GB2574814A

GB2574814A - A smoking apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2574814A
Application number: GB201809942A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Xahvia Collins Jason
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-06-18
Filing date: 2018-06-18
Publication date: 2019-12-25
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-18
Also published as: GB201809942D0; GB2574814B

Abstract

A smoking apparatus 99 (such as a bong or hookah) in use comprising: a device 100 with a fluid filled vessel 39 , a burning bowl 40, a smoke channel 10, and a mouthpiece 38; and a vaporiser 200; wherein the smoke channel is configured to pass through the fluid in the vessel from the burning bowl to the mouthpiece, and the vaporiser is arranged to vent into the smoke channel. The vaporiser to provide a flavour to the burnt tobacco product via a preferably secondary input 33 which may be a flexible tube 3. Preferably the smoking apparatus also comprises a stand 300 and a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of the vapour.

Description

A SMOKING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a smoking apparatus, in particular apparatus for smoking herbs and providing extra flavours during a burn.

Background

Increasing numbers of users enjoy smoking herbs, and contemporaneously increasing numbers of users enjoy vaping, or using a vaporiser in an attempt to avoid tobacco.

Many such vaporisers are well established and provided with a large number of different flavour fluids to vapourise or ‘smoke’.

Combustion of herbs can be accomplished with bongs or water pipes or hookahs, which act to cool the smoke as it passes through the device to the user.

Prior Art

WO 201 510 349 (ZHENG) discloses an electronic hookah atomizer comprising an electronic hookah component and a hookah. A bottom housing of the electronic hookah component is sleeved onto a hookah bowl pouch of the hookah, thus allowing the electronic hookah component to be ventilatively connected to the hookah. A hookah tube is provided at one side of the hookah. A hookah bottle is provided at the bottom part of the hookah. A cap is provided at the upper extremity of the electronic hookah component. An air inlet is provided at the upper extremity of the cap. An air switch is provided within the electronic hookah component. A circuit board is provided at one side of the air switch. An atomizer is provided in the middle part of the electronic hookah component. Electronic hookah smoking is allowed by sleeving the electronic hookah component onto any hookah bowl pouch. When smoking via the hookah tube of the hookah, external airflow passes through the atomizer that is controlled by the circuit board within the electronic hookah component to produce an atomization effect, while the smoke is filtered with the airflow, passed through water within the hookah bottle of the hookah, and then passed through the hookah tube to produce an atomization effect, and the need for using charcoal for burning is obviated and simply the addition of an atomizing liquid is needed for use.

GB 2 496 105 (GREGG et al) discloses a vapour-adding lighter for a smoking article. The vapour-adding lighter may comprise a vaporisation chamber having a flavour inlet and an air flow inlet. A smoking article receptacle may extend from the vaporisation chamber. The vaporisation chamber may contain a heating element to vaporise the flavourant in the chamber. A collar may be provided in an aperture of the receptacle. A smoking article may be placed in the receptacle and flavoured vapour from the chamber may then be added to the smoking article. A lighting component, such as a heated wire mesh, may be provided to ignite a smoking article when the smoking article is placed in the receptacle. The lighter provides separate vapour-add and lighting functions which may be operated by separate actuating buttons and may be used to release vapour prior to or during the lighting of a smoking article. The vapour may be flavoured, thus imparting flavour to the smoking article.

EP 2 422 633 (MOUKADDEM) discloses an electronic atomization hookah comprising: a shell comprising a shell body, a shell top portion and a shell bottom portion, where said shell body defines a shell internal cavity and comprises a first nozzle defining a first passage inside said cavity and configured to receive a smoking hose. Said shell top portion comprises a first slot and said shell bottom portion comprises a second slot; a liquid supplying container, an atomizer and at least one battery arranged within said shell internal cavity, where said atomizer is in contact with said container for heating a liquid contained therein when activated such that a mist is formed as a function of said heating. Said container comprises a first opening in communication with said first passage for allowing output of said mist therethrough; a hollow tube having a tube bottom extremity and a tube top extremity, where said hollow tube bottom extremity is coupled to said first slot and forms a substantially airtight seal therewith; ajar comprising a substantially flat base and ajar top portion configured to be demountably coupled to said second slot ; a hookah head having a top portion and a bottom portion, where said head bottom portion is configured to be coupled to said tube top extremity and forms a substantially airtight seal therewith; and a main processing unit and a sensor located within said hookah head, where said main processing unit is connected to said sensor, to said at least one battery and to said atomizer, such that, when a user inhales using said smoking hose, a variation of pressure is detected by said sensor and an electrical signal is automatically transmitted by said main processing unit to said atomizer for activation.

The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a smoking apparatus in use comprising: a device with a fluid filled vessel, a burning bowl, a smoke channel, and a mouthpiece; and a vaporiser; wherein the smoke channel is configured to pass through the fluid in the vessel from the burning bowl to the mouthpiece, and the vaporiser is arranged to vent into the smoke channel.

The mouthpiece may be incorporated into a chimney, which chimney leads upwards from the vessel and wherein a user uses the top of the chimney as the mouthpiece, or a mouthpiece is located in or on the chimney at a different location near or at the top.

In some embodiments the vaporiser or electronic cigarette is independently provided, wherein the apparatus comprises a device with a burning bowl and a vessel for filling with fluid so as to provide the smoke channel to the mouthpiece, and a cradle for the vaporiser.

In this way the vaporiser is enabled to provide a flow into the smoke channel such that vaporiser provides a different flavour to any smoke within the channel.

Such flow may be adjusted, for example in intensity or volume. For example in some embodiments the flow may be controlled by an input means, which input means may comprise a means for reducing flow volume. For example in some embodiments the input means may comprise a filter or valve. Such valve may comprise discrete adjustment positions and/or progressively or incrementally regulate the amount of vapour allowed into the channel.

The input means additionally or alternatively may comprise a mechanism to direct vapour from the vaporiser to the smoke channel input means. Such mechanism may comprise a mechanism to attach to the output of the vaporiser, and a conduit for the flow to the smoke channel input. Such conduit may comprise a plastics tube or similar flexible conduit, or may comprise a rigid conduit.

The input means may further comprise an adaptor for attachment of the conduit to the vaporiser. Such adaptor may be a universal fitting adaptor and/or may comprise a resiliently deformable seal.

The burning bowl may be envisaged to be used to burn herbs or tobacco, and the vessel may be envisaged to be filled with water or ice for use, which may be flavoured.

The burning bowl may also comprise a pipe, which pipe is arranged to extend into the vessel, so as to be under the fluid. In this way the smoke enters the fluid and passes through the fluid to exit at the mouthpiece.

The apparatus may comprise a stand, which stand may be arranged to hold the device and the vaporiser in a preferred configuration. In some embodiments the stand may provide the conduit between the vaporiser and the smoke channel.

In some embodiments the conduit is arranged to provide an input means into the smoke channel within the vessel, and in some usage into the fluid. In other embodiments the conduit may be arranged to provide an input means into the channel at, adjacent or using the mouthpiece.

The cradle may be configured to interface or connect with the vaporiser or a specific vaporiser, for example wherein it may be envisaged that embodiments of the stand may be purchased or configured for specific combinations of vaporisers and/or devices.

In some embodiments the device may comprise a means of maintaining objects within the smoke channel or chimney. This may enable lumps of ice or other substance to be maintained in the smoke channel during usage, without entering the fluid. This means of maintaining objects may comprise projections or divots on the inner face of the chimney.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, including a vaporiser;

Figure 2 shows an isometric view from behind of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, without a vaporiser;

Figure 3 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 2;

And

Figure 7 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference generally to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the device generally comprising smoking apparatus 99 in use 99 in use comprising: a device

100 with a fluid filled vessel 39, a burning bowl 40, a smoke channel 10, and a mouthpiece 38; and a vaporiser 200; wherein the smoke channel 10 is configured to pass through the fluid in the vessel 39 from the burning bowl 40 to the mouthpiece 38, and the vaporiser 200 is arranged to vent into the smoke channel 10.

In particular reference to the embodiment shown the embodiment comprises a translucent or transparent vessel 39 formed in a thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), with vertically extending cylindrical chimney 5, which deviates near its top to form an inclined end 93 for the mouthpiece 38. The chimney includes inward extending divots 55, which are located towards the top of the chimney 5 and act to prevent ice lumps dropping into the fluid.

The burning bowl 40 is at the end of a pipe 41 that extends into the centre of the vessel, so as to have an exit below the fluid when the vessel is filled. The burning bowl is formed in turned brass, leading to the pipe, and the pipe is a rigid ABS part with a percolater 42 on its end.

The smoke channel 10 is internal the vessel 39 and chimney 5 and allows smoke to be pulled through the pipe 41, through the vessel and up through the chimney to the mouthpiece when the user sucks at the mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece has an ABS collar 1, which supports a simple valve, comprising ABS venting flaps 2. To allow adjustment the flaps 2 may be arranged at discrete angle positions. There are three flaps which slot into differing angle slots in the collar 1.

This allows the input means 33 of the vaporiser to input into the smoke channel 10, more particularly allowing variation of volume of vapour into the smoke channel with respect to smoke.

The input means 33 of the vaporiser 200 into the smoke channel 10 comprises a flexible tube conduit 3, which has a proximal end exiting into the smoke channel near to the mouthpiece, and a distal end with an adaptor 4 for attachment to the vaporiser in use. The adaptor comprises a resiliently deformable O ring which is arranged to fit over the mouthpiece 202 of a vaporiser.

The apparatus further comprises a stand 300, which stand is formed in ABS, and comprises a substantially vertical rear portion 301, providing a cradle 302 to its rear, and a basal portion 303, which extends in a circle in front of the rear portion 301, as a base 303 for the device, and to rear of the rear portion to provide a base 304 for the vaporiser. The vaporiser base portion 304 and rear portion 301 share connecting wings 302, so as to in totality form a cradle with two closed sides, a slit third side, and an open top.

The vaporiser cradle 23 also comprises internal padding 307 which surrounds the vaporiser in part or whole.

The rear portion 301 of the stand 300 provides a clip collar comprising two arms 305, that are arranged to partially surround the chimney 5 of the device.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A smoking apparatus in use comprising: a device with a fluid filled vessel, a burning bowl, a smoke channel, and a mouthpiece; and a vaporiser; wherein the smoke channel is configured to pass through the fluid in the vessel from the burning bowl to the mouthpiece, and the vaporiser is arranged to vent into the smoke channel. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vaporiser is independently provided. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a stand separate from the device and vaporiser. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the stand comprises a substantially vertical portion, and a base portion for the vaporiser, and a base portion for the device. 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 comprising a cradle for the vaporiser. 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the device comprises an input means for the vaporiser. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the input means comprises a flexible tube. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the mouthpiece comprises a valve to control volume of input from the vaporiser into the smoke channel. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims

1. A smoking apparatus for use with a vaporiser comprises: a stand that supports a fluid filled vessel connected to a first end of a chimney, a burning bowl arranged on the fluid filled vessel, a mouthpiece provided at a second end of the chimney, a vaporiser cradle for receiving a vaporiser and a smoke channel configured to pass from the burning bowl, into the vessel, through the fluid in the vessel, through the chimney and exiting via the mouthpiece; the vaporiser, when in use, is connected to the smoke channel by an input means so as to vent vapour from the vaporiser into the smoke channel prior to inhalation from the mouth piece.

2. A smoking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the input means has a valve to regulate the amount of vapour allowed into the channel.

3. A smoking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece has an ABS collar and valve arranged on the ABS collar to control volume of input from the vaporiser into the smoke channel.

4. A smoking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the stand comprises a substantially vertical portion, and a base portion for receiving the vaporiser, and a base portion for the device.

5. A smoking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the input means includes a flexible tube for connecting the vaporiser to the smoke channel.

6. A smoking apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the valve includes venting flaps.

7. A smoking apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the venting flaps can be arranged at various discrete angle positions.

8. A smoking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vaporiser cradle includes padding.

9. A smoking apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the chimney has inward extending divots.

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