Smoke filter for cigarettes and other smoking implements

Abstract

A smoke filtering apparatus for filtering toxicants from cigarette smoke includes a tube sized and configured to insert into a smoking implement. The tube has a pair of ends, each of which is air permeable such that the tube is configured to permit air through the tube via the pair of ends. A filter is mounted within the tube. The filter comprises a plurality of panels which are coupled to each other at a central axis of the filter. The panels extend radially away from the central axis. Each panel comprises a filtering material configured to attract toxicants from smoke.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A smoke filtering apparatus for a smoking implement, the apparatus comprising:
 a tube sized and configured to insert into the smoking implement, the tube having a pair of ends, each end of the pair of ends being air permeable such that the tube is configured to permit air through the tube via the pair of ends; and   a filter mounted within the tube, the filter comprising a plurality of panels, the panels being coupled to each other at a central axis of the filter, the panels extending radially away from the central axis, each panel comprising a filtering material configured to attract toxicants from smoke.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are equally angularly spaced from each other around the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a substrate, the filtering material being mounted to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the substrate comprises paper. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filtering material comprises activated carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filter extends along its central axis from one end of the pair of ends of the tube to another end of the pair of ends of the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each end of the pair of ends defines a plurality of openings which extend to an interior space of the tube, the openings of each end being radially arranged with respect to each other, each opening of each end of the tube is positioned proximate to an associated panel of the plurality of panels of the filter. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tube has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of screens mounted in the tube, each screen being positioned between an associated end of the pair of ends of the tube and the filter, each screen being air permeable. 
     
     
         10 . A smoke filtering apparatus for a smoking implement, the apparatus comprising:
 a tube sized and configured to insert into the smoking implement, the tube having a pair of ends, each end of the pair of ends defining a plurality of openings which extend to an interior space of the tube, the openings of each end being radially arranged with respect to each other, the tube having a cylindrical shape;   a filter mounted within the tube, the filter comprising a plurality of panels, the panels being coupled to each other at a central axis of the filter, the panels extending radially away from the central axis, the panels being equally angularly spaced from each other around the central axis, each panel of the plurality of panels comprising a substrate and a filtering material mounted to the substrate, the substrate comprising paper, the filtering material comprising activated carbon, the filter extending along its central axis from one end of the pair of ends of the tube to another end of the pair of ends of the tube, each opening of each end of the tube being positioned proximate to an associated panel of the plurality of panels of the filter; and   a pair of screens mounted in the tube, each screen being positioned between an associated end of the pair of ends of the tube and the filter, each screen being air permeable.   
     
     
         11 . A smoking implement comprising:
 a casing having an inhalation end;   a tube mounted in the casing at the inhalation end, the tube being positioned and configured to permit smoke through the inhalation end only through the tube, the tube having a pair of ends, each end being air permeable such that the tube is configured to permit air through the tube via the pair of ends; and   a filter mounted within the tube, the filter comprising a plurality of panels, the panels being coupled to each other at a central axis of the filter, the panels extending radially away from the central axis.   
     
     
         12 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the casing comprises a combustible material. 
     
     
         13 . The implement of  claim 12 , wherein the combustible material comprises paper. 
     
     
         14 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein each end of the pair of ends of the tube defines a plurality of openings which extend to an interior space of the tube, the openings of each end being radially arranged with respect to each other, the tube having a cylindrical shape, each opening of each end of the tube being positioned proximate to an associated panel of the plurality of panels of the filter. 
     
     
         15 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the panels are equally angularly spaced from each other around the central axis. 
     
     
         16 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein each panel of the plurality of panels comprises a substrate and a filtering material mounted to the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The implement of  claim 16 , wherein the substrate comprises paper. 
     
     
         18 . The implement of  claim 16 , wherein the filtering material comprises activated carbon. 
     
     
         19 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the filter extends along its central axis from one end of the pair of ends of the tube to another end of the pair of ends of the tube. 
     
     
         20 . The implement of  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of screens mounted in the tube, each screen being positioned between an associated end of the pair of ends of the tube and the filter, each screen being air permeable.