Portable water pipe assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable water pipe assembly for use in the vaporization of substances. Methods of using such an assembly are also provided.

Claims

1. A water pipe assembly for inhalation of a gas entrained with product, comprising: a container for receiving water therein, the container having a housing about an interior region and comprising an upper opening; a removable bowl for receiving the product, the removable bowl comprising a bowl body comprising a top opening and having one or more apertures in a bottom portion thereof to allow the gas entrained with the product to pass therethrough, and the removable bowl comprising a handle extending laterally from the bowl body and having a sealing portion; an upper cap piece adapted to fit over the upper opening of the container housing, the upper cap piece comprising: a cap body comprising a compartment having first and second bowl receiving regions, the first bowl receiving region comprising a first recess configured to receive the bowl body, and the second bowl receiving region comprising a receiving region outlet that passes through the cap body, and over which the removable bowl can be positioned to provide a flow of the gas entrained with product from the apertures in the bowl body to the receiving region outlet during operation of the water pipe assembly; a mouthpiece attached to the cap body, and having an inhalation outlet for inhaling the gas entrained with product, the mouthpiece being configured to transition between a closed position covering the compartment, to an open position that allows access to the compartment; and a gas flow tube configured to extend from the upper cap piece into the interior region of the container, the gas flow tube configured to receive the flow of gas entrained with the product from the removable bowl via the receiving region outlet to introduce the flow of gas entrained with the product into the interior region of the container, wherein the removable bowl is configured such that (i) the bowl body is received in the second bowl receiving region so as to provide the flow of gas entrained with the product to the gas flow tube during operation of the water pipe assembly, when the mouthpiece is in the open state, and (ii) the bowl body is received in the first recess of the first bowl receiving region and is covered by the mouthpiece when the mouthpiece is in the closed state, and wherein the removable bowl is configured such that the sealing portion of the handle extends over and seals off the receiving region outlet in the second bowl receiving region, when the bowl body is received in the first recess of the first bowl receiving region.

2. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper cap piece comprises a threaded portion to attach to a complementary threaded portion at a top region of the container.

3. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing portion of the handle comprises a sealing projection that extends from an underside of the handle and is configured to be fitted over the receiving region outlet of the second bowl receiving region when the mouthpiece is in the closed state.

4. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bowl receiving region comprises a second recess configured to receive the bowl body when the mouthpiece is in the open state, the second recess comprising the receiving region outlet formed in a bottom region thereof.

5. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bowl receiving region comprises a mount to receive and retain the bowl body, the mount comprising the receiving region outlet formed therein.

6. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a removable cap top that is configured to be fitted over the cap body when the mouthpiece is in the closed state.

7. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece substantially conceals the compartment having the first and second bowl receiving regions, when the mouthpiece is in the closed state.

8. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bubbler assembly attached to the end of the gas flow tube extending into the interior region of the container.

9. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bubbler assembly comprising a plurality of bubbler apertures configured to introduce the flow of gas entrained with the product received from the gas flow tube into the interior region of the container.

10. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bubbler assembly comprising a disc attached at a lower end of the gas flow tube, the disc comprising a plurality of bubble apertures formed on an underside thereof and at a plurality of regions about the circumference of the disc.

11. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, further comprising a bubbler assembly that is configured to diverge the flow of gas entrained with the product that is received from the removable bowl into a plurality of airflows, to increase the contact area of the flow of gas entrained with the product with a liquid filled in the interior region of the container.

12. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises an inhalation inlet configured to receive the flow of gas entrained with the product from the interior region of the container.

13. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is rotatably attached to the cap body, and is configured to be rotated to transition between the closed position covering the compartment, and the open position that allows access to the compartment.

14. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is attached to the cap body via a hinge, and wherein rotating the mouthpiece at the hinge causes to mouthpiece to transition between the open and closed states.

15. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece is slideably attached to the cap body, and is configured to be slid to transition between the closed position covering the compartment, and the open position that allows access to the compartment.

16. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper cap piece comprises tracks that engage the mouthpiece to allow the mouthpiece to slide between open and closed positions.

17. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises the inhalation outlet and an inhalation inlet at either ends of a conduit formed in a straw portion, and wherein at least one of the inhalation inlet and inhalation outlet are sealed when the mouthpiece is in the closed position, so as to prevent passage of air and/or liquid therethrough.

18. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece comprises the inhalation outlet and an inhalation inlet at either ends of a conduit formed in a rotatable or slidable straw portion, and wherein rotation or sliding of the straw portion of the mouthpiece to the closed position disengages the inhalation inlet from communication with the interior region of the container, so as to prevent passage of air and/or liquid into the mouthpiece conduit from the interior region of the container.

19. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second bowl receiving regions are located adjacent to one another in the compartment, such that the sealing portion of the handle is capable of extending over and sealing off the receiving region outlet in the second bowl receiving region when the bowl body is received in the first receiving region.

20. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the first recess of the first bowl receiving region is configured to accommodate a major portion of the bowl body within the first recess when the bowl body is received in the first bowl receiving region, and the first recess is configured to allow the handle of the removable bowl to extend laterally from a top of the first recess and over the receiving region outlet of the second receiving region to seal the receiving region outlet.

21. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bowl receiving region comprises a second recess that is adjacent to the first recess of the first bowl receiving region, the second recess being separated from the first recess by a distance substantially equivalent to a reach of the handle from the first receiving region to the receiving region outlet of the second receiving region, when the bowl body is received in the first receiving region.

22. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bowl receiving region comprises a second recess configured to receive the bowl body, the second recess being shallower than the first recess of the first receiving region, so as to provide access to the removable bowl when the bowl body is received in the second bowl receiving region.

23. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the second bowl receiving region comprises a second recess having the receiving region outlet therein and configured to receive the bowl body, and wherein the sealing portion of the handle of the removable bowl extends into the second recess to plug the second recess and the receiving region outlet therein.

24. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the container is transparent or translucent and made of food-grade material.

25. The water pipe assembly of claim 24, wherein the food-grade material is BPA free.

26. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the bowl body of the removable bowl is made of ceramic and the handle comprises a silicone sealing material.

27. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more apertures in the bottom portion of the bowl body are sized to allow air flow thereinthrough while also substantially maintaining the product contained in the bowl body.

28. The water pipe assembly of claim 1, wherein the product is selected from tobacco leaves, cannabis flowers, or other herbal substances.

29. A method of using the water pipe assembly according to claim 1, comprising: removing the upper cap piece from the container housing and filling the interior region of the container with water to a predetermined level; re-attaching the upper cap piece to the container housing, such that a lower end of the gas flow tube is submerged in the water in the interior region of the container; transitioning the mouthpiece to the open position to reveal the compartment having the first and second bowl receiving regions; inserting the removable bowl into the second bowl receiving region of the upper cap piece; filling the bowl body of the removable bowl with product; igniting the product in the bowl body, thereby forming the flow of gas entrained with the product that passes into the water in the interior region of the compartment and on to the mouthpiece; and inhaling the flow of gas entrained with the product received from the interior region of the compartment via the inhalation outlet of the mouthpiece.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising: moving the removable bowl from the second bowl receiving region into the first recess of the first bowl receiving region, and positioning the handle of the removable bowl such that the sealing portion of the handle seals the receiving region outlet of the second receiving region; transitioning the mouthpiece to cover the first bowl receiving region having the bowl body therein; and optionally, covering the upper cap piece with the removable cap top.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the present invention. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented herein.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a portable water pipe assembly;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a representative assembled structure of the upper cap piece, the gas flow tube and the bubbler assembly, in the closed state;

(4) FIGS. 3-6 are side views of the structure of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 7 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the structure of FIG. 2 from a different angle;

(8) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the portable water pipe assembly in its closed state excluding the cap;

(9) FIG. 11 is another perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 10 not showing the interior structure;

(10) FIG. 12 shows the open state of the structure of FIG. 2;

