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The present invention relates to inhalation devices and in particular to a mold for forming an inhalation device and method for using the mold to form an inhalation device.
Having an inhalation device can make traveling more complicated and difficult than it already is. It is often challenging and unwieldy to carry an inhalation device, such as a pipe, while traveling given the number of other articles that a user may already be carrying. Also, in air travel, an inhalation device may be closely scrutinized by security and may be taken away by security leaving the user without an inhalation device.
Some people also want to be discrete in the office, at home, and in other public places. These users may find it difficult to have an inhalation device in a pocket, purse, or other bag without being discovered by others in the vicinity.
Users of inhalation devices that can be reused may inadvertently leave burning embers or other combustible residue inside the inhalation device. The inhalation device may be placed in a pocket, purse, or other bag or disposed of on the ground with a burning ember or other combustible residue. This can be dangerous for the person that has the inhalation device as well as the surrounding area. Especially in dry climates that are particularly susceptible to fires, this can present a fire hazard.
Individuals use various tools for forming hollow articles with predetermined patterns or designs, including those to create different types of inhalation devices. The tools that are used for forming the hollow articles are often large, cumbersome, and difficult to work with. This makes it challenging for the user to quickly and efficiently form an inhalation device that is inexpensive to create, portable, and disposable. The teaching of the invention solves at least one of the problems associated with existing tools for forming hollow articles that may be used as inhalation devices to support the inhalation of smoke from burning organic materials.
In one embodiment, a mold for forming an inhalation device includes a form including a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body defines a channel and a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, in which the first end defines a first diameter and the second end defines a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The body tapers in diameter from the second end to the first end along the longitudinal axis. A mandrel is sized to at least partially fit within the channel to define a gap therebetween, the gap being sized to receive a malleable material.
In another embodiment, a mold for forming an inhalation device includes a mandrel. The mandrel includes a barrel form with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The mandrel defines a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end. A grasping element may be disposed at the first end and have a diameter. A coupling element may be disposed a distance from the grasping element at the first end, the coupling element may include a diameter smaller than the diameter of the grasping element. A shoulder extends away from the coupling element toward the second end, and the second end defines a distal most portion defining a planar distal most end. A form has a body that defines a channel. The channel has a plurality of different diameters and is sized to receive the barrel form of the mandrel. The form has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end has a first aperture and the second end has a second aperture, the second aperture is sized to receive the barrel form of the mandrel and is larger than the first aperture. The first aperture is sized to receive a portion of the barrel form. The body of the form defines a longitudinal axis that extends between the first end and the second end. The first end defines a first diameter and the second end defines a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The body tapers in diameter from the second end to the first end along the longitudinal axis. The mandrel is sized to at least partially fit within the channel of the form. When the mandrel is received within the channel of the form, the form and the mandrel define a gap there between. The gap is sized to receive a malleable material.
In yet another embodiment, a method of forming an inhalation device, includes the steps of wrapping at least a portion of a mandrel with a malleable material. The mandrel wrapped with the malleable material is inserted into a form to form the inhalation device. The form has a channel sized and configured to receive the mandrel wrapped with the malleable material and defines a gap when the mandrel is received in the channel of the form wrapped with a malleable material. The form is removed from the mandrel and the inhalation device is removed from the form. The inhalation device has a channel, a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends are open and the first end has a smaller diameter than the second end.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “over” and “under,” “front” and “rear,” “in, within, and around” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
The form 12 includes a body 16 which may vary in size and shape. In one embodiment, the body 16 may have a frustoconical shape with a length between approximately 25.4 millimeters and 304.8 millimeters depending upon the size of the inhalation device that is being created using the mold 10. The body 16 has a first end 18 and a second end 20 opposite the first end 18. The first end 18 of the form 12 may define a first diameter 22 and the second end 20 of the form 12 may define a second diameter 24. As a non-limiting example, the second diameter 24 may be larger than the first diameter 22. For example, the second diameter 24 may be between 2.4-22.8 millimetersand the first diameter 22 may be between 2.4-15.24 millimeters. In an alternate embodiment, the second diameter 24 may be smaller than the first diameter 22 or the second diameter 24 may the same diameter as the first diameter 22. The parameters of the first diameter 22 and/or the second diameter 24 may depend upon the dimensions of the mandrel 14.
A longitudinal axis 26 extends between the first end 18 and the second end 20 of the form 12 passing through the center of diameters 22 and 24. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis 26 may be between 25.4-152.4 millimeters in length. Along the longitudinal axis 26 of the body 16 of the form 12, the body 16 may taper in diameter from the second end 20 to the first end 18. This tapering may be gradual from the second end 20 to the first end 18 or it may occur in steps where the tapering is pronounced at each step. In an alternative embodiment, the body 16 may taper and become thinner from the first end 18 to the second end 20.
A channel 28, which is described in more detail below with respect to
The mandrel 14 includes a first end 30 and a second end 32 opposite the first end 30. The second end 32 may be sized to at least partially fit within the channel 28 of the form 12. In one embodiment, the first end 30 may have a larger diameter than the second end 32 and be too large to fit within the channel 28 while the second end 32 may have a smaller diameter than the channel 28 and be sized to fit within channel 28. In an alternate embodiment, the diameter of the first end 30 and the second end 32 may be smaller than the diameter of the channel 28 such that the first end 30 and the second end 32 may be sized to be received within the channel 28.
