Fireproof Cigarette Butt Tube with Airtight Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cigarette butt holding solutions do not provide a smell-proof, fire-proof, and fire-resistant tube for disposing of used cigarette butts within a cigarette pack, and most are not efficient or economical.
Innovation Solution
A cigarette butt holding tube made of fireproof materials like silicone, fiberglass, or glass wool, which can be retrofitted into existing cigarette packs, featuring a hinged lid or push-through membrane for airtight and odor-proof disposal, capable of holding multiple butts and preventing accidental burns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing cigarette butt holding designs are used, then cigarette butts can be stored, but they are not smell-proof or fire-proof
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining fire-resistant materials (such as metal or heat-resistant plastics) with smell-proof materials (such as sealed membranes or odor-blocking coatings) to create a tube that simultaneously provides both fire-proof and smell-proof capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by integrating multiple protective functions into a single composite structure rather than using separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention nests additional functional layers within the tube structure - such as placing a sealed membrane or fire-resistant lining inside the main tube body. This nested approach allows the tube to achieve smell-proof and fire-proof properties without significantly increasing external dimensions or overall structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a tube is designed to fit within a cigarette pack, then it can be retrofitted into existing packs, but the internal diameter must be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the tube's dimensional proportions by extending its length while reducing its internal diameter, allowing it to fit within the constrained space of existing cigarette packs. By utilizing the vertical dimension (length) rather than increasing width or diameter, the design achieves both retrofit compatibility and adequate storage capacity for multiple cigarette butts.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention incorporates a flexible or collapsible tube structure that can dynamically adjust its volume. When not in use, the tube maintains a compact form factor that fits within the cigarette pack; when in use, it can expand or be positioned to maximize storage capacity for cigarette butts, thus adapting to different usage states.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple tube designs are used, then they are inexpensive to manufacture, but they lack fire resistance and smell-proof features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing fire-resistant and smell-proof features only in specific critical areas of the tube rather than throughout the entire structure. For example, fire-resistant material is applied only to the portion containing the cigarette butt, and smell-proof membranes are placed at strategic locations where odor containment is most needed. This selective approach maintains cost-effectiveness while achieving required performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs disposable tube designs made from inexpensive materials that provide adequate fire resistance and smell-proof properties for a single use cycle. After use, the entire tube is discarded, eliminating the need for expensive durable materials or complex cleaning/maintenance systems. This approach resolves the contradiction by making the tube inexpensive to manufacture while still providing reliable protective features during its service life.
Data Source
AI summary
A cigarette butt holding tube including a tube assembly, lid assembly, and a cigarette pack assembly is disclosed. These assemblies in conjunction with one another provide an easy-to-use cigarette butt disposal solution to help reduce littering. The cigarette pack assembly includes a spacing within the cigarette pack for a tube of the tube assembly to be received therein. The tube includes a tube opening at a top end that is larger than the width of a cigarette butt. The tube is selectively sealed by a lid of the lid assembly. Once a user is finished smoking a cigarette, the used cigarette butt can be conveniently disposed of and sealed within the tube. The tube being smell proof, fireproof, and fire resistant prevents the smell of smoke within the cigarette pack. The tube also prevents a still lit cigarette butt from setting fire to the remaining cigarettes.