SMOKING APPARATUS

Abstract

A smoking apparatus for positioning smoking material and for collecting ash residue from the smoking material. The smoking apparatus highlights its safety of use by smokers who may fall asleep while smoking, thus preventing house fires, damage to property and smoker burn injury. The smoking apparatus also protects against careless smokers from burning themselves or their clothes when they inadvertently drop whatever they are smoking.

Claims

1. A smoking apparatus, comprising: a spout; a holder portion, releasably connected to said spout, wherein said holder portion is configured to receive smoking material; and a receptacle portion, wherein said receptacle portion is releasably connected to said holder portion, wherein said receptacle portion is configured to receive ash residue generated from smoking of said smoking material within said holder portion, and wherein said spout, said holder portion and said receptacle portion, when releasably connected, form an interconnected interior channel.

2. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion comprises of at least one fenestration on its surface for air flow into said holder portion.

3. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion comprises of at least one slit opening on its surface for air flow into said holder portion

4. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion comprises of a door on its surface, wherein said door provides access for placement of said smoking material.

5. The smoking apparatus of claim 4, wherein said door is hinged.

6. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoking material may be any one or more of: a cigarette, a cigar, tobacco, a cigarillo.

7. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receptacle portion comprises of a detachable base.

8. The smoking apparatus of claim 7, wherein said detachable base may be screwed onto said receptacle portion.

9. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion comprises of at least one cross-sectional adapter within said holder portion, wherein said cross-sectional adapter keeps said smoking material in place.

10. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion comprises of at least one cross-sectional opening proximate said receptacle portion, wherein said at least one cross-sectional opening enables ash residue to fall into said receptacle portion.

11. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said spout comprises of a filter.

12. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoking apparatus comprises of a cylindrical cross-section.

13. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoking apparatus comprises of a triangular cross-section.

14. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said smoking apparatus comprises of a rectangular cross-section.

15. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion is releasably connected with said spout by a screw apparatus between said spout and said holder portion.

16. The smoking apparatus of claim 1, wherein said holder portion is releasably connected with said receptacle portion by a screw apparatus between said receptacle portion and said holder portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a smoking apparatus, according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a smoking apparatus, with its parts disconnected, according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates top views of a spout, holder portion, receptacle portion, and a detachable base of a smoking apparatus, according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates bottom views of a spout, holder portion, receptacle portion, and a detachable base of a smoking apparatus, according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a smoking apparatus with a slit opening, according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of a smoking apparatus with a plurality of perforations, according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a smoking apparatus, with its parts disconnected, and showing a filter, according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

PARTS/ELEMENTS

[0029] 100 Smoking Apparatus [0030] 102 Spout [0031] 104 Holder Portion [0032] 104A-104D Top protrusions of Holder Portion [0033] 104A′-104D′ Bottom protrusions of Holder Portion [0034] 104E′ Opening between bottom protrusions 104A′-104D′ [0035] 106 Receptacle [0036] 108 Door [0037] 110 Cross-sectional Adapter [0038] 110A Ratchet protrusions [0039] 110B Wall grooves [0040] 112 Slit [0041] 114A-114E Perforations/Fenestrations [0042] 116 Detachable base [0043] 118 Filter

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, different views of a smoking apparatus 100 are shown along with its constituent components according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. Smoking apparatus 100 may include spout 102 having a structure that enables a smoker to draw in the smoke of the smoking product. Spout 102 may be connected to holder portion 104, within which a smoking product may be placed. Spout 102 and holder portion 104 may together constitute a channel through which a smoker, once a smoking product has been lit and placed within holder portion 104, may inhale the smoke from the smoking product. The smoking product may be placed into holder portion 104 by way of door 108 of holder portion 104. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, spout 102 may be connected to holder portion 104 by way of a screw connection between spout 102 and holder portion 104. Other connection methods, such as without limitation, clamps, insert and snap etc., may also be employed to connect spout 102 with holder portion 104.

