DISPOSABLE VIAL FOR PACKING TOBACCO TO BE SMOKED WITH INDENT FOR WICK AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING

Abstract

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and method for making the vial. The vial includes a first chamber. A second chamber is in fluid connection with the first chamber separated from the first chamber by a neck portion having an inside diameter less than an inside diameter of the first chamber and the second chamber. A middle portion is in fluid connection with the second chamber extending from the second chamber to the third chamber. The third chamber is in fluid connection with the middle portion. The first, second and third chambers have inside and outside diameters which are substantially the same. The middle portion has an inside and outside diameter which is less than the inside and outside diameters of the first, second and third chambers.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a vial, the method comprising: providing a vial, the vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular member having a hollow interior; forming a first chamber and a second chamber within the hollow interior of the tubular member, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a neck portion within the hollow interior, said first chamber extending from said first end portion to a first side of said neck portion, said second chamber extending from a second side of said neck portion; and forming a middle portion within the hollow interior of the tubular portion, one end of said middle portion adjacent to an end of said second chamber; forming a third chamber within the hollow interior of the tubular member, said third chamber extending from a second end of said middle portion to said second end portion; wherein said formed middle portion has an outer diameter which is less than an outer diameter of each of said first chamber, said second chamber and said third chamber, and an inner diameter which is less than an inner diameter of each of said first chamber, said second chamber and said third chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said forming the first chamber and the second chamber comprises: applying heat to a portion of a wall forming the tubular portion of the vial; and while rotating the vial along its longitudinal axis, applying an inward pressure to the first end portion and the second end portion and simultaneously applying pressure to an exterior surface of the tubular member at the heated portion of the wall to collapse the heated portion of the wall into the hollow interior of the tubular member to form the neck portion within the hollow interior of the tubular member, and cause the exterior surface around the neck portion to be flush with the exterior surface of the rest of the tubular member, wherein said neck portion has in inner diameter which is less than said inner diameter of each of said first chamber, said second chamber and said third chamber.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said forming the middle portion comprises: applying heat to a second portion of the wall forming the tubular portion of the vial and applying an outward pressure to the first end portion and the second end portion to stretch the heated second portion of the wall a predetermined amount; and after said predetermined amount of stretch has been reached, applying an inward pressure to the first end portion and the second end portion and while rotating the vial along its longitudinal axis and applying an inward pressure to the second portion of the wall until the second portion of the wall has a uniform outer diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of each of the first, second, and third chambers, said outer diameter of each of the first, second, and third chambers being substantially the same.

4. The method defined by claim 1 wherein said first end portion includes an open end for receiving a substance to be smoked in said first chamber and said second end portion includes an open end for inhaling vapor in said third chamber.

5. The method defined by claim 1 further comprising after forming said third chamber, wrapping a wick around said formed middle portion.

6. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the vial includes an opening at at least one of said first and second end portions.

7. The method defined by claim 1 wherein the vial is a cylindrical tube with open ends.

8. A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial, the vial comprising: a first chamber having an open end dimensioned to receive a substance to be packed within the first chamber; a second chamber in fluid connection with said first chamber separated from said first chamber by a neck portion having an inside diameter less than an inside diameter of said first chamber and an inside diameter of said second chamber, wherein an outside diameter of said first chamber, said second chamber and said neck portion are substantially the same; a middle portion in fluid connection with said second chamber extending from an end of said second chamber to a first end of a third chamber, said third chamber in fluid connection with said middle portion at said first end of said third chamber, said third chamber having an inside diameter and outside diameter which is substantially the same as the inside and outside diameter of each of said first chamber and said second chamber, said middle portion having an inside diameter which is less than the inside diameter of said first, second and third chambers, and an outside diameter which is less than the outside diameter of said first, second and third chambers.

9. The vial defined by claim 8 wherein said first chamber, said neck portion, said second chamber, said middle portion and said third chamber are axially aligned.

10. The vial of claim 8 wherein a length of the first chamber is less than a length of the middle portion.

11. The vial of claim 8 wherein a length of the second chamber is less than a length of the middle portion.

12. The vial of claim 8 wherein a length of the neck portion is less than a length of the first chamber and a length of the second chamber.

13. The vial of claim 8 wherein the first chamber, the neck portion, the second chamber, the middle portion and the third chamber are integrally formed from a glass vial.

14. The vial defined by claim 8 wherein said first end portion includes an open end for receiving a substance to be smoked in said first chamber and said second end portion includes an open end for inhaling vapor in said third chamber.

