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DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable device adapted to cut a stub so as to separate the respective filter from the remaining stub portion and store said filter inside the device itself.

State of the art

As everybody knows the stubs, i.e. what remains of cigarettes, cigars and the like, after having used them, cause significant problems of various kind.

The number of stubs discarded in nature each year is estimated equal to 4500 billions. Considering that the latency time in nature, i.e. the time a stub takes to decompose, ranges from 6 months (for unfiltered cigarettes) to 15 years (for filtered cigarettes), depending on environmental conditions and the type of cigarette or cigar, it is understandable that the problem becomes particularly prominent.

From an ecological perspective, stubs release into the environment substances that accumulate therein, i.e. benzopyrene, phenol, formaldehyde, heavy metals, nicotine, benzene, hydrogen cyanide, nitrate, butane, ammonia and other chemical substances classified as irritant, harmful, toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. These substances significantly contribute to polluting the environment, both air and water, as well as soil. A further problem connected to throw away stubs in the environment, is the risk for children at a tender age, who instinctively bring any object in the mouth, to swallow the stubs. The stubs found in the soil, if accidentally swallowed, may cause serious poisoning.

Moreover, a so high number of stubs in the environment causes serious aesthetic problems, or rather real environmental and landscape deterioration.

Last but not least is the fire hazard due to discarding stubs not completely extinguished.

Recently, a bill has been approved in Italy that provides fines for smokers who discard stubs in the environment, as already provided for a long time in other countries. However, this measure is not expected to reduce the extent of the problem, because of the difficulty of catch the smoker in the act.

On the other hand, the poor dissemination of ashtrays is one of the underlying causes of the aforementioned problems. It is not disputed that a smoker, having consumed his cigarette, can not hold in his hands the smelly stub, neither can put the latter in his pocket or bag.

In order to overcome these problems, the document WO2012/110948 provides a device to extinguish cigarettes and contain the residues thereof. The device comprises a body having a chamber to receive at least one lit cigarette able to be inserted through a special opening, and a closing element to hermetically seal the opening so that the cigarette stub is extinguished as a result of oxygen depletion in the chamber. However, such a device provides for the ash of the cigarette that is being extinguished to remain inside the chamber. Furthermore, the stub comprises not only the filter but also a not smoked cigarette portion that, together with ash, is the main source of unpleasant smell. Since the device has a single chamber containing one or more stubs, each time the device is opened to insert a new stub, the smell of already contained stubs and ash is released. In addition the stub, by its nature, is bulkier than the filter alone and therefore causes the containment capacity of the device to be limited, so that the latter requires to be frequently emptied, unless a rather bulky device is provided which, however, is uncomfortable for the user .

Devices having cutting means to sever the end portion of a used cigarette and a cavity to contain the unsmoked cigarette portion have also been proposed. Such devices, for example described in WO2011/080671 and WO2014/118402, do not have the purpose of containing cigarette residues for environmental and hygienic purposes, but aim to contain a cigarette portion which can be smoked later. Therefore they are not structured so as to contain a plurality of stubs .

Summary of the invention

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes, the device being able to overcome the above mentioned problems. That is, object of the present invention is to provide a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes, the device being sufficiently small, light and handy so as to be pocket sized, or else easy to be transported in a bag, a pouch or the like. Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter collecting device allowing the cigarette filter to be separated from the remaining portion of the stub, so as to subsequently collect in the device itself substantially only the filter, i.e. what causes the above-mentioned environmental, sanitation and landscape problems. In fact, the most important problems are caused by the filter that is not biodegradable, because unfiltered cigarettes take 6 to 12 months to decompose. On the contrary, the filter does not decompose, but turns into fine particles within a variable period from 5 to 15 years.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent unintentional fires due to burning stubs, or even not completely extinguished stubs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a filter collecting device which is simple to use and inexpensive and prevents the smoker from receiving fines .

These and further objects are achieved by means of a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarette according to claim 1.

Specifically, the device comprises a first portion defining the main body of the device and provided with one or more seats, each able to contain a filter inserted through an opening of the seat itself, and a second portion combined with the first portion so as to be both movable one with respect to the other, and cutting means combined with the second portion. The cutting means are arranged on a plane parallel to the plane on which the seat openings lie, so as to be transverse thereto. According to this configuration, when a cigarette stub is inserted into a seat, as a result of a movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion, the cutting means interact with the opening of this seat so that the cigarette portion emerging from the seat itself is severed and thus separated from the filter which instead remains in the seat. Thus, advantageously, the filter remains enclosed in the first portion, while the rest of the cigarette, which is biodegradable, falls outside the device, with the double advantage of reducing the bulk of the material to be retained in the device, i.e. limiting it to the sole nondegradable part, and eliminating the part being the main source of unpleasant smell of the device, which part is the end portion of the cigarette.

