[0001] This invention concerns improvements in or relating to smoking pipes. In particular
it concerns a disposable pipe for use with a preformed rod or plug of smoking material,
the rod by itself being inherently unsmokeable.
[0002] A "pipe" in the context of this invention is a holder or container for a smoking
material which holds or contains the smoking material during the smoking operation
but is not itself wholly consumed during the smoking operation.
[0003] The smoking material envisaged by this invention includes tobacco, reconstituted
tobacco, non-cellulosic material, or any combination thereof; and a preformed rod
made therefrom is made so as to be inherently unsmokeable until it has been inserted
in the pipe.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a smoking pipe for use with
a preformed rod of smoking material, the rod by itself being inherently unsmokeable,
the pipe having a cylindrical portion adapted to receive and extend substantially
over the length of the rod when inserted in the pipe, said cylindrical portion being
provided with an incombustible cylindrical component also adapted to extend substantially
over the length of the rod, and with ventilation means capable of sustaining static
combustion of the rod when lit.
[0005] The pipe of the invention permits the combustion and smoking of preformed rods or
plugs of tobacco or other smoking material, that by themselves are inherently unsmokeable,
and combines ease of use and cleanliness with reduced sidestream smoke production,
low fire ignition proclivity, retainment of ash within the pipe, and reduced weight
of tobacco or other smoking material.
[0006] The invention will be described now by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying non-scale drawings in which,
Figure 1 is an oblique perspective view of a pipe according to the invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the pipe of Figure 1 together with a preformed rod
of tobacco; and,
Figures 3 and 4 are each an oblique perspective view oi second and third embodiments
respectively of a pipe according to the invention.
[0007] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a smoking pipe 10 for
a preformed plug or rod of tobacco 30, the pipe comprising a linear cylindrical structure
adapted to enclose the rod 30 and consisting of a laminate 9 comprising layers 12,14,
and 16. Layer 12, the innermost layer of the laminate 9, is a sheet of permeable paper
of permeability in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units. The paper of layer 12 is of controlled
air permeability and burn rate.
[0008] A Coresta unit is defined as a flow rate of millilitres of air per minute per square
centimetre cross-section area of flow per 10 centimetres water gauge pressure.
[0009] Layer 14, the middle layer of the laminate 9, is a paper sheet with a substance of
40 - 200 g m-2 containing clay or other inorganic filler treated with a fireproofing
agent such as sodium silicate (waterglass) and or disodium orthophosphate. Layer 14
is perforated mechanically with about 50 holes 18, each of an area of about 15 mm
and spaced regularly round the periphery of the pipe.
[0010] Layer 16, the outermost layer of the laminate 9, is a wrapper for cosmetic purposes
and comprises an embossed aluminium foil which is also provided with holes 19 corresponding
in position to the holes 18 in layer 14 so that ventilating air may pass through the
holes 19,18 and then through the permeable paper 12 into the interior of the pipe.
Layer 16 may be omitted without affecting the function of the pipe.
[0011] The rod 30 is of a preformed construction, such as smoking tobacco moulded, extruded,
pressed, or pelleted with an adhesive, or may be wrapped in an open or highly permeable
cellulosic web such as "teabag" tissue, and is characterised in that it is inherently
unsmokeable by the user until it has been inserted within the pipe 10. When the rod
30 is within the pipe 10 it will be covered by the permeable paper 12 and, when lit,
will then be smokeable by the user. It will be clear that, for efficient and safe
smoking, the dimensions of the rod 30 will be such that it is a close fit within the
pipe 10.
[0012] Teabag tissue is a coarse woven cellulosic web consisting of a pattern of thin areas,
which in this context we shall refer to as "apertures". Typically, a teabag tissue
may have about 25 "apertures" in a rectangular or diamond-shaped array per square
centimetre, each "aperture" having dimensions of about 1 mm x 1 mm. The typical thickness
of a teabag tissue "aperture" is 1 fibre, the regions of the web defining the boundaries
of the "apertures" being several fibres thick. The teabag tissue may be strengthened
by means of strips or strings of strengthening materials such as cotton, plastics,
or impermeable paper.