A barrel form 34 may also be a part of the mandrel 14 with a first end 36 and a second end 38 opposite the first end. A longitudinal axis 40 is defined by the barrel form 34 and extends from the first end 36 to the second end 38 of the barrel form 34. The barrel form 34 may taper in diameter along the longitudinal axis 40 from the first end 36 to the second end 38. In an alternate embodiment, the diameter may remain the same along the longitudinal axis 40. When the mandrel 14 is within the channel 28 of the form 12, the longitudinal axis 40 of the barrel form 34 is aligned with the longitudinal axis 26 of the body 16 of the form 12.
Disposed at the second end 38, may be a shoulder 42 with a first end 44 and a second end 46 opposite the first end 44. The size of the shoulder 42 will correlate with the size of a feature on the inhalation device such as secondary bowl 82 (as shown in more detail in
The mandrel 14 has a distal end 48 and the distal end 48 may have a planar surface which can be used to puncture through material used with the mold 10. In an alternative embodiment, the distal end 48 may have a rounded shape, a concave shape, or have a point that can facilitate the puncturing of the formed material.
The mandrel 14 may have a first portion 50 and a second portion 52 and the distal end 48 of the mandrel 14 may be a part of a first portion 50 and the shoulder 42 may be a part of the second portion 52. The diameter d1 of the second portion 52 may be larger than the diameter d2 of the first portion 50. The first portion 50, which may include the barrel form 34 and the shoulder 42, may be sized to be received within the channel 28 of the form 12. In one embodiment, the first portion 50 may be longer than the second portion 52.
The second portion 52 of the mandrel 14 may include a grasping element 54. The grasping element 54 can be placed in a user's hand and used to move the first portion 50 of the mandrel 14 at least partially within the channel 28 of the form 12. The grasping element 54 may be circular, square, or rectangle shaped. In one embodiment, the first end 30 of the mandrel 14 may be surrounded by the grasping element 54, and the grasping element 54 on the mandrel 14 may have a larger diameter d3 than the second diameter 24 of the channel 28 of the form 12. The surface of the grasping element 54 may be smooth or textured to make it easier to grasp. In one embodiment, the grasping element 54 may engage the second end 20 of the form 12 when the mandrel 14 is received within the channel 28.
The mandrel 14 may include a coupling element 56 which is configured to matably couple with a portion of the form 12 and is disposed a distance from the grasping element 54 at the first end 30 of the mandrel 14. The shoulder 42 may extend away from the coupling element 56 toward the second end 32, the second end 32 defining a distal most portion defining a planar distal most end 48. The coupling element 56 may be a flange or a collar that surrounds at least a portion of the mandrel 14 and has a wider circumference than the first portion 50 of the mandrel 14. In one embodiment, the coupling element 56 may be disposed a distance from the grasping element 54 and a diameter d4 of the coupling element 56 may be smaller than the diameter d3 of the grasping element 54. The different parts that make up the mandrel 14 and the form 12 may be multiple pieces affixed together or may be all integrated in one piece.
Now referring to
The channel 28 of the form 12 may define a receiving element 60. When the form 12 is at least partially received within the mandrel 14, the receiving element 60 may be disposed a distance from the grasping element 54 at the first end 30. The receiving element 60 may be annular in shape or may be shaped to be coupled with a portion of the mandrel 14. In one embodiment, the receiving element 60 may be configured to mateably couple with the coupling element 56 of the mandrel 14. The receiving element 60 may also be disposed in various locations within the channel 28.
A second aperture 62 may be disposed at the second end 20 of the body 16 of the form 12. The size of the second aperture 62 may depend upon the size of various portions of the mandrel 14. For example, in one embodiment, the second aperture 62 may be smaller than the grasping element 54 so the grasping element 54 does not fit within the channel 28. In an alternative embodiment, the second aperture 62 may be larger than the grasping element 54 so the grasping element 54 can fit within the channel 28. The second aperture 62 may be sized to receive the barrel form 34 of the mandrel 14.
Now referring to
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At least a portion of the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be rigid. For example, the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be made from a thermoplastic including, but not limited to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene, polyamide, high impact polystyrene, and polypropylene. Alternatively, the form 12 and the mandrel 14 may be made from a metal including but not limited to stainless steel, a cobalt-based alloy, a titanium based alloy, and tantalum and composites. The materials that are used in the form 12 and the mandrel 14 are selected to withstand the pressure that is applied to each component when forming the malleable material 68 into an inhalation device 70.
Now referring to
The inhalation device 70 may further include a primary bowl 80 and a secondary bowl 82. Annular ring 58a may create the opening in the primary bowl 80, annular ring 58b may create the transition from the primary bowl 80 to the secondary bowl, and annular ring 58c may create the transition from the secondary bowl 82 to the elongate body 34. The primary bowl 80 and the secondary bowl 82 may be beneficial to assist with cooling as a user uses the inhalation device 70. As a non-limiting example, the primary bowl 80 may be packed with medication, tobacco, or another organic material and then the medication, tobacco, or organic material may be lit using a match or lighter. A user may inhale air from the first end 72 so that air is moved from the second end 74 to the first end 72. When air is inhaled it first moves through the primary bowl 80 and then moves to the secondary bowl 82. When the air moves from the primary bowl 80 to the secondary bowl 82, the secondary bowl 82 may be used to help cool the air before it moves through the remainder of the inhalation device 70 before it reaches the mouth of the user. Another benefit of the dual bowls is to catch any residual material from the primary bowl 80 in the secondary bowl 82. As a non-limiting example, when medication, tobacco, or another organic material is placed in the primary bowl 80 and then lit, the amount of medication, tobacco, or organic material will lessen in the primary bowl 80. The secondary bowl 82 may be used to catch any residual tobacco, medication, or other organic material so that it does not pass into the mouth of the user in the first end 72. In alternative embodiments, there may be a single bowl or more than two bowls to help with the cooling processes and also to catch additional material.
Now referring to
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.