CIGARETTE WITH COLORED SMOKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Many people around the world smoke cigarettes, cigars, nargillas (hookahs), pipes, and other smoking devices. Often, cigarettes and other smoking devices are smoked by people in groups. For instance, some people tend only to smoke in social situations, with other smokers and/or non- smokers, such as when at a bar with friends. Also, many buildings now either prohibit smoking altogether, or limit the activity to restricted, designated areas. Thus, people who smoke in those buildings congregate in the areas where smoking is permitted. Because many people who smoke are not allowed to smoke while working, smokers also tend to smoke at similar times as other smokers, such as on a lunch break, or immediately before or after work. These limitations on where and when people can smoke tends to bring smokers in contact with other smokers. Because cigarettes or other smoking devices are frequently smoked in social situations, it would be useful if the cigarettes themselves could have socially interactively useful functions. [0002] Additionally, cigarettes purchased with a pre-determined color of smoke that cannot be changed by individual smokers may not allow a user to vary the color of smoke produced. Also, due to limits on available shelf space in stores, such cigarettes may provide only a limited number of color options. Further, different smokers who want different colors of smoke could not share cigarettes from the same pack. Additionally, smokers may want to change color of smoke from cigarette to cigarette just for variety.

[0003] One object of the present invention is to utilize cigarettes having colored smoke to communicate something about either the cigarette being smoked or the person smoking the cigarette.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] A cigarette or other smoking device with colored smoke, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

[0005] Various advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cigarette formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cigarette from Fig. 1 after it has been lighted.

[0008] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the cigarette from

Fig. 1.

[0009] Figure 4 is a table illustrating the correspondence, between the color of

smoke produced by a cigarette and a characteristic of a cigarette, formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 5 is a table illustrating the correspondence, between the color of

smoke produced by a cigarette and a characteristic of a smoker, formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 6 is a table illustrating the correspondence, between the color of

smoke produced by a cigarette and an event, formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0015] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cigarette 10, and Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the cigarette 10 after it has been lighted. As shown in Fig. 1 , the cigarette 10 includes an inhalation portion 20 and a combustion portion 30. The inhalation portion 20 includes an inhalation end

22, and the combustion portion 30 includes a combustion end 32.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 2, lighting the ignition end 32 of the combustion portion 30 starts the ignition end 32 burning, which gives off smoke 42 as a product of combustion. After the ignition end 32 is lit, a smoker can draw smoke through the cigarette 10 and out of the inhalation end 22.

[0017] Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the inhalation portion 20 and combustion portion 30 of the cigarette 10. The inhalation portion 20 includes

a filter 24 and a filter wrapper 26. The filter 24 is generally cylindrical, and designed to remove potentially harmful materials from smoke drawn through the cigarette 10 towards the inhalation end 22. The filter wrapper 26 surrounds the filter 24.

[0018] The combustion portion 30 of the cigarette 10 includes a tobacco rod 34, cigarette wrapper 36, and a colored smoke producing strip 38. The tobacco rod 34 is a generally cylindrically formed mass of tobacco, pre-formed before being incorporated in the cigarette 10, and may contain additional additives,, other than tobacco. The cigarette wrapper 36 surrounds the tobacco rod 34, providing support and/or protection to the tobacco rod 34, and/or helping to shape the tobacco rod 34 or helping to maintain the shape of the tobacco rod 34. The colored smoke producing strip 38 is interposed between the cigarette wrapper 36 and tobacco rod 34, and aligned lengthwise with the major axis of the generally cylindrical tobacco rod 34. As shown in Fig. 3, the colored smoke producing strip 38 may be affixed to the cigarette wrapper 36 before the cigarette wrapper 36 is wrapped around the tobacco rod 34. More than one colored smoke producing strip 38 may be used. The tobacco rod 34, cigarette wrapper 36, and colored smoke producing strip 38 are all combustible.

[0019] The colored smoke producing strip 38 contains a material that gives off colored smoke when the colored smoke producing strip 38 is burned. For example, known materials that give off colored smoke may be found in products such as smoke bombs or fireworks. These materials, or other materials to be used, can be adapted (but not necessarily so) for use in cigarettes for such considerations as safety, burn rate, ease of production

and/or compatibility with other cigarette materials, and any effect they may have on taste. As smoke from the cigarette 10 will be ingested by the smoker and also distributed to the atmosphere, the material used will ideally have no or low toxicity.

