Apparatus for securing to the top of a bottle or canister for providing a smoking assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for using a smoking apparatus and related assembly that may be practiced with a variety of standard sized bottles, and which comprises a non-toxic, easily cleaned or disposable straw and bowl. The present disclosure allows a person to utilize common, recyclable and/or natural materials to inhale cooled/filtered smoke from burnt plant leaves in a conservative and efficient manner.

Claims

1. A method for smoking leaves comprising: filling a vessel with an open top with a volume with water or other liquid so that there is a remaining air volume within the vessel; engaging a smoking apparatus comprising a straw element and a bowl with the open top of the vessel; inserting a flame-resistant straw into the straw element and into the interior of the vessel; positioning the straw relative to the straw element to ensure that the top end of the straw may be placed on the lips of a user without the face of the user coming into close contact with the bowl, such that any flame or heated material within the bowl is at a safe distance from the user's face; placing crushed plant leaves into the bowl for lighting with a fire instigating device; and smoking the crushed plant leaves by lighting the plant leaves with a fire instigation device, wherein the user places his or her lips on the top end of the straw, wherein the smoke from the burnt leaves travels down in to the open air chamber of the vessel and up through the straw while being cooled by the water or other liquid and the ambient temperature of the vessel, wherein excess debris from the burnt leaves is filtered down into the water portion of the vessel by falling directly through apertures located on the bottom of the smoking apparatus, and wherein cooled and filtered smoke from the burnt leaves is substantially contained within the air volume within the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the smoking apparatus is further temporarily secured to the vessel by conforming an upper lip of the bowl to the opening of the vessel such that the bottom of the smoking apparatus extends partially into the opening of the vessel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the smoking apparatus is configured to be engaged with the opening of the vessel and create a substantially air-tight connection between the upper lip of the bowl and the vessel.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the bottom of the bowl comprises a plurality of perforations and permits air to circulate between the bowl and the vessel and further permits residue to pass through the perforations and into the volume of water or other liquid in the vessel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bowl is formed from stainless steel, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, chromium alloy, carbon fiber, ABS plastic, polyurethane, polyethylene, photo-polymers, resins, particularly fiber-encased resinous materials rubber, latex, synthetic rubber, synthetic materials, polymers, natural material or a metal alloy.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing the straw into the straw element and down into the interior of the vessel provides a substantially air-tight connection between the straw and the straw element of the smoking apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the straw element is configured to accommodate a variety of different sized straws.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the straw element further comprises a slit that may expand or contract to adjust to different sized straws.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the straw element further comprises a substantially hollow portion offset from a vertical centerline of the smoking apparatus, and wherein the substantially hollow element extends away from the centerline at angle from the vertical axis of the bowl, and wherein angle is approximately 20-40 degrees.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the angle is approximately 30 degrees.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel is a glass bottle, canister or other fluid reservoir.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel is comprised of material that can be easily cleaned, re-used or recycled.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of filling the vessel with water or other liquid in an amount no less than 10% of the entire volume of the vessel.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of filling the vessel with water or other liquid by approximately 33% of the entire volume of the vessel.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the water or other liquid added to the vessel ranges in temperature from about 45 degrees to about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosures.

(2) It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

(3) In the drawings:

(4) FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus according to one particular embodiment of the present disclosure;

(5) FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in relation to a bottle and straw;

(11) FIG. 8 is another view of the apparatus, bottle and straw of FIG. 7;

(12) FIG. 9 is a detailed view of a second embodiment of the present disclosure shown in relation to a bottle and straw that comprises a U-shape at the lower portion of the straw; and

(13) FIG. 10 describes a method for smoking crushed leaves with the smoking apparatus depicted in FIGS. 1-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) The present disclosure has significant benefits across a broad spectrum of endeavors. It is the Applicant's intent that this specification and the claims appended hereto be accorded a breadth in keeping with the scope and spirit of the disclosure and various embodiments disclosed, despite what might appear to be limiting language imposed by specific examples disclosed in the specifications. To acquaint persons skilled in the pertinent arts most closely related to the present disclosure, preferred and/or exemplary embodiments are described in detail without attempting to describe all of the various forms and modifications in which the novel apparatus, devices, systems and methods might be embodied. As such, the embodiments described herein are illustrative, and as will become apparent to those skilled in the arts, may be modified in numerous ways within the spirit of the disclosure.

