AU2003100841B4

AU2003100841B4 - A filter for a bong

Info

Publication number: AU2003100841B4
Application number: AU2003100841A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Vincent Dorsett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-06
Filing date: 2003-10-06
Publication date: 2004-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-06
Also published as: AU2003100841A4

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2B

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION

PATENT

Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: ANTHONY VINCENT DORSETT 13 Nardoo Way Maddington, Western Australia, 6109 Australia Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Griffith Hack, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 6th Floor, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A FILTER FOR A BONG The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filter for a bong.

Background of the Invention A bong is a form of water pipe used for smoking tobacco and other substances (hereinafter referred to in general as "tobacco"). Throughout this specification the term "bong" is used in a generic sense to refer to different forms of water pipe used for smoking tobacco.

In general terms, a bong comprises a vessel defining a chamber which is filled with water and having a tubular portion extending from the chamber provided with an opening at one end forming a mouthpiece. A chillum is in fluid communication with and extends diagonally from the chamber. Indeed, the chillum may extend into the chamber.

When in use, water is held in the chamber to a level above where the chillum opens into the chamber. Tobacco is placed in an upper end of the chillum and lit. A user places their mouth over the mouthpiece to inhale smoke from the tobacco. The smoke is cooled as it passes through the water to minimise the risk of burning the smoker's lungs. In addition, the water filters some components from the smoke.

Notwithstanding the filtering effects provided by the water in the bong, some users insert tissue paper into the top of the tubular portion to filter further substances from the smoke. However this at times is generally inconvenient as the tissue tends to stick to a user's mouth and lips, and can at times drop to a level within the tubular portion making it difficult to remove without the use of an implement.

\\PERTHO1\home$\terryr\Keep\Speci\A FILTER FOR A BONG Innovative Sept 2003.doc 6/10/03 3 Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a filter for a bong having a vessel provided with a mouthpiece through which smoke can be orally inhaled, said filter comprising a first portion which extends across said mouthpiece and a second portion which depends from said first portion and extends along and outside of said mouthpiece, said first and second portions being integrally formed.

Preferably said filter is made of a hygroscopic material.

Preferably said filter is made of a hygroscopic paper or polymer material.

Preferably said filter is made from a material which absorbs, or reduces the passage therethrough of, water, without disintegration.

Preferably said filter has an opening for fitting over said mouthpiece and is provided with attachment means for releasably attaching said filter to said vessel.

In one embodiment said attachment means comprises an elastic band coupled about said opening.

In an alternate embodiment said attachment means comprises a drawstring.

In a further alternate embodiment said attachment means comprises an adhesive strip.

Preferably said filter is impregnated with, or bears, a flavourant.

H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04 4 Preferably said material is fire resistant or treated with a fire retardant.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a section view of a bong fitted with a filter in accordance with first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the filter depicted in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section view of a bong fitted with a further embodiment of a filter in accordance with the present invention; and, Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the filter depicted in Figure 3.

H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04 5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Figures 1 and 3 depict one particular construction of a bong 10. The bong 10 comprises a vessel 12 in the form of a metallic tube having a lower end 13 which defines a chamber 14 for containing water 16. An opposite end of the vessel 12 is provided with a mouthpiece 18. The lower end 13 of the vessel 12 is attached to a base 20 which holds the vessel 12 in an upright condition when the base 20 is placed on a planar surface. A chillum 22 is coupled to the vessel 12 and includes a pipe 24 which extends into the chamber 14. An upper portion of the pipe 24 is coupled with a receptacle 26 in which tobacco to be smoked is held. The pipe 24 is open at opposite ends so that smoke 28 generated by the burning of the tobacco in the receptacle 26 can be drawn into the vessel 12 and in particular through the water 16 held within the chamber 14.

With reference now to Figures 1 and 2, a filter 30 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is configured to cover and extend over the mouthpiece 18. Moreover the filter comprises a first portion 31 in the shape of a disc which extends across the mouthpiece 30, and an integral second portion 33 which depends from the first portion 31 and extends along and outside of the mouthpiece 30. Thus, when orally inhaling the smoke 28, it must first pass through the filter The filter is made from a hygroscopic material and preferably a hygroscopic paper or polymer such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, so that it absorbs at least a portion of the water or moisture carried by the smoke 28, thereby reducing the volume of water which may be otherwise deposited in the lungs of a smoker.

