US20250064112A1

US20250064112A1 - Adaptable smoking device

Info

Publication number: US20250064112A1
Application number: US18/942,757
Authority: US
Inventors: Joshua Patrick Schmidt; Parker Ray Nims
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-11-10
Filing date: 2024-11-10
Publication date: 2025-02-27

Abstract

The invention provides an adaptable smoking device having separable upper and lower portions that facilitate travel, filling the device with water, cleaning, and the replacement of the upper or lower portion of the device in the event of breaking or chipping. The upper and lower portions can be separably connected to one another by two or more connectors. The connectors can comprise magnets or a magnet and a ferromagnetic metal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 63/548,154, filed Nov. 10, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to smoking devices for inhalation of smoking materials.

BACKGROUND

Water pipes, or bongs, for the inhalation of smoking materials are known in the art. Some of these devices generally include a hollow tubular portion in pneumatic communication with a mouthpiece opening, a hollow bottom portion in pneumatic communication with the tubular portion, and a hollow downstem having a bowl for receiving a smoking material, wherein the downstem places the bowl in pneumatic communication with the bottom portion. These devices are used by placing a smoking material in the bowl and inhaling through the mouthpiece while simultaneously igniting the smoking material thereby drawing smoke from the smoking material through the bowl, downstem, bottom portion, tubular portion and mouthpiece, thereby allowing the smoke to be inhaled by the user. In most instances, the bottom portion is filled with a quantity of water such that smoke drawn through the downstem is permitted to percolate in the water as the smoke leaves the lower portion of the downstem thereby cooling the smoke to provide a more pleasurable smoking experience.
Some such devices incorporate a removable bowl that can be withdrawn from the downstem after a quantity of smoke is inhaled by the user permitting the device to draw in air through the device and evacuate smoke from the device by further inhalation by the user. Alternatively, the bowl can be fixed to the downstem wherein the bottom portion incorporates a carburetor hole that is covered by the finger of the user and released when the user wishes to evacuate the device of smoke.
The hollow tubular portion and hollow bottom portion of contemporary water pipes are made of a singular, generally elongate construction. Thus, the majority of contemporary water pipes are large and cumbersome which inhibits their portability and ease of filling their bottom portions with water, such as in a sink. In addition, contemporary water pipes are customarily made of glass and subject to breakage such that breaking or chipping of the upper or lower portion of the device results in the entire device being damaged or destroyed. Another disadvantage of contemporary water pipes is that their elongate nature makes it difficult to clean the resins that typically accumulate within the water pipe as a result of smoke repeatedly being drawn through the device during use.
Thus, what is needed in the art is a smoking device having separable parts that permit the device to be broken down to improve portability, and facilitate cleaning and filling the device with water. The art is also in need of a device wherein portions of the device can be replaced when a portion of the device is chipped or breaks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an adaptable smoking device having separable upper and lower portions that facilitate travel, filling the device with water, cleaning, and the replacement of the upper or lower portion of the device in the event of breaking or chipping. The separable portions of the device also allow the device to be assembled in different combinations thereby allowing a user to customize the color and design of the device.
The invention further provides an adaptable smoking device having separable portions wherein the connection between the portions is not necked down thereby providing for the unobstructed travel of smoke between the upper and lower portions of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive adaptable smoking device in an assembled state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive adaptable smoking device in a separated state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive adaptable smoking device in a separated state with the tubular portion positioned at an angle.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of an embodiment of the upper end of the vessel portion.

