Smoking containment and filter system and method

Abstract

A smoking containment and filter system and method for containment of smoke generated by a cigarette, and filtering of the generated smoke before release of filtered air into the environment. The smoking containment and filter system provides a smoke module enclosed by a smoke shell with a shell top, a filter module enclosed by a filter shell, a fan module enclosed by a fan shell having exhaust ports, and a power-control module enclosed by a power-control shell having a switch and a charge port. A cigarette holder and mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap and mouthpiece spring are removably mounted upon and through the shell top such that the butt or filter end of a cigarette placed through the cigarette holder into the smoke shell can be accessed by the smoker's mouth when the mouthpiece body is pressed down, and is covered and sealed when the mouthpiece body is in a raised position. A lighter slider mounted upon the smoke shell and joined to a lighter element within the smoke shell can be manipulated by the smoker to light the cigarette.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A smoking containment and filter system for a cigarette, having an upward and downward orientation, the smoking containment and filter system comprising:
 (i) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking;   (ii) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector;   (iii) at least one filter element placed within said filter shell;   (iv) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector;   (v) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports;   (vi) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector;   (vii) a battery mounted within said power-control shell;   (viii) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell;   (ix) a switch mounted through said power-control shell;   (x) a controller mounted within said power-control shell;   (xi) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch;   (xii) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette;   (xiii) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and   (xiv) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use.   
     
     
         2 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 1 , where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises at least two filter elements. 
     
     
         3 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 1 , where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises more than two filter elements. 
     
     
         4 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 1 , where said at least one filter element placed within said filter shell further comprises three filter elements. 
     
     
         5 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 1 , where said battery mounted within said power-control shell further comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         6 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 1 , where said charge port mounted through said power-control shell further comprises a USB-type connector. 
     
     
         7 . A smoking containment and filter system for a cigarette, having an upward and downward orientation, the smoking containment and filter system comprising:
 (i) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking;   (ii) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector;   (iii) at least two filter elements placed within said filter shell;   (iv) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector;   (v) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports;   (vi) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector;   (vii) a battery mounted within said power-control shell;   (viii) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell;   (ix) a switch mounted through said power-control shell;   (x) a controller mounted within said power-control shell;   (xi) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch;   (xii) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette;   (xiii) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and   (xiv) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use.   
     
     
         8 . The smoking containment and filter system of  claim 7 , where said at least two filter elements placed within said filter shell further comprises three filter elements. 
     
     
         9 . A smoking containment and filter method comprising:
 (i) providing a smoking containment and filter system comprising:
 (a) a smoke module having a smoke shell and a shell top, adapted to enclose the cigarette during smoking; 
 (b) a filter module having a filter shell, removably mounted below said smoke module through a smoke-to-filter connector; 
 (c) at least one filter element placed within said filter shell; 
 (d) a fan module having a fan shell and exhaust ports, removably mounted below said filter module through a filter-to-fan connector; 
 (e) a fan mounted within said fan shell, adapted to draw smoke-laden air from said smoke module through said filter module, and through said exhaust ports; 
 (f) a power-control module having a power-control shell, mounted below said fan module through a fan-to-power connector; 
 (g) a battery mounted within said power-control shell; 
 (h) a charge port mounted through said power-control shell; 
 (i) a switch mounted through said power-control shell; 
 (j) a controller mounted within said power-control shell; 
 (k) a lighter unit mounted within said smoke shell, having a lighter track, lighter slider, lighter element, return spring, and lighter switch; 
 (l) a cigarette holder removably mounted through said shell top, adapted to hold the cigarette while allowing passage of air and smoke around the cigarette; 
 (m) a mouthpiece body having a mouthpiece flap, mounted to said cigarette holder, adapted to cover the end of the cigarette when in an upward position and to expose the end of the cigarette when in a downward position; and 
 (n) a mouthpiece spring mounted between said mouthpiece body and said cigarette holder, adapted to return said mouthpiece body to an upward position in use; 
   (ii) removing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body from said shell top;   (iii) placing a cigarette into said cigarette holder;   (iv) replacing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body into said shell top;   (v) pressing said mouthpiece body downward with slight mouth pressure;   (vi) exposing the cigarette through said mouthpiece flap;   (vii) moving said lighter slider and said lighter element upward toward the cigarette;   (viii) activating said lighter element by operation of said lighter switch;   (ix) lighting the cigarette;   (x) returning said lighter slider and said lighter element to a fully down position;   (xi) deactivating said lighter element by operation of said lighter switch;   (xii) activating said fan by manipulation of said switch;   (xiii) smoking the cigarette;   (xiv) inhaling from the cigarette with said mouthpiece body in a downward position;   (xv) allowing said mouthpiece body to return to an upward position by operation of said mouthpiece spring;   (xvi) exhaling into said mouthpiece body in an upward position;   (xvii) deactivating said fan by manipulation of said switch;   (xviii) removing said cigarette holder and said mouthpiece body from said shell top; and   (xix) removing the cigarette from said cigarette holder.