RECREATIONAL SMOKING GUN

Abstract

A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke includes a gun housing, a manifold assembly, a bowl assembly, a motor, a trigger assembly and a pivot arm. The gun housing is in the form of a pistol and has a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle. The manifold assembly can be selectively removable from the gun housing. The trigger assembly can have a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position. In the actuated position, the motor rotates a fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle. The pivot arm can be pivotably coupled to the gun housing and rotatable between a use position and a maintenance position. In the use position, the manifold assembly is captured in the gun housing. In the maintenance position, the manifold assembly is selectively movable from the gun housing.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to recreational smoking and more particularly to a hand held recreational smoking gun for deploying smoke.

BACKGROUND

Many apparatus exist for facilitating smoking of tobacco or other herbal substances. While these traditional ways of smoking are satisfactory, it is desirable to provide other novel ways and devices to disperse smoke. While some unconventional apparatus exist for dispersing smoke, they are generally awkward and difficult to properly use and maintain. In this regard, improvements are needed. For example it is typically difficult to properly clean the surfaces of such devices that come into contact with the smoke.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke includes a gun housing, a manifold assembly, a bowl assembly, a motor, a trigger assembly and a pivot arm. The gun housing has a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle. The manifold assembly can be selectively removable from the gun housing and define a pathway configured to direct smoke. The bowl assembly can be received by the manifold assembly and be configured to hold product to be smoked. The motor can selectively drive a fan. The trigger assembly can have a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position. In the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle. The pivot arm can be pivotably coupled to the gun housing and rotatable between a use position and a maintenance position. In the use position, the manifold assembly is captured in the gun housing. In the maintenance position, the manifold assembly is selectively movable from the gun housing.

In examples, one of the gun housing and the pivot arm defines a detent. The other of the gun housing and the pivot arm define a notch. In the use position, the detent positively locates within the notch. The fan can include a first magnet and the motor can define a second magnet. The fan can be magnetically coupled to the motor in the use position.

In additional examples, the bowl assembly can include a bowl that receives the product. The bowl can define a plurality of apertures through a lower surface thereof. The fan can rotate around an axis that is transverse to the lower surface of the bowl. The bowl assembly can further comprise a steel mesh disposed below the bowl. The steel mesh can be configured to minimize ash passed from the bowl to the manifold assembly. A cup can be disposed below the steel mesh. The cup can define an aperture for passing smoke from the cup to the manifold assembly. The cup can further be configured to collect ashes from burning product.

In additional aspects, the manifold assembly is formed of silicone. The manifold assembly can further comprise a first and a second manifold portion that are removable relative from each other subsequent to removal of the manifold assembly from the gun housing in the maintenance position. The bowl can be formed of glass. The silicone manifold assembly accommodates temperatures of a heated bowl.

In other examples, a speed wheel is rotatably disposed on the grip portion of the gun housing. The speed wheel can be configured to modify a speed of the motor based on a position thereof. A battery can be housed in the grip portion of the gun housing. A charging port can be configured on the grip portion of the gun housing. A manually translatable switch can be disposed on the gun body that selectively cuts off power to the battery.

In additional aspects, the gun housing can be in the shape of a hand gun or pistol. The manifold assembly can further comprise an upstream section, a fan section and a downstream section. The upstream section initially accepts smoke from the bowl. The smoke is drawn from the fan at the fan section and directed by the fan through the downstream section and out the muzzle.

A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke according to other examples includes a gun housing, a bowl assembly, a manifold assembly, a motor, a trigger and an arm. The gun housing can have a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle. The gun housing is in the form of a hand gun. The bowl assembly can be configured to hold product to be smokes. The manifold assembly can be separately formed from the gun housing with distinct materials from the gun housing. The manifold assembly is selectively removable from the gun housing for cleaning. The manifold assembly defines a pathway configured to direct smoke from the bowl assembly to the muzzle. The motor selectively drives a fan. The trigger selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position. In the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle. The arm is movable coupled to the gun housing between a use position and a maintenance position. In the use position, the manifold assembly is captured in the gun housing. In the maintenance position, the manifold assembly is selectively removable from the gun housing.

In other examples, one of the gun housing and the pivot arm defines a detent. The other of the gun housing and the pivot arm define a notch. In the use position, the detent positively locates within the notch. The fan can include a first magnet and the motor can define a second magnet. The fan can be magnetically coupled to the motor in the use position.

