US3667481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco smoke filter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-12-05
•
Granted: 1972-06-06
•
Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract A tobacco smoke filter employing two barriers in the smoke path, each having an opening to form a flow path past the barriers. The first barrier defines a small area flowpath in which smoke and entrained liquids and solids are accelerated and high kinetic energy is imparted to them. The second barrier diverts the smoke but, because of its closeness to the first barrier, the moisture and solids impinge on the latter. A third, downstream barrier marks off a smoke storage space from which smoke is drawn during initial phases of subsequent inhalation to overcome feeling that excessive suction is required to overcome filter impedence. The filter and storage unit is divided into two passageways and is made of plastic and surrounded by paper so that the latter is employed as a repository for moisture and solids and to retain the filter in situ.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard L Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:46
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/04; A24D3/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A filter for inclusion in a tobacco smoke flowpath comprising in combination: first, second and third discs arranged substantially in parallel on a common axis with the first upstream of the second and the second upstream of the third; each of said discs being notched inwardly from its circumference sufficiently to form a flowpath, the flowpath formed in the second and third discs each having an area greater than that of said first disc and the notched regions of the first and second discs being offset circumferentially relative to one another; the spacing between the first and second discs being less than three thirty-seconds of an inch and the second and third discs being spaced to provide a volume no less than 0.014 cubic inches between them.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A filter for inclusion in a tobacco smoke flowpath comprising in combination: first, second and third discs arranged substantially in parallel on a common axis with the first upstream of the second and the second upstream of the third; each of said discs being notched inwardly from its circumference sufficiently to form a flowpath, the flowpath formed in the second and third discs each having an area greater than that of said first disc and the notched regions of the first and second discs being offset circumferentially relative to one another; the spacing between the first and second discs being less than three thirty-seconds of an inch and the second and third discs being spaced to provide a volume no less than 0.014 cubic inches between them.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 1 in which the area of the flowpath past said first disc is from 0.0003 to 0.0014 square inches, the separation of said first and second discs is between 0.025 and 0.055 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises a paper tube containing said discs and having an axis coincident with that of said discs, the tube being formed of paper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 3 in which the inside diameter of said tube is slightly less, between discs, than the outside diameter of the discs such that the tube is necked slightly between discs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention defined in claim 4 which further comprises connecting means interconnecting said discs for maintaining them parallel with fixed spacing; said means being formed integrally with the discs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention defined in claim 1 which further comprises means interconnecting said discs in the form of a dividing wall dividing the space between the first and second discs into separate spaces, each of said first and second discs being notched inwardly at at least two points along their perimeters to form a flowpath therepast to each of said separate spaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention defined in claim 6 in which the flow area of the flowpath past the first disc is between 0.0003 inches squared and 0.0014 inches squared and the separation of the first and second discs is between 0.025 and 0.055 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention defined in claim 7 in which the second and third discs are separated by a distance nearly one quarter of an inch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention defined in claim 8 in which the notches forming the flowpath past the first barrier are between 0.18 and 0.27 inches wide and the first barrier is approximately one-sixteenth of an inch thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 9 which further comprises a cylindrical tube surrounding said discs and means connecting said discs, the tube being formed of paper and the discs and connecting means between them being integrally formed of a plastic material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A filter for inclusion in a tobacco smoke flowpath comprising, in combination: a flowpath extending from an upstream to a downstream position and defined by flowpath walls; first, second and third barriers extending across said flowpath to its walls with the first barrier upstream of the second and separated from the second a distance between 0.025 and 0.055 inches and the third separated from the second by approximately one-fourth of an inch; said first barrier having a flowpath formed therethrough with an area between 0.0003 and 0.0009 inches squared, said second and third barriers having a flowpath area greater than the first and the flowpaths of the first and second barriers being arranged out of alignment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A filter for inclusion in a tobacco smoke flowpath comprising, in combination: a flowpath extending from an upstream to a downstream position and defined by flowpath walls; first, second and third barriers extending across said flowpath to its walls with the first barrier upstream of the second and separated from the second a distance between 0.025 and 0.055 inches and the third separated from the second by approximately one-fourth of an inch; said first barrier having a flowpath formed therethrough with an area between 0.0003 and 0.0009 inches squared, said second and third barriers having a flowpath area greater than the first and the flowpaths of the first and second barriers being arranged out of alignment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention defined in claim 11 wherein said first barrier is notched inwardly from its margins to form the flowpath past it.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention defined in claim 11 which further comprises a first wall connecting the first and second barriers and a second wall connecting the second and third barriers, said walls dividing the passageway into two passageways in the region between the first and third barriers; the flowpath past each barrier being formed by at least two openings, one communicating with each of said two passageways.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-06 | 1975-12-06 | 1976-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-06 | 1979-12-06 | 1980-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-06 | 1983-12-06 | 1984-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |