Patent Application
20230109036
The invention relates to the field of personal smoking devices, and more particularly to the field of apparatus for imparting secondary flavors to a smoke.
There are myriad smoking systems for personal pleasure. Some systems include the smoking substance, such as tobacco, in the commercially available product. Cigarettes and cigars are typical examples of this type of smoking system. In the case of cigarettes, the tobacco is contained within a tube of paper. In the case of cigars, the tobacco is contained in a tobacco leaf wrapper. It is a limitation of these systems that the user selects the flavor experience with the product. Seeking a different experience means the user selects a different product. It is another limitation of these products that the wrapper must be burned, which can impart unwanted flavors particularly in the context of paper wrappers.
In other systems, the user purchases the smoking apparatus without limitation to the smoking material. Tobacco pipes and hookahs are typical examples. In these cases, the user can separately acquire tobacco or other product to burn in the smoking system, thereby changing the flavor and experience profile. This system adds considerable flexibility; however, the available smoking materials may not offer an experience that a particular user enjoys. Also, pipe and hookah apparatus tend to be comparatively complex and comparatively expensive. Even a corncob pipe is not considered a readily disposable item and requires cleaning and maintenance. It's another limitation of these systems that the user is limited to the flavor profiles available in commercially available smoking product.
There is a need therefore for a simple and convenient smoking system that will permit an end user to select a smoking substance and a flavor profile in an easy to deploy and inexpensive apparatus.
A smoking system according to the invention includes a smoking substance holding or bowl end and a mouthpiece or tip end. The holding end defines a compartment for holding smoking material. The mouthpiece end defines a smoke egress and a filter or tip piece. The filter or tip piece comprises a compartment for a flavor piece. The flavor piece is crushable and holds a flavoring substance, usually a liquid. A substantial airtight piece conducts smoke from the substance holding end to the mouthpiece end where the smoke egresses. The smoke passes over the activated flavor piece which imparts a secondary flavor on the smoke.
In a preferred embodiment, the substance holding end, airtight piece and mouthpiece end comprise a single tubular piece. Preferably the tubular piece is made of paper or some similar disposable material. Preferably the substance holding end is defined by an open end of the tubular piece and a dividing piece which defines the end of the substance holding end. Preferably the dividing piece is made from heat resistant material such as a metal and defines apertures to allow smoke to pass while substantially blocking the smoking material. In another aspect of the invention, the substance holding piece has an insertable section for inserting into the tubular piece and is sized to be held in place there. In yet another aspect a heat resistant bowl section protrudes from the tubular piece. It is an advantage of this embodiment that heat can be applied to the material of smoking without burning the paper tube, even if the bowl section is only partially filled.
Preferably the filter piece provides a smoke filter. Preferably the flavor imparting piece includes a flavor activation. In one embodiment, the flavor piece is a small round piece made from a plastic and contains flavoring. The flavoring is activated by crushing the flavor piece by compressing the appropriate area of the tubular piece. The liquid is absorbed by absorbent material in the tip end. As the user draws smoke, it passes over the released flavor.
Preferably the tubular piece material accepts ink or other such marking material such that the manufacturer can mark the piece with logos or labels. Labels could include the primary and secondary flavors.
The substance for smoking can be selected by the user and can include tobacco, herbs, dried flowers and other natural or synthetic material.
In another embodiment, the device is disposable.
In another embodiment, the device comes pre-loaded with substance and is refillable.
In another embodiment, the flavor ball is refillable.
In another embodiment, the tip can be inserted into other smoking apparatus.
In another embodiment components according to the invention are provided in tamper evident blister packaging such as in a kit.
The flavor balls can be of any desired shape. Preferably the outer shell of the ball is a plastic. The flavoring material is a liquid. The tip components preferably include an absorbent filtering material such as cotton surrounding or in proximity to the flavor ball. When the flavor ball is crushed releasing flavor liquid, the absorbent material absorbs the liquid. A user drawing on the smoking apparatus experiences the smoking material and the released flavor. As can be seen in the figures, more than on flavor ball can be included in the tip.
The bowl of this embodiment presents numerous advantages to a bowl inserted flush with the paper tube. When igniting smoking materials in a bowl inserted flush to the paper tube, the ignition source is exposed to the paper and may ignite it. While a protective circumference may be provided, the ignition source remains in close proximity to the paper. Such a bowl should be filled to the brim so that the smoking materials are as close to the ignition source as possible. A user would consider such a bowl to hold a single quantity.
In the embodiment of
In another embodiment of the invention, tips and apparatus as described may be sold as kits in the disclosed tamper evident packaging. The kits can further include flavors of different types. Thus, the kits contain all that is required to use the apparatus according to the invention. It is an advantage of the packaging that in the event any glass components break or shatter, the glass is contained within a safe compartment. The glass will not infiltrate the other compartments of the packaging, particularly any consumables or any material that may come in contact with the user.
