US20240349786A1

US20240349786A1 - Bowl pipe and pod system

Info

Publication number: US20240349786A1
Application number: US18/303,790
Authority: US
Inventors: Oren Kantor
Original assignee: Pakkabowl LLC
Current assignee: Pakkabowl LLC
Priority date: 2023-04-20
Filing date: 2023-04-20
Publication date: 2024-10-24
Also published as: CA3235904A1; US20240349784A1; US20240349785A1

Abstract

The subject discloser relates to a bowl pipe and pod system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material. In one or more embodiments, a pod, can comprise a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, and an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container to expose the one or more openings, and wherein the container is adapted to removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity with the enclosure dethatched therefrom.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject patent application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/303,710, filed Apr. 20, 2023, and entitled “BOWL PIPE AND POD SYSTEM,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to relates to a bowl pipe and pod system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material.

SUMMARY

The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or critical elements or delineate any scope of the particular embodiments or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose is to present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In at least one embodiment, a bowl pipe for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material is disclosed. The pipe can comprise a housing and a sliding member comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the sliding member is configured to insert into the housing and slide relative to the housing between a closed configuration in which the sliding member is inserted within and encloses the housing and an open configuration in which the sliding member is partially expelled from the housing with the bowl cavity exposed. In various implementations, the open configuration corresponds to an operating configuration in which the pipe is operable to smoke the smoking material contained within the container when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity, and wherein the closed configuration corresponds to a storage configuration in which the pipe is inoperable to smoke the smoking material.
In at least one additional embodiment, a bowl pipe for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material can comprise a housing comprising a mouthpiece end and an open end opposite the mouthpiece end, the mouthpiece end comprising an outlet port. The pipe further comprises a sliding member configured to insert into the housing via the open end, the sliding member defined by a body comprising a base end, an outlet end opposite the base end, a bowl cavity positioned adjacent to the base end and a smoke channel positioned between the outlet end and the bowl cavity, wherein the sliding member is configured to slide relative to the housing between a closed configuration in which the sliding member is inserted within and encloses the housing and an open configuration in which the sliding member is partially expelled from the housing with the bowl cavity exposed and the smoke channel covered by the housing. In various implementations, the open configuration corresponds to an operating configuration in which the pipe is operable to smoke a smoking material positioned within the bowl cavity, and wherein the closed configuration corresponds to a storage configuration in which the pipe is inoperable to smoke the smoking material. In some implementations, the bowl pipe can include a lighter integrated on or withing the sliding member.
In at least one additional embodiment, a system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material is disclosed. The system comprises a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, and a bowl pipe comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain the container, the bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In various implementations, the system further comprises an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container. In some implementations, the container is adapted to removably insert within the bowl cavity with the enclosure removed therefrom. In some implementations, the system can further include a lighter case adapted to receive and retain a lighter, the lighter case comprising a first attachment component adapted to removably attach to a second attachment component integrated on or within the bowl pipe. In some implementations, the system can further include a pod case adapted to receive and contain a plurality of containers corresponding to the container, and a travel case adapted to receive and contain the bowl pipe, the lighter case with the lighter positioned therein, and the pod case.
In at least one additional embodiment, another system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material is disclosed. The system comprises a pod pack comprising a plurality of containers comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, and a bowl pipe comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain a single container of the plurality of the containers, the bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the single container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In some implementations, the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components wherein the one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually. In some implementations, the containers are respectively enclosed with removable enclosures and wherein the one or more attachment components are integrated on or within the enclosures.
In at least one additional embodiment, a method for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material is disclosed. The method can comprise, providing a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, and providing a bowl pipe comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain the container, the bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing the container with an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing a pod pack comprising a plurality of containers respectively prefilled with the amount of smoking material, the plurality of containers including the container, wherein the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components and wherein one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually.
In at least one additional embodiment, a pod is disclosed comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, the container adapted to removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In some implementations, the pod further includes an enclosure adapted removably attach to the container and enclose and seal one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein. In some implementations, the pod comprises the enclosure attached to the container, and wherein removably detaches from the container via physical deformation of an attachment component of the enclosure that renders the enclosure inoperable for reattachment to the container. In various implementations, smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower.
In at least one additional embodiment, pod is disclosed comprising a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, and an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container to expose the one or more openings, and wherein the container is adapted to removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity with the enclosure dethatched therefrom. In various implementations, smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower.
In at least one additional embodiment, a pod pack is disclosed comprising a plurality of containers comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, the containers adapted to individually and removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when inserted within the bowl cavity. The pod pack can further include enclosures respectively attached to the containers that enclose and seal openings of the containers with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosures removably detach from the containers. In some implementations, the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components wherein the one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually. In some implementations, the one or more attachment components are integrated on or within the enclosures. In various implementations, the smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the subject disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example bowl pipe for smoking cannabis or other smoking material in a dissembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example bowl pipe in a partially assembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example bowl pipe in an open configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example bowl pipe in an open configuration with a container inserted within the bowl cavity, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example bowl pipe in a partially closed configuration with a container inserted within the bowl cavity, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example container adapted for use with a bowl pipe in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example bowl pipe in a closed configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional, side view of an example bowl pipe in an open configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic, a cross-sectional side view of an example bowl pipe in a closed configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional top-down view of an example bowl pipe in an open configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate schematic, cross-sectional, side views of an example bowl pipe in different open configurations in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates another schematic, cross-sectional top-down view of an example bowl pipe in an open configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate an example bowl cavity tray in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example sliding member with the bowl cavity tray removed in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional top-down view of an example bowl cavity tray in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional top-down view of an example sliding member with the bowl cavity tray removed in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate schematic, cross-sectional side views of an example bowl cavity tray with a container inserted within, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom side view of an example sliding member with the bowl cavity tray removed in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom side view of an example bowl cavity tray.

FIG. 19 illustrates a bottom side view of an example sliding member with the bowl cavity tray inserted in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate an example housing in a disassembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 21 illustrates an example elastic insert portion and track engagement insert in a disassembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 22 illustrates a schematic, wireframe representation of the elastic insert portion in an assembled configuration with the track engagement insert assembled therein, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 23A illustrates a bottom side view of an example track engagement insert accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 23B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example track engagement insert accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 24A-24F illustrate operation of the sliding member with the track engagement insert in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate an example bowl pipe with an integrated lighter in an open configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 26A and 26B illustrate an example bowl pipe with an integrated lighter in a dissembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 27A-27D illustrate an example pod (or components thereof) adapted for use with a bowl pipe in accordance with the various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example pod pack in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 29 presents an enlarged view of an attachment mechanism for physically coupling two together in a pod pack in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 30 and 31 illustrate removal of a pod from the pod pack in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 32A and 32B illustrate an example pod case in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate an example lighter case in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate attachment of the lighter case with a bowl pipe in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example bowl pipe system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 36A and 36B illustrate assembly of an example bowl pipe system in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIGS. 37 illustrates a top-down view of an example bowl pipe system in a disassembled configuration, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 38 presents an example method for smoking or facilitating smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material in accordance with various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 39 presents an example method for regulating the consumption of smoking material, such as cannabis or another type of smoking material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied information presented in the preceding Summary section, or in the Detailed Description section.
One or more embodiments are now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. It should be appreciated that the various structures depicted in the drawings are merely exemplary and may not be drawn to scale. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It is evident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments can be practiced these specific details. In addition, certain elements may be left out of particular views for the sake of clarity and/or simplicity when explanations are not necessarily focused on the omitted elements. Moreover, the same or similar reference numbers used throughout the drawings are used to denote the same or similar features, elements, or structures, and thus, a detailed explanation of the same or similar features, elements, or structures will not be repeated for each of the drawings.
As used herein, the term smoking material is used to refer to any type of substance capable of being smoked using a smoking pipe. Various embodiments, of the disclosed subject matter are directed to embodiments in which the smoking material includes or corresponds to cannabis and more particularly ground cannabis flower. However, the smoking material can include other types of smoking materials such as tobacco, herbs, herbal remedies and other organic smoking materials.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified, terms such as on, overlying, atop, on top, positioned on, or positioned atop mean that a first component is present on a second component, wherein intervening components may be present between the first component and the second component. As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term directly used in connection with the terms on, overlying, atop, on top, positioned, positioned atop, contacting, directly contacting, or the term direct contact, mean that a first component and a second component are connected without any intervening components between them. As used herein, terms such as upper, lower, top, bottom, frontside, backside, above, below, directly above, directly below, aligned with, adjacent to, right, left, vertical, horizontal, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosed structures as oriented in the drawing figures. The term “aligned with” is used herein to refer to a component being positioned directly along the same axis relative to one another component. For example, the term aligned with as used herein can refer to a first component being directly above or below a second component.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the terms “side,” “end,” and variations thereof, as used to described a physical object (e.g., a bowl pipe and components thereof, a container and components thereof, a pod and components thereof, a pod pack and components thereof, a pod case and components thereof, a lighter case and components thereof, and a travel case and components thereof) assumes the side or end is defined by a physical element or structure having at least one surface. Unless otherwise specified, the term “open” as used to describe a side or end is used to indicate that at least one region or area of the physical element or structure associated with the side or end is open or exposed. As used herein, unless otherwise specified the term inside, internal and variants thereof as used to describe a surface of a physical element or structure is used to indicate the surface facing the three-dimensional center point of object to which the physical element or structures is attached. The term external, outside and variants thereof as used to describe a surface of a physical element or structure is used to indicate the surface opposing the internal surface.
As used herein, longitudinal means a direction lengthwise in a component such that the longitudinal direction runs parallel to the maximum linear dimension in the x-y plane of the component. In a bowl pipe as described herein, the longitudinal direction runs substantially planar from a mouthpiece-oriented end of the pipe (and components thereof) to an opposing base end of the pipe (and components thereof). Lateral refers to a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In the bowl pipe described herein, the lateral direction runs substantially perpendicular from a bottom surface of the pipe (and components thereof) to a top surface of the pipe (and components thereof).
With reference now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an example bowl pipe 100 for smoking cannabis or other smoking material in a dissembled configuration, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. FIG. 2 illustrates bowl pipe 100 in a partially assembled configuration. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate bowl pipe 100 in an open configuration. FIG. 7 illustrates bowl pipe 100 in a closed configuration.
With reference to FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B and 7 , in one or more embodiments, bowl pipe 100 is composed of two primary components which include a housing 102 and a sliding member 104 adapted to insert into and out of the housing 102 via an open end 122 of the housing 102. The housing 102 has a substantially hollow body defined by a mouthpiece end 106, and an open end 122 opposite the mouthpiece end 106, a top side 110, a bottom side 120 opposite the top side 110, a left side 118 and a right side 112 opposite the left side 118. The body of the housing 102 extends in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′ shown in FIG. 1 ) from the mouthpiece end 106 to the open end 122 (or vice versa). The housing 102 further includes a mouthpiece 108 positioned at the mouthpiece end 106 and an outlet port 302 (shown in FIG. 3B) formed through the mouthpiece 108 and into the hollow body of the housing 102.
In various embodiments, body of the housing 102 is composed of an outer shell 114 formed on and around the top side 110, the bottom side 120, the left side 118 and the right side 112 of the housing 102. The outer shell 114 is preferably formed out of a rigid material such as a metal material. In some embodiments, the outer shell 114 may be formed with aluminum. Other suitable material for the outer shell 114 can include but are not limited to, copper, iron, steel, silver, or another thermally conductive material.
In some embodiments, housing 102 can include a liner 116 positioned within the outer shell 114. In some embodiments, the liner 116 can line (i.e., directly contact) an entirety of the interior surfaces of the outer shell 114 within the hollow body of the housing 102. In other embodiments, the liner 116 can line a portion of the interior surfaces of the outer shell 114. The liner 116 is preferably formed out of an elastic material such as silicone, natural rubber, polyethylene, polyurethane, polypropylene, combinations thereof, and other types of elastic materials. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece 108 also formed out of an elastic material such as one or more of those elastic material noted above. The liner 116 and the mouthpiece 108 may be formed out of the same material or different materials. In some embodiments, the liner 116 and the mouthpiece 108 are formed out of the same material (e.g., silicone) and as a single unit (as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B and described in greater detail infra).
In some embodiments, the housing 102 can include at least one attachment component (e.g., attachment components 304 a/304 b) integrated on or withing the housing 102 that provides an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the housing 102 to an external surface. In various the attachment component can include at least one magnet integrated on or within the housing 102 that magnetically attaches the housing 102 to an external surface composed of a ferromagnetic material and/or another magnet. For example, as shown in FIG. 3B, in some embodiments, the bottom side 120 of the housing 102 can include a first attachment component 304 a and a second attachment component 304 b that can respectively include or correspond to magnets. In some embodiments, the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b may be formed on the exterior surface of the outer shell 114. In other embodiments, the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b may be formed on an interior surface of the outer shell 114 and/or the liner 116. For example, the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b may be formed on or within the liner 116. In some implementations of these embodiments, the outer shell 114 can include openings (e.g., openings 2008 a and 2008 b, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B and described in greater detail infra) formed at positions corresponding to the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b and respective portions of the liner 116 comprising the magnets can be aligned with and exposed through the openings. With these implementations, respective portions of the liner 116 aligned with and exposed via the openings can seal the openings. In other embodiments, one or more magnets may be integrated on or withing the housing 102 at other locations.
The sliding member 104 is defined by a body having a base end 152, an outlet end 144 opposite the base end 152, a top side 131, a bottom side 148 opposite the top side 131, a left side 146 and a right side 130 opposite the left side 146. The body of the sliding member 104 extends in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′ shown in FIG. 1 ) from the outlet end 144 to the base end 152 (or vice versa). The sliding member 104 includes a bowl cavity 138 positioned at or near (or adjacent to) the base end 152 and a smoke channel 128 positioned between the outlet end 144 and the bowl cavity 138. The smoke channel 128 can include a plurality of offset and separated walls (e.g., opposing sidewalls 105 a-c and center walls 107 a-c) that form a maze smoke pathway. The smoke channel 128 has an open upper surface at the top side 131 of the sliding member 104 which is exposed when the sliding member is removed from the housing 102 or partially removed from the housing, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .
The sliding member 104 further includes a base component 142 positioned at the base end 152 that extends in the lateral direction of the sliding member 104 (e.g., along axis Z-Z′) from the top side 131 to the bottom side 148 thereof. The exterior surface of the base component 142 in the x-z plane can define the base end 152 of the sliding member 104. In various embodiments the base component 142 corresponds to the portion of the sliding member 104 that can be manually pushed and pulled (e.g., functioning as a push/pull handle or the like) to insert and remove the sliding member relative 104 to the housing 102. The sliding member 104 further includes a first pillar wall 132 positioned between the bowl cavity 138 and the smoke channel 128 and a second pillar wall 140 positioned between the bowl cavity 138 and the base component 142, the first pillar wall 132 and the second pillar wall 140 extending in the lateral direction from the top side 131 towards the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104. The sliding member 104 further includes a passage opening 150 formed through the first pillar wall 132 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′) from the bowl cavity 138 to the smoke channel 128 that connects the bowl cavity to the smoke channel 128. The sliding member 104 further includes an outlet opening 126 formed through the outlet end 144 into the smoke channel 128, a carburetor opening 136 formed through the body of the sliding member 104 into the bowl cavity 138, and a plug 124 positioned at the outlet end 144. As illustrated in the Figures, the carburetor opening 136 is formed through a right sidewall of the sliding member at a position aligned with the bowl cavity 138. However, the position of the carburetor opening 136 is not limited to this configuration. For example, in other embodiments, the carburetor opening 136 may be positioned on the left side 146, bottom side 148 or base end 152 of the sliding member 104.
In various embodiments, the sliding member 104 can be formed entirely or substantially entirely with a rigid material such as a metal material. In a preferred embodiment, the sliding member 104 is formed with a thermally conductive metal material such as aluminum. Other suitable materials for the sliding member 104 can include but are not limited to, copper, iron, steel, silver, or another thermally conductive material. In some embodiments, the outer shell 116 of the housing 102 and the sliding member 104 can be formed with the same material (e.g., aluminum or another thermally conductive metal).
In some embodiments, the sliding member 104 can include a tray 134 formed within the bowl cavity 138 adapted to receive and securely retain a container adapted to contain a smoking material therein (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 16A, and 16B and described in greater detail infra). In some embodiments, the tray 134 may be formed with an elastic material such as silicone or a similar material. With these embodiments, the carburetor opening 136 and the passage opening 150 can be formed within and through the clastic material of the tray 134. In other embodiments, the tray 134 may be removed from the sliding member 104.
The sliding member 104 is configured to slide into and out of the housing 102 via the open end 122 of the housing in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′) via manually pushing and pulling the sliding member 104 into and out of the housing 104 (e.g., via manually pushing/pulling the base component 142 of the sliding member 104 or otherwise manually pushing/pulling the sliding member 104 relative to the housing 102, or vice versa) to position the sliding member 104 at different configurations relative to the housing 102 in accordance with the orientations illustrated in the Figures (e.g., with the outlet end 144 of the sliding member 112 being inserted into the open end 122 of the housing first). For example, FIG. 2 illustrates the sliding member 104 partially inserted into the housing 102 in a partially assembled configuration. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B and 7 the sliding member 104 and the housing 102 have similar geometries such that the circumference of the housing 102 (e.g., the dimensions of the housing relative to the X-Z axis) is adapted to fit precisely around the elongated body of the sliding member 104 and/or such that the elongated body (e.g., the dimensions of the elongated body relative to the X-Z axis) of the sliding member 104 is adapted to fit precisely within the hollow body of the housing 102.
In various embodiments, the sliding member 104 is configured to slide relative to the housing 102 between a closed configuration (as shown in FIG. 7 ) in which the sliding member 104 is inserted within and encloses the housing 102 (or vice versa, meaning the housing 102 encloses the sliding member 104) and an open configuration in which the sliding member 104 is partially expelled from the housing with the bowl cavity 138 and the carburetor opening 136 exposed and the smoke channel 128 entirely covered by the housing 102 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The open configuration corresponds to an operating configuration in which the bowl pipe 100 is operable to smoke a smoking material (e.g., cannabis or another suitable smoking material) positioned within the bowl cavity 138, and the closed configuration corresponds to a storage configuration in which the bowl pipe 100 is inoperable to smoke the combustible smoking material. In some embodiments, the sliding member 104 may be adapted to removably insert into and out of the housing 102 to facilitate cleaning of the respective parts. With these embodiments, the sliding member 104 can be entirely removed from the housing 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1 . In other implementations, the sliding member 104 may be configured to remain assembled with the housing 102. For example, the sliding member 104 may be assembled with the housing 102 in a manner that prevents or inhibits removing the sliding member 104 from the housing past a defined insertion position of the sliding member 104 relative to the housing 102.