15. The vial defined by claim 8 further comprising a wick wrapped around said middle portion.

16. The vial defined by claim 8 wherein the vial said third chamber includes an open end dimensioned to enable vapors in said third chamber to be inhaled.

17. The vial defined by claim 8 wherein the vial is a cylindrical tube with openings at each end of said tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. Also, a given figure may be used to illustrate the features of more than one embodiment of the invention in the interest of reducing the total number of drawings, and as a result, not all elements in the figure may be required for a given embodiment.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a vial formed by the process disclosed herein from which a substance may be smoked

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the vial of FIG. 1 along line 2-2.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a vial from which a vial for packing and smoking a substance may be manufactured.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates the vial of FIG. 3 after the further processing operation of applying pressure to a heated section of the vial.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates the vial of FIG. 4 after the further processing operation of operation of pressing the ends of the vial together while applying pressure from a roller to the heated section to maintain the outer diameter of the vial as it is being pressed inward from both ends.

[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates the vial of FIG. 5 after the further processing operation of pressing the ends of the vial together, to then applying heat to a middle portion of the vial.

[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates the vial of FIG. 6 after the further processing operation of applying heat to the middle portion of the vial, to then stretching the vial from both ends to collapse the heated middle portion of the vial.

[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates the vial of FIG. 7 after the further processing operation stretching the vial from both ends to collapse the heated middle portion of the vial, to then reapplying heat to the collapsed middle portion of the vial.

[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates the vial of FIG. 8 after the further processing operation reapplying heat to the collapsed middle portion of the vial, to then applying pressure using a roller applied to the collapsed middle portion as the vial is being pressed inward from both ends to form a collapsed middle portion with a constant outer diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the other sections of the vial.

[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a vial from which a substance may be smoked with a wick wrapped around the collapsed middle section which is formed after the processing shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Several embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended drawings are now explained. Whenever aspects of the embodiments described here are not explicitly defined, the scope of the invention is not limited only to the parts shown, which are meant merely for the purpose of illustration. Also, while numerous details are set forth, it is understood that some embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a vial from which a substance may be smoked. In one embodiment, vial 100 may be a vial that includes a first end portion 102, a second end portion 106 and a narrowed middle portion 104. The first end portion 102 may be substantially open by opening 103. The second end portion 106 may be substantially open with an opening 107 through which a fluid may pass from the first end portion to the second end portion. The fluid may, for example, be a vapor or gas given off by a substance (e.g. tobacco) smoked from vial 100. The middle portion 104 may be a tubular member having a substantially hollow interior 108. The substance to be smoked (e.g. tobacco) may be packed within vial 100 by inserting it into the opening 103 such that it is held near first end portion 102. During use, a flame is applied to first end portion 102 so that the substance packed is caused to burn or smolder and emit a vapor. The vapor from the burning or smoldering substance then can be inhaled by a user through the opening 107 shown in FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the vial of FIG. 1 along line 2-2. From this view, it can be seen that the substantially hollow interior 108 of vial 100, which is defined by an exterior wall 202, is divided into a first chamber 204, a second chamber 206 separated from the first chamber by a short neck 214, and middle portion 104 connecting the second chamber to a third chamber 207. The first chamber 204 may extend from the opening 103 formed in first end portion 102 of vial 100 to the short neck 214. The first chamber 204 is open such that a substance can be introduced to the first chamber 204 through opening 103. In some cases, the first chamber 204 may have a diameter that is the same as opening 103. Representatively, the diameter of first chamber 204 may be large enough to allow a substance (e.g. tobacco) to be inserted into first chamber 204, such that once the substance is within first chamber 204, short neck 214 substantially prevents the substance from entering second chamber 206.

[0023] The first chamber 204 may be dimensioned to receive and hold a substance (e.g. tobacco) to be smoked from vial 100. In this aspect, first chamber 204 may also be referred to herein as a receiving chamber. The second chamber 206 may be dimensioned to receive a smoke or vapor emitted from the substance within first chamber 204 which then flows through neck 214 through narrowed middle portion 104 to third chamber 207. In this aspect, in some embodiments, third chamber 207 may be referred to herein as a smoke or vapor chamber. The third chamber 207 may have a length that is greater than a length of first chamber 204 and a length second chamber 206.

[0024] In order to keep a substance packed within first chamber 204 from passing into second chamber 206, the first chamber 204 and the second chamber 206 may be separated by a neck portion 214. Neck portion 214 may be formed by an interior wall 212 that extends circumferentially inward from exterior wall 202. In one aspect, the interior wall 212 may include a first side 222 facing the first chamber 204 and opening 103 of first end 102 and a second side 224 facing narrowed middle portion 104. In this aspect, the first side 222 may form a portion of the first chamber 204 and the second side 224 may form a portion of the second chamber 206.