[0020] Alternatively to a colored smoke producing strip 38 interposed between the tobacco rod 34 and cigarette wrapper 36, the combustion portion 30 may include a different type or form of colored smoke producing element. For example, the colored smoke producing element may be formed in smaller, discrete particles mixed into tobacco before the mixture is formed into a tobacco rod. As another example, the colored smoke producing element may be formed as a spray dispersed along the cigarette wrapper 36, and/or along the tobacco rod 34, and/or around loose tobacco before it is incorporated into the combustion portion 30. As a still further example, the colored smoke producing element can be an integrated part of the cigarette wrapper 36. [0021] After the cigarette 10 is lit, the colored smoke producing strip 38 exudes colored smoke as it burns. Because the tobacco rod 34 and cigarette wrapper 36 are also burning, the color of all the smoke 42 leaving the cigarette 10 may be different from that produced solely by the colored smoke producing strip 38. Thus, to achieve a specified color of smoke for the smoke 42, the colored smoke producing strip 38 provides a more intense shade of that particular color when burning alone. Because smoke inhaled by a smoker passes through the filter 24, the smoke later exhaled by the smoker may or may not be the same shade or color as the smoke 42 exuding from the ignition end 32 of the cigarette 10.

[0022] As an example of another alternative, a cigarette may be used that utilizes a single wrapping device for the entire cigarette. For such a cigarette, a single wrapper forms both the filter wrapper and cigarette wrapper. Additionally, the tobacco may come in a loose form, instead of as a preformed tobacco rod. Further, the inhalation portion may be substantially identically formed as the combustion portion and not have a filter. [0023] Instead of using a cigarette that produces colored smoke, additional alternative embodiments of the present invention include a different type of smoking device. For example, instead of a cigarette, the smoking device producing colored smoke could be a cigar, cigarillo, nargillo (hookah), or pipe. The colored smoke producing element for such devices may take the form, for example, of powder, drops, tablets, or capsules. For a smoking device such as a cigar, the overall construction would be in many respects similar to that of a filterless cigarette described in the preceding paragraph. Other smoking devices would have different constructions. For example, one embodiment of the present invention utilizes a pipe having an inhalation portion including a mouthpiece and a combustion portion including a bowl into which tobacco is placed. The inhalation portion and combustion portion are operatively joined by a tube interposed between the mouthpiece and bowl. Thus, the operatively joined inhalation portion and combustion portion may be directly connected, or may instead have additional components located between them.

[0024] Additional embodiments of the present invention include a smoking device including a colored smoke producing element that adds color to smoke that passes by the colored smoke producing element, instead of requiring the

colored smoke producing element to be burned. In these embodiments, the smoke exuding from the burning end of the smoking device is not colored, but smoke exhaled by the smoker is. In such embodiments, smoke being drawn through the inhalation portion of a smoking device has color added to it before it is inhaled by a smoker. For example, one embodiment includes a colored smoke producing element adapted to be incorporated into the filter of a cigarette. As smoke is drawn through the filter the smoke becomes colored. In another embodiment, a colored smoke producing element is interposed between the combustion portion and inhalation portion of a cigarette. In this embodiment, as the smoker inhales, the smoke is first drawn through the colored smoke producing element and then through the filter. [0025] The color of the smoke can be used for communication or identification purposes. For example, the color of the smoke can correspond to the brand of cigarette, or correspond to another quality of the cigarette. Figure 4 is a table illustrating the correspondence between the color of smoke produced by a cigarette and a characteristic of a cigarette for an embodiment of the present invention. For the embodiment of Fig. 4, the characteristic of the cigarette is its brand. The color A of smoke produced corresponds to a brand AA of a cigarette, the color B of smoke produced corresponds to a brand BB of a cigarette, and so on. In addition to corresponding to the brand of cigarette, the color of the smoke may also be coordinated with the color of the cigarette packaging for further brand identification. Thus, the color A could be red for a brand AA that has red packaging, the color B could be blue for a brand BB that has blue packaging, and so on.

