Background of the invention Using filters is a well-known and frequently applied protection against inhaling an excessive amount of harmful substances generated while smoking a cigarette.

Cigarette manufacturers use different kinds of filters, ranging from the simplest mechanical filters, which take an advantage of physical properties of filtering materials, to the filters equipped with a suitable type of porous paper, activated coal, side ventilation, as well as additional perforation. Additional aeration of a cigarette filter aims at soothing negative sensations of a smoker by dilution of tobacco smoke coming into the mouth. Using the filters with perforation allows a dilution of a tobacco smoke even by 50%.

Construction of different types of filters, their advantages and drawbacks, as well as methods of their manufacturing were revealed in Polish patent specifications No. 129913,129915, 129929 129988,134894, 138852,152794, 159021 and 174430.

Cigarette filters diminish the amount of harmful substances inhaled by a smoker, however, it was observed that the mixture, which finally penetrates into the body depends not only on the composition of the smoke inhaled through a given filter, but first of all on the manner of smoking.

It was noticed that cigarettes are smoked in two manners: a smoker holds a lit cigarette between his lips almost all the time or holds a cigarette in his hand and from time to time puts it to his or her mouth to inhale the smoke.

In the first case smoking results in diminishing the cross-section of the filter under pressure of the smoker's lips. With this manner of smoking a smoker's body is

exposed to absorbing a great amount of the so-called side stream of a cigarette smoke, which is emitted from a glowing cigarette end throughout the process of smoking. The side stream of the cigarette smoke, as not subjected to filtration is much more condensed than the smoke breathed in through the filter and consequently, it is much more harmful.

The other manner of smoking also results in diminishing the cross-section of the filter, this time under pressure of a smoker's fingers and lips on the filter. Besides, holding a cigarette in hand often causes blocking perforation openings, which are used in some types of cigarettes, in the place of the contact between fingers and the filter. The perforation openings provide an additional stream of air to thin the smoke. Blocking these openings impairs the filter's original function. Diminished flow capacity of the filter actually makes the cigarettes even five times stronger than it is indicated on the cigarette box.

Besides, with both manners of smoking, after each breath-in of smoke the filter is worn away, softened and more susceptible to be crushed or deformed, which consequently diminishes its permeability. Under the influence of high temperature and the pressure of lips and fingers the complex system of small grooves and channels in the filter is deformed and consequently the filter no longer performs its functions. As the filter is partly clogged, the flow rate of smoke through the filter is decreased, which makes it difficult for the air inflow to go directly through the tobacco part. As a consequence a smoker is forced to inhale more deeply and more energetically. This results in a higher combustion temperature and, consequently, the change of chemical composition of tobacco smoke. The higher temperature of the inhaled smoke also leads to a sore throat and sore larynx, which lead s to serious diseases including cancer.

Description of the invention The object of the invention is maximum reduction of negative effects of smoking cigarettes both on the body of a smoker and people around a smoker.

In the first variant, the present invention provides a multifunctional cigarette shield comprising a protective part of an arbitrary external outline having an opening being of diameter equal to the diameter of a cigarette.

The protective part of the first variant may comprise grooves enabling its folding after smoking.

In the second variant, the invention provides a multifunctional cigarette shield comprising a protective part in a form of folding surface of an arbitrary external outline, having an opening being of diameter equal to the diameter of a cigarette and radial construction elements building a framework of said protective part, said opening being connected to a slidable ring placed on the cigarette's filter, said protective part being connected by means of moveable elements to a ring fixed on the cigarette's filter between the perforation openings and tobacco part.

The protective part of the second variant may be equipped with additional external band which has the form of a sleeve or a strap with elements connecting its ends.

Radial construction elements of the protective part are preferably in a form of additional stiffened straps fixed to the protective part.

Preferably, the protective part of both variants consists of at least one layer. In the case the protective part is made of more than one layered, its layers are connected with each other permanently.

Inner layer of protective part is advantageously made of heat-sealing and heat- insulating material.

The shield may also comprise an additional slidable ring placed on a cigarette's filter. The aim of this ring is allowing to close the perforation openings and consequently increase the strength of the cigarette. In the second variant of the shield the ring should be placed under the moveable ring connected with the protective part.

Protective parts of both variants may advantageously constitute surfaces for placing informational indications and/or advertisements.

The cigarette shield in according to the invention has many advantages and fulfils various functions in the process of smoking.

Thanks to the shield's close adherence to the diameter of a cigarette and a relatively large surface of the protective part, the shield effectively blocks side smoke which comes out of the glowing end of the cigarette and is inhaled through a smoker's nose and mouth. Putting a cigarette in the shield protects the filter against mechanical damage, especially against crushing which usually occurs, while holding a cigarette between one's fingers and putting it to one's mouth.

Another advantage of using the cigarette shield is eliminating the necessity of a direct contact between a cigarette and fingers. The shape of the protective shield makes it possible for a smoker to hold not a cigarette but a part of the shield.

Besides, shielding a part of the face around a smoker's lips and nose results in eliminating unpleasant smell and characteristic yellow color of combustion products deposited in these places. These features of the shield make the process of smoking more hygienic.

Placing grooves on the protective part of the shield of the first variant and using heat-sealing and heat-insulating materials as its inner layer allows extinguishing a cigarette quickly and effectively. Since the shield folds easily there is a little or no access of air to the cigarette and by sealing the shield's curved edges the cigarette end is completely extinguished. Such a way of extinguishing the cigarette excludes the risk of fire caused by a glowing cigarette end, prevents unpleasant smell from spreading, and the fingers from getting dirty and possibly scalded.

Another important feature of the invention is the possibility to make use of the whole surface of the protective part as an information carrier. On the protective part one can put an advertisement or a warning of harmfulness of smoking cigarettes. It is also possible to place other information such as e. g. warning that a cigarette being smoked is about to finish.

Another advantage of the second variant of the invention is a permanent connection with the cigarette. This variant is advisable for smokers who might

forget to use the shield of the first variant, which is used separately as an additional element.

An additional slidable ring placed on the perforation openings on the cigarette filter allows increasing the strength of a cigarette.

Brief description of the drawings Features and advantages of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings in which, Fig. 1 shows an illustration of the shield according to the first variant of the invention, fixed on the cigarette, Fig. 1a shows an illustration of the shield according to the first variant of the invention, with the additional ring which increases the strength of a cigarette, Fig. 2 shows the cross-section of the shield of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show consecutive stages of folding the shield of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 shows the shield of Fig. 1 after folding, Fig. 6 shows the cross-section of the shield according to the second variant of the invention, partially unfolded, Fig. 7 shows the shield according to the second variant of the invention, folded, before starting the process of smoking, Fig. 8 shows the shield of Fig. 7, unfolded, with permeable perforation openings, Fig. 9 shows the shield of Fig. 7, unfolded, with covered perforation openings, and Fig. 10 shows the shield according to the second variant of the invention, folded, after finishing the process of smoking.

Description of the drawings

The multifunctional cigarette shield of the present invention is available in two variants. The first variant is a separate, additional element of a cigarette, and the second variant is a shield which is an inseparable part of a cigarette.

As shown on Fig. 1-5, the shield according to the first variant of the invention comprises the protective part 1 formed by a substantially flat screen. In the presented embodiment the protective part 1 consists of two layers of material, which are connected with each other permanently, forming as inner surface 2 and outer surface 3. The protective part 1 has an opening 4 with the diameter equal to the diameter of a cigarette and grooves 5 in the outer surface 3 in order to facilitate folding of the shield after smoking. The inner surface 2 of the protective part 1 consists of heat-sealing and heat-insulating material, which makes it possible to extinguish a stump 6 of a cigarette quickly, effectively and safely after folding the shield along the grooves 5. The protective part 1 is placed on the filter 7 of a cigarette, between the perforation openings 8 of a filter and tobacco part 9.

As shown on Fig. 6-10, the shield according to the second variant of the invention comprises the protective part 10 part in a form of a folding surface of an arbitrary external outline, having radial construction elements 11 and an opening 12. The opening 12 is connected with a moveable ring 13 placed on the cigarette's filter 14. The external surface of a protective part 10 is connected by means of moveable elements 16 with a ring 15 permanently fixed on the cigarette's filter 14, between the perforation openings 17 of a filter and tobacco part 18. The diameter of the opening 12 is the same as the external diameter of the ring 15.

In this embodiment the protective part 10 has a form of a circle, with radial construction elements 11 comprising an additional stiffened straps, placed on the internal surface of a protective part 10 from the side of the filter 14. The construction of the shield and the shape of the protective part 10 as well as an axial motion of the ring 13, the shield may be opened and closed like an umbrella.

Besides, on the filter 14, under the ring 13, there is an additional slidable ring 19, by means of which one can regulate the strength of a cigarette. If the ring 19 is left behind perforation openings 17, the cigarette has'regular'strength, compliant with

relevant norms, but if the ring is moved to cover perforation openings 17, the inflow of air through the openings is cut off, the concentration of inhaled nicotine increases, which gives smoker a sensation of increased strength of the cigarette.

Research showed that covering perforation openings 17 may increase strength of a cigarette even five times.

The ring 19 may be an additional element of the shield in accordance to first variant of the invention.

Similarly to as in the first variant of the present invention the protective part 10 may consist of one or more layers of material. In the example of execution the protective part 10 consists of two layers of material, which are connected with each other permanently, forming inner surface 20 and outer surface 21. Similarly to the variant 1, the inner surface 20 consists of heat-sealing and heat-insulating material which makes it possible to extinguish a cigarette end 22 effectively and safely.

The protective part 10 may be additionally equipped with an external band 23 which prevents the part from accidental opening and, on the other hand, facilitates its folding and extinguishing the cigarette end 22 safely after smoking. The band 23 may have the form of a sleeve or a strap with elements connecting its ends.

The method of using the shield according to the variant 1 is as follows : the shield is put on the filter 7 of a cigarette, between its perforation openings 8 and tobacco part 9. A smoker holds the protective part 1 in his hand, puts the filter 7 to his mouth, breathes in deeply and then takes it out. After smoking the tobacco part 9, a smoker folds the protective part 1, along the grooves 5, which results in sealing folded surfaces, cutting off the inflow of the air to the space in which the cigarette end 6 is enclosed and, consequently, its extinguishing.

To increase the strength of a cigarette, one should put an additional ring 19 on the filter 7 and move the ring to cover perforation openings 8.

The method of using the shield according to the second variant of the present invention consists of the following steps:

First, if the shield comprises the band 23, a smoker slides it towards the front of a cigarette. Then a smoker moves the ring 13 towards the tobacco part 18 till the protective part 10 is completely opened. A smoker may smoke cigarette, holding the filter 14 or the ring 13, or holding the protective part 10 directly in his hand.

To increase the strength of a cigarette, after complete opening of the protective part 10, one should move the ring 19, so as to cover the perforation openings 17.

After finishing smoking a smoker folds the protective part 10, moving the ring 13 towards the end of the filter 14, or optionally puts the band 23 on it, or folds it directly with his fingers, which extinguishes the cigarette stump 22.

Surfaces of the protective part 1,10 may be used for placing information and advertisements.

Various changes and modifications of the present invention may of course be applied without departing from the scope of the subjoined claims.