[0025] Interior wall 212 may include a neck 214 forming an opening of a size sufficient to allow smoke or vapor emitted from the substance within first chamber 204 to pass to second chamber 206 while still preventing the substance from passing from first chamber 204 to second chamber 206. In this aspect, in some embodiments, a diameter of the opening of neck portion 214 is less than a diameter of first chamber 204 and a diameter of second chamber 206. The diameter of first chamber 204 and the diameter of second chamber 206 may be substantially the same, or the diameter of first chamber 204 may be less than a diameter of second chamber 206 and third chamber 207. In addition, it is noted that in some embodiments, a width of interior wall 212 is less than a length of first chamber 204 and a length of second chamber 206. In this aspect, interior wall 212 is not considered to occupy a substantial area of the hollow interior 108.

[0026] It is further noted that in some embodiments, the opening of neck portion 214 is axially aligned with the opening 107 to third chamber 207. In other words, each of first opening 103, the opening in neck 214, the opening through narrowed middle portion 104, and second opening 107 are aligned along a longitudinal axis 220 of vial 100. Said another way, the entire length of vial 100 may be substantially straight such that it is symmetrical about axis 220, and in turn, each of first end opening 103, opening in neck 214, the opening 230 between second chamber 206 and narrowed middle portion 104 and second end opening 107 are also symmetrical about axis 220.

[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a vial from which a vial for packing and smoking a substance may be manufactured. Vial 300 may, for example, be a disposable glass vial made from clear borosilicate glass (33 exp) such as that available from Pacific Vial Manufacturing Inc., of Commerce, California. The vial 300 may be considered a disposable vial in that it is intended for single use and may be disposed of by the user. Similar to the previously discussed vial 100, vial 300 may include a first end portion 302 and a second end portion 306 which are connected by a middle portion 304.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, vial 300 may be rotated as shown by arrows 414 throughout all of the processing operations as disclosed herein. Representatively, vial 300 may be rotated at a rate of from about 30 revolutions per minute (RPM) to about 60 RPM. Vial 300 may be rotated by inserting the vial 300 into any conventional machine operable to rotate a vial at the desired RPM. Once the vial 300 is rotating, heat 416 may be applied to section 408 of vial 300 during processing operation 401. The heat 416 may be applied by, for example, a burner aligned with section 408 of vial 300. Heating section 408 softens the glass material of vial 300 so that the vial interior wall 410 may be collapsed into the hollow interior 418 of vial 300 adjacent first end 302, as will be described in more detail in reference to FIG. 5. The heat applied should be at a temperature to soften the glass or other material used to make the vial so that the vial can be manipulated to form the vial as described herein. By way of example, the working point temperature for clear borosilicate glass (33 exp) is 1240° C., with a softening point of 825° C. and an annealing point of 565° C.

[0029] It should be noted that although specific processing parameters (e.g. rotation speed) may be disclosed herein, the parameters can vary depending upon, for example, the machine speed. For example, the heating time of the vial during any processing step disclosed herein depends on machine speed, which may produce around 22 parts per minute (ppm) plus or minus 2 ppm at a rotation speed of for example, from 30-60 RPM depending on machine speed and desired result. At 22 ppm, heat is applied for about 3 seconds per piece. As noted above, the specific temperatures, and times are dependent on the specifics of the glass or other material used to make the vial. Such specifics are well known to persons having ordinary skill in the art and therefore need not be further disclosed herein.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates the vial of FIG. 4 after the further processing operation of applying pressure to heated section 408 of the vial to collapse the heated section of the vial. In particular, in processing operation 501, a tool 502 is used to apply a pressure to the heated section 408 of vial 300. The application of heat 416 may be discontinued during operation 501. The tool 502 may be any type of relatively flat tool suitable for applying a flat pressure to wall 510 of vial 300. Tool 502 may be part of the machine used to heat and/or rotate vial 300. Representatively, tool 502 may be a graphite or steel tool having a roller end that is pressed by a machine against wall 510 while vial 300 is rotating. Applying a pressure to wall 510 by tool 502 within section 408 while pressure 509A and 509B applied to ends 302 and 306 respectively, causes inner wall 512 to collapse into hollow interior 418 as shown in FIG. 5. The inward pressure may depend on how soft the glass is after the heating process but, in some cases may be, for example, from about 2-4 pounds per square inch. The amount of time the pressure is applied will depend on the machine speed. The collapsed wall sections form neck 214, as previously discussed in reference to FIG. 2. In this aspect, the tool 502 should be used to apply a pressure sufficient to prevent exterior wall 510 from increasing in diameter as inward pressure 509A and 509B is applied. A space or gap should remain between the interfacing surfaces of the collapsed section of wall 510 so that an opening between the first end portion 302 and second end portion 306 is maintained.