[0026] In addition to identifying the brand of cigarette, the color of the smoke may also be coordinated with the color of the cigarette packaging for further brand identification. As additional examples, the color of the smoke may identify another quality of the cigarette, such as the size and/or the flavor. For instance, a smoke color may be used to differentiate a manufacturer's menthol cigarette from other cigarettes. This provides a convenient way for one smoker to determine if another smoker smokes the same brand, type, or variant of cigarette. This can serve as a conversation starter, or a way for smokers to know whom to borrow a cigarette from if they run out. Alternatively, the color of the smoke may correspond to a chemical property of cigarette, such as nicotine and/or tar level. Also, different colors of smoke could be used for varieties such as regular, light, and ultra-light cigarettes. [0027] Further, the presence of colored smoke may exist only for a portion of the combustion portion 30, or the intensity of the smoke color produced may vary along the length of the combustion portion 30. This is accomplished in one embodiment by positioning the colored smoke producing strip 38 (or different type of smoke producing element) only along a portion of the length of the combustion portion 30 and/or varying the construction, composition, or density of the colored smoke producing strip 38 (or different type of smoke producing element) along the length of the combustion portion 30. This variance could be used to signify something about an individual cigarette - such as whether it has just been lighted, or whether it is close to going out. For example, the presence of color may exist only when the cigarette 10 is close to burning out, or the color of smoke may intensify when the combustion portion 30 is close to being entirely consumed. Thus, if a smoker placed the

cigarette 10 in an ash tray while it was lit, with the intention of smoking it a little bit more before it was extinguished, the addition and/or change of shade of colored smoke could alert the smoker that the cigarette 10 is nearly consumed. This could prevent the irritation, expense, inconvenience, and increased sidestream smoke in the environment caused by having to light a new cigarette if the smoker only wanted to take a few more puffs. [0028] The color of the smoke may also correspond to characteristics of individual smokers or groups of smokers. This can make it easier to identify social characteristics of others in a group setting. As one example, the color of smoke may be used to identify whether one is married or single. The color of smoke could also correspond to whether one is open to meeting someone new at a given time, or if one would prefer not to meet someone new. This can reduce any unwelcome advances and alleviate any awkwardness caused by such circumstances. Color of smoke could also be used to indicate one's sexual orientation. Further possible alternatives include the color of smoke corresponding to one's age, or to one's profession. In another embodiment, the color of the smoke corresponds to one's residency, with different colors of smoke denoting different areas of citizenship, either by country or part of country, by state, by city, or by other geographic and/or governmental unit. Further possible alternatives include cigarettes with smoke colors associated with religious affiliation, or with ethnicity or cultural background. [0029] As another example, the characteristic of the smoker that the smoke color corresponds to may be an athletic team that the smoker supports. For instance, if a team wears green uniforms, or has an official color of green, cigarettes that give off green smoke could be used by smokers who were fans

of the team. Similarly, the cigarette smoke could correspond to a specific university or college, or a team that plays for a university or college. [0030] Figure 5 is a table providing an example of an embodiment of the present invention wherein the color of smoke produced by a cigarette corresponds to a characteristic of a smoker. For the embodiment of Fig. 5, the characteristic of the smoker is an athletic team the smoker supports. The color A of smoke produced corresponds to a team AA, the color B of smoke produced corresponds to a team BB, and so on. In addition to corresponding to a team, the color of the smoke may also be coordinated with the color of the team's uniforms. Thus, the color A could be red for a team AA that has red uniforms, the color B could be blue for a team BB that has blue uniforms, and so on.

[0031] Another example of characteristic of smoker that the color of smoke could correspond to is political affiliation. For example, in the United States, blue has come to be associated with the Democratic Party, and red has come to be associated with the Republican Party. During a political campaign, cigarettes giving off red smoke could be used to identify smokers who were Republicans, while cigarettes giving off blue smoke could be used to identify smokers who were Democrats.