It is believed that a particularly suitable material from which the filter 30 may be made is the type of paper used H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04 6 in the manufacture of tea bags. While large volumes of water can pass through this material, only relatively small volumes of water in the form of water vapour are carried in the smoke 28 and presented to the filter It should be further noted that this material does not tend to disintegrate or liquefy when it absorbs water and thus is unlikely to break apart in use and suffer from the same difficulties as tissue paper used in the prior art.

In addition to filtering water vapour, or reducing the amount of water vapour in the smoke 28 passing through to the lungs, the filter 30 may also filter various particles from the smoke 28 such as, but not limited to, tar.

The filter 30 is in a shape and configuration similar to that of a "shower cap" but of substantially smaller size and is formed with an opening 32 which covers and fits over the mouthpiece 18. The opening 32 can be provided with an attachment means for releasably attaching the filter 30 to the vessel 18. The attachment means can take many forms such as an elastic band, a drawstring, or a strip of adhesive material. In the embodiment in Figures 1 and 2, the attachment means is in the form of an elastic band (not shown) sewn or otherwise attached about the opening 32 to draw it into a diameter smaller than the diameter of the mouthpiece 18.

In the embodiment depicted in Figures 3 and 4, the filter is in the form of a tube or sheath 34 having an opening 32 at one end and closed at an opposite end. The tube 34 extends on the outside of the vessel 12 toward the end 13.

In this particular embodiment a drawstring 36 is provided about the opening 32 for releasably attaching the filter to the vessel 12. The drawstring may be attached about the opening 32 in any conventional manner. The filter is made from the same material and functions in the same manner in terms of its filtering characteristics to the filter H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04 7 Instead of the drawstring 36, or an elastic band, the filter may be provided with an adhesive strip 38 for releasably adhering to the vessel 12. Ideally, the adhesive strip 38 will have a strip of release paper which would be removed after fitting the tube 34 over the vessel 12.

In yet a further alternate embodiment, particularly with the tubular form of filter 30', the filter can be provided without any form of attachment means, i.e. without an elastic band, drawstring or adhesive strip. In this form, a user can simply wrap their hand about both the tube 34 and vessel 12 to hold the filter in place.

If desired, the filter 30 may be impregnated with or otherwise bear a flavourant to enhance or modify the flavour of the smoke 28. Also, particularly, although not exclusively, in the tubular form of the filter 30, the material from which the filter is made may be fire resistant or treated with a fire retardant material.

Clearly the filter 30 may also bear any form of indicia or advertising material.

In addition to the benefit of reducing the amount of water or water vapour entering the lungs of the user, the filter also provides enhanced hygiene particularly when the bong 12 is used by multiple users. For example, users may apply their own filter if sharing a bong.

Now that embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, the filter 30 need not be made from a paper or polymer material. It can be made H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04 8 from any material which will allow the smoke 28 to pass while providing a degree of water absorption when filtering the water vapour while not disintegrating or liquefying in use. For example cotton, wool or other textiles may be used. In addition the filter may also be structured, e.g. by way of mesh size or by impregnation with various chemicals, to absorb or filter specific substances or particles in the smoke 28.

All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the above description and the appended claims.

H:\terryr\Keep\Retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 17/02/04

Claims

2. The filter according to claim 1 wherein said filter is made from a material which absorbs, or reduces the passage therethrough of, water, without disintegration.
3. The filter according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said filter is made of a hygroscopic material.
4. The filter according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein said filter has an opening for fitting over said mouth piece and is provided with attachment means for releasably attaching said filter to said vessel. A filter for a bong substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 26th day of February 2004. ANTHONY VINCENT DORSETT By His Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia G:\terryr\keep\retype\P50835 A FILTER FOR A BONG A V DORSETT Innovative.doc 25/02/04