[0013] Optionally, a smoke filter plug 20 integral with the pipe 10 is provided at the mouth
end of the pipe and is inserted in an optional mouthpiece 22 made of a plastics or
ceramic material.
[0014] The filter plug 20 is made of cellulose acetate fibre or tow, as is common in the
art, but other materials or modes of construction may be preferred. The filter plug
20 is spaced from the tobacco rod 30 by a cylindrical air space.
[0015] Overlying the attachment between the mouthpiece 22 and the pipe 10 is provided a
strip of cigarette paper 24 which is provided with ventilating apertures 26 to permit
ventilating air to enter the spaces between the filter plug 20 and the tobacco rod
30. The size and number of the apertures 26 will depend on the smoking characteristics
desired but will typically provide diluting air in the range 0 - 80% of the volume
of a puff. The strip of cigarette paper 24 is optional.
[0016] According to the smoking characteristics desired the holes 18 in layer 14 may be
of any shape of individual area in the range 1 to 20 mm , and the number of holes
10 may be from 20 to 200.
[0017] Layer 14 may alternatively be made from fireproof paper-like materials formed from
glass fibre, ceramic fibre or carbon fibre in combination with cellulose fibre or
alone in combination with each other.
[0018] The permeable layer 12 may, if required, contain burn control and ash modifying additives
such as sodium citrate or potassium citrate or di-ammonium phosphate.
[0019] The pipe 40 of Figure 3 is similar in most respects to the pipe 10 of Figure 1 except
that, instead of being a linear cylinder, the lower part 13 of the pipe 40 that receives
the rod 30 is at an obtuse angle to the upper part 11 of the pipe 40, and no filter
plug is provided. The lower part 13 is of the same general construction as the pipe
10 of Figures 1 and 2; that is, it is made of the ventilated laminate 9 described
above. The upper part 11 is of a flattened cylindrical shape, and provides a mouthpiece
similar to that of the mouth end of a traditional tobacco pipe.
[0020] The pipe 50 of Figure 4 is of identical shape to the pipe 40 of Figure 3. However,
the lower part 13 is formed from a thin walled (0.4 - 1 mm) solid ceramic or glass
fibre tube 15 wherein the inherent permeability of the tube is in the range 5 - 200
Coresta units. In pipe 50 the provision of a controlled permeability inner layer 12
of paper is not necessary to maintain combustion of the tobacco rod 30.
[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention the pipe 10 of Figures 1 and 2 may be formed
from a thin walled (0.4 - 1 mm) solid ceramic tube wherein the inherent permeability
of the tube is within the range 5 - 200 Coresta units. In this embodiment the provision
of a controlled permeability inner layer 12 of paper is not necessary to maintain
combustion of the tobacco rod 30. As in the exemplified first embodiment the ceramic
tube may incorporate a smoke filter plug and/or mouthpiece and/or ventilation holes.
[0022] In yet another embodiment of the invention the pipe 10 may be constructed from a
thin walled solid ceramic tube in which holes of any shape with an individual area
in the range 1 to 20 mm
2 are formed. This embodiment will require an inner liner 12 of controlled air permeability
paper in order to sustain adequate combustion of the tobacco rod 30.
[0023] In all embodiments the pipe 10 will typically have an external circumference in the
range 23 - 35 mm and an overall length (not including the mouthpiece) in the range
7 - 120 mm. In the embodiments where the pipe has large perforations these may extend
from 28 to 70 mm from the` 1ighting end and may number from 20 to 200, depending on
the overall dimensions of the individual holes and of the pipe itself.
[0024] A small area of adhesive may be provided on the inner face of the pipe 10 so as to
anchor the tobacco rod 30 when the rod is inserted into the pipe.