[0032] The color of smoke may also correspond to or be related to a social or other external event. The event may be a political event, for instance, such as a political convention, or an election. Similarly, the color of smoke could relate to a specific sporting event, such as a championship game. As yet another example, the color of smoke could relate to a specific holiday, such as red and blue for Independence Day, or green for St. Patrick's Day. Figure

6 is a table providing an example of an embodiment of the present invention wherein the color of smoke produced by a cigarette corresponds to an event. For the embodiment of Fig. 6, the event is a holiday. The color A of smoke produced corresponds to a holiday AA, the color B of smoke produced corresponds to a holiday BB ₁ and so on. In addition to corresponding to a holiday, the color of the smoke may also be coordinated with a color associated with the holiday. Thus, the color A could be green for holiday AA of St. Patrick's Day, the color B could be orange for holiday BB that was Halloween, and so on. Further, multiple colors could correspond to a single holiday, such as orange and black for Halloween, or red and blue for Independence Day, for example.

[0033] By virtue of the color of the smoke corresponding or relating to, for example, a cigarette characteristic, a personal characteristic of a smoker, or a social event, the smoke color is communicatively significant. The smoke color communicates something about the smoker, the cigarette, or both, to others. One or more colors could be used to correspond to a quality, characteristic, or event. The relationship between the smoke color and that which it corresponds to may be based on an association previously established outside of the context of cigarette smoke (such as green smoke corresponding to a sports team with green uniforms), or may not be (such as a color assigned to represent marital status, or, as another example, using a color other than the uniform color to correspond to a sports team). Additionally, there may be overlap between, for example, the correspondence of smoke color to characteristics of smokers and to an event (such as during international sporting events like the Olympics or World Cup soccer, smoke

color could correspond to characteristics of smokers such as country of citizenship as well a team they root for, and also correspond to the sporting event or tournament). Also, many colors of smoke may be used as part of a system where each color corresponds to a different characteristic or event in some embodiments of the present invention, whereas only one color of smoke may be provided in other embodiments.

[0034] The use of colored smoke can serve as an ice-breaker during a social situation, either by someone identifying the smoke color as indicating a potential topic of conversation; or by encouraging a question from someone who wants to know what that particular color signifies. It may also serve other purposes, for example, by identifying smokers of the same brand to each other, or identifying people with similar interests to each other, or identifying when a cigarette is about to burn out.

[0035] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system 50. The colored smoke module system 50 includes a cigarette 92 and a colored smoke module 58. The cigarette 52 includes an inhalation portion 54 and a combustion portion 56. To smoke the cigarette 52, a smoker lights the end of the combustion portion 56 and draws smoke through the inhalation portion 54. The combustion portion 56 may include tobacco preformed as a rod with or without additives surrounded by a wrapping paper, while the inhalation portion 54 may include a filter to remove potentially harmful materials from the smoke being inhaled by the smoker.

[0036] The colored smoke module 58 includes a sleeve 60 and an indicator 62. The sleeve 60 is designed to fit on to the combustion portion 56 by being slid over the combustion portion 56. The opening of the sleeve 60 is sized to

be large enough to allow it to be either slid on or off the combustion portion 56 while still being small enough to remain in place when on the combustion portion 56. The sleeve 60 may be constructed by dispersing a colored smoke producing material along a paper that is similar to the wrapping paper surrounding the combustion portion 56.

[0037] The indicator 62, shown as an "x" in Fig. 7, is a mark made on the sleeve 60. The indicator 62 provides a visual indication of the color of smoke produced by the sleeve 60. Alternatively, the indicator may be a color covering part or all of the sleeve 60. Also as an alternative, the colored smoke module 58 could use a removably mounted indicator, such as a tag that could be torn off before the sleeve 60 is mounted to the cigarette 52.

[0038] As an additional alternative, the indicator 62 may provide a visual indication of something other than the color of smoke produced by the sleeve 60 when burned. For example, the color of smoke produced may be communicatively significant, that is, it may be used to communicate something about the cigarette itself or the person smoking the cigarette. (For examples, see previous discussion). The indicator for such a module may provide a visual cue corresponding to the characteristic of a cigarette or smoker to which the color corresponds.

[0039] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system 70. The colored smoke module system 70 includes a cigarette 72 and a colored smoke module 78. The cigarette 72 includes an inhalation portion 74 and a combustion portion 76. To smoke the cigarette 72, a smoker lights the end of the combustion portion 76 and draws smoke through the inhalation portion 74. The combustion portion 76 may include tobacco preformed as a

rod with or without additives surrounded by a wrapping paper, while the inhalation portion 74 may include a filter to remove potentially harmful materials from the smoke being inhaled by the smoker.