(11) FIGS. 13-16 are side views of the structure of FIG. 12;

(12) FIG. 17 is a top view of the structure of FIG. 12;

(13) FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the structure of FIG. 12;

(14) FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views of the structure of FIG. 12 from different angles;

(15) FIG. 21 shows the open state of the portable water pipe assembly of FIG. 10;

(16) FIG. 22 shows the open state of the portable water pipe assembly of FIG. 11;

(17) FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 3;

(18) FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the structure of FIG. 3;

(19) FIG. 25A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the portable water pipe assembly in its closed state, and FIG. 25B is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the portable water pipe assembly in its open state, showing a representative gas flow path;

(20) FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of FIG. 13;

(21) FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the structure of FIG. 13;

(22) FIG. 28 is the perspective view of FIG. 12 showing part of the interior structure including the inlet;

(23) FIG. 29 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an alternative design;

(24) FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 29, in its open state;

(25) FIG. 31 is perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 29, in its closed state;

(26) FIGS. 32-35 show various view of the embodiment of FIG. 29, in its open state;

(27) FIGS. 36-39 show various views of the embodiment of FIG. 29, in its closed state;

(28) FIGS. 40-42 show different states of a representative “slidable” mouthpiece that can be used on a portable water pipe assembly of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(29) Aspects of the invention as described herein are directed to an improved, low profile, portable water pipe assembly for the inhalation of substances, such as aromatic substances, therapeutic substances and/or substances with physiological effects. Examples of such substances can include herbs, such as tobacco, cannabis, lavender, chamomile, and other types of plant material. In an embodiment, the water pipe assembly disclosed herein uses a product selected from tobacco leaves, cannabis flowers, or other herbal substances.

(30) Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a portable water pipe assembly 100 is shown in exploded view, according to aspects of the disclosure herein. The portable water pipe assembly 100 comprises a container 101 for receiving water therein, a removable bowl 102 for receiving the product, an upper cap piece 103 adapted to fit over the upper opening 1011 of the container housing, and a gas flow tube 104 configured to extend from the upper cap piece into the interior region of the container 101. In an embodiment, the container 101 is transparent or translucent and made of food-grade material. In some embodiments, the food-grade material is BPA free such as, e.g., Tritan™.

(31) In an embodiment, the upper cap piece 103 comprises a threaded portion 1037 to attach to a complementary threaded portion 1012 at a top region 1010 of the container 101. In another embodiment, the portable water pipe assembly 100 may further comprise a removable cap top 105 that is configured to be fitted over the cap body when the water pipe assembly 100 is in the closed state. The removable cap top 105 may fit over the cap body via various means, such as, e.g., a threaded design or a clip.

(32) In an embodiment, the portable water pipe assembly can further comprise a bubbler assembly 106 attached to the end of the gas flow tube 104 extending into the interior region of the container. In some embodiments, the bubbler assembly 106 may comprise a plurality of bubbler apertures configured to introduce the flow of gas entrained with the product received from the gas flow tube 104 into the interior region of the container 101. In some embodiments, the bubbler assembly 106 comprises a disc 1060 attached at a lower end of the gas flow tube 104, the disc comprising a plurality of bubble apertures formed on an underside thereof and at a plurality of regions about the circumference of the disc. In some other embodiments, the bubbler assembly 106 that is configured to diverge the flow of gas entrained with the product that is received from the removable bowl 102 into a plurality of airflows, to increase the contact area of the flow of gas entrained with the product with a liquid filled in the interior region of the container 101. A higher effectiveness of toxic substance removal is expected using the above designs.

(33) Referring to FIG. 23, an embodiment of the portable water pipe assembly 100 in closed state is shown. Further referring to FIG. 24, in which the removable bowl 102 and the upper cap piece 103 are shown in detail. The upper cap piece 103 comprises a cap body 1030 comprising a compartment 10301 having first and second bowl receiving regions 1031 and 1032, the first bowl receiving region 1031 comprising a first recess 1038 configured to receive the bowl body 102, and the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprising an outlet 1033 that passes through the cap body 1030. A mouthpiece 1034 is attached to the cap body 1030, and has an inhalation outlet 1035 for inhaling the gas entrained with product. The removable bowl 102 comprises a bowl body 1020 comprising a top opening 1021 and having one or more apertures 1022 in a bottom portion 1025 thereof to allow the gas entrained with the product to pass therethrough, and the removable bowl 102 comprises a handle 1023 extending laterally from the bowl body 1020 and has a sealing portion 1024. In an embodiment, the bowl body 1020 of the removable bowl 102 is made of heat resistant materials like, e.g., ceramic, and the handle 1023 (including the sealing portion 1024) comprises a silicone sealing material. In another embodiment, the one or more apertures 1022 in the bottom portion of the bowl body 1020 are sized to allow air flow thereinthrough while also substantially maintaining the product contained in the bowl body 1020. In the closed state as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the bowl body 1020 is received in the first recess of the first bowl receiving region 1031 and is covered by the mouthpiece 1035, and the sealing portion 1024 of the handle 1023 extends over and seals off the outlet 1033 in the second bowl receiving region 1032.

(34) In an embodiment, the sealing portion 1024 of the handle 1023 comprises a sealing projection that extends from an underside of the handle 1023 and is configured to be fitted over the outlet 1033 of the second bowl receiving region 1032 when the mouthpiece 1034 is in the closed state.

(35) In another embodiment, the first and second bowl receiving regions 1031, 1032 are located adjacent to one another in the compartment, such that the sealing portion 1024 of the handle 1023 is capable of extending over and sealing off the outlet 1033 in the second bowl receiving region 1032 when the bowl body 1020 is received in the first receiving region 1031. In further embodiment, the first recess of the first bowl receiving region 1031 is configured to accommodate a major portion of the bowl body 1020 within the first recess when the bowl body 1020 is received in the first bowl receiving region 1031, and the first recess is configured to allow the handle 1023 of the removable bowl 102 to extend laterally from a top of the recess and over the outlet 1033 of the second receiving region 1032 to seal the outlet 1033.

(36) In an embodiment, the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprises a second recess 1039 that is adjacent to the first recess of the first bowl receiving region 1031, the second recess being separated from the first recess by a distance substantially equivalent to a reach of the handle 1023 from the first receiving region to the outlet 1033 of the second receiving region 1032, when the bowl body 1020 is received in the first receiving region 1031. In another embodiment, the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprises a second recess having the outlet 1033 therein and configured to receive the bowl body 1020, and wherein the sealing portion 1024 of the handle 1023 of the removable bowl 102 extends into the second recess to plug the second recess and outlet 1033.

(37) In yet another embodiment, the mouthpiece 1034 substantially conceals the compartment having the first and second bowl receiving regions 1031, 1032, when the mouthpiece 1034 is in the closed state.

(38) Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, an embodiment of the portable water pipe assembly 100 in open state is shown. The removable bowl 102 is positioned over the second bowl receiving region 1032 to provide a flow of the gas entrained with product from the apertures 1022 in the bowl body 1020 to the outlet 1033 during operation of the water pipe assembly; and the mouthpiece 1034 is in the open position that allows access to the compartment through an inlet 1036.

(39) In an embodiment, the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprises a second recess configured to receive the bowl body 1020 when the mouthpiece 1034 is in the open state, the second recess comprising the outlet 1033 formed in a bottom region thereof. In some embodiments, the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprises a mount 10321 to receive and retain the bowl body 1020, the mount comprising the outlet 1033 formed therein. In another embodiment, the second bowl receiving region 1032 comprises a second recess configured to receive the bowl body 1020, the second recess being shallower than the first recess of the first receiving region 1031, so as to provide access to the removable bowl 102 when the bowl body 1020 is received in the second bowl receiving region 1032.