The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale and should be understood to present a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the adaptive smoking device depicted in the drawings may have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. The adaptable smoking device, as disclosed herein, will have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which it is used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of inventive adaptable smoking device 100 in an assembled state wherein tubular portion 101 is releasably connected to vessel portion 102 by connection 103, placing tubular portion 101 in pneumatic communication with vessel portion 102. Tubular portion 101 is hollow and can have any cross-sectional shape suitable for receiving smoke from vessel portion 102. Suitable cross-sectional shapes include, but are not necessarily limited to one or more of circular, oval, polygonal, helical, or a shape having one or more lobes, such as a clover-shape, for example. Tubular portion 101 terminates in mouthpiece opening 104 at the upper end of tubular portion 101. The lower end of tubular portion 101 terminates in an opposing opening.
Vessel portion 102 is a hollow body that includes opening 106 and terminates in another opening on the upper end of the vessel. Opening 106 can be positioned at the end of hollow projection 107 which extends from the wall of vessel portion 102. In such embodiments, projection 107 and opening 106 are adapted to removably receive a bowl and downstem. Alternatively, opening 106 can be formed in the wall of vessel portion 102, wherein the opening is adapted to removably receive a hollow sleeve that is adapted to removably receive a bowl, or a bowl and downstem, within the sleeve. In both such embodiments, the sleeve can be held within vessel portion 102 through a rubber gasket that surrounds the sleeve and fits within the hole in vessel portion 102 to secure the sleeve to vessel portion 102 under compression of the gasket. The sleeve may have a length sufficient to place an end of the sleeve within the body of vessel portion 102 at a depth that permits the end of the sleeve to be submerged in a quantity of water placed within vessel portion 102. In yet another alternate embodiment, opening 106 is formed within a bowl having an incorporated downstem that is fixed to the wall of vessel portion 102. In such embodiments, it will be understood that vessel portion 102 can optionally comprise a carburetor opening that is adapted to evacuate smoke from the inside of the inventive device.
In some embodiments, vessel portion 102 incorporates one or more of indentations 111. Indentations 111 form concave depressions in the outside wall of vessel portion 102 that extend into the body of vessel portion 102 to form protrusions within the body of vessel portion 102. Indentations 111 are adapted to permit ice cubes to be loaded within tubular portion 101 without dropping into vessel portion 102 when the device is in an assembled state.
Tubular portion 101 is releasably connected to vessel portion 102 by connection 103. In some embodiments, connection 103 comprises a pair of connectors 103A and 103B, wherein connector 103A is fixed to the lower end of tubular portion 101 and connector 103B is fixed to the upper end of vessel portion 102. Connectors 103A and 103B can be respectively fixed to tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102 by any suitable securing means. Non-limiting examples of securing means include adhesive 108, threads, interference fit, or a combination thereof. Connectors 103A and 103B can comprise a pair of opposing ring magnets with their polarities arranged such that the ring magnets attract one another to hold adaptable smoking device 100 in an assembled state. Alternatively, connectors 103A and 103B can comprise a ring magnet and a ferromagnetic metal. For example, connector 103A can be a ring magnet and connector 103B can be made of a ferromagnetic material. Opening 110 of connector 103A and opening 105 of connector 103B can have a diameter that matches the opening on the bottom of tubular portion 101 and the opening on the top of vessel portion 102 so that connection 103 connects tubular portion 101 to vessel portion 102 without necking down so as to permit the unobstructed flow of smoke through the device during use. Preventing the necking down of connection 103 can also inhibit the collection of resins in the device as resins tend to collect on points of collision between smoke an the inside of smoking devices. Alternatively, opening 110 of connector 103A and opening 105 of connector 103B can be up to 20% smaller than the opening of at least one of tubular portion 101 and the opening of vessel portion 102. Connection 103 excludes the use of any plugs inserted into the lower opening of tubular portion 101 or the upper opening of vessel portion 102 so as to prevent the necking down of the connection.
In some embodiments, connection 103 comprises one or more seals 108. Seals 108 can be fixed to one or both of connectors 103A and 103B. Seals 108 can be fixed to one or both of connectors 103A and 103B by adhesive 109, for example. In the device's assembled state, one or both of seals 108 are positioned between connectors 103A and 103B. Seals 108 can be made of a resilient material, such as, for example, rubber, silicone, or a combination thereof. It will be appreciated that seals 108 will have a thickness that is sufficiently thin to permit connectors 103A and 103B to attract one another (in embodiments where connectors 103A and 103B are magnets or a magnet and a ferromagnetic material) to hold tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102 together so that the inventive device remains in an assembled state, such as during use and handling of the device. That is, seals 108 are preferably thin enough so as not to separate connectors 103A and 103B by a distance that would prevent connectors 103A and 103B from attracting one another with sufficient strength to hold the device in an assembled state when connectors 103A and 103B are formed from magnets, or magnets and a ferromagnetic material. Seals 108 can function to prevent the ingress of air when a user inhales through the device, and to cushion the connecting of tubular portion 101 to vessel portion 102.
Seals 108 can match the profile of connectors 103A and 103B such that the upper and lower surfaces of seals 108 are coextensive with the profile of the planar surfaces of connectors 103A and 103B. Thus, seals 108 can have an inside opening with a dimension that is the same as the dimensions of opening 110 of connector 103A and opening 105 of connector 103B, as well as the lower opening of tubular portion 102 and the upper opening vessel portion 102, so as to prevent any necking down in the connection between tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102, thereby preventing any restriction in the flow of air and smoke between vessel portion 102 and tubular portion 101.
In some aspects of the invention, the walls of seals 108, the walls connectors 103A and 103B, and the walls of the lower opening of tubular portion 101 and the upper opening of vessel portion 102 have width W, as shown in FIG. 4 . Width W can be the same for seals 108, connectors 103A and 103B, and the walls of the lower opening of tubular portion 101 and the upper opening of vessel portion 102. This can permit tubular portion 101 to connect to vessel portion 102 without necking down the inside space of the device so as to permit the uninhibited travel of smoke from vessel portion 102 into tubular portion 101 thereby allowing a strong inhalation draw by a user. In other aspects of the invention, width W is sufficient to permit connectors 103A and 103B to provide a durable, separable connection between tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102 so as to prevent the unintended separation of the portions. That is, width W can be selected to provide magnets (or a magnet and a ferromagnetic material) large enough to provide a strong, releasable magnetic connection between tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102, while simultaneously providing strength and resistance to the chipping and breaking of tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102. Width W can also be selected to offset any loss of strength in the magnetic connection between connectors 103A and 103B due to the use of intervening seals 108. Width W can be, for example, at least 5 mm, at least 6 mm, at least 7 mm, at least 8 mm, at least 9 mm, at least 10 mm, or at least 11 mm, for example. It will be understood that tubular portion 101 and vessel portion 102 can have an average thickness that is the same as width W.

Claims

1. An adaptable smoking device, comprising:

a) a tubular portion having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the tubular portion includes a first connector; and

b) a vessel portion having an upper end and a downstem opening, wherein the upper end of the vessel portion includes a second connector;

c) wherein the first connector and the second connector are adapted to connect the tubular portion to the vessel portion.

2. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector forms an air tight seal between the tubular portion and the vessel portion.

3. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are magnets.

4. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector include a magnet and a ferromagnetic material.

5. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the first connector is fixed to the tubular portion and the second connector is fixed to the vessel portion.

6. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the first connector is fixed to the tubular portion, and the second connector is fixed to the vessel portion, by an adhesive, threads, an interference fit, or a combination thereof.

7. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein (i) the first connector and the second connector form a connection between the tubular portion and the vessel portion, and (2) the connection does not neck down between the tubular portion and the vessel portion.

8. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein (i) the first connector has a first connector opening, (ii) the second connector has a second connector opening, (iii) the tubular portion has a tubular portion opening, (iv) the vessel portion has an upper vessel portion opening, and (iv) the first connector opening, the second connector opening, the tubular portion opening and the upper vessel portion opening have the same dimensions.

9. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first connector and the second connector includes at least one seal.

10. The adaptable smoking device of claim 9, wherein (i) the first connector has a first connector opening, (ii) the second connector has a second connector opening, (iii) the tubular portion has a tubular portion opening, (iv) the vessel portion has an upper vessel portion opening, (iv) the at least one seal has a seal opening, and (v) the first connector opening, the second connector opening, the tubular portion opening, the upper vessel portion opening and the seal opening have the same dimensions.

11. The adaptable smoking device of claim 9, wherein the at least one seal is made of rubber, silicone, or a combination thereof.

12. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tubular portion and the vessel portion are made of glass.

13. The adaptable smoking device of claim 12, wherein (i) the tubular portion has a tubular portion opening defined by an inside wall of the tubular portion, (ii) the vessel portion has an upper vessel portion opening defined by an inside wall of the vessel portion, and (iii) the inside wall of the tubular portion and the inside wall of the vessel portion have an average thickness of at least 9 mm.

14. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the tubular portion has a cross-section that is circular, oval, polygonal, helical, or a combination thereof.

15. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein (i) the tubular portion has a first internal sidewall, (ii) the vessel portion has second internal sidewall, (iii) the first connector has a third internal sidewall, (iv) and the second connector has a fourth internal sidewall, and (v) the first internal sidewall, the second internal sidewall, the third internal sidewall, and the fourth internal sidewall are colinear with one another when the device is in its assembled state.

16. The adaptable smoking device of claim 1, wherein the downstem opening is adapted to receive a bowl and downstem, or a sleeve that is adapted to receive a bowl and downstem.