A device having these characteristics is very easy to use, thus allowing quick and simple collection of filters and concurring to solve the above mentioned problems caused by discarding the stubs.

Furthermore it is pocket-sized, or anyway small sized, so that it can be held in a pouch or combined with a ring to act, for example, as a keyring, thereby obviating the problem of lack of ashtrays. In fact, being light and easily transportable, the smoker can carry it with him without dropping stubs in the environment and thus helping to protect the environment.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term cigarette is used to indicate any of a filtered cigarette or a filtered cigarillo.

Furthermore, in the present context, speaking of filter, reference is made to the real filter, usually a cellulose acetate cylinder, together with the paper which normally covers it or with another type of coating (such as tobacco leaves), but nor residues of tobacco and the wrapping paper, partially consumed and burned, neither the remains of ash can be excluded.

Preferably, the first portion and the second portion are combined one another so that they are rotatable one with respect to the other; thus, by a partial rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion, a seat is brought at the cutting means. The cutting means advantageously comprise a blade.

In a preferred implementation, the second portion is formed by a rotation shaft whose ends have a first end element and a second end element fastened thereto so that they are both integral with the shaft itself; the first portion is provided in turn with a central hole, in which the shaft is inserted and acts as pivot pin of the first portion, and the first portion is retained on the shaft by the first and the second end elements. In order to allow the rotation shaft to be inserted into the hole in the first portion, the second end element is removably combined with the shaft, for example by screwing; for this purpose, its end will be provided with a thread preferably on its outer surface, and the second end element will be provided with a corresponding second thread preferably formed at the level of the inner surface of a hole provided in the element itself .

In an alternative implementation, the second portion comprises only the rotation shaft and the first end element; in this case, the free end of the rotation shaft will be provided with attachment means cooperating with corresponding means at the level of the first portion and configured so as to allow the first and second portions to rotate with respect to each other.

In another embodiment, the second portion is constituted by the first end element rotatably combined with the first portion by suitably arranged coupling means.

Preferably, the first portion is substantially cylindrical, the seats extending along the direction of its height and being substantially parallel to the central hole, and the end elements are disc-shaped.

Advantageously, the first closing element is provided with an insertion opening which, as a result of partial rotation of the first portion, can be placed either at one of the openings of the first portion, in order to allow a cigarette stub to be inserted into a seat, or between two adjacent openings to keep the device closed; preferably the opening is shaped so as to leave the cutting means partially exposed in order to be able to see the cutting operation. Alternatively, the insertion opening can have the same shape as the seat openings and cutting means can be provided in the form of two blades at two opposite sides of said opening, so as to allow the stub to be severed by rotating the first portion either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Advantageously a closing element is combined with the insertion opening, and more preferably a closing element is combined with the device, the closing element being adapted to cover the outer surface of the first end element to more effectively close the device. Advantageously, on the outer surface of the shaft of the second portion, first matching means can be provided, for example in the form of projections, teeth or the like, which interact with corresponding second matching means, such as grooves and the like, provided at the level of the inner surface of the central hole of the first portion, so as to stop the partial rotation of the first portion when the insertion opening is at a seat opening.

In a preferred implementation, the rotation shaft is tubular and its inner cavity defines a lighter-holder compartment and/or a housing to contain smell abatement means, such as a perfuming element. Therefore, the first and/or second end elements will be provided with a respective hole for the insertion of the lighter and/or the smell abatement means inside the rotation shaft, and with closing element to close the holes. A separating wall can be provided inside the rotation shaft in order to keep the compartment and the housing separate.

In order to adapt the seats to cigarettes of different types having filters of different lengths, the device can be provided with a series of interchangeable adaptation plates, each provided with respective protrusions to be inserted into the seats, or with a single adaptation plate having protrusions of adjustable height; for its insertion, the second end element must be removed from the second portion, the selected adaptation plate must be positioned in contact with the first portion so that the protrusions are inserted into the seats, and then the second end element must be fastened to the rotation shaft.