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates the vial of FIG. 5 after the further processing operation of applying heat to the collapsed section of the vial and pressure via tool 502. Representatively, in processing operation 601, heat 605 is applied to the exterior of a middle portion 609 of vial 300 to soften section 609 and exterior wall 611 for further processing as described in FIG. 7.

[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates the vial of FIG. 6 after the further processing operation of heating middle portion 609. In particular, in processing operation 701, an outward force 705A is applied to first end portion 302 and an outward force 705B is applied to second end portion 306. In this aspect, first end portion 302 and second end portion 306 are pulled away from each other. Due to the heat 605 applied to middle portion 609, the pulling force causes the middle portion to begin to collapse as shown in FIG. 7. The outward forces 705A, 705B may be applied by a tool or machine associated with the previously discussed machinery that is designed to pull the ends apart. The tools used to pull the ends apart may be custom shaped steel tools attached to the machine. Again, the time and pressure will vary depending on machine speed, softness of glass, etc. First end 302 and second end 306 are pulled apart until an exterior surface of exterior wall 611 of middle portion 609 forms collapsed middle portion 709 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates the vial of FIG. 7 after the further processing operation forms collapsed middle portion 709. Representatively, processing operation 801 shows heat 805 applied to the exterior surface of collapsed middle portion 709 which softens the glass of middle portion 709 for the further processing to be performed with reference to FIG. 9.

[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates the vial of FIG. 8 after the further processing operation softens the glass of middle portion 709. As shown in FIG. 9, processing operation 901 utilizes a tool such as roller 907 which is applied to the middle portion of vial 300 forming middle portion 909 which has a constant outer and inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the other portions of vial 300. That is, as vial 300 is rotated as described above, the softened glass of the middle portion is shaped to be uniformly cylindrical for most of its extent, the outer diameter increasing at the ends of middle portion 909 until they meet with adjacent portions 911 and 913, each of which has a larger outer diameter. Applying an inward pressure to middle portion 909 by roller 907 while inward pressure 905A and 905B is applied to ends 302 and 306 causes the wall of vial 300 to have a constant, smaller diameter as shown in FIG. 9. The inward pressure may depend on how soft the glass is after the heating process but, in some cases may be, for example, from about 2-4 pounds per square inch. The amount of time the pressure is applied will depend on the machine speed. At the same time, ends 302 and 306 are pressed inwards so that as the vial is rotated and pressure from roller 907 is applied, wall of vial 300 at narrowed middle portion 909 is evened out with a reduced diameter as shown in FIG. 9. The collapsed wall forms narrowed middle portion 104 as previously discussed in reference to FIG. 2. In this aspect, the roller 907 should be used to apply a pressure sufficient to even out the outer diameter at portion 909 while leaving, a space or gap between the interfacing surfaces of the collapsed portion 909 so that an opening between the first end portion 302 and second end portion 306 is maintained. As is the case with the other processing operations described herein, the time and pressure used during processing operation 901 will vary depending on machine speed, softness of glass, etc.

[0035] After processing operation 901 is completed, the vial forms a shape as described with reference to FIG. 2, in which the vial at one end 103 forms a chamber 204 which is separated from adjacent chamber 206 by neck 214. Chamber 206 is then connected chamber 207 by hollow interior 108 formed by narrowed middle portion 104 which corresponds to middle portion 909 of FIG. 9. Chamber 207 extends from middle portion 104 to end 106.

[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates the vial of FIG. 9 with a wick 1005 wrapped around middle portion 909. The wick material may be made of hemp or another material which when lit will maintain a relatively even flame which can be applied to a substance packed into chamber 204 through opening 103.

[0037] While certain embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention. For example, although a glass vial for smoking is described herein, it is contemplated that the vial may be made of any non-flammable material that will hold its shape during a smoking operation. Representatively, the vial may be a made of another inflammable material such as a ceramic or insulated metal material. In addition, it should be understood that each of the processing operations disclosed herein may be performed by a single machine or a combination of machines, such that each of the steps are considered automated and capable of being performed without user intervention. Thus, the invention is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described herein and various other modifications may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art.