Tobacco smoke filter

Claim 1

A smoke filter means including a filter element comprising: a. an axially elongated, hollow, outer member; b. a pair of mating, axially, elongated, hollow, inner elements together forming a substantially cylindrical composite inner member; c. said outer member including an inner surface and having spaced end portions; d. said inner elements comprising a filtering material and including an inner surface and an outer surface and having spaced end portions; e. said inner and outer surfaces of each inner element including a semi-cylindrical portion, said semi-cylindrical portion of said outer surfaces of said inner elements together forming a substantially cylindrical outer surface of said composite inner member; f. at least the major portions of said outer surface of said composite inner member being juxtaposed to said inner surface of said outer member throughout their lengths to continuously support said outer member and to at least substantially preclude axial passage of smoke across the area therebetween; g. said inner and outer surfaces of each inner element also including connecting portions extending across each inner element between said semi-cylindrical portions of said inner and outer surfaces of said inner elements, said connecting portions facing each other in said composite inner member; h. substantially flat portions of said connecting portions of said outer surface of each inner element extending diametrically across said inner element, said flat portions of said inner elements being juxtaposed in said composite inner member to at least substantially preclude axial passage of smoke across the area therebetween; i. depressed portions of said connecting portions of said inner surface of each inner element axially spaced from said flat portions of said outer surface of said inner element being juxtaposed to said semi-cylindrical portion of said inner surface of said inner element to at least substantially preclude axial passage of smoke across the area therebetween; j. whereby each inner element includes a discrete inner cavity defined by its inner surface and a second axially spaced cavity defined by said depressed portion of its outer surface, said second cavities of said inner elements being juxtaposed in said composite inner member to define a composite second cavity, said discrete first cavities and said composite second cavity being separated by said filtering material of said inner elements so that smoke passing through said filter element must travel through one of said discrete first cavities, said filtering material and said composite second cavity.