Advantageously, an adaptation plate provided with hollow protrusions can be provided, each protrusion having a first supporting surface sized so as to support cigarettes having at least one first diameter, and a second supporting surface for cigarettes having at least one second diameter; preferably, the second supporting surface is obtained inside the respective protrusion in a lowered position with respect to the first supporting surface at a distance corresponding to the difference in height between the filters of said cigarettes of at least one first and at least one second diameter.

Brief list of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more evident by the review of the following specification of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment, which is depicted for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes according to a preferred embodiment;

- figure la shows the device of figure 1 combined with a closing element;

- figure 2 shows a perspective view of the device of figure 1 in operating condition;

- figure 3 is a sectional side view of the device of figure 1;

- figure 4 is an exploded view of the device section of figure 3; and

- figures 5 and 6 respectively show a top view and a bottom view of the device of figure 1; - figure 7 shows a top view only of a first portion of the device of figure 1; and

- figures 8 and 9 respectively show a top view and a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a component of the device.

Detailed description of the invention

The following specification relates to a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes.

Referring to figures 1-5, a portable device for collecting filters of used cigarettes is denoted as a whole with the reference number 1.

The device 1 comprises a first portion 2 defining a main body to contain a plurality of cigarette filters, a second portion 3, and cutting means 4.

The first and second portions are combined with each other so as to be movable one with respect to the other. Preferably, the first and the second portions are able to rotate one with respect to the other.

The first portion is provided with one or more seats 5, each ending in a respective insertion opening 5' which allows a stub 6 to be inserted into the seat. The cigarette stub is usually made up of a filter and an end portion 6' intended to be removed by the device according to the present invention, and usually made up of tobacco and a cigarette paper containing the same, both partially used and charred, and possible ash residues.

The first portion can be substantially cylindrical with circular or polygonal section - as shown in the figures- to be easily grasped.

The first portion can also have a central hole 7, open at least at one end, but preferably at both ends.

The second portion 3 comprises a first end element 8 having an insertion opening 9 sized and positioned so as to be able to be brought each time at a seat opening to allow a cigarette stub 6 to be inserted in the seat itself with its end portion 6' emerging from the seat itself - as shown in Figure 2. By moving the first portion with respect to the second portion or vice versa, each seat can be positioned at the insertion opening. Preferably and as shown in the figures, each seat can be brought at the insertion opening as a result of a rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion, or vice versa.

In an embodiment, the second portion comprises a rotation shaft 10 having the first end element 8 fastened at an end thereof. The second portion 2 can also comprise a second end element 11 removably combined by coupling means 12, 13 suitably arranged at the other end of the rotation shaft 10. The coupling means 12, 13 can consist of a thread obtained on the outer surface of the end of the rotation shaft and which is coupled with a corresponding thread obtained at the level of the second end element 11.

The central hole of the first portion is sized so as to receive the rotation shaft so that the first portion is rotatably combined with the second portion, to rotate on a rotation axis X . The insertion seats 5 extend in a longitudinal direction X' parallel to the rotation axis X of the first portion.

The cutting means 4 are combined with the second portion and can comprise at least one blade positioned on a side of the insertion opening, so that the cutting direction is parallel to the rotation direction of the first portion. In this way, by rotating the first portion from the position of Figure 2, the cutting blade will be at the stub and will penetrate the same along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X', thereby separating the end portion, which will fall outside the device, from the filter, which will remain in the seat and will be held therein by the first end element. Once the cutting operation is completed, the first portion can be rotated so that the insertion opening is in an intermediate position between two openings in order to keep the device closed, or at the opening of another seat in order to insert another cigarette stub. The insertion opening of the first end element can also be provided with a closing element - not shown - for closing the device when not in use. Alternatively, a closing element 8' shaped so as to be fitted on the outer surface of the first end element, is combined with the device to more effectively close the device; the closing element 8' can be provided with a hole 8" having the same shape and size of the insertion opening 5' of the seats 5, and can be assembled on the first end element 8 so as to be rotatable relative thereto so that the hole 8" can be placed at the opening 5' of the seat 5, which is case by case exposed by the insertion opening 9 of the first end element, or the hole 8" can be brought at another part of the first end element to keep the device closed .

Furthermore, the cutting opening can be shaped so as to leave a blade portion exposed, thereby being able to immediately select the severing rotation direction of the first portion, or two blades can be provided on opposite sides with respect to the insertion opening, so that the stub is severed either by rotating clockwise or counterclockwise .

Preferably, the blade includes a cusp in its end portion, i.e. the blade portion first intercepting the stub is punctiform, so as to precisely sever the stub.