[0040] The colored smoke module 78 includes a pin 80 and a tag 82. The pin 80 is designed to fit in the combustion portion 76 by being inserted through the open end of the combustion portion 76 before lighting the cigarette 72. The pin 78 should be narrow enough to be able to be inserted into the combustion portion 76, and rigid enough to avoid buckling during insertion into the cigarette 72. The tag 82 is mounted to the pin 80, and may be removed before the pin 80 is inserted into the combustion portion 76. The tag 82 provides a visual indication of the color of smoke produced by the pin 80 or a visual indication of a characteristic of the cigarette or smoker to which the color corresponds, as described above.

[0041] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of a colored smoke module system 90. The colored smoke module system 90 includes a cigarette 92 and a colored smoke module 98. The cigarette 92 includes an inhalation portion 94 and a combustion portion 96. To smoke the cigarette, a smoker lights the end of the combustion portion 96 and draws smoke through the inhalation portion 94. The combustion portion 96 may include tobacco preformed as a rod with or without additives surrounded by a wrapping paper, while the inhalation portion 94 may include a filter to remove potentially harmful materials from the smoke being inhaled by the smoker.

[0042] The colored smoke module 98 includes a strip 100 and an indicator 102. The strip 100 is designed to be adhesively placed length-wise on the combustion portion 96. The indicator 102, shown as a "y" in Fig. 9, is a mark

made on the strip 100. The indicator 102 provides a visual indication of the color of smoke produced by the strip 100. Examples of alternate types of indicators include those described above in connection with the embodiments of Fig. 7 and Fig. 8.

[0043] The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 7-9 include a colored smoke module having a body, such as a sleeve, a pin, or an adhesive strip. The modules are user mountable - individual smokers may place and/or remove the modules from a cigarette. The body of the module is combustible, and contains a material that gives off colored smoke when the colored smoke module body is burned. For example, known materials that give off colored smoke may be found in products such as smoke bombs or fireworks. These materials, or other materials to be used, can be adapted (but not necessarily so) for use in cigarettes for such considerations as safety, burn rate, ease of production and/or compatibility with other cigarette materials, and any effect they may have on taste. As smoke from the module will be ingested by the smoker along with smoke from the cigarette itself, and also distributed to the atmosphere, the material used will ideally have no or low toxicity. The entire body of the module may be constructed from a colored smoke producing material, or the colored smoke producing material may be just a portion of the body added to other materials. As an additional example, the colored smoke module could be mounted to the cigarette in the form of a liquid or paste that is applied to the outside of the combustion portion.

[0044] After the cigarette to which it is mounted is lit, the colored smoke module gives off colored smoke as it burns. Because tobacco and the wrapper of the cigarette are also burning, the color of all the smoke leaving

the cigarette may be different from that produced solely by the colored smoke module. Thus, to achieve a specified color of smoke, the colored smoke module provides a more intense shade of that particular color when burning alone. Because smoke inhaled by a smoker of a standard cigarette passes through a filter, the smoke later exhaled by the smoker may or may not be the same shade or color as the smoke exuding from the cigarette to which the colored smoke module is added.

[0045] As described more fully above, the color of the smoke can be used for communication or identification purposes. For example, the color of the smoke can be used to identify a characteristic of the cigarette itself, or may also correspond to a quality of the person smoking the cigarette and/or to an event (such as a sporting event). Colored smoke modules may also provide colored smoke during only a portion of the burning of a cigarette, or may provide varying colors of smoke during the burning of the cigarette. This can be accomplished, for example, by using a colored smoke module body that is mounted to only a portion of the combustion portion of a cigarette, varying the amount and/or type of colored smoke producing material within the colored smoke module body, and/or using multiple smoke module bodies in combination.

