Patent Grant
12250966
The embodiments herein relate generally to smoking accessories.
Prior to embodiments of the disclosed invention common portable smoking pipes required a separate lighter (or some object to create fire for ignition) to always be transported with the pipe to perform the full function of smoking out of a portable smoking pipe. Embodiments of the disclosed invention solve this problem.
A smoking pipe assembly configured to provide pipe and lighter functionality to a user. The smoking pipe assembly has a sheath having generally a tubular shape with a bottom wall joined to a side wall having an open end. A bowl is formed on the sheath extending away from the side wall. An opening extends through the bowl and the side wall. A carburetor air opening is formed through the bottom wall. A plurality of interference fit ribs is joined to the side wall and the bottom wall. A lighter is inserted into the open end into the sheath and against the plurality of interference fit ribs. The sheath provides pipe functionality when separated from the lighter.
The side wall has a generally elliptical profile having a major axis and a minor axis. The plurality of interference fit ribs include two larger interference fit ribs and two smaller interference fit ribs.
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures.
By way of example, and referring to
The side wall and the bottom wall further comprises a side wall inner side joined to a plurality of interference fit ribs 26. The side wall has a generally elliptical profile having a major axis and a minor axis. Accordingly, there are two larger interference fit ribs 26 and two smaller interference fit ribs 26.
A lighter 22, fits through the open end 20 and slides against the plurality of interference fit ribs 26. This creates an interference fit between the side wall ribs and the side edge of the lighter. The carburetor opening is critical, otherwise the lighter 22 creates a vacuum seal with the sheath 10 and cannot be removed easily.
Embodiments of the disclosed invention can be made with known materials using known processes. For instance, three-dimensional printing with either plastic or metal can be used. Additionally, metal injection molding (MIM) can be used to create units at a larger quantity.
MIM involves a material that starts as a stainless-steel powder and is mixed with a bonding agent that is injected into a two cavity mold with a slide. The slide is necessary to create the holes that go in different directions. The mold then ejects the part and is sintered to H900 to harden and remove the remainder of any bonding agent. The finish is applied by glass bead blasting.
As used in this application, the term “a” or “an” means “at least one” or “one or more.”
As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.
As used in this application, the term “substantially” means that the actual value is within about 10% of the actual desired value, particularly within about 5% of the actual desired value and especially within about 1% of the actual desired value of any variable, element or limit set forth herein.
All references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents, patent application publications, and non-patent literature documents or other source material, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference, to the extent each reference is at least partially not inconsistent with the disclosure in the present application (for example, a reference that is partially inconsistent is incorporated by reference except for the partially inconsistent portion of the reference).
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6. In particular, any use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provision of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶6.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 63/217,663 filed on Jul. 1, 2021, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63217663 | Jul 2021 | US |