[0045] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking product may be placed within holder portion 104 by unscrewing or disconnecting spout 102 from holder portion 104 and placing a smoking product from the top of holder portion 104 (the top portion being the portion closest to spout 102) and then screwing spout 102 back onto holder portion 104.

[0046] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking apparatus 100 may include cross-sectional adapter 110 which may be used to ensure each smoking product, regardless of length or mass, is snugly positioned within holder portion 104. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, cross-sectional adapter 110 may include adjustable ratchet protrusions 110A and wall grooves 110B (FIG. 2), where ratchet protrusions 110A may be releasably ratcheted along grooves 110B to fit the length or mass of a smoking product placed within holder portion 104.

[0047] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, holder portion may include top protrusions 104A-104D (FIG. 3) which extend perpendicularly from the interior wall of holder portion 104 towards the center channel of holder portion 104. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, top protrusions 104A-104D may be located towards the top of holder portion 104 (the top portion being the portion closest to spout 102). Additionally, holder portion may include bottom protrusions 104A′-104D′ (FIG. 4) which extend perpendicularly from the interior wall of holder portion 104 towards the center channel of holder portion 104. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bottom protrusions 104A′-104D′ may be located towards the bottom of holder portion 104 (the bottom portion being the portion farthest away from spout 102).

[0048] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, holder portion 104 may include cross-sectional adapter 110 that may include spring mechanism 110C positioned on top of protrusions 104A-104D, where spring mechanism 110C allows for its adjustment for a snug fit of the smoking product within holder portion 104 and where spring mechanism 110C may be set in place by clicking ratchet protrusions 110A into corresponding wall grooves to fit the right length or mass of the smoking product.

[0049] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking apparatus 100 may include receptacle 106 which is adapted to collect ash or burnt residue of a smoking product. Such ash or burnt residue may be able to fall into receptacle 106 from a smoking product in holder portion 104 through opening 104E′ between bottom protrusions 104A′-104D′ (FIG. 4). The collected ash or burnt residue may then be removed from smoking apparatus 100 by either detaching detachable base 116 of smoking apparatus 100 or by disconnecting holder portion 104 from receptacle 106 and pouring the ash or burnt residue from receptacle 106 through opening 104E′. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, detachable base 116 may be screwed onto receptacle 106.

[0050] In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking apparatus 100 may include slit 112 (FIG. 5) which enables air flow into holder portion 104 thereby providing a smoking product with the oxygen needed to combust. Similarly, in another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, holder portion 104 may include a plurality of perforations/fenestrations 114A-114E (FIG. 6) which enable air flow into holder portion 104 thereby providing a smoking product with the oxygen needed to combust.

[0051] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking apparatus 100 may include filter portion 118 (FIG. 7). Filter portion 118 may be positioned between spout 102 and holder portion 104. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, filter 118 may fit into the top portion of holder portion 104 and may be connected with either or both of spout 102 and/or holder portion 104. Filter portion 118 may contain filter(s) used to filter the smoke being inhaled through spout 102.

[0052] In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, smoking apparatus 100 may, as shown in FIG. 7, include spout 102, holder portion 104, door 108, filter portion 118, and receptacle 106. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, these interconnected portions my form a channel or enclosure within to enable smoke to be inhaled by a smoker through spout 102 up from lit smoking material or product in holder portion 104, while the ash or burnt residue is allowed to fall into receptacle 106. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, ash or burnt residue collected within receptacle 106 may be removed by disconnecting receptacle 106 from holder portion 104.

[0053] It should be noted that while FIGS. 1-7 show a cylindrical structure, this cylindrical structure is exemplary only as other shapes and configurations (e.g., triangular, rectangular cross-sections etc.) are also contemplated by aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0054] Although this present invention has been disclosed with reference to specific forms and embodiments, it will be evident that a great number of variations may be made without departing from the present invention as outlined above, in the appended figures and in the claims presented below.