In various embodiments, in the closed configuration, all openings and open areas of both the housing 102 and the sliding member 104 are sealed, and in some embodiments, hermetically sealed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , the sliding member 104 can have a geometry adapted to fit entirely (or substantially entirely, excluding the base component 142) within the housing 102 such that the plurality of plurality of openings (e.g., the outlet opening 126, the carburetor opening 136, the passage opening 150, etc.) and open regions (e.g., the bowl cavity 138, the open upper surface of the smoke channel 128, etc.) of the sliding member 104 are sealed within the housing 102 (and in some embodiments, hermetically scaled). For example, in some embodiments, in the closed configuration, the plug 124 positioned at the outlet end of the sliding member 104 inserts into and seals the outlet port 302 of the housing 104 and the base end 152 (or more specifically the base component 142) encloses and seals the open end 122 of the housing 104. To facilitate this end, the x-Z dimensions of the plug 124 can correspond or substantially correspond to the dimensions x-z of the outlet port 302 so as to create an airtight seal between the plug 124 and the outlet port 302 when the plug is inserted within the outlet port 302. For example, in some implementations, the dimensions of the plug 124 may be slightly less (e.g., about 0.5 to 3.0 millimeters less) than the dimensions of the outlet port 302. In other implementations in which the mouthpiece 106 is formed with an elastic material (e.g., silicone) the walls defining the outlet port 302 are composed of the elastic material. With these implementations, the dimensions of the plug 124 can be the same or slightly greater than the dimensions of the outlet port 302, such that when inserted into the outlet port 302, the plug 124 mechanically compresses the elastic material defining the walls of the outlet port 302 to create the air tight seal between the respective components. Likewise, the dimensions of the base component 142 of the sliding member 104 can correspond or substantially correspond to the dimensions of the open end 122 of the housing 104. For example, in some embodiments, height and width (e.g., h1 and w1 shown in FIG. 7 ) of the housing 104 and the base component 142 can be the same or substantially the same. In various embodiments, the total length (e.g., L1 shown in FIG. 7 ) of the bowl pipe 100 in the closed configuration corresponds to the length of the housing plus the length of the base component 142 which may have a length between about 1.0 millimeter (mm) to about 20 mm, preferably between about 2.0 mm and about 15 mm, and even more preferably between about 3.0 mm and about 10 mm. In one or more example embodiments, the total length L1 of the bowl pipe 100 in the closed configuration may be between about 75 millimeters (mm) and about 150 mm, more preferably between about 80 mm and about 125 mm, and even more preferably between about 90 mm and 100 mm.
In the open configuration shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the sliding member 104 is adapted to be partially inserted into the housing 104 to a position such that the open end 122 of the housing 104 is aligned with and covers at least a portion of the first pillar 132 in addition to the open upper surface of the smoke channel 128. In this configuration, the portion of the liner 116 surrounding the internal surface of the housing 102 at the open end 122 contacts and forms an airtight seal around the first pillar 132. To facilitate this end, the dimensions (e.g., the X-Z axis dimensions) of the liner 116 at the open end 122 can be the same or substantially the same as the corresponding dimensions (e.g., the X-Z axis dimensions) of the first pillar 132. For example, in some implementations, the X-Z axis dimensions of the first pillar 132 may be slightly less (e.g., about 0.5 to 3.0 millimeters less) than the corresponding X-Z dimensions of the open end 122 of the housing 102. In other implementations in which the liner 116 is formed with an elastic material (e.g., silicone) the X-Z dimensions of the first pillar 132 can be the same or slightly greater than the X-Z dimensions of the inner surface of the liner 116, such that when in the open configuration shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first pillar mechanically compresses the elastic material of the liner 116 to create the air tight seal between the respective components. Likewise, the X-Z dimensions of the second pillar 140 can correspond to the X-Z dimensions of the first pillar 132 such that when in the closed configuration as shown in FIG. 7 , an air tight seal is formed between the liner 116 and the second pillar 140. In this regard, in the closed configuration, the open end 122 of the housing is positioned over and around the second pillar 140 such that the interior surface of the liner 116 entirely covers and contacts the perimeter surface of the second pillar 140, thereby creating the airtight seal between the respective components.
As noted above, the open configuration of the bowl pipe 100 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B corresponds to an operating configuration of the bowl pipe 100 in which the bowl pipe is operable to smoke a combustible smoking material placed within the bowl cavity 138. In the open configuration, a smoke chamber (e.g., illustrated and further described with reference to FIGS. 8A, 9, and 10A-10C) is established within the housing 102 defined by the smoke channel 128 and an interior surface of the housing 102 (e.g., or more specifically the interior surface of the liner 116). In this configuration, a smoke pathway (e.g., illustrated and further described with reference to FIGS. 8A, 9, and 10A-10C) is further established within the bowl pipe 100 that traverses in the longitudinal direction (e.g., in the direction of Y′ to Y along axis Y-Y′) from the bowl cavity 138 through the passage opening 150, into the smoke chamber, through the outlet opening 126 and exiting through the outlet port 302.
In various embodiments, the bowl pipe 100 can be operated by a user to consume a smoking material placed within the bowl cavity 138 in a same or similar manner as conventual glass bowl pipes adapted for smoking cannabis or similar materials. In this regard, the bowl pipe 100 can be operated by lighting a smoking material placed within the bowl cavity 138 with a flame to cause the smoking material to combust and generate smoke while simultaneously inhaling through the outlet port (e.g., with the operator's mouth/lips positioned on/around the mouthpiece 108 and the outlet port 302) such that air flow initiated by the act of inhaling may carry the smoke flow through smoke pathway and into the operator's lungs. During operation, the carburetor opening 138 may be operated in a same or similar manner as conventional carburetors (typically referred to as a carb) deployed in conventional glass pipes.
In some embodiments, the bowl cavity 138 can be adapted for direct placement of smoking material therein. In other embodiments, the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134 can be specifically configured to receive and retain a container within which the smoking material may be loaded, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . FIG. 4 illustrates the bowl pipe 100 in the open configuration with a container 402 inserted within the bowl cavity 138. In the open configuration corresponding to the operating configuration of the bowl pipe 100, the bowl pipe 100 is operable to smoke a smoking material (not shown) contained within the container 402. In this regard, the container 402 generally corresponds to a small bowl or cup having an open top side and a base wall opposite the open top side with one or more small openings through which smoke generated in association with lighting smoking material contained therein can flow through and into the smoke chamber of the bowl pipe 100 established in the open configuration. In some embodiments, the bowl pipe 100 can include the container 402. In other embodiments, the container 402 may be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured, etc.) as a separate component and configured for usage with the bowl pipe 100. As described in greater detail infra, in some implementations of these embodiments, the container 402 can correspond to a pod that is provided with a prefilled amount of smoking material contained and sealed therein.
In various embodiments, the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134 can be adapted to provide for removable insertion of the container 402 into and out of the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134. Likewise, the container 402 can have a geometry tailored to fit precisely and securely withing the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134 and facilitate case of insertion and removable thereof into and out of the bowl cavity 138/tray 134. The bowl pipe 100 can also be adapted to retain the container 402 within the sealed bowl pipe 100 in the closed configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 . For example, FIG. 5 illustrates movement of the housing 102 relative to the sliding member 104 (or vice versa) towards the closed configuration with the container 402 inserted withing the bowl cavity 138. As shown in FIG. 5 , the container 402 and respective components of the bowl pipe 100 can be sized such that the container 402 is adapted to fit inside and remain securely within the housing 102 when the sliding member 104 is fully inserted therein in the closed configuration. As noted above, in the closed configuration, all openings and open areas of the housing 102 (e.g., the open end 122 and the outlet port 302) and the sliding member 104 (e.g., the bowl cavity 138, the carburetor opening 138, the open upper surface of the smoke channel 128, the outlet opening 126, etc.) are sealed, and in some embodiments, hermetically sealed. With these embodiments, the bowl pipe 100 can seal or hermetically seal any smoking material placed within the container 402 in the closed configuration. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5 , the container 402 and the respective components of the bowl pipe 100 can be sized such that inner surface of the liner 116 at the top side 110 of the housing 102 contacts or substantially contacts and covers the upper perimeter rim of container 402, thereby separately scaling the open top side of the container 402 within the housing 102 in the closed configuration relative to other components of the sliding member. With this design, any smoking material retained within the container 402 in the closed configuration is prevented from being dispersed out of the container 402 to other regions of the bowl pipe 100 within the housing 102 when the bowl pipe is held, rotated, flipped, carried, dropped, etc.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example container 402 adapted to removably insert into the bowl cavity 138 and/or tray 134 of bowl pipe 100 and operable to some a smoking material placed within the container 402 when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity 138 and/or tray 134 of the bowl pipe 100 in the open configuration shown in FIG. 4 . FIG. 6A provides a schematic, three-dimensional (3D) perspective of the container 402 and FIG. 6B presents a schematic, cross-sectional view container of the 402. With reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B along with FIGS. 1-5 , in various embodiments, the container 402 can comprises a substantially hollow body defined by a base wall 606, an open top side 602 opposite the base wall 606, an upper rim 608 formed around the perimeter of the open top side 602, a plurality of sidewalls 604 a, 604 b, 604 c and 604 d, and a plurality of openings 610 formed through the base wall 606. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the container 402 is substantially hollow and provides a cavity or receptable for containing smoking material placed therein. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B and other figures herein, the container 402 can have a substantially rectangular or square geometry. With these embodiments, the geometry of the bowl cavity 138 and/or they tray 134 can correspond or substantially to the rectangular or square geometry of the container 402 (or vice versa) such that the container 402 is adapted to fit securely within the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134. In other embodiments, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134 may have a circular shape or another suitable shape. As noted above, the openings 610 can allow for passage of smoke and air therethrough when smoking material placed withing the container 402 is lit while the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity 138 and/or tray 134. In various embodiments, the openings 608 can be sized small enough to restrict passage of smoking material particles therethrough.
In preferred embodiments, the container 402 is formed out of a glass material such as borosilicate glass adapted to withstand high heat without risk of shattering. In other embodiments, the container 402 may be formed out of a metal material such as aluminum or another metal adapted to withstand high heat. In various embodiments, the sidewalls 604 a, 604 b, 604 c and 604 d can respectively have a thickness or width tailored to minimize the amount of material (e.g., preferably glass) used to form the respective components while also minimizing breakage or deformation thereof when exposed to high heat. In some embodiments, all of the sidewalls 604 a, 604 b, 604 c and 604 d can have the same dimensions (e.g., in accordance with a square geometry configuration).
In some embodiments, the diameter (d3) of the base wall 606 can extend beyond the diameter (d1) between opposing sidewalls of the container 402 (e.g., opposing sidewalls 604 a and 604 c and opposing sidewalls 604 b and 604 d) at the intersection of the respective sidewalls and the base wall 606 (e.g., (d3) can be greater than (d1)). With this configuration, a portion of the base wall 606 extends around the circumference of the sidewalls 604 a-d at the intersection between the sidewalls 604 a-d and the base wall 606 so as to provide a lip (e.g., having a thickness (d4)) at the base of the container 402 adapted to couple with a corresponding grove of the tray 134 to facilitate securing and retaining the container 402 within the tray 134, as described in greater detail infra. In some embodiments, to also facilitate this end, the respective sidewalls 604 a-d can have an angular geometry with a wider diameter (d0) between the opposing sidewalls at the upper rim 608 or open top side 602 of the container 402 that tapers inward towards the centerline of the container 402 in the lateral direction from the top open top side 602 towards the base wall 606 (e.g., (d0) can be greater than (d1)). For example, the opposing sidewalls can be defined by a first diameter (d0) at the upper rim 608, a second diameter at the base wall (d1), and a third diameter (d2) at a midline of the container 402, wherein the first diameter is greater than the third diameter and wherein the third diameter is greater than the second diameter (e.g., d0>d2>d1). The angular sidewalls further facilitate case of insertion and removal of the container into the tray 134 while also further facilitating securing the container withing the tray 134 and establishing a bowl chamber beneath the container when inserted within the tray 134, as discussed in greater detail infra. In some embodiments, the diameter (e.g., d0) between the opposing sidewalls at the open top side 602 or upper rim 608 of the container and the diameter (d3) of the base wall 606 may be the same. In other embodiments, the diameter (e.g., (d1)) between the opposing sidewalls at the open top side 602 of the container 402 may be larger than the diameter (d3) of the base wall 606.
With reference now to FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 in view of FIGS. 1-7 , FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional, side view of bowl pipe 100 in the open configuration illustrated in FIG. 4 with the container inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 and containing a smoking material 802 therein. FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic, a cross-sectional side view of bowl pipe 100 in the closed configuration illustrated in FIG. 7 with the container 402 positioned therein and containing the smoking material 802. FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic, cross-sectional top-down view of bowl pipe 100 the open configuration with the top side 110 of the housing 102 removed. It should be appreciated that FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9 illustrate both the housing 102 and the sliding member components of the bowl pipe with relevant elements of the respective components enumerated.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, 8A and 9 , when the bowl pipe 100 is positioned in the open configuration, the sliding member 104 is partially expelled from housing 102 with the open end 122 of the housing 102 positioned directly over and around at least a portion of the first pillar wall 132 with the bowl cavity 138 exposed and the open upper surface 810 of the smoke channel 128 entirely covered by the housing 102. In this configuration, the portion of the sliding member 104 aligned with the open end 122 can enclose or substantially enclose the open end 122 of the housing. In particular, in some embodiments, an entirety of the exterior surface of the sliding member 104 (e.g., including the top side 132, bottom side 148, left side 146 and right side 130 of the siding member) positioned within and aligned with the open end 122 of the housing 102 contacts the inner surface of the liner 116 formed within and around the perimeter of the open end 122. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the portion of the liner 116 positioned directly above the first pillar wall 132 at the top side 110 of the housing 102 contacts the top surface of the first pillar wall 132 and the portion of the liner 116 positioned directly below the first pillar wall 132 contacts the exterior surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104. As illustrated in FIG. 9 , the portion of the liner 116 aligned with the first pillar wall 132 also contacts the exterior surface of both left side 146 and the right side 130 of the sliding member 104 corresponding to position of the first pillar wall 132. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the portion of the liner 116 aligned with the first pillar wall 132 also contacts the entirety of the top surface of the first pillar wall 132 and the entirety of the exterior surface of the left side 146 of the sliding member 104 corresponding to position of the first pillar wall 132. Likewise, although not explicitly shown in FIG. 4 , it should also be appreciated that the portion of the liner 116 aligned with the first pillar wall 132 also contacts the entirety of the exterior surface of the bottom side 148 of the siding member aligned therewith and the entirety of the exterior surface of the right side 130 of the sliding member 104 corresponding to position of the first pillar wall 132. In various embodiments, in this open configuration, an air tight seal is formed between the portion of the liner 116 lining the open end 122 of the housing and the entirety of the exterior surface of the sliding member positioned within and aligned with the open end 122.
In the open configuration of the bowl pipe 100, a smoke chamber is established or formed within the housing 102 defined by the smoke channel 128 and an interior surface of the housing (e.g., wherein the interior surface of the housing 102 can be defined by the interior surface of the liner 116). In this regard, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8A, in the open/operating configuration of the bowl pipe 100, an entirety of the open upper surface 810 (indicated in FIG. 8A with a dashed line) of the smoke channel 128 is covered by the housing 102 so as to enclose the smoke channel 128 within the hollow body of the housing 102. thereby forming a smoke chamber within the smoke channel 128 and the hollow body of the housing 102. As illustrated in FIG. 8A and 9 , in the open configuration, the smoke chamber is also defined by an open region 810 established within the housing 102 between the mouthpiece end 106 of the housing and the outlet end 144 of the siding member 104 including the outlet opening 126.
In the open configuration, a smoke pathway is further established through the bowl pipe 100 as indicated by the arrowed flow indicator lines through the bowl pipe 100 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9 . The smoke pathway flows in the longitudinal direction of the bowl pipe 100 (e.g., along axis Y′-Y) in the direction indicated by the arrowed flow indicator lines from the bowl cavity 138, through the passage opening 150 into the smoke channel 128, through the smoke channel 128 into the open region 810 via the outlet opening 126 and exits the pipe through the outlet port 302 of the mouthpiece 108. In some embodiments in which the bowl pipe 100 is adapted for use with the container 402, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138 and/or the tray 134 can be adapted such that when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity/tray 134, a gap corresponding to a bowl chamber 804 is established between bottom surface of the base wall 606 and the portion of the inner surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104 positioned directly below the base wall 606, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. For example, as indicated in FIG. 8B, the gap or bowl chamber 804 may be defined by distance (d14). The passage opening 150 further connects the bowl chamber 804 to the smoke channel 128. The carburetor opening 136 (depicted with a dashed box in FIGS. 8A and 8B to indicate its relative location on the right side 130 of the sliding member 104) can further overlap or partially overlap with the bowl chamber 804 such that air may flow through the carburetor opening 136 and the bowl chamber 804 (or vice versa). With these embodiments, when the smoking material 802 is lit while the user simultaneously inhales through the outlet port 302, smoke generated by the combustion of the smoking material 802 flows through the openings 610 in the base wall 606 into the bowl chamber 804 and prior to passing through the passage opening 150 into the smoke channel 128. With these embodiments, the smoke pathway can include the bowl chamber 804. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the bottom surface of the bowl chamber 804 is defined by the bottom side 148 (or more particularly the inner surface thereof) of the sliding member 104 which is preferably formed with a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum or another thermally conductive material. With these embodiments, the thermally conductive material defining the bottom surface of the bowl chamber 804 dissipates heat from the hot smoke as it initially exits the container 402 through the openings 610 and into the bowl chamber, thereby cooling the hot smoke.
In some embodiments, to facilitate establishing the bowl chamber 804 when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134, the sidewalls 604 a-d of the container 402 can taper in diameter in the lateral direction (e.g., along axis Z-Z′) from the open top side 602 of the container towards the base wall 606 as described above with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. With this configuration, the corresponding diameter of the tray 134 can be sized to be greater than the diameter (d1) between the opposing sidewalls (e.g., opposing sidewalls 604 a and 604 c and opposing sidewalls 604 b and 604 d) of the container 402 at the intersection between the opposing sidewalls and the base wall 606 yet smaller than the diameter between the opposing sidewalls at the rim 608 such that the container 402 sits partially within the bowl cavity 138. For example, in some embodiments, the corresponding square diameter of the tray 134 ((d19), as indicated in FIG. 9 ) may be the same or substantially the same as the diameter (d2) of the container at or near the midline of the container 402 so as to prevent the container 402 from being inserted fully through the tray and reaching the bottom surface of the bowl cavity 138 corresponding to the inner surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more internal side surfaces of the tray 134 can include a recessed grove 806 adapted to couple with the extended lip portion of the base wall 606 to facilitate securing and retaining the container 402 within the tray 134 and establishing the bowl chamber 804. For example, the grove 608 can be formed withing one or more internal side surfaces of the tray 134 a distance d14 from the bottom side of the 148 of the sliding member 104 in the lateral direction. In addition, as discussed above, in one or more preferred embodiments, the tray 134 can be formed with an clastic material (e.g., silicone) that may be mechanically compressed by the container 402 when inserted therein, thereby establishing a friction/pressure bond/seal between the tray 134 and the portion of the container 402 inserted therein.
The container 402 and the bowl cavity 138/tray 136 can also be configured such that when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity/tray 134, a portion of the container 402 extends a distance (d16) in the lateral direction (e.g., along axis Z′-Z) away from the upper surface of the bowl cavity 138/tray 134, referred to herein as the bowl cavity surface plane 808, wherein the bowl cavity surface plane 808. Said differently, the open top side 602 or rim 608 of the container 402 is positioned a distance (d16) in the lateral direction away from the bowl cavity surface plane 808 which may be formed or at least partially formed with an elastic material (e.g., silicone). For example, in various embodiments, the bowl cavity surface plane 808 is coplanar with the open topside of the tray 134, which may be formed with the clastic material. With this configuration, when the smoking material 802 is lit with a flame at or near the open top side 602 of the container, the flame can be kept at a distance (e.g., d16) away from the elastic material of the tray 134 at the bowl cavity surface plane, thus preventing melting or distorting of the elastic material by the flame.
In addition, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138/tray 136 can also be configured such that when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity/tray 134, the rim 608 and/or the open top side 602 of the container does not extend beyond the top side 131 of the sliding member 104 in the lateral direction. For example, in some implementations, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138/tray 136 can also be configured such that when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity/tray 134, the rim 608 and/or the open top side 602 of the container 402 is positioned coplanar with or slightly below the top surface of the first pillar wall 132 and the second pillar wall 140 at the top side 131 of the sliding member 104. With this configuration, the container 402 can fit within the housing 102 in the closed configuration of the bowl pipe as shown in FIG. 8B. In a preferred embodiment, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138/tray 136 can also be configured such that when the container 402 is inserted within the bowl cavity/tray 134, the rim 608 and/or the open top side 602 of the container 402 is positioned coplanar or substantially coplanar with the top surface of the first pillar wall 132 and the second pillar wall 140 at the top side 131 of the sliding member 104 such that the rim 608 of the container contacts a portion of the liner 116 lining inner surface of the outer shell 114 at the top side 110 of the housing 102 (as illustrated in FIG. 3B).
Furthermore, respective components of the housing 102 and the sliding member 104 can be adapted to seal or hermetically seal all opening and open areas of both the housing 102 and the sliding member 104 when the bowl pipe 100 is in the closed configuration.
In this regard, with referenced to the dimensions illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in one or more embodiments, the sliding member 104 can have a first length that extends in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′) from the base end 152 to the tip of the plug 124 a distance d5, and the housing 102 can have a length that extends in the longitudinal direction from the open end 122 to the mouthpiece end 106 a distance (d6), wherein the first length of the sliding member 104 (d5) is slightly larger than the length of the housing (e.g., (d5)>(d6)). In the closed configuration, a total length of the bowl pipe 100 corresponds to the first length (d5) of the sliding member 104. In the closed configuration, the open end 122 of the housing can abut and contact the base component 142 with the housing 102 entirely covering and sealing the first pillar wall 132, the bowl cavity 138 and the second pillar wall 142 of the sliding member 104. To facilitate this end, the sliding member 104 can be defined by a second length (e.g., (d5)) that extends in the longitudinal direction from the bowl cavity facing end 812 of the base component 142 to the tip of the plug 124, wherein the second length is the same or substantially the same as the length of the housing 104 (e.g., (d5). The specific lengths (d5) and (d6) may be adapted in accordance with the relative size constraints outlined above. In one or more example implementations, (d5) may be between about 75 millimeters (mm) and about 150 mm, more preferably between about 80 mm and about 125 mm, and even more preferably between about 90 mm and 100 mm. In one or more example implementations, (d6) may be between about 3.0 millimeters (mm) to about 15.0 mm smaller than (d5) and more preferably about 5.0 mmm to about 10 mm smaller than (d5).
In addition, the plug 124 of the sliding member 104 and the outlet port 302 of the housing 102 can have corresponding dimensions such that the plug 124 fits within and seals the outlet port 302 in the closed configuration while abutting the outlet end 106 of the housing 102. In one or more example implementations, the length (d12) of the both the plug 124 and the outlet port 302 in the longitudinal direction can be between about 2.0 mm and about 7.0 mm.
The first pillar wall 132 can be defined by a length (d7) that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bowl pipe and the second pillar 140 wall can be defined by a length d8 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the bowl pipe 100. In some embodiments, the length (d7) of the first pillar wall 132 can be long enough so as to provide an area over which the open end 122 of the housing 102 can be aligned therewith in the open configuration so as to enclose the open end 122 without extending the open end 122 past the first pillar wall over the bowl cavity 138. In some embodiments, the length (d7) of the first pillar wall can be adapted to facilitate adjusting the volume of the open region 810 in the open configuration, as discussed in greater detail infra with reference to FIGS. 10A-10C. The length (d8) of the second pillar wall can also be long enough so as to provide a shelf over which the open end of the housing 122 can cover in the closed configuration such that the portion of the liner 116 positioned directly over and around the second pillar wall 140 in the closed configuration contacts the corresponding portion of the second pillar wall 140 and forms an airtight seal therebetween. In some embodiments, the length (d7) of the first pillar wall 132 and the length (d8) of the second pillar wall may be the same. In one or more example implementations, the length (d7) of the first pillar wall and/or the length (d8) of the second pillar wall can be between about 2.0 mm and about 20.0 mm.
Some example, dimensions of respective components of the housing 102, the sliding member 104 and the container 402 in the lateral direction of the bowl pipe 100 (e.g., along axis Z-Z′) that facilitate the various above described features and functionalities of the bowl pipe (e.g., hermetically sealing, establishing the bowl cavity 108, fitting the container within the housing 102 in the closed configuration, etc.) are now described with reference to FIG. 8B. In one or more embodiments, the height (i.e., the lateral distance along axis Z-Z′) of the housing 102 can extend laterally a distance (d9) from the external surface of the top side 110 of the housing 102 to the external surface of the bottom side 120 of the housing. The combined lateral height of the outer shell 114 and the liner 116 within the body of the housing may have a distance (d111), and the lateral height of the sliding member from the open upper surface 810 of the smoke channel 128 to the external surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member may have a distance (d10). In the example shown in FIG. 8B, the entirety of the sliding member 104 excluding the base component 142 may have lateral height corresponding to (d9). As shown in FIG. 8B, in the closed configuration, the lateral height of the sliding member (d10) corresponds to the lateral height of the housing (d9) minus 2× (d11). With this configuration, the sliding member 104 fits precisely and securely within the housing 102 with the entirety of the top side 131 and the bottom side 148 of the sliding member excluding the base component 140 positioned within and contacting the liner 116. The lateral height of the base component 142 can correspond to the lateral height (d9) of the housing 109 such that in the closed configuration, the exterior surfaces of the housing 102 a the top side 110 and the bottom side 120 thereof (as well as the side right and left side surfaces of the housing) are coplanar or substantially coplanar with the exterior top and bottom surfaces (as well as the side surfaces) of the base component 142. In some embodiments, in the closed configuration, the sliding member compresses the clastic material of the liner 116 so as to provide an airtight seal between the respective components. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the lateral distance (d11) indicated in FIG. 8B may correspond to a compressed dimension of the combined outer shell 114 and liner 116, which may be slightly larger when the sliding member 104 is removed from the housing 102. I
The specific heights corresponding to distances (d9), (d10) and (d11) may be adapted in accordance with the relative size constraints outlined above. In one or more example implementations, the height (d9) of the housing may be between about 15 mm and about 50 mm, more preferably between about 20 mm and about 40 mm, and even more preferably between about 25 mm and about 35 mm. The combined height (d11) of the outer shell 114 and the liner 116 may be between about 0.5 mm and about 5.0 mm, more preferably between about 0.5 mm and about 3.0 mm, and even more preferably between about 1.0 mm and about 2.0 mm.
In one or more embodiments, the height of the container 402 corresponding to the lateral distance (d13) of the container 402 as positioned within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 is less (by an amount corresponding to distance (d14) or greater) than the lateral height (d10) of the sliding member 104 excluding the base component 142. In some embodiments, the bowl cavity 138 height can be defined as the lateral distance (d15) between the bowl cavity surface plane 808 and the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104 (or more specifically, the portion of the internal surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104 corresponding to the position of the bowl cavity 138). With these embodiments, the height (d15) of the of the bowl cavity 138 is less than the height (d10) of the sliding member 104 (or the height (d10) of the sliding member is greater than the height (d15) of the bowl cavity) such that the bowl cavity surface plane 808 is positioned a distance (d16) below the top side 131 of the sliding member 104 (or more specifically below the upper surfaces of the first pillar wall 132 and the second pillar wall). With these embodiments, the height (d13) and other dimensions of the container 402 can be specifically tailored such that when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134, a portion of the container extends above the bowl cavity surface plane 808 in the lateral direction a distance equal to or substantially equal to (d16). In some embodiments, the height (d10) of the sliding member 104 (excluding the base component 142) is about twice the height (d15) of the bowl cavity. In some embodiments, the amount (d16) of the height (d13) of the container adapted to extend above the surface of the bowl cavity 808 is about half the height (d13) of the container 402.
The specific heights corresponding to distances (d13), (d14), (d15) and (d16) may be adapted in accordance with the relative size constraints outlined above. In one or more example implementations, the height (d13) of the container 402 may be between about 12 mm and about 47 mm, more preferably between about 17 mm and about 37 mm, and even more preferably between about 22 mm and about 32 mm. The height (d14) of the gap (e.g., corresponding to bowl chamber 804) between the bottom surface of the base wall 606 and the bottom surface of the bowl cavity may be between about 0.5 mm and about 5.0 mm, more preferably between about 0.5 mm and about 4.0 mm, and even more preferably between about 0.5 mm and about 3.0 mm. The height (d15) of the bowl cavity 138 and/or the height (d16) of the portion of container extending therefrom may be between about 3.0 mm and about 20.0 mm, more preferably between about 6.0 mm and about 15.0 mm, and even more preferably between about 8.0 mm and about 12.0 mm.
Some additional dimensions defining the relative widths of respective components of the sliding member and the housing 102 are further indicated in FIG. 9 . In this regard, as shown in FIG. 9 , the width (d17) of the housing 102 extending along axis X-X′ from the left side 118 to the right side 112 thereof (or more specifically the exterior surfaces of the left and right sides of the housing 102) may be the same or substantially the same as the corresponding width of the base component 142. The width (d18) of the sliding member 104 between the left side 146 and the right side 130 of the sliding member excluding the base component 142 is less than the width (d17) of the housing such that the sliding member 104 inserts into the hollow body of the housing 102. In one or more preferred embodiments, the width (d18) of the sliding member excluding the base component 142 corresponds to the width (d18) of the housing minus twice the amount of (d11), wherein (d11) corresponds to the combined thickness of the outer shell 114 and the liner 116. With these embodiments, the portion of the base component 142 overhanging the right and left sides of the width (d17) of the sliding member perfectly align with the right and left sides of the housing when the bowl pipe is in the closed configuration (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 7 ).
As noted above and further illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9 , in some embodiments, the smoke channel 128 can include a plurality of offset and separated walls (i.e., opposing sidewalls 105 a-c and center walls 107 a-d) that form a maze smoke pathway through the smoke channel 128. The maze smoke pathway provides a cooling effect that cools the smoke as it travels through the maze configuration while also removing harsh particles from the smoke and minimizing the flow of harsh particles into the open region. In particular, the maze smoke pathway causes harsh vaporized particles and potential smoking material solid particulates to deposit on the offset and separated walls of the maze pathway prior to entering the open region and thus providing a purified and cooled smoke stream for inhalation. The cooling effect provided by the maze smoke pathway is attributed to the increased pathlength through which the smoke travels through the pipe as function of the maze as compared to conventional bowl pipes that have a smoke pathway that typically flows in a straight, direct line through an elongated stem. In this regard, as illustrated in FIG. 9 , the maze smoke pathway of bowl pipe 100. The cooling effect of the maze smoke pathway is further attributed to heat dissipation provided by the metal material used to form the sliding member 104. In this regard, in a preferred embodiment, an entirety of the material used to form the smoke chamber 128 portion of the sliding member 104 including the plurality of offset and separated walls (i.e., opposing sidewalls 105 a-c and center walls 107 a-d) that form a maze smoke pathway are formed with a metal material with high thermal conductivity that dissipates heat, such as aluminum, copper, iron, steel, silver, or another thermally conductive material. With these embodiments, the thermally conductive metal material of the maze smoke pathway absorbs heat from the smoke as it travels therethrough, thereby reducing the temperature of the smoke before existing the outlet port 302. In addition, the liner 116 formed around the metal material of the smoke pathway and between the sliding member and the outer shell 114 provides an insulating function that insulates that outer shell 114, also formed out of a metal material (e.g., aluminum), from absorbing the heat dissipated by the metal material of the smoke pathway, thereby preventing or minimizing the outer shell 114 from becoming overheated and rendering the outer shell cool to touch and maneuver while smoking.
In some embodiments, the maze smoke pathway comprises at least two divergent and interconnected smoke paths. With these embodiments, as the smoke flows through the maze pathway, the smoke pathway forces the smoke to travel in different directions and mix together at each intersection point of the interconnected paths. Mixing of the smoke at multiple intersection points along the smoke pathway causes the particle composition and concentration of the smoke to become more a homogenous or uniform mixture prior to entering the open region 108. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9 , in some embodiments, the maze smoke pathway can be formed with a plurality of center walls 107 a-d and a plurality of opposing sidewalls 105 a-c, wherein each of the center walls and respective sidewalls of the opposing sidewalls are separated from one another. As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9 , in some implementations, the maze smoke pathway can be formed with four center walls center walls 107 a-d and three pairs of opposing sidewalls 105 a-c, however the number of respective maze center wall and pairs of opposing sidewalls can vary. For example, in other embodiments, smoke channel 128 includes only three center walls 107 a-c, as illustrated in FIG. 1 . In either of these embodiments, the center walls 107 a-c or 107 a-d are respectively positioned offset from one another along the centerline of the smoke chamber 128 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y′-Y) of the sliding member 104. The center walls 107 a-d may extend in the lateral direction (e.g., along axis Z-Z′) from the open top surface 810 entirely (or partially) to the inner surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104. Each of the center walls 107 a-d are physically separated from one another, the opposing sidewalls 105 a-c, and the inner right and left side surfaces of the sliding member 104. The pairs of opposing sidewalls 105 a-c are also respectively positioned offset from one another and the center wall 107 a-d along the respective right and lefts sides of the smoke chamber 128 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y′-Y). The opposing sidewalls 105 a-c may extend in the lateral direction (e.g., along axis Z-Z′) from the open top surface 810 entirely (or partially) to the inner surface of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104. With this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 9 and indicated by the arrowed flow indicator lines, as smoke flows from the bowl cavity 138 along the smoke pathway into the smoke channel 128 via the passage opening 150, the maze smoke pathway diverts the smoke in opposite directions around each of the center walls 107 a-d while the opposing sidewalls 105 a-c guide the diverted smoke flows back toward one another where they are mixed prior to being diverted again around the next downstream center wall.
As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 9 , the open region 810 of the smoke chamber further serves as a mixing chamber within which smoke exiting through the maze smoke pathway via the outlet opening 126 accumulates, mixes and expands prior to exiting through the outlet port 302. In various embodiments, the open region 810 serves to accumulate an amount of cooled, purified and mixed smoke to be inhaled by the user in conjunction with (optional) utilization of the carburetor opening 136 to regulate airflow. In some embodiments, the volume of the open region 810 may be manually adjustable to control the amount of cool, purified and mixed smoke accumulated therewith, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C. With these embodiments, the volume of the open regions may be selectively and manually increased or decreased to different volume sizes of the open region 810. In some embodiments, the different volume sizes may be calibrated to correspond to different dosage amounts of the smoking material 802 to be consumed.
In this regard, FIGS. 10A-10C illustrate schematic, cross-sectional, side views of bowl pipe 100 in different open configurations in accordance with one or more additional embodiments. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, the length (d7) of the first pillar wall 132 may be configured such the sliding member 104 can be moved to differing insertion positions relative to the housing 102 in the open configuration of the bowl pipe 100 to adjust the volume of the open region 810 while ensuring the open configuration constraint of maintaining blockage of the open end 122 of the housing by the portion of the sliding member 122 positioned there within corresponding to the first pillar wall 132. With these embodiments, the volume of the open region 810 can be increased by pulling the sliding member 104 away from the housing 102 (or pulling the sliding member 104 and the housing 102 away from one another in the longitudinal direction) while maintaining the open configuration constraint and decreased by pushing the sliding member 102 toward deeper into the housing 102 (or pushing the sliding member 104 and the housing 102 toward one another in the longitudinal direction) while maintaining the open configuration constraint. For example, FIG. 10A illustrates the bowl pipe 100 in a first open configuration wherein the sliding member 104 is pulled to a farthest allowable position away from the housing 104 to create a large volume withing the open region 8. FIG. 10B illustrates the bowl pipe 100 in a second open configuration wherein the sliding member 104 is pushed further into the housing 102 so as to establish a medium sized volume in the open region 810, and FIG. 10C illustrates a third open configuration in which the sliding member 104 is inserted even further into the housing 104 to establish a small sized volume in the open region 810.
It should be appreciated that the terms large, medium and small are used to indicate the relative sizes of the different volumes in simple terms for ease of description. It should be appreciated that the volume of the open region 810 can be adjustable to a range of different sized volumes between a largest sized volume and a smallest sized volume and is not limited to three different volumes corresponding to a small size, a medium size and a large size shown in FIGS. 10A-10C. In various embodiments, the precise volumes that the open region 810 may be adjustable to can be calibrated and/or calibrated to specific dosages of the smoking material 802.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 11 , the top surface of the first pillar wall 132 (or another area of the sliding member 104) may include indicator markings 1102 that indicates different positions for positioning the sliding member 104 relative to the housing 102 in the open configuration corresponding to different sized volumes of the open region 810. For example, the indicator markings 1102 may include lines, symbols, text, etc., that mark different positions for moving and aligning the sliding member 104 relative to the first pillar wall 132 corresponding to differing sized volumes of the open region 810.
With reference now to FIGS. 12A-19 in view of FIGS. 1-11 , in one or more embodiments in which the sliding member 104 includes a tray 134 positioned within the bowl cavity 138, the tray 134 and the portion of the sliding member 104 excluding the tray 134 (hereinafter referred to as the sliding member body 1300) may be formed as separate parts prior to assembly. In some implementations of these embodiments, the tray 134 may be adapted to removably insert into and out of the sliding member body 1300 to facilitate cleaning of the respective parts. In other implementations, the tray 134 may be configured to permanently remain assembled within the sliding member body 1300. For example, the tray 134 may assembled with the sliding member body 1300 in a manner that prevents or inhibits removing the tray from the sliding member 134 therefrom (e.g., via adhesive bonding of the respective components to one another or in another suitable manner).
FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate different views of the tray 134 as removed from the sliding member body 1300. FIG. 12A illustrates the tray 134 as oriented relative to the with the sliding member body 1300 in the manner in which the tray 134 is adapted to be positioned within the sliding member body 1300. FIG. 13 illustrates the sliding member body 1300 with the tray 134 removed in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate schematic, cross-sectional top-down views of the tray 134 and the sliding member body 1300. FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate schematic, cross-sectional side views of the tray 134 as removed from the sliding member body 1300 with the container 402 inserted therein. FIG. 17 illustrates a bottom side view of the sliding member body 1300. FIG. 18 illustrates a bottom side view of the tray 134, and FIG. 19 illustrates a bottom side view of the sliding member 104 with the tray 134 assembled with the sliding member body 1300.
With reference initially to FIGS. 12A, 12B, 14 and 18 , in one or more embodiments, the tray 134 can have a substantially rectangular body defined by four sides that extend in the lateral direction (along axis Z-Z′) relative to the sliding member body 1300 and form a perimeter around an open region 1226, the four sides including a base side 1204, an outlet side 1218 opposite the base side 1202, a left side 1220 and a right side 1212 opposite the left side 1220. The tray 134 further includes an open top side 1202, and open bottom side 1224 opposite the open top side 1202, wherein the open region 1226 extends through the open top side 1202 and the open bottom side 1224 along axis Z-Z′ (as shown in FIGS. 14 and 18 ).
The tray 134 further includes a base extension 126 formed on and adjacent to the base side 1202 and an outlet extension 1214 formed on and adjacent to the outlet side 1218. The outlet extension 1214 includes an outlet opening 1216 formed through the outlet extension 1214 and the outlet side 1218 that connects to the open region 1226. In various embodiments, the outlet opening 1216 corresponds to and forms the passage opening 150 of the sliding member 104 when the tray 134 is assembled with the sliding member body 1300. In some embodiments, the tray 134 can include a divider wall 1228 formed within the outlet opening 1216 that divides the outlet opening 1216 into two separate openings or channels, as shown in FIG. 12B and FIG. 14 . In some implementations, the two separate openings or channels can facilitate channeling smoke that flows therethrough into the smoke chamber 128 in two separate streams to be initially diverted in opposite directions by the first center wall (e.g., center wall 107 a) of the maze smoke pathway. Additionally, or alternatively, the divider wall 1228 can function as a support wall within the outlet opening 1216 and the outlet extension 1214 that prevents or inhibits the outlet opening 1216 from becoming compressed or deformed in association with assembling the tray 134 with the sliding member body 1300 and/or during use of the bowl pipe 100. In this regard, in a preferred embodiment, the tray 134 is formed out of an elastic material such as silicone, rubber or a similar material. With these embodiments, the tray 134 may be inserted into the sliding member body 1300 by elastically compressing or squishing the tray 134 into the region of the sliding member body 1300 corresponding to the bowl cavity 138 (as described in greater detail below), during which the outlet extension 1214 and the outlet opening 1216 may be compressed. The divider wall 1228 supports the outlet opening 1216 to elastically expend back (or substantially back) to its pre-assembled shape when the tray 134 is fully assembled within the sliding member body 1300.
The tray 134 further includes a lip 1208 formed on the right side 1212 around an opening 1210 through the right side 1212 and into the open region 1226. In various embodiments, the opening 1210 corresponds to and forms the carburetor opening 136 of the sliding member 104 when the tray is assembled with the sliding member body 1300. The tray 134 further includes a recessed groove 1222 formed on the internal surface of at least one of the four sidewalls. For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, in some embodiments, the recessed grove 1222 may be formed on the internal surface of the wall defining the left side 1220 of the tray. As shown in FIG. 14 , additionally or alternatively, the recessed groove 1222 may be formed on the internal surfaces of the walls defining the left side 1220, the base side 1204 and the right side 1212 of the tray 134. The recessed grove 1222 can be adapted to couple with the extended lip portion of the base wall 606 of the container 402 to facilitate securing and retaining the container 402 within the tray 134 and establishing the bowl chamber 804. In various embodiments, the recessed groove 1222 corresponds to the recessed grove 806 of the tray 134 as described with reference to FIG. 8A.
FIG. 12A illustrates the tray 134 in the orientation in which the tray is assembled into the sliding member body 1300 as shown in FIG. 13 , and FIG. 14 illustrates the tray 134 in the orientation in which the tray is assembled into the sliding member body 1300 as shown in FIG. 15 . In this regard, the tray 134 is adapted to be inserted into the region of the sliding member body 1300 corresponding to the bowl cavity 138 with the right side 1212 facing the right side 120 of the sliding member body 1300, the left side 1220 facing the left side 146 of the sliding member body 130, the base side 1202 facing the base side 152 of the sliding member body 1300 and the outlet side 1218 facing the first pillar wall 132. When inserted within the sliding member body 1300, the lip 1208 of the tray is positioned within a corresponding insertion opening 1306 on the right side 120 of the sliding member body 1300. thereby forming the carburetor opening 136. The sliding member body 1300 can further include a first insertion slot 1308 formed below and through the first pillar wall 132 and a second insertion slot 1304 formed below (and optionally through part of) the second pillar wall 142. When inserted within the sliding member body 1300, the base extension 1206 is inserted within and couples with the second insertion slot 1304 and the outlet extension 1214 is inserted within and couples with the first insertion slot 1308 under the first pillar wall 132. In some embodiments, when inserted within the sliding member body 1300 the open bottom side 1224 of the tray is positioned on and adjacent to the bottom surface 1302 of the bowl cavity 138 corresponding to a portion of the bottom side 148 of the sliding member body 1300 at the position of the bowl cavity 138. As noted above with reference to FIG. 8A, in one or more preferred embodiments, the bottom surface 1302 of the bowl cavity 138 is preferably formed with a thermally conductive material, such as aluminum or another thermally conductive metal material.
In some embodiments, the first insertion slot 1308 and the second insertion slot 1304 may include or correspond to openings that extend through the bottom side 148 of the sliding member body 1300, as illustrated in FIG. 17 . The insertion opening 1306 may also extend partially through the bottom side 148 of the sliding member body 1300. With these embodiments, the external bottom surface 1802 of the outlet extension 1214 can have a geometry corresponding to the opening of the first insertion slot 1308 and the external surface 1804 of the base extension 1206 can have a geometry corresponding to the opening of the second insertion slot 1304, as illustrated in FIG. 18 . With these embodiments, when the tray 134 is assembled with the sliding member body 1300, the external bottom surface 1802 of the outlet extension 1214 can fit and fill the opening of the first insertion slot 1308 and the external surface 1804 of the base extension 1206 can fit within and fill the opening of the second insertion slot 1304, as illustrated in FIG. 19 .
Turning back to FIGS. 16A and 16B in view of FIG. 13 and FIG. 19 , FIG. 16A illustrates a schematic, right-side view of the tray 134 as removed from the sliding member body 1300 with the container 402 inserted therein and FIG. 16B illustrates a corresponding right-side view of the same. As illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, in some embodiments, the external bottom surface 1802 of the outlet extension 1214 and the external bottom surface 1804 of the base extension 1206 may extend a distance (d20) away from a bottom perimeter edge 1602 of the tray 134 adapted to contact and rest on and around the perimeter of the bottom surface 1302 of the bowl cavity 138 when the tray 134 is assembled with the sliding member body 1300. In one or more preferred embodiments, the distance (d20) is the same or substantially the same as the thickness or width of the material that forms the bottom surface 1302 of the bowl cavity 138 (e.g., between about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm). With this configuration, when the tray 134 is assembled with the sliding member body 1300, the external bottom surface 1802 of outlet extension 1214 and the external bottom surface 1802 of the base extension 1206 are flush or coplanar with the external side of the bottom surface 1302, as shown in FIG. 19 . As also illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the tray 134 and the container 402 can be configured such that when the container 402 is inserted within the tray 134, the bottom surface of the base wall 606 of the container does not reach the bottom perimeter edge 1602 of the tray 134 adapted to contact and rest on the bottom surface 1302 of the bowl cavity 1302 (e.g., as facilitated by the tapering sidewall geometry of the container 402 and/or the recessed groove 122 of the tray 134).
With reference again briefly to FIGS. 17 and 19 , in some embodiments, the bottom side 148 of the sliding member body 1300 can include a slide track 1702 positioned between the outlet end 144 and the portion of the bottom side 148 corresponding to the position of the first pillar wall 132. The slide track 1702 can be defined as a recessed region within the bottom side 148 of the sliding member body 1300 between a pair of opposing side guiderails 1704 that extend in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′) from the outlet end 144 to a backwall 1708 of the slide track 1702 positioned on the bottom side 148 at or near a position coinciding with the position of the first pillar wall 132. In some embodiments, the slide track 1702 can also included a center guiderail 1706 positioned between the opposing side guiderails 1704. The slide track 1702 can facilitate the sliding mechanics of the sliding member relative to the housing 102, as described in greater detail infra with reference to FIGS. 24A-24F.
FIGS. 20A and 20B illustrate the housing 102 of the bowl pipe 100 in a disassembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. With reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B in view of FIGS. 1 and 3B, in some embodiments, the housing 102 can be formed with an outer shell portion 2000 corresponding to the outer shell 114 and an elastic insert portion 2001 configured to insert into the outer shell portion 2000 in accordance with the orientations of the respective components as illustrated. With these embodiments, the elastic insert portion 2001 can include and forms the liner 116 and the mouthpiece 108 of the housing 102 as a single unit. The outer shell portion 2000 can be formed with the one or more of the materials described above with respect to the outer shell 114 (e.g., aluminum) and the elastic insert portion 2001 can be formed with one or more of the materials described above with respect to the liner (e.g., silicone).
In some implementations of these embodiments, the elastic insert portion 2001 may be adapted to removably insert into and out of the outer shell portion 2000 to facilitate cleaning of the respective parts. In other implementations, the elastic insert portion 2001 may be configured to permanently remain assembled within the outer shell portion 2000 when the respective components are assembled to form the housing 102. For example, the elastic insert portion 2001 may assembled with the outer shell portion 2000 to form the housing 102 in a manner that prevents or inhibits removing the elastic insert portion 2001 from the outer shell portion 2000 (e.g., via adhesive bonding of the respective components to one another or in another suitable manner).
The outer shell portion 2000 can comprise a first open end 2002, a second open end 2010 opposite the first open end 2002 and a hollow body that extends in the longitudinal direction from the first open end 2002. The hollow body of the outer shell portion 2000 can further be defined by a top side 2014, a bottom side 2006 opposite the top side 2014, a left side 2004 and a right side 2012 opposite the left side 2004.
In some embodiments, the bottom side 2006 of the outer shell portion 2000 can include openings 2008 a and 2008 b formed at positions corresponding to the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b as described above with respect to FIG. 3B. In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, the clastic insert portion 2001 can include projection pieces 2022 a and 2022 b formed on the bottom side 2024 thereof, the projection pieces having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the openings 2008 a and 2008 b and configured to insert into the respective openings when the clastic insert portion 2001 is assembled with the outer shell portion 2000 to form the housing 102 (e.g., projection portion 2022 a inserting into opening 2008 a and projection portion 2022 b inserting into opening 2008 b, respectively). In some embodiments, the projection pieces 2022 a and 2022 b can respectively from a recessed area or cavity on the inside of the clastic stem portion 2001. For example, as shown in FIG. 20A, projection piece 2022 b forms a corresponding cavity 2023 b on the inside bottom surface of the clastic stem portion. It should be appreciated that although hidden from view, projection piece 2022 a also forms a corresponding cavity 2023 a on the inside bottom surface of the elastic stem portion. In some embodiments, magnets may be integrated within the respective cavities 2023 a and 2023 b to form attachment component 304 a and attachment component 304 b respectively.
The elastic insert portion 2001 can further comprise the mouthpiece 108 at one end thereof, an open end 2026 opposite the mouthpiece end, and a substantially hollow body that extends in the longitudinal direction from the mouthpiece end to the open end 2026. The substantially hollow body of the elastic insert portion 2001 can further be defined by a top side 2016, the bottom side 2024 opposite the top side 2016, a left side 2018 and a right side 2030 opposite the left side 2018. In some embodiments, the top side 2016 of the elastic insert portion 2001 can include an indented region 2028 corresponding to the location where the container 402 may be positioned within the housing 102 when inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 in the closed configuration of the bowl pipe 100. The indented region 2028 can have a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the container at the rim 608 (e.g., d0 illustrated in FIG. 6B) and be adapted to elastically compress and couple with the rim 608 of the container 402 when inserted therein so as to seal the container within the housing 102 in the closed configuration.
In some embodiments, the elastic insert portion 2001 can include an additional part inserted therein referred to herein as the track engagement insert 2100. With these embodiments, the elastic insert portion 2001 can include openings 2020 a and 2020 b formed on the left side 2018 and the right side 2030 thereof adapted to couple with corresponding elements of the track engagement insert 2100, as described below with reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 .
FIG. 21 illustrates the elastic insert portion 2001 and the track engagement insert 2100 in a disassembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. FIG. 22 illustrates a schematic, wireframe representation of the elastic insert portion 2001 in an assembled configuration with the track engagement insert 2100 assembled therein. With reference to FIGS. 21 and 22 in view of FIG. 19 , in some embodiments in which the sliding member 104 includes the slide track 1702, the elastic insert portion 2001 can include the track engagement insert 2100 inserted therein as shown in FIG. 22 . The track engagement insert 2100 can be configured to engage with the slide track 1702 and facilitate sliding the sliding member 104 into and out of the housing 102, as illustrated and described below with reference to FIGS. 24A-24F.
In one or more embodiments, the track engagement insert 2100 may be formed with a partially flexible material that is more rigid relative to the elastic material used to form the clastic insert portion. For example, in some embodiments, the track engagement insert 2100 may be formed with a thermoplastic polymer, a thermoplastic polymer composed of polyamides, or similar thermoplastic material. In other embodiments, the track engagement insert 2100 may be formed with a thin metal material. The track engagement insert 2100 can be defined by a top surface 2102, a bottom surface 2110 opposite the top surface 2102, a distal end 2103, a proximal end 2105 opposite the distal end 2103 and a body that extends in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along axis Y-Y′) between the distal end 2103 and the proximal end 2105. The track engagement insert 2100 further includes a first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b positioned on opposite sides of the distal end 2103 that extend in the lateral direction (e.g., along axis Z′-Z) away from the top surface 2102 and the bottom surface 2110 in the direction toward the top side 2016 of the elastic insert portion 2001, and a second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b positioned on opposite sides of the proximal end 2105 that extend in the lateral direction away from the top surface 2102 and the bottom surface 2110 in the direction toward the top side 2016 of the elastic insert portion 2001. The track engagement insert 2100 further includes a track coupling component 2104 positioned on the top surface 2102 at or near the distal end 2103 between the first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b. The track coupling component 2104 is attached to the top surface 2102 and extends partially above the top surface 2102 in the lateral direction toward the top surface 2016 of the elastic insert portion (e.g., as clearly illustrated in FIG. 23B). In some embodiments, the track engagement insert 2100 can also include projection pieces 2108 a and 2108 b formed on the bottom side 2110 thereof with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the cavities (i.e., cavity 2023 b and cavity 2023 a) formed within the clastic insert portion 2001 opposite the corresponding projection pieces 2022 a and 2022 b.
The track engagement insert 2100 is configured to be assembled with the clastic insert portion 2001 such that the distal end 2103 is positioned near the mouthpiece end of the clastic insert portion 2001 and the proximal end 2105 is positioned at or near the open end 2026 of the clastic insert portion 2001. In some embodiments, when the track engagement insert 2100 is assembled within the clastic insert portion 2001, the projection pieces 2108 a and 2108 b respectively align with and insert within the cavities (e.g., cavity 2023 a and cavity 2023 b) corresponding to the projection pieces 2022 a and 2022 b, as shown in FIG. 22 . In addition, when the track engagement insert 2100 is inserted within the elastic insert portion 2100, the first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b (or portions thereof) may insert through and connect to openings 2020 a formed on the right and left sides of the elastic insert portion near the mouthpiece end, and the second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b (or portions thereof) may insert through and connect to openings 2020 b formed on the right and left sides of the clastic insert portion near open end 2026. In some embodiments, the track engagement insert 2100 may be permanently affixed to the elastic insert portion 2001 (via adhesive bonding of the respective components to one another or in another suitable manner).
FIG. 23A illustrates a bottom side view of the track engagement insert 2100 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. FIG. 23B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the track engagement insert 2100 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the projection pieces 2108 a and 2108 b include or correspond to magnets. For example, the magnets may be permanently affixed to the projection pieces 2108 a and 2108 b via adhesive bonding or in another suitable manner. With these embodiments, when then track engagement insert 2100 is assembled with the elastic insert portion 2001, the magnets are inserted within the cavities (e.g., cavity 2023 a and cavity 2023 b) corresponding to the projection pieces 2022 a and 2022 b on the bottom side 2024 of the elastic insert portion (as shown in FIG. 22 ), thereby forming the attachment components 304 a and 304 b described with reference to FIG. 3B.
FIG. 23B provides some relevant dimensions of the track engagement insert 2100. With reference to FIG. 23B in view of FIG. 9 and FIG. 19 , in some embodiments, distance (d22) between the opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b and/or between opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b may correspond to the width (d18) of the sliding member 104 excluding the base component 142. For example, the distance (d22) between opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b and/or between opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b may be the same as or slightly greater than the width (d18) of the sliding member 104 excluding the base component 142. In some embodiments, the distance (d22) between the opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b and/or between opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b may be smaller than the width (d18) of the sliding member 104. With these embodiments, when the sliding member 104 is inserted into the housing 102 and positioned between the opposing arms, the body of the sliding member 104 can press against the semi-flexible material of the opposing arms and cause them to flex outward and engage with the body of the sliding member 104. The distance (d23) corresponding to the lateral width of the coupling component 2104 can correspond to or be slightly smaller than the distance (d21) corresponding to the lateral distance between the opposing siderails 1704 of the slide track 1702 indicated in FIG. 19 such that the coupling component 2104 is adapted to insert within and between the opposing siderails 1704 when the sliding member 104 is inserted into the housing 102.
FIGS. 24A-24F illustrate operation of the sliding member 104 with the track engagement insert 2100 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In particular, FIGS. 24A-24F illustrates different perspectives of the sliding member 104 and the track engagement insert 2100 as oriented relative to one another in the manner in which the respective components are adapted to be positioned relative to one another in accordance with operation of the bowl pipe 100 when the track engagement insert 2100 is integrated within the elastic insert portion 2001 and the elastic insert portion 2001 is integrated within the outer shell portion 2000 to form the housing 102.
FIG. 24A illustrates a top side perspective of the relative positions of the track engagement insert 2100 and the sliding member 104 in a disassembled configuration in which the sliding member 104 is entirely removed from the housing 102 corresponding to the configuration of the bowl pipe 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 . FIG. 24B illustrates a bottom side perspective of the same. As illustrated in FIGS. 24A and 24B the sliding member 104 is adapted to be positioned relative to the track engagement insert 2100 with the bottom side 148 of the sliding member 104 facing the top surface 2102 of the track engagement insert 2100 and aligned between opposing arms 2112 a and 211 b and opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b.
FIG. 24C illustrates a top side perspective of the relative positions of the track engagement insert 2100 and the sliding member 104 in a partially assembled configuration in which the sliding member 104 is partially inserted into the housing 102 corresponding to the configuration of the bowl pipe 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 . FIG. 24D illustrates a bottom side perspective of the same. FIG. 24E another perspective of the track engagement insert 2100 and the sliding member 104 facing the outlet end 144 of the sliding member 104 in the partially assembled configuration shown in FIGS. 24C and 24D. As illustrated in FIGS. 24C-24E, the sliding member 104 is configured to insert to the proximal end 2105 of the track engagement insert 2100 between the second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b. In some embodiments, when inserted between the second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b, the body of the sliding member 104 engages with the second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b positioned on opposite sides of the proximal end 2105 and presses against them. When partially inserted between the second pair of opposing arms 2112 a and 2112 b, the coupling component 2104 becomes aligned with the slide track 1702 between the opposing side guiderails 1704 as shown in FIG. 24E. FIG. 24F illustrates a bottom side perspective of the relative positions of the track engagement insert 2100 and the sliding member 104 in an assembled configuration in which the sliding member 104 is inserted into the housing 102 between the open configuration of the bowl pipe 100 shown in FIG. 3A and the closed configuration shown in FIG. 7 . As shown in FIG. 24F, the sliding member 104 is configured to inset through the distal end 2103 of the track engagement insert 2100 between the first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b. In some embodiments, when inserted between the first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b, the body of the sliding member 104 engages with the first pair of opposing arms 2106 a and 2106 b positioned on opposite sides of the distal end 2103 and presses against them. As the sliding member 104 is moved through the distal end 2103, the coupling component 2104 engages with the slide track 1702 and facilitates sliding and guiding the sliding member 104 relative to the track engagement insert 2100. In this regard, the coupling component 2104 is inserted between the opposing side guiderails 1704 and flexes over the center guiderail 1706 and is adapted to slide over the center guiderail 1706. When the sliding member 104 is fully inserted into the housing 102 in the closed configuration, the coupling component 2104 contacts the back wall 1708.
FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate bowl pipe 100 in accordance with one or more additional embodiments in which the sliding member 104 includes a lighter 2502 integrated therein. As shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, in some embodiments, the sliding member 104 can include a lighter 2502 positioned at or near the base end 152 of the sliding member in the region corresponding to the second pillar 140. With these embodiments, the portion of the sliding member 104 corresponding to the second pillar 104 wall can be sized and configured to include the lighter 2502 therein while also allowing the housing 102 to move over the lighter 2502 and the second pillar wall 140 in the closed configuration of the bowl pipe 100. The lighter 2502 can include a flame outlet 2504 positioned at or near the top surface of the second pillar wall 140 at a position slightly above the position of the upper rim 608 of the container 402 when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134. With this configuration, the lighter 2502 is configured to produce a flame over the open top side 602 of the container 402 and light/ignite the smoking material that may be placed inside the container 402. In some embodiments, the lighter 2502 may include an activation button 2506 positioned on the right and/or left side surfaces of the portion of the sliding member corresponding to the second pillar wall 140, wherein the activation button may be used (e.g., pressed, clicked, etc.) to cause the lighter 2502 to emit the flame 2508 through the flame opening 2504.
FIGS. 26A and 26B illustrate enlarged perspectives of the bowl pipe 100 having the lighter 2502 integrated therein in a dissembled configuration in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, the lighter 2502 may be formed as a lighter unit 2600 adapted to removably insert into the portion of the sliding member 104 corresponding to the second pillar wall 140. With these embodiments, the internal region of the sliding member 104 positioned within second pillar wall 140 can include an insertion slot 2610 adapted to receive and retain the lighter unit 2600. The insertion slot 2610 can include a first opening 2606 within the top surface of the second pillar wall 140 within which the portion of the lighter unit 2600 including the flame outlet 2504 is configured to insert. The insertion slot 2610 can also include a second opening 2608 through the left (or right) side thereof withing which the activation button 2506 is configured to insert. With these embodiments, the base component 142 may correspond to a removable cap adapted to removably attach to the backside of the lighter unit 2600. For example, the base component 142 may include an attachment component 2602 adapted to removably attach to a corresponding attachment component 2604 on the backside of the lighter unit 2600. With these embodiments, the base component 142 can be attached to the lighter unit 2600 to enclose the lighter unit within the insertion slot 2610 and removed from the lighter unit 2600 to remove the lighter unit 2600 when the lighter unit becomes depleted with lighter fluid. In some embodiments, the lighter unit 2600 may be refillable with lighter fluid. In other embodiments, the lighter unit 2600 may be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, etc.) as a separate unit and replaced with a new one when depleted.
FIGS. 27A-27D illustrate an example pod 2700 (or components thereof) adapted for use with bowl pipe 100 in accordance with the various embodiments described herein. In this regard, with reference to FIGS. 27A-27D in view of FIGS. 4, 6A and 6B, as noted above, in various embodiments, bowl pipe 100 can be configured for usage with a container 402 adapted to removably insert into and out of the bowl cavity 138/tray 134. The container 402, the housing 102 and the sliding member 104 can respectively be configured to couple with one another in accordance with the configurations described above. In some embodiments, the container 402 may be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured, etc.) in the form of a pod 2700 that corresponds to a separate component configured for usage with the bowl pipe 100. In some implementations of these embodiments, pod 2700 can include the container 402 with a prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 contained and sealed therein via a removable enclosure 2702 that encloses and seal one or more openings of the container 402 with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein. In some implementations, the smoking material 2710 includes or corresponds to ground cannabis flower, however other types of smoking material 2710 are envisioned.
