Cigarette substitute device

Abstract

A cigarette substitute device for reducing a user's smoking habit has a tubular body of material adapted to simulate a cigarette; with the device at the mouth of user a predetermined taste or fragrance, or both, is provided by suction of the device. Handling and manipulation of the device and a taste or fragrance provide psychological and physiological satisfaction to aid in reducing smoking by the user.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The hazards to health from the smoking of combustible cigarettes for the smoker, as well as to non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke are well known. Many people do not appreciate smokers in their presence, and there is societal pressure against smoking. Cigarette smoking has been banned in many public places, restaurants, aircraft, hospitals and work places.

[0002] Psychological aspects, behavior and manipulation are involved for habitual smokers, including holding a cigarette in the fingers, positioning the cigarette between the lips, drawing of smoke through a cigarette, as well as the smell and taste of smoking. Such behavior and aspects satisfy certain psychological needs of a smoker in addition to the physiological effects of nicotine from cigarettes.

[0003] Devices have heretofore been provided which have involved non-nicotine devices, and some prior art devices have involved delivery of nicotine vapor to the user. Inhaling of nicotine vapor has not generally provided satisfactory results.

[0004] There is a continued need for an adequate substitute for combustible cigarette smoking to aid in reducing or eliminating smoking by an habitual smoker, which substitute may satisfy at least some of the physiological and psychological needs of the habitual smoker who is seeking to reduce the use of cigarettes.

[0005] The present invention provides a cigarette substitute device for reduction of smoking by a user, which has a tubular body with a passage therethrough, and which is adapted for placement in the mouth of a person for drawing of air therethrough. The device is sized and configurated to simulate an individual cigarette and has an inner end for engagement with the mouth of a user. The body comprises material adapted to provide a predetermined taste, a predetermined fragrance, or both, for the user upon being dissolved at the mouth of a user. Preferably a tubular handle is disposed about the body adjacent to an inner end thereof for the user to grasp for manipulation to avoid material adhering to the fingers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 shows a package configurated and sized like a cigarette package with a plurality of devices of the invention therein;

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a person's fingers and mouth in relation to the device of FIG. 1 while grasping the device with its inner end at the mouth of the user;

[0008] FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view showing interior features of the device of the present invention; and

[0009] FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partially in section of the device of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment 10 of the device of the invention is shown as generally configurated to simulate a cigarette and to be accommodated in a conventional cigarette package with a plurality of devices according to the invention.

[0011] The cigarette substitute device 10 comprises a tubular body 12 of material adapted to be dissolved in a person's mouth to provide taste and psychological effect to aid the user and provide a substitute for smoking and satisfaction to aid in overcoming a smoking habit.

[0012] Elongated tubular body 12 has therethrough a passage 14 for the drawing of air therethrough and into the mouth of a user. The device 10 has an inner end adapted to be engaged between the lips of a user, and an outer end portion. The device 10 preferably has such diameter and length as to approximate those of a conventional cigarette, and preferably has a coloration similar to that of a cigarette.

[0013] A tubular handle 16, typically of plastic, is disposed about a portion of the body 12 and spaced from the inner end of the body, as viewed in FIG. 4. The inner end portion of the tubular body of material is disposed in the mouth of a user during use.

[0014] A tube 18 is disposed about the body adjacent to its outer end and is adapted for grasping by the fingers of the user to urge the body 12 relative to handle 16 to provide progressive portions of material at the mouth of a user.

[0015] In utilizing the device, a person removes one of the devices from the simulated cigarette package of FIG. 1. The user removes at least a portion of a sheet plastic cover 20 and places end portion 12 of the device in his mouth. The plastic sheet cover 20 provides for storage and for sanitary handling, as well as to prevent adhesion of material to the fingers of a user. The body material may preferably be adapted to provide a predetermined flavor, a predetermined fragrance, or both a predetermined flavor and fragrance. Air is then drawn through the passage 14 in the device in the direction of arrows 22, 24 into the mouth of the user, thus simulating smoking and, with the taste provided by the body of material, simulates smoking to provide satisfaction by the drawing of air through the device, the taste of the material of the body 12 and the manipulation procedure involved in the simulation of smoking.

[0016] The body 12 may be formed of a material having any of a variety of taste and ingredients appropriate to a particular individual. It may comprise a material which provides a simulated tobacco flavor, with or without other flavoring. The material may provide such candy flavors as wintergreen, menthol, spearmint, peppermint, chocolate, orange, etc. The material may comprise an antacid, such as products having the name TUMS to relieve nervousness of the many smokers who are high-strung or nervous types.

[0017] It will be appreciated that the cigarette substitute device of the invention provides certain psychological and physiological satisfactions to a user which at least partially satisfy the craving of tobacco and satisfy, at least partially, psychological and physiological needs of a smoker to aid in overcoming a smoking habit.

[0018] It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A cigarette substitute device for reducing smoking by a user, comprising:

a generally tubular body having a passage therethrough and being adapted for placement in the mouth of a user for drawing air into the mouth of the user,

said body being sized and configurated to generally simulate the size and configuration of an individual cigarette,

said body having an outer end and an inner end for engagement with the mouth of a user, and

said body material being adapted to provide at least one of (a) a predetermined taste, (b) a predetermined fragrance, (c) both a predetermined taste and predetermined fragrance, (d) an antacid, upon being dissolved in the mouth of a user.

2. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a tubular handle disposed about the body adjacent to said inner end thereof for grasping by the fingers of the user to manipulate the device and avoid material adhering to the fingers of the user.

3. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a tube disposed about said body adjacent to said outer end for grasping by fingers of the user to urge the body toward the mouth of a user to provide progressively successive portions of the material to the mouth of the user.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

said body material is adapted to provide one of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavor and a fragrance, (d) an antacid, whereby psychological benefits are derived.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein:

said body material is adapted to provide one of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavor and a fragrance, whereby psychological benefits are derived.

6. A device according to claim 3, wherein:

said body material is adapted to provide one of (a) a flavor, (b) a fragrance, (c) a flavor and a fragrance, whereby psychological benefits are derived.

7. A device according to claim 1, and further comprising:

a plastic sheet cover material disposed about a substantial portion of the device and removable by a user, said cover providing for sanitary handling and prevention of adherence of material to the fingers of a user.

8. A cigarette substitute device for reducing smoking by a user, comprising:

a generally tubular body having a passage therethrough and being adapted for placement in the mouth of a user for drawing air into the mouth of the user,

said body being sized and configurated to generally simulate the size and configuration of an individual cigarette,

said body having an outer end and an inner end for engagement with the mouth of a user,

a tubular handle disposed about the body adjacent to said inner end thereof for grasping by the fingers of the user to manipulate the device and avoid material adhering to the fingers of the user, and

said body material being adapted to provide at least one of (a) a predetermined taste, (b) a predetermined fragrance, (c) both a predetermined taste and predetermined fragrance, (d) an antacid, upon being dissolved in the mouth of a user.

9. A device according to claim 8, and further comprising:

a tube disposed about said body adjacent to said outer end for grasping by fingers of the user to urge the body toward the mouth of a user to provide progressively successive portions of the material to the mouth of the user.

10. A device according to claim 8, and further comprising:

a plastic sheet cover material disposed about a substantial portion of the device and removable by a user, said cover providing for sanitary handling and prevention of adherence of material to the fingers of a user.