[0025] The pipe of the invention may be provided with a flavour generation capsule, or it
may itself be impregnated with a flavour-generating substance.
[0026] The outside of the pipe may be provided with means such as thermochromic crystals
to indicate the temperature of the pipe and hence how far the smoker has smoked the
tobacco within the pipe.
[0027] Ventilation of the rod in the pipe so as to maintain static combustion when lit may
alternatively be provided by one or more channels between the rod and the pipe extending
from the lit end towards the mouth end. These channels may or may not be combined
with ventilation through the wall of the pipe. The channels may be provided in the
inner wall of the pipe or may be provided in the structure of the rod. The size of
the channels will be chosen so as to suit the smoker's requirements.
[0028] The laminated pipe of the invention may conveniently be made using known convolute
tube making technology whereby one or more layers of paper or other web material are
wound round a former and glued together with adhesive. It is convenient in the present
invention to use a fire-proof silicate based adhesive.
1. A smoking pipe for use with a preformed rod of smoking material, the rod by itself
being inherently unsmokeable, the pipe having a cylindrical portion adapted to receive
and extend substantially over the length of the rod when the rod is inserted in the
pipe, said cylindrical portion being provided with an incombustible cylindrical component
also adapted to extend substantially over the length of the rod, and with ventilation
means capable of sustaining static combustion of the rod when lit.
2. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ventilation is provided by the combination
of apertures in the incombustible cylindrical component with an inner tubular member
that is permeable and combustible.
3. A pipe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inner tubular member is made of paper.
4. A pipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inner tubular member is made of paper
of permeability in the range 5 - 200 Coresta units.
5. A,,pipe as claimed in claim 3 wherein the paper contains burn control and ash modifying
additives.
6. A pipe as claimed in claim 5 wherein the burn control and ash modifying additives
are selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, potassium citrate, and di-ammonium
phosphate.
7. A pipe as claimed in claim 2 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component and
the inner tubular member together form a laminate.
8. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is
enclosed in a ventilated wrapper.
9. A pipe as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ventilated wrapper comprises perforated
aluminium foil.
10. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is
made of a cellulosic material treated with a fire-proofing agent.
11. A pipe as claimed in claim 10 wherein the incombustible component is a paper sheet
with a substance of 40 - 200 g m-2 containing clay or other inorganic filler treated with a fire-proofing agent.
12. A pipe as claimed in claim 11 wherein the fire-proofing agent is selected from
the group consisting of sodium silicate and disodium orthophosphate.
13. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible cylindrical component is
made from an inherently incombustible fibrous material.
14. A pipe as claimed in claim 13 wherein the incombustible component is made from
a fire-proof sheet material formed from glass fibre, ceramic fibre or carbon fibre,
alone, in combination with each other, or in combination with cellulosic fibre.
15. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible component comprises a thin
walled solid ceramic tube, the inherent permeability of the tube being in the range
5 - 200 Coresta units.
16. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incombustible component is perforated.
17. A pipe as claimed in claim 16 wherein the incombustible component is provided
with 20 - 200 holes, each of an area in the range 1 - 20 mm .
18. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided adhesive means on the inside
of the pipe to secure the rod when within the pipe.
19. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is provided in the pipe a filter plug
downstream of the portion of the pipe that is adapted to contain the rod.
20. A pipe as claimed in claim 19 wherein the filter plug is positioned to provide
a space between the plug and the rod when the rod is within the pipe.
21. A pipe as claimed in claim 20 wherein there is provided ventilation into the space
between the plug and the rod.
22. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 including a mouthpiece.
23. A pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical portion of the pipe is at
an obtuse angle to the remainder of the pipe.
24. A smoking pipe as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ventilation means is proved by
at least one channel between the pipe and the rod when the rod is within the pipe,
said at least one channel extending from the lit end towards the mouth end of the
pipe.
25. A smoking pipe as claimed in claim 24 wherein said at least one channel is provided
in the inner wall of the pipe.