(15) The appended drawing figures and descriptions thereof provide embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed invention. Rather, the ensuing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the embodiments. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

(16) Embodiments of the present disclosure are depicted in FIGS. 1-10. Referring now to FIG. 1, a front elevation view of the smoking apparatus 100 according to one embodiment is shown. The apparatus 100 is comprised of a concave bowl 102, comprising a perforated bottom portion 142, a side wall 140 and generally cylindrical straw element 104 extending from the bowl 102, as shown in FIG. 1. The straw element 104 is not the actual straw 108 used for smoking with the apparatus 100, but rather provides a channel or cannula 106 for placing a disposable (or in certain embodiments, non-disposable) straw 108 therethrough. The generally cylindrical straw element 104 may be sized to accommodate a variety of different sized straws 108, and in some embodiments is not cylindrical and is instead shaped to accommodate different sized and shaped straws and their equivalents.

(17) The bowl 102 of the apparatus 100 in a preferred embodiment may comprise a series of perforations or apertures 110 in a lower portion 130 of the bowl 102, as depicted in FIG. 1, which forms a perforated bottom portion 142 of the bowl 102. These apertures 110 may vary in size depending on a number of factors, including but not limited to the relative size of the leaves (not shown) to be placed in the bowl 102, the relative surface area of the bowl 102, the size of the vessel, bottle or canister 112 used with the bowl 102, the volume of water 114 held by the vessel 112, the preferences of the user of the apparatus 100, and the desired consistency of the smoke to be inhaled by the user of the apparatus 100, among other factors.

(18) The perforated bottom portion 142 of the bowl 102, by and through the apertures 110, allows air to circulate between the bowl 102 and the vessel 112, when the bowl 102 in engaged with the opening of the vessel 112, as described in more detail below. The bowl 102 is preferably of a width and depth to permit at least a minimum quantity of leaves to be placed therein, and further comprises a generally open top surface for exposing the quantity of leaves placed in the bowl 102 to a flame, match or lighter. Some embodiments may include a reusable cap that attaches to the top of the bowl 102 so that the apparatus 100 can be packed with leaves and then covered with the cap to keep the leaves from falling out during travel. Some versions of the apparatus 100 can come pre-packed with leaves and covered with a top over the bowl so that the leaves do not need to be manually inserted by the user.

(19) In certain embodiments, the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be supplied with a straw 108, such as the embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-9. The straw 108 may be disposable, is preferably non-toxic and flame-resistant and made from, for example, non-toxic paper or hemp material. The straw 108 may also be used to enhance the inhalation of the user while the apparatus 100 and assembly is in use. The straw 108 may be substantially straight, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, or in other embodiments may be bendable and contain a lower portion 136 that is U shaped 134, wherein a lower portion 136 of the straw 108 is submerged in the water 114 contained in the vessel 112 as shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the smoke is not only cooled by the ambient temperature of the vessel 112 and surface water 114 (as with the straight straw described in FIGS. 7-8), but the smoke is also cooled by traveling through the water-cooled submerged lower portion 136 of the straw 108. When using a bendable straw, as described in FIG. 9, the straight end 148 would have to be inserted into the underside of the round opening 124 before the bowl 102 can be engaged with the vessel 112. In both embodiments described in FIGS. 1-8 and 9, the straw 108 extends down though the channel 106 and round opening 124 so that the lower end 132 of the straw 108 inside the vessel 112 is substantially fixed at a location above the water level of the vessel 112. When the straw 108 is inserted into the channel 106 of the straw element 104, a substantially air-tight connection is formed.

(20) Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus 100 is shown from the opposite angle as shown in FIG. 1. This elevation view depicts a small, narrow slit 122 extending vertically along the straw element 104 and at least a portion of the bowl 102. This narrow slit 122 may accommodate flexibility and adjustments to provide a more-secure fit of the bowl 102 into the vessel 112 opening in order to allow for miniscule size differences in inflexible container materials such as glass or metal. The slit 122 may also accommodate placement of the straw 108, such as the one described in the preceding paragraph, within the straw element 104 of the apparatus 100 shown in FIGS. 1-2. In certain embodiments, the bowl 102 and straw element 104 are comprised of a substantially rigid material, while in other embodiments they are comprised of a semi-rigid or even semi-flexible material. The more flexible the material, the more capable a user will be of expanding the straw element 104 to accommodate a larger straw 108. The round opening 124 at the lower portion 130 of the bowl 102 shown in FIG. 2 is for the lower end 132 of a straw 108 (not shown in FIG. 2) to be placed through the straw element 104 and bowl 102 of the apparatus 100 and enter the vessel 112 of the assembly (described in greater detail below).