[0046] A colored smoke module that is user mountable allows individual users to control and/or vary the color of smoke produced from cigarette to cigarette. This can provide a number of advantages. For example, a smoker could conserve colored smoke modules by mounting them to cigarettes only in certain situations. If the color of smoke were being used to communicate something about the smoker in a social situation, then the smoker could use

them only in such situations, and not when smoking alone. The use of user mountable colored smoke modules also allows smokers to change the color of smoke in accordance with their mood, or to change the meaning of any information being communicated by the color of smoke, or just for variety. User mountable colored smoke modules also allow multiple smokers to share cigarettes from the same pack without having to use the same color of smoke. Further, user mountable colored smoke modules can provide a greater variety of color choices and options, as limited shelf space in stores for cigarettes may limit the variety of cigarettes that vendors are able to provide.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, colored smoke modules are included in a kit with multiple modules. The modules from a kit may produce the same color of smoke, or, in alternative embodiments, different modules in a kit may produce different colors of smoke. The use of indicators, such as those described above in connection with the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 7-9, can be especially beneficial to aid distinguishing modules from the same kit that produce different colors of smoke from each other. The use of different colors in the same kit allows a user to select the color of smoke regardless of type of cigarette, and/or to vary the color of smoke based on the social situation. Additionally, such a kit of colored smoke modules could include cigarettes for the modules to be mounted to as well.

[0048] Other embodiments of the present invention include colored smoke modules that may be used with smoking devices other than cigarettes, or which may be used with either cigarettes or other types of smoking devices. Examples of other types of smoking devices include cigars, cigarillos,

nargillas (hookahs), and pipes. Examples of other types of module, in addition to those described above, include drops, tablets, and capsules.

[0049] One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a pipe having an inhalation portion including a mouthpiece and a combustion portion including a bowl into which tobacco is placed. A colored smoke producing capsule is also placed in the bowl. The inhalation portion and combustion portion are operatively joined by a tube interposed between the mouthpiece and bowl. Thus, the operatively joined inhalation portion and combustion portion may be directly connected, or may instead have additional components located between them.

[0050] Additional embodiments of the present invention include a colored smoke module that adds color to smoke that passes by the colored smoke module, instead of requiring the colored smoke module to be burned. In these embodiments, the smoke exuding from the burning end of a smoking device is not colored, but smoke exhaled by the smoker is. In such embodiments, smoke being drawn through the inhalation portion of a smoking device has color added to it before it is inhaled by a smoker. For example, one embodiment includes an external mouthpiece that is slid over the inhalation end of a pipe. As a smoker draws smoke from the pipe, the smoke passes through the external mouthpiece. The external mouthpiece includes a coloring agent that adds color to the smoke as it passes through the external mouthpiece. As another example, one embodiment includes a cigarette holder that accepts the inhalation portion of a cigarette. In other embodiments, such a colored smoke module would be inserted internally into a cigarette or other smoking device. For instance, another embodiment of the

present invention includes a colored smoke module including a pin adapted to be inserted into the filter of a cigarette. As smoke is drawn through the filter the smoke becomes colored. For these embodiments that do not require the colored smoke module to be combusted, the colored smoke module may be re-used with multiple smoking devices.

[0051] A further embodiment of the present invention heightens the aesthetic effect of smoke with the use of bubbles made from soap or a similar substance that can form a membrane around smoke. In a colored smoke scenario, after a colored smoke module has been added to a smoking device, bubbles may be made containing colored smoke produced by the smoking device. For example, a smoker may inhale smoke from a smoking device, and then exhale across a membrane of soap or similar substance spread across a hoop or ring. As the smoker exhales, the soap is formed into a bubble around the smoke, until the bubble is completely formed and then breaks away from the hoop and into the atmosphere. The smoke swirls inside the bubble while the bubble remains formed, and is discharged when the bubble ruptures. In alternative embodiments, multiple smokers may inflate the bubble and/or multiple colors of smoke may be used to inflate the bubble for a heightened decorative effect.

[0052] As an additional embodiment, the smoke may be introduced to a bubble machine that forms the bubble instead of having individual smokers exhale to form the bubble. Smoke filled bubbles may be formed by using smoke exuding from the smoking device itself in combination with or in the alternative to smoke exhaled by smokers.

[0053] Additionally, the smoke-filled bubbles may be kept intact and transported and kept in a sealed and/or vented viewing area to reduce second-hand smoke in an enclosed atmosphere such as a bar, or a house or apartment where a party is being held. As the bubbles rupture in the viewing area, the smoke can be vented outside to a remote area away from the enclosed atmosphere, or the smoke may be contained in a sealed viewing area to be released later in less enclosed quarters.

[0054] While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the present invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.