METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING SMOKING DEVICES

Abstract

A uniquely shaped and sized mold to create specially sized ice cubes. These cubes fit into most gravity type water pipes. The custom shapes of the molds creates ice formations that are tubular with a partial closed end but for an aperture that directs a path for the rising smoke to travel while contacting the maximum surface area of the ice formation. By using one to four ice formations, the user controls the temperature of the rising smoke, understanding that each cube reduces the temperature by nine to eleven percent. In effect, it allows the upper chamber of almost any standard smoking device to be a cooling chamber when these ice formations are inserted.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating ice formations for cooling smoke rising through a smoking device, the apparatus comprising: a mold defining at least one compartment, each compartment comprising: two coaxial sidewalls spaced apart to define a tubular void extending with a uniform cross-section for at least half of a length an outermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls, wherein at least half of a length along an innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls defines a cavity; and an aperture mass spanning the innermost sidewall of the two coaxial sidewalls so as to define an upper elevation of the cavity, wherein an upper elevation of the aperture mass is greater than an upper elevation of the outermost sidewall, wherein the aperture mass defines a void that interconnects diametrically opposing sides of the tubular void.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture mass provides one or more voids having a bottom elevation below upper elevation of the outermost sidewall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tubular void is fluidly decoupled from the cavity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mold is made of silicone and has a thickness of approximately three millimeters.

6. A method of cooling rising smoke through a smoking device, the method comprising: filling with a liquid in a plurality of compartments of the mold of claim 1 to the upper elevation of the outermost sidewall; freezing the liquid in the plurality of compartment so as to form a plurality of ice formations; and placing the plurality of ice formations into an output conduit of the smoking device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of ice formations defines a stacked arrangement wherein each aperture of each ice formation serially aligns.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of ice formations have an outer diameter that is at least eight percent of an inner diameter of the output conduit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

[0019] FIG. 4 is an illustrated flow chart 20 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 6 is an exploded bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a smoking device 24 employing the method of the present invention; specifically the stacked arrangement of a plurality of ice formations 26 within an outlet conduit 42 of the smoking device 24, thereby illustrating a snug, substantially coextensive cross-sectional fit of the stacked arrangement and an inner diameter of the outlet conduit 42.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0024] A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mold for freezing water into ice dimensioned and shaped for enabling the ice to fit onto a smoking apparatus such as a bong, waterpipe, or hookah, and whereby the shape of the ice facilitates the cooling and passage of fluid around the ice.

[0025] The present invention enables additional cooling of a water pipe by stacking custom sized ice into an upper portion of a smoking chamber. The unique sizing fits into most standard pipes. More specifically, an additional cooling chamber contains this ice. Air and smoke are generated conventionally but are filtered through ice prior to being inhaled. This cools the smoke prior to inhalation. It is an object of the invention to provide additional cooling to a gravity-type pipe. Another object of the invention is to reduce temperatures of air and smoke to levels below those attainable using only the traditional water reservoir of a gravity type pipe. It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by way of, at least in part, the embodied apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0026] The present invention may comprise a uniquely shaped mold for specially shaped ice. The shaped ice may easily fit into a smoking apparatus.

[0027] The mold may be formed by an extrusion process. The mold may be composed of silicone. It may also be composed of non-toxic, freezable material.

[0028] The mold may be filled with water and placed in a freezer. The water may then be frozen into ice. The ice may be removed from the mold and inserted into the bong or water pipe.

[0029] When ice from the mold is inserted into a pipe of the smoking apparatus, air and smoke within the chamber responsively flow upwardly through a frozen surface area. In some embodiments of the invention one to four pieces of ice are inserted into the pipe. The more ice used, the more surface area the smoke contacts; therefore, lowering the temperature of the smoke evenly. The air and smoke may then be discharged, or inhaled through a discharge port, typically called a mouthpiece.

[0030] Dimensions of the ice may be altered to fit into the non-conventional water pipes. However, some embodiments of the present invention fit over 90% of known pipes.

[0031] Ice that is a product of a standard ice cube generator in a general-purpose refrigerator/freezer or commercial ice machine does not have a hole to allow maximum surface contact.

[0032] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible

[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention, in one embodiment, includes a mold 10 to form unique ice formations 26 for rapidly decreasing the temperature of smoke passing through a smoking device 24. Each ice formation 26 provides critical dimensionality and shapes that produces the unexpected results of increasing contact with the passing smoke by way of, in part, the substantial cylindrical recess 30 in each ice formation 26. Each ice formation 26 has a tubular shape with a partial closed end 28 providing an aperture 26A fluidly communicating with the recess 30. Mold 10 comprises a plurality of chambers 16 fillable with water 22. The mold 10 may be a unitary construction of silicone, plasticized material, metallic material, or equivalent material. The Figures depict different designs resulting in a differently shaped piece of ice 26.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, the mold 10 may have a tray portion 12 having a top/first surface 12A and an opposing bottom/second surface 12B. Protruding from the second surface 12B are coaxial/concentric spaced apart cylindrical sidewalls 18. The outermost sidewall 18A is spaced apart from the innermost sidewall 18B, defining a tubular volume 19. This tubular volume 19, or more specifically, the inner diameter of the innermost sidewall 18B defines a cavity 29 that is not directly fluidly communicative with the tubular volume 19 defined by the sidewalls 18, thereby resulting in a tubular shaped piece of ice 26 having a partial closed end 28.

[0035] An aperture mass 14 may extend from a top elevation of the cavity 29 to above an elevation of the first surface 12A. As a result, when water 22 is filled in the void defined by the sidewalls 18 and the aperture mass 14 there is always an aperture 26A formed the communicates an upper surface of the ice formation 26 to the lumen defined by the cavity 29. The combination of the aperture 26A and the lumen of the ice formation 26A causes rising smoke to pass through the aperture 26A and thus the lumen, thereby contact a greater frozen surface area than if the smoke passed around solid ice formations, thereby lowering the temperature of the smoke evenly and greater than expected. In other words, aperture 26A communicating with the lumen enables maximum surface contact of warm smoke to colder ice.

[0036] The shape of the aperture mass 14 can vary, and thus allowing different shaped apertures 26A to be formed. The outer diameter of the outermost sidewalls 18A may be approximately 35.5 millimeters (mm). The cylindrical length of the sidewalls 18 may be approximately 30.4 mm. The diameter of the cavity 29 may be approximately 16 mm, while the cylindrical length of the cavity 29 may be approximately 18 mm. The “rim” 31 of the cavity 29 may taper outward. The thickness of the tray portion 12 may be approximately 3 mm, while having edge lengths approximately 95 mm. The aperture mass 14 may have a diametrical peripheral distance (the distance between opposing edges) that is less than that of diametrical peripheral distance of the innermost sidewall 18B (e.g., if the innermost sidewall 18A defines a cylinder, then its diametrical peripheral distance is its outer diameter), thereby defining setbacks 15, which in turn manifest itself as an aperture 26A with an inner diameter less than said outer diameter established by the innermost sidewall 18A. It being understood that other dimensions are contemplated; for instance, an inner diameter of the outermost sidewall 18B may be adjusted so that the resulting outer diameter of the ice formation 26 is approximately eight percent or greater of an inner diameter of the outer conduit 42 of the smoking device 24. As a result, the stacked arrangement fills substantially the entire volume but for the apertures 26A. As a result, the warm or hot smoke 50 from the combustible substance must traverse the output conduit 42 through a series of apertures 26A of a stacked arrangement of ice formations 26, as illustrated in FIG. 7. This aperture-driven path of the smoke 50 reduces its ambient temperature by 9-11% for each ice formation it encounters, resulting in cooler smoke 52 be output from the output conduit 52. In other words, the series of apertures 26A formed by the stacked arrangement of snug fitting ice formation 26 allows a user to selectively control and reduce the temperature of smoke 50/52 passing through the smoking device 24.

[0037] As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

[0038] For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

[0039] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

[0040] In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0041] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.