The seats of the first portion can be closed at the bottom, but preferably they are open also towards the second end element. In this case, an adaptation plate 19 can be interposed between the first portion and the second end element, the plate being provided with a plurality of protrusions 20, each to be inserted in a seat in order to vary the longitudinal dimension thereof. Multiple adaptation plates, each with protrusions of different lengths, or a single plate having protrusions of adjustable height, can be combined with the device so as to change the position of the stub with respect to the opening of the seat 5. In fact, since not all the marketed cigarettes have the same size, a stub having a shorter filter with respect to the average length could be positioned entirely inside the housing seat 5, thus not intercepting the cutting means 4. Therefore, the protrusions of the adaptation plate move the stub to a position suitable for properly cutting it at its own filter.

In a preferred solution shown in figures 7 and 8, the protrusions 20 of the adaptation plate 19 are shaped so as to have a first supporting surface 21 and a second supporting surface 22, in which the second supporting surface is obtained in a lowered position at a distance d with respect to the first supporting surface. In more detail and in a preferred embodiment, the protrusions have substantially tubular hollow shape with a top portion having a first inner diameter 23 and a constriction having a second inner diameter 24 smaller than the first inner diameter of the top portion. In this way, the top portion defines the first supporting surface on which a standard diameter cigarette is supported, whereas the second portion defines the second supporting surface for a cigarette of smaller diameter, so-called "slim". The first inner diameter is sized so as to support standard cigarettes, but to be higher than that of slim cigarettes which therefore slide within the top portion of the protrusion to settle on the second supporting surface. Usually, slim cigarettes, and consequently their filters, are longer than standard cigarettes. Therefore, the distance d between the first and second supporting surfaces is equal to the difference in length between the filter of a standard cigarette and that of a slim cigarette. In this way, a single plate allows the stubs of both types of more common cigarettes to be brought at the proper height in order to sever the stub so as to separate the filter from the rest of the stub.

In addition, the rotation shaft 10 can be integrated in the adaptation plate 19, which in turn can be a separate body or can be integral to the second end element 11 and form a whole therewith.

In order to discharge the collected stubs, each seat has just to be positioned each time at the insertion opening, then the device has be turned upside down so that the filter contained in the seat can come out. Preferably, the rotation shaft 10 of the second portion is tubular and its cavity is sized so as to act as a lighter-holder compartment 14 to accommodate a common lighter (either disposable or of other type) . In addition or alternatively, the cavity of the pivot pin can act as a housing 15 adapted to contain smell abatement means 15', such as a deodorant; the housing can be communicating with the seats, for example by means of vent holes, so as to be more effective.

If there are both the compartment 14 and the housing

15, the pivot pin can advantageously have an inner separating wall 16 to bisect the space. The compartment 14 and/or the housing 15 can be accessed from outside by means of special insertion holes 17 each with respective closing means such as plugs or lids 18 so that the lighter can be replaced, inserted and removed as needed and the smell abatement means can be replaced or refilled. The lighter- holding compartment 14 gives the advantage of providing a single, compact device comprising a lighter together with a filter collector.

The smoker, after having finished smoking his cigarette, grasps the device 1, which is in the closed position, and sets it to the open position by rotating the first portion until the insertion opening is at the opening of an empty seat and possibly by rotating the closing element 8' to place its hole 8" in the open position - as shown in figure la. At this point, the smoker can insert the stub inside the housing seat 5 - as shown in Figure 2 - rotate the first portion by holding the second portion down so that the cutting means come close to the stub and sever it so as to cut the same in two parts: the filter that is stored in a seat 5 of the device 1 and the ash and/or any unsmoked cigarette portions that remain out.

In other words, the smoker only has to rotate the first portion of the device, insert the stub and further rotate the first portion in order to collect the filters in the device 1 and prevent them from being discarded in the environment, with the consequent above-mentioned drawbacks.

Obviously, further modifications and variations, all falling within the protection scope of the present invention, can be applied to the device for collecting filters according to the present invention by the field technician, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements .

Advantageously and in order to facilitate the use of the device, first matching means, for example in the form of projections, teeth, or the like - not shown - can be provided on the outer surface of the rotation shaft of the second portion, the first matching means interacting with correspondent second matching means, such as grooves or the like - not shown - provided at the level of the inner surface of the central hole of the first portion, or vice versa, so as to allow a step-by-step rotation and to stop the rotation of the first portion when the insertion opening is at the opening of a seat, for the insertion of a stub, or when the opening is in the space between two seats, to keep the device in the closed position.