(40) In an embodiment, the mouthpiece 1034 comprises an inhalation inlet 1036 configured to receive the flow of gas entrained with the product from the interior region of the container 101. In an embodiment, the mouthpiece 1034 is rotatably attached to the cap body 1030, and is configured to be rotated to transition between the closed position covering the compartment, and the open position that allows access to the compartment. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece 1034 is attached to the cap body 1030 via a hinge, and wherein rotating the mouthpiece at the hinge causes to mouthpiece to transition between the open and closed states. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 40-42, in an embodiment, the mouthpiece is slideably attached to the cap body, and is configured to be slid to transition between the closed position covering the compartment, and the open position that allows access to the compartment. In some embodiments, the upper cap piece 103 comprises tracks that engage the mouthpiece to allow the mouthpiece to slide between open and closed positions.

(41) In an embodiment, the mouthpiece 1034 comprises the inhalation outlet 1035 and an inhalation inlet 1036 at either ends of a conduit formed in a straw portion, and wherein at least one of the inhalation inlet and inhalation outlet are sealed when the mouthpiece is in the closed position, so as to prevent passage of air and/or liquid therethrough. In another embodiment, the mouthpiece 1034 comprises the inhalation outlet 1035 and an inhalation inlet 1036 at either ends of a conduit formed in a rotatable or slidable straw portion, and wherein rotation or sliding of the straw portion of the mouthpiece to the closed position disengages the inhalation inlet from communication with the interior region of the container 101, so as to prevent passage of air and/or liquid into the mouthpiece conduit from the interior region of the container.

(42) Although the water pipe assembly as shown in FIG. 1 has the appearance of a water bottle, other equivalent designs are also encompassed in the present disclosure. For example, in FIG. 29, a cup-like assembly 200 is shown in its open state. It comprises a cup body 201, an upper cap piece 203, and a removable bowl 202. The interior structure is shown in FIG. 30 (open state) and FIG. 31 (closed state), which is essentially the same as the water bottle version 100.

(43) Referring to FIG. 25B, a representative gas flow path within the water pipe assembly during operation is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. The removable bowl 102 is filled with a product and sits in the recess of the second bowl receiving rejoin 1032. After the product is lit, the smoke produced therefrom passes through the one or more apertures 1022 in the bottom portion of the bowl body 1020 and the outlet 1033, and enters the gas flow tube 104. The gas entrained with the product travels down the tube 104 and diverges into a plurality of smaller airflows after passing through a bubbler assembly 106 attached to the end of the gas flow tube 104 and submerged in the water. Those small airflows generate bubbles, rise up to the water surface, and enter the upper portion of the container 101. The filtered gas enters the opened mouthpiece 1034 through an inlet 1036 that communicates between the interior of the container 101 and the mouthpiece 1034, and eventually inhaled by a user through an inhalation outlet 1035.

(44) According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of using the portable electronic vaporizing device disclosed herein is provided. For example, the method may comprise: removing the upper cap piece from the container housing and filling the interior region of the container with water to a predetermined level; re-attaching the upper cap piece to the container housing, such that a lower end of the gas flow tube is submerged in the water in the interior region of the container; transitioning the mouthpiece to the open position to reveal the compartment having the first and second bowl receiving regions; inserting the removable bowl into the second bowl receiving region of the upper cap piece; filling the bowl body of the removable bowl with product; igniting the product in the bowl body, thereby forming the flow of gas entrained with the product that passes into the water in the interior region of the compartment and on to the mouthpiece; and inhaling the flow of gas entrained with the product received from the interior region of the compartment via the inhalation outlet of the mouthpiece.

(45) In an embodiment, the method above further comprises: moving the removable bowl from the second bowl receiving region into the first recess of the first bowl receiving region, and positioning the handle of the removable bowl such that the sealing portion of the handle seals the outlet of the second receiving region; transitioning the mouthpiece to cover the first bowl receiving region having the bowl body therein; and optionally, covering the upper cap piece with the removable cap top. In another embodiment, the method disclosed herein further comprises removing the upper cap piece from the container housing, and removing the water contained in the interior region of the container.

EQUIVALENTS

(46) While specific embodiments have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative, and not restrictive. Many variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The full scope of the embodiments should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations.