Patent US4154251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4154251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smoke dispersal device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-05-12
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Granted: 1979-05-15
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Expires: 1998-05-12
Abstract
Abstract The device draws the smoke up from lit cigarettes and the like and disperses it thoroughly in large amounts of air to make it nearly invisible and less offensive. A battery operated motor drives an impeller which draws smoke through a ram tube. The smoke then proceeds through an annular flow channel and passes through a perforated dispersal ring before being ejected through a dispersal rim slot near the top of the device. The flow path is arranged to minimize the drain on the batteries and maximize dispersal; the motor, its batteries and electrical circuit connectors (including a novel electrical switch) are arranged such that smoke and ashes are kept away from their compartment. The entire device disassembles easily for cleaning. In one embodiment, the smoke passes through an ash screen having a low resistance to air flow. In another, there is no screen or filter at all, but the smoke may pass along (not through) an absorbant material which may be saturated or otherwise provided with chemicals which reduce the amount of harmful ingredients in the smoke and/or deodorize the smoke. Additional containers of such chemicals may be provided in the device.
Inventors
- 👤 John S. Doyel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:22
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D50/00; A; A24; A24F; A24F19/00; A24F19/0042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
565 words
A smoke dispersal device comprising: an ashtray for receiving a smoking article; a hollow accumulator tube having a bottom opening registering with the ashtray to receive smoke rising from a smoking article received thereby, a sidewall extending upwardly from the ashtray and having air inlet means, and a top opening; a hollow main body tube supported by the accumulator tube and having a sidewall extending upwardly from the accumulator tube and having a bottom opening communicating with the hollow interior of the accumulator tube through the top opening of the accumulator tube; a motor housing supported by the main body tube and disposed within the hollow interior of the main body tube and having a sidewall following the shape of the sidewall of the main body tube but spaced radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to form an annular flow channel communicating with the bottom opening of the main body tube, said motor housing having a bottom opening and a top opening and being substantially imperforated except for said bottom opening and said top opening; a motor supported by and disposed within the motor housing and having a shaft extending through said bottom opening of the motor housing and substantially closing said bottom opening, and an impeller affixed to said shaft and disposed for rotation between the bottom of the motor housing and the accumulator tube to cause an upwardly directed flow of air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and of smoke rising from said smoking article, and electrical batteries also dispose in and supported by said motor housing and means for selectively establishing an electrical connection between the batteries and the motor to energize the motor and to thereby cause said upward flow of air and smoke; a top lid supported by the motor housing and disposed over the main body tube and the motor housing and over the motor and batteries in the motor housing and substantially closing the top opening of the motor housing, and means for spacing the top lid from the sidewall of the main body tube to form, between the top lid and the sidewall of the main body tube, a rim outlet communicating with said annular flow channel; and a dispersal ring extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to the motor housing and having a plurality of perforations, said dispersal ring being interposed in said fluid flow in the annular flow channel and allowing fluid flow substantially only through said perforations, said perforations being selected relative to the rate of fluid flow caused by the impeller to make the flow downstream from the dispersal ring substantially more turbulent than the flow upstream therefrom; whereby when the the device is supported with the ashtray registered with the bottom opening of the accumulator tube and the impeller is driven by said motor, an upwardly directed flow is generated which comprises air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and smoke rising from said smoking article, said flow proceeding substantially unimpeded, except for becoming more turbulent, in a generally upward direction sequentially through the top opening of the accumulator tube, the bottom opening of the main body tube, the annular channel between the main body tube and the motor housing, and the dispersal ring, and exiting the device through said rim outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
565 words
A smoke dispersal device comprising: an ashtray for receiving a smoking article; a hollow accumulator tube having a bottom opening registering with the ashtray to receive smoke rising from a smoking article received thereby, a sidewall extending upwardly from the ashtray and having air inlet means, and a top opening; a hollow main body tube supported by the accumulator tube and having a sidewall extending upwardly from the accumulator tube and having a bottom opening communicating with the hollow interior of the accumulator tube through the top opening of the accumulator tube; a motor housing supported by the main body tube and disposed within the hollow interior of the main body tube and having a sidewall following the shape of the sidewall of the main body tube but spaced radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to form an annular flow channel communicating with the bottom opening of the main body tube, said motor housing having a bottom opening and a top opening and being substantially imperforated except for said bottom opening and said top opening; a motor supported by and disposed within the motor housing and having a shaft extending through said bottom opening of the motor housing and substantially closing said bottom opening, and an impeller affixed to said shaft and disposed for rotation between the bottom of the motor housing and the accumulator tube to cause an upwardly directed flow of air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and of smoke rising from said smoking article, and electrical batteries also dispose in and supported by said motor housing and means for selectively establishing an electrical connection between the batteries and the motor to energize the motor and to thereby cause said upward flow of air and smoke; a top lid supported by the motor housing and disposed over the main body tube and the motor housing and over the motor and batteries in the motor housing and substantially closing the top opening of the motor housing, and means for spacing the top lid from the sidewall of the main body tube to form, between the top lid and the sidewall of the main body tube, a rim outlet communicating with said annular flow channel; and a dispersal ring extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to the motor housing and having a plurality of perforations, said dispersal ring being interposed in said fluid flow in the annular flow channel and allowing fluid flow substantially only through said perforations, said perforations being selected relative to the rate of fluid flow caused by the impeller to make the flow downstream from the dispersal ring substantially more turbulent than the flow upstream therefrom; whereby when the the device is supported with the ashtray registered with the bottom opening of the accumulator tube and the impeller is driven by said motor, an upwardly directed flow is generated which comprises air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and smoke rising from said smoking article, said flow proceeding substantially unimpeded, except for becoming more turbulent, in a generally upward direction sequentially through the top opening of the accumulator tube, the bottom opening of the main body tube, the annular channel between the main body tube and the motor housing, and the dispersal ring, and exiting the device through said rim outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 1 including an ash screen of low flow resistance interposed in said fluid flow path to be traversed by the flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 2 including a ram tube having an upwardly extending axis and a diameter substantially less than that of the accumulator tube and having a top and a bottom opening, said ram tube being disposed to receive substantially all of the fluid flow proceeding upwardly from the interior of said accumulator tube and to convey said fluid flow into said main body tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 3 wherein said ram tube extends from the top opening of the accumulator tube downwardly into the hollow interior of the accumulator tube and said ash screen is disposed between, on the one hand, the top opening of the ram tube and the accumulator tube and, on the other hand, the bottom opening of the main body tube, while said impeller is disposed between the ash screen and the motor housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 4 including means for changing the direction of the flow downstream from the dispersal ring to cause said flow to exit through said rim outlet radially outwardly and downwardly along the device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 1 including an absorber lining one of the walls defining the circular flow channel betwen the motor housing and the main body tube, the upward flow passing by but not through said absorber, said absorber being capable of receiving a chemical such as a deodorizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claims 1 or 6 including a plurality of containers for a chemical such as a deodorizer formed at the top of the accumulator tube immediately below the impeller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
541 words
A smoke dispersal device comprising: an ashtray for receiving a smoking article; a hollow accumulator tube having a bottom opening registering with the ashtray to receive smoke rising from a smoking article received thereby, a sidewall extending upwardly from the ashtray and having air inlet means, and a top opening; a hollow main body tube supported by the accumulator tube and having a sidewall extending upwardly from the accumulator tube and having a bottom opening communicating with the hollow interior of the accumulator tube through the top opening of the accumulator tube; a motor housing supported by the main body tube and disposed within the hollow interior of the main body tube and having a sidewall following the shape of the sidewall of the main body tube but spaced radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to form an annular flow channel communicating with the bottom opening of the main body tube, said motor housing having a bottom opening and a top opening and being substantially imperforated except for said bottom opening and said top opening; a motor supported by and disposed within the motor housing and having a shaft extending through said bottom opening of the motor housing and substantially closing said bottom opening, and an impeller affixed to said shaft and disposed for rotation between the bottom of the motor housing and the accumulator tube to cause an upwardly directed flow of air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and of smoke rising from said smoking article, and electrical batteries also disposed in and supported by said motor housing and means for selectively extablishing an electrical connection between the batteries and the motor to energize the motor and to thereby cause said upward flow of air and smoke; a top lid substantially closing the top opening of the motor housing, and means for spacing the top lid form the sidewall of the main body tube, a rim outlet communicating with said annular flow channel; and a dispersal ring extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to the motor housing and having a plurality of performations, said dispersal ring being interposed in said fluid flow in the annular flow channel and allowing fluid flow substantially only through said perforations, said perforations being selected relative to the rate of fluid flow caused by the impeller to make the flow downstream from the dispersal ring substantially more turbulent than the flow upstream therefrom; whereby when the device is supported with the ashtray registered with the bottom opening of the accumulator tube and the impeller is driven by said motor, an upwardly directed flow is generated which comprises air entering the device through said inlet means of accumulator tube and smoke rising from said smoking article, said flow proceeding substantially unimpeded, except for becoming more turbulent, in a generally upward direction sequentially through the top opening of the accumulator tube, the bottom opening of the main body tube, the annular channel between the main body tube and the motor housing, and the dispersal ring, and exiting device through said rim outlet; and said flow in proceeding through the device passing only through openings and preparations each exceeding 0.5 mm in size.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
541 words
A smoke dispersal device comprising: an ashtray for receiving a smoking article; a hollow accumulator tube having a bottom opening registering with the ashtray to receive smoke rising from a smoking article received thereby, a sidewall extending upwardly from the ashtray and having air inlet means, and a top opening; a hollow main body tube supported by the accumulator tube and having a sidewall extending upwardly from the accumulator tube and having a bottom opening communicating with the hollow interior of the accumulator tube through the top opening of the accumulator tube; a motor housing supported by the main body tube and disposed within the hollow interior of the main body tube and having a sidewall following the shape of the sidewall of the main body tube but spaced radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to form an annular flow channel communicating with the bottom opening of the main body tube, said motor housing having a bottom opening and a top opening and being substantially imperforated except for said bottom opening and said top opening; a motor supported by and disposed within the motor housing and having a shaft extending through said bottom opening of the motor housing and substantially closing said bottom opening, and an impeller affixed to said shaft and disposed for rotation between the bottom of the motor housing and the accumulator tube to cause an upwardly directed flow of air entering the device through said inlet means of the accumulator tube and of smoke rising from said smoking article, and electrical batteries also disposed in and supported by said motor housing and means for selectively extablishing an electrical connection between the batteries and the motor to energize the motor and to thereby cause said upward flow of air and smoke; a top lid substantially closing the top opening of the motor housing, and means for spacing the top lid form the sidewall of the main body tube, a rim outlet communicating with said annular flow channel; and a dispersal ring extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the main body tube to the motor housing and having a plurality of performations, said dispersal ring being interposed in said fluid flow in the annular flow channel and allowing fluid flow substantially only through said perforations, said perforations being selected relative to the rate of fluid flow caused by the impeller to make the flow downstream from the dispersal ring substantially more turbulent than the flow upstream therefrom; whereby when the device is supported with the ashtray registered with the bottom opening of the accumulator tube and the impeller is driven by said motor, an upwardly directed flow is generated which comprises air entering the device through said inlet means of accumulator tube and smoke rising from said smoking article, said flow proceeding substantially unimpeded, except for becoming more turbulent, in a generally upward direction sequentially through the top opening of the accumulator tube, the bottom opening of the main body tube, the annular channel between the main body tube and the motor housing, and the dispersal ring, and exiting device through said rim outlet; and said flow in proceeding through the device passing only through openings and preparations each exceeding 0.5 mm in size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 8 including an absorber along the side of the main body tube which faces the annular flow channel, said upward flow passing by but not through said absorber, and said absorber being capable of retaining a chemical affecting the make-up of the flow passing by it.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claims 8 or 9 including a plurality of open top containers located at the top of the accumulator tube and surrounding the top opening of the accumulator tube, said containers being capable of retaining a chemical affecting the make-up of the flow passing by the containers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 10 including a valve ring having openings registerable with the open tops of said containers movable manually to selectively close said open tops of the containers to a desired degree.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
183 words
A smoke dispersal device as in claim 8 or 9; a first terminal plate and a second terminal plate located in the motor housing above the motor and spaced from each other to receive between them batteries having one terminal at one extreme end and another terminal and the other extreme end, said terminal plates having means for making electrical contact with batteries and being made of an electrically conductive material, and a toggle pivotally mounted on the first terminal plate and having a contact offset from the pivot axis and making sliding electrical contact with the first terminal plate through a portion of pivotal movement of the toggle, said first terminal plate having an opening aligned with the path of the contact and larger than the contact, said first plate and said sliding contact being out of electrical contact with each other when the sliding contact is centered in the opening, said toggle being made of an electrically nonconductive material and said contact thereof being electrically connected to the motor and the second terminal plate being also electrically connected to the motor.
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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) | 1982-05-14 | 1982-11-13 | 1983-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-14 | 1986-11-13 | 1987-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-14 | 1990-11-13 | 1991-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |