Patent Application
20250176619
This invention relates to smoking devices, including a modular smoking system.
Water pipes are used throughout the world to smoke various types of smokable materials. The waterpipes typically include a bowl for holding the smokable material, a down stem connecting the bowl to the water chamber, and an uptake tube extending from the water chamber to the mouthpiece.
However, such water pipes are quite large and difficult to clean. In addition, each water pipe typically includes a single mechanical configuration that only provides a limited number of smoking options.
Accordingly, there is a need for a modular water pipe system that may be disassembled for easy cleaning and storage, and subsequently reassembled for use. There also is a need for a modular water pipe system that may be configured in a variety of arrangements to provide the user with a variety of smoking options.
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
In general, the system according to exemplary embodiments hereof includes a modular water pipe system. The system comprises a number of geometric members that when assembled in different combinations form different types and forms of smoking apparatuses. For example, in some combinations, the members may be assembled to form a pipe, a small water pipe, a larger water pipe, a dual water pipe that two people may use simultaneously, and other types of smoking devices.
Each of the resulting modular smoking apparatuses may include different functionalities and unique benefits depending on each unique configuration of geometric members. For instance, some of the geometric members may include smoke filtering elements such that as more of these types of members are used to form a smoking apparatus, more smoke filtering elements also may be provided. For example, the pipe may include a one or more internal interface(s) with smoke filtering elements, the small water pipe may include a filtering water chamber and one or more internal interface(s) with smoke filtering elements, and the larger water pipe and/or the dual water pipe may each include a filtering water chamber and two or more internal interface(s) with smoke filtering elements. Other numbers of interfaces with smoke filtering elements also may be used.
The geometric members are designed to be mated with one another and held in place by magnets, detents and slots, gravity, friction, and other types of attachment mechanisms.
In some embodiments, the geometric members may be combined to form the system for use, and subsequently taken apart for cleaning each member individually and/or for storage. For example, in some embodiments, the geometric members may be placed into a dishwasher or similar for washing of the parts. In some embodiments, when disassembled, every internal surface, corner, and/or curvature of each geometric member may be accessible by hand or via a pipe cleaner for cleaning.
In one exemplary embodiment hereof, as shown in
The modular waterpipes 14, 16, 18 will be described first followed by a detailed description of the pipe 12.
In some embodiments, the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 include one or more common parts, and with each also including one more unique parts. For example, each of the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 may include a common water chamber assembly WC comprising parts 400 and 600. In another example, the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 may include a common bowl assembly B comprising parts 100, 200. However, in another example, the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 may each include unique mouthpiece assemblies MP comprising different parts as described herein.
Given the above, the assemblies WC and B common to the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 will be described first, followed by descriptions of the unique mouthpiece assemblies MP of each waterpipe 14, 16, 18.
In some embodiments, as shown in
Turning to the water chamber WC first including parts 400, 600, in some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the components 400, 600 are designed to be mated together at each respective interface 406, 606 such that the inner volumes 404, 604 are joined. In this way, the water chamber assembly WC may be formed as shown in
In some embodiments, the respective circumferential rims 408, 608 generally match in shape and size and are designed to register with one another when the parts 400, 600 are mated at the interfaces 406, 606. Registration of the rims 408, 608 may include the rims 408, 608 pressed directly against one another (e.g., face-to-face), and/or may include rims 408, 608 in a concentric arrangement with one of the rims 408, 608 immediately to the inside and/or to the outside of the other rim 408, 608. In any event, it may be preferable that the rims 408, 608 physically abut one another to provide a seal between the rims 408, 608. In addition, the mating of the rims 408, 608 provide a self-alignment of the parts 400, 600 when assembled. This result of this combination is shown in
In some embodiments, each interface 406, 606 includes a circumferential gasket 410, 610, respectively, designed to mate with one another when the interfaces 406, 606 are mated. The circumferential gaskets 410, 610 may be located adjacent to each respective circumferential rim 408, 608, e.g., concentrically on an outer side of each rim 408, 608 as shown in
In some embodiments, the corresponding gaskets 410, 610 may include interlocking gaskets that physically attach to one another (e.g., with interlocking male and female profiles) when pressed together and that may be released from one another by applying a sufficient outward force.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the part 400 includes a first magnet cavity 412, e.g., generally above its opening 406, and a second magnet cavity 414, e.g., generally below its opening 406. Similarly, the part 600 incudes a first magnet cavity 612, e.g., generally above its opening 606, and a second magnet cavity 614, e.g., generally below its opening 606. Each magnet cavity is designed to hold and secure a respective magnet M (see
In some embodiments, the first magnet cavity 412 of the part 400 is aligned with the first magnet cavity 612 of the part 600 when the parts 400, 600 are combined. In addition, the second magnet cavity 414 of the part 400 is aligned with the second magnet cavity 614 of the part 600 when the parts 400, 600 are combined. In this way, magnets M located in the corresponding first magnet cavities 412, 612 may attract one another and magnets M located in corresponding second magnet cavities 414, 614 also may attract one another (see
While the first and second magnet cavities 412, 414, 612, 614 are shown to be generally above and below their respective openings 406, 606, it is understood that the magnet cavities and associated magnets M may be located in any suitable location(s) that may provide securing forces to hold the parts 400, 600 together. In addition, any suitable number of magnet cavities and corresponding magnets M may be used as necessary.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, it is preferable that the lower end 624 of the down stem 618 (and of the down stem's inner passageway 620) is unobstructed when the parts 400, 600 are combined. In this way, during use of the system 10, air and/or smoke may pass through the down stem 618 (through its inner passageway 620), from its upper end 622 to its lower end 622 and into the combined inner volumes 404, 604. As depicted by the arrow A in
In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the down stem 618 and its inner passageway 620 may be square, rectangular, circular, oval, polygonal, and/or any suitable cross-sectional shape(s).
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In addition, in some embodiments, the bowl's body 102 may include a magnet cavity 112 (e.g., within its lower slot 108, e.g., adjacent the raised rim 110) designed to receive a magnet M that may be aligned with a magnet M within the magnet cavity 630 on the upper end 622 of the down stem 618 (see
During use of the system 10, the bowl body 102 may be grasped by the user and lifted away from the down stem's upper end 622 to release it from the down stem 618 for clearing the smoking system 10 of smoke (e.g., as the user continues to inhale as is known in the art).
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
The resulting combined bowl assembly B (including parts 100, 200) and the water chamber assembly WC (including parts 400, 600) is shown in
In some embodiments, the waterpipes 14, 16, 18 each include unique mouthpiece assemblies MP that may be secured to the top 628 of part 600 (and as such, to the top of the water chamber WC). In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the apertures 632 may include smoke filtering elements to filter or otherwise modify the smoke as it passes from the part 600 to the part(s) 500 and/or 700 (depending on the configuration). In this way, tars, carbon particles, and other unwanted detritus in the smoke may be removed as it passes through the system 10. In some embodiments, the smoke filtering elements may include filtering meshes, screens, and/or membranes, smoke/air obstructions, gates, activated carbon granules, HEPA filter materials, cellulous, foam, balsa wood, paper, meerschaum pellets or balls, keystones (volcanic clay), other types of smoke filtering materials, and any combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the apertures 710, 714, 810, 910 also may include the same or similar types of smoke filtering elements such that the smoke may be filtered as it passes through these apertures 710, 714, 810, 910 as well. As will be described in other sections, the pipe 12 also may include smoke filtering elements, e.g., at its second opening 312 and/or in its slot 206 for the same purposes.
In addition, the top 628 of part 600 also may include one or more magnet cavities 634 designed to receive and secure one or more magnets M. In one example, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
Given the above, it is preferable that a mouthpiece assembly MP designed to mate with the top 628 of the part 600 include corresponding apertures, magnet cavities, and alignment guide structures in corresponding locations such that when the parts are combined, the apertures on the mouthpiece assembly MP may be in fluid communication with the aperture(s) 632 on the part 600, and the corresponding magnet cavities and alignment guide structures on each part also may be aligned.
In a first example, in some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the mouthpiece body 502 also includes one or more magnet cavities 512 on its lower side 504 designed to secure one or more magnets M that correspond to the magnet cavities 634 in the top 628 of part 600 when the parts 500, 600 are mated. In this way, magnets M within each of the respective corresponding magnet cavities 512, 634 may attract one another to hold the mouthpiece body 502 to the top 628 of the water chamber part 600.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The resulting assembled waterpipe 14 is shown in
In a second example, in some embodiments, as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, the part's body 702 also includes one or more magnet cavities 712 on its lower side 704 designed to secure one or more magnets M that correspond to the magnet cavities 634 in the top 628 of part 600 when the parts 700, 600 are mated. In this way, magnets M within each of the respective corresponding magnet cavities 712, 634 may attract one another to hold the part's body 702 to the top 628 of the water chamber part 600.
In some embodiments, the intermediary part's upper side 706 may be angled as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the part's body 802 also includes one or more magnet cavities 812 on its lower side 804 designed to secure one or more magnets M that correspond to the magnet cavities 716 in the top 706 of part 700 when the parts 700, 800 are mated. In this way, magnets M within each of the respective corresponding magnet cavities 716, 812 may attract one another to hold the part's body 802 to the top 706 of the intermediary part 700. In addition, the upper side 706 of part 700 and the lower side 804 of part 800 may include corresponding alignment guide structures similar to those described in other sections. In this way, this interface of the parts 700, 800 when mated may be self-aligning.
The resulting assembled waterpipe 16 is shown in
In a third example, in some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
The lower end of the inner passageway 908 at the lower side 904 preferably includes apertures 910 that correspond to the apertures 714 on the top 706 of the part 700 when the parts 700, 900 are mated. In this way, the inner passageway 908 of the part 900 is in fluid communication with the inner passageway 708 of the part 700 when assembled.
In some embodiments, the part's body 902 also includes one or more magnet cavities 912 on its lower side 904 designed to secure one or more magnets M that correspond to the magnet cavities 716 in the top 706 of part 700 when the parts 700, 900 are mated. In this way, magnets M within each of the respective corresponding magnet cavities 716, 912 may attract one another to hold the part's body 902 to the top 706 of the intermediary part 700. In addition, the upper side 706 of part 700 and the lower side 904 of part 900 may include corresponding alignment guide structures similar to those described in other sections. In this way, this interface of the parts 700, 900 when mated may be self-aligning.
In some embodiments, as best seen in
In addition, in some embodiments, as shown in
The resulting assembled waterpipe 18 is shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, part 200, which also may serve as a down stem support member for waterpipes 14, 16, 18, also may serve as a bowl member for the pipe 12. In some embodiments, with the part 200 oriented as shown in
In some embodiments, the part 300 includes a body 302 with a mouth end side 304 and an interface side 306 generally opposite the mouth end side 304. The mouth end side 304 includes a first opening 308 that serves as the first end of an inner passageway 310 that passes through the part's body 302 from the opening 308 to a second opening 312 at the interface side 306 that serves as the second end of the inner passageway 310. In this way, the mouth end side 304 and its opening 308 serves as the mouthpiece to the pipe 12 during use.
In some embodiments, the interface side 306 of part 300 may be mated with the interface side 214 of part 200 to form the pipe 12. When the interface sides 306, 214 are mated, the inner passageway 310 of part 300 (at its second opening 312) is placed into fluid communication with the slot 206 and indentation 212 (the bowl) of part 200. In this way, smoke and air may be drawn from the indentation 212 (the bowl), through the slot 206, through the inner passageway 310, and out the mouthpiece opening 308.
In some embodiments, the part 300 includes an attaching member 314 that extends outward from the part's interface side 306, e.g., at the interface side's upper end. In some embodiments, the attaching member 314 is designed to mate with an upper surface 208 of the part 200. Notably, the upper surface 208 corresponds to the inner facing side 208 (the right side as seen in
In some embodiments, the lower surface of the attaching member 314 includes one or more magnet cavities 316 that may be aligned with the one or more corresponding magnet cavities 210 on the part 200 such that magnets M held with the magnet cavities 316, 210 may attract one another to hold the parts 300, 200 together.
In some embodiments, the lower surface of the attaching member 314 also may include one or more alignment structures 318 (e.g., ridges or slots) designed to mate with one or more alignment structures 216 (e.g., slots or ridges) when the parts 200, 300 are combined. In this way, the parts 200, 300 are self-aligning.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The resulting pipe 12 formed by the combination of parts 200, 300 is shown in
In some embodiments, the system 10 may be disassembled and the individual parts 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 may be cleaned individually (e.g., in a dishwasher) and stored in any suitable type of container for stowage until reassembled for use.
It is understood that any aspect and/or element of any embodiment of the system 10 described herein or otherwise may be combined with any other aspect and/or element of any other embodiment described herein or otherwise in any way to form additional embodiments of the system 10 all of which are within the scope of the system 10.
Where a process is described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human).
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more,” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs” and includes the case of only one ABC.
As used herein, including in the claims, term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.
As used in this description, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X”. In the context of a conversation, the term “portion” means some or all of the conversation.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “using” means “using at least,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “using X” means “using at least X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “using X” does not mean “using only X.”
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “based on” means “based in part on” or “based, at least in part, on,” and is not exclusive. Thus, e.g., the phrase “based on factor X” means “based in part on factor X” or “based, at least in part, on factor X.” Unless specifically stated by use of the word “only”, the phrase “based on X” does not mean “based only on X.”
In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase.
As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “distinct” means “at least partially distinct.” Unless specifically stated, distinct does not mean fully distinct. Thus, e.g., the phrase, “X is distinct from Y” means that “X is at least partially distinct from Y,” and does not mean that “X is fully distinct from Y.” Thus, as used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “X is distinct from Y” means that X differs from Y in at least some way.
It should be appreciated that the words “first,” “second,” and so on, in the description and claims, are used to distinguish or identify, and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter labels (e.g., “(A)”, “(B)”, “(C)”, and so on, or “(a)”, “(b)”, and so on) and/or numbers (e.g., “(i)”, “(ii)”, and so on) are used to assist in readability and to help distinguish and/or identify and are not intended to be otherwise limiting or to impose or imply any serial or numerical limitations or orderings. Similarly, words such as “particular,” “specific,” “certain,” and “given,” in the description and claims, if used, are to distinguish or identify, and are not intended to be otherwise limiting.
As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more,” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs,” means “two or more ABCs,” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs,” means “two or more PQRs,” and includes “two PQRs.”
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” or “approximately 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to” and are not intended to exclude other components unless specifically so stated.
It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values, and ranges, etc. in case these terms, features, values, and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” (“e.g.,”) and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
