The present invention relates generally to a smoking apparatus and, more particularly to a smoking apparatus which is easily and efficiently connectable to a bottle.
Users of water pipes, hookahs, etc. are often faced with issues of portability and fragility. They are often large, oblong, and with a heavy glass base. Typical water pipes and hookahs deal with limitations in use and portability due to the size and weight of the apparatus.
The above mentioned apparatus are very breakable and expensive to replace being they are typically only offered for purchase as a full unit and not as separate accessories. This results in relatively high costs.
When using a pipe, the smoke from the smokable material can be inhaled at hot temperatures, depending on the size of the pipe. Since pipes are also reusable, if the pipe is not properly cleaned after every use then the user can inhale previously burnt carcinogens along with the new burnt smokable material, leading to undesirable risks. Further, smoke from pipes is often wasted into the atmosphere between inhalations, and undesirable debris and/or residue from the smokable material may be inhaled through the pipe when there is no substantial filter.
In standard use, each of these apparatus mentioned above would also need to be purchased separately as individual pieces, not only furthering the user's expense, but also the amount of equipment that would be needed to be lugged around when transporting.
In partial response to the problems discussed above, U.S. Pat. No. 10,226,071 B2, entitled Apparatus for Securing to The Top of a Bottle or Canister for Providing a Smoking Assembly, issued on Aug. 17, 2017, discloses a smoking apparatus and assembly that may be used with a variety of standard sized bottles, which utilizes a disposable straw and bowl. The '071 device sits on top of the bottle or canister. The device and its use are relatively flimsy.
U.S. Publication No. 2016/0095351 A1, entitled Hydro Puff, published on Apr. 7, 2016, discloses various embodiments of a portable puff device comprising a stem, a mouth piece and a filter band. The stem is a tubular structure with a cone or cup shaped holder fixed to one end. The mouth piece is hollow structure comprising a screw structure to be fixed over a mouth of a bottle. The mouth piece comprises an angularly attached puffing pipe. A placement of the puffing pipe is above the mouth of the bottle to allow a flow of air or smoke. The filter band is attached at a junction of the conical holder of the stem and a top portion of the mouth piece. The stem is inserted into the mouth piece and is firmly fitted to the mouth piece through the filter band with conical holder lying above a top portion of the mouth piece. The '351 device hinders a cool smoke. Smoke comes up and is reheated because it is in proximity with the mouthpiece. Neither the '071 device nor the '351 device effectively provide a cool, clean smoke.
As will be disclosed below the present invention obviates these and other problems with waterpipes, hookahs and alike by providing a smoking apparatus which is easily connectable to a commercially used bottle, such a wine bottle, beverage bottle, etc.
In one aspect, the present invention is embodied as a smoking apparatus for attachment to a bottle. The smoking apparatus includes a main base, a downstem element, and a mouthpiece assembly. The main base has a central axis, and includes an upper and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a bowl receiving port configured to be attached to a bowl for containing smokable material, a smoke inlet conduit for providing passage of smoke between the bowl receiving port and a downstem element insertion port formed within the main base, a mouthpiece receiving port configured to be attached to a mouthpiece assembly, and a smoke outlet conduit for providing passage of smoke from an upper section of the bottle to the mouthpiece receiving port. The lower portion depends from the upper portion and comprises a flexible material configured to provide a force fit relationship with a bottle. The downstem element is configured to be attached within the downstem element insertion port. The downstem element is configured to extend into the bottle during use. The mouthpiece assembly is configured to be attached to the mouthpiece receiving port.
In another aspect the present invention is embodied as a method for inhaling smokable material including the steps of providing parts of a smoking apparatus, connecting the various parts, and inserting the assembled smoking apparatus in the top opening of the bottle.
The same elements or parts throughout the figures of the drawings are designated by the same reference characters, while equivalent elements bear a prime designation.
Referring now to the drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon,
The main base 12 includes a main base central axis 18. The main base 12 includes an upper portion, designated generally as 20; and, a lower portion, designated generally as 22. The upper portion 20 includes a bowl receiving port 24 configured to be attached to a bowl 26 for containing smokable material. The upper portion 20 also includes a smoke inlet conduit 30; a mouthpiece receiving port 32; and, a smoke outlet conduit 34. The smoke inlet conduit 30 provides passage of smoke between the bowl receiving port 24 and a downstem element insertion port 28 formed within the main base 12. The mouthpiece receiving port 32 is configured to be attached to the mouthpiece assembly 16. The smoke outlet conduit 34 provides passage of smoke from an upper section of the bottle to the mouthpiece receiving port. The main base is preferably formed of acrylic plastic or other resilient suitable materials such as glass. A bowl receiving port insert 35 is preferably positioned between the bowl receiving port 24 and a bowl 26 to secure a desired bowl 26 selected from various sizes. The bowl receiving port insert 35 also acts as an insulator to insure the heat is controlled to be in the bowl and not transferred to other parts of the smoking apparatus 10.
The lower portion 22 of the main base 12 depends from the upper portion 20 and includes a flexible material configured to provide a force fit relationship with a bottle 36. In the embodiment shown in
The downstem element 14 is configured to be attached within the downstem element insertion port 28 such that the downstem element 14 extends into the bottle 36 during use. The downstem element 14 is preferably removably attached by a force/friction fit. A downstem element sleeve 29 may be utilized inside the lower portion 22, within the downstem element insertion port 28, to function as a secure way to hold the downstem element 14 in place during operation. The downstem element sleeve 29 may be formed of a suitable flexible material, preferably silicone. This attachment method of the downstem element 14 provides ease in storage and interchangeability of parts. The downstem element 14 may include a number of slits 38 for diffusing the smoke. The downstem element 14 is preferably formed of a resilient plastic such as acrylic plastic to provide the force fit, however, other suitable materials can be used.
The mouthpiece assembly 16 is configured to be attached to the mouthpiece receiving port 32. In the embodiment shown in
In operation of the smoking apparatus 10, when the user inhales from the mouthpiece element 42, smoke from combustion in the bowl 26 passes through the smoke inlet conduit 30, and through the downstem element 14. It then passes up through the liquid in bottle 36, through the lower portion 22, through the smoke outlet conduit 34, and into the mouthpiece assembly 16. Thus, the main base 12 effectively partitions the smoke in the smoke inlet conduit 30 from the smoke in the outlet conduit 34.
The mouthpiece receiving port 32 portion of the main base extends from the main base central axis 18 at an angle of approximately 20-65 degrees. In a preferred embodiment the angle is approximately 50 degrees.
The present invention can include a number of different accessories.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The term “bottle” as used herein is meant to broadly encompass any type of container with an opening on top which can accommodate the main base and with sufficient depth to accommodate the downstem element, as discussed above.
As mentioned above, other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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10226071 | Nagel | Mar 2019 | B2 |
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2561331 | Mar 2008 | CA |
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Entry |
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International Application No. PCT/US21/35661, International Search Report and the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, or the Declaration dated Sep. 17, 20210 (10 Pages). |
Four different screenshots of a same product from the same page https://www.waxmaidstore.com/products/waxmaid-8-universal-traveler-water-bottle-pipe/www.WaxMaidStore.com, downloaded on Jul. 6, 2022 (4 Pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210378295 A1 | Dec 2021 | US |