In additional examples, the bowl assembly can include a bowl that receives the product. The bowl can define a plurality of apertures through a lower surface thereof. The fan can rotate around an axis that is transverse to the lower surface of the bowl.

In other features, the manifold assembly is formed of silicone. The manifold assembly comprises first and second manifold portions that are removable relative from each other subsequent to removal of the manifold assembly from the gun housing in the maintenance position. The bowl can be formed of glass. The silicone manifold assembly accommodates temperatures of a heated bowl.

A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke according to another example includes a hand gun housing, a manifold assembly, a bowl assembly, a motor and a trigger assembly. The hand gun housing can have a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle. The hand gun housing is in the form of a pistol operable with a single hand of a user. The manifold assembly can be disposed in the hand gun housing and defines a pathway configured to direct smoke. The bowl assembly can be received by the manifold assembly and configured to hold product to be smoked. The motor selectively drives a fan. The trigger assembly has a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position. In the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a recreational smoking gun constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure and shown positioned upright on an exemplary stand;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the recreational smoking gun of FIG. 1 and shown with a pivot arm rotated relative to a gun housing from a use position to a maintenance position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the recreational smoking gun of FIG. 2 and shown with a manifold assembly, fan, and cup assembly removed from the gun housing;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the recreational smoking gun taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 and shown with a trigger unactuated and the recreational smoking gun in an off position;

FIG. 5 is another exploded view of the recreational smoking gun of FIG. 1 shown with the pivot arm exploded from the gun housing; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the recreational smoking gun shown with the trigger in an actuated position and the recreational smoking gun in on position causing smoke vapor to be drawn from the cup, through the manifold assembly and out of a muzzle by the fan during use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will become appreciated from the following discussion, the present disclosure provides a recreational smoking gun that can be used to expel smoke emitted from combusting product. In examples, the product can include recreational tobacco or other herb. In one example, the recreational smoking gun can be used to expel smoke into a surrounding area or room. In other examples, the recreational smoking gun can be aimed at objects or people for directing the expelled smoke such as for amusement purposes. While the following description is generally directed toward recreational smoking, the smoking gun can also be used for other purposes such as in a culinary setting. In examples, the smoking gun can be used to expel smoke from wood chips (cedar, oak, etc.) toward food or drinks.

As discussed herein, the recreational smoking gun is in the form of a hand gun or pistol that is operable with a single hand of a user. In this regard, the recreational smoking gun has a small profile that is easy to store, transport and maneuver. In non-limiting examples, the hand gun can be about 9 inches long and 6 inches tall for ease of use, transport and maneuverability. Moreover, the hand gun profile makes it easy for a user to expel smoke toward an intended target or area. The recreational smoking gun is self-powered by actuating a trigger. In this regard, the recreational gun does not require any drawing of air such as from a user's mouth. In advantages, the recreational gun includes a dedicated and removable manifold assembly that is easily removable from the gun housing for easy cleaning. The manifold assembly is further formed of materials particularly suitable for cleaning such as a food-safe material including, but not limited to, flexible silicone. In this regard, the contact areas of the recreational gun that actually contact the smoke are easily removed and cleaned from a remainder of the gun improving the sanitary aspects of use.

With initial reference to FIGS. 1-3, a recreational smoking gun constructed in accordance to one example of the present teachings is shown and generally identified at reference numeral 10. The recreational smoking gun 10 generally includes a gun housing 20, a pivot arm 24 that rotates relative to the gun housing 20, a manifold assembly 30 that is selectively removable from the gun housing 20, a bowl assembly 32, a trigger assembly 40 and a drive assembly 44 having a motor 46 and a fan 48. The gun housing 20 generally includes a grip portion 50 and a barrel portion 52. The grip portion 50 can include a trigger protector 56 that is disposed forward of the trigger assembly 40. The recreational smoking gun is generally in the form of a hand gun or pistol.

A charge port 60 is provided on the grip portion 50 for charging a battery 52. The barrel portion 52 can define a receiving portion 62 (FIG. 3) that positively receives the manifold portion 30. In examples, the receiving portion 62 can be at least partially concave for receiving the manifold portion 30 in a nested position. The grip portion 50 further defines an aperture 64 that reveals a speed or drive wheel 70. A power button 72 can extend from the grip portion 50 for turning the recreational smoking gun 10 on and off. As will be described herein, the drive wheel 70 can be rotated to increase and decrease the speed of the fan 48 to alter an amount of smoke that is emitted from the recreational smoking gun 10.

The pivot arm 24 generally includes a distal end 80 and a proximal end 82. The distal end 80 includes a muzzle 86 that defines an opening 88 that emits smoke. The proximal end 82 includes a locking frame 90 that includes detents 92 formed thereon. The detents 92 positively locate into corresponding receiving notches 94 defined on the barrel portion 52 of the gun housing 20. It will be appreciated that while the detents 92 are shown formed on the locking frame 90 and the notches 94 are shown on the barrel portion 52 that these features may be reversed. Moreover, it is contemplated that other structures may be additionally or alternatively incorporated for positively locating the pivot arm 24 in the closed or use position (FIG. 1).

Pivot pins 110 generally couple the pivot arm 24 to the gun housing 20 for rotatable movement around an axis 112. A toy identifying tip 120 is generally disposed at the distal end 80 of the pivot arm 24. As is known, the toy identifying tip 120 has a safety color such as orange or yellow signifying that the recreational smoke gun 10 is merely a toy and not a real weapon.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-3 and additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, additional features of the recreational smoking gun 10 will be described. The bowl assembly 32 generally includes a bowl 130, a cover 134 and a steel mesh 136. The bowl 130 can be formed of a durable material such as glass. The bowl assembly 32 is received by a receiving bore 138 defined in the manifold portion 30. In advantages, the heat resisting properties of the silicone manifold assembly 30 can accommodate the hot temperatures experienced by the bowl 130 during use. The bowl 130 generally includes a main body 140 (FIG. 4) having a series of apertures 144 formed through a bottom surface 146 thereof. In examples, the bowl 130 can be oriented such that the bottom surface 146 is generally transverse to an axis 148 of rotation of the motor 46. In this regard, the bowl 130, motor 46 and fan 48 can be positioned to be functionally accommodated relative to the manifold assembly 30 in the tight packaging space of a hand pistol.

The steel mesh 136 is generally located between the bowl 130 and a cup 150. The steel mesh 136 can generally minimize an amount of large ash that pass from the bowl 130 to the cup 150 to inhibit particles from reaching the fan 48. The cup 150 can be formed of steel and be configured to collect ashes 152 from burning product 156 (see FIG. 6) that have not already been captured by the bowl 130. The cup 150 defines an aperture 158. The cover 134 can be removably located onto the bowl 130 such as when the recreational smoke gun 10 is not in use. Further, the recreational smoking gun 10 can be positioned in an upright position on stand 160 such as when not in use.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 3-6, the manifold assembly 30 will be further described. The manifold assembly 30 can generally comprise first and second manifold portions 30A and 30B. The manifold portions 30A and 30B can be conveniently removed from the gun housing 20. In advantages, the manifold assembly 30 can be easily removed from the gun housing 20 for cleaning. In examples, the manifold portions 30A and 30B can be generally in the form of a clam shell whereby they can be separated from each other to gain access for directly to the internal surfaces for cleaning.

To remove the manifold assembly 30, a user pivots the pivot arm 24 about the pivot axis 112 from the use position (FIG. 1) to the maintenance position (FIG. 2). As the detents 92 on the pivot arm 24 are positively located into the notches 94 of the gun housing 20 in the use position, a user needs to initially forcibly rotate the pivot arm 24 with enough force to slide the detents 92 out of the notches 94. It is appreciated that the amount of force is marginal whereby the pivot arm 24 can normally stay at the use position unless a user is specifically desiring to rotate the pivot arm 24 to the maintenance position.

Once the pivot arm 24 is rotated to the maintenance position (FIG. 2), a user can pull out the manifold assembly 30 from the gun housing 20. As the bowl assembly 32 is generally received by the manifold assembly 30, the bowl assembly 32 will also be removed with the manifold assembly 30 from the gun housing 20. In examples, the fan 48 will also be removed from the gun housing 20 during removal of the manifold assembly 30.

Notably, no tools, no fasteners or other accessories are necessary to gain access to and remove the manifold assembly 30 from the gun housing 20. In other advantages, the manifold assembly 30 can now be handled and cleaned with water, etc., away from the electronics still left in the gun housing 20. With the manifold assembly 30 removed from the gun housing 20, a user can separate the manifold portions 30A and 30b and clean them. Moreover, the user is able to additionally clean other components such as the bowl assembly 32 and/or the fan 48.

Once the user has cleaned the components of the manifold assembly 30 and/or the bowl assembly 32, the manifold assembly 30 and bowl assembly 32 (and in some examples the fan 48) can be returned to the gun housing 20 (FIG. 2) and the pivot arm 24 can be rotated back to the use position (FIG. 1) capturing the manifold assembly 30 and bowl assembly 32 back into the gun housing 20. It is noted that rotation of the pivot arm 24 back to the use position will cause an audible click (caused by the detents 92 locating back into the notches 94) conveying to the user that the pivot arm 24 has completely and successfully returned to the use position. In examples, the fan 48 can have a first magnet 96 (FIG. 4) that can be magnetically attracted to a second magnet 98 extending from the motor 46. In this regard, the fan 48 can be easily removed and replaced relative to the gun housing 20 without tools.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, operation of the recreational smoking gun 10 according to a first example will be described. A user can optionally remove the recreational smoking gun 10 from the stand 160. Next, a user can push the power button 72 to turn on the recreational smoking gun 10. In the on position, power can be sent to the motor 46 (from the battery 52) based on actuation of the trigger assembly 40 from the unactuated position (FIG. 4) to the actuated position (FIG. 6). An amount of power sent to the motor 46 can further be varied (to change an amount of smoke emitted) based on a rotational position of the speed wheel 70. A user can then place the product 156 in the bowl 130 and light the product 156 while concurrently actuating the trigger assembly 40. Actuation of the trigger assembly 40 will initiate the drawing of product smoke through the manifold assembly 30 and out of the muzzle 86. In one non-limiting example, the bowl 130 can 1 inch in diameter and 0.5 inch depth. The size of the bowl 130 is optimized to provide suitable area for product 156 to support smoke creation while not being unnecessarily too large. In other words, the bowl 130 can support an effective amount of smoke without requiring an abundance of product 156 all in the packaging of a hand gun. In examples, actuation of the trigger assembly 40 will also cause a light emitting diode 204 to illuminate.

The manifold assembly 30 generally defines a pathway that includes an upstream section 210, a fan section 214 and a downstream section 220. In examples, the upstream section 210 can initially accept smoke 230A through the aperture 158 in the bowl 130. Smoke 230B is drawn toward the fan 48 at the fan section 214 and directed, by the fan 48, as downstream smoke 230C through the downstream section 220. The fan 48 is between the bowl 130 and the opening 88 of the muzzle 86. The upstream section 210 and the downstream section 220 are generally in-line whereby the smoke is efficiently communicated in the same direction (leftward as viewed in FIG. 6).

The trigger assembly 40 includes a trigger 250 and a pawl 252. The trigger 250 slidably translates away from the trigger protector 56 to move the pawl 252 that initiates rotation of the motor 46 and operation of the fan 48. In examples, a control board 260 can be housed in the grip portion 50 of the gun housing 20. Physical movement of the pawl 252 causes the control board 260 to send a signal to the motor 46. The control board 260 further determines an amount of power to send to the motor 46 based on a rotational position of the wheel 70. The charge port 60 can be used to charge the battery 52. A manually translatable toggle or switch 274 can be provided that selectively cuts off power to the battery 52 such as for transporting the recreational smoking gun 10.

The foregoing description of the examples has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular example are generally not limited to that particular example, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected example, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke, the recreational smoking gun comprising: a gun housing having a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle;a manifold assembly that is selectively removable from the gun housing, the manifold assembly defining a pathway configured to direct smoke;a bowl assembly received by the manifold assembly and configured to hold product to be smoked;a motor that selectively drives a fan;a trigger assembly having a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein in the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle; anda pivot arm pivotably coupled to the gun housing and rotatable between a use position and a maintenance position, wherein in the use position the manifold assembly is captured in the gun housing and in the maintenance position, the manifold assembly is selectively removable from the gun housing.

2. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein one of the gun housing and the pivot arm defines a detent and wherein the other of the gun housing and the pivot arm defines a notch, wherein in the use position the detent positively locates within the notch.

3. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the fan includes a first magnet and the motor defines a second magnet, wherein the fan is magnetically coupled to the motor in the use position.

4. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the bowl assembly comprises: a bowl that receives the product, the bowl defining a plurality of apertures through a lower surface thereof.

5. The recreational smoking gun of claim 4 wherein the fan rotates around an axis that is transverse to the lower surface of the bowl.

6. The recreational smoking gun of claim 4 wherein the bowl assembly further comprises: a steel mesh disposed below the bowl, the steel mesh configured to minimize ash passed from the bowl to the manifold assembly.

7. The recreational smoking gun of claim 6 further comprising a cup disposed below the steel mesh, the cup defining an aperture for passing smoke from the cup to the manifold assembly, the cup further configured to collect ashes from burning product.

8. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the manifold assembly is formed of silicone.

9. The recreational smoking gun of claim 8 wherein the manifold assembly comprises a first and second manifold portion that are removable relative from each other subsequent to removal of the manifold assembly from the gun housing in the maintenance position.

10. The recreational smoking gun of claim 8 wherein the bowl is formed of glass, wherein the silicone manifold assembly accommodates temperatures of a heated bowl.

11. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1, further comprising: a speed wheel rotatably disposed on the grip portion of the gun housing, the speed wheel configured to modify a speed of the motor based on a position thereof.

12. The recreational smoking gun of claim 9, further comprising: a battery housed in the grip portion of the gun housing; anda charging port configured on the grip portion of the gun housing.

13. The recreational smoking gun of claim 12, further comprising a manually translatable switch disposed on the gun body that selectively cuts off power to the battery.

14. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the gun housing is in the shape of a hand gun.

15. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the manifold assembly further comprises an upstream section, a fan section and a downstream section, wherein the upstream section initially accepts smoke from the bowl, wherein the smoke is drawn toward the fan at the fan section and directed by the fan through the downstream section and out the muzzle, wherein the upstream section and the downstream section are in-line whereby the smoke is efficiently communicated in a common direction.

16. A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke, the recreational smoking gun comprising: a gun housing having a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle, wherein the gun housing is in the form of a hand gun;a bowl assembly configured to hold product to be smoked;a manifold assembly separately formed from the gun housing with distinct materials from the gun housing, the manifold assembly being selectively removable from the gun housing for cleaning, the manifold assembly defining a pathway configured to direct smoke from the bowl assembly to the muzzle;a motor that selectively drives a fan;a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein in the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the muzzle; andan arm movably coupled to the gun housing between a use position and a maintenance position, wherein in the use position the manifold assembly is captured in the gun housing and in the maintenance position, the manifold assembly is selectively removable from the gun housing.

17. The recreational smoking gun of claim 16 wherein one of the gun housing and the arm defines a detent and wherein the other of the gun housing and the arm defines a notch, wherein in the use position the detent positively locates within the notch.

18. The recreational smoking gun of claim 16 wherein the bowl assembly comprises: a bowl that receives the product, the bowl defining a plurality of apertures through a lower surface thereof, wherein the fan rotates around an axis that is transverse to the lower surface of the bowl.

19. The recreational smoking gun of claim 1 wherein the manifold assembly is formed of silicone and wherein the manifold assembly comprises a first and second manifold portion that are removable relative from each other subsequent to removal of the manifold assembly from the gun housing in the maintenance position.

20. The recreational smoking gun of claim 19 wherein the bowl is formed of glass, wherein the silicone manifold assembly accommodates temperatures of a heated bowl.

21. A recreational smoking gun for dispensing smoke, the recreational smoking gun comprising: a hand gun housing having a grip portion, a barrel portion and a muzzle having an opening, wherein the hand gun housing in the form of a pistol operable with a single hand of a user;a manifold assembly disposed in the hand gun housing that defines a pathway configured to direct smoke;a bowl received by the manifold assembly and configured to hold product to be smoked;a motor that selectively drives a fan;a trigger assembly having a trigger that selectively moves between an unactuated position and an actuated position, wherein in the actuated position, the motor rotates the fan causing smoke from the product to be drawn through the manifold assembly and out of the opening.

22. The recreational smoking gun of claim 21 wherein the manifold assembly is formed of food-safe material and is selectively removable from the hand gun housing.

23. The recreational smoking gun of claim 21 wherein the manifold assembly further comprises an upstream section, a fan section and a downstream section, wherein the upstream section initially accepts smoke from the bowl, wherein the smoke is drawn toward the fan at the fan section and directed by the fan through the downstream section and out the opening.

24. The recreational smoking gun of claim 23 wherein the upstream section and the downstream section are in-line whereby the smoke is communicated in a common direction.