(21) Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, the apparatus 100 is shown to contain the channel 106 and round opening 124, which are positioned at the side of the bowl 102, wherein the channel 106 extends away from the opening of the vessel 112 at angle 146 from the vertical axis of the bowl 102, and wherein angle 146 is approximately 30 degrees, as described in FIG. 3.

(22) Referring now to FIGS. 7-8, the apparatus 100 is preferably used with a vessel 112, preferably a standard sized 12 ounce glass bottle, although in alternate embodiments may be used with other bottles, jars, canisters (including beer and soda cans) and other vessels. The apparatus 100 therefore is contemplated to be provided in a variety of sizes and configurations to accommodate the different sizes of openings provided with these types of vessels.

(23) In use, the apparatus 100 is preferably placed on the top, open surface of the opening of a vessel 112, such as the one shown in FIGS. 7-9, so that the bowl 102 is releasably engageable with the opening of the vessel 112. The bowl 102 engages the vessel 112 by generally conforming to the circumference 126 of the opening of the vessel 112 thereby becoming substantially inserted inside the opening of the vessel 112, wherein the lip 144 of the bowl 102 is positioned generally wholly on top of the opening of the vessel 112. The bowl 102 when engaged with the opening of the vessel 112 creates a substantially air-tight connection between the bowl 102 and the vessel 112. The straw element 104 is preferably facing upwards, away from the opening of the vessel 112, and oriented so that the bowl's concave surface is also facing upward. This permits the user to place a quantity of leaves for smoking with the apparatus 100 in the bowl 102 and to have access to lighting that quantity of leaves without interfering with the straw element 104 or associated straw 108, or with the vessel 112 of the assembly. The vessel 112 is preferably filled with cold water 114, at least to a certain desired volume, but in no instance less than 10% of the entire volume of the vessel 112. In a preferred embodiment, approximately 20-40% of the vessel 112 is filled with water 114. In a most preferred embodiment, approximately 33% of the vessel 112 is filled with water 114. Although cold water is preferred, warm or even hot water will also suffice for use of the apparatus. However, in the most preferred embodiment, the water 114 added to the vessel 112 is cold water, ranging from 45 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Although plastic bottles may be used, glass and ceramic bottles and canisters are preferred.

(24) A method for using the smoking apparatus and assembly is also provided herein, as described in FIG. 10. In use, the user may fill the bottle to about of the total volume with cold water 160. Next, the apparatus is placed onto the top of a bottle with the straw element facing up 162. A flame-resistant and preferably non-toxic straw is then inserted into the straw element and down into the interior of the bottle 164. In a preferred embodiment, the straw is inserted approximately half way down into the bottle. The bottom tip of the straw should not be touching or submerged into the water so the bottom straw opening rests in the open air portion of the bottle. Then the user checks the position of the straw relative to the straw element to ensure that ample material extends beyond the apparatus so that the straw may be placed on the lips of the user without the face of the user coming into close contact with the bowl, such that any flame or heated leaf material is at a safe distance from user's face 166.

(25) Next, the user preferably places crushed plant leaves into the bowl for lighting and subsequent smoking 168. The user may light the leaves with one hand while simultaneously inhaling through the exposed straw. The smoke from the burnt leaves then travels down into the open air chamber of the bottle and up through the straw while being cooled by the water and the ambient temperature of the bottle (preferably glass). Excess debris from the plant leaves is then filtered down into the water portion of the bottle by falling directly down through the apertures (once burned to sufficiently small size to fit through the apertures). In this manner, cooled/filtered smoke is also trapped in the open air chamber, thus conserving it from going into the atmosphere and for further enjoyment by the user 170.

(26) The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

(27) The present inventions, in various embodiments, include components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatuses substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present inventions after understanding the present disclosure. The present inventions, in various embodiments, include providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation.

(28) Moreover, though the present disclosure has included descriptions of one or more embodiments and certain variations and modifications, other variations and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.