With these embodiments, the bowl pipe 100 and the pod 2700 can correspond to a system for smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material, wherein the bowl pipe 100 is adapted for usage with multiple pods corresponding to pod 2700. In this regard, the bowl pipe 100 and the pods can be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured, etc.) separately. In some implementations of these embodiments, once the smoking material 2710 has been consumed from a pod 2700, the pod may be discarded or recycled and the consumer can obtain (e.g., purchase) a new pod 2700 for usage with the bowl pipe 100. In accordance with this system, in some embodiments, the bowl pipe 100 can be adapted for usage only with pods corresponding to pod 2700, and the pod 2700 can be adapted for usage only with bowl pipe 100. For example, as described above, the bowl pipe 100 can be specifically configured to receive and retain a container 402 having the geometry adapted to inert into the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 in the manner described above while also allowing the container 402 to remain inserted within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, to facilitate this end, the container 402 and the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 can have a rectangular or square geometry or another unique geometry that prevents usage of the bowl pipe 100 with other containers that do not have the corresponding geometry adapted to fit within the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 of the bowl pipe 100 in the manner described herein. With these embodiments, the prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 and/or one or more chemical components thereof can also be regulated and controlled. For example, in some embodiments, the prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 included in a sealed pod 2700 can include or correspond to a regulated quantity of cannabis or cannabinoids for consumption. In other embodiments, the prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 can include or correspond to a specific type or flavor of cannabis and the pods 2700 can be provided with different types, flavors and/or quantities of cannabis or cannabinoids.
In this regard, FIG. 27A illustrates an example pod 2700 in an enclosed and sealed state with the enclosure attached to the container 402. In various embodiments, the container 402 can include a prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 container and sealed therein. In various embodiments, the smoking material 2710 comprises ground cannabis flower, however the container may be filled with other types of smoking material. FIG. 27B illustrates the pod 2700 in a partially open state with the enclosure 2702 partially removed from the container 402. FIG. 27C illustrates the pod in an open state with the enclosure 2702 entirely removed from the container 402. FIG. 27D illustrates the enclosure 2702 as removed from the container 402.
In various embodiments, when attached to the container 402 in the closed and scaled state shown in FIG. 27A, the enclosure encloses 2702 encloses and seals the open top side 602 of the container and the openings 608 formed through the base wall 606 of the container 402. In some embodiments, the enclosure 2702 can include a base enclosure portion 2704 b adapted to cover and enclose the base wall 606 of the container 402 and a top enclosure portion 2704 adapted to cover and enclose the open top side 602 of the container 402. In some implementations of these embodiments, the base enclosure portion 2704 a and the top enclosure portion 2704 b may be physically coupled to one another via a flexible hinge 2708. In some embodiments, the base enclosure portion 2704 a, the top enclosure portion 2704 b and the hinge 2708 may be formed as a single unit out of the same material, such as a thermoplastic polymer or another impermeable material.
In various embodiments, the enclosure 2702 can be configured to removably detach from the container 402 and reattach to the container 402 (via a snapping mechanism or the like) after removal therefrom to re-enclose and seal the container 402. In other embodiments, the enclosure 2702 can be configured to removably detach from the container via physical deformation of an attachment component 2706 of the enclosure that renders the enclosure inoperable for reattachment to the container 402. With these embodiments, consumers can be deterred from purchasing a pod 2700 whose enclosure 2702 may have been previously opened and potentially causing the smoking material 2710 contained therein to become exposed to the elements and degraded or contaminated. For example, in some implementation, the enclosure 2702 may include an attachment component 2706 formed on the base enclosure portion 2704 and the top enclosure portion 2706 that facilitates attaching the respective enclosure portions to the rim 608 and the base wall 606 of the container, respectively. In some implementations, the attachment component 2706 may be formed at least two opposing sides of the enclosure 2706, as shown in FIG. 27D. In some embodiments, the enclosure 2702 can be removed from the container via snapping, breaking or otherwise physically deforming the attachment component 2706.
Additionally, or alternatively, the pod 2700 corresponds to a single pod removed from a pod pack. With these embodiments, the attachment component 2706 can physically attach or couple two or more pods corresponding to pod 2700 together in the form of a pod pack, as illustrated in FIGS. 28-31 .
In this regard, FIG. 28 illustrates an example pod pack 2800 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 29 presents an enlarged view of the attachment component 2706 in an attached state wherein the attachment component 2706 physically couples two pods together. FIG. 30 illustrates removal of a pod 2700 from the pod pack 2800 and FIG. 31 illustrates an enlarged view of the attachment component 2706 in a detached state. With reference to FIGS. 27-31 , in one or more embodiments, the pod 2700 can be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured) in the form of a pod pack 2800 comprising a plurality of pods 2700. As provided in the pod pack 2800, each of the pods 2700 are provided in the enclosed and sealed state illustrated in FIG. 27A. In this regard, it should be appreciated that each of the pods 2700 can include a container 402 with a prefilled amount of smoking material 2710 contained therein, wherein the containers adapted to individually and removably insert into the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 of the bowl pipe 100. It should also be appreciated that each of the containers pods 2700 include an enclosure 2702 attached to the container 402 that encloses and seals the smoking material 2710 contained therein. The number of pods 2700 include in the pod pack 2800 can vary and include any number of two or more pods 2700.
As illustrated in FIG. 28 , in some embodiments, the pods 2700 can be physically attached to one another in the pod pack 2800 via one or more attachment components, wherein the one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the pods (and thus the containers 402) from one another individually, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31 . In various embodiments, the one or more attachment components are integrated on or within the enclosures 2702. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 , in some embodiments, each pod 2700 can include an attachment component 2706 formed on opposite sides thereof that, wherein one attachment component 2706 on one side of one pod 2700 in the pod pack 2800 attaches to another attachment component 2706 on another side of another pod 2700 in the pod pack. In this configuration, any number of pods 2700 may be provided in the pod pack 2800 as physically attached to one another side by side.
The mechanism via which two attachment components 2706 are physically coupled to one another can vary. In some implementations, the respective attachment components 2706 may be physical coupled to one another via a physical and/or mechanical bonding mechanism that bonds the respective attachments components 2706 to one another in a manner that allows them to be broken apart manually without undue force. For example, in some embodiments, a single pod 2700 may be separated from the pod pack 2800 via breaking or snapping the attachment component 2706 as attached to another attachment component of another pod 2700. Once a single pod 2700 has be detached from the pod pack 2800, the enclosure 2702 may be manually removed therefrom to open the container 402 and the container can thereafter be inserted into the bowl cavity 138/tray 134 of the bowl pipe to consume/smoke the smoking material contained therein.
FIG. 32A and 32B illustrate an example pod case 3200 in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 32B illustrates the pod case 3200 in an open configuration containing a partial amount of pods 2700 that the pod case 3200 is adapted to contain. FIG. 32B illustrates the pod case 3200 in a closed configuration. In this regard, in some embodiments, the pods 2700 and/or the pod pack 2800 can be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured, etc.) in a pod case 3200 adapted to contain and seal the pods therein. In some embodiments, the pod case 3200 can be adapted to hermetically seal the pods therein when closed. Additionally, or alternatively, the pod case 3200 may be provided as a separate component that may be purchased separately. The pod case 3200 can include a base compartment 3202 comprising a plurality of slots 3206 respective adapted to receive and retain a pod 2700 therein. The pod case 3200 further includes a lid 3204 adapted to couple with and enclose the base compartment 3202 with one or more pods 2700 contained therein. Although the pod case 3200 is illustrated with four slots 3200 (as it should be appreciated that the two pods illustrated are positioned within corresponding slots) and thus adapted to hold four pods 2700, the pod case 3200 may be sized to contain any number of pods. In some embodiments, the pods 2700 may be provided in the pod case 3200 as a pod pack, in which case the pods 2700 are physical connected to one another as received with the pod case 3200. In other embodiments, the pods 2700 may be provided in the pod case 3200 as separated pods. With these embodiments, the attachment component 2706 may be removed.
FIGS. 33A and 33B illustrate an example lighter case 3300 in accordance with one or more embodiments. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter further provides a lighter case 3300 adapted to removably receive and contain a lighter 3302 therein. The lighter case 3300 can have size and shape corresponding to one or more standard lighters. The lighter case 3306 can have a substantially hollow body with an open end 3306 through which a lighter 3302 can be removably inserted. FIG. 33A illustrates the lighter case 3300 the lighter 3302 removed and FIG. 33B illustrates the lighter case 3300 with the lighter inserted therein. In some embodiments, the lighter case may be formed with a rigid material such as a metal material (e.g., aluminum) or another suitable material. In some embodiments, the internal body of the lighter case 3300 may include a silicone liner formed on the internal surfaces thereof that inhibits the lighter 3302 from falling out of the case (e.g., via a friction force or the like). The lighter case 3300 can further include at least one attachment component (e.g., attachment components 3304 a/3304 b) integrated on or withing the lighter case that provides an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the lighter case 3300 to an external surface. In various the attachment component can include at least one magnet integrated on or within a side surface of the lighter case that magnetically attaches the lighter case to an external surface composed of a ferromagnetic material and/or another magnet. For example, as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, in some embodiments, a side surface of the lighter case 3300 can include a first attachment component 3304 a and a second attachment component 3304 b that can respectively include or correspond to magnets. In some embodiments, the magnets may be encased with a silicone material.
In some embodiments, the lighter case 3300 may be specifically adapted to removably couple with the bowl pipe 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 34A and 34B. With these embodiments, the relative size and positions of the first attachment component 3304 a and the second attachment component 3304 b as arranged on the lighter case 3300 can correspond to the relative size and positions of the first attachment component 304 a and the second attachment component 304 b as arranged on the bowl pipe 102 (or more specifically the housing 102 of the bowl pipe). With this configuration, the lighter case 3300 and the bowl pipe 100 removably attach to one another via aligning and connecting the corresponding attachment components as shown in FIG. 34B.
FIG. 35 illustrates an example bowl pipe system 3500 in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed subject matter further provides a bowl pipe system 3500 including the pod case 3200, the lighter case 3300, the bowl pipe 100 and a travel case 3502 adapted to receive and contain the pod case 3200, lighter case 3300 and bowl pipe 100. The travel case 3502 can comprise and elongated container portion 3504 having and open end 3508 and a lid 3506 adapted to enclose and seal the container portion 3504 with the pod case 3200, lighter case 3300 (including a lighter 3302 inserted therein), and bowl pipe 100 inserted within the container portion 3504, as illustrated in FIGS. 36A and 36B. FIG. 36A illustrates then manner in which the pod case 3200, the lighter case 3300, and the bowl pipe 100 may be inserted within the container portion 3504. FIG. 36B illustrates the travel case 3502 in a closed configuration. In various embodiments, the travel case 3502 is adapted to contain and hermetically seal the pod case 3200, lighter case 3300 (including a lighter 3302 inserted therein), and bowl pipe 100 inserted within the container portion 3504 in the closed configuration.
FIGS. 37 illustrates a top-down view of the bowl pipe system 3500 in a disassembled configuration. In some embodiments, the inside of the container portion 3504 of the travel case 3502 can include different compartments separated and/or defined by one or more internal walls 3708. The different compartments can include a first compartment 3702 having dimensions corresponding or substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the pod case 3200 such that the pod case 3200 is adapted to insert and fit only within the first compartment 3702. The different compartments can further include a second compartment 3704 having dimensions corresponding or substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the lighter case 3300 such that the lighter case 3300 is adapted to insert and fit only within the second compartment 3704. The different compartments can include further include a third compartment 3706 having dimensions corresponding or substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the bowl pipe 100 such that the bowl pipe is adapted to insert and fit only within the third compartment 3706. In some embodiments, the second compartment 3704 and the third compartment 3706 can be configured to allow the lighter case 3300 and the bowl pipe 100 to be inserted therein when the lighter case and the bowl pipe 100 are attached to one another via their respective attachment components (e.g., in the configuration illustrated in FIG. 34B.
With reference to FIGS. 1-37 In various embodiments, one or more components of the bowl pipe system 3500 may be provided (e.g., sold, distributed, manufactured) separately. In this regard, in some embodiments, a bowl pipe system can include two or more of the following: a bowl pipe 100, a container 402, a plurality of containers corresponding to container 402, a pod 2700, a plurality of pods 2700, a pod pack 2800, a plurality of pod packs corresponding to pod pack 2800, a pod case 3200, a lighter case 3300 and a travel case 3502.
FIG. 38 presents an example method 3800 for smoking or facilitating smoking cannabis or other types of smoking material in accordance with various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein. Method 3800 can comprise, at 3802 providing a container (e.g., container 402) comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein. In some embodiments, the smoking material includes cannabis flower. At 3804, method 3800 can further comprise providing a bowl pipe (e.g., bowl pipe 100) comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain the container, the bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing the container with an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container. In this regard, the providing the container can include or correspond to providing a pod 2700. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing a pod pack (e.g., pod pack 2800) comprising a plurality of containers respectively prefilled with the amount of smoking material, the plurality of containers including the container, wherein the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components and wherein one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually.
FIG. 39 presents an example method for regulating the consumption of smoking material, such as cannabis or another type of smoking material. Method 3900 comprises, at 3902 providing a container (e.g., container 402) comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, the prefilled amount corresponding to a regulated amount of the smoking material or a chemical component thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the smoking material includes cannabis flower and the regulated amount corresponds to a regulated amount, or type of cannabis flower and/or one or more cannabinoids for consumption. At 3904, method 3900 can further comprise providing a bowl pipe (e.g., bowl pipe 100) comprising a bowl cavity adapted to receive and retain the container, the bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing the container with an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container. In this regard, the providing the container can include or correspond to providing a pod 2700. In some implementations, providing the container comprises providing a pod pack (e.g., pod pack 2800) comprising a plurality of containers respectively prefilled with the amount of smoking material, the plurality of containers including the container, wherein the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components and wherein one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually.
What has been described above includes examples of various embodiments of the subject invention. The description of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purpose of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods for purposes of describing the subject invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the subject invention are possible. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, the subject invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” and “involves” are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The word “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive-in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an open transition word-without precluding any additional or other elements.
In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in the subject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A pod, comprising:

a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, the container adapted to removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity.

2. The pod of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure adapted removably attach to the container and enclose and seal one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein.

3. The pod of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container.

4. The pod of claim 3, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container via physical deformation of an attachment component of the enclosure that renders the enclosure inoperable for reattachment to the container.

5. The pod of claim 3, wherein the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings formed through a base wall of the container and an open top side opposite the base wall.

6. The pod of claim 5, wherein the enclosure comprises a base enclosure portion adapted to cover and enclose the base wall and a top enclosure portion adapted to cover and enclose the open top side.

7. The pod of claim 1, wherein the smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower.

8. The pod of claim 1, wherein the container is formed with a glass material.

9. The pod of claim 1, wherein the container and the bowl cavity have a rectangular geometry.

10. The pod of claim 1, wherein the bowl pipe comprises a housing and a sliding member comprising the bowl cavity and configured to insert into the housing, wherein the sliding member is configured to slide with respect to the housing between a closed configuration in which the sliding member is inserted within and encloses the housing and an open configuration in which the sliding member is partially expelled from the housing with the bowl cavity exposed, and wherein the container has a geometry adapted to remain inserted within the bowl cavity in the closed configuration.

11. A pod, comprising:

a container comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein; and

an enclosure attached to the container that encloses and seals one or more openings of the container with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container to expose the one or more openings, and wherein the container is adapted to removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when the container is inserted within the bowl cavity with the enclosure dethatched therefrom.

12. The pod of claim 11, wherein the enclosure removably detaches from the container via physical deformation of an attachment component of the enclosure that renders the enclosure inoperable for reattachment to the container.

13. The pod of claim 11, wherein the one or more openings comprise a plurality of openings formed through a base wall of the container and an open top side opposite the base wall.

14. The pod of claim 11, wherein the smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower, wherein the container is formed with a glass material, and wherein the container and the bowl cavity have a rectangular geometry.

15. The pod of claim 11, wherein the bowl pipe comprises a housing and a sliding member comprising the bowl cavity and configured to insert into the housing, wherein the sliding member is configured to slide with respect to the housing between a closed configuration in which the sliding member is inserted within and encloses the housing and an open configuration in which the sliding member is partially expelled from the housing with the bowl cavity exposed, and wherein the container has a geometry adapted to remain inserted within the bowl cavity in the closed configuration.

16. A pod pack, comprising:

a plurality of containers comprising a prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, the containers adapted to individually and removably insert into a bowl cavity of a bowl pipe adapted for smoking the smoking material when inserted within the bowl cavity.

17. The pod pack of claim 16, further comprising:

enclosures respectively attached to the containers that enclose and seal openings of the containers with the prefilled amount of smoking material contained therein, wherein the enclosures removably detach from the containers.

18. The pod pack of claim 17, wherein the containers are physically attached to one another via one or more attachment components wherein the one or more attachment components are operable for physically detaching the containers from one another individually.

19. The pod pack of claim 18, wherein the one or more attachment components are integrated on or within the enclosures.

20. The pod pack of claim 16, wherein the smoking material comprises ground cannabis flower, wherein the containers are formed with a glass material, and wherein the containers and the bowl cavity have a rectangular geometry.