 20. Similarly, it is also possible to have the engaging means 20 manufactured from a material which is somewhat elastomeric (although which will not have its integrity altered by the type of heat which it is likely to be subjected to) in order that the engaging means 20 will expand about the smokers combustible or receptacle fitted therewithin.

The air outlet means 19 is equipped with a valve means which is designed to prevent air being drawn into the conduit 3 through the air outlet means 19. While any suitable valve means can be utilised, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a ball type valve means b;\disc 03:wpdocs\nimb\557241\rnkr:24.08.95 -6may be appropriate. This ball type valve means operates by having a ball 21 resting upon the orifice 22 of the air outlet means 19. The ball rests within a concave surface 23 about the orifice 22 in order that when air pressure within the conduit 3 adjacent to the orifice 22 is low the ball will be drawn over the orifice 22 to prevent the passage of air from the air outlet means 19 into the conduit 3. Similarly, when air pressure within the conduit 3 adjacent to the orifice 22 is high the ball 21 will be displaced from its position over the orifice 22 to allow air to escape through the air outlet means 19.

Having this valve arrangement allows air to be drawn into a smokers combustible or receptacle containing smokers combustibles engaged within the engaging means 20 and through the conduit 3 and proximal mouthpiece portion 7 by applying a negative Fressure to the mouthpiece opening 17. This process will take place when a smokler draws air into 0OOS the conduit 3 by applying his or her mouth to the mouthpiece opening 17. The smoker can then release a breath of smoky air by blowing it back into the conduit through the 15 mouthpiece opening 17. This smoky air will then pass through the conduit 3 and be expelled from it through the air outlet means 19. The reason that air will not exit through the air inlet means 18 is that the smoky air will preferentially follow the path of least resistance which will be through the air outlet means 19 by displacing the ball 21 from the orifice 22.

As shown in Fig. 5 the air outlet means 19 can be comprised of a cap 24 which can be threadably engaged over the ball 21 and orifice 22 in order to satisfactorily contain 0 the ball 21 therewithin, and also to allow cleaning of the air outlet means 19.

Preferably the conduit 3 will be manufactured from a suitable wood, although it is also possible for it to be manufactured from a metallic or plastics material, although it is essential that such material not be substantially distorted or degraded by the types of temperatures likely to be present within the conduit 3 when a smokers combustible is being combusted. If the conduit 3 is manufactured from a metallic material it is preferable that the mouthpiece portion 17 be manufactured from a less heat conductive material in order that the smokers lips should not be burned.

Shown in Fig. 8 is an example of a receptacle 25 adapted to receive smokers b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb'557241\inkr:24.O8.95 -7combustibles. The receptacle essentially comprises a pot 26 within which can be placed smokers combustibles which has a bore 27 through its base 28 that is adapted to communicate with the air inlet means. The base 28 of the receptacle 25 is adapted to be received by the engaging means 20. It is also possible that within the base 28 there can be included a filter to filter smoke drawn from the pot 26 into the air inlet means 18, when the receptacle 25 is engaged within the engaging means 20. The types of smokers combustibles envisaged to be contained within the receptacle 25 are leaves or parts of leaves of plants, such as for example tobacco. It is possible however that other plants which are routinely smoked can be placed within the receptacle 25 for combustion.

Customary additives which are added to such plant and particularly tobacco leaves can also be included within the receptacle 25 for combustion therewithin.

It is noted that in general when the term smokers combustible is used throughout V the specification (except for when used to define the substance contained within the receptacle 25) it is meant to refer to cigarettes, cigars, joints and or other products which can be smoked by smokers and which can be engaged within the engaging means In a preferred embodiment of the invention the proximal mouthpiece portion 7 of the conduit 3 may include a customary filter for filtration of the smoke which is drawn 20 therethrough from the smokers combustible. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is the situation where at least part of the smoke chamber 2 is transparent in order that combustion of the smokers combustible therewithin can be observed. A suitable transparent material may be a perspex or glass material. In general however, although not necessarily transparent, it is possible for the smoke chamber 2 to be manufactured from wooden, metallic, plastics or other suitable materials which will not be adversely affected by the types of heat likely to be contained therewithin.

The vent 4 according to the present invention simply comprises a pipe which can be attached to the smoke chamber 2 to allow passage of air and smoke from the smoke chamber through the pipe. In most circumstances the smoke chamber 2 will be installed within a building and the vent will lead from the building to an external area. It is possible however that the smoke chamber 2 can be installed upon a wall or post in an outdoor area, such as for example a verandah or in a sports grandstand, and that the vent b:diso 03:wpdocs\mnib\557241\inkr:24,08.95 will then lead away from the area in which the smoker is smoking. It is additionally possible for a fan to be utilised in conjunction with the vent in order to draw air and smoke through the vent away from the smoke chamber. This is not however essential.

It is to be recognised that the present invention has been described by way of example only, and that modifications and/or alterations which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

*o e b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb\557241\nikr:24.08

Claims

1. A smokers ventilation apparatus comprising a smoke chamber, a conduit and a vent, which when in use in an area will allow a person to smoke while substantially preventing smoke emanating into said area; said smoke chamber being adapted to receive said conduit such that a distal portion of said conduit is contained within said smoke chamber and such that a proximal, mouthpiece portion of said conduit protrudes from said smoke chamber; said smoke chamber also provided with closeable access means; said conduit provided with engaging means for smokers combustibles or a receptacle adapted to contain smokers combustibles, which is in association with an air inlet means located on said distal ~portion of said conduit, and also being provided with an air outlet means equipped ~with valve means to prevent air entering said conduit therethrough; said vent being connected to said smoke chamber to allow passage of air from said smoke chamber to another area.

The smokers ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said smoke chamber is provided with an ash removal means.

3. The smokers ventilation apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said ash removal means comprises a tray positioned within said smoke chamber to catch ash from said smokers combustibles, which can be slidably removed from said smoke co, chamber.

4. The smokers ventilation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said valve comprises a ball retained in a housing such that said ball will seal said air outlet means when air pressure within said conduit is low but such that said ball will not seal said air outlet means when air pressure within said conduit is high.

5. The smokers ventilation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said smokers combustibles comprise cigarettes or cigars.

6. The smokers ventilation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said b:\disc 03:wpdocs\mmb\557241\mkr:24.08.95 receptacle adapted to contain smokers combustibles is a pot having an upper opening and bore at its base which is adapted to communicate with said air inlet means.

7. The smokers ventilation apparatus of claim 6 wherein said smokers combustibles are leaves or parts of leaves of one or more plants, optionally mixed with other additives.

8. The smokers ventilation apparatus substantially as descrbed herein within 0 reference to the drawings. 4*b*

9 S *v S SS e *c S 9 S S S DATED this 31st August 1995 PAUL PETROVIC By Its Patent Attorneys 20 DAVIES COLLISON CAVE bAdisc 03 :wpdocs\mrnb\557241\mkr:24.08.95 ABSTRACT A smokers ventilation apparatus which when in use will allow a smoker to smoke without allowing substantial amounts of smoke to emanate into the air space surrounding the smoker. The apparatus comprising a smoke chamber within which can be placed a conduit having an engaging means adapted to receive smokers combustibles in association with an air inlet means and also having a mouthpiece portion which penetrates out of the smoke chamber. A vent being provided to remove smoky air from the smoke chamber and an access means provided to allow access to the conduit when fitted within the smoke chamber. C 4* S* o bAdisc 03:wpdocsnmnb55724 l\mikr:24O8.95